End of Spies by Alex Gerlis (best free ereader txt) 📗

Sons.’ Evans was looking at the building through binoculars. ‘And underneath that it says Fornitore Navale, whatever that means.’

‘Ship’s chandlers,’ said Bartholomew.

‘I think we should go in now,’ Prince said.

‘No, not yet,’ replied Hanne. ‘If we have the place surrounded, we can afford to wait and see what’s going on.’

Bartholomew agreed. In his experience, he said, it would be better all round to wait for them to come out rather than raid the place too soon.

‘I must say, though, it’s a damn clever location: close to the port and the railway station, and there’s even a seaplane base over there,’ said Evans.

They agreed to wait until the morning. In the meantime, the Field Security Section said they’d check all the ships in the port and see if any had imminent plans to set sail.

Hanne woke before dawn and left the room without waking Richard. She spotted Jožef in a doorway in a side street with a view of the hotel. He stepped back into the shadows and nodded to her, and she spoke quietly, avoiding looking in his direction.

When she returned to the hotel, her husband was waiting for her looking agitated.

‘Where’ve you been?’

‘I wanted some fresh air, our room’s so stuffy. Is something the matter?’

‘I’m not sure… Bartholomew’s called: something’s up. We’re wanted immediately at the FSS place on Via San Lazzaro.’

Fifteen minutes later, they were in an office in the Field Security Section, the two of them looking at each other, stunned, before Hanne glared at Bartholomew in an almost accusing manner.

‘Look, I’m sorry – I’m as surprised at this as you are. Please understand this is London’s decision, not mine. You know how it is, orders are orders.’

Prince held up the telegram once more, he and Hanne reading it at the same time, both shaking their heads angrily as they did so.

LONDON, TUESDAY

FOR: RP/HJ, TRIESTE – THROUGH BARTHOLOMEW

BE ADVISED OF NEW ORDERS: OPERATION TO ARREST STEINER TO CEASE FORTHWITH. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS HE TO BE APPREHENDED. INVESTIGATION INTO KESTREL LINE TO END NOW. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT IMMEDIATELY AND RETURN TO LONDON. STOP.

GILBEY

‘It’s ridiculous: if we let Steiner go, then the same will apply to the others… Carter and Palmer, bloody traitors… And Bormann, what about if he’s there?’ Prince looked on the verge of tears.

‘But if we don’t acknowledge receipt, there’s nothing to stop us going ahead and arresting Steiner and the others, is there? We could just say we didn’t see it until it was too late.’

‘I’m afraid it’s not as easy as that, Hanne.’ Bartholomew looked awkward, loosening his tie as he spoke.

‘Why’s that?’

‘Because I’ve already told London we’ve seen it.’

Chapter 25

England, December 1945

‘Good try, Jenkins, but I’m afraid what you ask is completely out of the question.’

Tom Gilbey stared long and hard at the overweight American sitting opposite him in his office in St James’s. He barely knew Joseph Jenkins, so had asked Sir Roland Pearson to join him. In his role as Churchill’s intelligence adviser, Pearson had enjoyed many dealings with Jenkins during the war, though neither man would have chosen the word ‘enjoyed’ to describe their encounters.

Joseph was a senior liaison officer in London for the Office of Strategic Services, the American version of MI6. Except that it seemed he no longer was. He’d been the one to request the meeting, and he began it by looking quizzically at Sir Roland.

‘I thought you’d been sacked, Roly?’

Pearson bristled, not least at the presumption of the American in calling him ‘Roly’. Jenkins was not in one of the limited categories of people he permitted to use that name.

‘I was most certainly not sacked. Mine was a personal appointment by Winston Churchill, so when he left Number Ten, I quite properly tendered my resignation. In fact I had always intended to leave once the war was over.’

‘And now you’re working for Mr Gilbey here?’

‘Not for, with: I’m working with Tom. I was also at school with Tom.’ He emphasised the word as if he was instructing the American in the correct use of a preposition.

‘All you guys seem to have been at the same school. If I meet someone else from Missouri, it’s a big deal. I have some news for you: I have a new job!’

‘Many congratulations, Joe,’ said Pearson after a short period of hesitation. It was now Jenkins’ turn to bristle: he hated being called Joe – he didn’t want people to associate him with Stalin. ‘Does this mean a move away from London, perhaps?’

‘Ha! If I didn’t know you better, Roly, I’d think you wanted me to leave. No, for the time being, I’m going to continue to be based here at the embassy. Have you heard of the Counter Intelligence Corps?’

‘It’s an intelligence section within the United States Army, isn’t it?’

The American nodded his head, and Pearson asked him if that meant he was now a soldier.

‘No, I’m still with the Office of Strategic Services, but I’m attached to the Counter Intelligence Corps for a few months. They want to use my expertise.’

‘Do you get to wear a uniform now, Joe? I can recommend an excellent tailor in Jermyn Street if you have difficulty in finding one the right size.’

Jenkins glared at Sir Roland.

‘Well, jolly well done,’ said Tom Gilbey. ‘It’s always nice to be wanted, to have one’s achievements recognised. After all, you’ve been in the same post for an awfully long time as I understand it, eh?’

Jenkins bristled once more.

‘And it’s so nice you came all the way here from Grosvenor Square to give us the good news in person.’

‘That’s not the sole reason I came, Tom. It’s connected with it, though.’ The American pushed his chair back and smiled at both the men opposite him.

‘Do please tell us.’

‘One of the current operations of the Counter Intelligence Corps is to identify senior German officials who are wanted by various Allied countries but who in our estimation can in the long run be of assistance to the United States of America.’

‘I think you may need