Len Deighton, London Match - literature save 2

'I wish I could, Werner. But I'll have to be here when it comes out of the water.Dicky put that in writing and you know what he's like.''Are you going to try again soon?''In about an hour. What did you find out at the hospital this morning?''Nothing very helpful. The people who took her away were dressed up to be adoctor and hospital staff. They had the Citroen waiting outside. From what the people inthe reception office say, the ambulance was supposed to be taking her to a private clinicin Dahlem.''What about the cop guarding her?''For him they had a different story. They told him they were clinic staff. They saidthey were just taking her downstairs for another X-ray and would be back in about thirtyminutes. She was very weak and complained bitterly about being moved. She probablydidn't realize what was going to happen.''That she was going into the Havel, you mean?''No. That they were a KGB team, there to get her away from police custody.'I said, 'Why didn't the clinic reception phone the police before releasing her?''I don't know, Bernie. One of them said that she was taken out using the papers ofa patient who was due to be moved that day. Another one said there was a policemanoutside with the ambulance, so it seemed to be all in order. We'll probably never find outexactly what happened. It's a hospital, not a prison; the staff don't worry too much aboutwho's going in and out.''What do you make of it, Werner?''They knew she was talking, I suppose. Somehow what she was telling us gotback to Moscow and they decided there was only one way of handling it.''Why not take her straight back into East Berlin?' I said.'In an ambulance? Very conspicuous. Even the Russians are not too keen on thatsort of publicity. Snatching a prisoner from police custody and taking her across the wirewould not look good at a time when the East Germans are trying to show the world whatgood neighbours they can be.' He looked at me. I pulled a face. 'It's easier this way,'added Werner. 'They got rid of her. They were taking no chances. If she had talked to usalready, they'd be making sure she couldn't give evidence.''But it's a drastic remedy, Werner. What made them get so excited?''They knew she was handling the radio traffic your wife provided.''Right,' I said. 'And Fiona is over there. So why would they be worried about whatshe might tell us?''Fiona is behind it? Is that what you mean?''It's difficult not to suspect her hand is in it.''But Fiona is safe and sound. What has she got to worry about?''Nothing, Werner, she's got nothing to worry about.'He looked at me as if puzzled. Then he said, The radio traffic then. What didDicky think about the multiple codes?''Dicky didn't seem to be listening. He was hoping the Miller woman would justfade away, and he's forbidden me to speak with Stinnes.''Dicky was never one to go looking for extra work,' said Werner.'No one is interested,' I said. 'I went down to talk to Silas Gaunt and von Munteand neither of them were very interested. Silas waggled his finger at me when I brought