As they finished the last of their wine, Charlie looked out the window and watched a tall man with a long, checked scarf and grey coat walk down the courtroom steps and swing a satchel over his shoulder. The man looked left and right, scratching his head of curls, before heading towards his car. Her tummy flipped when she recognised the broad shoulders, messy curls and brisk stride.
Detective Allard.
She put her glass down, stood and pushed her chair out. ‘Excuse-moi, Inspecteur.I’m grateful for this lunch and information. I’m sure we’ll share more as the trial starts. But in the meantime, there’s just one more thing I must do before I leave Versailles.’
The inspecteur studied Charlie’s face before following her gaze out the window to the dark figure and back to the reporter in front of him. He tapped his fingers on the table and looked … resigned. ‘Understood. Until we meet again, Mademoiselle James.’ He tipped his head in a farewell and signalled for the cheque.
Charlie resisted the temptation to kiss the inspecteur on the cheek. His downcast eyes told her he considered she had already crossed a professional line with Detective Allard. Instead, she put on her navy beret, slung her satchel over her shoulder and ran outside.
The wind made her nose drip as she darted through the boys’ soccer game to the detective’s black police car.
‘Detective Allard.’ She raised her voice to make herself heard above the whistle of the wind and the revelry of the markets.
Detective Allard beamed. ‘Mademoiselle James. I didn’t realise you were still in Versailles?’
They stood staring at each other awkwardly. Then both spoke at the same time.
‘I was going to call you—’
‘I wanted to talk to you—’
They stopped and laughed. ‘Ladies first,’ said the detective, holding out his hand.
Charlie looked at it and remembered him cupping her breasts, stroking her leg, and shivered.
‘I know there is the trial. I’ll be working non-stop. You will too, of course, chasing conviction. But after that is completed, could we perhaps …?’ She hesitated, losing all her confidence to the wind.
The detective looked at Charlie and repeated her phrase, ‘After the trial?’ He seemed as uncertain as she did.
‘I have to go back to Paris on the next train. I need to get this story right. To finish it. Not only for Maisy Bell, butallthe families. I know you warned me about working all the time and I will make changes.’ She clenched her fists. ‘I have to. But first I need to shore up my job in Paris. Maybe we could keep in touch?’
‘I dare say you’ll pester me about the trial,’ he teased.
‘Wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t. But perhaps when this story is over … when things are less …’
‘Complicated?’ He raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
‘I was going to say less of a conflict of interest.’
‘You are certainly that and more, Charlie James,’ Allard said as he slowly ran his eyes up and down her body. ‘What exactly did you have in mind?’
The Times, September 1938
Charlie James, Paris correspondent
Case of missing American tourist finally put to rest
The Cité Metro Police have confirmed the body of missing American tourist Maisy Bell has been found at a villa in Saint-Cloud, an hour south of Paris. Hans Fischer, a German national who rented the villa, has been formally charged with Bell’s murder.
The case, which has gripped France, has been connected to the murder of four other known victims for which Hans Fischer has been charged.
Inspecteur Benoît Bernard of the Metro Police says that a working crime scene has been established at the villa. He advises all members of the public to respect the work of theMetropolitan and Provincial police forces as they piece together the evidence of these crimes.
‘We promise the American Embassy and the loved ones of Maisy Bell, along with the people of France, that we will not rest until this case is properly prosecuted and justice has been done,’ Inspecteur Bernard said.
‘I particularly wish to extend my deepest condolences to the Bell family in Dallas, Texas. I hope this investigation and trial process will give them the answers and peace they deserve.’
Mourners have set up a vigil and floral tributes for Maisy Bell on the footpath outside the Hotel Ritz, Paris.