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“I like it better when you say ‘we’ instead of ‘you.’”

“Unfair, Jim. I’m marching right beside you down Suicide Row, and you know it.”

“Yeah, I do.” Cronley punched Dunwiddie affectionately on the shoulder. “And I appreciate it.”

[ TWO ]

Former General Reinhard Gehlen was sitting with former Colonel Ludwig Mannberg when Captain James D. Cronley Jr. and First Sergeant Chauncey L. Dunwiddie walked into the small—one table—room that served as the senior officers’ mess.

Both Germans rose to their feet, and Cronley as quickly gestured for them to remain seated.

I did that with all the practiced élan of my fellow Cavalry officer Colonel Robert Mattingly, but we all know it’s just a little theater.

The four of us know who’s low man on the protocol totem pole. On the totem pole, period.

What is that line? “In the intelligence business, nothing is ever what it seems to be.”

“Guten Morgen,” Cronley said.

“I hope you’re free to join us,” Gehlen replied in German.

“Thank you,” Cronley said, as he and Dunwiddie sat. “We haven’t had our breakfast.”

A German waiter in a starched white jacket appeared immediately. Cronley and Dunwiddie ordered.

When the waiter had left, Cronley told Dunwiddie to close the door, then handed both messages to Gehlen.

“I think you should have a look at these, sir.”

After reading them, Gehlen said, “I have some questions, of course, but before I ask them, have I your permission to show the messages to Mannberg?”

Is he really asking that question, or is he playing me for the fool he thinks I am? The fool I probably am.

What

am I supposed to say with Mannberg sitting at the table? “I’d rather you didn’t.”

Or am I being paranoid?

Was the question just courtesy?

Or even more than that, to courteously make the point to me and Mannberg that he recognizes that I’m in charge?

“I’ve assumed all along that Ludwig is in this as deep as we are,” Cronley said. “Isn’t he?”

Where the hell did that come from?

My mouth was on automatic. I heard what I said as it came out.

But I think I just drove the ball into the general’s court. From the look on his face and Mannberg’s, so do they.

Score one for the Boy Intelligence Officer?

“I appreciate your confidence, Captain Cronley,” Mannberg said.

“Let’s get the questions out of the way,” Cronley said. “And then we’d like to get your opinions on something else.”

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