The Crowded Grave

wanted, handed over his card, a cashier’s check for five thousand euros on account and swore him to secrecy.
    “I’ll need all the names and ID numbers of all members of staff e-mailed to me before eight tomorrow morning,” he said. “Now, I’d like to see your two best bedroom suites and hear about anything of historical interest. The minister likes that sort of thing.”
    “This was the headquarters of Malraux in 1944 when he ran the Resistance campaign here …,” Julien began, still looking dazedly at the check in his hands.
    “Excellent, just the kind of thing ministers like. Any royal mistresses?”
    “No, but Napoléon slept here on his way back from the Spanish campaign.”
    “Splendid, give my minister Napoléon’s room but just don’t say anything about the Spanish campaign. That wouldn’t be tactful when the summit is with the Spaniards. And now Bruno said something about your making a decent wine here in the vineyard. Perhaps I could try a glass as you show me the wine cellar, and then we’ll take a look at Napoléon’s chamber.”

25
    It was dark when he finally arrived at Pamela’s place, Gigi in the passenger seat beside him and his suitcase in the back of the car. He let himself in with his key while Gigi began looking around the familiar yard, stopping at every corner to mark his territory and explore whatever interesting new scents had developed since his last visit. Bruno quickly changed out of his uniform and donned jeans, a sweater and a jacket for his long-delayed evening ride with Hector. As he headed for the stables, Fabiola emerged from her
gîte
across the yard and called to him as she stood silhouetted in the lighted doorway. Fleetingly Bruno saw another figure pass through the room behind her and into the kitchen, but Fabiola closed the door and advanced into the courtyard.
    “Hector’s already had his evening ride. I assumed you were tied up and took him with me on a bridle,” she said, holding up her face to be kissed.
    “That was kind, thanks. I feel bad about not getting here earlier.”
    “I know. I assume it’s this security alert for the summit that people are talking about.”
    “I didn’t know it had been announced yet,” he said, surprised.
    “It hasn’t, but we were told at the clinic to make sure we were fully staffed and had an ambulance on alert for the day after tomorrow. And we expect a military surgeon to join us tomorrow, an expert on gunshot wounds. So naturally the news spread, and the town is filling up with journalists.”
    “You can’t keep secrets in St. Denis,” Bruno said, smiling ruefully. “I’ll take Hector for a walk anyway, just up the lane and back, help him get used to me.”
    “I’m inviting you to dinner after that, so shall we say in half an hour?”
    Bruno raised his eyebrows. “Thank you, but you always say you don’t cook.”
    “I make two dishes, one my mother made me learn and another Pamela taught me. You’re having both tonight. And I have some wine so don’t offend me by bringing any. I’ve eaten enough of your meals and never returned the favor.”
    “I’ll be delighted,” said Bruno. “Just the two of us?”
    “No, a couple of friends. One of them is Florence from the
collège
; she’s just putting her kids to bed in my spare room.”
    “Good, I haven’t spent an evening with her for far too long. And the other?”
    “A new friend, a surprise. And I heard from Pamela. Her mother’s had another stroke, more serious this time. She said she tried to call your mobile, but you must have been out of range. She left a message on your office phone.”
    “I tried calling her, but we keep missing each other,” he said. “I’ll try again now.”
    “Any news of Horst?” Fabiola asked. Bruno shook his head and turned away, wondering in what grim and makeshift cell his friend might be tonight.
    Bruno’s thoughts were a jumble as he greeted Hector,fondling his horse’s nose and ears before he saddled him and led him into the yard to mount. Gigi appeared from somewhere behind the stable, now quite comfortable with the horse and ready to trot alongside. It was a fine evening, cold but clear, a good night to look at the stars, but there was too much on Bruno’s mind.
    He was concerned about Teddy, whom he liked. Bruno believed he learned a lot about someone from watching him play rugby, and Teddy had been impressive, after the match as well as on the field. He was far more worried about Horst, who