In October, Isabelle travels through Nazi-occupied Paris to keep the Nightingale escape work moving. During an air-raid blackout in the Métro, German soldiers and French collaborators stop passengers for papers; Isabelle keeps her nerve, presents her false identity, and slips onto her train with a hidden message concealed in a bouquet.

In a dim bistro, Isabelle meets her contact Anouk (posing as “Gabrielle”). Anouk passes Isabelle a letter for Henri and mentions that Gaëtan will attend the upcoming Carriveau meeting, gently confirming Isabelle’s feelings by adding that Gaëtan talks about Isabelle as well.

Isabelle then travels to rainy Carriveau and checks into Henri’s Hôtel Bellevue safe house under the cover name “Madame Gervaise,” surrounded by German officers and SS men. Henri confirms a late-night meeting at an abandoned barn and warns that the Nazis are desperate to identify the Nightingale and may try infiltrating the escape line, especially after mass arrests of women resisters sent to Romainville. Isabelle admits she has made twenty-four crossings, but insists the route is worth the risk.

Pressed about her family, Isabelle learns troubling news: Vianne was fired from teaching, reportedly after questioning a Gestapo officer, and there is gossip linking Vianne to the German officer billeted in her home.

Back in Carriveau, Vianne continues secretly raising Rachel’s toddler, Ari, while food shortages and rumors of new deportations worsen. Captain Beck arrives and quietly gives Vianne forged papers that remake Ari as “Daniel Antoine Mauriac,” warning that Jewish children will soon be targeted even more aggressively. That night, to protect him, Vianne forces a painful break with Ari’s past by telling him his mother is gone and drilling his new name repeatedly, resolving to spread a cover story in town and never again call him Ari.