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.‘Tell me about the cameras,’ he said.Alain didn’t reply.‘They’re the reason I came out here.’ Trent jerked his thumb in the direction of the device attached to the tree in front of the cabin.‘I saw the door to your security room had been left open.Saw the cameras had been diverted.’Still Alain didn’t speak.Trent said, ‘You moved them for her, didn’t you?’‘I didn’t move them.’‘Then what?’He opened his hands and spread his fingers, as if letting go of his anger.He toed the ground in front of his feet.‘I leave the door open sometimes.She moves them herself. ’‘But how did you know to leave the door open this afternoon?’‘She asked me to do it.’‘When?’Alain reached into his back pocket.He removed a scrunched-up ball of notepaper.‘She passed me this.’ He held it in his bear-paw palm.‘When we were in the study.Opening the package.’Trent whistled.He shook his head as he found his feet.He’d already underestimated Stephanie once but now he realised that she was much tougher and more single-minded than he’d even begun to appreciate.He pictured her reaction when they’d opened the parcel and found the fake ear and the counterfeit blood.The way she’d flattened herself against Alain’s chest.The way she’d clutched his shirt.Had she passed him the note right then? Or had she waited a few minutes longer? Did it matter either way?So she wasn’t just a good dancer.She was a talented actress, too.That was something Trent should remember.Despite himself, he couldn’t help thinking of Jérôme.There was no way he could feel sympathy for the guy.All Trent was interested in was securing his release so that he could interrogate him about Aimée.But what must it be like to be in his position right now? How must he feel, knowing that two people entrusted with his life had already betrayed him?‘How would you explain the cameras?’ Trent asked.‘If Jérôme ever reviewed the footage, I mean?’‘He never looked.It was always just me.That’s how I found out about them in the first place.’ Alain met Trent’s gaze.He conjured a sad smile.‘She begged me not to tell.She was a mess.’A real one? Or had she just acted that way?‘Why did they come to this cabin today, anyway?’ Trent asked.‘Jérôme’s not here.They could have used a bedroom in the house.’Alain pouted.‘Habit, maybe.This is where they always come.Also, Thérèse – the housekeeper – would tell Jérôme if she ever found out.She hates Stephanie.’‘And Philippe?’ Trent asked.‘He’s aware that you’re compromised?’‘He likes watching me squirm.I’m in an awkward position.’‘Is that why he makes all the jibes about you and Stephanie?’‘I’m sure that’s part of it.’‘And the rest?’‘I don’t know.I don’t care.I gave up trying to understand him a long time ago.’‘But you think you understand him enough to know he doesn’t want his father back alive?’‘They’re not close.Never have been.And Philippe leads an expensive lifestyle.His business is a joke.He needs new funds.And his father has plenty of them.’Trent rubbed the back of his neck.His skin was hot and sticky, muscles knotted.‘In other words, he won’t pay Xavier what he wants.And neither will Stephanie.’‘They won’t.’ Alain squeezed the ball of paper in his fist.He thrust it deep into his pocket.‘But I will.’*Alain claimed he could get hold of three million euros.No more.No less.He didn’t explain how.He didn’t elaborate.But he was clear.He was confident.And Trent believed him.‘Will it be enough?’ Alain asked, walking alongside Trent as they crossed the lawn towards the house.‘Let’s hope so.’‘What do we do?’‘We email Xavier.We make him an offer.’‘What about the rest of the team?’‘New team,’ Trent said.‘New unit.It’s you and me now.We’re Jérôme’s best chance.’And not just Jérôme’s, Trent thought.Mine and Aimée’s, too.They had the study all to themselves when they entered.Trent hung back and watched as Alain moved around behind the desk and fished his set of keys out of his pocket.He worked his way through the collection until he selected a small brass key that looked a lot like the skeleton key Trent had used.He went straight to the middle left-hand drawer and removed the laptop.He placed it in the centre of the desk and flipped it open, then pecked at a series of keys.He hit ENTER and spun the laptop around until it was facing Trent.‘Go ahead,’ he said.‘This is Jérôme’s computer?’Alain nodded.‘Isn’t it security protected?’‘I know his password.I told you.He trusts me.’Not with everything, Trent thought.Not with the existence of the K & R insurance policy.And perhaps not with the knowledge of what Jérôme had done to Aimée [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]