The Scarlatti Inheritance(3)

“Thank you, Mr. Secretary. A month ago word was relayed through Lisbon that Kroeger wanted to make contact with us. Channels were arranged and we expected the normal procedures to be followed.… Instead Kroeger rejected these procedures—refused any contact with British or French units—insisted on direct communication with Washington.”

“If I may?” Brayduck’s tone was courteous. “I don’t think that’s an abnormal decision. We’re the predominant factor, after all.”

“It was abnormal, Mr. Brayduck, insofar as Kroeger would communicate with no one other than a Major Canfield.… Major Matthew Canfield who is, or was, an efficient minor officer in Army Intelligence stationed in Washington.”

Brayduck held his pipe motionless and looked at the brigadier general. Cordell Hull leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on the desk.

“There’s no mention of this in your memorandum.”

“I realize that, sir. I omitted it in the conceivable event that the memorandum might be read by someone other than yourself.”

“You have my apologies, General.” Brayduck was sincere.

Ellis smiled at the victory.

Hull leaned back in his chair. “A ranking member of the Nazi High Command insists upon communicating only with an obscure major in Army Intelligence. Most unusual!”

“Unusual, but not unheard of.… We’ve all known German nationals; we merely assumed that Major Canfield had met Kroeger before the war. In Germany.”

Brayduck stepped forward toward the brigadier. “Yet you tell us that Kroeger may not be a German. Therefore between Kroeger’s request from Lisbon and your memorandum to the secretary something changed your mind. What was it? Canfield?”

“Major Canfield is a competent, at times excellent Intelligence officer. An experienced man. However, since the channel between him and Kroeger was opened, he’s displayed marked tendencies of being under emotional strain. He’s become extremely nervous and hasn’t functioned in the manner of an officer with his background and experience.… He has also, Mr. Secretary, instructed me to make a most unusual request of the president of the United States.”

“Which is?”

“That a classified file from the archives of the State Department be delivered to him with the seals unbroken, before he makes contact with Heinrich Kroeger.”

Brayduck took his pipe from his mouth, about to object.

“Just one minute, Mr. Brayduck.” Brayduck may be brilliant, thought Hull, but did he have any idea of what it meant to a career officer such as Ellis to face the two of them and make a statement? For his statement was an undisguised petition for the White House and the State Department to seriously consider granting Canfield’s request. Many officers would have rejected the illegal proposition rather than allow themselves to be placed in such a position. That was the army way. “Am I correct in assuming that you recommended the release of this file to Major Canfield?”

“That judgment would have to be yours. I only point out that Heinrich Kroeger has been instrumental in every important decision made by the Nazi hierarchy since its inception.”

“Could the defection of Heinrich Kroeger shorten the war?”

“I don’t know. The possibility brought me to your office.”

“What is the file this Major Canfield demands?” Brayduck was annoyed.

“I know only the number and the classification stated by the archives section of the State Department.”

“What are they?” Cordell Hull again leaned forward on his desk.

Ellis hesitated. It would be inviting personal as well as professional embarrassment to state the terms of the file without giving Hull the data on Canfield. He would have been able to do that had Brayduck not been there. Goddamn college boys. Ellis was always uncomfortable with the fast talkers. Damn! he thought. He’d be direct with Hull.

“Before I answer you, may I take the opportunity to fill in some background material I believe is most relevant.… Not only relevant, sir, but intrinsic to the file itself.”

“By all means.” Hull wasn’t sure whether he was irritated or fascinated.

“The final communication from Heinrich Kroeger to Major Canfield demands a preliminary meeting with someone identified only as … April Red. This meeting is to take place in Bern, Switzerland, prior to any negotiations between Kroeger and Canfield.”

“Who is April Red, General? I gather from the tone of your voice that you have an idea who he may be.” Very little was lost on Undersecretary Brayduck, and Brigadier Ellis was painfully aware of the fact.

“We … or more specifically … I think I do.” Ellis opened the white folder in his hands and flipped the top page over the cardboard. “If I may have the secretary’s permission, I have extracted the following from Major Canfield’s security check.”