‘True,’ Munro agreed.
Devlin flicked his lighter. ‘On the other hand, it’s just possible you might think Walter Schellenberg has the right idea.’
‘Strange,’ Munro said. There have been moments in this war when I’d have jumped for joy at the idea of someone killing Hitler.’
‘A great man once said that as the times change, sensible men change with them.’ Devlin moved to the door. ‘Goodbye, Brigadier, I don’t expect we’ll be seeing each other again.’
‘I wish I could count on that,’ Munro said.
The Irishman hurried across to the Lysander, where Steiner was stripping the canvas with the RAF roundels from the wings, revealing the Luftwaffe insignia. Devlin ran to the tailplane, did the same there, then scrambled inside after Steiner. The Lysan-der taxied to the end of the meadow and turned into the wind. A moment later, it roared down the runway and took off. Munro stood there listening to the sound of it disappear into the night. There was a sudden whimper and Nell slipped out of the darkness and sat there, looking up at him. When he turned and started back to the house she followed him.
Jack Carter, in the outer office at SOE Headquarters, heard the red phone’s distinctive sound and rushed in at once to answer it.
‘Jack?’ Munro said.
Thank God, sir, I’ve been as worried as hell. I got in from York and walked straight into a minefield. All hell broken loose at St Mary’s Priory and the porter said you were there, sir. I mean, what the hell happened?’
‘It’s quite simple, Jack. A rather clever gentleman called Liam Devlin made fools of the lot of us and is at this very moment flying back to France with Colonel Kurt Steiner.’
‘Shall I alert the RAF?’ Carter asked.
Til take care of it. More important things to do. Number one, there’s a house on Cable Wharf in Wapping owned by a man called Ryan. You’ll find him and his niece there dead. I want a disposal team as soon as possible. Use that crematorium in North London.’
‘Right, sir.’
‘I also want a disposal team here, Jack. That’s Shaw Place outside the village of Charbury in Romney Marsh. Come yourself. I’ll wait for you.’
He put the phone down. No question of phoning the RAF of course. Schellenberg was right and that was that. He left the study and went to the front door. When he opened it the fog was as thick as ever. Nell whined and sat on her haunches, staring up at him.
Munro bent down and fondled her ears, ‘Poor old girl,’ he said. ‘And poor old Devlin. I wish him luck.’
When Himmler and Berger were admitted to the Fuhrer’s apartment, Adolf Hitler was sitting beside an enormous stone fireplace in which a log fire burned brightly. He had a file open on his knees which he continued to read as they stood there waiting. After a while he looked up, a slightly vacant look in his eyes.
‘ReichsFuhrer?’
‘You wished to see me and SturmbannFuhrer Berger.’
‘Ah, yes.’ Hitler closed the file and put it on a small table. ‘The young man who has so brilliantly organized my security here. I’m impressed, ReichsFuhrer.’ He stood and put a hand on Berger’s shoulder. ‘You’ve done well.’
Berger held himself stiff as a ramrod. ‘My honour to serve, my Fuhrer.’
Hitler touched Berger’s Iron Cross First Class with one finger. ‘A brave soldier too, I see?’ He turned to Himmler. ‘ObersturmbannFuhrer would be more appropriate here, I think.’
Til take care of it, my Fuhrer,’ Himmler told him.
‘Good.’ Hitler turned back to Berger and smiled indulgently. ‘Now off you go. The ReichsFuhrer and I have things to discuss.’
Berger clicked his heels and raised his right arm. ‘Heil Hitler,’ he said, turned on his heel and went out.
Hitler returned to his chair and indicated the one opposite. ‘Join me, ReichsFuhrer.’
‘A privilege.’
Himmler sat down and Hitler said, ‘Insomnia can be a blessing in disguise. It gives one extra time to ponder the really important things. This file, for example.’ He picked it up. ‘A joint report from Rommel and Canaris in which they try to persuade me that the Allies will attempt an invasion by way of Normandy. Nonsense, of course. Even Eisenhower couldn’t be so foolish.’