C-CONSIDERING THIS, AND NATIONALITY OF SICK MAN ON THE AIRCRAFT, THIS POINTS TO THE SOVIET UNION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT USE OF GERMAN PANZERFAUST 60-MM ROCKETS ALSO SUGGESTS IT WAS HOPED THE GERMANS WOULD BE BLAMED FOR THE ASSAULT. IT IS NOTED THAT SOVIET UNION IS IN TALKS WITH THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT REGARDING RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
D-IT IS UNLIKELY PERPETRATORS WILL EVER BE KNOWN TO THE POINT WHERE CHARGES COULD BE DRAWN.
2-FOREGOING MAKES DISCOVERY OF THE CAUSE OF BREACH IN OUR SECURITY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. EXPEND ALL EFFORTS TO FIND THE SOURCE OF LEAK.
TEX
END
TOP SECRET LINDBERGH
—
Cronley suddenly felt clammy and sick to his stomach, and it took a great effort not to throw up. He knew who the source of the leak was. He did not mention this to either Gehlen or Dunwiddie. He was far too deeply shamed.
He waited until after the next message came in. That was two hours later.
He was later to recall that those two hours were the worst in his life.
PRIORITY
TOP SECRET LINDBERGH
DUPLICATION FORBIDDEN
FROM TEX
VIA VINT HILL TANGO NET
1910 GREENWICH 10 NOVEMBER 1945
TO VATICAN ATTN ALTARBOY
SHARE WITH GEHLEN ONLY
1. AT THE SUGGESTION OF FATHER WELNER, ORLOVSKY WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT HIS INJURIES WERE PROBABLY FATAL. FATHER WELNER ARRANGED FOR A PRIEST OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX FAITH, WHOM HE KNOWS TO BE ANTI-COMMUNIST, TO VISIT ORLOVSKY ON HIS DEATHBED TO ADMINISTER THE LAST RITES.
2. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THIS CLERIC, ORLOVSKY DECLARED THAT
A. HIS REAL NAME IS SERGIE LIKHAREV AND HE HOLDS RANK OF COLONEL IN NKGB.
B. HIS WIFE, NATALIA, AND SONS, SERGIE AND PAVEL, RESIDE AT NEVSKY PROSPEKT 114 LENINGRAD.
C. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN HE ENTERED KLOSTER GRUNAU HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH FORMER OBERSTLEUTNANT GUNTHER VON PLAT AND FORMER MAJOR KURT BOSS, AND THAT HE WISHED THIS INFORMATION RELAYED VIA CAPTAIN CRONLEY TO GENERAL GEHLEN.
3. NONE OF THE FOREGOING SHOULD DIMINISH IN ANY WAY ANY OF YOUR EFFORTS TO UNCOVER THE LEAKER.
TEX
END
TOP SECRET LINDBERGH
—
After reading the SIGABA printout, Cronley decided that the time to confess had arrived.
He struggled to find his voice, then in a quiet monotone said, “Tiny, would you mind leaving me alone with the general for a couple of minutes?”