A uniformed Nazi on the front porch was the last thing anyone wanted when they opened a door.
And Amandine Lundy was no exception. Her heart stopped beating for several long seconds as a loud buzzing started in her ears.
Smile, but not too wide as to look insane. Show nothing.
But I have nothing to hide. I’ve done nothing wrong.
Really didn’t matter. Her cousin had done nothing wrong and they’d taken him out of his home and shot him in the head in front of his entire family.
Just to prove a point to the rest if his village.
She swallowed hard. I don’t want to be point …
At the moment, she just wanted to be invisible.
Because the sight of the intimidating officer who was not returning her smile made her breath catch. And her panic rose to a frightening level as the two of them stared at each other.
His look was piercing and suspicious. She prayed hers was acceptable and not doing anything to induce his ire or raise that hateful suspicion.
“Fraulein Lundy?”
Don’t answer. Pretend you’re mute or deaf.
If I don’t answer, he’ll be even more suspicious.
Maybe he’s not really suspicious.
Well, he will be if you don’t answer, idiot!
A thousand such thoughts went through her head simultaneously as she debated the sanity and stupidity of running versus that of answering him.
“Oui.” That single word was out of her treacherous lips before she finished debating on what the safest course of action would be.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, Fraulein. Your sister, Monique Lundy, said that you could help us.”
Monique? Seriously? She’d hated the fact that her sister was a Nazi sympathizer before, but now …
Now, she could strangle her for it.
Why would Monique do this to her?
More to the point, why couldn’t she be an only child?
Given that Monique had been dating a Nazi officer for over two years, she knew exactly how much danger came from being singled out by them. It was why Amandine had done everything in her power to be the invisible creature she envied.
To do nothing to draw attention to herself. She dressed in drab colors. Wore old clothes, even though it galled her, and spoke to no one.
Because any wrong step could be her last.
Why, Monique? Why?
Wait a second … her sister knew how she felt. That while their older sister, Nicolette, sided with the Resistance and a Communist party that was almost as bad as the Nazis, Amandine sided only with France. Unlike her two sisters, she was well aware that sooner or later this war would end, and one of her sisters would have chosen the wrong side.
All their lives, their father had told them horror stories of what had happened in World War I to those who’d been on the wrong side of it when things were over.
She had listened to and understood every word he spoke. All you can do, child, is tuck your head low and wait for the politicians to be done with their causes and stupidity. Whatever you do, don’t make yourself a target.
The nail that stands out is hammered down.
Amandine would never comprehend why her sisters had chosen to ignore their father’s sage advice.
And now …
She was scared for both of them. Because when this insanity ended, she knew she would most likely lose one of her sisters. She just prayed that this wasn’t the day.
“Is Monique all right?”
“Of course.” That smile seemed so fake and condescending. And it might have seemed more authentic if she wasn’t shaking.
Clutching her hands together, she arched a brow at him. “May I ask where my sister is?”
“She’s with Colonel Zimmerman. They wish for a few minutes of your time. I’m here to escort you over.”
Her stomach clenched tight. “Over where?”
The snide smile on his face did nothing to alley her fears. “Where I take you, of course.”
She felt the sweat beading on her forehead. “L-l-let me get my hat and bag.”
When she attempted to close her front door in his face, he came inside to wait.
Terror claimed her fully. No good ever came from letting a Nazi in. It was the same as inviting Nosferatu over for a bite. Though to be honest, she’d rather have the vampire in her home as he seemed much less menacing.
You better be dead, Monique.
Because if she wasn’t, Amandine was going to kill her.
As quickly as she could, she grabbed her bag and hat, and practically ran back to her living room where the captain was thumbing through her books.
Oh dear God.
She prayed she didn’t have any title the Nazis had banned or burned. Her hands started shaking as she realized that she might have a book or two that belonged to Nicolette … The Communist. That was Monique’s nickname for her as Nicolette loved to espouse Marxist quotes and read extensively about the Utopia she was convinced Communism would provide for the world.
Why couldn’t she have normal sisters?
I swear if there are copies of Nicolette’s Das Kapital or The Communist Manifesto, I will make myself an only child!
Provided she survived this.
“You have eclectic taste, Fraulein. An interesting assortment of reading materials.”
“They’re not all mine.”
“No?”
She avoided his question as the last thing she wanted was to get any of them in trouble. “Shall we go?” She edged closer to the door, trying to get him out of her home and off this topic.
His gaze slid back toward her books before he went to the door to hold it open for her.
Thank you, Lord!
Maybe she’d survive this after all. Taking a deep breath, she went to the waiting black car that was marked with the SS insignia everyone dreaded. Unless one of her neighbors was also in trouble, she was sure it was meant for them.
As she neared the car, another soldier got out and opened the door.
But honestly, she had a new appreciation for what it must have felt like for all those poor souls who’d lost their lives at Place de Grève.
This felt like a very slow, painful execution.
Especially when the captain joined her in the car and slammed the door, pinning her inside.
Removing his cap, he returned that piercing stare her way. “You look nothing like your sister.”
Small talk? Really? She was not in the mood for this.
But what choice did she have?
“Monique takes after our mother.” They shared the same blue eyes that Nicolette had. And of course, Monique, like their mother, was blond. “I share my father’s looks.” Right down to his dark auburn hair and dark brown eyes. Nicolette had inherited his red-hair. But while Amandine’s red hair was curly, Nicolette’s was straight.
Amandine also lacked the voluptuous curves of her sisters who had their mother’s hour-glass perfection. Meanwhile, whenever she wore overalls, she could easily be mistaken for a man.
That reminder didn’t help her resentment of the captain at all. She was well aware that her sisters’ striking beauty had missed her by one birth place on either side.
“Did you leave something?”
She blinked at his question. “Pardon?”
“You keep fidgeting and looking back. I assume you left something.”
Only her common sense. She should have run when she had the chance.
“No … just worried about my sister.”
“I told you, fraulein, she’s fine.”
As if she could take the word of a Nazi. Not that it mattered … the next time she saw Monique, she might murder her on the spot.
Amandine clamped her lips together and did her best not to appear as nervous as she felt, while they wended their way through the crowded streets, past Versailles. Her heart clenched at the desolation war had brought to her beloved museum. Some of her fondest memories had been studying and drawing in the gardens and near the fountains.
All gone now, as were many of the works of art that had either been hidden, or destroyed.
Would her precious Paris ever recover?
Regression to the mean. She could hear her father’s voice in her mind. Life was ever a pendulum that swung radically from one side to the other.
But if one was patient, it would eventually return to the center and gain balance again.
Patience.
She prayed every day for that. And for sanity. Two things that seemed to have vanished the moment the Germans had invaded and planted their flags and soldiers all over her homeland.
Trying not to think about it, she remained silent on the long trip to the Hotel Majestic where Monique’s boyfriend had set up his headquarters.
That, too, bothered her to no end. The Germans were interlopers here and it galled her that they acted as if they were some grand Roman legion trampling on her precious Paris.
Honestly, she was glad her father hadn’t lived to see this. His patriotism had been above reproach and he’d instilled it into her.
Bide your time, Dina …
All things changed. The Allies had already landed in Normandy. Soon, they would arrive and return her city to her people.
She had to believe that.
Just as she believed the man beside her was contemplating her demise.
How could her sister be at ease around men like this? She’d never understand it as they rode endlessly in silence, while she pretended to be entranced by the road and shabby passersby.
Twenty years seemed to have passed before they finally pulled to a stop and the door opened.
Her relief vanished as soon as she stepped out and saw all the soldiers.
Everywhere.
Are they giving away free beer?
Stop it!
She had to keep her sarcasm under control. Pretend she was in school with the nuns who had tolerated no such comments or any untoward behavior.
Problem was the nuns would only rap her fingers with a ruler. These gentlemen would take her head.
Or do something even worse.
Jeder einmal nach Paris. Everybody once to Paris.
No matter how much it destroyed their lives.
Trying not to think about the blood-stained walls they’d passed on the way here, she followed him inside the massive hotel that had been converted to offices. What a shame. These Nazis were truly a blight, destroying everything they touched.
“Amandine!”
Relief tore through her so fast that she feared her legs would buckle. Thankfully, they held as Monique came running up to her and grabbed her into a fierce hug.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale.”
You think? Amandine ground her teeth as she slid her gaze around to all the enemies who surrounded them. “Tell me that you had nothing to do with my being here.”
Monique stepped back. “Of course, I did. But don’t be mad.”
Don’t be mad? Her sister was insane.
“Why would you do this to me? You know how I feel about them.”
Monique tsked. “Dieter needs you.”
Oh, that wasn’t even a little helpful. “No. He doesn’t.” Why would a bunch of Germans need her?
“You don’t know even know what they need. How can you say no?”
“I don’t care what any of them need. I have nothing for them.” Other than contempt and condemnation.
Monique cleared her throat, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “If you refuse, it won’t go well for any of us. Please . . . play along and do this for me. I’ll explain later.”
I am so going to regret this.
Her father was right. Love was weakness.
Desperately, she wanted to yell at her sister, but before she could speak, a loud, angry shout filled the hallway.
“I don’t want your excuses! Or your incompetence! Get out of my sight, you scheisskopf! Schnell!”
Her eyes widened at Dieter’s echoing shout. “What have you gotten me into?”
A door slammed so loudly that it caused both of them to jump.
An instant later, a soldier came storming through the room as if he was trying to escape hell-hounds. Amandine froze at the sight of him. Tall, dark-haired and well built, he was without a doubt the most striking and handsome man she’d ever seen. He was like some ancient god storming the human plane.
And he rushed past them without so much as a glance. But, in spite of being yelled at, there was an amused glint in his eyes as if he enjoyed angering his commanding officer.
Weird.
“Who was that?”
Monique shrugged. “Some aide or something who works for Dieter. I don’t know. I can’t really keep them straight. In uniform, they all look alike.” Wrinkling her nose, she leaned against Amandine to whisper. “Several times I’ve grabbed the wrong one, thinking he’s Dieter.”
Wonderful. Amandine started to admonish her. But before she could, a blustered young man came to get them.
“The colonel wishes to speak with you.”
Smiling, Monique took her hand and pulled her toward a room to her left.
Amandine wanted to fight and drag her feet as she’d done as a little girl whenever her father had tried to take her some place she didn’t want to go. But her sister was much more ferocious and the last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to them.
So, she took a deep breath and went begrudgingly into an ornate hotel room that now served Monique’s boyfriend. This was Baroque at its finest … except for the awful red flag that clashed with the soft blues.
And of course, the Nazis who hovered. They clashed with everything.
Without conscious thought, Amandine slowed down.
Monique tugged her forward.
The handsome blond colonel stood up from his desk and as soon as Dieter saw her sister, a slow smile spread across his chiseled features. Sadly, that expression turned Amandine’s stomach.
Why, in all the world, ma soeur, did you have to find yourself a Nazi to love?
And here their father had thought the worst thing Monique had dragged home had been a stray dog that ate his pet chicken. If only the man had lived long enough to see her drag home a stray Nazi.
Dieter Zimmerman.
She could only imagine the words their father would have had for his youngest child. Maybe then, he’d have regretted overindulging her all those years.
With an imperial gesture to everyone in the room, Dieter snarled, “Get out!”
Amandine pulled away from her sister and started for the door.
“What are you doing?” Dieter asked as he came around his desk.
“You said leave. I was leaving.”
He tsked at her. “That wasn’t meant for you, Fraulein.”
Of course not. She’d never been lucky.
“Come … sit.” He held a chair for her.
I’d rather stand so that I could run if need be.
Instead, her feet betrayed her and took her closer to the austere man who seemed somehow as tall as a giant.
Monique, however, had no reservation as she sashayed to a chair near the one Dieter held, and seductively sat down while eyeing her beau.
Dieter’s gaze followed her sister’s every gesture. She’d give Monique credit. Her sister had succeeded in thoroughly captivating their invader. But then, both her sisters had always been more worldly when it came to men than she was. Monique had come out of the womb, flirting with the doctor who’d delivered her.
At least that was what their mother used to say. And Amandine believed it.
Dieter dragged his gaze from her sister to fasten it onto Amandine who had never had any success in seducing a man. Her sad attempts made for great comedy.
Forcing herself to appear calm and steady, she offered him a smile she definitely didn’t feel.
The two of them had only met once before this.
The first time he’d come to their small townhouse to pick up Monique and take her to a cabaret. Both she and Nicolette had done their best to talk Monique out of it.
The last thing they needed was for anyone to see their sister with a Nazi commander, and to speculate about their affiliations with their enemy.
Not to mention, Nazis made for very dangerous bedfellows.
Monique had refused to listen. I’m a grown woman! I don’t care what they think! I can do as I please. Besides, I’m tired of starving and dressing in rags!
At twenty-four, she didn’t act grown most of the time. And since their father had died when Monique was seventeen, they had done their best to raise her properly.
Sadly, she refused to listen to them.
Nicolette was four years older than she was, and had lorded that age gap over her all her life. And even though she was five years older than Monique, she’d tried never to do the same, as she knew exactly how irksome it was.
I should have been stricter …
Maybe if she’d been as flagrant and annoying as Nicolette, Monique would have been as cowed by her as she was by Nicci.
Then again, Nicci was even more obnoxious to Monique and Monique couldn’t care less what Nicci thought. If anything, Nicci’s superiority made Monique worse.
“So, Fraulein,” Dieter dragged her thoughts back to the matter at hand. “Your sister tells me that your father taught you explosives. Is this true?”
Amandine sat in silence as those unexpected words chased themselves through her brain.
Why would that interest him?
“Pardon?”
Monique let out an exasperated breath. “Their engineer was accidentally transferred and the other vanished without a trace. Dieter needs to know someone who can blow some things up. I told him you could do it.”
“Pardon?” she repeated.
A tic working in his jaw, Dieter narrowed his gaze on her. “Can you rig explosives and set a timer? I need to know.”
Don’t you dare answer this.
If a Nazi needed something blown up, it couldn’t be good …
“What exactly are you wanting to destroy?”
“The target is immaterial until you answer my question. Can you do this for me?”
It didn’t feel immaterial. Felt rather important, point of fact.
A Nazi wanting explosives didn’t bode well in any imagination, and especially not in hers.
“Dina! Answer the question!”
She glared at her sister. How could she have told on her? What was Monique thinking?
And though she wanted to lie, she really didn’t dare. “I have a rudimentary understanding of such things. Oui.”
Dieter actually smiled.
That sent an even more intense chill down her spine. How could her sister stand being around him? This had to be one of the worst moments of her life.
He clapped his hands together so loudly that it made her jump. “Send the lieutenant in.”
She exchanged a confused stare with her sister. A confusion that intensified as the handsome man she’d seen earlier returned to the room. Then, she had to force herself not to wince as he snapped his feet and raised his hand in salute to a monster.
Dieter returned the gesture before he indicated her with a wave of his hand. “Lieutenant Gerwin meet Fraulein Amandine Lundy. Please show her to a room where she is to stay until such a time as I need her.”
Amandine actually choked. “Wait? What?”
Monique came out of her chair, but as Dieter arched a brow in her direction, she sat back down.
That cold, stern expression returned to his face. “You will do as your told, mädchen. Verstanden?”
“Excuse me?”
“Comprenez?” he repeated very coldly.
Not really. She had no understanding of why he’d issue such a command for her. But this didn’t seem like the time or place to argue with a Nazi commander. No matter how much she wanted to, and she really, really wanted to.
The lieutenant didn’t hesitate or question the orders. Clearing his throat, he inclined his head to her. “If you’ll follow me, mademoiselle.”
At least someone spoke their language. Gripping her purse, she wanted to run. Her gaze went to the gun at his waist.
All too well, she could feel that bullet striking her spine. Running was out of the question.
For now.
She inclined her head to him. “Apres vous.”
A hint of a smile toyed at the edges of his lips. “I have a feeling if I led, you’d slip out the nearest exit. S’il vous plait …” He gestured for her to go first.
Leave it to her to find an intelligent Nazi … Amandine hesitated long enough to give her little sister one last murderous glare before she headed to the door.
If I live through this…
Monique would be bald.
Sighing, she could actually feel the lieutenant’s body heat as she hesitated in the hallway.
Should I run now?
She glanced around at all the Nazis in the hallway. You won’t make it. Like it or not, they were not known for their mercy. Again, they’d most likely shoot her.
Or just as bad, they’d have her surrounded before she could run five feet.
“This way.” The lieutenant motioned her toward the elegant stairs.
Dread gnawed at her as she felt worse and worse about her situation. “How long am I going to be here?”
“Until the colonel says you can go.”
That wasn’t reassuring at all. She wanted to know what her assignment was, and why it was so important that no one would tell her anything. “What does he want me to blow up?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Maybe to a Nazi.
To her … “No. Do you know what it is?”
He didn’t answer until they reached the top of the stairs where they were alone. Only then did he pause to speak in a low tone. “Paris.”
