“I’m from Nidwalden. I was raised in a Catholic home, I married a Catholic girl in a ceremony officiated by the Church, and all three of our children were baptized.”
“But?”
“I haven’t been to Mass since the sexual abuse scandal broke.”
“Do you follow the teachings of the Vatican?”
“Why should I follow them if they don’t?”
“I assume Estermann disagreed with you.”
Bittel nodded. “He’s a lay member of an extremely conservative order based here in Switzerland.”
“The Order of St. Helena.”
Bittel’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know?”
Gabriel demurred. “I assume Estermann wanted you to join.”
“He was like an evangelist. He said I could be a secret member, that no one would know other than his bishop. He also said there were lots of people like us in the Order.”
“Us?”
“Intelligence officers and security types. Prominent businessmen and politicians, too. He said joining the Order would do wonders for my post-NDB career.”
“How did you handle it?”
“I told him I wasn’t interested and changed the subject.”
“When was the last time you spoke to him?”
“It’s been five years, at least. Probably more like six.”
“What was the occasion?”
“Estermann’s retirement from the BfV. He wanted to give me his new contact information. Apparently, he struck gold. He’s working for a big German firm based in Munich.”
“The Wolf Group?”
“How did—”
“Lucky guess,” said Gabriel.
“Estermann told me to call him when I was ready to leave the NDB. There’s a Wolf Group office here in Zurich. He said he would make it worth my while.”
“You don’t happen to have his cell number, do you?”
“Sure. Why?”
“I’d like you to take him up on his offer. Tell him you’re going to be in Munich on Wednesday evening. Tell him you want to talk about your future.”
“But I can’t possibly go to Munich on Wednesday.”
“He doesn’t need to know that.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Drinks. Somewhere quiet.”
