Eventually, we pulled apart. ‘I knew you were here in Paris,’ I whispered. ‘I saw you follow me the other night.’
‘Really? I’m not such a good spy after all.’
‘It’s only because I could sense you.’ I held his face in my hands, barely able to make out his features in the darkness. ‘I can’t stop long. Alphonse is in the café.’
‘Ah, the boyfriend.’
‘Yes. But it’s not through choice,’ I said. ‘I was arrested.’
‘I know. I heard.’ Marcel held me against him and kissed the top of my head. ‘I have never been so terrified in my life. I’m just glad you’re safe now.’
‘I need to tell you something,’ I said, pulling back from him. ‘I’ve got to keep Alphonse on side. It is better I know what he is thinking and doing, and the only way I can do that is to pretend I still have feelings for him. I’m sorry.’
Marcel’s body tensed and I knew he did not like the idea. ‘I wish it didn’t have to be this way,’ he said at last.
‘There’s something else,’ I said. ‘They know about you. They know the name of the circuit. They know Marcel Reynard is heading it up. They want me to give you up. If I don’t, then they will kill Odile and Rachelle.’
‘Bastards.’ Marcel hissed the word. He pulled back and turned away. I couldn’t see his face but his anger cut through the darkness like a torch beam. I could feel the rage in the space between us. He inhaled heavily and held his breath for several seconds. The release of air was slow and controlled.
I put my hand on his arm and steered him back to face me. ‘I can’t give you up, but I can’t let something happen to Odile and Rachelle. I need you to get them out of Brittany. To safety somehow.’
‘And you?’ His face was etched with fear. A raw and visceral emotion, so intense and so pained.
I put my hand to his cheek. ‘It doesn’t matter what happens to me,’ I whispered. ‘Just as long as they are safe. And you are too. If it means I have to sacrifice myself, then so be it.’
‘No. I won’t let you do that.’
I held his gaze and shook my head gently. ‘Let’s not end with cross words.’
‘We need to talk about this some more,’ said Marcel at last. ‘Not here. Not tonight.’ He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. ‘Look, you’d better get back before you’re missed.’
‘When will I see you again?’ I gripped his arm, not wanting him to leave so soon.
‘In the next day or two. I’ll leave a chalk line on the wall across the road. You’ll be able to see it when you leave your house. If it’s there, I’ll meet you by the bridge Pont Neuf at the water’s edge at either eightp.m. or six-thirty in the morning on your way to work. Whichever comes first. If you need to contact me, you do the same.’
A wave of fear and desperation washed over me as I realised Marcel was about to leave. ‘Please be careful.’
He took my hand. ‘And you. Don’t annoy the boyfriend. I need you to stay out of trouble and to stay alive.’ Then he pressed a small white pill into my palm. ‘You know what this is, don’t you?’
I shivered involuntarily and nodded. ‘A suicide pill.’
‘Or as we call it, the L-pill. Lethal,’ he replied. ‘I don’t want to give this to you, but it’s the only way I can protect you if things go wrong.’
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me and I took a deep breath, before closing my fingers over the pill. ‘Thank you.’
‘You have to crack it between your teeth. Crunch down on it.’
‘Will it take long? Will it be painful?’
‘A minute or two. That’s all.’ He reached over and cupped my face. ‘It’s better than the alternative.’
I put the pill into my skirt pocket.
With that, he kissed me again before hopping over the wall.
Chapter 27
Darcie
