Earlier, as I pondered my prior schemes for inspiration, that last word emerged as a key factor. Boards. Not the gaming type; the kind made of wood. Our design therein took shape. Assisted by Arie’s engineering skills and Brouwer’s materials, we arrived at our “disguise.”

What will appear a staggered pile of lumber—no more than a foot high, three feet wide, and imperceptibly bound—will hold a compartment for Arie and Evelien to lie closely together. Their small cut-out entry will require them to climb in as if sliding into a sidecar.

But how to conceal that opening? With misdirection, naturally.

Directly above, furtively bolted to the lumber, will sit a medium-size crate. After all, if a crate is sure to draw suspicion, we’ll use that to our advantage: a predictable focal point. By sight alone, a guard would easily deduce that the box is far too short to smuggle a person. Meanwhile, the same way Charles would hide beneath the stage, Arie and Evelien will lay tucked in the boards below. Like a trapdoor, the bottom of the crate will be spring-loaded for removal. In essence, an access hatch.

Once the two are secured in place, Brouwer will stuff the box with artwork and shredded paper used as dunnage. Other small and medium containers, all bearing similar contents, will be piled on the boards and throughout the delivery truck. As an added precaution, stamps of Fragile or Heavy in both German and Dutch will mark every box. This should deter inspectors from ordering the vehicle to be unloaded.

Fortunately, Brouwer has a delivery due in Bodegraven, just north of Gouda. Pretending to get a bit lost while driving—hence, our “simulation” element—he’ll stealthily drop off Arie and Evelien as close to their destination as is feasible.

“What’s more,” he stresses to me with significance, “I will include a case of brandy.”

“Brandy? Why is that?”

Arie turns from the window. “For Germans who get nosy at checkpoints.”

Brouwer nods. “Nowadays the value of money is less, but brandy can be bartered. Or drank.”

Greasing the wheels, I recall. Hutton employed the technique to entice not only British suppliers but also German prison guards tempted by gifts.

And now we have our “distraction.”

“Shall we go over the pickup details just once more?” I ask Brouwer.

“Most certainly.” He’s aware this is our last shot.