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“WE HOPE THESE SURROUNDINGSare more to your liking, Commander General.”
The annoying little man who’d so enjoyed smirking at me earlier gestured around the room they’d moved me to, and glancing at the new four walls, I took stock.
Larger than before, and with one large window away to my left that revealed the torrential rain outside, the space was certainly preferable.Plus, the latest location also benefited from two large sofas, a double bed, and a coffee table, as well as the regulation table and chairs, where they presumably intended to continue interrogating me.
“It’s much better, thank you.”I forced a smile as he steered me toward another of those uncomfortable-looking chairs.“And look, a glass of water.”
My smile was more genuine as I noticed the collection of full glasses already waiting on the table.The hammering in my head hadn’t got any better, and the water looked more appealing than ever.
“Nichts als das Beste für Sie, Commander General.”His smirk was back as he offered me the snide comment, and sliding onto the seat, I repeated it back to him.
“Nothing but the best.Thank you.I’ll remember that.”I met his gaze as he took the seat opposite me.“Will your friends be joining us again?”
The female officer who’d arrested me had left with his male colleague before I was moved there, and aside from the improved surroundings, nothing seemed to have progressed since then.I was no closer to establishing a plea deal, and there seemed to be no chance of ever seeing Caroline again.
“Officer Kaspar shall rejoin us when she’s ready.”He motioned to the glass closest to me.“Please, help yourself.”
I eyed the water thirstily, but for a split second, I hesitated.Why was he suddenly being so accommodating to my needs?Had the prospect of receiving new information about Ian been enough to lubricate the wheels of cooperation, or was there an ulterior motive for his sudden pleasantries?
“It is quite safe,” he assured me, laughing at the idea that the water could be poisoned, when I was sure we both knew examples when suspects had been harmed, or even killed, in similar circumstances.
In the end, the desire to try and clear my head won out, and reaching for the glass, I drained most of its contents.
I hadn’t dared allow myself to explore the idea that the head injury Caroline had caused me had exacerbated somehow, pushing its nagging possibility to the back of my mind.The pain was still there, though, plaguing me with uncertainty as I placed the glass back on the wooden table.
“Thank you.”I glanced out at what looked like a tiny garden, its beauty mainly obscured by the cascading rain.
“Here I have some questions we require answers to.”He produced a wad of papers from the folder he’d been carrying and slid them across the table to me.“They are in German, but I can have them translated for you if you don’t mind waiting.”
“German is fine.”I cast an eye over the reams of inquiries, hoping my head was up to the task.“Although it’s been a while since I’ve written it.”
“You can answer in English.”Opening his jacket pocket, he seized upon a pen and passed it to me.“I’m afraid we will need your answers before we can move forward.”
Taking the pen from him, I paused.“Hang on, I’m not revealing details unless I have some guarantees.”Did he think I was born yesterday?“I’ll need immunity from prosecution, at least.”
“That is a big ask, Commander General.”
“In return for the secrets of the British state,” I reminded him.“Your colleague, Kaspar, seemed to think it was a fair exchange.”
“She will need to speak to our superiors,” he corrected me.
“And has she?”
“She is checking as we speak.”His smile was disingenuous.“But there is a lot to go through, so feel free to make a start.”He signaled to the pile of papers in front of me.
“I’d prefer to wait.”
I leaned back in my seat, prepared to play hardball and gamble that they needed my information on Ian more than the ICC wanted another war criminal in the dock.Nobody had said so explicitly, but I got the sense there was a larger plan at play there, and Kaspar had mentioned that Ian’s was a scalp her bosses would like to see hanging on their walls.
“As you wish.”A conceited sneer lit up his face as he straightened, and right on cue, the door at the far end of the room opened, revealing Kaspar.
“I see you have made a start on our questions.”She nodded at the armed guard waiting outside the door as he closed it behind her, and she walked toward the table.
“I was waiting to see what your commanding officers thought about my plea deal,” I replied before her colleague had a chance to answer for me.“Do we have a deal?”
Amusement glinted in her brown eyes as she took her place beside her colleague.“How is it that you English say it?”She shook her head.“Ah, yes, you do not miss a trick, do you, Commander General?”
