The Bordeaux Case by H L Marsay

Author:H L Marsay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
ISBN: 9781966593683
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2025-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The following morning, Emma went down for breakfast, feeling slightly bleary-eyed after her busy night roaming around beneath the château. Céleste was there to greet their guests. She was as immaculately dressed as always, but she looked strained and tired. Despite her carefully applied make-up, there were dark rings beneath her eyes. She explained to Emma that Henri had gone to the police station in Bordeaux. He wanted to see if they would release Oscar, although the twenty-four hours of the garde à vue would not be up until later that afternoon. Henri also wanted to make sure the police were aware of the tunnel linking the château to La Chartreuse.

“It was kind of you, Paddy, and Nico to go to so much trouble to help Oscar,” said Céleste, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “But I fear that awful inspector is determined to think the worst of my son.”

“The truth will come out. Try not to worry. I’m sure Inspector Simenon is keeping an open mind,” replied Emma, sounding far more confident than she felt. “Is there anything I can do to help this morning?”

Céleste shook her head. “Thank you, but no. Although there is still one more tasting this afternoon, sadly, some of our guests have already left. It seems they do not wish to stay in the house of a man suspected of murder.”

There was a catch in her voice, and Emma felt absolutely wretched for her and furious with those who had left. Many of them had stayed with Henri and Céleste for years. How could they abandon their friends when they needed their support more than ever? Didn’t they know how much they would hurt Céleste and Henri?

Céleste picked up a tray and was heading back to the kitchen when Emma suddenly remembered something that had been bothering her. “May I ask you something, Céleste?”

Céleste turned and smiled at her. “But of course, ma chérie,” she replied.

“When I was in Lucas’s study the other day, I happened to notice a photograph of him when he was younger,” she began tentatively. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing and offend her hostess in any way. After all, everyone had a past. “It was taken in Paris,” she continued, “and he was with someone who looked very much like you. I was just wondering if the two of you had met before he moved here.”

Céleste’s forehead creased a little, but her smile didn’t falter.

“Ooh-la-la! That must be thirty years ago! My friend’s father was opening a new restaurant on the Champs-Élysées. I was very young and thrilled by the glamour of it all. I remember I borrowed a dress from my cousin. A Balmain. Back in those days, you could barely move in Paris without bumping into Lucas, but I had quite forgotten about it until now.” She turned away again, then stopped and looked back. “Actually, Emma, there is something you could do to help. Heloise has completely disappeared. Please, could you try to find her? After her accident, she used to hide herself away.

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