has run away â¦â
âYou think heâs guilty?â
âI donât know! I donât know any more. If he has run off â¦â
âDo you want me to lock you in your room again?â
âNo. What I want, as soon as possible, tomorrow
morning, is to get away from this house, from this crossroads! I want to go to Paris, where the streets are full of people, where life goes
on â¦Â The countryside scares me â¦Â I just donât know â¦â
And suddenly, âWill they arrest Carl in Belgium?â
âThere will be a warrant for his extradition.â
âItâs unbelievable. When I think that only three days ago â¦â
She clasped her head in both hands, mussing her blonde hair.
Maigret stood outside on the front steps.
âI will see you later today, mademoiselle.â
He strode off with relief and yet he was sorry to leave her. Lucas was walking up and down the road.
âAnything new?â
âNothing! The insurance agent came over to ask me if he was going to get a car back soon.â
Monsieur Michonnet had chosen to ask Lucas rather than Maigret. And they could see him in his little garden, watching them.
âHe has nothing to keep himself busy?â
âHe claims he canât visit his clients out in the country without a car. Heâs talking about suing us for damages.â
A van and a touring car carrying an entire family were waiting by the pumps at the garage.
âOne fellow whoâs not working himself to death,â remarked the sergeant, âis that Monsieur Oscar! He seems to earn money hand over fist. That place is hopping day and night â¦â
âHave you got any tobacco?â
The spring sunshine bathing the countryside was surprisingly strong, and Maigret mopped his brow.
âIâm going to nap for an hour,â he murmured. âWeâll see what happens tonight â¦â
Monsieur Oscar called out to him as he walked by.
âTake a drop, chief inspector? Just a quick one, since youâre in the neighbourhood!â
âSome other time!â
Judging from the loud voices coming from the millstone villa, Michonnet was arguing with his wife.
6. Back from the Dead
It was five that afternoon when Maigret was awakened by Lucas bringing him a telegram from the Belgian police.
Isaac Goldberg under surveillance for several months as standard of living exceeded visible income Stop Suspected trafficking mainly stolen jewels Stop No proof Stop Trip to France coincided theft 2,000,000 in jewels London two weeks ago Stop
Anonymous letter affirms jewels surfaced Antwerp where two international thieves seen spending freely Stop Believe Goldberg bought jewels then entered France to fence Stop Request description jewels Scotland Yard Stop
Still half-asleep, Maigret stuffed the telegram into his pocket and asked, âAnything else?â
âNo. Iâve kept an eye on the crossroads. When I saw the garage owner all dressed up I asked him where he was going. Seems he and his wife visit Paris once a week for dinner and a show. On those evenings they stay over in a hotel and
return the next day.â
âHas he left?â
âBy this time, he must have, yes!â
âYou asked him which restaurant he was going to?â
âLâEscargot, Rue de la Bastille. Then heâs off to the Théâtre de lâAmbigu and will stay at the Hôtel Rambuteau, Rue de Rivoli.â
âThat about covers it,â muttered the inspector, who was combing his hair.
âThe insurance fellow had his wife tell me that heâd like to talk to you, or rather, âhave a chat with youâ, as he put it.â
âNothing else?â
Maigret went into the kitchen, where the innkeeperâs wife was preparing the evening meal. He cut himself a thick hunk of bread, moved on to a terrine of pâté, and asked for a mug of white
K.T. Fisher
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