Engel turned to Fitz. ‘I do hope you remembered our conversation.’
‘Of course,’ replied Fitz. ‘The colonel and I are going upstairs to his room. Aren’t we, Rolf?’
‘We are. Now, goodnight, Engel. I don’t wish to be disturbed.’
With Hoffmann’s arm draped over her shoulder, and Fitz’s arm supporting him around the waist, they made their way out of the room and across the hallway to the staircase.
A soldier standing on guard at the entrance door stepped forward offering his help but Fitz assured him she could manage. It took some effort but they made it to the landing without mishap. Hoffmann’s co-ordination was affected not just by the alcohol but by the drug. Fitz glanced down to the entrance hall as they walked along the gallery landing and saw Engelstanding in the doorway, wine glass in one hand, his other hand in his pocket, monitoring her and Hoffmann’s progress with those beady rat-like eyes of his.
Fitz was glad when they were out of sight. The château was long and thin in its construction, with one main corridor running from east to west over several floors. She knew Hoffmann’s room was on the opposite side of the building to hers.
‘Which room is yours?’ she asked.
Hoffmann stopped and squinted as he looked at the doors. ‘It’s down the end here,’ he said leaning forwards before his feet were ready to move. He almost fell flat on his face, but Fitz managed to grab hold of him.
‘Steady now,’ she said. They made it to the room and went inside. There was a large four-poster bed with heavy embroidered curtains in various autumnal colours. Very masculine in its appearance. There was a door leading to the bathroom and on the other side of the fire breast was a dressing room, where the servants’ staircase was located.
Fitz had to time this perfectly. She led Hoffmann over to the bed and sat him down. He was like an obedient puppy now. The drug was well into his system and rendering him useless to make any conscious thought or decision.
‘Wait here,’ she said. After locking the door from the inside, she went through to the dressing room and opening the small door, stepped onto the narrow servants’ staircase. She couldn’t risk being spotted by Engel when she crossed the gallery landing to get from one side of the château to the other.
The servants’ staircase spiralled down to the ground floor and up to the next two floors. Fitz climbed up to the second floor. It was a gamble but she hoped there was either no one staying in the room above or they were downstairs enjoying the party.
Before stepping out into the dressing room directly above Hoffmann’s, she paused, listening for any sound of an occupant. When she was confident there was no one there, she made her way through the dressing room and the adjoining bedroom and out into the hallway.
This floor hadn’t been decorated quite as elaborately as the floor below and she guessed that it wasn’t used that often. Dashing along the red carpeted hallway, she reached the other side of the château and the room above her own.
Fitz tapped on the door and was relieved when she got no answer. In she went, through the bedroom and dressing room to the staircase. A minute later she was in her and Yvette’s room.
‘Yvette,’ she called softly. ‘It’s me, Claudine.’
‘Claudine?’ She heard Yvette’s surprised and slightly concerned voice.
‘I’m here,’ said Fitz, coming out of the dressing room.
Yvette’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘I didn’t know you were there.’
Fitz grinned. ‘It’s a secret passage. Do you want me to show you?’
Yvette jumped off the bed. ‘Yes please!’
‘You must get dressed first,’ said Fitz grabbing the clothes on the chair and hurriedly swapping the night garments for the day ones. ‘Now, this is a bit of a game,’ said Fitz. ‘We have to be really quiet so no one knows what we’re doing. We don’t want to be spotted. You have to be as quiet as a dormouse. Do you think you can do that?’
Yvette nodded enthusiastically. ‘I’m good at hiding.’
The comment made Fitz pause. Of course, the poor child had had to go undetected before. She ruffled Yvette’s hair and smiled. ‘There is one thing, though,’ she said. ‘When we get toone of the rooms, there is a man in there. You’re not to be scared but we are taking him with us.’
‘A man?’
‘Yes. A German soldier,’ said Fitz. She didn’t want to say too much to Yvette, in case they were caught. She shuddered at the thought. ‘But don’t worry about him. You just follow me.D’accord?’
‘Oui.’
‘Don’t forget teddy,’ said Fitz. She took the little girl’s hand and hurried back to the servants’ staircase.
A few minutes later, they had reached Hoffmann’s dressing room. ‘Now, wait here,’ Fitz instructed Yvette. ‘When I come back with the man, you just follow us.’
Hoffmann was still sitting in the exact position Fitz had left him. His eyes were open but were gazing blankly at the carpet. He didn’t even look up and acknowledge Fitz.
