The Redeemed Detective: An Inspector Lafarge Novel by Pirate Irwin

Author:Pirate Irwin [Irwin, Pirate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Blas watched as Lafarge and Aimee left the building followed by the prompt arrival of another former colleague Gilbert. He had also witnessed the speedy departure of a flustered looking Ricord. He knew Ricord well from The Occupation. He had never liked him, his extortion of Jewish families whether rich or poor had disgusted him.

He had arrested him once only for David to storm into the office push him up against a wall and harangue him for arresting ‘one of the good guys’. Blas had protested that Ricord had punched a 15-year-old boy senseless in front of his mother when she refused to hand over money. David had lost all control and threatened to have him sent to the Eastern Front as a member of the French Charlemagne SS Division.

That was sufficient to end Blas’s protest and Ricord had been released -- David as a punishment sent Blas to arrest the family and transport them to Drancy. There was only one end destination for them after that. Blas had gone back to their apartment building once he had returned from his exile and asked the concierge had she seen them since.

She had shrugged her shoulders and said she had seen neither sight nor sound of them. He knew he was wasting his time when he saw that some of their antiques were in the concierge’s possession. When he picked up one of the antiques, she sneered and said he was no longer a policeman.

She taunted him further by revealing it had been her who had denounced them to the Bonny/Lafont gang.

Blas was intrigued by the possible connection between Lafarge, his wife and Ricord. Gilbert’s arrival had further piqued his interest. He did not see Lafarge and Ricord being soulmates. The way Ricord had looked furtively left and right, on exiting the building, and then walked fast down the street suggested he had been expecting the police to be outside.

Blas debated whether to remain until Gilbert had gone or return to the relative warmth of his car, which was parked outside Lafarge’s building. He decided to stay for it seemed unlikely Lafarge would be going anywhere else at two in the morning.

Three hours later his patience was rewarded when an ambulance turned up. Gilbert eventually emerged with the paramedics, who were carrying a corpse on a stretcher -- he could tell that was the case because the blanket was pulled up over the head of the body.

Blas pondered whether to withdraw into the shadow of a neighbouring building in case Gilbert recognised him or be bold and make it look as if he was passing by chance.

He would be taking a risk as Gilbert was intelligent and might wonder at his being there at this ungodly hour of the morning. However, his desire to learn something which might prove useful for Bousquet persuaded him to shed his natural cautiousness.

Fortunately, Gilbert’s back was turned as he edged away from the doorway, so it looked as if he was indeed out walking. He turned as he passed Gilbert and gasped as if in surprise.

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