After the Crash by Michel Bussi

Author:Michel Bussi [Bussi, Michel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2015-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

30

2 October, 1998, 1.17 p.m. Marc walked through the dark hallway. Mathilde de Carville had not accompanied him; she had merely opened the door for him, leaving him alone with his doubts. His agoraphobia was gradually diminishing, his breathing returning to normal. The burning effect of the herbal tea was fading too, as if his body’s pores were opening up to the outside air. Passing the large oval mirror, Marc caught a glimpse of his wild-eyed reflection. He hurried on.

Down three steps, past the heavy oak door. Get out of here, as quickly as possible.

Marc’s legs could hardly bear his weight and his thoughts were jumbled. Should he open the blue envelope and read the DNA test results? Or should he wait until he was in Dieppe? Perhaps Mathilde de Carville was trying to trap him . . .

The fresh air hit his face, and Marc took long deep breaths while he tried to order his thoughts. In front of him, not even a shadow moved in the Parc de la Roseraie. The suffocating atmosphere of the place reminded him of an old people’s home. Or a lunatic asylum.

Marc walked towards the gate. To his left, behind the red-leafed maple tree, he saw Léonce de Carville. He was asleep, alone, head to the side, abandoned by Malvina de Carville in the middle of the lawn.

Think, Marc told himself. Concentrate.

He had three urgent mysteries to solve, all of them linked, in one way or another, to a crime. First, the murder of Grand-Duc, a few hours earlier. Everything led him to believe that Malvina de Carville was the guilty party. Next, the murder of his grandfather – because it certainly was a murder – fifteen years ago. Marc had to try to discover an anomaly in Grand-Duc’s account, a lost memory that he felt sure he would find in his childhood bedroom in Dieppe. Lastly, there was Lylie. The ‘one-way trip’ she had talked about. Was she running away? Seeking vengeance? Planning to kill herself?

Were these three things connected? Without a doubt. If he solved one problem, the other two would be solved as well.

A crunching of gravel. Behind him.

‘Where are you going, Vitral?’

Malvina.

Marc turned around.

‘I’m off. Your grandmother kindly told me everything I wanted

to know . . .’

‘Bullshit! You didn’t learn a thing. Grandma may look impres

sive, but all she does is ramble on.’

Marc sighed.

‘I’m the only one who knows the truth,’ Malvina boasted. ‘I was

in Turkey. All the others died in the crash, but not me. I took an

earlier flight. Follow me, Vitral!’

Marc watched her, incredulous.

‘I said follow me! Look, I’m not even carrying a gun anymore.

You said earlier that Lyse-Rose is alive, that Emilie Vitral was the

one who died in the crash, didn’t you? So, follow me.’

Marc did not move.

‘Come on, Vitral. Come with me. I promise, you’ll find this

interesting.’

Oh well. Why not?

Giddy as a small child, Malvina raced back up the driveway,

opened the oak door, walked down the hallway, then climbed the

wide staircase. Intrigued, Marc followed her. When they reached

the first floor, Malvina turned to face him and placed a finger to

her mouth.

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