This visibly jolted Padgett. He repositioned himself in the chair and adjusted the knot of his tie. ‘I have no idea what information that might be.’
‘I think you do,’ said Darcie. ‘There was one very interesting name, which I think you will be familiar with– Bochette.’
The colour drained from Padgett’s face. He cleared his throat, before speaking. ‘The name means nothing to me.’
Matt made a small scoffing noise.
Darcie let out a sigh. ‘Bochette was your maternal grandmother and she was heavily involved with the Gestapo during the war. She worked with Nathalie Leroux.’ She tapped the sketchbook. ‘Nathalie Leroux was a secret agent, feeding information about the Germans in the Ritz to the Allied forces and the Resistance.’
‘I think you will find a lot of Parisians worked with the Germans because they had to, just to survive,’ said Padgett. ‘It wasn’t because they wanted to.’
‘But your grandmother wanted to,’ said Matt.
‘What do you mean?’ Padgett glared at his accusers.
‘Your grandmother took payment from the Gestapo,’ said Darcie. ‘Nathalie Leroux documented several pieces of jewellery your grandmother was given by an officer named Kranz. Jewellery Kranz kept as currency. Jewellery that had been stolen from Jewish people.’
Darcie didn’t miss Padgett subconsciously twiddle the gold ring on his finger. ‘This is nonsense,’ he said.
Darcie purposefully looked at the ring. ‘I believe a gold ring with a ruby stone, such as that one, is recorded in the book,’ she said.
Padgett’s hands flew apart and he adjusted the knot on his tie once again. ‘This ring, it’s been in my family for a long time.’
‘Can you prove its provenance?’ asked Matt.
Darcie wanted to high-five Matt at that point and pushed on, sensing they had the Frenchman on the back foot.
‘Your grandmother must have known Nathalie had information on her. And was scared that, at some point in the future, she’d be held accountable for not only being a spy but what essentially was theft. That’s why she followed Nathalie to England and murdered her and then met her own death.’
‘And now you want your grandmother’s name kept out of it because you would be held accountable for not returning the jewellery. Not a good political move, right?’ finished Matt.
‘This is nonsense,’ said Padgett raising his voice. ‘Fabrication. Stories. Lies.’
He got to his feet, pushing his chair away behind him.
At that moment, the door to the boardroom opened and in walked a suited gentleman. He was in his mid-fifties and waved his hand towards Padgett. ‘Sit down, Padgett,’ he said with an air of authority. Padgett did as he was told.
‘Ah, Monsieur Auclair,’ said Darcie. ‘You’ve come at just the right time.’ She smiled at the senior executive from the House of Chanel whom she and Matt had spoken with over a video call the previous afternoon. He had been most interested to hear what they had to say about Padgett.
‘Monsieur,’ began Padgett. ‘I don’t know what this young lady has told you, but …’
Auclair put his hand up to silence Padgett. ‘What Mademoiselle Marchant has told me has been most disconcerting. I have been alarmed to hear the details. Purporting to be acting on behalf of the House of Chanel is a very serious accusation. One that I am not prepared to tolerate. And if the information I’ve heard about you knowingly possessing jewellery stolen from Jews during the war is correct, then you are not someone the House of Chanel wants any association with.’
He called out in French and immediately two police officers and two other men appeared in the room. Darcie assumed these were the House of Chanel solicitors that Auclair had said would be present.
Auclair pointed at the men sat either side of Padgett. ‘If you are Monsieur Padgett’s legal representatives, you should go with your client now. He’s about to be arrested and taken in for questioning.’
‘This is outrageous,’ declared Padgett as the two police officers advanced towards him. ‘You cannot believe what she said. What does she know?’
‘She knows a great deal, as it happens,’ said Auclair. He looked at the police officers. ‘There’s no need to handcuff him. He’s not going to make a fuss, are you, Padgett?’
Padgett was breathing hard. The colour had returned to his face and he was practically red now with rage and indignation. ‘You will regret this,’ he ground out through his clenched jaw.
‘I don’t think so,’ replied Auclair. ‘Please be advised you are now officially dismissed from the services of the House of Chanel. We take these allegations and false representation of the company very seriously.Au revoir, Padgett.’
Darcie exchanged a look with Matt and then watched as Padgett was ushered out of the room, followed by his solicitors.
Auclair turned to Darcie. ‘Mademoiselle,’ he began.
