They stepped outside into the stifling afternoon and were both perspiring by the time they reached Miriam’s apartment. The haunting violin music that floated down from an open window on the second floor stopped when they rang the doorbell. Miriam was alone with the sleeping baby, her father and husband out working odd jobs to put food on their table.

Ans sat down in Miriam’s living room to tell her about the newspaper report. “The Gestapo in Amsterdam are going from house to house every night, rounding up Jews. They know exactly where everyone lives because of the address registrations last year.” The color seemed to drain from Miriam’s face. Ans hurried to finish. “You can’t stay here and let them take you and your family. We need to find a way to help you escape before it’s too late.”

“Where? . . . How? There’s no place to go!” Miriam stood as if preparing to run, and Ans could tell that one of her panic attacks was starting to take hold. Eloise made her sit down again.

“Let’s think this through,” she said. “What about your father’s plans to escape to Switzerland? Elisheva is older now, and —”

“It’s too late. They told Abba that the passeur has been arrested. Escaping by that route is no longer possible.”

The news brought a dread-filled silence that seemed to swallow all the air. The baby whimpered as she awoke from her nap, and Miriam hurried into the bedroom to get her. Elisheva wore only a diaper and had been sweating in the hot apartment. Her little round face was red, her damp hair plastered to her head, but she recognized Ans and gave her a sleepy grin. Ans reached for her. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Miriam set her down, and she toddled over on wobbly legs. Ans held her close, remembering when her sister, Maaike, was that age, waddling around the farmhouse and pointing to everything with delight. Ans ached to see her family, but it was impossible. She couldn’t leave Eloise. Working with Ans on the newspaper was the only thing that kept her afloat most days.

“You can’t stay here and wait for the Nazis to take you,” Eloise said. “Move into our town house. We’ll hide all of you there.”

“How will we get there with these on our clothes?” Miriam plucked at the hated yellow star on her dress. “It’s illegal to be caught in public without them.”

“We’ll figure out a way,” Ans said.

“If they stop us and ask for our identity cards, they’ll see the J. And if we’re carrying suitcases . . .”

Miriam was right. The Nazis had thought of everything as they’d patiently laid their trap.

“Show this newspaper to your father and Avi when they get home,” Ans said, pulling it from her bag. “Then burn it. I’ll come back tomorrow with a plan.”