“I came out of the sewer before.”

“That was different.” Sneaking around at night to find food was one thing. Walking the streets in broad daylight, though, and asking questions was quite another. If she spoke to the wrong person, she would be arrested and it would all be over. But she didn’t care anymore. With her mother and sister gone, there was simply nothing left to lose. “Sadie, think. You won’t be able to help them at all if you are caught.” She remained silent, unwilling to acknowledge the truth of my words. Her jaw set stubbornly.

“Last time you helped me come up,” she said finally.

“We planned it. It was nighttime. And things are more dangerous now,” I added.

“How?” she demanded. There was a hardness to her. She was less trusting—even of me.

I hesitated. “There are more police on the street, even SS, stopping people and questioning them. There was even a checkpoint on my way here today where I had to show papers,” I added, telling her the truth now in my attempt to make her understand. Sadie’s eyes widened. “So you see, it is not entirely safe for even me to be out, much less you.” Sadie, in her wild, despairing grief, looked even more out of place than she had before. No amount of clothes or makeup would help her fit in. No, there was no way for Sadie to walk the streets safely now. “I don’t know if I can protect you.”

Sadie’s face turned to a mixture of anger and disappointment. “Then don’t.” She did not mean it rudely, I knew. She was just determined to find her mother at any cost. “If things are more dangerous, then it is even more important that I find my mother quickly and bring her back to the sewer safely.”

“If you get arrested, there are others who will pay as well.” I was not thinking only of myself, but of Krys, who had helped me. “Coming up in the middle of the day is dangerous and foolish.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, sounding genuinely contrite. “I had to look for my mother. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“If you had asked me, we could have made a plan. I would have helped you. And I will now.” I wrapped my arms around her, caught between wanting to help her and protect her at the same time. I didn’t think I could do both. Helping her was risky for me as well. I had intended to be gone on my errand to see her for only a few hours. This would surely take much longer, causing Ana Lucia to ask questions about my absence and whereabouts. Despite the danger, though, I could not turn my back on Sadie. “I will go ask at the hospital for you. But you have to stay hidden while I do.”

“I won’t go back without her,” she said, her eyes resolute.

“Come.” I didn’t know where to take her. I did not dare hide her in Ana Lucia’s house a second time. “Krys,” I said suddenly aloud. “Perhaps he can help.” Then I stopped again. We had not parted well last time I saw him. He might not want to see me at all. But I had to try. Swallowing my pride, I started toward the café. At least he might be able to hide Sadie while I went in search of her mother.