Excerpt from The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"No, sorry."

"He arranged the Abel swap. And many others. Now too many. So there's business for me," he said, breezy, a car salesman. But she'd married him. Made him Peter's father. Did Peter call him that?

"Then I have you to thank."

"No, no. Sabine. The British would say no and she would say, ask again. Offer them more. I think she feels—you know, you're so many years in prison. Only you." So he knew. But of course he would. "But the British still said no. I think because the Americans didn't like it."

"And then you changed their minds."

"Well, the Americans. It's a long time and maybe they don't care so much anymore. And I made the point that your parole would come soon. After that, they don't have you to trade, so why not make a deal now? Get something for you."

"Like those dangerous characters," Martin said, cocking his head back toward the raincoats.

"Yes, Boothby. Just in time for his pension. The students." He waved his hand in dismissal. "So also some political prisoners for the West Germans. They'll be exchanged tonight at Herleshausen. And the West Germans will be very grateful to their British friends. So everyone gets something." The salesman smile again. What was he talking about? Political prisoners. Martin just a piece of contraband. But what did it matter? He was here.

"Sabine didn't come?"

"No. This business, it's better if it's done quietly. But you will come tonight. For dinner." He hesitated. "You know, I maybe should be a little bit jealous. The first husband."

"A long time ago."

"Still. The first love," he said.

Martin looked over to the Charité complex, then back at him. "A long time," he said again. "I'm grateful for everything you've done."

A faint nod. "Peter. He's always known you were his father. We made sure of that. So he's curious. He thinks you're a socialist hero."

"Hardly."

"The man who gave us the bomb. That's what they used to say in Neues Deutschland. You know you'll have to give them an interview. It's not so usual these days, coming east."

"Why all the secrecy, then? If it's going to be news."

"No secrecy," Kurt said. "It's better people don't know how these things are arranged. The details. That's all. It's enough to know you are here. Well, there's the car. I'll drop you at the hotel."

"The hotel?" Not with Sabine and Peter, his family. But they were Kurt's family now.

"The Berolina. Only the best for a distinguished guest," Kurt said, a wink in his voice. "We'll find you an apartment later. When your plans are settled."

"That's very generous. I didn't expect—"

"Apartments are assigned," Kurt said, explaining. "I'll get you a priority on the list, but until then, the Berolina. A guest of the state." He lowered his voice, suddenly practical. "You still have an English bank account, yes? Hard currency. Very valuable here when you transfer the funds. Well, come."

An ambulance was pulling into Invalidenstrasse, life going on. The raincoats had disappeared into their pickup car. Martin looked at the bridge, empty now, the road barrier still up, waiting for them to leave, the final exit of the play.

"Of course you will also have a pension from the state," Kurt was saying. "You will be comfortable."

"But I'd still want to teach, do something. Be useful."

"A good socialist," Kurt said, another wink. He nodded. "You will be. Don't worry about Neues Deutschland. I'll help you—what to say. One interview only. Be careful," he said, suddenly pulling at Martin's sleeve. "They don't slow down." Backing them away from the path of the ambulance, then doing a double-take. "But it's the wrong way. Alt!" A shout to the guards, who were stepping back to let the ambulance pass, then springing forward again to stop it at the wall opening.

"Alt!"

Excerpted from The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon. Copyright © 2022 by Joseph Kanon. Excerpted by permission of Scribner. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.