The Resistance Man (Bruno Chief of Police 6)

it from the pouch at his waist, accepted the call and held it to his ear.
    ‘It’s Crimson, and it’s all gone wrong. I’ve just heard from Murcoing. He doesn’t want to meet me and says that instead I should get in touch with Gilles from
Paris Match
and let him have the new documents. He’s even sent Gilles’s email address. What do we do now?’
    ‘
Putain
, let me think. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.’
    Fabiola put the phone away. ‘Bad news?’
    ‘Our clever little plan to smoke out Paul Murcoing just collapsed and I don’t have another.’
    He explained the ploy that he, Crimson and Florence had developed, and his scheme to go to the rendezvous instead of Crimson to talk him into giving himself up.
    ‘Thank heavens that’s not going to happen,’ said Pamela from the rear seat. ‘It’s a ridiculous risk for you to take. Why not just leave it to J-J and the rest of the police? They’re bound to pick him up eventually.’
    ‘I don’t think it’s that simple,’ said Bruno.
    ‘Didn’t I hear Gilles’s name being mentioned on the phone?’ asked Fabiola, a note of concern in her voice. ‘How does he come into this?’
    ‘Gilles has been in touch with him, or rather Paul emailed Gilles after his piece appeared on the
Paris Match
website. Now Paul wants Crimson to give the documents to Gilles.’
    ‘These are the documents you faked?’
    ‘No, we only faked the title page of a file. The documents don’t actually exist but Paul doesn’t know that.’
    ‘Why should Crimson do what Paul wants and hand the documents over to the press?’ Pamela asked. ‘I thought you said this researcher you invented wanted money for them.’
    ‘You’re right,’ Bruno replied. ‘And he was expecting them to go to a private person, not to the press.’
    Might the plan be saved, Bruno asked himself, if Crimson just said no and insisted on the original arrangement? He’d have to think this through and keep his thoughts to himself. He didn’t need the distraction of Pamela trying to talk him out of it.
    ‘How much money did this researcher want?’
    ‘I’m not sure any deal was reached. The story is that this was a professional researcher who used to do occasional workin the archives for Fullerton, paid by the day. Crimson thought that would be at least two hundred euros a day, but these documents are supposed to be special, classified papers that have not been publicly released. I imagine the price would be two or three thousand, maybe more.’
    ‘Where would Paul get that sort of money?’
    ‘He got three thousand on the company credit card.’ Bruno turned on to the long lane that led to Pamela’s house. ‘Maybe that was why he wanted the cash. Look, we’re almost home.’
    He always enjoyed this approach, the long ridge climbing to the left and then the fringe of poplars that shielded the house and grounds from the north and east, the ivy-covered pigeon tower and the welcoming sight of the house itself, the courtyard formed by the flanking barns that Pamela rented as
gîtes
.
    ‘The sooner that gardener gets here the better,’ said Pamela. ‘I’ve got three families arriving Saturday.’
    ‘And I have to get to work,’ said Bruno, helping her from the car.
    ‘Dinner tonight after you ride Hector?’
    ‘Let me call you.’ He kissed them both and headed back towards town, punching Crimson’s number into the phone as he drove.

28
    Crimson’s house was not quite in order. The rugs had been laid, the pictures hung, and most of the furniture was back in place. But the dining-room table was still to be reassembled and cases of wine were stacked beside it. Crimson took Bruno to his study, where a desk phone, an iPhone and a cheap disposable were lined up on the desk. It was covered with a large-scale map of the area and a laptop stood open on a small table beside the desk.
    ‘You dyed your hair,’ said Bruno. As arranged, both men were wearing khaki slacks and blue shirts.
    ‘It was the nearest I could get to looking like you. Even with binoculars, if we have the same clothes and hair colour he won’t be able to tell us apart. We’d better synchronize watches and be sure we have each other’s phones on speed dial.’
    ‘Quite a little operations room,’ said Bruno.
    ‘I’ve got other maps as well, notepads and tape recorders, and there’s coffee in the thermos. Why did you bring the dog? I mean I’m delighted to see the little fellow, but you can’t intend to take him