Page 52 of French Escapade

Look who’s getting ahead of himself now!

“You’re right,” Ted answers. “We can talk about it later. I’ll come pick up Jimmy atchez Josetteat 1530 hours.”

“Roger that. I’ll meet you in front of the police station before 1600 hours,” I tell him before I hang up and turn to Élodie. “That was Ted.”

“I figured. Everything is okay? What did you say about the police station?”

“I’m going to tell you everything, but first, have a seat. I prepared a coffee for you, and then I looked around your kitchen to make us breakfast.”

“Good idea,” she says. “Do you cook often?”

“Yes. First I had to, and then I grew to like it.”

I use the spatula to divide the omelet in two and slide one half on each plate on the table I set while talking to Ted.

Élodie looks at her plate with a weird expression on her face.

“Not good for you?” I ask setting the mug on the table.

“No, no, all good, it’s just that …” She stops midsentence, as if she doesn’t know where to start.

Is it because French people don’t eat eggs for breakfast? Because there’s a man she barely knows in her kitchen? Or because this particular man probably planted the final nail in her coffin as far as her career is concerned?

Since she clearly doesn’t want to say more, I decide to let her off the hook by changing the topic. “Jimmy and I have been summoned to the police station at 1600 hours. I think we’ll have some explaining to do, and also apologize to Wagner.”

She nods and takes her mug between her two hands as if she needs to get warmer.

“I was also told to come in.”

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