The Unlikely Spy

"That's very difficult to believe."

 

"Well, believe it. She's different from the rest. Most of Canaris's spies were useless idiots, poorly trained and ill-suited to espionage. We rolled up their networks at the beginning of the war. But we think Catherine Blake is one of their stars, a different kind of agent. We call them sleepers. She never used her radio, and it appears she never engaged in any other operation. She simply melted into British society and waited to be activated."

 

"Why did she choose me?"

 

"Allow me to phrase the question differently, Commander Jordan. Did she choose you or did you choose her?"

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"It's simple, really. I want to know why you've been flogging our secrets to the Germans."

 

"I haven't!"

 

"I want to know why you've been betraying us."

 

"I haven't betrayed anybody!"

 

"I want to know why you're acting as an agent of German intelligence."

 

"That's ridiculous!"

 

"Is it? What are we supposed to think? You've been carrying on an affair with Germany's top agent in Britain. You bring home a briefcase full of classified material. Why did you do that? Why couldn't you just tell her the secret of Operation Mulberry? Did she ask you to bring home the documents so she could photograph them?"

 

"No! I mean--"

 

"Did you volunteer to bring them home?"

 

"No!"

 

"Well, why were you walking around with this in your briefcase?"

 

"Because I was leaving early in the morning to inspect the construction sites in the south. Twenty people will verify that. Personnel security inspected my home and the vault in my study. Under certain circumstances I was allowed to take classified documents there if they were locked in the vault."

 

"Well, that was obviously an enormous mistake. Because I think you've been bringing those documents home and handing them over to Catherine Blake."

 

"That's not true."

 

"I'm just not sure whether you're a German agent or whether you've been seduced into spying."

 

"Go fuck yourself! I've had enough of this."

 

"I want to know if you've betrayed us for sex."

 

"No!"

 

"I want to know if you've betrayed us for money."

 

"I don't need money."

 

"Are you working in collusion with the woman known to you as Catherine Blake?"

 

"No."

 

"Have you knowingly or willingly supplied Allied secrets to the woman known to you as Catherine Blake?"

 

"No!"

 

"Are you working directly for German military intelligence?"

 

"That's a ridiculous question."

 

"Answer it!"

 

"No! Goddammit, no!"

 

"Are you involved in a sexual relationship with the woman known to you as Catherine Blake?"

 

"That's my business."

 

"Not anymore, Commander. I ask you again. Are you involved in a sexual relationship with Catherine Blake?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Are you in love with Catherine Blake? Commander, did you hear the question? Commander? Commander Jordan, are you in love with Catherine Blake?"

 

"Until a couple hours ago I was in love with the woman I thought was Catherine Blake. I didn't know she was a German agent and I didn't willingly give her Allied secrets. You must believe me."

 

"I'm not sure I do, Commander Jordan. But let's move on."

 

 

 

 

 

"You enlisted in the navy last October."

 

"That's correct."

 

"Why not sooner?"

 

"My wife is dead. I didn't want to leave my son alone."

 

"Why did you change your mind?"

 

"Because I was asked to join the navy."

 

"Tell me how it was done."

 

"Two men came to my office in Manhattan. It was clear they had already checked out my background, both personal and professional. They said my services were required for a project connected with the invasion. They didn't tell me what that project was. They asked me to go to Washington, and I never saw them again."

 

"What were their names?"

 

"One was called Leamann. I don't recall the other man's name."

 

"Were they both American?"

 

"Leamann was an American. The other one was British."

 

"But you don't remember his name?"

 

"No."

 

"How did he look?"

 

"He was tall and thin."

 

"Well, that narrows it to about half the country. What happened when you went to Washington?"

 

"After my security clearance came through, I was briefed on Mulberry and shown the actual plans."

 

"Why did they need you?"

 

"They wanted someone who'd had experience on large construction projects. My company had built some of the biggest bridges in the East."

 

"And what were your initial impressions?"

 

"I thought Mulberry was feasible technically, but I thought the construction schedule was a farce--far too optimistic. I could see right away that there would be delays."

 

"And what were your conclusions after the inspection you carried out today?"

 

"That the project is dangerously behind schedule. That the chance of actually completing the Phoenixes on time is about one in three."

 

"Did you share these conclusions with Catherine Blake?"

 

"Please. Let's not go through this again."

 

"You're not answering my question."

 

"No, I did not share those conclusions with Catherine Blake."

 

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