Page 39 of The Strawberry Thief
Again I thought of the green folder. Until now I have only thought of it in terms of my own protection. But if Michèle Montour really thought to use it to contest the will, then Rosette and Vianne would suffer too—
All the more reason to find it, then. Put your new disciple to work.
But would Yannick’s fondness for pastries be enough for him to withstand the force of his mother’s personality? And was it right that I should exploit his weakness in the first place?
Maya gave a vigorous nod, which indicated that – for her, at least – the matter had been concluded. ‘You should come to the shop,’ she said. ‘I make these amazing samosas. Even Monsieur le Curé says they’re the best he’s ever had. And my mother makes coconut macaroons, and reallyexcellentbhajis. You should come over and try some.’
Yannick gave her a shy smile. ‘Thank you. I might.’
One of the boys, Nicolas, spoke up, his eyes shining with excitement. ‘I heard the new place is a tattoo shop.’
‘Well, don’t start getting any ideas,’ I said. ‘You’re all far too young to get tattoos.’
A ripple went through the little group, of excitement or revolt.
‘The lady says tattoos areharam,’ Maya said. ‘But we can come in and talk to her, if she’s not with a customer.’
‘You spoke to her?’
‘She came to the shop. I like her. Her name is Morgane.’
I wasn’t sure if I approved of the children hanging around that place. Nor would their parents, if they knew. There’s something about the tattoo shop, something occluded and secretive. In spite of the mirrors, the colours, the lights, there’s a sense of something dark. Or maybe only the guilty feel this. Maybe the darkness is mine.
I became aware of Vianne Rocher standing behind the counter. She had been busy in the back until the children entered the shop, but now I could see that she was listening attentively. Was it the name Morgane Dubois that had caught her attention? Or was it something else that made me feel that she was uneasy?
‘What’s it to be, then, Maya?’ she said, and her voice was as friendly as always, except that I have known her for many years, and I know when something is amiss. ‘I have cardamom castles, andmendiants, and coconut truffles, and green almond crisp. Or would you prefer acornet-surprise, with all kinds of different chocolate shapes – eggs, and chickens, and rabbits, and ducks, and little presents for everyone?’
The children decided to share acornet. Vianne handed them the package, and they went back into the square, babbling excitedly.
Yannick said: ‘I have to go. Thanks for the chocolate, Monsieur le Curé.’
I smiled. ‘And so, our agreement stands? You’ll tell me as soon as – you know something?’
He nodded.
‘Very well, Yannick. Thank you. I hope to see you again very soon.’
‘Yes,’ said Vianne. ‘You must come again. Rosette will be sorry to have missed you.’
5
Thursday, March 23
It somehow seems very unlike Reynaud to be buying a schoolboy chocolate. Especially when the schoolboy is the son of Michèle Montour, whom I can tell he rather dislikes: Reynaud is not as good at hiding his feelings as he thinks, and his colours always betray him.
I was in the kitchen for most of their conversation, but I overheard enough to make me aware of his urgency. Yannick – or his mother – has some kind of information that Reynaud would like for himself. Something about Narcisse’s will: something he cares about deeply. Maybe Narcisse revealed something in his final confession; the one Michèle Montour believes could give credence to her claim that Narcisse was unfit to decide what would become of his property. Or maybe she is still convinced that there is something yet to be found somewhere in the oak wood—
No word from Roux. I’ll admit that after yesterday, I was hoping he might call. But there is no sign, either of him or of his boat, on the river this morning. Has he already gone? Or has he moved further downriver, beyond Les Marauds, out of sight from the bridge?
I looked across the Place Saint-Jérôme and saw that once more the purple blinds had been pulled down in the window.Another customer, I thought. How does she attract them? Certainly, as far as I have seen, Morgane seldom ventures outside. And yet little Maya knows her name, which means it’s all over Les Marauds. How does she do that? Does she wait until dark? And where does she find her customers?
Tattoos are haram. That’s good. Les Marauds, with its largely Muslim community, will be suspicious of her. Reynaud too will take my side. Conservative enough to deplore the current trend, with a little encouragement, he could become my ally in this. A word to his congregation, and she could bepersona non grata.
Yannick Montour had already left. Reynaud, too, was preparing to go. I saw him pull two ten-euro notes from his wallet.
‘Will this be enough?’
‘More than enough. Here, let me get your change.’
