else they would not be directed to us. May I remind you, we are the solution of last resorts."
"What can I say to Von Schnabe?"
"Please, Catbird, at this point, what can we say to him?" said the leader of the Paris branch of the Blitzkneger, hanging up the phone.
Thirty minutes passed and the man called Catbird could contain himself no longer. He dialed a number deep in the forests of Vaclabruck, Germany.
"This is information I do not care to hear," said General Ulrich von Schnabe, the words delivered through a frozen mist.
"The targets were to be eliminated at the earliest opportunity. I approved Dr.
Kroeger's orders, for, you, yourself, told the doctor that there would be no difficulty, as you had the itinerary. On that-basis alone I permitted you to contact the Blitzkrieger."
"What can I say, Herr General? There is simply no word, no communication. Nothing."
"Check with our man at the American Embassy. He may have heard something."
"I have, sir, from public phones, of course. His last intercept simply confirmed that the Latham brother was under the protection of the Antinayous."
"Those black-loving, Jew-kissing scum. No location, naturally."
"Naturally."
"Stay in Paris. Stay in touch with our killer unit and keep me informed of any developments."
"Now you're the one who's crazy!" cried Karin de Vries.
"They've seen you, they know you, you can't possibly be Harry!"
"Sure I can, if they don't see me again, and they won't," said Drew.
"I'll operate in absentia, from one place to another, keeping in touch with you and the colonel because I don't dare show up at the embassy. As a matter of fact, since we know the embassy's penetrated hell we knew it when Little Adolf showed up as my driver the other night-we might be able to find out who it is, or who they are."
"Just how?"
"A railroad trap."
"A what?"
"Like in a row of railroad cars filled with passengers, only one of them holds wild dogs."
"Tlease-"
"I'll call you as Harry three or four times asking for papers from my dead brother Drew's files, naming one of Witkowski's couriers to meet me at a given time and place -a crowded place. You process the requests and I'll be wherever it is, but not where anybody can see me. If a legitimate courier shows up-I know them all-and he's not followed, fine.. I'll throw away whatever you send.
Then later I'll call again, with another request, telling you it's.urgent, I'm on to something. That's your cue to hang up and say nothing, relay nothing."
"And if anyone shows up, you'll know he's a neo, and that my phone was tapped from inside," Karin interrupted.
"Exactly. If the circumstances are right, maybe I'll be able to take him and turn him over to our chemists."
"Suppose there's more than one?"
"I said if. I'm not about to challenge a crowd of swastikas."
"To use your own technique, I see a very large 'gap," as you called it. Why would Harry Latham remain here in Paris?"
"Because he is Harry Latham. Tenacious to a fault, unrelenting in his pursuits, all the things that Harry was with the added intensely personal burden of his younger brother having been murdered here in Paris."
"Certainly a convincing motive," agreed De Vries.
"Yours actually.. .. But how will you get the news out? Isn't that a problem?"
"It's touchy," said Drew, nodding his head and frowning.
"Primarily because the Agency will throw up its collective hands and cry foul. However, be too late if we're off and running, and I have an idea the colonel might come up with something. I'm meeting him later at a cafe in Montmartre."
"You're meeting with him? What about me? I believe I'm somewhat intrinsic to this strategy."
"You've been shot, lady. I can't ask you-"
"You don't ask, monsieur," Karin broke in.
"I'll tell you. I'm going with you. Frederik de Vries's wife is going with you. You lost a brother most horribly, Drew, and I lost a husband .. . most horribly. You will not exclude me."
The door of the outpatient surgery room opened, and the doctor cleared by the embassy walked in.
"I have reasonably favorable news for you, madame," said the physician in French, an awkward smile on his face.
"I've studied the postoperative X rays, and with therapy you should regain at least eighty percent of the use of your right hand. However, the tip of the middle finger will be lost. Of course, a permanent replacement can be attached."
"Thank you, Doctor, it is a small price and I'm grateful. I'll come to see you in five days, as you instructed."