Chapter 5 Cité Metro Police Station, Paris #3
‘No envelope, it was folded in two and delivered by a small errand boy. According to the concierge, the child looked like a street urchin. He’d never seen the boy before. No sign of said child near the hotel, of course.’ She shook her head, frustrated that trail had already gone cold.
‘May we?’ The inspecteur waved the letter at Charlie.
‘Keep it, of course. You see the warning, No Police! I worry we’re jeopardising Maisy’s life by sharing this with you. But it’s the right thing to do.’ Charlie nodded. ‘Clementine Bell took some convincing, though.’
‘Merci for not being a vigilante,’ the inspecteur said graciously. ‘I don’t need to tell you how quickly things can go wrong…’
He looked at her pointedly and Charlie’s breath caught in her throat. She saw such sorrow in his eyes.
‘Mademoiselle James, I’m so sorry…’
‘That’s all behind us now. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have stopped me.’
‘Alas, no. You are powerful. A force! I’d never forgive myself if…’
Charlie reached over and placed her hand on the inspecteur’s.
It was strong and slender like a pianist’s.
She had imagined this very hand exploring her body not so long ago.
But that was not to be, as their professional relationship had come at great cost. ‘It’s not your fault,’ she repeated.
‘I would do it all again tomorrow to get the story.’
When the inspecteur spoke, it was so soft, Charlie had to lean in a little to hear.
‘I hope that never happens.’
They looked at each other, a sea of complex emotions swirling between them.
Charlie cleared her throat, aware that what she was about to say would upset this quiet truce they’d just brokered.
‘I should inform you, we’ve made a note of the rendezvous point for the ransom.’
‘Of course you have!’ The inspecteur sighed, exasperated, and then he held up his hand. ‘But can I ask—no, insist—that you leave this matter to the police?’
Charlie nodded, noting the worry in the inspecteur’s eyes. ‘I will. I can assure you that my editor, George, has seen this note and he agrees this is a story. We have not shared this ransom note with any other sources. We will not interfere.’
‘But?’
‘But I will be on location for the drop. Discreetly.’
The inspecteur’s mouth twitched with annoyance. ‘If I see you or anyone from your paper anywhere near this, I’ll arrest you for obstruction of justice. You can tell your editor, George Roberts, that is a promise, not a warning.’
‘Noted,’ said Charlie, who had no intention of mentioning the inspecteur’s warning to her editor.
Keeping her editors and police informants onside was a tricky dance.
She couldn’t wait to leave the police station and scope the park to find a hidden spot from which to watch the ransom drop.
One that could not be seen by the alleged kidnappers or the police.
‘When will you run the article and these messages?’ asked the inspecteur, moving on to the next item for discussion.
‘I’ve already filed them. They will be in tomorrow’s paper.’
Bernard shook his head, but there was the faintest twitch of a smile in the corner of his mouth. He stood. ‘Until tomorrow, Mademoiselle James.’
‘Until tomorrow, Inspecteur Bernard.’
As Charlie left the office, she shivered. Whether it was fear of discovering the kidnapper or anticipation of working with the inspecteur again, she couldn’t say.
The Times, August 1938
Charlie James, Paris correspondent
Glamorous American heiress missing in Paris
Texan oil heiress, Maisy Anna Bell, has been reported missing in Paris. The 22-year-old was being accompanied on her trip by her aunt, Miss Clementine Bell, with whom she was sharing the Diamond Suite at the landmark Hotel Ritz.
Miss Bell was last seen just over a week ago on 9 August in the foyer of the Ritz, preparing to go on a day trip to Saint-Cloud with someone thought to be a Swiss national.
Miss Bell is 5ft 8in, of slim build, with blonde bob-length wavy hair, brown eyes and dimples in her cheeks when she smiles.
On the day she reportedly went missing, she was wearing a sky-blue belted skirt, red plaid top, black patent leather shoes, brown sports visor, white gloves and handbag and was carrying a camera.
The man allegedly accompanying Miss Bell to Saint-Cloud is suspected to be between 30 and 40, 6ft 1in, of medium build, with dark hair and a strong Swiss accent. He introduced himself as ‘Louis’.
A bystander at the Ritz has informed police that he saw Miss Bell circulating with guests in the hotel foyer and she ‘was the object of admiration from men and women alike’.
Maisy Bell’s family suspects Miss Bell is being detained against her will. However, the Cité Metro Police insist there is no evidence of foul play and have made no further comment on the case.
Any member of the public who has information about the whereabouts of the missing woman should contact the Cité Metro Police or our news desk.
Maisy’s family have requested The Times run the following messages:
Dear Maisy, please come home!
Maisy, why did you run away?
Maisy, where are you?