Sophie strained her eyes to peer through the darkness. She crouched behind a stack of crates, with Kinch and Carter on both sides. Across the street stood the Gestapo headquarters, an intimidating structure made more ominous by the armed guards at the door. Sophie shuddered to think of her father locked up alone in that awful place. Kinch noticed her apprehension.
"Don't you worry. We'll get him out of there. Carter, it's time to move."
Carter nodded and stood up. The dim light from a streetlamp illuminated the brass on his Gestapo uniform. With the thin spectacles and high-and-mighty expression, he almost appeared more intimidating than Hochstetter. He strutted across the street with arrogant assurance. Stopping just short of the front steps, he snapped at the men on duty.
"Guard! Take me to Major Hochstetter at once."
"I'm sorry sir, but the Major is busy at the moment."
"Busy, you say? Busy? Too busy to receive the personal aid of Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler?"
At this, the guards nearly dropped their weapons in surprise.
"Not at all, sir. Please, come with me."
The distraught guard scurried through the front door, with Carter strutting close behind. As the door shut, Sophie turned her attention back to Kinch.
"Now what?" she whispered.
"Now we wait for Carter to give Hochstetter those fake transfer orders. They'll put your dad in a truck which we can hijack in no time at all."
Sophie waited in the damp stillness. After a few minutes, she could have sworn she heard Carter's enraged German threats echoing from somewhere deep in the building. Not long after, the front gates burst open. A stream of armed guards poured out, dragging a familiar figure with them. Sophie's chest contracted with longing. Her father was usually so strong and confident. Now he looked weak and hopeless. It took all her willpower not to run into the throng of guards and offer him an assuring hug.
A movement from Kinch snapped her back to the present. Carter emerged from the building, his face tightened in a nearly unrecognizable scowl. Hochstetter followed close on his heels with a doubtful frown. However, the major said nothing as the guards shoved his prisoner into a waiting truck.
"You will take my full report to Berlin, I assume?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," huffed Carter as he stepped into the cab. "Any more questions, Major?"
Hochstetter shook his head vigorously. "No, no. I only wanted to be sure all was in order."
"We top-level officers are more than capable of watching over one old man. I wish I could say the same for you."
Hochstetter's face flushed red but he said nothing. He simply raised his arm to heil as Carter signaled the driver. The truck pulled away and disappeared around the corner.
"Now what?" asked Sophie.
Kinch headed back down the alleyway.
"Now we head to the road just outside town. Carter'll hijack the truck there so we can take over."
Together, they slipped through the empty streets until they reached the desired road. Sure enough, the sound of a rumbling engine reached their ears just in time. Sophie peered around a tree to see two beams of light creeping down the road. The truck rolled to a stop not far from their hiding place. The driver's door slowly opened and a terrified driver emerged. Carter followed with a gun aimed at the German soldier's head. Kinch pulled a pistol from his jacket and crept towards the back of the truck. Sophie silently prayed he wouldn't have to use it. With the stealth of a panther, Kinch yanked back the canvas, exposing the stunned guards inside.
"Drop your weapons! Schnell!" he barked.
The guards obeyed without a moment's hesitation. As they stepped gingerly from the truck to be bound and gagged, Sophie clambered inside.
"Papa!" she squealed.
Johan's eyes lit up at the sound of her voice. "Sophie! You're safe! I thought I'd never see you again."
Sophie hurried to untie her father's hands. When he was free, they shared a crushing embrace.
"I was scared too, Papa. But I met some good friends who want to help us. They can take us to London!"
"London!" gasped her father, "but how?"
"We'll explain on the way," said Carter as he finished tying up the last guard. "For now, let's get moving before someone drives by and spots us."
Sophie and Johan nodded as Kinch joined them in the back of the truck. Carter sat their captives down by the side of the road and adjusted his disguise. Then, he clambered into the cab and let the truck roll forward.
"Where are we going?" asked Johan.
"We'll dump the truck somewhere where the goons can't find it," Kinch explained, "then we'll take you to our base and get you fixed up."
His words were interrupted by the crack of gunfire. Bullets ripped through the canvas. Kinch let out a yell. Carter stomped on the gas. The truck lurched forward. Everyone in the back fell to the floor, covering their heads as the gunshots faded.
"Is everyone all right?" asked a concerned Johan.
"I'm okay," Sophie breathed, shaking from head to toe.
"Not quite," Kinch hissed, "I got hit in the arm."
