‘I, too, do not wish to die. I have a proposition to make.’
Reece took a step forward. ‘If you think—’
Hacket caught him by the arm. ‘Wait a minute. Let’s hear what he’s got to say.’
‘I think I can arrange it so that we all get out,’ Sansevino said. ‘But naturally I expect something in return.
‘What?’ Hacket asked.
‘My liberty — that is all.’
‘All!’ Reece exclaimed. ‘What has happened to Petkof and Vemeriche? And probably there are others.’
‘They are alive. You have my word for it. I do not kill unless I have to.’
‘You didn’t need to kill Shirer.’
‘What else was I to do? The Germans make me do their dirty work for them. When they lose the war I know what will happen. I shall be arrested and sentenced to death by your Allied murder courts. I do not like to be killed. If it is a question of my life or someone else’s—’ He shrugged his shoulders.