Sophie froze in shock. The Gestapo was after Papa! And probably because of her actions. A waiter collided with her, upsetting the drink meant for Hochstetter. The sound of shattering glass shook Sophie from her trance. She scurried for the door, but a heavy hand grabbed her arm.

"Excuse me, Fraulein, have we met before?"

Sophie slowly turned around to face the Major. His beady eyes scrutinized her. She squirmed, but his grip only tightened. Stealing a glance over her shoulder, she sighed with relief. Newkirk and LeBeau had already left. They probably hadn't realized she was gone yet. Hochstetter's fingers tightened around her arm.

"Um, no. No, we haven't met before. I've never seen you before in my life," Sophie stuttered.

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Sophie's heart hammered on her ribcage. A thousand grisly Gestapo rumors raged through her head. Finally, the Major shoved her aside with a disgusted grunt.

"Waiter, bring me another round," he growled.

Sophie sighed a shaky breath and massaged her arm. After taking a moment to let her legs stop trembling, she hurried out of the café. She had to get home. She had to warn Papa. Shaking her head in frustration, she kicked at a stone wall. She'd never get there in time on foot. If only there was a faster way. Of course!

She gathered up her skirts and trotted to the fountain. It was still there, right where she'd left it. Sophie snatched her bicycle from its resting place and swung herself into the seat. Pumping the pedals with savage ferocity, she raced towards home. All the while, she prayed she wasn't too late.

After an eternity of straining across potholed roads, Sophie finally steered her bicycle into the gravel drive. Lights glimmered in the farmhouse windows, but it didn't look like they had company. Good, she made it in time. Tossing her bike aside, Sophie charged up the front steps.

"Papa! I'm here! I have something important to tell you!"

She burst through the door with arms wide. To her surprise, nothing but an empty kitchen greeted her. Not even the new basket of food had been touched. The pleasant smell of breakfast didn't fill the cabin as usual. The deep-seated dread returned as Sophie studied the eerily quiet house. An upset vase leaked water on the table. She reached out a hand to straighten it. As she did, a loose scrap of paper caught her eye. She picked it up and read the hastily scrawled words, her heart sinking as she did so.

"Johan Weidler has been taken by the Gestapo for conspiring against the Third Reich."