Cécile is Dead by Georges Simenon

Author:Georges Simenon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780141980010
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2015-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

‘Idiot!’ exclaimed Maigret. ‘Waiter … what do I owe you?’

He was both furious and satisfied. He left La Coupole with a firm tread very different from his gait when he had left the cinema and entered the café. He would take a taxi – never mind the cashier’s insistence that the Métro was the quickest way to get from A to B.

Ten minutes later, he was making his way into the Police Judiciaire and opening the door of his office. The Pole was there, perched on the front of a chair, while Lucas was ensconced in the inspector’s own armchair. A gesture from Maigret, and Lucas followed his boss into the inspectors’ office.

‘Janvier and I have been questioning him for ten hours. He hasn’t cracked yet, but I get the impression he’s beginning to waver. If I’m not much mistaken, he’ll be ready to talk some time in the small hours.’ He wouldn’t be the first whose endurance had to be pushed to its limits. ‘Maybe if you could come back at about two or three in the morning and deliver the final blow …’

‘I just don’t have time,’ Maigret growled.

The offices were beginning to empty; there would be only one light left on in the huge, dusty corridor, and a single man on watch at the switchboard. So the Pole would be left facing the persistent Lucas in Maigret’s office, with Janvier taking over from Lucas now and then, giving both officers time for a beer and a bite to eat in the Brasserie Dauphine.

‘Did anyone phone for me?’

‘A man called Dandurand.’

‘Any message from him?’

‘Yes, he said he wouldn’t be leaving his apartment, but he has some interesting news for you.’

‘And no one called in person?’

‘I don’t know … you’d have to ask the clerk.’

The clerk said yes, there had been someone to see Maigret. ‘A young fellow in a raincoat with a mourning band on one sleeve. He was in a bad way, very upset, wanted to know when you’d be back. I said I didn’t know. Then he wanted your home address, but I wasn’t giving him that.’

‘Gérard Pardon?’

‘A name like that, yes. Didn’t want to fill in a form.’

‘When was this?’

‘About half an hour ago.’

‘And he’ll have had a newspaper in his hand, or in his pocket,’ said the inspector, to the clerk’s surprise.

‘Yes, you’re right, sir. It was L’Intran. He was holding it all crumpled up.’

Maigret went back into the inspectors’ office. ‘Who’s free at the moment? Torrence?’

‘I’m supposed to be going to Bourg-la-Reine, sir.’

‘Never mind that. Go to Rue du Pas-de-la-Mule instead. Number 22. Would you recognize the lad?’

‘Cécile’s brother, yes. I saw him in Bourg-la-Reine.’

‘Right. Ring his doorbell, and I hope he’ll be back there. If he is, find a reason to stick close to him. We don’t want him doing anything stupid, understand? Go gently with him, don’t scare him – the opposite, in fact.’

‘What if he isn’t home?’

Maigret’s face darkened and he made a helpless gesture. ‘If he’s not home …

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