A Little Paris Christmas Murder by Evan Hirst

Author:Evan Hirst [Hirst, Evan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

6

AVA LEFT the count's mansion and walked along the Seine River to the Quai Malaquais. It was early afternoon on a clear winter day, and the quays were filled with tourists taking photos. When she reached the Quai Malaquais, she eyed her shuttered bookstand and hurried to the small garden at the end of the rue de Seine. Henri was seated on a stone bench near the gate, right where he said he would be.

Ava strode over to him. "How is Thierry?"

Henri sighed. "The same…"

Ava's face was wracked with worry. "What if he dies? What are we going to do?"

Henri reared his head back. "Dies? Thierry is made of tougher stuff. He'll pull through. As for what we're going to do… We're going to discover what is going on. What did you learn at the count's?"

"The count is charming. His mansion is fabulous. It's been in his family since it was built in the late 1600s. Portraits of his ancestors are everywhere. I found the whole ancestor thing to be overwhelming. Plus, his governess makes the best cakes I've ever eaten."

"Better than Alain's?" Henri asked with a grin.

"Much better. Although I would never tell him that," Ava said looking over her shoulder to ensure no one could hear her betrayal.

"Did the count know about Thierry's discovery?"

Ava leaned against the fence. "Yes and no. Thierry told him it would be his Christmas present. He didn't tell him what it was."

Henri narrowed his eyes. "Strange… What could that possibly mean?"

"The count believed that Thierry might have discovered a rare book," Ava replied.

"But Thierry told you it involved genealogy?"

Ava nodded. "He said he'd become famous because of his discovery."

Henri sighed and stood up. "There's only one thing to do."

Ava kept her eyes on him. "What's that?"

"We're going to have to break into Thierry's office."

"How are we going to do that?" Ava asked, alarmed. Having been a former notary, Henri was someone who didn't do something illegal unless he had to.

"I spoke to the woman who runs the pottery shop next to Thierry's office. She's away for the holidays but had her cleaning woman give me the keys." Henri dangled a key chain in the air. In answer to the question that was coming, he added, "I helped her with a tricky inheritance."

Ava nodded. Being a former notary in a country where notaries were a powerful caste meant Henri had a wealth of people ready to help him.

"How do we get into Thierry's office from her shop?" Ava asked as her mind turned to the question at hand.

"They both give onto a communal garden," Henri explained. "We'll get in from there."

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