He was waiting outside the church when Ans arrived, and he pulled her inside as if they were going there to pray. She hoped Erik or the Gestapo wasn’t following her. She quickly told Havik what she’d learned about the apartment in Zoeterwoude and the upcoming raid. He shook his head, punching his hand with his fist.

“We’ve been trying to warn them. Why wouldn’t they listen?”

“Is there any way we can get those people out?”

“It’s too late. If your boyfriend knows about it, then the Gestapo is probably inside already, waiting to see who else shows up.”

The thought made Ans sick. “I would have delivered ration cards there today if Erik hadn’t warned me.”

“He knows about your work?” Havik stared at her as if trying to read her mind, his gaze piercing and hawklike, just like his code name.

“Erik knows I’m helping to hide Jews. He doesn’t know any of the specifics. He told me about the Gestapo raid because he was afraid I might be involved.”

“You have to go into hiding.”

“What? . . . Why? I didn’t go anywhere near there today.”

“Think about it. They’ll force the apartment owner to describe the woman who has been coming with ration cards. They’ll torture everyone in that apartment for names and descriptions of all the people who come there regularly. They’ll follow you to uncover all of your contacts and then their contacts. If you’re arrested, they’ll torture you until you tell everything you know. All of the people you’ve hidden will be in jeopardy. That includes your parents and the baby they’re hiding and the onderduikers we’ve sent them. Your work here is finished. We need to get you out of Leiden.”

“What do I tell the people I work for? And my friends? And Erik?”

“Nothing. You just disappear. We’ll give you a new identity card.”

“I have a job here. I can’t just disappear.”

“You must. Don’t even go back home.”

Ans couldn’t think what to do. Everything was happening too fast. Eloise would be so worried about her if she simply vanished that it might send her over the edge. Maybe Ans should accept Erik’s marriage proposal. He could protect her, couldn’t he? Or might she become a danger to him?

“May I at least go home for my clothes? And so I can explain?”

“You’ll be taking a huge risk.”

“I know. But I have to. There’s a hiding place in the town house where I’ll be safe if the Gestapo does come.”

Havik exhaled as if resigned to her stubbornness. “Well, while you’re there, tell Max and Ina to get ready to leave too.”

“Why?”

“He’s much too important to the underground to risk his arrest. Someone will come for all three of you before curfew tonight.”