5
Von Schleiben was exasperated. To begin with, there was no one to whom he could report the theft except himself. As director of the Council for Extreme Security, the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, better known as R. S. H. A., he was as much the German police force as anyone in Germany. Not that the loss was important. It was only a clothing locker, but it had been built to the General’s personal specifications in Finland less than half a year before. It was made of a lightweight burnished metal and had the uncommon dimensions of two and three-quarter meters in length, a meter in width and one and a quarter meters in height. Three brass clasps, two combination locks and four leather straps secured the exterior. The lining consisted of triple layers of thick burgundy velvet. The locker was sprayed a deep vermilion. It was also waterpoof.
A far graver point of irritation was the attention the Spangler case was receiving. Even though the Council sessions were under strictest security, word was out that a supercriminal existed, had operated for years without being identified. If the Tolan girl were freed, the entire political detention system would have to be revised. Prisoners would be shuttled around like chess pieces. If the Tolan girl were freed, von Schleiben would suffer great embarrassment—or worse.
Another issue of concern was Zieff, the Abwehr representative. Zieff was too quiet, too noncommittal. He was up to something. Von Schleiben knew that military intelligence had been covertly watching the camps—but why? What were they after? What did they know? Hadn’t the change of command from Canaris to Schellenberg made any difference?
Von Schleiben had never liked Munich. He had always felt it was a city of thieves. Now one of them had confirmed his suspicions, had had the audacity, not to mention the skill, to elude the SS guards, penetrate the General’s private railroad car and make off with his vermilion locker.
Von Schleiben searched his compartment one last time, reluctantly notified the provost of his loss, climbed into the limousine and began his trip back to the Council session.
Debate was cut short. The issue was clearly defined. The vote would be either for or against the Webber Proposition, the detailed forty-four-page SD-Ausland–Kripo blueprint to capture Erik Spangler at Oranienburg. The combined operation would require men and material from every organization represented on the Council.
“SS?” the provost called out.
“SS for,” the delegate responded.
“Sipo?”
“For.”
“Kripo?”
“For the Webber Proposition,” the Kripo representative said enthusiastically.
“Totenkopf?”
“For.”
“Gestapo?”
“… For.”
“Abwehr?”
“The Abwehr,” Zieff began quietly, “requests permission to be released from all activities of the Council in matters concerning the alleged Erik Spangler.”
“No agency can withdraw from this body,” von Schleiben thundered.
“We do not ask withdrawal, our request is for temporary release, Herr Obergruppenfuehrer.”
“On whose authority?”
“By direct command of Obergruppenfuehrer Schellenberg.”
“Schellenberg heads SD-Ausland as well as Abwehr,” von Schleiben barked. “How can he let one of his groups undertake an operation and order the other not to participate?”
“Obergruppenfuehrer Schellenberg will most certainly provide the details.”
“Schellenberg is not here. You are. I demand the specifications.”
“It is beyond my authority to discuss it.”
“Your authority has just been extended—by my order.”
Zieff gazed calmly at the General. “We believe, Herr Obergruppenfuehrer, that a security leak exists within this body.”
Von Schleiben eased back into his chair. His hands tented under his chin. “Would it be too much to ask who the traitor is, and to whom his information is going?”
“We believe the information is traveling east, to the Russians.”
“And the traitor—are we privy to this fact?”
“All that we can say is that we believe it is one of two organizations.”
“Two organizations represented in this room, I suppose?”
“Yes.”
“And can I assume that were I to inquire which organizations are suspect, you would plead security?”
“You are correct in your assumption, Obergruppenfuehrer.”
“Request for temporary release granted,” von Schleiben said. He watched Zieff rise and leave the room. “The Webber Proposition,” the General ordained, “is accepted and approved. Implementation will proceed at the conclusion of this meeting. Provost, what other matters are on the agenda?”
“Intelligence concerning reception of high-frequency radio test signals believed to be coming from a new Anglo-American espionage communications center somewhere in northern England. A proposal just received for exchange of captured agents. Detection of Egyptian instal—”
“Begin with the exchange proposal,” was von Schleiben’s mandate.