The executivenodded. “They’re working on it, but it’s taking some time. Full report shouldbe in soon.”
Robert noddedand this time addressed Foucault, moving across the room to peer through theopen window into the street below. A small, pink-painted cafe occupied thestreet across from the DGSI.
“I did read thefirst report,” he said. “Only the kidney missing. Why do you think that is?”
Paige andFoucault both stayed silent. But Adele glanced across the room toward hermentor, watching the way the afternoon sunlight illuminated the side of hisface and cast shadows against the carpeted floor.
“Trophycollecting?” she said.
“Perhaps,” said Robert.“Makes sense.”
“What else?”
Robert shruggedand his gaze snapped to Foucault behind his desk.
The executive’sfrown deepened. “That’s what you’re paid to find out,” he said. His eyes dartedbetween the three agents and he reached out, patting the side of his computer. “Weneed more information, and you don’t have much time to provide it.”
Adele noted thequick way in which we became you. She paused, then said, quietly,“I’ve been thinking about the victims. Both of them expats, yes? Growing up, Ihad some experience with that community—not much, as my mother was local. Butsome American friends at school whose parents relocated for work.” She paused. “They’rea vulnerable community. Isolated a lot of times—barriers in language andculture. Perhaps the killer is using this to get close to them. Exploitingloneliness or a pressure to please the host country.”
Foucault tookthis with a nod and shrug. “Explore all possibilities,” he said. “Just,” he paused,“don’t make it personal.” He turned from Adele. “Agent Henry, you’ll be stayinghere, I presume?” Foucault’s gaze flicked to the smaller man.
Robert rubbedhis mustache. “I’ll leave the field work to the youngsters, I think.”
Foucaultreturned his attention to Adele. “Second crime scene?” he said. “It’s stillunder our supervision.”
“I’m ready tostart if she isn’t too tired,” Paige said, speaking for the first time sincethey’d entered the room. The comment seemed innocent enough, but somethingabout it raised Adele’s hackles.
Now that theattention was once again on her, Adele inhaled softly.
Americans inFrance, expats—she felt a kinship with them; a camaraderie. Adele knew what itwas to move from country to country, to reestablish roots, to build a life oncemore.
But these liveshad been built only to end with bloodstains on the floor of their apartments.No physical evidence. No sign of a struggle. No sign of breaking or entering.
Now wasn’t thetime for rest.
“I’m ready whenyou are,” said Adele, already turning toward the door.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Adele ground herteeth in frustration, tapping her fingers impatiently against the woodwork ofthe door frame that led into the apartment. She glanced at her watch for thetenth time in the last thirty minutes and her eyebrows lowered even furtherover her eyes, darkening her countenance as a flash of impatience joltedthrough her.
“Christ,” Adelemuttered. She frowned as she glanced up and down the street, tracking the flowof vehicles. She kept trying to spot any government issues, but found herattention drawn only to the loaner she’d parked against the curb by the emptymeter. It was still afternoon, with the sun high in the sky, dipping onlyslightly in the horizon.
Adele and Sophiehad taken separate vehicles, as Adele would be heading to Robert’s straightfrom the crime scene.
She leanedagainst the railing leading up the concrete steps and turned back toward thefront door of the apartment. For a moment, she considered entering on her own.But generally, protocol dictated two agents were required on scene in tandem.On her first day back on the job in France, Adele didn’t want to stretchboundaries. Still, Agent Paige was making it difficult. Already, she was nearlythirty minutes late.
Adele let out alow growl. She’d made arrangements with Robert to take her luggage to hishouse, and then driven straight to the crime scene. The drive had taken twentyminutes. Paris was one of the few cities with next to no stop signs. It wasrumored there was one stop sign, somewhere; Agent Paige must have found it andnot known how to proceed.
Nothing elseexplained why Adele had been waiting on Paige for half an hour.
She glancedalong the street, toward the gap between the blocks of buildings. Sheswallowed, staring toward the open path across the street, with hints of greenhidden within. Something she loved about Paris had been the little passages andhidden gardens ready to be explored as if through some labyrinth crisscrossingthe hunched buildings. The French had a special word for those who walkedaimlessly, enjoying the side roads and gardens: la flânerie. Adelecouldn’t remember the last time she’d relaxed enough to walk aimlessly. And nowcertainly wasn’t the time.
With a finalpuffing breath of frustration, Adele turned to the doors and moved to buzz thebottom button marked Landlord. He’d been instructed to let her in. Withor without Paige, Adele was determined to see the crime scene of the secondvictim.
Before she couldpush the buzzer, though, there was a quiet screech of tires. Adele glanced overher shoulder and spotted a second SUV with black tinted windows parking behindher own vehicle. Agent Paige’s silver hair appeared over the top of thedoorframe as she exited the driver’s seat, taking her sweet time about it. Theolder agent paused on the curb, then snapped her fingers as if realizingsomething, turned back to her car, opened the door, and began rummaging aroundinside.
Adele stared; ittook nearly a minute before Paige found whatever she’d been looking for, andthen once more, at a snail’s pace, began to move toward the stairs to theapartment. She gave a noncommittal grunt in Adele’s direction.
Adele suppressedher temper. She would have to work with Paige for the duration of the case, andstarting off on the wrong foot wouldn’t help anything. But it almost seemedlike her assigned partner was intentionally dragging her feet on this one.
“I thought weagreed to come straight here,” said Adele, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Paige shot Adelea long look out of the corner of her eye. “Yeah? I’m not usually in a hurry towaste my time. The crime scene monkeys have already been over this. Not surewhy we’re here.”
Adele turnedfully now, looking away from the apartment doors and the buzzers to face herpartner. “We’re here,” she said,
