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Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin: Rupert showed his papers and proceeded on foot to the East. It was a short walk. Again, documents checked but more questions this time: purpose of visit, who was he seeing, nature of his business. The answers: Herr Arnstadt from the business section of the Interior Ministry, coffee importer. He took the U-Bahn from Stadtmitte to Alexanderplatz then changed lines for a brief trip to Magdalenenstraße.
It would have been only a short distance to the Stasi HQ complex but the preponderance of security surrounding it would be tedious and intrusive. Instead, he found the little cafe on Frankfurterallee he’d been told to use if he ever needed. Ordering coffee and a cake, he used their phone, called his contact number and waited for it to be answered. They were taking their time. He was about to put it down when the receiver was picked up but nothing said.
“This is Acrobat. I’m at the bakery. I need to speak to Radler.”
“Wait there, someone will be with you shortly.”
Twenty minutes later, a tall man entered; sports jacket, dark trousers, high forehead and a full head of almost black hair. He acknowledged the owner with a smile, revealing, for an East German, a set of teeth so white that membership of a Mormon male singing group looked a viable career. In turn, the man behind the counter nodded him to the back of the shop where a table kept the company of a wall-mounted public use telephone.
Taking a seat, he said, “I’m afraid Colonel Radler is not available at the moment. He is on official duties. I’m his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Drexler of the Stasi and you may call me Max. I’m aware of you only by your codename and that you are a very important person to us.” Without asking he turned, clicking his fingers to gain attention, and ordered two coffees. “There is obviously a problem so tell me, Acrobat?”
Rupert told him all he currently knew.
Max sipped his coffee. “You say you have a meeting set up with your SIS informant? You must push them to the limit for further details. Whilst it will not look good for us to lose a high ranking state official it will be even worse if they have another value other than mere propaganda. I will speak to Colonel Radler when he makes his next contact call.” He looked at his watch, “Which will be very soon.”