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sense," Donovan went on, "is to interrupt production of the engines. But that,
in turn, depends on our getting our hands on either an engine or else its
specifications. That will allow our technical people to determine how
production can be delayed. Special metals, special smelting techniques,
special machining, special machines to make those machines... Are you
following me?"
"Yes, Sir," Canidy said.
"The Fokker Company has sublet the development and production contracts for
the engine to FEG-that is, to Fulmar Elektrische Gesellschaft.
"And you think Eric can help?"
"We hope so."
"Then how?"
"He can help us recruit a man who we hope can do something useful in this
regard. Our man in Morocco, Murphy... You met him, I think?"
"On my way out," Canidy confirmed. "He has established a rather interesting
contact with a man named Helm ut von Heurten-Mitnitz."
"He heads the Franco-German Armistice Commission," Canidy said. "He was doing
his damnedest-he and an SS officer named Milller-to get Fulmar back to
Germany."
"Well, for several reasons, Murphy believes he can be very valuable to us.
Fulmar is the key to his cooperation. That's why we brought Fulmar out of
Morocco. It has little or nothing to do with Operation Torch."
"How is this tied in with the African flight?"
"It's not," Donovan said after a moment's hesitation. It was obvious that
Canidy did not believe him, "And this breach of security has fucked this up?"
"If it gets out, it will," Donovan said. "Then, and for the first time, I am
truly sorry," Canidy said. "Shit! Why didn't somebody tell me this?"
"You weren't sorry before?"
"You want a straight answer to that?" Canidy asked. "Please," C.
Holds worth Martin, Jr." said. "It struck me as much ado about nothing,"
Canidy said. Donovan coughed, as if he were trying in vain to dislodge
something in his throat. Canidy waited for him to stop and then went on.
"All you have to do is tell Bitter and Doug lass to keep their mouths shut. To
consider them security risks is patently absurd. So far as Whittaker and
Martin are concerned, they don't know anything, except who's here in Deal.
They also can be told to keep their mouths shut.
There is a problem with one of the women, Ann Chambers. She may look like
she's nineteen years old, but she's a lot smarter than you'd think just to
look at her. Last night she was pumping everybody."
"You think she learned anything?"
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"No," Canidy said matter-of-factly.
"I'm sure she didn't. But she's smart, and we can't afford to have her
speculating in the newspapers."
"Are you telling me that, with her exception, you don't see any security
problem?"
"I don't suppose my opinion is worth much," Canidy said, "but if you figure
some way to shut her up, I don't see a security problem, period.
I never did."
"That's very interesting, Canidy," Donovan said.
"It is almost exactly the opposite of the opinion Baker holds. And he's a
professional."
"I'm not exactly an amateur myself anymore, Colonel. I stopped being an
amateur when the sub went off without me."
"Not exactly an amateur, but not a professional either," Donovan said.
"Okay, Canidy, that'll be it. Thank you."
"What's my status, may I ask?"
"Mr. Martin and I are going to discuss that now. Until a decision has been
reached, I think it would be best if you waited in your room."
"Yes, Sir," Canidy said. When he had gone, Martin said, "You're not going to
like this, Bin, but my vote goes to Canidy."
"Oh, mine, too," Donovan said.
"What you and I are going to have to do is come up with some way to stroke
Baker's ruffled feathers. He's good, and we can't afford to have him feeling
that we're pissing on him."
"Piss on him a little, Bill," Martin said.
"It'll be good for him. He seems to think that he's the spy master, and that's
your role." Donovan thought that over a moment. "I'll tell you what," he said.
"I'll send him in and you piss on him. Tell him you question his judgment
about yelling "Fire!" so loudly."
"Why me?"
"It was your idea, Holds worth," Donovan said reasonably, and stood up.
"I'm going to go see Canidy and read the riot act again, and then I'm going to
find out if he really has laid on a clambake. I haven't been to one in years."
TWENTY-ONE Summer Place Deal, New Jersey July 4, 1942
Colonel William J. Donovan was not surprised at Dick Canidy's reaction when he
went to Canidy's room-actually a small apartment over the boathouse-and told
him that he had decided it would be a mistake to put everybody on ice. From
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the tone of Canidy's "Yes, Sir," Donovan understood that Canidy had already
put himself in Donovan's shoes, considered the possible options, and reached
the decision that Donovan would most likely come to. "That's all you've got to
say? No questions?"
"All sorts of questions," Canidy said.
"How are you going to handle Baker? How are you going to handle the Chambers
girl? And that bird brained friend of hers, Charity Hoc he?
Canidy is either more artfully deceitful than I believe or he really has no
idea how Ann Chambers feels about him "I've spoken to the Chambers girl,"
Donovan said.
"She's very much like her father. Once she understands how important it is to
protect the secrecy of what we're doing, it wouldn't enter her mind to
endanger that by writing about it."
"The Chambers newspapers ran Drew Pearson's "Donovan's Dilettantes' column,"
Canidy said.
"Brandon Chambers reserves the right to read Pearson's columns before they run
in his newspapers. He has killed dozens of them that I know about. I can only
assume that Chambers decided that whatever I'm doing, I'm not providing a
haven for well-bred draft dodgers, and thus there was no question of national
security involved."
"Hmmm," Canidy grunted thoughtfully. "Or he believed Pearson," Donovan said,
chuckling, "and decided to publish that piece as his patriotic duty. It's even
possible that he understood I would actually be pleased by such a story,
because it would divert attention from what we're really doing." Canidy
laughed at that. He knew Brandon Chambers enough to see that Donovan might be
right about that. "In any event, I'm going to arrange to have a meal with him
to express my appreciation for his discretion. I don't think we have anything
to worry about with the Chamberses, pre or fille. Canidy nodded.
"And the birdbrain? "We're going to offer Miss Hoc he," Donovan said, "whose
father, incidentally, is also a friend of mine, summer employment."
"Summer employment? Doing what?" Canidy asked, surprised. "Working at the
house on Q Street, where she can relieve many of Cynthia's housekeeping
chores. Cynthia can meanwhile keep an eye on her."
"I don't know how to say this tactfully, Colonel," Canidy said, "but do you
understand how outraged Baker is?"
"I understand that he holds you in contempt, Dick," Donovan said.
"Perhaps even more than he holds me in at this moment. But I have a plan which
will, I hope, make him come to see me as profoundly wise and sound of
judgment."
"How are you going to do that?"
"I'm going to promote him," Donovan said. Canidy laughed.
"To what?"
"Director of recruitment and training for the OSS," Donovan said. "I don't
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