Dora touched the soap which she kept in her pocket. She held it like a lucky charm, the promise of good fortune, kindness, special treatment. The soap would be stolen if she left it in the dormitory. She lived among thieves. She didn’t tell a soul that she had it. This was for her, the secret bond between her and Maximilian.

‘Well,’ Nurse Hoffmann said, vell. ‘It seems you have a surprise.’ She rarely spoke to Dora. ‘Would you like to know what it is?’ She made a snide, knowing grimace. Hoffmann was breaking the news. Alderney.

Dora raised her eyebrows, couldn’t let on that she knew.

‘So,’ Hoffmann went on. ‘He has made you a Kapo.’ She twisted her face into a parody of a smile. ‘Hauptsturmführer List.’

Dora was not expecting this.

‘Agnes.’ She couldn’t think what else to say. ‘Agnes Moreau is the Kapo.’

‘Hauptsturmführer List decides who is a Kapo,’ Nurse Hoffmann said. ‘Not Agnes Moreau.’

Dora took a deep breath. What was it Collette said? Kapos do their dirty business for them. Thick with the Nazis.

‘I don’t want to be one,’ Dora said. It was worth a try, saying that. Dangerous, too. Nurse Hoffmann could turn like a snake. You don’t argue.

‘It is Hauptsturmführer List’s expressed order,’ Nurse Hoffmann said. ‘Not many are so lucky.’ She sneered and her voice tightened. ‘Perhaps he is a little sweet on you, who knows?’

‘There is a mistake.’ Dora shook her head. He was taking her to Alderney, he’d said. Not this. Unless. Of course, it would take time to organise. There would be permissions to seek, paperwork. The Germans were meticulous about that kind of thing. Besides, there was no love lost between the SS and the Wehrmacht. Perhaps this was some kind of temporary compromise, he’d persuaded the Wehrmacht to make her a Kapo in order to expedite the move. He had done this for her, had already taken her out of the brothel, so she could join him. She wouldn’t be a Kapo here. He had no jurisdiction here. This brothel was under Wehrmacht authority.

What sort of Kapo would she be on Alderney? Perhaps there were women prisoners there. Could she do the Nazis’ dirty business? What if they made her carry out a beating? Or worse? Would she have the courage to say no? For his sake, she’d have to show her gratitude. No. Kapo was a ruse, to bring her over. They’d be together, in his home, she his affectionate housekeeper. She’d be sure this time to keep her distance, not to presume.

‘There is no mistake. Here.’ Nurse Hoffmann grabbed Dora’s arm, pushed the green armband up it. The badge of office. Dora wanted to rip it off, knew she wasn’t brave enough. ‘You will work in the Revier. With me.’

‘Here?’

‘Where else did you think you’d work?’