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Tommy had hidden Duus Hansen’s new transmitter in his flat in St. Annaegade. He was reluctant to move the equipment, even though he thought he had been recognized at the nearby florist’s, fearing that it would only draw more attention to himself. He also felt that St. Annaegade still offered enough advantages to make the gamble of staying put worthwhile. If anyone tried to force their way into the building on the ground floor, for example, Emmy or Birgit could act as his early-warning system. He might well be able to escape across the rooftops before anyone reached his hideaway five storeys up.

There were good reasons for keeping cool and trying to behave normally, not least the question of the latest scientific intelligence. Professor Chiewitz hadn’t been back in touch yet, and he and his friend Niels Bohr might need clarification on a certain point in the days or weeks to come. If Tommy lost his nerve and went on the run, he would be in no position to offer it. And if he lost contact with Emmy, he wouldn’t be able to send her back out to pick the brains of her Abwehr officer, should additional information be necessary.

Despite the risks, therefore, Sneum decided to stay where he was until he had completed his investigations into Emmy’s super-bomb lead. Then he received a call from Bertelsen: ‘Niels told me that one of his colleagues had asked him, quite out of the blue, whether it was possible that I was back in Denmark. Niels had told him it was impossible.’

This alarming development meant that all local shops immediately became out of bounds for Tommy, in case he was spotted again. The solution was to order essential supplies from the local grocery store. Bags of shopping were duly delivered one morning by a rough-looking boy who looked in need of what little money the errand would earn him. Within sight of the youngster, Tommy took some cash from a pocket in the lining of his coat, which was hanging by the door. He handed the boy what he owed, then turned away to put the provisions on the kitchen table. ‘I was away for only a few seconds,’ recalled Sneum uncomfortably. ‘But it was enough.’ In those unguarded moments, the quick-thinking tearaway dipped a greedy hand into Sneum’s overcoat in search of more money. He must have been astonished to pull out a pistol instead. Instinctively, the boy hid the weapon under his own scruffy jacket. When Tommy returned to close the door, he was surprised to see the ruffian still standing there. He tossed the boy a coin as a tip, and sent him on his way.

Several hours passed before Tommy checked his overcoat pockets and found that the pistol was missing. ‘It still didn’t cross my mind at the time that the boy could have taken it, so I searched the whole flat before concluding that my security at St. Annaegade had been blown.’

Trying not to panic, he called Emmy on the ground floor and told her that she must, at all costs, prevent any uninvited visitors from entering the building. Then he rang Duus Hansen and Oxlund to tell them how much trouble he was in. They all agreed the situation amounted to an emergency, and that a full and immediate clear-out of the flat was necessary. Bravely, Sneum’s two associates volunteered to help, despite the obvious dangers to all concerned. Tommy told them to use a special series of knocks when they arrived at the front door to number fifteen. He also forewarned Emmy and gave her detailed descriptions of both men.

Within half an hour, Oxlund and Duus Hansen were frantically clearing Sneum’s flat of any incriminating evidence. Fifteen minutes later, they left in opposite directions with a bag each. The most important task had yet to be performed, however. Since Tommy had slipped up, he insisted that he should be the one to take the biggest risk of all, and move the radio set built by Duus Hansen. He made sure the others had time to vacate the area first, even though he knew time was probably against him.

Unfortunately, the youngster who had stolen the pistol