for a few more seconds until they disappeared around the sweep. It had given me an idea. If Meriwether was right then my idea just might prove worthwhile.
I returned to the chalets. They were quiet. The stillness was almost eerie. Using Charlotte’s chalet as cover I found a dark corner in which to hide. I pushed my back against the wooden slats and waited. The sight lines were good and visibility was clear. In the shadows, I was invisible. The lights along the snow-covered path and above the doorway gave me the best seat in the house. The outside lighting illuminated the area like a play at the Old Vic. As a soldier, I had waited like this many times. The coldness began to seep through my feet and face. I moved a little. I remained silent. I listened. All I heard was the falling snow and an occasional diesel engine on the road above my head. One hour passed. The second hour came and went. I held my concentration. I heard the movement before I saw the figure. A man, wrapped warmly, with his head covered stepped carefully. He walked down the pathway. The lights glinted in the snow that lay on the shoulders of his coat. He glanced around before approaching the doorway. The overhead lamplight sparkled on his damp hat. He knocked softly. The door opened and I saw the woman smile with relief. She raised herself towards him and he turned his head to kiss her. For a moment, I saw his face. It was Casanova.
7
MONDAY, 00:00—10:20
I had found him. It was as much by luck as judgement, of course, but even so, found he was. The problem I now had was what to do about it.
Meriwether had been right about where Casanova had gone to, but I didn’t know why. In fact, I didn’t have any of the answers. All I did have was a long list of questions.
I also had three main options of what to do next. The first one, which at this stage was a non-starter, was to carry out Bradshaw’s ST. The second, which again was not really an option either, was to call Little Miss Marple and let the police have him. The third option, and the most obvious, was to inform Bazzer I’d located him and await instructions. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that I didn’t follow any of these three options and instead did something different. Knowing, as I did, that Casanova had taken a risk in going to visit his wife and daughters I thought it was almost certain he would stay in the chalet until, at least, first light when he would probably leave and return, on foot, to wherever he was hiding. My plan was to follow him and find out where he was holding-up. I checked my wristwatch. The luminous dials told me first light was still five and half hours away. I left Mr. and Mrs. Casanova in their chalet together and returned to my hotel in the village.
I slept for four and half hours, got up, dressed in white ski clothes (thoughtfully packed for me by Hoagy) and then returned to the chalet and took up a concealed position from where I could observe the door and, just as importantly, hear when someone opened it.
The snow had fallen all night and my walk back to the chalet was a trudge through the deep fresh powder. The snow had lessened but it was still falling. My concealed position was more than adequate in the dark but I wasn’t sure how good it would be once the sun came up. I had gone the long way round to avoid the possibility of my tracks being seen in the fresh snow and giving any cause for concern.
I checked my wristwatch. Green luminous hands told me there were still forty minutes until first light. I wrapped my arms around my chest and waited.
It was less than thirty minutes later when the door opened. I heard Alice Chester’s voice but she spoke softly and I didn’t hear what she said, except for two words, which sounded like careful and love . Neither of which helped me in any way. Then I heard Casanova’s voice but again I couldn’t hear the words. He only spoke very briefly and then he left and I heard the door
I returned to the chalets. They were quiet. The stillness was almost eerie. Using Charlotte’s chalet as cover I found a dark corner in which to hide. I pushed my back against the wooden slats and waited. The sight lines were good and visibility was clear. In the shadows, I was invisible. The lights along the snow-covered path and above the doorway gave me the best seat in the house. The outside lighting illuminated the area like a play at the Old Vic. As a soldier, I had waited like this many times. The coldness began to seep through my feet and face. I moved a little. I remained silent. I listened. All I heard was the falling snow and an occasional diesel engine on the road above my head. One hour passed. The second hour came and went. I held my concentration. I heard the movement before I saw the figure. A man, wrapped warmly, with his head covered stepped carefully. He walked down the pathway. The lights glinted in the snow that lay on the shoulders of his coat. He glanced around before approaching the doorway. The overhead lamplight sparkled on his damp hat. He knocked softly. The door opened and I saw the woman smile with relief. She raised herself towards him and he turned his head to kiss her. For a moment, I saw his face. It was Casanova.
7
MONDAY, 00:00—10:20
I had found him. It was as much by luck as judgement, of course, but even so, found he was. The problem I now had was what to do about it.
Meriwether had been right about where Casanova had gone to, but I didn’t know why. In fact, I didn’t have any of the answers. All I did have was a long list of questions.
I also had three main options of what to do next. The first one, which at this stage was a non-starter, was to carry out Bradshaw’s ST. The second, which again was not really an option either, was to call Little Miss Marple and let the police have him. The third option, and the most obvious, was to inform Bazzer I’d located him and await instructions. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that I didn’t follow any of these three options and instead did something different. Knowing, as I did, that Casanova had taken a risk in going to visit his wife and daughters I thought it was almost certain he would stay in the chalet until, at least, first light when he would probably leave and return, on foot, to wherever he was hiding. My plan was to follow him and find out where he was holding-up. I checked my wristwatch. The luminous dials told me first light was still five and half hours away. I left Mr. and Mrs. Casanova in their chalet together and returned to my hotel in the village.
I slept for four and half hours, got up, dressed in white ski clothes (thoughtfully packed for me by Hoagy) and then returned to the chalet and took up a concealed position from where I could observe the door and, just as importantly, hear when someone opened it.
The snow had fallen all night and my walk back to the chalet was a trudge through the deep fresh powder. The snow had lessened but it was still falling. My concealed position was more than adequate in the dark but I wasn’t sure how good it would be once the sun came up. I had gone the long way round to avoid the possibility of my tracks being seen in the fresh snow and giving any cause for concern.
I checked my wristwatch. Green luminous hands told me there were still forty minutes until first light. I wrapped my arms around my chest and waited.
It was less than thirty minutes later when the door opened. I heard Alice Chester’s voice but she spoke softly and I didn’t hear what she said, except for two words, which sounded like careful and love . Neither of which helped me in any way. Then I heard Casanova’s voice but again I couldn’t hear the words. He only spoke very briefly and then he left and I heard the door
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