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“I would guess that he wouldn’t reply at all,” Gehlen said. “Or that he would appear to play along, to see what he might learn.”
“What he did, General, was lose control. And if he was acting, he’s a better actor than John Barrymore.”
“He lost control?”
“Only for a moment, but in that moment, his chest heaved, he sobbed, and his eyes teared.”
“Interesting,” Gehlen said, softly and thoughtfully.
“He quickly regained control, but for a moment he had lost it.”
“And what did he say?”
“When he thought he had his voice—and himself—under control, he said, ‘Until you walked in here, Colonel, I really thought your young captain was desperately reaching for straws.’”
“Go on, please,” Gehlen said.
“I suppose,” Frade said, “I should’ve walked in there at least considering the possibility that my young captain had actually cracked Orlovsky—but I didn’t. So, I said the only thing I could think of: ‘Answer my question, Major Orlovsky.’”
“And?” Gehlen said softly.
“He said, ‘It is possible, unlikely but possible, that we might be able to work something out.’ To which I cleverly replied, ‘We’ll talk more about working something out,’ and left.”
Gehlen shook his head in disbelief, smiled, and said, “Jim, I underestimated you.”
“It would appear we both did,” Frade said.
“When I tell Konrad Bischoff this—if I tell him—he’ll be devastated,” Gehlen said, smiling. “I’m afraid he was looking happily forward to Jim getting his comeuppance from Colonel Mattingly.”
“You’re saying you think we can strike a deal with Orlovsky?” Frade asked.
“I think we would be foolish not to look very carefully at that possibility, no matter how remote it sounds.”
“General, I happily defer to your greater expertise,” Frade said. “Would you do that for us, sir? Lay it out?”
“Very well,” Gehlen said. “Simply, what we have is a skilled NKGB agent now in possession of information regarding Operation Ost that we cannot permit him to pass on to his superiors. What we want from him are the names of those of my people he’s turned. Now, what are we willing to pay for that information?”
Cronley began, “Sir—”
“Just sit there,” Frade snapped.
“Colonel, may I suggest that Cronley has earned the right to comment?” Gehlen said.
“Make it quick, Jimmy.”
“I was about to suggest that if we can turn him, he’s got more to tell us than the names of the Germans he’s turned.”
“True. But I suggest we’re getting a bit ahead of where we should be,” Gehlen said.
“Go ahead, General, please,” Frade said. “Cronley will hold any further comments he might wish to offer until you’re through.”
Gehlen nodded. “Colonel, can you make good on the promise to take him to Argentina?”
“Qualified answer, General: Yes, but there are problems with that.”
“Let’s proceed with your ability to get him there, and deal with the problems later. The next question is: ‘Would it be worth the risk to my agents in place for them to try to get his family out of Russia?’ The answer to that, too, has to be qualified.
“Simple answer, yes. If we don’t get the names of the people Orlovsky—or perhaps someone else in the NKGB—has turned, they can cause enormous damage. So, if you agree, Colonel Frade, what I suggest we do is accept that the information Orlovsky has is worth his price. You will establish a new life for him in Argentina and I will attempt to get his family out of Russia. What are the problems you see?”
