suspected – the most appalling crisis Park Crescent has been confronted with since I joined the service. If I'm right – and I hope to God I'm not – I can't see how the situation could be resolved without a terrible scandal. Don't question me. I could be wrong.'
`You were going to tell me,' Newman said quietly, 'what it was that Diana said that was important.'
`She said, I quote her exact words, 'or so you can see him'. She was referring to the fact that I was puzzled why Dr Berlin should want to see me. She turned it round the other way.'
`You're talking in riddles…'
`And I am referring to a really gigantic riddle.' Tweed sat down and his whole manner changed. 'Now, Bob, find out any more about how Diana lives – the source of her income?'
`Ann Grayle started on about Goldenlegs again but I cut her short. Then she stopped being catty. She told me there is a strong rumour Dr Berlin supports her with an allowance – a very generous allowance. More than enough to live on. She looks after the Sudwind – and his other power cruiser, the Nordsee, berthed at that marina on Priwall Island near the ferry. Ann marked its position on this map.' He handed a folded sheet to Tweed.
`Another cruiser? How big is this Nordsee? Did she say?'
`Very big – the twin of the Sudwind. Capable of travelling long distances – and in rough weather. Berlin himself crews whichever vessel he takes out. He's often absent for long periods. No one knows where. A friend of Ann's swore he once saw the Sudwind at a marina in Oslo.'
`What is he doing on these extended voyages?'
`Contacting various European organizations which provide him finance for his work with refugees. There are quite a few in Scandinavia – I know that from my own travels…'
`And who pays for all this? The mansion on Priwall Island, the two large power cruisers. Those things eat money – even in a marina,' Tweed remarked.
`The charitable organizations I've just mentioned. I gathered from Ann Grayle Dr Berlin has a hypnotic effect on the more liberal element. His influence extends as far as the States. He's a power in the land.'
Tweed looked unhappy. 'All you're telling me makes it seem I could be right in my bizarre theory. And I want to be wrong. You simply must not let Diana out of your sight while I am away. She is blonde, remember – as were all the victims.'
`And how long will you be away?'
`A matter of days, I expect. No one must know where I've gone. If you find yourself under pressure, say 'Copenhagen'. And one man must not know above all others. Otto Kuhlmann.'
`Why Kuhlmann?'
`Because there is one other man who was present in Frankfurt when that Dutch girl was killed, and also here when Helena Andersen and Iris Hansen were hacked to pieces.'
`Who is that?'
`Otto Kuhlmann.'
`That phone call was negative,' Markus Wolf reported to General Lysenko in his fifth-floor office in Leipzig.
`In what way? Get to the point.'
`Munzel carried out an initial attack on Tweed. He does that sometimes – to get the measure of his target. The attack was not conclusive owing to the intervention of the British foreign correspondent, Robert Newman…'
`Tweed is still alive and well? Is that what you are trying to say to me in your devious way?' Lysenko demanded.
`Tweed still exists, yes. For the moment. Call it a trial run. The elimination of Tweed will proceed as planned…'
`Balls!' Lysenko gave full vent to his fury. 'And I have to fly back to Moscow to report to the General Secretary. He will be most pleased, I am sure.'
`Please pass on to Comrade Gorbachev my warmest regards.'
`That will make him the happiest man in the Soviet Union. I think we may have to substitute someone more effective for Munzel…'
Wolf removed his horn-rimmed glasses and stared at Lysenko. He seemed quite unruffled by the news, by Lysenko's outburst. He chewed on a corner of one of the handles of his spectacles.
`Munzel is the best – as the General Secretary well knows. I shall go ahead with the next stage in the operation while you are away…'
'I shan't be away long,' Lysenko said savagely. 'So what do you expect to achieve? And something else worries me greatly. I told you Munzel is a sadist. Who do you think might be responsible for the ferocious killings of those two blonde girls in Travemunde?'
'I cannot accept scandalous implications about a member of my staff…'
`Implications be damned! If it were Munzel, if Tweed turned the tables and proved it – and unmasked his identity. God! Can you imagine the propaganda he could make of that?'
'It won't happen…'
'I find that statement immensely reassuring.' Lysenko's tone dripped with sarcasm. 'I am not prepared to leave it at that.' `What do you mean?'
Wolf rose from his chair, replaced his glasses and glared at the Russian. They were on the verge of a major confrontation. Lysenko rumbled on, refusing to give an inch. He hammered his clenched fist on the desk.
`Balkan is in the area. Contact him. Ask him to investigate these killings with all energy. Any development, report to me in Moscow. Understood?'
'If you insist…'
'I don't insist. It is an order.'
`And am I permitted to tell you my next move?'
`Hurry up.' Lysenko checked his watch. 'I shall be late for my flight to Moscow.'
`I have already sent the instruction to Munzel, who has, for a short while, gone underground…'
`What instruction? I said. I was in a hurry.'
`He is to kill Newman, Tweed's protector. Then kill Tweed. Both at the same time if possible. Both will appear to have been accidents. A mutual accident…'
`Get Balkan to check those blonde murders,' Lysenko said and left the room.
The taxi transporting Tweed and Newman pulled up outside Lubeck-Sud police HQ. Tweed had phoned Kuhlmann before they left the Jensen and the man from Wiesbaden was waiting in the entrance hall.
The scrambler phone is ready for your use,' Kuhlmann said as they ascended in the elevator. 'Newman and I will wait in the canteen as before.'
Tweed entered the same bleak room, locked the door and sat at the desk. He thought for a moment, then lifted the receiver and dialled Monica's number at Park Crescent. She answered almost immediately.
`Hadrian here, Monica. Any developments? This is a safe phone – as far as any instrument is these days.'
`Nothing to report. Except an absence of calls from anyone. I find that strange, a bit nerve-wracking. It's good to hear your voice.'
`I agree it's abnormal. But it might fit in with a theory I'm developing – so don't worry,' he reassured her.
`Any instructions?'
`Yes. I'm coming back – but no one must know. And this is priority one – contact all four sector chiefs. Order them to return to London base. They must be available by nine in the morning the day after tomorrow.'
`All four? There could be problems…'
`I said priority one. They must be found, they must arrive.' `They will be. Take care…'
He replaced the receiver. Before leaving the room he took a deep breath, aware that his expression could be grim. He strolled into the canteen, sat down at the table where Newman and Kuhlmann were talking over coffee.
`Satisfactory?' Kuhlmann enquired.
'Up to a point. We'd better get going. And thank you for the use of the phone…'
