Page 30 of Desert Wind

The streets of Cannes were far more beautiful than photos portrayed them. Expensive shops, small over-priced bistros and coffee shops, and the marina lined with mega-yachts and sailing vessels. It was purely magical.

And far too much for the humble Robicheaux clan.

“Let’s get this done and get home,” said Baptiste.

The driver expertly wound his way through the streets of Cannes, finally stopping at a beautiful three-story restaurant on the water. He opened the doors and waved them inside the restaurant.

“Madam St. Martine is waiting for you.”

“How will we know her?” asked Camille.

“She’s the only person in the restaurant. She owns this establishment, and it’s closed to guests until your business is concluded.” The siblings raised their brows at one another and nodded their thanks to the driver.

The restaurant had a beautiful interior with a mix of French countryside and seaside nostalgia. In the corner, at a large table, sat an older woman. She was very small with snow-white hair and thick glasses.

“Madame St. Martine?” asked Gaspar.

“Yes.Obviously.”

“I’m Gaspar Robicheaux. These are my siblings, Marie, Camille, Baptiste, and Gabriel.” This time, her brows raised as she nodded.

“Your parents are good French Catholics,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Yes, ma’am. They are. Our parents had fifteen children. Nine boys and six girls.”

“They were very lucky,” she said with a sad expression. “Genevieve was my only child. I could have no others.”

“I’m so sorry. But the good news is that she’s alive. We’ve matched her blood type and DNA with the tests that were used during the kidnapping investigation.”

She pursed her lips, nodding her head up and down.

“And what is it you want? Do you want some sort of reward for this? Because the reward offer was retracted many years ago. I am in no mood for scams.”

Speechless, they looked at one another and couldn’t think of anything to say. Then, Camille and Marie sat down beside the woman.

“May I call you Claudia?” asked Camille. “I have a twin, Claudette.”

“How lovely,” she said quietly.

“You’ll forgive me, Claudia, but you don’t seem like a woman who is happy to find out that her daughter is alive. I can assure you that if it were my child, I’d be dancing in the streets. I would have jumped on the first plane to America and be reunited with her.”

“But she’s not your daughter. Allegedly, she’s mine. Leave the blood work and DNA tests that you have. I’ll have my own team compare them, and I’ll get back with you.”

“Wait. That’s it?” frowned Baptiste. Gabriel stared at the woman, trying to figure out her game. “Are you joking with me right now? We don’t want shit from you. Let’s make that very clear. We don’t need your money or any of your ill-gotten gains from the criminal empire your husband left you.”

“I do not have a criminal empire. My late husband did. I do not. My businesses are legitimate and quite successful.”

“Fine. We don’t want your damn legitimate businesses. But we have a woman, safe, happy, healthy but very confused, back home who wants to meet her real mother.” The woman’s head popped up, and she stared at the handsome man.

“Was she ill-treated?” asked Claudia.

“No. Not to our knowledge. She said they had a hard life. It wasn’t a wealthy one, but she seemed somewhat happy. She joined a convent after high school.”

Again, the woman gave no indication that she was pleased, angry, curious, or any other emotion. She just sat still.

“Thank you for bringing this information to me. I’ll have my team review all the data, and I will contact you.”

Effectively dismissed, Gaspar and his brothers stood from the table. Marie pushed back and then looked at the woman, shaking her head.

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