Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Leah often told me to give him a chance and that one day he might surprise us, that he needed to build up his confidence… I couldn’t even count how many times she’d said it. I myself was a newbie only a few years ago, but I refused to believe I was ever such a dimwit.
“Can you type in Roxane Robin’s name on your computer?” I asked Agatha, who was still sitting at her desk, unlike the rest of us.
“In the database? But haven’t you already checked?”
“I mean on the internet.”
I knew what I was looking for wouldn’t be in the top results, which would have nothing to do with the young blonde whose path I’d crossed in Mrs. Barale’s garden.
I walked around the desk to sit beside her when just two minutes ago I had been complaining about someone doing the same to me…
“There,” I said, pointing to the screen.
“Cyrano de Bergerac?” she said, surprised, clicking on the link.
“Magdalene Robin, known as Roxane, Cyrano’s cousin. That’s two literature-inspired names.”
“Okay, so we’re dealing with a fan of old books,” said Leah. “That doesn’t tell us who our man, or rather woman, is.”
“No, I know,” I replied, “but this is as good a lead as any.”
“What about the dead guy? Do you know who he is?” Leah asked.
I was so anxious to discover the identity of the mysterious blonde, I had forgotten this information. After all, he wasn’t going to come back to life to testify against Santoni on the stand.
“Rob Defontaine,” I read from the report. “Single, a building contractor.”
I exchanged a look with my superior. On paper I had nothing special, but at least I had an identity. I was aware of what was waiting for me.
“I’m going to go do the routine visits, the neighbors, the coworkers, etcetera.”
“Okay, Rhett will come with you,” she said before turning around and disappearing into her office.
I knew why. She didn’t want to give me the chance to argue.
“Cool, we’re going on a trip,” said my teammate for the day.
All of the ways to gag someone came to mind. Unfortunately, none were officially accepted by law enforcement officials. So I’d have to put up with his word vomit on one of his three favorite subjects. His sports training, his synthetic-protein-based diet, or the last girl he’d taken to bed.
If they didn’t give me the medal for patience after that…
Agatha gave me a sympathetic look. I would have preferred to go with her a thousand times over. But, oh well, at least there was someone competent to hold down the fort. And to do research, if needed.
I left the office with Rhett at my heels, like a little dog about to go for a walk. I didn’t pay any attention to what he was talking about until we reached my car. I could have taken a police vehicle, but I preferred to be discreet.
“Damn, does this thing still run?”
I gave him my most glaring look, but he didn’t get the warning.
“I know police officers don’t get paid much, but—”
“Shut up,” I barked.
This time the message was clear. He sealed his lips and made a zipping gesture.
A good decision.
Once we were in the car, I started the ignition. It didn’t matter what the idiot beside me said, it started, and I took care to maintain it like a Swiss watch. I had hardly traveled a couple of meters when my phone rang.
I stopped and took it out of my pocket.
“Ah yes, you don’t have hands-free,” commented Rhett.
I ignored him and saw that it was Agatha. That was strange, given we’d only just left a few minutes before.
“Yes?”
“Finn! I’ve got some info for you. The forensic team just called. Turns out your fingerprint search for the girl turned up another match. This one is better—it’s more recent. The Bouches-du-Rhône police office caught someone for stealing a car, and the person is still at the station.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Yes. Angelica Rougon.”
“Dammit…”
“Yeah, I know, Zola this time. It can only be her.”
I rubbed my forehead and then said, “Thanks, Agatha. I’ll look into it.”
I hung up, and Rhett, who hadn’t missed a second of the conversation, said, “Are we going to Marseille?”
What surprised me was that his geography was good enough to name a town in Bouches-du-Rhône.
“I’m going to Marseille; you’re getting out of my car.”
“But Leah…”
“Leah told me to take you to interrogate the neighbors, not to go on a trip 200 miles away.”
“But you might need—”
“I don’t need anything. Go back to the office. I’m in a rush.”
I knew I was being a bit rude, but I had other things on my mind. Rhett left, grumbling, and I set off.
27
FINN CHAPTER 4
Roxane
I was rather comfy in my cell. It was luxurious, this brand-new police station, compared to others I’d been in. Even better than some hotels my dad and I had stayed in when money was tight.