“What happens if they refuse?” she asks.
“I can be very persuasive.”
Her eyes widen. “Are you going to threaten them?”
“Did I threaten you into telling me about Queen Charlotte’s key?”
“No, you didn’t.” Her lips curve into a kittenish smile. “The method you chose was more effective. You helped me out of a tight spot, which obligated me.”
“If the Pernoud descendants don’t cooperate, I’ll try something similar.”
She suddenly halts. “What if there are no Pernoud descendants? And no house where Mom would’ve returned the key?”
“In that case, we’ll have to go back to that manuscript and figure out what your mother meant when she spoke of the key’s home.”
We come to the end of the park near the town hall.
“You must be eager to get back to your workshop,” I say to Charlie. “Thank you for your time and for all the information you shared!”
“You’re welcome. I wish I could do more.”
“If the Pernoud lead gets me nowhere, I’ll be back for more, including the copy of the manuscript your mother made.”
I don’t need to mention that I’d rather eat the grass under my feet than set foot in Vosier-en-Haut ever again, even if the original manuscript is in the library there. That village is associated with the darkest, bleakest, most miserable time of my life. And if I bump into the Jezequels or the Bauds there, I might lose control and break the promise I made to Stella.
Charlie cocks her head. “Why not entrust Arthur Rosace with this investigation? He’s a fantastic detective. If anyone can find that key, it’s him.”
“He’s working on another case now.”
It’s true. The larger truth, of course, is that the oracle’s revelation requires that it should be Charlie and me looking for the key. There’s another reason for not enlisting Arthur’s help. We’ve had too many leaks. Kurt has eyes and ears everywhere. It is vital for the success of this operation that we limit the number of people involved in it.
Which reminds me.“If anyone comes asking questions about that key, can you feign ignorance, like you did when I first approached you?”
“No problem.”
“Even if they offer money?”
“I take money for my skills and time as a book conservator,” she says. “I don’t sell anything else. Certainly not my loyalties.”
I really like this woman!It’s incomprehensible that my body doesn’t react to her the way my mind does. But I’m confident it’ll come.
We exit the park.
Charlie halts and extends her hand. “I hope you find that key. Clearly, it matters a lot to you. Will you keep me posted?”
“You bet!” I shake her hand.
After she turns her back to me, I glance at my phone that had beeped a few minutes ago. It’s a message from the lab that analyzed Stella’s pills. They’ve emailed me the results. Too impatient to wait until I get to my laptop at the hotel, I open the email on my phone, download the results, and zoom in.
I knew it!I must tell Stella at once. And in person.
My fingers are unsteady with excitement as I type a message.
Can you meet me at Café des Arts in old Annecy? It won’t take long. It’s important.
She replies within minutes.
I’ll be there at 3 p.m.
