The Pontcourt Murders: A Charles de la Forêt Mystery by Wray Phillip L
Author:Wray, Phillip L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
Published: 2022-09-08T00:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER 13
the market died down slowly, the sellers packing their unsold items as the square slowly cleared. Charles and Michel waited until the vendors dispersed in case the farmers on Fournierâs list had been at the market. Then Charles asked the innkeeper for directions to Durandâs and Maillardâs farms. Retrieving their horses, they rode to Monsieur Durandâs, whom Fournier said he had visited first on the day of the killings.
The Durand farm was small and set in a hollow not far from the Lefebre farm. The house was simpler, though, made of gray stone and barely large enough for two rooms. It had small windows on each of the walls. A similarly constructed barn was adjacent to it, but it had a wider door and no windows.
Monsieur Durand appeared to be in his thirties and was small but fiery with a weathered face and shock of unruly red hair. He confronted Charles and Michel with an old arquebus as soon as they rode onto his land.
âNot again,â Michel said, rolling his eyes.
âI expect this one has a trigger though,â Charles commented.
It took Charles several minutes to convince Monsieur Durand they had not come to steal from him or otherwise cause problems. The farmer eventually lowered the gun and extinguished the match.
Durand remained closemouthed and was loathe to assist the strangers until Charles assured him multiple times that it was not his intent to assess him any additional taxes. The farmer ultimately acknowledged that Fournier had arrived in the morning of the killings, not too long after the Terce bells.
âNine oâclock? You are sure about the time?â asked Charles.
Durand snarled, âOf course! Iâve lived here thirty-five years and heard those damn bells enough times.â
âAnd how long was he here?â
âHe walked my property, inspected the barn and house, and left well before noon,â the farmer growled. âApparently that was long enough for him to assess me an additional three livres in taxes. He said he found some irregularities in my report.â
âWhat were you doing before he arrived?â
âTaking care of my estate,â Durand replied, waving an arm at his small farm.
âCan your wife verify what time Monsieur Fournier arrived and left?â
âI doubt that.â
âWhy, sir? Itâs very important we know.â
âI hope youâre skilled at communicating with the spirit world, then, âcuz she died two winters ago.â
Charles inclined his head. âApologies. I am sorry for your loss, sir.â
âThat makes one of us,â Durand said.
âWhat about your children?â
âTheyâre gone too.â
âI am so sorry,â Charles said. âMy condolences.â
Durand laughed. âTheyâre not dead, you dolt. They all married people from the next village over and live there now.â
Charles was thrown off his questioning for a moment. Heâd never encountered someone quite as surly as Monsieur Durand. He did not even react to being called a âdoltâ by the farmer.
Michel jumped into the breach left by his silence. âDid you have advance warning that Fournier was coming?â
âHe wouldnât have told me that!â Durand jerked his head toward his small barn. âHe wouldnât want me hiding all of my wealth.â
âHow did you find out what happened to the Jourdans?â Michel asked.
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