"Oh, God," whispered Holcroft. "Did your brother tell your?"

"About Gretchen?" Helden asked. "Yes. She suffered so much, gave so much. Its why she wouldnt see me or talk to me. She never wanted me to know what she did, why she married him. She was afraid I might sense the truth."

"If what you say is true," said the well-dressed man, "that Beaumont was ODESSA, we dont believe that newspaper story for a minute."

"He means your friend in Berlin," interrupted Helden. "I told him that you had a friend in Berlin who said he would transmit your suspicions to London."

Noel understood. She was telling him she had said nothing about Geneva. Noel turned to the man. "What do you think happened?"

"If the British discovered an ODESSA agent in the upper ranks of the navy, especially one commanding a coastal-patrol vessel-a euphemism for an espionage ship-it would mean they had been duped again. Theres just so much they can take; thered be no inquiries. A swift execution is preferable."

"Thats a pretty rough indictment," said Holcroft.

"Its an embarrassing situation."

"Theyd kill an innocent woman?"

"Without thinking twice-on the possibility that she might not be innocent. The message would be clear, at any rate. The ODESSA network would have its warning."

Noel turned away in disgust and put his arms around Helden. "Im sorry," he said. "I know how you must feel, and I wish there was something I could do. Outside of reaching your brother, Im not sure there is."

Helden turned and looked at him, her eyes searching. "You trust each other?"

"Very much. Were working together now."

"Then theres no time for mourning, is there? Im going to stay here tonight," she told the well-dressed man. "Is it all right? Can I be covered?"

"Of course," said the man. "Ill arrange it."

"Thank you. Youre a good friend."

He smiled. "I dont think Mr. Holcroft believes that. But then, hes got a great deal to learn." The man nodded and went to the door; he stopped, his hand on the knob, and turned to Noel. "I apologize if that appears cryptic to you, but be tolerant, monsieur. Whats between you and Helden also seems cryptic to me, but I dont inquire. I trust. But, if that trust is found to be misplaced, well kill you. I just thought you ought to know."

The Verwnschte Kind left quickly. Noel took an angry step after him, but Helden touched his arm. "Please, darling. He, too, has a lot to learn, and we cant tell him. He is a friend."

"Hes an insufferable little bastard." Holcroft paused. "Im sorry. Youve got enough on your mind; you dont need foolishness from me."

"A man threatened your life."

"Someone took your sisters. Under the circumstances, I was foolish."

"Weve no time for such thoughts. Your friend Buonoventura returned your call. I wrote down the number where you can reach him. Its by the telephone."

Noel walked to the bedside table and picked up the paper. "Your brother and I were going to Saint-Tropez tomorrow. To make Beaumont tell us what he knew. The newsll be shattering to him. On both counts."

"You said you were going to call him. I think its best that I do. He and Gretchen were very close. When they were younger, they were inseparable. Where is he?"

"Actually, I dont know; he didnt say. He just told me hed reach me later this evening. Thats what I meant." Holcroft lifted the phone and gave Buonoventuras number to the operator.

"Ill speak to Johann when he calls," said Helden, going to the window.

The transatlantic lines were light; the link to Curaao was made in less than a minute.

"Youre a pistol, Noley! Im glad I dont have to pay your phone bills. Youre seeing the goddamn world; Ill say that for you."

"Im seeing a lot more than that, Sam. Did my mother call you?"

"She did. She said to tell you shell see you in Geneva in about a week. Youre to stay at the Htel dAccord, but youre not to say anything to anyone."

"Geneva? Shes going to Geneva? Why the hell did she even leave the country?"

"She said it was an emergency. You were to keep your mouth shut, and not do anything until you see her. She was one upset lady."

"Ive got to get hold of her. Did she give you a telephone number-an address-where I could reach her?"

"Not a thing, pal. She didnt have much time to talk, and the connection was rotten. It was out of Mexico. Anybody mind telling me whats going on?"

Holcroft shook his head as if Buonoventura were in the room facing him. "Sorry, Sam. Perhaps someday. I owe you."

"I think maybe you do. Well cut a deck for it. Take care of yourself. You got a real nice mother. Be good to her."

Holcroft hung up. Buonoventura was a good friend to have. As good a friend as the well-dressed man was to Helden, he thought. He wondered what she meant when she asked the Verwnschte Kind if she were covered. Covered for what? By whom?

"My mothers on her way to Geneva," he said.

Helden turned. "I heard you. You sounded upset."

"I am. A man followed her to Mexico. Miles had him picked up at the airport; he took a cyanide capsule before they could find out who he was or where he came from."

" 'Kill me, another will take my place. Kill him, another his. Werent those the words?"

"Yes. I was thinking about them on the way up."

"Does Johann know?"

"I told him everything."

"What does he think?"

"He doesnt know what to think. The key was Beaumont. I dont know where we go now, except to Geneva, with the hope that no one stops us."

Helden came toward him. "Tell me something. What can they-whoever they are-really do? Once the three of you present yourselves to the bank in Geneva, each of you in agreement, all reasonable men, its over. So what can they actually do?"

"You said it last night."

"What?"

"They can kill us."

The telephone rang. Holcroft reached for it "Yes?"

"Its John Tennyson." The voice was strained.

"Your sister wants to talk to you," said Holcroft.

"In a moment," replied Tennyson. "We must speak first. Does she know?"

"Yes. Obviously you do, too."

"My paper called me with the news. The night editor knew how close Gretchen and I were. Its horrible."

"I wish there was something I could say."

"I couldnt help you when you told me about your stepfather. We have to live with these things by ourselves. Theres nothing anyone can do or say when they happen. Helden understands."

"Then you dont believe the story that was given out? About the boat and the storm?"

"That they went out in a boat and never came back? Yes, I believe it. That he was responsible? Of course not. Its not even plausible. Whatever else he was, Beaumont was a superb sailor. He could smell a storm twenty miles away. If he was in a small craft, hed have it in shore before any weather struck."

"Who then?"

"Come, my friend, we both know the answer. That someone else who hired him also killed him. They made him follow you to Rio. You spotted him; his usefulness had come to an end." Tennyson paused. "It was as if theyd known we were to leave for Saint-Tropez. The unpardonable act was to kill Gretchen as well. For appearances."

"Im sorry. God, I feel responsible."

"It was totally out of your control."

"Could it have been the British?" asked Holcroft. "I told Kessler about Beaumont. He said he was going to work through channels. Bonn to London. Maybe an ODESSA agent commanding one of those reconnaissance ships was too much of an embarrassment."

"The temptation might be there, but no one in authority would grant permission. The English would put him into isolation and break him on a rack if they had to get information, but they wouldnt kill him. They had him. He and Gretchen were killed by someone who could be damaged by what he knew, not by anyone who could benefit."

Tennysons reasoning was persuasive. "Youre right. The British wouldnt gain anything. Theyd keep him under wraps."

"Exactly. And theres another factor, a moral one. I think MI Six is riddled with self-seekers, but I dont believe they kill to avoid embarrassment. Its not in their nature. But theyll go to extraordinary lengths to maintain a reputation. Or revive it. And I pray to God Im right about that."

"What do you mean?"

"Im flying to London tonight. In the morning Ill contact Payton-Jones at MI Five. Ive an exchange to offer him, one I think hell find difficult to resist. I may be able to give him a ground-dwelling bird that moves rapidly from one place to another, its feathers blending in with the environment."

Holcroft was as surprised as he was bewildered. "I thought you said you couldnt work with them."

"Him. Only Payton-Jones, no one else. He must give me his assurance of that, or we go no farther."

"Do you think he will?"

"He really has no choice. That ground-dwelling bird has become an MI obsession."

"Suppose you do? What do you get in return?"

"Access to classified material. The British have thousands of secret files. They concern the last years of the war and are embarrassing to a lot of people. But somewhere in those files is our answer. A man, a group of men, a band of fanatics-I dont know who or what, but its there. Someone who had a connection with the Finanzministerium thirty years ago, or with our fathers; someone they trusted and to whom they gave responsibility. It could even be a Loch Torridon infiltration."

"A what?"

"Loch Torridon. It was an espionage and sabotage operation mounted by the British from forty-one to forty-four. Hundreds of former nationals were sent back to Germany and Italy to work in factories and railroads and government offices everywhere. Its common knowledge there were Loch Torridon personnel in the Finanzministerium.... The answer is in the archives."

"From those thousands of files, you expect to find one identity? Even if its there, it could take months."

"Not really. I know precisely what to look for: people who may have been associated with our fathers."

Tennyson spoke so rapidly, with such assurance, that Noel found it difficult to keep up with him. "Why are you so convinced the information is there to begin with?"

"Because it has to be. You made that clear to me this afternoon. The man who called you in New York, the one who was killed-"

"Peter Baldwin?"

"Yes. MI Six. He knew about Geneva. We start with him; hes our key now."

"Then go to the file called 'Wolfsschanze, " said Holcroft " 'Code Wolfsschanze. That may be it!"

Tennyson did not reply at first. He was either thinking or startled; Noel could not tell which. "Where did you hear that?" he asked. "You never mentioned it. Neither did Helden."

"Then we both forgot," Holcroft told him.

"We should be careful," said Tennyson, when Noel had finished. "If the name 'Wolfsschanze is tied to Geneva, we must be extremely careful. The British cant learn about Geneva. It would be disastrous."

"I agree. But what reason will you give Payton-Jones for wanting access to the archives?"

"Part of the truth," answered Tennyson. "I want Gretchens killer."

"And for that youre willing to give up the ... ground-dwelling bird youve been tracking for six years?"

"For that and for Geneva. With all my heart."

Noel was touched. "Do you want me to talk to Payton-Jones?"

"No!" Tennyson shouted; then he lowered his voice. "I mean, it would be far too dangerous. Trust me. Do as I ask you, please. You and Helden must stay out of sight. Completely. Until I contact you, Helden must not return to work. She must stay with you, and you both must remain invisible."

Holcroft looked at Helden. "I dont know if shell agree to that."

"Ill convince her. Let me speak with her. You and I have finished our talk."

"Youll call me?"

"In a few days. If you change hotels, leave word where Mr. Fresca can be reached. Helden has my message-service number. Let me talk with her now. In spite of our differences, we need each other now, perhaps as weve never needed each other before. And ... Noel?"

"Yes?"

"Be kind to her. Love her. She needs you, too."