The Devil's Cave: A Bruno Courrèges Investigation (Bruno Chief of Police 5)

security code and explained what he wanted.
    ‘They’re trying to seal off the baggage claim area but it’s an internal flight from Paris so there’s no customs check,’ J-J said as he waited for more information. ‘I can hear them calling her on the public address system.’
    Bruno’s phone vibrated again. It must be Pamela, he thought, snatching it from his pouch, but it was Fabiola.
    ‘I’ve just had my access authorization to the Red Château faxed from the
Procureur
’s office,’ she said. ‘You want to join me?’
    But of course, Bruno suddenly realized, with the old woman and Foucher at the Gendarmerie, Eugénie disappeared and the Count seeking his long-lost cousin in Bordeaux, the château would be wide open.
    ‘I’d love to,’ he replied. ‘Pick me up at the Gendarmerie whenever you want.’
    J-J closed his phone. ‘They missed her. Apparently she had no checked baggage and there’s no helicopter flight plan into Mérignac. They’ll check other airports nearby and call me back. Meanwhile I’ll have to call the Chief of Police at Bordeaux and I’d better brief the
Procureur
. Who’s planning to pick you up?’
    ‘Dr Stern, Fabiola. We’re going to see the Red Countess at the château. But you also need to know about what looks like financial fraud, using the Countess’s signature to pay for bank loans when she’s supposed to be comatose.’
    ‘It’s the girl who’s the priority now. Let’s get going, I can phone from the car. I’ll go with Sergeant Jules and you wait for the doctor.’
    ‘You’d better warn Inspector Jofflin, who’s running the search at the auberge, just in case the chopper lands there,’ Bruno said.

30
    Fabiola’s old car was wheezing as it tackled the long hill leading to the ridge that overlooked the Red Château. Isabelle had been briefed, which meant the Interior Ministry could now deal with the Defence Ministry. Bruno kept his eyes on the western horizon in case a helicopter came into view.
    ‘I’ve worked out the identity of your private patient, or patients,’ he said.
    ‘I thought you might,’ Fabiola replied. ‘I’m just surprised it took you so long. And even more surprised that you thought I’d be practising medicine for money.’
    ‘Béatrice didn’t pay you for doing check-ups on the girls at the hotel?’
    ‘No, she made a donation to the abused women’s shelter in Bergerac, a very generous donation. I suppose that’s going to end now.’
    Bruno shrugged. He imagined that some other defence company would soon be dispensing corporate hospitality somewhere else. They might even use Béatrice, so long as she wasn’t linked directly to the death of Athénaïs.
    Fabiola parked beside the Gendarmerie van. The main door to the château was already open and Sergeant Jules wasstanding on the steps waiting for them, a nervous maid wringing her hands at his side.
    ‘
Bonjour
, Mademoiselle, who else is here?’ Bruno asked her.
    ‘
Bonjour
, Monsieur, the groom is in the stables and the other maid is with the Countess,’ she said. ‘Everyone else has gone.’
    ‘When did the Count leave?’
    ‘Just over an hour ago. He’d been waiting for Madame’s return and asked me to tell her he couldn’t wait any longer.’
    ‘Did he leave a message for her?’
    ‘Not with me, Monsieur.’
    Bruno showed Fabiola the way to the hospital room where J-J was skimming through a file on the nurse’s table.
    ‘This non-qualified nurse kept decent records, I’ll give her that,’ he said, looking up as they entered. ‘What’s a proper dose for temazepam?’
    ‘It depends. I’d use no more than fifteen milligrams for insomnia,’ said Fabiola. ‘How many is she on?’
    ‘It says she’s on thirty in these notes.’
    ‘That’s a lot. I’ll need to see what else she’s on.’ Fabiola cast an expert eye over the array of machines against the wall as she took the Countess’s pulse. ‘It has too many side effects for my liking and it can become addictive quite quickly. I’ve seen it used in suicides. Can you see if there are any prescription bottles around? They should have the prescribing doctor’s name on the label.’
    She pulled back the sheets and took out a stethoscope to listen to the Countess’s heart and then began to palpate her limbs. Bruno heard Fabiola muttering to herself about muscular atrophy, when J-J’s phone rang.
    ‘Where? Which airport?’ J-J said. ‘We’re near Les Eyzies. What’s the flying time to here?