Page 16 of French Escapade

Élodie

The ten-minute walk to Palm Beach is no leisurely stroll. People stare as we almost jog along the Croisette. There’s no denying that my two companions do not look anything like the elderly people out walking with their pet or spouse to take advantage of the sunny weather.

While we walk by the Canto port, I ask the men, “Where are you staying?”

“Jimmy frowns at me, so I rephrase my question. Did you find a hotel?”

Kenneth is the one to answer. “We haven’t taken care of that yet. The priority is to find my sister. We’ve left our luggage in a locker at the train station.”

Jimmy adds, “I know we’re here to check out the place and bring Madison home, but could we please eat something? I can’t even remember the last time I ate and what time zone I was in.”

“If you need a place to stay, I can recommend one. I could show it to you before I go back to the station to come up with a plan for the night.”

“Great,” Jimmy says.

Kenneth declares, “I’ll be going to the police station with you.”

I turn around as he continues.

“If Jimmy wants to go somewhere to rest, he should, but I want to help work on the plan.”

“I wasn’t inviting you,” I explain. “I need to see my bosses to talk them into getting a team ready for tonight, and I doubt they would approve of your presence.”

He should be able to accept that. After all, the chain of command is something the military and the police have in common. But Kenneth won’t let go.

“I thought you worked alone.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I do, but that doesn’t mean I don’t report to anyone. Otherwise, what are you suggesting we do? Should it be just the three of us, going after whomever we’re against with our bare hands? We don’t even know how many people we’re talking about, or why your sister will be there!”

“Who’s talking about showing up with bare hands?”

“I interrupt him, Do you mean—”

When I see how the men look at each other, I decide to forget about my question. You know what? Maybe it’s better if you don’t tell me anything.”

I sure hope they didn’t land in France with weapons. Though I wonder how they would have brought them in. They had to walk through security like everyone else, didn’t they?

Now that I think about it, I have the feeling that they wouldn’t mind if it was only the three of us. I wonder what it is they do in the Army. Something tells me they have some special training.

“Here, this is it.”

I point to the rococo-looking building that is home to some of the most prestigious parties in town. Arkady owns a few condo units in the building across the street.

The two men study the wide building and its glass balconies.

“Madison could be in one of those units,” Kenneth observes.

“Likely, but not certain.”

His jaw muscle contracts. I get it—it’s gotta be hard to know his sister is so close and be powerless. Just in case he’s tempted to do something foolish, I say, We’re not going to do anything right now. Even though they are not waiting for us, chances are, each unit is guarded. We can’t go knock on each door and ask them if, by any chance, they are holding a girl against her will. If we did, our bodies would wash ashore in a few weeks, floating by Lérins island.”

“So what do you suggest?” Kenneth asks.

His green eyes study me intently. I have the feeling that he’s not used to letting anyone else take the lead. And yet, by the way he looks at me, I think I can read something pretty special, something I have been running short on lately—trust.

It’s flattering, and troubling. This man doesn’t know the first thing about me. I don’t know anything about him either. I could be reading him wrong. He understands that I’m, if not his only chance, at least his best chance of finding his sister alive.

“We need to figure out why Madison told you to meet her here. I have an idea.”

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