J. Janes - Tapestry

‘Was he searched?’

‘I’m certain of it.’

‘Then he’s very thorough, this killer of ours, very quick thinking and …’

‘Wants definitely to keep us from seeing something.’

‘But what ? We know they’re supposed to be working for Boemelburg shy; and Oberg, know they’re supposed to be helping us put a stop to things.’

‘Yet are the cause of them, Hermann. It begs answer.’

‘Jourdan obviously would have been a member of the Grands Mutiles .’

The association of them. ‘But that, in itself, is no reason to take his papers. Flavien Garnier is a member of the Union Nationale des Combattants, which is ultraconservative and has within it a very right-wing, reactionary, collaborationist faction.’

‘Who would like to see the wives and fiancees of certain POWs punished?’

In the South, in the former Free Zone, and in spite of stiff opposition to their doing so, Petain and his government had banned all previous veterans’ organizations and had squeezed them into one, the Legion Francaise des Combattants, but in the north, in the former and still ‘Occupied’ Zone, the Occupier had seen such a single group as a decided threat and had banned it but allowed all the others to remain much to Vichy’s displeasure and consternation.

‘Is it that the Agence Vidocq has its own agenda, Hermann?’

Neither that of the SS and Gestapo, nor even of Berlin and the Occupier at large, but of themselves. ‘And with their former commanding officer again telling them what to do?’

‘Perhaps, but ah, mais alors, alors, Hermann, in the South, the far right of the Legion Francaise des Combattants is also known for similar attitudes and denunciations.’

‘Especially if hidden valuables are involved, and women are to behave themselves, aren’t they?’ said Kohler. ‘They’re to stay at home where they belong, with the children no matter how tough things get.’

‘Most of us veterans wouldn’t be a party to targeting anyone, but many would, I think, find it difficult to forgive the wife who strays even after what has become such a prolonged absence.’

Every request by Petain and his government in Vichy to let those million-and-a-half POWs return to France had fallen on stone-deaf ears. ‘A popular cause, then?’

‘One that would at least engender the tacit approval from many if nothing else. Noelle Jourdan could call on shopkeepers, some of whom were veterans and probably fellow UNCs.’

‘Her father wrote to others and voila not only are his papers missing but his most recent letters.’

‘Unless earlier posted by the daughter.’

‘And Adrienne Guillaumet is the wife of an officer, Louis.’

‘Whereas Madame Barrault is that of a common soldier, the Agence Vidocq making sure that we would be assigned to both.’

‘But why the Tokarev? Why not a Luger, a Lebel or any other?’

‘Why, indeed, unless such a weapon, having easily been obtained on the black market, and later left at the scene of yet another assault and murder, would definitely point the finger of blame at the Communists.’

The Francs-Tireurs et Partisans . ‘Along with the bodies of two honest detectives.’

There were a number of upright wine barrels in the loft, and among them one whose lid, when removed, yielded wood shavings and sawdust that were to protect the rest of the contents and give comfort to gerbils. ‘A terra-cotta nymph, dated 1784, Hermann, and signed by Joseph-Charles Marin. The boy in those photos with Noelle Jourdan had good taste.’

‘A silver breadbasket, Louis. Russian, I think.’

‘Gilded and enamelled to give the appearance of its having been woven.’

‘A Faberge egg.’

And another. ‘Jewellery, Hermann. Earrings, bracelets … No diamonds that I can see, only trinkets perhaps, but …’

‘Good goods all the same.’

And stolen.

The concierge of Number 2 place des Vosges was bundled up in pink kneesocks, pompom slippers and housecoat, and not about to be forthcoming.

‘ WHY DO YOU ASK?’ she shrilled when shown one of the most recent snapshots of Noelle Jourdan and friend.

The cat was clutched. Turning on the charm with this one wasn’t going to work, thought Kohler, but he’d try it anyway. ‘Look, it’s only a general inquiry.’

‘AT THIS HOUR?’

Incredulous at such a thought, she tossed the mangled heap of auburn curls with their bedtime twists of paper and threw still heavily made-up eyes to the ceiling. The damp fag end that clung to her lower lip miraculously remained in place. ‘Here, have one of these.’

A light was also offered but such politeness from the police should not be viewed with anything but suspicion, though the generosity was that of one of les Allemands, it was true, and he did speak French. ‘What is it you really want, Inspector? Has my little Max done something he shouldn’t?’

Max. ‘No, not at all.’

Had he done things in the past-was this what the inspector was now wondering? ‘He’s away in any case. In Lyon, on another pickup.’

Lyon. ‘It’s the girl we want to question, madame … ?’

‘Auger, Nina. And the madame is really quite immaterial since I was fool enough to have married him and mine went to his maker when that one was five years old.’

As did Noelle Jourdan’s mother. The things one learned. ‘Life is never easy, is it?’

‘WHAT’S SHE DONE?’

‘Let some nosy photographer take some pictures.’

The Hotel-Dieu. ‘Ah! I thought so. You didn’t find her with that father of hers?’

‘He said she’d gone out.’

‘With the curfew coming at us like an express train?’

Louis should have heard her but was arranging for the district’s iron man to photograph the victims and the local flics to secure the sites.

‘She’s a tease, you know,’ said Nina, flicking ash away from the cat that was now draped across the claw-frayed back of an armchair that should have been thrown out years ago. ‘Always the promise,’ she went on, ‘never the little capital. That father of hers would have killed her too, I think, if she’d let my boy have her.’

Gott im Himmel, she was a treasure, just like Benedicte Mailloux, but a conspiratorial tone had best be used. ‘What, exactly, happened to her mother?’

‘Ah! who knows? Who can blame her for straying from such a man? The screams in the night, the agony of the shelling relived at the slightest bump and hour by hour. Mine was made of better stuff perhaps. Who’s to say? One day she had a fall and so did my Henri. Two places. The first in that house at Number 25, the second here in the stable out back and a little later. An accident , both of them.’

‘And the boy?’

‘Finally has a good job that pays well and has a future. The colonel saw to it. My husband’s colonel. Things are better now that les Allemands are here, of course, yourself included.’

Two further Gauloises bleues were laid on the slim oak counter of the loge she had ‘inherited’ from Henri, who’d been fucking Madame Mariette Jourdan up in that stable’s loft. Everyone had known of it. Everyone. Noelle least of all.

‘Your son, madame. When do you think he’ll be back?’

‘Not for a few days. He’s often away on a job.’

‘A pickup, you said?’

‘Did I?’

‘ Zut alors, I’m only trying to fill things in. My partner will ask. He’s a stickler for details.’

A partner … ‘Furniture and other household items. It’s a furniture company, isn’t it?’

‘Which one?’

‘The Levitan. Very classy, you understand, very expensive in the old days, but a little something for everyone. Business must still be good.’