The Room on Rue Amélie(66)

Lucien held out his hand and gestured for Charlotte and Ruby to enter the apartment first, then he followed them in.

“What is it?” Charlotte asked once they were inside. “What’s wrong, Lucien?”

He hesitated, and in the silence, Charlotte and Ruby exchanged worried looks.

“Is it my parents?” Charlotte asked, her voice small.

“What? No. No, I have no word about your parents.”

“Oh.” Charlotte’s shoulders slumped in relief.

“It’s about Philippe.”

Aubert’s code name. Ruby could feel the tension crackling in the air, and from Lucien’s suddenly downcast eyes, she knew that something was terribly wrong. “What’s happened?”

Lucien looked up to meet her gaze. “He was arrested.” His voice was flat, but Ruby could see the storm in his eyes. “Several days ago. One of the men in Urrugne gave him up, along with several others who were part of the operation.”

“Oh, no,” Ruby breathed. Charlotte looked as if she was about to cry, so Ruby put an arm around her shoulder and tried not to break down.

“Is he okay?” Charlotte asked.

Lucien hesitated, and before he spoke, Ruby knew what he was going to say. “I’m afraid he’s gone,” he said softly. “Firing squad. He refused to talk, and they didn’t have any leverage against him. He doesn’t have any family; there was no one they could threaten to arrest. He’d covered his tracks well.”

“He’s dead?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes.”

“My God.” Ruby hung her head and said a silent prayer. “Laure is all right?” She was surprised how concerned she felt for her.

“Yes, as far as I know. But I’m afraid the line has been compromised too greatly. There won’t be any more pilots sent to us for now.”

Ruby let the words sink in. “Should we relocate? Is there a chance the Nazis know about us?”

“No.” Lucien’s answer was firm. “You’re safer here; you haven’t lived here for long. Monsieur Savatier will help protect you.” His gaze lingered on Charlotte. “I will too. I will be nearby. I won’t let anything happen to you.” His last words were spoken directly to the girl.

“Perhaps it’s better if Charlotte and I leave the city,” Ruby said.

“No,” Charlotte replied immediately. “If we leave, how will my parents find us when they return?”

Lucien glanced at Ruby, and she could see in his eyes that he shared her fear about the Dachers’ fate.

“I can’t put your life in any more danger than I already have,” Ruby said after a long pause.

“I don’t think either of us will feel complete if we’re not doing something,” Charlotte said. “But what can we do? Our part of the line is dead.”

Lucien cleared his throat. “There are others trying to establish a new escape route. The British are behind it.”

Ruby closed her eyes for a moment. How easy it would be to simply remove herself and Charlotte from danger by taking a step back. But then she’d be letting the Nazis win, wouldn’t she? Aubert’s death would be in vain. Everything she’d worked for would be in vain. “Please,” she said at last, glancing at Charlotte, “keep us informed.”

“I will.” Lucien nodded at her and held Charlotte’s gaze for a long time before making his way to the door. “I’ll be in touch. I’m very sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


February 1943

“I’m afraid Ruby no longer believes that we’ll be able to help,” Charlotte said to Lucien one cold winter night two weeks later. Ruby had gone to bed early, and Lucien, seeing her bedroom light go out, had stopped by. It had become a habit of his: waiting thirty minutes or so after Ruby had turned in and then tapping lightly on their front door. Ruby hadn’t caught them yet, but then again, they weren’t really doing anything wrong. Lucien hadn’t even kissed her; they merely sat and talked for hours. But Charlotte had never had a boy look at her the way he did, and she’d never felt her heart race like it did when they locked eyes.

“Why do you say that?” Lucien asked. He was sitting just inches from Charlotte on the couch, close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek.

“She talks now about how useless she feels. How she fears that by doing nothing, she’s letting the Germans win.”

Lucien scooted a bit closer. “You understand, though, don’t you, that I’m reluctant to place you in harm’s way?”

“Why?”

Lucien looked into her eyes before looking down. “Because I’ve come to care for you very much.”

Her heart skipped. “And I for you. But there is no future for us if the Germans are allowed to remain here.”

“Charlotte . . .” Lucien didn’t complete his thought.

“You know I’m right. I’m Jewish, Lucien. The Germans wouldn’t even let us be friends.” She summoned her courage and added, “Never mind more than friends.”

“More than friends?” The corner of his mouth turned up into a half smile. “What did you have in mind?”

“Does it matter? As long as the Germans are here, it is impossible. Everything is impossible.”