“In separate rooms, I hope?”

Isherwood nodded gravely. “Just as you requested.”

“Let’s go.”

Isherwood led them across the rotunda through a sea of tuxedos and gowns, then up several flights of wide marble steps. A security guard admitted them into the administrative area of the museum and directed them to a waiting room at the end of a long carpeted hallway. The door was closed; Gabriel started to turn the latch but hesitated.

She’s fragile. They’re all a bit fragile…

He knocked lightly. Lena Herzfeld, child of the attic, child of darkness, said, “Come in.”

SHE WAS SEATED ramrod straight at the center of a leather couch, knees together, hands in her lap. They were clutching the official program of the exhibition, which was wrinkled and wet with her tears. Gabriel and Chiara sat on either side of her and held her tightly while she wept. After several minutes, she looked at Gabriel and touched his cheek.

“What shall I call you tonight? Are you Mr. Argov or Mr. Allon?”

“Please call me Gabriel.”

She smiled briefly, then looked down at the program.

“I’m still amazed you were actually able to find her after all these years.”

“We would never have been able to do it without the help of Kurt Voss’s son.”

“I’m glad he came tonight. Where is he?”

“Just down the hall. If you wouldn’t mind, he’d like to have a word with you in private before the unveiling. He wants to apologize for what his father did.”

“It wasn’t his crime, Gabriel. And his apology won’t bring my sister back.”

“But it might help to hear it.” Gabriel held her hand. “You’ve punished yourself long enough, Lena. It’s time for you to let someone else bear the guilt for your family’s murder.”

Tears spilled onto her cheeks, though she emitted not a sound. Finally, she composed herself and nodded. “I’ll listen to his apology. But I will not cry in front of him.”

“There’s something I need to warn you about, Lena.”

“He looks like this father?”

“An older version,” Gabriel said. “But the resemblance is striking.”

“Then I suppose God decided to punish him, too.” She shook her head slowly. “To live with the face of a murderer? I cannot imagine.”

FOR PETER VOSS’S sake, Lena managed to conceal her shock when seeing him for the first time, though controlling her tears proved impossible. Gabriel remained in the room with them only a moment, then slipped into the corridor to wait with Chiara and Isherwood. Lena emerged ten minutes later, eyes raw, but looking remarkably composed. Gabriel took her hand and said there was one more person who wanted to see her.