Page 59 of French Escapade

Ken

The chopper flight is a break in our crazy search for my sister.

A delightful break, during which I enjoy the scenery. But what I really love is the spontaneous way Élodie has been leaning against me since we took off. She fits in my arms as if she was born to do just that.

The break ends. Élodie smiles at me when I pick her up by the waist to help her to the ground. I know she understands that I’m only doing it to keep my hands on her a bit longer. I do not think, for a second, that she needs my help to get out.

Our eyes meet. Her gaze mirrors the questions I have about us. There are so many things I want to ask…but now is not the right time.

Leaning forward, we rush away from the chopper toward a minivan parked nearby. It’s the luxury version, not a construction-crew type van. A man leans against it, waiting for us. He greets us and takes the driver’s seat.

Ted is full of surprises. When he told us that he was doing well, I imagined he was making more than our army pay, and that made things easier at the end of the month. Obviously, I underestimated the extent of his success.

“Andrea is in charge of the Saint-Tropez office,” he explains as we get started.

“Your company is a lot bigger than I thought,” Jimmy observes. “How many employees do you have?”

“In Saint-Trop, there’s twelve of us,” our driver answers. “Well, twelve outside the tourist season. In June, it can double or triple. While we’re on that subject, boss, I want to talk to you about a young woman who would be a good fit for us. She’s classy and very efficient.”

“Send her resumé to the Monaco office, and we’ll talk about it.”

Andrea nods and changes the topic.

“So I drove to the harbor after you called. TheFrelonis still there. It’s moored at his usual place, right across from Sénéquier. I had a chat with the ship’s cook when she went to get bread, and my smile worked like a charm. She shared that it’s just the crew on board now.”

“And you believe her?” Ted asks.

Andrea takes advantage of a red light to turn and smile at Élodie. “What do you think? Could anyone resist a smile like this?”

Élodie shakes her head and laughs. I realize I have never heard her laugh so freely.

“When I asked her out for dinner and she had to refuse, she was devastated,” he continues, with the emphasis particular to people from the south of France. “But she did promise that she would call as soon as they return from Corsica or Sardinia. She didn’t know where they were going next.”

“You know I was kidding,” Ted says. “No one would ever dispute how irresistible you are. And since you had her under your spell, I suppose you asked her about Arkady, no?”

Andrea sighs as if deeply saddened.

“Why don’t you let me tell the story at my own pace?” he protests. “Of course we had a talk, but it’s like on TV—you can’t just say who won the grand prize, first, you have to tell about the race, otherwise where would the fun be?”

Ted rolls his eyes and then turns to me, throwing his hands up in asee what I have to put up withgesture. I sympathize. I don’t care how talented this guy is, I wouldn’t have the patience to tolerate his antics.

A quick look in the rear-view mirror, and Andrea understands he needs to stop beating around the bush. “Okay, fine. So they were anchored near Cannes when this man came on board with a girl.”

“Only one girl?” Jimmy asks, sitting up a bit.

“Yep, only one girl.”

Jimmy leans back in his seat, defeated.

“A young brunette who was out of it and a Russian man they recognized as their boss’s best friend. The Russian calls their boss, who orders them to sail away to Saint Tropez and wait for him here.”

“And that man, are you sure it was Arkady?”

“She didn’t give me a name, but it was clear she knew the guy, but not thepitchoune.”

Jimmy frowns. For sure, his French class didn’t include that word to designate a young woman.

“But as soon as they arrived, they were gone.”

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