Michael Tennant hung up the phone.
“Bloody Yanks. I don’t think they believed a word of it, but they are going to put in a call to the police.”
“He’ll be dead by the time they get around to it,” Peter said.
“I know, but there is not much more we can do.”
Michael moved a box from a chair and sat down with a sigh.
“I don’t like the sound of this,” he said in a weary voice. “You remember the Sedov case in Paris? It was at a private clinic.”
“Bernie mentioned it.”
“The NKVD uses private clinics to murder people.”
“Yes, I’ve heard. Do they want to kill Tikander?”
“I can’t think of any other reason,” Michael said. “Tikander is Finnish American and anti-Soviet. By eliminating Tikander, they reduce the risk of the American Legation in Stockholm siding with Finland as they try to force a peace settlement on the government in Helsinki.”
“Bernie is talking about going in there tonight.”
“Bernie is a good man. Do whatever you have to do to save Wilho from those bastards. Just don’t tell me anymore. I don’t want to know.”
“Of course, Michael.”
“A word of advice. You have done very well here, just don’t blow it with Mallet. Try to keep your nose clean.”
“Thanks, Michael. Best of luck in Paris,” Peter said as he left him to his packing.
Hamburg, Germany
At the German telephone exchange, Anders paid the clerk and went to a phone booth. He waited for the connection and then picked up the phone when it rang.
“Hello, Britta, it’s me.”
Anders listened and then laughed.
“I just got back from our trip to Dachau and Mauthausen. There’s no sign of Rolf anywhere, Britta. He’s not on any of the lists. There are plans to go to Ravensbrück, Theresienstadt, and other camps. All I can do is to keep at it.”
In the Berger flat, Britta watched young Nils, playing on the floor with a toy Red Cross ambulance.
“He cannot have just disappeared, Anders,” Britta said in frustration. “He must be somewhere.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she tried to maintain her self-control.
“Don’t give up, Anders. Please don’t give up.”
Young Nils looked at his mother and became alarmed.
“Mamma, don’t cry.”
“Sorry, Nils is here. He says hello to his pappa.”
In the phone booth, Anders thought about his lovely little boy and felt buoyed by the sentiment.
“Tell him I love him, Britta darling. I won’t give up. I’ll find your brother. I must go. Love you, bye now.”
Anders looked physically sick as he stepped out of the booth.
Stockholm
It was after midnight when Peter and Bernie pulled up in the Opel outside the private clinic with Mads and Hendrik in the back seat. They climbed out and Bernie opened the boot.
“I brought along some white lab coats,” Peter said. “Let’s kit up as doctors.”
“Good idea,” Mads said.
Each man took a white lab coat and put it on.
“Mads and Hendrik will go in first,” Bernie said. “Don’t worry about the night watchman. I’ve already had a word with him. The door will be unlocked.”
Peter checked his Webley revolver. Bernie handed two silenced Welrod pistols with long barrels to Mads and Hendrik and then put the Thompson into a canvas bag.
“The plan is that we go in one at a time and regroup on the fourth floor.”
Mads nodded to Bernie and set off across the street. He opened the door to the clinic without incident. Two minutes later, Peter tapped Hendrik on the shoulder and sent him on his way. There was no sign of trouble, so Peter followed two minutes later. He got inside the door and froze in his tracks when the night watchman walked into the lobby. The man merely nodded at him and motioned him away from the door. They waited in silence until Bernie came in a couple of minutes later. Bernie glanced at Peter and then went over to the night watchman and slipped him some money. The man then waved them up the stairs.
It was dark on the fourth floor as Peter and Bernie exited the stairs and looked down the long, silent hallway. They checked the nearby rooms looking for Mads and Hendrik when suddenly Mads appeared pushing a gurney with Hendrik lying under a sheet. Hendrik winked at Bernie and Peter in their lab coats.
“We go first, follow us, but keep your distance,” Mads said.
Peter nodded as Mads started down the hall, pushing the gurney.