Somehow he handled the pain, returning to the room with more ease than it had taken to get down to the lobby. Alena and Natalie were deep in conversation and looked surprised as if sharing a guilty secret.
Before he could speak, Alena blurted out: ‘When Freddie returns, we have to leave here.’ As if to encompass the whole of Manhattan, she spread out her arms. ‘I knew it would be too dangerous. I’ve been talking to Natalie about her contacts. The offer sounds genuine, and we should accept. It’s all we’ve got.’ Willing him to agree, she got up and walked over to him,
‘You’re back quickly,’ Natalie said. ‘Has something happened? Any news of Freddie?’
He glanced at his feet, trying not to meet her gaze. ‘Afraid not.’
‘What then?’ Alena asked.
‘I’ve just seen one of the Nazis.’
They could pounce at any moment.
To his surprise, Alena seemed relieved. ‘If they’re here, that means they don’t have Freddie.’
‘That’s a possibility, cheri,’ Natalie agreed.
Realising what that meant, Alena put a hand to her mouth. ‘But if Freddie returns, they’ll be waiting for him. He’ll walk straight into a trap. We must go and wait for him.’
Natalie touched her shoulder. ‘He’ll probably be back soon. Let me contact Solomon so we can get things moving.’
He and Alena looked at each other in agreement. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘But it needs to happen immediately; otherwise, I’ve other plans.’ Hope flared in Alena’s eyes before fading like a dud firework. ‘We’ll give you two hours. If we don’t hear from you, we’re out of here.’ He still doubted Natalie’s motives and would leave New York without her. The fewer who knew their next step, the better. ‘In the meantime, Alena and I will look for Freddie.’
A few minutes after Natalie left there was a light knock, and Alena grabbed his hand with a mixture of fear and anticipation. He put a finger to his lips and led her into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
‘Come in,’ he called.
The lobby was becoming increasingly crowded as the day wore on. Klein realised it would be impossible to conduct an effective surveillance operation with so many people on the move. Keeping tabs on them was difficult. The hotel had several exits. They could slip out unseen, and it would be easier for Freddie to move about unnoticed. It had taken only minutes to charm the room numbers out of an attractive receptionist, but this was not the time to confront the target. They could take the boy by force, but getting him out of a hotel off Times Square would be problematic. He would give Natalie more time. If she wavered or attempted to double-cross him, they would intervene.
Natalie emerged from an elevator and looked around before striding across the lobby. She knew she would be seen.
He was sitting to the side on a comfortable sofa, and he put down his New York Times. Although she glanced in his direction, she showed no sign of recognising him. He signalled one of his men.
She sought a payphone and entered the kiosk. The call was soon picked up, and she appeared to have an intense conversation before slamming down the phone. She pulled the door open, glancing back and forth, then headed for an exit.
He nodded to his man who put on his hat and set off in pursuit.
Guilt twisted an unsure Freddie’s pale face as he entered the room. Relieved he’d returned unharmed, Ben smiled.
‘Maman? Where’s maman?’ The boy stared, seeking his mother.
‘Don’t worry.’ He gave him a reassuring hug. ‘She’s here.’
Alena was listening behind the bathroom door, and she appeared with a mixture of relief, anger and love chasing across her face. Freddie ran into her embrace, and they remained that way for several seconds, not talking before she bent and kissed the top of his head.
‘Where were you?’ There was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
‘Exploring,’ he replied, knowing his answer would upset her, and his lips pursed as he tried to hide his relief.
‘How could you when people want to harm us?’ She cried and hugged harder, determined not to let him escape again. ‘How could you do this?’
Then she pushed him away but kept a hold of him at arm’s length, and her eyes checked him from top to bottom. ‘Let me look at you.’ She softened. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine, maman,’ the boy gave her his most appealing smile as if it were a joke.
‘You’ve been away a long time. I’ve been worried sick about you.’
‘There was a big lake, and I rowed a boat across it.’
‘On your own? They shouldn’t have–’
‘Wasn’t alone.’
‘What do you mean?’ Her eyes dimmed with doubt.
‘A lady…’
‘What lady?’
‘I talked to a lady.’
Alena flashed an anxious look. ‘Haven’t I told you often enough never to speak to strangers.’
‘Wasn’t strange.’ His chin jutted out in defiance. ‘She was kind.’
‘Was she German?’
Freddie looked confused. ‘No. French, maybe, but she spoke in a funny way.’
‘What did she do?’
‘She helped me… and she bought me an ice cream.’ He smiled, remembering it.
‘How?’
‘To get back.’
‘To the hotel?’
‘Yes, she knew it.’
They exchanged puzzled looks. If the woman was a Nazi, she had the chance to take him. Freddie thought her French, but perhaps she pretended to be because Alena was and most of the time conversed with him in that language.
Freddie interrupted them. ‘Maman, I’m hungry.’ And she phoned the desk and arranged for food to be sent up to her room for him.
His injuries were weakening him, and he stretched out on the bed. Battling to stay awake, he drifted in and out of sleep, awakening when movement reminded him of the pain.
Alena must have left the door ajar because he didn’t hear someone slip into the room.
Sensing a presence, he opened an eye as she lay beside him. ‘Please, just hold me,’ she whispered.