The Provence Puzzle: An Inspector Damiot Mystery(32)

“What if Aurore answers the phone?”

“I call in the morning after she leaves to do the marketing or during the dinner hour, when the phone only rings in the kitchen.”

“Isn’t that risky?”

“I enjoy taking risks. Like riding my mare across the fields in an electric storm. Dangerous, I s’pose, but utterly thrilling!”

“I saw you yesterday morning, racing past the Chateau.”

“I’d just had a smashing argument with Allan at breakfast, about Michel. Papa suspected I had seen him the night before. Actually, that was one time I hadn’t! It’s all so terribly involved, because Allan’s in love with Aurore and she’s in love with Michel. And, I suspect, Michel isn’t in love with anybody but his handsome self.”

“Then you’re not in love with him?”

“Certainly not! Our relationship is disgustingly innocent.”

Damiot watched Jenny finish her first tart, licking flakes of pastry from her lower lip. “I’ve been eating Madame’s apricot tarts since I was a boy. Madame says I managed five the last time I was here.” He served himself another one. “You told me last night that someone watches you ride past the Chateau…”

“That strange old man. He’s completely weird!”

“The caretaker? Pouchet…”

“He’s the one!”

“You’ve seen him through the gates?”

“He keeps out of sight, but I sense someone lurking in the shrubbery. I think he stands there, mornings, waiting for me…”

“Why would he do that?”

“I’ve read stories, in newspapers, about nasty old men who get their kicks watching young girls. That’s all he can do, I s’pose. Watch, not touch… You don’t think he’s the one who did away with those two girls, do you?”

“I know nothing about that.”

“But you must suspect something…”

“Suspicions are not facts. Only facts lead to answers in a murder investigation, but to get answers someone must ask the right questions.”

“And do you have questions about our Courville murders?”

“They will remain unasked.” He smiled. “Except there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Lovely!” Her eyes brightened in anticipation.

“You mentioned a black Ferrari last night, in relation to those two murders.”

“Yes…”

“Where did you hear about this car?”

“I’ve seen it! Twice.”

“What?”

“The first time was several months ago and the last was just before Lisette Jarlaud’s body was found.”

“Was the first time before or after the other murder?”

“I’ve thought about that, but I can’t remember. In fact, until last night I had never associated the car with those murders. Then, as we were talking, I found myself wondering…”

“Where did you see the car?”

“In front of our farmhouse. Both times. I have a habit of walking through the garden just before bed. The fresh air usually helps me sleep. I was standing there, breathing deeply, when I heard a powerful motor approaching…”

“From the village?”

“From the other direction. Both nights. Going rather fast, but it seemed to slow as it came closer. I was interested, of course, to see a shiny new black Ferrari. And surprised when it slowed even more as it passed, as though the driver were looking at me.”

“You saw his face?”

“I couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman. Could barely make out a head covered by one of those tight leather skullcap things racing drivers wear, goggles over the eyes and leather gloves on the hands. Gave me the oddest sensation! We stared at each other, I s’pose, for a matter of seconds—though it seemed much longer—and then he revved the motor and roared away. Like one of those unidentified flying objects they report in the papers…”

“Most curious. Probably someone from a nearby city driving down to Cannes.”

“I s’pose…”

“Won’t you have another pastry?”

“Perhaps just one.” Snatching it, childlike, from the platter. “This’ll be my third.”

“I’m still one ahead of you.” He sipped his coffee. “Have you never been inside the Chateau?”

“Not once! Allan has, although he won’t tell me how he managed it. He says there’s no monster, but Michel thinks there is…”

“Does he?”

“Michel was never inside, either! He’s only repeating what he hears in the village. He plays billiards several nights every week, after he finishes work at the Auberge. The villagers talk of nothing but the monster and those two murders.”

“And you think there’s nobody in the Chateau but that caretaker?”

“I didn’t say that. No… I suspect there’s a woman there.”

“What woman?”

“I’ve no idea. But for months now, I’ve had a feeling that Allan visits the Chateau to meet someone. And, knowing my dear father, it has to be an attractive woman. I do know that last summer there was a child there…