Page 20 of French Escapade

Élodie

Leaving the men to their meal, I return to the office. I didn’t want to tell them, but I’m stressed.

Earlier, when they first arrived, I didn’t hesitate for a second to help. Given what we discovered at the hotel, I have no regrets. But I need to remember I’m a cop.

It was already unreasonable for me to leave the station with them and take a walk on La Croisette without any order from my bosses. I can’t really decide to organize some sort of raid for tonight without checking in and getting the green light from upstairs. It’s unthinkable.

The clock is ticking. I need to hurry and talk my boss into agreeing to set up this operation tonight.

What troubles me the most is how I will ever get him to agree to let two civilians come with us. There’s no question about it: Kenneth and Jimmy, no matter their training, are civilians. They’re also two foreigners, mere tourists.

Furthermore, I would normally be the first one to agree. If there’s one thing that gets on my nerves it’s needing to ride along with civilians or people who come from other units. The difference here is, I’m positive these two Americans would prove to be more than useful, and not just because Kenneth is Madison’s brother.

When I step into my office, I’m unpleasantly surprised to find another squad lieutenant, Christophe, here. His presence is nothing out of the ordinary, since it’s his office, too. But, for the past few months, we haven’t been getting along so he’s been avoiding me.

He had some operation scheduled this morning. I suppose he’s working on his report. Because I’m polite, I feel the need to ask, “How did it go?”

He looks up from the computer. “Perfect! Except for Dubois, who was injured. That’s why I have all this paperwork. Rookies!”

“Nothing bad, I hope?”

I sit at my desk and he snorts. “Nah, he just missed a step in the staircase.”

That’s not what I was expecting, but I’m happy to know it was nothing major. Dubois is a nice kid. He’s clumsy, but he works hard.

“And now I’m wondering why I’m bothering doing all the paperwork now, since the boss won’t look at it before tomorrow.”

“He’s not here?”

“Nah, he left with thecommissairefor some city hall bash. In full uniform, mind you, for a ceremony where they put flowers on some commemorative stone. You know the drill.”

“Merde!” I whisper, but not quietly enough for him not to hear.

He looks at me, and the last thing I want to do now is explain why I needed to speak to someone up the food chain. If there’s one cop I don’t trust, it’s Christophe. I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. I know for a fact that I’m being watched, and what I do is being reported. I just don’t know who is receiving the reports.

A year ago, while working on a case with the drug unit, I discovered that some members of our department had very close ties with the local mob. I did what I thought was the right thing—I told my boss. That’s when things went south for me. Instead of supporting me, he did his best to shut me up, with a full-blown intimidation strategy.

I didn’t listen. That’s when, one night on my way home, I ran across a bunch of guys who were looking for trouble. My training wasn’t enough.

Two weeks in the hospital, several months of physical therapy, but I didn’t quit. I came back stronger than ever. They wanted to get rid of me? Fine. I aimed higher. I had made friends with some of the police academy instructors. One of them set me up in Internal Affairs.

Heads rolled, and some services were reorganized. I thought I would be transferred to another place. It would have been for the best.

But, no. My position in Cannes was confirmed. On paper, that is. The truth is, I’m being ignored. I get saddled with two-bit cases, the ones no one else wants to deal with, or that are safe enough to keep my nose out of anyone else’s business.

It didn’t take long for those who remained in place to find out who themolewas. But I’m not a mole. I didn’t do anything wrong. The ones who stepped over the line, they did.

Still, in their eyes, I’m the guilty party. Guilty of kicking the hornet’s nest. The worst is that I know some of those who are still here are dirty. They weren’t in deep enough to get caught, or they figured out a way to cover their tracks.

I’m facing a dilemma. According to regulations, I can’t do anything tonight without the green light from up above. But it doesn’t make sense. There will be no other opportunity. It’s tonight or never.

I do try to talk to my boss, but I only get his voicemail. I should leave a message, ask him to call me.

Something holds me back. A little voice in my head screams at me to trust my guts. And right now, my guts are telling me that it’s better to do this by myself. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m certainly going in there with my two American friends.

So I wait until Christophe leaves the room to put something in the evidence locker, and drop my gun and ammunition in my handbag.

I know I’m taking a chance.

I know I will be in deep trouble if this doesn’t go well.

And yet, I do not hesitate. The Élodie that went by the book is gone. She left the day I understood it could come back and bite me in the ass, that many cops don’t believe in our mottopro patria vigilant, that, for some of us, money comes before justice.

I remain in the office long enough to tie up some loose ends, and then I leave.

I’ll figure out the details of the operation from home.

But first, I need something appropriate to wear.

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