Forty-five minutes later, Martín spotted Milton Leibermann, sitting over a cup of coffee, in a café on the Plaza de Sant Elmo.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Martín said. “May I join you?”
“Of course,” Leibermann said.
Martín pulled up a small chair and, when the waiter appeared, ordered a café cortado.
Leibermann slid a three-by-five-inch filing card across the table.
* * *
GENERALMAJOR MANFRED VON DEITZBERG
(HIMMLER’S ADJUTANT, ACTUALLY SS-OBERFÜHRER)
DEPUT
Y FOREIGN MINISTER GEORG VON LÖWZER.
STANDARTENFÜHRER ERICH RASCHNER
WILL BE ON NEXT LUFTHANSA FLIGHT, PROBABLY IN 72 HOURS OR LESS
KORVETTENKAPITÄN KARL BOLTITZ, WORKS FOR CANARIS, WILL FOLLOW, TO BECOME NAVAL ATTACHÉ. DON’T KNOW WHEN.
* * *
“What’s this all about, Milton?” Martín asked, slipping the filing card into his pocket.
“Argentina’s a beautiful country. They may be tourists. Or they may be here to eat. I understand there’s a growing food shortage where they’re coming from.”
“How good is this information?”
Leibermann held out his balled fist, thumb extended upward. “You can take it to the bank, Bernardo,” he said.
“And if you had to make a guess, why would you say they’re coming here?”
“I don’t know if this is true or not, but I’ve heard that the German Military Attaché left for home under somewhat mysterious circumstances.”
“I’ve heard that myself,” Martín said, and smiled. “And what can I do for you, Milton?”
“Odd that you should ask, my friend. As you know, I’m very interested in photography. If, wandering around Sant Elmo, you should happen to come across some photographs of interesting faces…”
“I’ll see what I can do, Milton.”
“It’s always a pleasure doing business with you, Bernardo.”
Martín reached into his pocket for money to pay for the coffee.
Leibermann stopped him. “My pleasure, Bernardo.”
“You’re very kind. Are we still on for Saturday?”
“Oh, I’m glad you brought that up. No. I have been invited to a wedding.”
“In the country?”
Leibermann nodded.