Page 55 of French Escapade

Ken

At 15:55, Ted, Jimmy and I are in Commissaire Wagner’s waiting room, a very fancy word for a hallway where the lights go off every two minutes because of some kind of energy-saving motion sensor.

We quickly give up on turning them back on again. Being in the dark is relaxing. Naturally, Jimmy takes advantage of the situation to grab a nap. It’s reassuring to know some things remain the same, no matter what.

Of course, we know he is not going to see us on the hour. We even have a bet going about the length of our wait. I think it will be a good fifteen minutes, but Ted says at least half an hour. He has to let us simmer, just to show who’s the boss. One day, someone will need to tell him that when you’re really in charge, you don’t need to say it.

Jimmy bets on a full hour.

He wins and wakes up, all refreshed, when we’re finally summoned into the office.

I’m about to grovel in front of Wagner when he surprises us by offering his apologies. “I’m so sorry about this regrettable misunderstanding,” he states pompously. “You must understand that we had no way of knowing that you were not two of Arkady’s men trying to exfiltrate some of his prey.”

Now I understand—he’s rewriting the past. The new story he’s weaving in front of us will match the content of the press articles.

“Now, let me add that I will not blame you for anything. I too have a sister, and where I come from, family comes first. I perfectly understand your trying everything you could to set her free.”

We nod, as if in agreement. Ted opens and closes his mouth like a landed fish. No sound comes out.

“Also, I have absolutely no reason to be upset with you, since your conduct was impeccable. Contrary to what I had imagined, you didn’t rush in there like cowboys. No. You followed the rules. The first thing you did when you arrived was to visit the station to ask for help from the French police.”

Looking at his devious smile, I fear the worst.

“What I mean to say is that even if yesterday’s operation wasn’t as successful as we had hoped, it’s not your fault, and it’s not mine either.”

My instinct was spot on. This incompetent bastard is going to nail the blame on Élodie.

“You really were unlucky,” Wagner explains. “Of all the cops at the station, you had to speak to the black sheep of the precinct, a young lady who has the bad habit of doing whatever she pleases without consulting her hierarchy.”

He pauses and looks us in the eye, one by one, as if daring us to contradict him.

I lean forward to protest, to tell him that actually Élodie is blameless, that she’s probably the member of his troops with the highest professional standards, since she put her career in jeopardy to protect a young girl she didn’t even know.

But before I have a chance to say anything, Ted has put his hand on my arm. He grips it firmly as he speaks.

“We are so grateful for your understanding,” he says in such a sweet tone, I barely recognize my friend’s voice. “We are absolutely sorry to have been the cause of—”

Wagner interrupts him as he stands.

“Not another word! All that is in the past. Your friends will go home, and let us carry on with our enquiry. I am sure they understand they can’t stay without being in our way. After all, the future of the sister of one of them is in the balance.”

“And the future of Tiffany Gimbles as well,” Jimmy adds.

“Tiffany who?” Wagners asks.

“The young woman I was helping when we were … intercepted.”

“Yes, yes, you gave a very specific description of her to my men when they took your deposition last night. Her name had just slipped my mind, but do not fear; I’m on the case now, and I’m positive we’ll find those young girls very soon.”

He walks to his office door and, with a sweep of the hand, invites us to leave. “Gentlemen, now that this is settled, I have to ask you to leave. You know how it is. Crime never stops.”

We’re back in the dark hallway just a few minutes after entering the man’s office. All this for that? What a waste of our time.

It probably went better than I expected. We’re getting off easy. However, the episode leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Élodie is the one who will pay for the obvious laziness of the man who initially sent us away. She will also pay for the stupidity of her boss.

“Not a word before we’re out of here,” Ted whispers as we walk away.

We remain quiet, but I can see that Jimmy is just as furious as I am. As far as Wagner is concerned, Madison and Tiffany are a lost cause. We need to find them, since he’s obviously not even going to try.

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