When Father Manfried Neuman finally came on the line, he snapped, "What is this foolishness? I'm in the middle of the Lord's work and you take me away from His supplicants."
"My temporary name is Colonel Webster, but you know who I am, Father."
"Of course I do! So do many others."
"Really? That comes as something of a shock. I assumed it was highly privileged information, airtight, in fact."
"Well, I presume others know. Now, what's this about a bomb here?"
"Maybe I'm the bomber if you don't answer my questions. I stayed there, remember, and right now I'm pretty desperate."
"How can you behave this way? The Antinayous took care of you, we gave you sanctuary in your hour of need."
"And refused to take me back when the need was still there."
"That was a collective decision based on our own security requirements."
"Not good enough, Father. We're against the same people, aren't we?"
"Do not trifle with us, Herr Latham. I am a man of God and abhor violence, but there are others here who are not of my persuasion."
"Is that a threat, padre?"
"Take it as you will, my son. We know where you are and our vehicles constantly roam the city."
"Tell me, do you know where Karin de Vries is?"
"Frau de Vries .. . ? Our colleague?"
"She's gone. They took her."
"No! That's wrong .. . !"
"You just blew it, Bible freak. What's right? .. . I guess we're not on the same side after all."
"Untrue! I've given up everything" "You'll give up the last thing you've got to give unless you tell me whom you spoke to about me," broke in Latham.
"Now!"
"As the Lord God is my witness, only to our informant at the embassy .. . and one other."
"First, the informant. Who?"
"A secretary, a woman named Cranston In need of Christ's help."
"How do you know her?"
"We speak, we meet, and the flesh is weak, my son. I'm not perfect, may God forgive me."
"The other? Who is it?"
"It is a confidence so deep, it would be a sacrilege to violate it."
"So would exposing the Maison Rouge, along with a couple of grenades that would light up the entrance."
"You wouldn't."
"The hell I wouldn't. I'm a Four Zero officer of Consular Operations, and among my bag of tricks are a few the Blitzkrieger never thought of. Give!"
"Another priest, a former priest. He's an old man now, but when he was a young scholar, he was a talented cryptanalyst for the branch of French intelligence that became the Deuxieme Bureau.
The secret services still hold him in high regard, and frequently confide in him, seeking his help. His name is Lavolette, Antoine Lavolette."
"You said he's a former priest, so why is it such a sacrilege to give me his name?"
"Because, damn you, I go to him for religious counseling, not politics! I have a problem, not unlike his own years ago, but mine is far more unforgivable, for it is a compulsion and not confined to one woman. I'm an imperfect man and unworthy of my holy church.
What more can I tell you?"
"Maybe a lot more, I'll let you know. By the way, padre, why did you say it was 'wrong' for Karin to be kidnapped?"
"Because it was stupid, it's as simple as that"' spat out the priest.
"Whose side are you on, for Christ's sake?"
"Must you use the Lord's name in such a manner?"
"Depends on whose Lord you're talking about. Now, cut the sideshow. Why was it wrong and stupid to kidnap her?"
"Speaking selfishly, it could very well compromise our operation here. If their objective was to kill her, then kill her and leave her to God! But to abduct her with no proof of death is to open the floodgates-everyone will be searching for her, as you are searching for her now. Our very headquarters could be revealed-just as you threatened to do with your grenades and your bombs. I ask you in the name of all that is holy and good not to expose us or reveal our whereabouts."
"You've given me two names, so I'll do my damnedest not to, but Karin de Vries comes first, and that's all I can promise." Latham hung up the phone, immediately tempted to reach Moreau and ask some pointed questions about the former Father Antoine Lavolette, retired cryptanalyst extraordinary. Then he thought otherwise; the head of the [email protected] was a control freak, especially where one Drew Latham was concerned. Undoubtedly, Moreau would interfere, calling the retired priest himself and usurping the initiative. No, that wasn't the way. This