He’d come, like I’d hoped he would, and now was my chance to recruit his help in my most vital personal mission. I’d rehearsed what I was going to say for a while, but as I went over it again I adjusted the weave in my basket. No matter how hard I tried, I never got it quite right. Once ready, I leaned closer to Mateusz until I could smell the lingering traces of fresh bread from the bakery mingling with sweet grass from his walk and salt on his skin.

“There’s a number of us who have joined a resistance movement within the camp, but we need information and resources from people outside,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Would you be willing to help?”

“Of course,” he replied without hesitation. “I’ll bring you whatever you need, and I have friends who work for the resistance throughout occupied Poland and a few in Germany. I’ll see what I can learn from them.”

He’d said the words I’d prayed he’d say, and I hadn’t even asked my next question yet. Resistance connections in Germany. This plan was coming together even better than I’d hoped.

I took a slow breath so as not to sound too eager. “Are any of your connections near Flossenbürg?”

“Yes, actually. Why?”

Instead of responding right away, I reached toward him. When he opened his palm, I dropped a small diamond into it. Mateusz gaped, as if unsure it was real.

“Maria, I don’t want—”

“If you don’t take it, the guards will. You’ll make much better use of it, Maciek. Consider it a small token of thanks.” I waited until he tucked it into his pocket, then I dropped my voice again. “Contact your resistance members in Flossenbürg. I need whatever you can find on a man named Karl Fritzsch.”

Chapter 22

Auschwitz, 20 April 1945

IF I DIDN’T execute your family, you’ve wasted all these years chasing the wrong man.

As we continue the game, Fritzsch’s claim fills my mind while I prop my elbows on the table and press my hands to the sides of my head, desperate to focus on the board, unable to succeed. I select a pawn, but I don’t pay attention to whether or not it’s the best move.

“You’re a liar.”

The words aren’t much more than a whisper, and I’m not sure he can even hear them over the rainfall. I lift my head and raise my voice.

“You’re a liar. Everything Oskar told me about you was true.”

Fritzsch drums his fingers against the table while he surveys the board. “I never said his claims were true or false. I only said it’s possible he lied to you.”

“But he didn’t, did he?”