Page 62 of French Escapade

Ken

Even if Major Vivaudo is a good guy, I’m sure he would have sent us packing if Élodie’s dad hadn’t stepped in to ask him to meet with us. If … no,whenwe find Madison, we’ll need to send her father a very old bottle of Macallan. But first, I need to ask Élodie if the man drinks whisky.

We get into another car. The harbor is so close that, if we needed to look for a parking spot, it would be faster to walk there.

We take advantage of the ride to set up the fancy equipment Ted is offering. There’s a miniature camera with a microphone. If everything works as expected, Ted and Jimmy will be able to listen to our conversation, once Élodie and I are at the ship.

Approaching the yacht, we spot a gendarmerie car parked in front of it. Élodie immediately distances herself from me. Message received. Her private life is to remain private. Whatever is happening between us is no one’s business. At least, not the business of anyone who would feel compelled to report it to Lieutenant-Colonel Cossa.

By the time we reach the vessel, Vivaudo is at the dock end of the gangway, looking up as he talks with two crew members who remain on deck. Vivaudo’s colleague, the one who drove him, remains in the vehicle.

“Let me introduce you to Kenneth Dylan. He’s the brother of the young woman who has vanished,” says the major while turning toward me.

“Kenneth Dylan…” The older member of the crew repeats my name, but with an American southern accent. When he speaks again, he does so in French.

“I’m so sorry, but I can’t invite you aboard. My boss has given me very strict instructions. I can only allow people who are on his guest list.”

Vivaudo waves the explanation away and turns to me again. “Do you have a picture of your sister you could show him?”

I take out my cell phone and find a recent picture of Madison. I stretch out my arm to show them but I’m not close enough. The younger male takes the phone, glances at the screen, and holds it in front of his colleague, who studies the picture and motions to give me my phone back. Strange that he wouldn’t touch it himself. Maybe he doesn’t want to share his fingerprints with us. The Major said that this guy had a good reputation, but his attitude makes me wonder.

“So?” Vivaudo asks. Patience doesn’t seem to be his strong suit.

“Sorry, she doesn’t look familiar.”

The youngest guy doesn’t seem to agree. He avoids looking at me when he gives me back my phone.

“Are you sure?” Vivaudo insists.

“Absolutely, and now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do. I need to send the kid out for supplies before we sail again tonight.”

“Of course. I understand. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us,” I tell him, putting my phone away.

Vivaudo looks at me with surprise. He doesn’t understand why I let go so easily. We get closer to him as the captain returns to the cabin with his help.

“The kid,” Élodie whispers. “He recognized Madison, I know it.”

“Yes, and this is why I let it go. I figure it’s going to be easier to question him,” I explain.

“And if he really does go out for supplies, we’re going to catch him and make him talk,” Élodie says.

“Well, if that’s the way you want to play it, I’m going back to my office. Call me if you need something else. Also, don’t forget—no waves. If you learn anything, call me. No rodeos in my town.”

We both nod and promise that, obviously, we’ll reach out before taking any initiative. I’m not sure he believes us, but he acts as if he does.

Once his car is gone, we cross the street to Sénéquier, one of the more famous cafés on the Riviera. We get an outside table. Two minutes later, Ted and Jimmy settle at a nearby one.

“I was able to take a good picture of the captain,” says Ted. “I sent it to the office. They’ll mail it to a friend in the Navy for facial recognition. The kid on the boat, he’s from here. Andrea knows him. He says he’s a good kid.”

“Here comes your good kid,” Élodie says. She’s kept her eyes on the yacht ever since we sat down.

The young man leaves theFrelonwith a wheeled shopping cart. The captain is up on the deck and watches him walk away. He remains there long enough for the kid to walk past us and turn onto the next street.

Ted hides behind a menu to call Andrea.

“Andrea! The kid you know. He’s coming your way. Go for it.”

He hangs up and sets the menu down. The four of us remain under the captain’s surveillance. He stares at us and doesn’t even attempt to hide it.

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