Maigret and the Gangsters by Georges Simenon

Author:Georges Simenon [Simenon, Georges]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Georges Simenon
ISBN: 9780380704149
Google: h2DiY4169iIC
Amazon: 0380704145
Goodreads: 140761
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1951-12-31T11:00:00+00:00

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chapter six

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The police station of the third district was only a few doors from the glaringly lighted bar Maigret had entered, and if it hadn’t been for the overzealous Lognon, this district would have taken charge of the case, since Rue Fléchier, where the body had been dumped, was just within the limits of its territory.

Looking worried, Maigret dialed the number.

“Hello! Who am I speaking to? This is Maigret.”

“Inspector Bonfils, Superintendent.”

“How many men are at the station with you, Bonfils?”

“Only two, Big Nicolas and Danvers.”

“Now listen carefully. I am at the Bar du Soleil. A man’s been following me.”

“What’s he look like?”

“I have no idea. He’s been careful to keep in the shadow and far enough away so I couldn’t even make out his build.”

“Do you want us to grab him?”

Irritated, Maigret nearly replied like Pozzo, like Luigi:

“We’re not dealing with amateurs!”

“Listen carefully,” he said. “If this fellow came up to the window and saw me go to the telephone booth, he knows what’s up and may have run off by now. Even if he didn’t see me, he’d probably guess that I’d telephone and… What’s that?”

“I said that people don’t always think of everything.”

“These people do. Anyway, he’s on his guard.”

Though he couldn’t see Bonfils’s expression, Maigret was sure it was slightly ironic. What a fuss over questioning a fellow on the street when he wasn’t expecting it. It was simple routine. It happened a dozen times a day.

“You’re staying in the bar, Chief?”

“No. There are still people going by. I’d rather this operation take place on a deserted street. Rue Grange-Batelière would be the place. It isn’t long and it won’t be difficult to close off both ends. Send two or three men in uniform to Rue Drouot immediately. Warn them not to show themselves and to keep their revolvers ready.”

“As serious as that?”

“Probably. Nicolas and Danvers are to station themselves on the steps of Passage Jouffroy. I suppose by this time the gates of the passage are closed?”

“Yes.”

“Better repeat their instructions twice, rather than once. In ten minutes I’ll leave here and walk slowly toward Grange-Batelière. I’ll go a little beyond the entrance to the passage, but the men aren’t to budge. When my shadow reaches them, they’re to jump him. Be careful! He is certainly armed.”

Maigret added, knowing very well that it would make the Inspector smile:

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s a killer. As for you, Bonfils, take several uniformed men and cut off Rue du Faubourg Montmartre.”

It isn’t often that such forces are mustered to arrest one man, and yet at the last moment, Maigret added:

“Just to be on the safe side, have a car parked on Rue Drouot.”

“Speaking of cars, Chief…”

“What is it?”

“There’s probably no connection, but I’d better tell you, just in case. Has this man been following you long?”

“From Rue Richer.”

“Do you know if he came there by car?”

“No, I don’t.”

“About half an hour ago, one of our men spotted a stolen car on Faubourg Montmartre, a little above Rue Richer.

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