Page 39 of Shadows In Paris
The woman perched stiffly on the chair. ‘No, thank you. I must leave. You don’t understand the severity of the situation. The family needs moving today.’
Lizzie replaced the kettle. ‘Alright, tell me what you think Angel would do if she were here.’
The woman’s craggy face brightened, making her look younger briefly. ‘Thank you,’ she said, sinking back against the chair. ‘Angel would find somewhere for the family to stay until we can get them out of Paris. They are in grave danger.’
Lizzie took a deep breath. ‘Where is the family hiding now and how many of them are there?’
‘They are in my bedroom. There are four of them. An eminent scientist who the Nazis would love to get their grubby hands on, and his wife and their two young children—a boy and a girl.’
‘If we don’t move them today, they will be arrested. My flat is small, and I have neighbours who will inform on me if they suspect I’m harbouring Jews.’
Lizzie pondered for a moment. ‘How about hiding them in the Jewish Quarter? Surely someone would take them in.’
‘Do you have the list?’
Lizzie racked her brains and after a pause said, ‘What list?’
‘Angel has a list of contacts who volunteered to help us. We can’t put this family in the Pletzl.’
Lizzie looked at her blankly.
‘That’s the name of the Jewish Quarter.’
‘Why can’t they hide there?’
The woman sighed. ‘Because it’s the first place, they’ll search for them, my dear.’
‘Oh, right,’ Lizzie said, feeling as dense as she had during her time at Bletchley Park. ‘That makes sense. I hadn’t thought of that. Sorry I’m new to this.’
‘It’s a terrible business. There are more Jews under threat of arrest every day.’
‘What do you suggest until I see Hannah?’
The woman looked around the room. ‘This is a big house. I could bring them here.’
Lizzie knew it was a bad idea, but she couldn’t think what else to do. ‘Why do the Nazis want this scientist so badly?’
‘I don’t know the specifics, but they want his research. He says he’d rather die than give his life’s work to them. Sadly, he just might if we can’t get him and his family out.’
Lizzie made up her mind. ‘Alright. Can you get them here tonight after dark?’
‘What about curfew?’
‘If the Nazis are hunting for them, under cover of darkness will be your best chance of getting them here without being stopped. Come through the forest.’
The woman nodded. ‘Yes, that’s the way I came this morning.’
They discussed the plan and then Lizzie saw the womanout and hurried to get her coat. Now she was late for her meeting with Francois about the next rail attack.
The day passed in a blur of activity. Francois was still waiting even though she was half an hour late when she arrived breathless to the Jardin des Tuileries.
‘I’m so sorry I’m late,’ she said, as she dismounted her bicycle and fell into step with Francois. He was an attractive man with a noticeable limp. She guessed he was in his late twenties. Lizzie had spotted him from a distance when she approached their rendezvous point.
They walked side by side and he reached for her hand. ‘It’s best to pretend we are sweethearts. Less suspicious.’
Lizzie’s hand was stiff in his, but she played along.
‘Relax, I won’t eat you,’ he said, his voice soothing.
