“It doesn’t matter. If he was indeed an impostor, feeding him was all von Eckhart needed. The Kommandantur has a file on many houses these days. Especially,” he added softly, “on the house of someone who reappeared as Fräulein Lassone did.”
Genny sucked in another sudden breath, followed by a new supply of tears. “What shall we do? How do we get her home?”
Edward folded his arms. “If we can’t bribe her freedom, can we at least bribe a quicker trial date?”
“I don’t know. That depends on the amount of cash you have available.”
Edward nodded, then left the house with the promise to return as quickly as he could. It wouldn’t do to have the Major know there was a stash of valuables in the cellar beneath his feet.
But Edward wasn’t going far. Henri knew where to get both jewels and cash.
23
From those who occupy the land of “poets and thinkers” came this debacle! They have created nothing so noble as their forebears hoped. Indeed, wherever they step, they perpetrate tragedy in blood and ruin upon land made sacred by our loss.
La Libre Belgique
* * *
“There he is. Let me go. Jean-Luc! Jean-Luc!”
Isa looked toward the commotion, the first time in two hours that she opened her eyes. She saw a woman, dressed in a simple but tailored gown of the bourgeois class—a bit tattered, perhaps, like most clothing in Brussels these days, but dark, like the gowns all Belgian women wore. A soldier held her but she managed to break free, scurrying at once to the cell down the row. A man met her with arms outstretched, bars hindering their touch.
“Ah, Jean-Luc! Mon cher!” She collapsed against the iron, whimpering.
The soldier pulled her away even as the man in the cell begged him not to hurt her. She fought him, and the soldier had all he could do to drag the woman across the floor—stopping at Isa’s cell.
Another soldier appeared from the stairwell and helped shove the woman inside. The woman only cried, face hidden in her arms.
“Pierrette! Pierrette!”
Isa looked between the two of them. Finally the man’s voice penetrated the woman’s grief and she crawled to the edge of the cell to see the man calling her name.
“Be strong, my Pierrette! We are here together, and together we go. Together, Pierrette!”
She scrambled to her knees. “Yes, Jean-Luc! Together!”
Isa felt like a reluctant voyeur to witness such pain, affection, and intimacy all at once. Pity moved her, made her wish she could appeal to the compassion of those responsible for separating these two. But Isa knew she, least of all, could be of any help.
At last the woman sank to the floor and looked up as if noticing her surroundings—and Isa—for the first time.
“I wish I could offer you a handkerchief,” Isa said, now that the woman seemed exhausted of her tears. “But as you can see, I’m not equipped to offer anything at all.”
The woman brushed her face with her hands. She looked back at the cell down the row, and so did Isa. The man sat on his cot, similar to the one Isa occupied. They were too far apart to converse without shouting.
Isa stood, motioning to the single cot. “Will you be more comfortable here?”
The woman pulled herself to her feet. She was not heavy but rather solid, and her slow movement indicated perhaps she was unused to the exercise she’d put herself through—fighting the guard, shouting, and convulsive weeping.
“Merci.” The cot sagged under her weight. “Oh, but there is only one!” She looked at Isa. “Perhaps one of us will be able to leave soon, with only one cot.”
“Yes, perhaps.” Isa thought the Germans more likely to bring in another cot than let either of them go.
“Why are you here?” Pierrette never looked at Isa as she spoke. Her gaze was riveted to the man down the row.
“To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what charges they will make up.”
“Ah.” The woman nodded. “Well, I’ve heard it doesn’t matter if they have evidence or not. One German’s word is all they need to put someone away.”
Isa had learned that from Jonah’s experience. “And you?”
The woman lifted her hands as if she didn’t know either. “I cannot say.”
“Do you mean they’ve brought you here for no reason? the same as me?”
The woman gave her a half smile. “I didn’t say that. But there are many ears around here, yes? I’ve no wish to add to whatever crime they think I’ve committed. You see?”