Read Online The Blood Promise: A Hugo Marston Novel by Mark Pryor - Free Book Online

the places he gets his money and I’m sure they are less than excited about him being here.”
    “Do you like him?”
    “I wasn’t expecting to, that’s for sure,” Hugo said. “I don’t think I know him well enough to say. I’m not sure we’d ever be best friends but then again, I’m also pretty sure he’s a lot nicer than he lets on.”
    Tourville grunted. “The paranoia aside.”
    “Well,” Hugo smiled, “we all have our issues.”
    “We do, and mine is resurrecting these talks. Do you have any suggestions?”
    “I’m afraid I’m not a politician, Monsieur Tourville, I’m just keeping him company.” This was, indeed, a problem for the politicians to handle, but still. Not taking Lake’s allegations seriously could mean the end of his participation, certainly in the short term, and Hugo had a strong feeling that brushing off the senator’s concerns might just make a minor dispute that much worse.
    They turned back toward the fields and leant on the fence in silence. The grass was now bathed in sunlight as overhead the bulky rain clouds had fragmented, showing thick ribbons of blue sky that twisted amongst them. A breeze pushed across the open land bringing with it the soft and musty smell of wet and fertile farmland.
    “Is he serious about an investigation?” Tourville finally asked.
    “It seems like it,” Hugo said.
    “I was afraid of that. I can’t allow it, I’m afraid. I won’t allow it, such a thing is unthinkable here.” He shook his head. “This is ridiculous. What if he’s playing some kind of idiotic game? I mean, think how this looks; an American officer investigating on French soil, in my house. And because of what? No, no, I don’t think so.”
    “I understand completely. But I also know you want to get these talks moving.” An idea was forming in Hugo’s mind, and after a moment he turned to Tourville and said, “You know, I may have a way to satisfy the senator and safeguard your home and reputation.”
    “You do?” He gave a tired smile. “You know, Ambassador Taylor is a friend of mine and he’s told me good things about you. That you can be trusted. So please, tell me.”

    Hugo dialed and the phone rang twice before being answered.
    “ Allo? Hugo, is that you?”
    “ Bonjour, mon ami ,” Hugo said. “How are you?”
    “Always better for hearing from you. But since you ask, very busy.”
    “Are you too busy for a wild idea and a trip to the countryside?”
    “I don’t have time for much of anything these days, as my wife will testify. Especially one of your adventures.”
    Capitaine Raul Garcia sounded tired, Hugo thought, but there was still humor in his voice. Hugo had once compared the policeman to a cactus, prickly on the outside but sweet inside. Their friendship had begun with Garcia extending a few, and grudging, professional courtesies during Hugo’s hunt for his bouquiniste friend Max. They’d worked well together on that case, learned to trust each other, and soon become friends as well as colleagues. And now more than ever, Hugo needed a friend in a policeman’s uniform.
    “This is less an adventure and more a matter of dry international politics.”
    “Sounds tedious. But safe, at least. What could international politics possibly want from me?”
    Hugo explained the situation, trying to be tactful and even-handed in describing Senator Lake’s allegations and Tourville’s concerns for his reputation.
    Garcia listened attentively, then asked, “Even if someone was in his room, why is it such a big deal?”
    “He thinks it’s a breach of security, which makes it a big deal to him.”
    “And that makes it a big deal to everyone, I suppose. But suppose he’s right, how can it be proven and what can be done about it?”
    “I think the point is that we try.”
    “We?”
    “I need it done discreetly. If I tell Monsieur Tourville that we are friends and I tell Lake that you’ve helped me solve cases in the past, then we can take care of