Read Online Cross of Fire by Colin Forbes - Free Book Online
Authors: Colin Forbes
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Political, Large Type Books, Intelligence service, Terrorists
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you are ahead of us.
I'm hoping if Stahl fails you will succeed. Providing you agree to help.'
'I agree. Paula. Show Otto that photograph you have of yourself and your friend.'
Paula blinked, opened her shoulder bag, took out an envelope from a zipped pocket. Inside the envelope was the only photo she had of Karin Rosewater - taken while she had spent time with Karin on holiday in Freiburg near the Black Forest. She passed over the envelope to Kuhlmann.
He extracted the photograph, held it in the palm of his large hand. The only reaction was his teeth clamping tighter on his cigar. He looked at Tweed, at Paula.
'You know the girl with you in this snap?'
'Do you, Otto?' Tweed asked quietly.
Kuhlmann stubbed out the cigar, began to eat the superbly cooked veal and the speciality Swiss potato which was so crisp and tasty. He drank some of the champagne Tweed had ordered earlier. Paula pursed her lips, glancing at Tweed. Kuhlmann put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with his napkin.
'Yes, I know her,' he said eventually. 'What puzzles me is how you know her. It seems an amazing coincidence.'
'I have bad news for you, Otto.'
'Tell me.' Kuhlmann put down the glass he had been about to drink from.
'She is dead...'
Kuhlmann listened with an impassive expression as Tweed related tersely what had happened in Suffolk. He also referred to the mysterious 'authority' Karin had men tioned to Paula.
'She was talking about me.' Kuhlmann said grimly. 'I remember now, Paula, you were at that party at the Nato base in southern Germany when Karin was there. That was why I was also there. To protect her cover she never came near Wiesbaden. We'd meet for a few minutes at a party - prearranged. Chat like acquaintances for just a short time. She reported to me, I gave her fresh instructions.'
'You weren't going to mention her,' Tweed commented. 'Only Stahl.'
'Deliberately. I was fond of her - and she was a brave lady. Want to hear how I recruited her?'
'I'd like very much to hear that.' Paula broke in.
'She was a brilliant linguist. Her husband, Victor Rosewater, is with British Military Intelligence. He has had occasion to visit Wiesbaden in connection with his work. I was invited to their home. One day when I arrived Karin was on her own. She told me she'd worked for the BND at Pullach near Munich ...' Tweed glanced at Paula. The BND was German counter-espionage. 'She pressed me to let her help with my work,' Kuhlmann continued. 'Karin could be very persuasive. And I was needing an operative to back up Stahl. She seemed the perfect choice. I regret I hired her to check on the situation in France - working with Stahl.'
'Did her husband know what she was doing?' Tweed asked.
'Victor Rosewater? I warned her not to tell him. And there the arrangement fitted so well. Rosewater spends a lot of time away from home - tracking the IRA units operating in Germany, I gathered.'
'Anyone else except yourself and Stahl know what she was doing?' Tweed persisted.
'No one. Security seemed watertight.'
'Why didn't the Chancellor involve the BND in this?'
Kuhlmann waved a dismissive hand. 'They are up to their necks checking dubious characters infiltrating from Eastern Europe since unification. Also, for some reason the Chancellor seems to trust me. God knows why.'
'Because you're so reliable, like a bulldog which never gives up,' Paula said and gave him her warmest smile. 'Now do get on with your meal.'
'We'll do what we can to unravel this mystery.' Tweed assured. 'If you want to let me know how we can contact Stahl it would be helpful. It's up to you.'
Kuhlmann took out a notepad, tore off a sheet, rested it on the cardboard back so there would be no impression, wrote rapidly, gave the folded sheet to Tweed.
'Thank you for your offer of help. We need it. That gives you Stahl's present address, the name he's operating under, his phone number. The codeword which will identify you as safe is Gamelin. Now maybe we can relax - even if
I'm hoping if Stahl fails you will succeed. Providing you agree to help.'
'I agree. Paula. Show Otto that photograph you have of yourself and your friend.'
Paula blinked, opened her shoulder bag, took out an envelope from a zipped pocket. Inside the envelope was the only photo she had of Karin Rosewater - taken while she had spent time with Karin on holiday in Freiburg near the Black Forest. She passed over the envelope to Kuhlmann.
He extracted the photograph, held it in the palm of his large hand. The only reaction was his teeth clamping tighter on his cigar. He looked at Tweed, at Paula.
'You know the girl with you in this snap?'
'Do you, Otto?' Tweed asked quietly.
Kuhlmann stubbed out the cigar, began to eat the superbly cooked veal and the speciality Swiss potato which was so crisp and tasty. He drank some of the champagne Tweed had ordered earlier. Paula pursed her lips, glancing at Tweed. Kuhlmann put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with his napkin.
'Yes, I know her,' he said eventually. 'What puzzles me is how you know her. It seems an amazing coincidence.'
'I have bad news for you, Otto.'
'Tell me.' Kuhlmann put down the glass he had been about to drink from.
'She is dead...'
Kuhlmann listened with an impassive expression as Tweed related tersely what had happened in Suffolk. He also referred to the mysterious 'authority' Karin had men tioned to Paula.
'She was talking about me.' Kuhlmann said grimly. 'I remember now, Paula, you were at that party at the Nato base in southern Germany when Karin was there. That was why I was also there. To protect her cover she never came near Wiesbaden. We'd meet for a few minutes at a party - prearranged. Chat like acquaintances for just a short time. She reported to me, I gave her fresh instructions.'
'You weren't going to mention her,' Tweed commented. 'Only Stahl.'
'Deliberately. I was fond of her - and she was a brave lady. Want to hear how I recruited her?'
'I'd like very much to hear that.' Paula broke in.
'She was a brilliant linguist. Her husband, Victor Rosewater, is with British Military Intelligence. He has had occasion to visit Wiesbaden in connection with his work. I was invited to their home. One day when I arrived Karin was on her own. She told me she'd worked for the BND at Pullach near Munich ...' Tweed glanced at Paula. The BND was German counter-espionage. 'She pressed me to let her help with my work,' Kuhlmann continued. 'Karin could be very persuasive. And I was needing an operative to back up Stahl. She seemed the perfect choice. I regret I hired her to check on the situation in France - working with Stahl.'
'Did her husband know what she was doing?' Tweed asked.
'Victor Rosewater? I warned her not to tell him. And there the arrangement fitted so well. Rosewater spends a lot of time away from home - tracking the IRA units operating in Germany, I gathered.'
'Anyone else except yourself and Stahl know what she was doing?' Tweed persisted.
'No one. Security seemed watertight.'
'Why didn't the Chancellor involve the BND in this?'
Kuhlmann waved a dismissive hand. 'They are up to their necks checking dubious characters infiltrating from Eastern Europe since unification. Also, for some reason the Chancellor seems to trust me. God knows why.'
'Because you're so reliable, like a bulldog which never gives up,' Paula said and gave him her warmest smile. 'Now do get on with your meal.'
'We'll do what we can to unravel this mystery.' Tweed assured. 'If you want to let me know how we can contact Stahl it would be helpful. It's up to you.'
Kuhlmann took out a notepad, tore off a sheet, rested it on the cardboard back so there would be no impression, wrote rapidly, gave the folded sheet to Tweed.
'Thank you for your offer of help. We need it. That gives you Stahl's present address, the name he's operating under, his phone number. The codeword which will identify you as safe is Gamelin. Now maybe we can relax - even if
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