‘I need you to stay in Paris,’ I said, and reached into my pocket for two cards. ‘These are hotels where I booked a room. One is near the Parmentier métro and other near the Place de la République.’ I handed them over and said, ‘Choose whichever one you like and text me when you get there. They’re both paid up for three days, although I doubt it’ll take me that long.’
‘Forget it. I’m staying with you.’ She sounded mad, which I’d kind of expected. But mad didn’t make it sensible. I needed to be by myself for the next phase if I was to get anywhere, and having to worry about Lindsay at the same time was likely to get us both killed.
I explained what I was going to do. ‘I have to get this over and done with. To do that I’ve got to have a free hand to draw the opposition to an area where I have some kind of advantage.’
‘You’re going to fight them?’
‘It’s what I do. If I don’t they won’t stop.’
‘But surely Paris would be somewhere we could hide until we can get out of the country.’
‘That’s just the point,’ I countered. ‘Getting out is the hardest thing to do. They’ll be watching every port and airport, every route out of France that we could possibly take. Even if we got out they’d wait for one of us to surface in the US.’
She looked at me. ‘You mean me, don’t you? They’ll get to you through me.’
‘Yes. I can’t risk that.’ A big city like Paris was the logical choice but logic wasn’t going to cut it this time. I had a feeling the opposition might be running short of people or patience, and either way it was time for me to take control – or, at least as much control as they would allow me. I also didn’t want Lindsay to get hurt because I’d never forgive myself. That would be a burden I simply could not carry.
‘What about the embassy – can’t they help?’
‘It’s not an option. It has to be this way.’
She didn’t say anything for a long while and I let her think it through. Whatever else she had learned working in the CIA, she knew that there was a way of doing things that might seem counter-intuitive to all normal folk, but which worked for the operative on the ground.
‘All right,’ she said at last. ‘Get me on a train … but you’d better make sure you join me in Paris or I’ll never forgive you.’
That threw me for reasons I couldn’t explain, but I recovered and said, ‘Agreed. I suppose there’s no point me asking you to get on a flight to Washington? They don’t know your name and I doubt the spotter back in Épernon got a good look at you.’
‘I think I’ve conceded enough. Don’t push it.’
When I glanced across at her she had a faint smile on her face.
I turned off the road into the town of Meulan and followed directions to the local train station. I pulled up in front of the red and cream painted building and noticed signs for a bus service to the city. I pointed it out to her. ‘Whichever leaves first,’ I said, ‘take it. The sooner you’re on your way the better. Have you ever been to Paris?’
‘No. I’ve always wanted to. I just never expected to do it this way.’ She smiled. ‘It kind of takes the edge off it, somewhat, although it’s exciting at the same time.’ She picked up her bag and said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m a big girl. I can handle this.’ Then she surprised me by leaning forward and brushing my ear with a kiss. ‘Please be careful.’
A second later she was out of the car and walking away fast.
I continued driving north, winding my way into the rural region of Hauts-de-France. I had no specific plan or destination, but I’d know it when I saw it. First I had to make a couple of calls. As soon as I spotted a roadside café I parked nearby and headed inside, where I ordered a coffee and a ficelle jambon-beurre, or ham sandwich, from the lady behind the bar. I hadn’t given much thought about eating but when I saw the size of the sandwich I realized how hungry I was.
There were only two other customers, which was good. They were middle-aged and dressed identically in blue overalls and boots, with an official-looking logo on the breast pocket. Other than a polite nod of greeting, they barely gave me a look. Also good. I took a table at the back of the room and ate, drank my coffee, then ordered a refill. I was going to have to be on full alert for the next twenty-four hours at least and a caffeine boost would do that just fine. While the lady was doing her thing with the coffee machine I looked for a phone and saw a blue plastic head-booth down the corridor to the rear.
I ducked inside and checked my cellphone, then dialled a number I hadn’t used in a while. It rang five times before being picked up. I recognized the gravelly tones immediately.
‘Fabien,’ I said. ‘You got time for a chat?’
There was a pause, then he chuckled and said, ‘Marc? It’s been a long time.’ Cool as always, but friendly.
‘Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been busy. I need some stuff.’
He laughed. ‘Of course you do. Where are you?’
I told him and he said, ‘Get your ass to Beauvais and I’ll be waiting.’ He gave me an address on the outskirts of the town, then rang off. Cool and cautious.
I’d met Fabien in the Foreign Legion, and we’d hit it off pretty quickly. He wasn’t on the run or any of that romantic nonsense, but simply had a thirst for adventure. He was a few years older than me and had already served ten years in the French military by then
