The Parting of Pierre by Annette Moncheri

Author:Annette Moncheri [Moncheri, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-24T05:00:00+00:00

Not an hour later, Hélène and Monsieur Ravel appeared in my drawing room, and twenty minutes later, the artist’s pale, sensitive fingers had produced a rendering that was faithful to the description given me by Mireille. And as he finished, he tilted his blonde head and said, “Why, I believe I’ve sketched this man before.”

Hélène and I uttered exclamations and urged him to go on, and he said, “It may have been only a month or so ago. He’s been in prison, and he’s been wanted for murder before—as a hired gun. I’m sure of it.”

Hélène and I exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“But who would have hired him to kill Pierre?” Hélène asked. “Surely not the auntie with the little dog.”

Auntie wouldn’t have murdered her nephew-in-law with her own hands, but would she have hired someone else to do it for her? “Hélène, what do you know of the auntie?”

“Well, she’s a member of the Parisian Moral Society, but I imagine you know that already. She’s married, but she left her husband in Lourdes with the rest of the family when she came here to keep an eye on Pansy.”

“She must not have been close with her husband,” I said, surprised at their choice to separate.

“I’ve heard that they’re simply mad about each other,” she said with a shrug, “and heartbroken to be apart. But she dotes on Pansy too much to let her live alone in Paris.”

“Not alone,” I protested. “She had a husband.”

“The aunt was never fond of Pierre,” Hélène said. “She didn’t think he was good enough for Pansy.”

“I’ve heard she wasn’t pleased with his income, either,” I said. “I don’t suppose Pierre had life insurance?”

Hélène’s eyes widened. “Oooo,” she said appreciatively as she lit up a Gauloise. “Now that’s an angle on it that I hadn’t even considered.”

Monsieur Ravel diplomatically cleared his throat. “Mesdames, shall I consider myself excused?”

“If you like,” I said, at the same time as Hélène leaned toward him as if pouncing and declared, “Never!”

We all laughed. “Monsieur Ravel, you may make your escape,” I said as I handed him payment for his services. “Please do take the drawing to Inspector Baudet at the commissariat central as soon as possible, and let him know your suspicions as to the man’s identity.”

“I will,” he said. “Bonsoir.” He tucked the drawing into his portfolio and shook my hand, then leaned down to exchange cheek kisses with Hélène, making her eyes sparkle.

We watched him go out of the front door, and I smiled at Hélène. “You’ve got a crush on him.”

“Hmmm, perhaps!” Hélène beamed.

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