Chapter Eighteen
I sprinted the rest of the way to Yvon’s villa. Its gate stood half-open, which it seldom did. Panic constricting my throat, I panted into the garden.
Something growled. A sharp bark was all it took to stop me in my tracks. A growl followed suit, deeper in volume. That one had come from the other side.
The dogs were out.
No sooner had I processed the thought did I find myself surrounded by three snarling canines, circling like sharks, their bodies quivering with tension. While I didn’t fancy the sound effects one bit, the three impressive sets of incisors were even scarier.
I channeled a salt pillar while the hounds kept grumbling under their breaths. Theoretically, I could beat a strategic retreat through the gate, but I didn’t doubt for a second the three buggers would sprint faster than I could scuttle. None of this would help me locate Yvon either.
“Go away, you lot. Shoo. Where’s your master?”
I took one step toward the house.
Wrong move. The dogs erupted into frantic barks, jumping around like maniacal yo-yos.
On the terrace, a French window slid open, and a familiar male shape appeared. “Athos, Aramis, Porthos, down. Now.”
Yvon was still alive.
Duh, he’s cursed with immortality, remember? A whole rockslide tumbled off my chest.
Quiet apart from their incessant panting, the hairy horrors sat, never leaving me out of their sight.
Wearing nothing but a pair of cut-offs, a garden rake, and a lecherous grin, he ambled onto his lawn. “Welcome back. Couldn’t wait to see me again, eh? Sorry about the musketeers. They aren’t aware you’re mostly harmless.”
He whistled, and the dogs turned and bounded away, placing themselves at the feet of the pack overlord.
Phew. “I needed to see you, yes, but not because of your hunky self. Listen, since I was almost finished with these blasted food reviews, I visited Paulette. We’re in deep doo-doo.”
He leaned on his rake. “I never understood why you befriended the little pest.”
“For heaven’s sake, I didn’t. She was kind to me when nobody else was, most likely because she considered me to be useful.” A breeze rose, whispering across my flushed cheeks and toying with the garden gate. “Tell me, why did you leave the gate open? Usually, this place is like Fort Knox.”
“You tell me how you get from Paulette to my security measures in two sentences flat. That’s a bit random, no? To answer your question, I was expecting a delivery. No harm in leaving the door open for a short while, the boys always take care of unwanted visitors.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“Pardon. You must run the part with Paulette past me again, but first, let us fix something.”
Yvon dropped the rake onto the grass and strode across. His dogs bounced around him, tails wagging with joy. I could have sworn the blasted animals kept ogling the tender flesh of my bum.
“Pat them,” he said once he reached me. “Talk to them in a friendly tone, so they can get used to you. Don’t kneel, don’t let your fingers get too close to their muzzles.”
“Uh, what if they don’t like me?”
He flashed his urchin grin. “They will, unless I tell them otherwise.”
For once, I had no beef with taking orders. To the letter. I didn’t want to end up on the wrong side of those choppers.
“Uh, hello, doggies.” I patted a slick head, scratched the rough fur behind one floppy ear and crooned baby noises inappropriate for the well-groomed, muscled animals crowding me, poking their noses where they didn’t belong.
Hesitant at first, then faster, the tails wagged away. Whining ensued. The teeth had disappeared. And they sported eager brown eyes to go with their lolling pink tongues. Shame, these hounds couldn’t purr.
Yvon must have interpreted my expression correctly. “They aren’t lapdogs, the reason I don’t let them into the house. Where I come from, animals serve a purpose. For their services, one treats them with respect. Now, they understand you’re part of my pack. They might still be cautious, but they’re less likely to chase you.”
Oh, part of his pack, was I? Better not go there. At least it brought us back on topic. “Yvon, I’ve seen the lime-green Citro?n. Here, in our street.”
“ Merde . I wasn’t sure. These idiots never stopped, only drove by. Must admit, I didn’t expect this posse to regroup this rapidly, which means I also need to cook up a strategy faster than I’d hoped. Come on, let’s have a drink and talk things through.” He headed for the terrace, followed by his canine bodyguards.
I scrambled after the gang. “Hold the drinks. There’s something else you should know.” I sank into the nearest deck chair. Then I jumped up again.
Yvon howled with laughter. “Yes, it’s the one you dumped the excrement on, and no, it isn’t there anymore. I cleaned it off immediately. Plus, it’s been raining, remember?”
I slumped into the seat. “Sorry, this isn’t my day.”
Yvon sat on his garden table and dangled his legs. “I noticed, but I can’t help you unless I understand what the problem is.”
“Paulette. I had an interesting chat with her.”
“That you mentioned as well. Why do you jump each time this person jerks the strings?”
I dug my nails into my palms to stop myself from snapping at him. “She didn’t. I wanted to know what she’d done with the memory stick and the documents.”
Yvon rolled his expressive eyes. “I told you to leave her alone. You’re worse than the canine musketeers with worrying bones.”
“I’ll worry your bones in a minute.”
His pupils dilated. “Please do.”
There was no reason his words should tease the region south of my navel, absolutely no reason at all.
When he reached across and caressed my chin, I caught his hand. His grip was gentle yet strong as if he could fight off the world. “No, please, listen. I visited her in the library to establish what the heck was going on, and she blew a fuse. Those people in the car—”
“Did she admit to entering your house?”
“Not in so many words, but I swear she left the door open on purpose.”
“She did what?”
“Yes, because she wanted Louis to run away. Thankfully, he pestered the voles instead. The awful cow was so upset about me not reporting to base when she wanted me to, she meted out some punishment.”
“ Dame , the woman’s notorious for her Napoleon complex, but that’s taking things too far.” Yvon shoved his fists into the pockets of his shorts, which pushed them further down, exposing the fine line of dark hair snaking into his jeans.
My libido buzzed with interest, but this time, I ignored it. “Care to explain?”
“Whether or not she likes it, Madame Gingembre features strongly in the local gossip mill. And not in a good way. She seems to think she has the village completely in her pocket, but there’s dissent brewing, especially recently.”
“She’s been here all her life. She’d be difficult to get rid of.”
“Ah, no, no. According to Raoul, Madame arrived only a few years ago. She brown-nosed everyone of importance and bit away every attempt at opposition.”
“You should have warned me.”
“Difficult to do when you had me pegged for the resident evil, and me not sure where I stood with you. You might have been one of her minions.” He winked, but his expression was serious.
“Yvon, at that point we hardly knew each other. As far as I was concerned, you were simply another culinary artist with an attitude issue.”
“ Moi ? No way.”
“You have an attitude, but somehow it suits. Anyway, forget it for the moment, there are some disturbing developments. See, I strongly suspect Paulette has taken on another management role.”
Yvon quirked a brow. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning she’s gone from not liking you much to calling you an abomination. Ring any bells?”
He raked his fingers through his dark hair. “Oh mince , that’s not what we need now. Where and when could she have met the Sansculottes ?”
“They knew she’s the local hotshot and sought her out? Someone mentioned your private feud, and she contacted them? Does it matter? I’m sure they have met. It gets worse. She knows about the spoon. She seems to think it’s the key to immortality.”
Yvon paced the lawn, his face a grim mask. “It isn’t, so we shan’t worry about it, though I don’t like the idea of her knowing eternal life is a possibility. If she and these idiots are now in cahoots, I’ve got a problem. The woman’s capable of kicking them into action. A splinter group of theirs, now extinct thanks to my intervention, killed me once already. They were the ones responsible for the drowning. Where’s Madame Gingembre at this moment?”
An icy hand twisted my guts. “At the library. Yvon, you can’t go there.”
“No. It’s never a good idea to confront one’s enemies on their home turf. I’ll call her out. The only question is where to meet.”
“Don’t.” Even I could hear the edge of panic in my voice.
He tossed me a grim little smile. “Hey, doucement . The woman might enjoy messing with people, but I’ve got her pegged as a backstabber. Me, I will refrain from showing her my back, and I shall have some sharp weapons at hand. Besides, the discussion will only take place if Raoul and the boys are around to keep watch. Failing that, I’ll call my supporters. Some people like me, you know?”
“Where’s this supposed to take place?”
“I have no clue, not yet. Don’t worry, inspiration will strike eventually.” He regarded me with a slight smile. “You must not fret all the time, Mel, though I appreciate your concern. I shall survive, as they say. Let’s forget this and do something pleasant. What we need is a stroll on the beach. Movement gives me the best ideas.”
While I was in the grip of shock and worry, I wouldn’t be of any use. “Fine with me. I’ve got an overdose of adrenaline to work off. Give me five minutes, so I can change.”
He nodded with a deadpan face. “I’ll be waiting for you at my gate in half an hour.”
Did he believe I would spend eternity in front of my wardrobe, agonizing over my appearance when the vultures were circling my soulmate? The man I had thought I would never meet?
If that were the case, he didn’t know me at all.
~ * ~
? T he sun drew sparkles from the ocean, the brightness making me blink. I checked my watch. Twenty to five and twenty more minutes to the witching hour of the resident spirit.
The dunes were damp when we walked to the beach, the breeze too stiff to go without a jacket, but otherwise, summer returned in all its glory. The canine musketeers raced ahead of us, scampering in the surf, barking and chasing each other. With water, dogs had certain advantages over cats.
“Heh, I knew you’d never make it in five minutes,” Yvon said, glee dripping from every word.
“Fifteen isn’t bad either, especially since Louis needed feeding. Cats are particular about their food.”
“Sure. Blame your poor cat.”
I poked Yvon in the ribs, but somehow the fun had left our banter.
Like a buzzard striking, he snatched my hand and held on tight. I left it there, safe for the moment in the calloused, warm cradle of his fingers. Not for long, though. “Yvon?”
“Yes, my love?”
“Nice one. More of this, please. Tell me, why do you stay on my left?”
“Ah,” he said, pensively. “That’s me being old-fashioned, I’m afraid. A cavalier always walks on the left side of his lady.”
Behind us, the ocean drummed against the bunkers. Above, the seagulls screeched, and from ahead came the barking of the hounds, that appeared to have found something dead to sniff at.
“In the past, I would have been wearing my sword on the left,” he said. “You would have been wearing a full skirt, and if I needed to draw my weapon in a hurry to protect us both, it might have become entangled in the fabric.”
“I see. Let me remind you we’re both wearing rolled-up jeans and you no sword.”
“True, but then it’s better not to confuse people.”
We strolled on.
“A gun might be more practical since it allows you to walk on whatever side you like.” Thinking of guns wasn’t a good idea, since it reminded me of snipers. I scanned the dunes.
His gaze followed mine. A wry smile played around his lips. “ Touché . That was the other reason. One cannot shoot me easily anymore, but you’re vulnerable. However, this place should be safe. It’s very public, lots of people, and few hiding spaces.”
“What do you mean, one can’t shoot you easily? I thought, you can be shot, but you’ll survive.”
“The first time it happened, yes. The last time someone tried, the bullet bounced off my stomach.”
As if in sympathy, my guts clenched. So much strangeness. “Is there nothing that can harm you?”
He wagged his head. “No idea. I’d rather not experiment. When it comes to dying, you are in much greater danger.”
My innards knotted into a tangle. Yvon was right.
“Those two men we met in Lupiac were not exactly scary,” I said, trying to convince mostly myself. “They gave me the impression they wouldn’t find their own bum with a SatNav. Not sure Paulette will enjoy working with them.”
“Intriguing imagery. They are amateur villains, the lot of them, nurturing grudges in their spare time. Unless someone nasty whips them into shape.”
“Someone like Paulette.”
“Yes. Which neatly leads us back to the topic we were discussing earlier. How can we find out what the woman wants? Me, I have been thinking.”
“Good to know.” This time, he poked me in the ribs, gently, but his fingers seemed to be clad in iron. “Ouch, stop this. I’m not sure how you’ll wangle this one. If I were Paulette, I wouldn’t meet you anywhere without backup.”
“Hah, I’ll invite her to my restaurant. She has been pestering me for an invitation since the day I opened. She won’t be able to resist. As for her minions, well, I’ll let her bring one or two, which will hopefully make her feel secure and superior.”
“What? You want to cook for her?”
“ Mais non. I’ll only allow her inside, giving her a chance to boast about her private visit to Chez Yvon .”
My throat tightened. “And your backup?”
He faced me with a wolfish grin on his lean face. “Will hide in the kitchen. There’s access from behind the bar, plus it’s got a back entrance.”
Okay, that made sense. “Fine, I’ll be there with Raoul and the dogs then. I have to warn you, I’ve only ever fired written broadsides, not guns.”
“Hmm, I’m not convinced you should be there.”
“Try to stop me.”
“Once in a while, I value my life.” He winked, then he went serious again. “No, Mel, come on—”
He was so not going to protect me. “All right, that’s settled. When is this caper supposed to take place?”
He shook his head, raised his hands at the sky, and dropped them again with a deep sigh. “Women. Tonight, or latest, tomorrow. The sooner I know what’s on her mind, the better.”
Realization nudged me in the ribs. “Oh, bugger. Can you make it after eight? If only I’d known when I made arrangements with the Guide . They want me to test the early bird dinner in the Doublon d’Or in Hossegor. It starts at six. Do me a favor and schedule nothing before I’m finished.”
He tossed his head like a frisky horse. “Oh , mon Dieu . That lot won’t ever get their star back, not if they insist on using industrial bouillon .”
“Guess what the Guide wants me to check.”
“I bet my sharpest knife you will feel sick afterward.”
“Yvon, do me a favor and forget food for once. Don’t you dare meet without me. Or Raoul.”
“It’s the sort of gig he enjoys and used to be very good at, so I’ll need him for sure.”
That didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Also, closing garden gates without using his hands wouldn’t be the only trick in Raoul’s spectral box.
As kind and empathic as he was, I suspected he made a formidable opponent. “Try to keep his time constraints in mind. He departs when? Ten-ish? It might be late enough, though I would much prefer if you would shift the appointment.”
“Let’s see what Paulette says when I call her. Unfortunately, today suits me better than tomorrow as I have to drive to Lupiac again.”
“Oh, did the mayor call?”
“She did. Third farm lucky. And here it comes, the daughter of the Legrands is still alive.”
Excitement snapped through me. Paulette, the Citro?n, and the rest of the madness weren’t exactly forgotten, but the horror paled. We had found Louise Legrand, or whoever she called herself these days.
“Yvon, you did it. Three cheers for the mayor.” I threw my arms around him, and, once our lips met, the ocean noise faded away. I tasted salt in the kiss, cloves, and a deep longing that set my nerve-ends on fire.
“Hmm,” he said, quite a while later. “I like it when you get enthusiastic.”
“Well, if finding the daughter is no reason to celebrate, what is?”
With my heart lighter, I would have floated away, had he not tethered me to the ground with his arms. But I needed to do something about the energy buzzing through my veins.
Gently, I wriggled from his embrace. “Race me to the water’s edge.”
I was already running. Yvon overtook me without effort, his legs powering across the beach until he reached the waterline and stopped. He wasn’t even short of breath.
Together, we observed the surfers, skimming the waves like a school of black seals.
“Angélique only took her time to respond, because it wasn’t easy convincing these people,” Yvon said, as if the interruption hadn’t happened. “They don’t wish to expose the girl. Well, she’s not a girl anymore. But now they’re willing to see me.”
“When?”
“Two in the afternoon.”
“Fabulous. I’ll come along, and don’t you even try to keep me away from your restaurant when this goes down.” The next words escaped before I could stop them. “Yvon, I would like to visit the chateau again.”
He shot me a sardonic look. “Really? After what happened there?”
“Wrong again. Yes, we had a falling out there, but it brought us together. Yes, the ceilings are dodgy and the place is a ruin. However, it’s your ruin. Now I know who you are and what Castelmore means to you, I wouldn’t mind another tour accompanied by the original owner.”
“I’m touched. Told you, the ceilings are fine. As to ruins, well what do you expect after centuries of neglect.”
“You’re a cynic.”
He stopped at the edge of the last bunker and swept me an exaggerated bow. “Madame, I am that. It’s the hazard of being exposed to the exploits of humanity for too long. I’m not blaming anyone for making mistakes. I’m blaming them for making the same mistakes again.”
“I agree,” a voice said in French. “Ants are a lot better organized. I’m all for swarm intelligence.”
Raoul.
The ghost drifted past us, not a presence but a flicker in the corner of an eye.
“Paulette sends her regards,” I said. “You are to stop the moaning and laughing when she scours the dunes.”
He took full shape and snapped to attention. “ Jawoll .” He relaxed his stance. “She can suck eggs, preferably rotten ones. What is she up to now?”
Yvon regarded the sun. “Aren’t you a bit early?”
“I’ve always been flexible.” Raoul, back in his forties outfit, complete with baggy trousers, a white shirt, and braces, stood with his legs apart, facing the ocean. “Tell me.”
Yvon did. When he had finished, Raoul grabbed a stone and flipped it over in his hand repeatedly. “I see. Well, you might have found Mademoiselle Legrand, but in the meantime, the librarian from hell has discovered your secret. Call her, I’m at your disposal.”
Yvon clapped his hands. “ Merveilleux. I appreciate your support. You can hide in the kitchen with the dogs. Mel needs to do some food tasting, but she’ll get the keys to the back door and can sneak in.”
“And if she wants to meet you during the day?” I asked. “Sorry, but you seem to take it for granted she’ll dance to your tune.”
“Should she insist, I’ll contact my friends,” he said. “I’ll bet you a bottle of my best Armagnac, she’ll be curious enough to come when I want her to.”
“Oh, well, then. Give her a call. See what happens. Do you need her number?”
“ Merci , but not necessary. At one point she got hold of my mobile number. Not the private one, the one I use for business.” He waggled a shiny black rectangle.
Loud barking and snarling echoed from the surf where the dogs were playing tug-of-war with a large sheet of black plastic. A body bag? If it was, it appeared to be empty.
Raoul stared at the fracas on the beach and shook his head. “Not sure those three will stay quiet if you’re in trouble.”
“They will if I feed them well and order them to stay put. Should things get out of control, you can levitate some pots and pans, no?”
“I can try, but I’m not a poltergeist.”
“All you need to do is scare them,” Yvon said. “That shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll also be armed, and it won’t be with pots and pans. Always wise to be prepared. A foolish man doesn’t live long.”
“Even if he is immortal?” I asked.
His eyes twinkled. “Especially then.” He glanced at his watch. “Right, I will call her now. Let’s see if she bites.”