Echoes of Hoffmann and ‘HeilHitler!’ rang out around the room as everyone raised their glasses and then drank the champagne. Fitz wasn’t taking any chances and took the smallest of sips. She watched as Hoffmann gulped his down in one go.
‘I just need to use the bathroom,’ said Fitz, handing Hoffmann her full glass.
‘I’ll look after this for you,’ said Hoffmann with a laugh and proceeded to consume Fitz’s drink.
‘Oh, Rolf, I shall have to get myself another drink now,’ she said, pretending to pout but smiling at the colonel. She tapped his arm playfully. ‘Naughty boy. I shall have to take you to Madame Mimi’s and she will scold you herself.’
Hoffman’s eyes lit. ‘I can’t wait to meet Madame Mimi,’ he said, slurring his words a little. ‘When are we going?’
‘Oh, very soon,’ replied Fitz. ‘But first, I need to use the bathroom. Don’t go away, will you?’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it. Don’t be long,’ said Hoffmann and to Fitz’s surprise patted her bottom.
She giggled again. ‘Now, now, Rolf. Not here,’ she said, giving him a wink as she walked across the room. She knew he was watching and she gave an extra sway to her hips. She glanced at the clock. Only another hour and then she could get this insufferable man in the car and away from here. When she came back, she’d tempt him with some exaggerated stories of what to expect at Madame Mimi’s house. She tutted to herself at the ridiculous name but if it worked, then she really didn’t care.
Fitz loitered in the cloakroom for as long as she thought she could get away with, retouching her lipstick, which amazingly was almost the exact shade as her dress. What a shame she was wasting the gown on someone like Hoffmann.
An unexpected thought of Sam came to her, of when he had presented her with a red silk scarf one day, just before they were going out on his motorbike.
‘When I saw it, I thought of you,’ he’d said. ‘The colour is a perfect match for your lips.’ He had draped the scarf around her neck, pulling her into him, before kissing the life out of her. She blinked back the tears. The pain that she might have lost him was already slicing her heart in two. Why had she pushed himaway? He was the best thing to have happened to her and yet, she had been too frightened to let him into her life fully. And now it might be too late to try to put that right. What an idiot she was.
She took a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. This was not the time to get maudlin about Sam. She was going to do whatever it was she needed to, to get Hoffmann out and into the car. She’d make Sam proud of her, even if he might never know.
After checking her make-up and reapplying her lipstick, Fitz left the cloakroom. As she crossed the main entrance hall, Engel appeared in front of her, blocking her path.
‘Oh, Walter,’ she said, plastering on a smile. ‘You startled me.’
‘My apologies. I wouldn’t want to do that,’ said Engel. Fitz went to step around the officer, but he moved in front of her again. ‘I wanted to speak to you,’ he said.
‘Really? Can it wait until tomorrow?’ said Fitz. ‘Only the colonel will be wondering where I’ve got to.’
Engel raised his eyebrows. ‘Will he? He seems rather inebriated to me. Almost like his drink has been spiked.’ His eyes locked with Fitz’s.
She held her nerve. ‘Why would someone do that?’ she said, attempting to sound perplexed.
‘To take advantage of him,’ replied Engel. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked up to the ceiling, as if deep in thought. ‘Maybe they wanted to get him so drunk, he would simply go with them. Whoever this person is.’ He made a rolling gesture with his hand. ‘Of course this is all hypothetically speaking. Isn’t it,Claudine?’
Fitz didn’t like the way he emphasised her name. ‘Yes, hypothetically,’ she agreed, wary of where the conversation was heading. Engel was leading her blindfold down an alley, and anyminute now he was going to ambush her, she was sure of it. But she had no choice.
‘I do wonder why they would want to take him, though,’ continued Engel. ‘Can you think of any reason?’
‘No. I can’t.’
‘I mean, no one would have the audacity to try to kidnap the colonel, now would they?’
Fitz gulped. ‘Kidnap? I can’t imagine anyone would attempt such a ridiculous idea.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Engel. ‘I’m glad you agree. Can you imagine the consequences for anyone making such an attempt? Besides getting themselves shot by a firing squad, they and their loved ones would have to be made an example of.’
Fitz had no idea where Engel had got this idea from. He couldn’t just be hedging his bets, could he? She noticed he was smiling and his gaze flicked to somewhere above and behind her. He gave a brief nod.
Fitz turned to follow Engel’s gaze.
There on the gallery landing was a German soldier. Standing in front of him was Yvette, clutching her teddy in her hand.
Fitz let out a gasp, swiftly followed by another as she watched in horror as the soldier picked Yvette up and sat her on the edge of the balustrade. Yvette’s feet dangled in thin air. She waved down at Fitz.
‘Claudine, look at me!’
