This in reality, he’s sworn to me, is exactly what he’s doing. Under Ziegler’s authority, he’s been allowed access to a janitor’s uniform and Nel’s room, where she’s been buying time by feigning incoherence. And though the plausibility of her condition lessens with each day of her healing, Arie has been seeking a discreet exit point while scouting the nighttime staff and schedule.

Would any of the nurses be willing to help? I ventured, recalling his luck with the housekeeper.

Nel’s nurse on the night shift is plenty friendly, he said, but she’s dating a Nazi officer. And I haven’t sensed I can trust any others.

It’s understandable why he’d rule them out. Still, even with the hospital apparently within a mile of Ziegler’s home, I noted a glaring problem.

But while you’re racing to get Evelien, the nurse could quickly figure out Nel’s gone. With an alert sounded, it’ll be harder for you all to get away.

Well, yeah, he said. The question is how the heck to delay that discovery.

Or, I proposed, you could get Evelien out first.

In fact, I was surprised this wasn’t his plan until he explained.

I can’t just leave her outside the hospital, Fen. And besides, the Zieglers’ party is at seven thirty. If they run behind in leaving, even if I still manage to get Nel, Dutch police will be patrolling the streets for curfew. We’ll all be good as caught.

Have you considered waiting until late at night, when the Zieglers are asleep and there aren’t many patrollers out? I almost didn’t ask that one, as it seemed too obvious.

Yeah, and that’s a no go. Housekeeper says Ziegler sleeps in fits and starts, so he’s often up working. And with the curtains, I wouldn’t know where he is until I’m in.

That’s when I remembered the white pills I was never issued, knockout drops that could put Ziegler into a heavy slumber.

Taken when I was arrested, Arie replied when I asked about his own supply. Even so, it would’ve meant having to knock his wife out too, and no way the housekeeper would’ve agreed to try. Blaming an armed invader for taking Evelien gets her off the hook. Drugging the couple herself is a guaranteed death sentence.

Of course, I told him.

At that point, I realized just how many options he’d already explored, and the best way I could help was to improve his current plan—a possibility of which now dawns on me.