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

page with a photograph of long lines of tourists outside the cave’s ticket office and a headline saying
Satan hauls them in at St Denis
.
    ‘Yesterday was my best day since last August and today looks to be even better,’ said Fauquet as Bruno shook hands with the men at the bar. ‘If it goes on like this, I reckon Satan can sign me up as a believer.’
    ‘It’ll calm down next week when the media moves on to something else,’ Bruno said.
    He took the Baron by the arm and led him outside to the balustrade of the terrace overlooking the river. It was a fine spring day, the sun’s warmth softened by some high, thin cloud, and whole columns of new ducklings paddled after their mothers like battle fleets in the age of sail. Despite the early hour, the traffic on the bridge was already building, presumably more tourists for the Gouffre. A new sign caught his eye at the roundabout, a large arrow and the words
To The Devil’s Cave
. He sighed. There were rules about road signs. He’d have to pull it down, but maybe he could wait until someone complained.
    ‘You know I talked to the boys about that stunt you pulled with Marcel and Delaron,’ Bruno said.
    ‘Yes, and I know somebody else got there before us.’
    ‘Leave that to one side. I hope you haven’t made any enemies among the
Procureurs
, because I can just see someone putting together a charge of intent to profit from deception. If that Count Vexin wants to screw you over the sale of the cave you’ve given him the perfect opportunity.’
    The Baron laughed. ‘Vexin was in it from the beginning. Iwas holding out for more money, saying a go-ahead type like him could push the marketing and bring in a lot more visitors. It was that day when the story about the dead woman was in the paper and he suggested we try to give the story an extra push. It certainly worked – and he agreed to my higher price, so everyone’s happy.’
    ‘So we’re going to get this Satanist crap regularly from now on, is that what you want?’ asked Bruno. ‘There comes a point when the Mayor’s right, this can easily go too far. How long before we start to get a reputation as the Devil’s town?’
    ‘You’re exaggerating.’
    ‘Let’s hope so. But in the meantime, I need to find out who went into the cave before the kids. Could it have been Vexin?’
    ‘I doubt it,’ the Baron scoffed. ‘He’s from Paris. He wouldn’t have the local connections to know about it.’
    ‘Don’t be too sure. That other chap you were having lunch with, Foucher, he’s living at the Red Countess’s château. She told me he’s the estate manager, so he could know about it. And I’m told he’s some kind of partner in Vexin’s scheme.’
    ‘Maybe it was Vexin and his people. But why are you making a fuss?’
    ‘Because they must have come in through your secret tunnel,’ said Bruno. ‘I’ve explored it myself and now I know it’s a natural watercourse, not man-made, so I’m wondering how many other ways in or out of the Gouffre there could be.’
    ‘How should I know? I explored it all as a kid and there were some side passages, but none of the ones I found led anywhere, at least not to anywhere I could penetrate. But it’s a big place. You’d need a professional team to really explore it.’
    ‘There’s no shortage of caving clubs round here. Did you ever think about inviting one of them to take a look?’
    The Baron shrugged, but looked uncomfortable. ‘I remembered what my father said, what I told you back in the cave. It’s for us locals. Who knows when we might need it?’
    Bruno shook his head firmly. ‘That’s the problem, Baron. It’s not just for us any more, now you’re selling the cave to Vexin. He’s just the guy to open it all up to maximize his investment. Pay to see the Devil’s Cave and then for a little extra fee you can explore the secret tunnel where the Resistance hid their guns. Is that what you want? Or what your father would have wanted?’
    ‘
Putain, tu me casses les couilles
,’ the Baron said aggressively. ‘Leave him out of this. Why don’t you concentrate on finding out who went in before the kids?’
    The Baron turned on his heel and strode away. Bruno had never quarrelled with him before. He wondered whether the Baron’s interest in Béatrice might explain his cooperation with Vexin. It had been on the tip of his tongue to refer to the Baron’s visit to Béatrice’s auberge, but now he was glad he hadn’t.
    ‘Hey, Bruno,’