One of the older boys was inside. He was maybe thirteen or fourteen. Marion had seen him many times before but couldn’t remember his name. In his arms he held another child. A girl, much younger than he was. Her head rested against his chest and her eyes were closed in sleep.

It was Iris. There was no mistaking her.

The old woman held her hands out, and the boy gave her the child.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“She slept the whole time, Frau Roslyn.” The boy smiled. “She was very good. Are they gone?”

Before Roslyn could answer, the loud pounding of feet came from the stairs near the front of the building.

“Madame Krueger? Madame Krueger?” a voice called from the direction of the footsteps. Male, deep. One of the soldiers, using Roslyn’s surname.

Roslyn looked back at the boy. He was still in the tiny space behind the secret door. “Out,” she said. “Quickly!”

The boy stepped out into the office.

“Madame Krueger?” the voice was closer.

“Take her,” Roslyn said as she held Iris out to Marion. “Get inside. You have to hide.”

“What?” Marion said.

“There’s no time,” the old woman said. “Please. Take her.”

Marion instinctively pulled the child into her arms, careful to point the end of the stunner away from the girl’s back.

“Now get in,” Roslyn said.

“I don’t think I’ll fit.”

“They’ll take her if you don’t.”

Marion nodded as she realized there was no choice. She stepped past the woman and the boy into the small space in the wall.

“I’ll let you out when they’re gone,” Roslyn said.

“What if she wakes?” Marion asked.

“I gave her something to help her sleep. You’ll be fine.”

Before Marion could say anything else, the secret door closed, entombing her and Iris in the wall. The seal was a good one. There was absolutely no light. Marion could never remember being anyplace so completely dark. For a moment she allowed the fear to shake through her like a deep chill. But then she heard the office door fly open, and she froze.