Bücher online kostenlos Kostenlos Online Lesen
The Resistance Man (Bruno Chief of Police 6)

The Resistance Man (Bruno Chief of Police 6)

Titel: The Resistance Man (Bruno Chief of Police 6) Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Martin Walker
Vom Netzwerk:
was foolish enough to have a fling some years ago. He asked if I was seeking to destroy his career.’
    ‘I don’t see the connection,’ the Mayor said, looking startled and confused.
    ‘Our affair was not exactly secret, although he was married at the time. I’d met some of his political colleagues at dinner parties and receptions, you know how it is in Paris. And of course when they saw my name on the piece in
Le Monde
they assumed that he was somehow behind it and began wondering at his motives. He must have had some rather angry phone calls as a result, and hence his call to me.’
    ‘You must have seen that coming,’ said the Mayor.
    ‘Of course I did, which was an excellent reason for publishing the article. He was a charmer, of course, and very good-looking, but I found that I couldn’t stand his utter pomposity, which is why I ended the liaison. His subsequent political career has plunged him even further down in my estimation. He was a bully in private and he’s been a bully as minister. The man’s a disgrace. I won’t be at all embarrassed if this becomes public so long as it ends his political career.’
    Bruno exchanged looks with his Mayor and felt himself grinning. ‘You have been warned,’ he said.
    The Mayor looked fondly at Jacqueline and said: ‘I’ll take my chances.’
    After the meal, the Mayor had driven Bruno back to St Denis, saying he had something to discuss.
    ‘I don’t sleep there, you know,’ the Mayor said as they setout. ‘It wouldn’t feel right, certainly until Cécile’s funeral is over.’
    ‘And perhaps the election,’ Bruno replied, thinking of the impact on the voters of the Mayor embarking on an affair when his wife had just died.
    ‘Perhaps. But when you get to my age, Bruno, and you find yourself fascinated by a woman and feeling like a youngster again, that’s not something you can afford to ignore. I’d rather be with Jacqueline than get re-elected. To be in love again is like a gift.’
    ‘It always is, at any age.’ Bruno felt the Mayor take his eyes briefly from the road to glance at him as if about to speak, and was relieved when he didn’t. He didn’t want any conversation about Isabelle.
    ‘I spoke to Monsieur Crimson today about this trap you are setting for young Murcoing,’ the Mayor said after a silence. ‘Are you planning on going yourself?’
    ‘Yes, to try and talk him into giving himself up.’
    ‘But you’ll be armed?’
    ‘No, I don’t think so.’
    ‘Are you mad? He’s killed already and now he has these guns.’
    ‘If he sees I’m armed, he’ll be tempted to shoot. If he knows I’m unarmed, we have a chance to settle this peacefully. We are all assuming that Paul killed Fullerton in a
crime passionnel
, but from what I’ve learned about him, I’m not sure it’s as simple as that.’
    ‘But it’s an insane risk to take, Bruno. I can’t allow it.’
    ‘You’d rather Crimson went instead?’
    ‘No, of course not. Some hostage expert from the special Gendarme unit, that’s who we need to send.’
    ‘Yes, but to send him where? And with what instructions? To shoot him like a dog? That would be illegal. Paul’s in charge of arranging a meeting place. He’ll set this up carefully, probably insist that the documents he’s been promised are placed in such a way that he can inspect them before he shows himself. I’ve thought this through and it’s the only way.’
    ‘What does J-J say?’
    ‘He began by objecting, but he came to see that it makes sense to do it this way. I’m not convinced that Paul did it, or that he acted alone, or that he’s so crazy that he’s staying on the run with no plan to get out of France and make a new life somewhere.’
    ‘You sound as though you know him.’
    ‘I don’t, but I know about his grandfather and his obsession with Neuvic. I’ve met his aunt, Joséphine, and I was the one who organized the funeral for the old man. He was close to his grandfather and he’ll have heard about that. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he has given his aunt or his mum a disposable phone so they can stay in touch. A lot of planning has gone into this, which is why I think he must have an escape route planned. And then there’s his painting.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ the Mayor asked, as he pulled into the parking lot behind the St Denis
Mairie
alongside Bruno’s police van.
    ‘I bought a couple of his paintings from his aunt. They’re very good, landscapes. His portraits

Weitere Kostenlose Bücher