The Tortured Detective

by Pirate Irwin

  “Well, thankfully, my brother doesn’t call on me to do hard labour such as that. I was never a rural girl, but I do help out in the house and cleaning out as you say the stables and feeding the animals,” she said laughing.

  “However, the way things are going we soon won’t have much to farm. The animals are being sequestered, whether they be horses for Vichy to supply their allies in the north, or cows for being killed and used as food supplies. So my days of farming experience may not be for long,” she said with a note of relief in her voice.

  “Yes I can imagine it is tough for your brother to keep up his enthusiasm for something that is little by little being forcibly and illegally taken away from him,” said Lafarge sympathetically.

  “I would like to come out and see it sometime, see how good you are at farm work,” he added smiling.

  “I am sure you will be impressed! I’m about as good at that as I am at house work! Of course you must, I already said you were welcome. I will come in and take you out there whenever you want. You just give me a call no matter how short the notice,” she said.

  “That would be terrific, a day in the countryside away from all this and the depressing atmosphere would do me the world of good,” said Lafarge wearily.

  “Yes, I can imagine that even for someone who immerses himself in his work there are limits,” she said softly.

  “Look let’s make a definite date, why don’t we organize it for two days from now, because I have made enough progress on the case for the moment and aside from a couple of things tomorrow I am sure I can spare one day,” he said, eager to pin her down as he was both keen and intrigued to see how much her brother knew about farming which he ventured was not a lot.

  For a second she looked a little taken aback by his determination to settle on a date, but she slipped back into sweetness and light mode quick as a flash.

  “That sounds fine by me, but I must check with my brother, because he may have plans that day visavis the farm, but I am sure we can work something out,” she said.

  “Good, good, I can’t wait. Now I think our host is getting a bit twitchy about closing up so let me settle the bill and if is ok with you we could have a nightcap in the hotel before you take off for your greener pastures,” he said grinning.

  Their host’s handlebar moustache twitched with delight at the tip that Lafarge left him, the detective thinking that it was an investment for being given special treatment the next time he ate there.

  “Thank you sir, you have been very generous, I have to say I never know when your like comes here whether they are going to pay or not.

  “Often I am told it will be the next time or that I am lucky to be allowed to stay open as some obscure law that I have broken should have me closed down,” he said grumpily, shrugging his shoulders at the same time as if to say there’s not much I can do about them not paying.

  “Well, I am different to them Monsieur Fremont, I pay my bills and from now on I will use what influence I can to see that they do as well. Good night and thank you for an excellent evening,” said Lafarge courteously before ushering Aimee out the door.

  He took her arm as they walked the short distance back to the hotel, where lights were still shining in the bar area which pleased Lafarge no end.

  “You are different Gaston, he was right. Not just because you pay your bills and don’t throw your weight around with some spurious reason for not paying it. There is something of real humanity in you,” she said gripping his arm affectionately, though her long nails threatened to draw blood so tight did she dig them into him.

  “I’m touched Aimee. For these days one doesn’t hear too many kind words, not that suspects or people you interview or interrogate are on their politest behaviour anyway! But thank you. Now for that nightcap,” he said as they arrived on the steps of the hotel entrance.

  “I think I will forego the nightcap Gaston, thank you,” she said fumbling in her bag.

  “Oh well I will escort you to your car then,” he said sadly.

  “There’s no need for that Gaston, I took the precaution of booking a room for tonight here in the hotel. I didn’t want to risk running the gamut with the gendarmes over the curfew. Also with drink taken and car lights having to be dimmed because of fear of air raids, even here, I thought it the wisest thing to do,” she said.

  “Ah you are blessed with wisdom as well Aimee! So is that an invitation?” he said grinning malevolently.

  She tapped him on the chin and the nose in a good humoured way of telling him off.

  “We shall talk some more in two days Gaston, then things may become a little clearer for both of us,” she said and gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek before sashaying up the stairs leaving him to drink his nightcap on his own and reflect on a great evening and interpret her tantalizing final remark to him.

  The trip to the farm couldn’t come soon enough both for seeing her again and also to get to the bottom of the mystery of the brother and what exactly he was up to.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Heydrich’s dead,” were the first words Lafarge heard the next morning when he descended the stairs feeling rather foggy–minded to be greeted by Broglie looking uncommonly flustered.

  “Ah so,” muttered Lafarge matter of factly.

  Broglie stared at him, or rather at his back as he entered the breakfast room and settled himself at his table and waited for the pot of coffee to be brought. Broglie, though, arrived quicker than the waitress.

  “If you forgive me Gaston I’m not sure you should be saying something like that,” he mumbled.

  “Sorry I don’t understand you. What am I not meant to say, ah now I see, no you fool you think I said asshole. Dear oh dear Broglie you should clean your ears out! I said ah so,” Lafarge said laughing heartily.

  Broglie grinned shamefacedly and pulled a chair over, about the same time that the pretty but very young waitress, Mabel, arrived with the coffee, whose only quality was that it was hot as it bore little relation to real coffee in taste.

  Lafarge poured himself and Broglie a cup each and munched cautiously on a stale croissant waiting to hear what else Broglie had to impart whilst also scanning the room for any sight of Aimee. There was no sign much to his disappointment.

  “As a result of Heydrich’s death we are, like you saw the other day when you arrived, on a state of high alert. Further to that Guillemot has summoned all of us to a meeting in his office at 9 sharp, which means in 20 minutes time,” said Broglie, who even though it was not that hot had started to sweat.

  “I see and I take it I am to be present at the meeting and you are here to ensure I am there,” said Lafarge, and received a nod from his colleague.

  “Good. Any idea what it might be about this meeting?” he asked but this time Broglie was supping down his coffee, though, Lafarge could detect he was shaking his head at the same time.

  “Very well Watson, the game is afoot as Sherlock would say! Let’s go,” said Lafarge and sprang to his feet and left the room leaving Broglie to follow in his wake.

  *

  “René Bousquet has designed this as a day of mourning, following a request from the Germans. However, whilst we will dutifully don black armbands so as not to offend the Nazis I want this to be a day of action as well, for it will be recognized by Paris in the most positive of ways,” said Guillemot solemnly.

  Guillemot received several nods of appreciation for this, from de Blaeckere, who was present with his number two Yann Caullenec, a physically impressive looking fellow from Brittany but who was as coarse as they come. Broglie and his number two Gervaise Filbru, an amiable if lightweight detective to Lafarge’s eyes, kept silent.

  “Thus all three services plus the uniforms and you too Lafarge are going to combine on a raid on a terrorist cell that I have good information is due to meet today on the outskirts of Limoges. They are a group of lawyers and doctors, and believe that they are not known to us.

  “The reason I want you coming along L
afarge is that there is a chance your fugitive might show his face, so we could come out of this with two objectives achieved,” said Guillemot his face creasing into a smile.

  “I want all available forces assembled outside in an hour and we hit them as soon as everyone is in position.

  “I have already sent on an advance party to reconnoitre the surroundings and to keep an eye out for the various personalities who we expect to be gathering at the house.

  Now as you can see from the map I have drawn up it is a big house, three storeys high and with a large garden which is ringed by bushes and trees making getting a clear sight of what’s going on inside or indeed in the garden difficult.

  “However, we expect them to be all there by midday, after that any latecomers we will either sweep up or it will be their lucky day because we will have already gone in.

  “Needless to say cock your weapons but only resort to them if you are fired on. The main objective is to capture them and bring them back here for interrogation,” said Guillemot firmly.

  Lafarge put up his hand to attract Guillemot’s attention, and noticed Caullenec whispering something in de Blaeckere’s ear which provoked a snigger from the Brigades Spéciales chief. He ignored it and proceeded to speak once given permission by Guillemot.

  “Forgive me for pointing out, Guillemot, but it sounds as if the odds against us are quite sizeable.

  “I mean if we have no clear sight into the house or indeed the garden then we are going in blind. Unless of course you have someone planted on the inside?” asked Lafarge, disappointed at the cavalier plan devised by Guillemot, whom he had thought of as being pragmatic and wise.

  Guillemot looked Lafarge straight in the eyes not flinching for a moment.

  “Yes, I have someone on the inside and who is to hang a sheet outside the central top floor window, which we can see clearly, to tell us that everyone is there and we are good to go,” said Guillemot.

  “Good good. But how are we to recognize your informant if shooting does take place? Surely you want him to be kept out of harms’ way. I mean losing a top informant when it appears we don’t have many reliable ones would be quite a high price to pay for such an operation,” said Lafarge.

  “I have made arrangements for the informant to keep safe should shooting break out, but I don’t envisage too much resistance from this group.

  “For the most part, they prefer talking and conspiring than action. However, being quite wealthy they also contribute money towards weapons and deliver intelligence gleaned from their contact with the likes of us. They are very effective in winning our confidence and over a few glasses tongues relax a little bit.

  “We are lulled into a false sense of security that such men are not capable of conspiring against us...We think because they earn their living from work we provide, whether it be legal or medical, that we have bought their loyalty.

  “However, nothing could be further from the truth, the doctors especially have taken against us because of the state of the patients they have seen after muscular interrogations,” Guillemot said fixing his gaze on de Blaeckere, who shot him a look of disdain.

  “We get results, Guillemot, unlike you and your more cerebral approach to intelligence, footwork and fake charm when you come to interrogate prisoners,” said de Blaeckere sulkily.

  “Well de Blaeckere, we all have our different approaches, that’s what makes us such an effective and happy ship,” said Guillemot sarcastically.

  Lafarge was not entirely comforted by Guillemot’s assurances on the operation, but he was delighted that he had brought up de Blaeckere’s perverted modus operandi.

  “On that note, I demand that should de Chastelain fall into our hands that I and only I get to interrogate him. Paris would not look kindly on the type of interrogation utilised by de Blaeckere,” said Lafarge, enjoying the sight of de Blaeckere’s features reddening.

  “You have my word on that Lafarge, there is to be no interference with de Chastelain. Do you hear me de Blaeckere?” Guillemot said in a tone that brooked no argument.

  De Blaeckere was seething and could only summon up a grunt acknowledging the order before allowing his temper to get the better of him.

  “I am not entirely happy with that, but provided de Chastelain is caught and arrives here alive, I will leave him in the care of our colleague from Paris, the patron saint of sanctimonious bullshit!” hissed de Blaeckere, receiving a slap on the back from his number two.

  “That’s enough de Blaeckere! You will focus your mind on the task ahead of you and restrain yourself from making asinine and abusive remarks in the future, clear!” said Guillemot in a clipped tone.

  De Blaeckere’s features took on a petulant look but he nevertheless yielded and nodded.

  “Right, that’s all. Broglie, gather your men together, Lafarge go with him. Once we are in situ, I want de Blaeckere to lead the initial assault on the house, and you, Broglie, to hold the side entrance to the garden and block off any possible escape route from there.

  “I will cover the road on the front and the back just in case the nimbler members of the cell try to vault the walls,” said Guillemot.

  On that note, the five men picked up their hats and coats and filtered out into the corridor to go and round up their men.

  Guillemot talked to the head of the uniformed gendarmes and filled him in on what his men’s duties would be, which was largely to drive the vans that would convey the prisoners to headquarters after the raid.

  Lafarge was ambling down the corridor on the lookout for another cup of coffee when he sensed there was someone on his shoulder. He turned to see the unwelcome sight of de Blaeckere.

  “What the hell do you want de Blaeckere?” asked Lafarge angrily.

  “What I want is to have both you and de Chastelain in my sights and to let loose two rounds that take you both out, that’s what I want Mr Paris man!” he said in a low vicious tone before he turned on his heel and trotted off.

  Lafarge snorted derisively at the threat and having procured himself a cup of coffee proceeded to sit down at his desk and on an impulse, dialed Gerland’s number. To his relief the lawyer answered after just two rings.

  “Morning Henri, just thanking you for an excellent lunch yesterday and for your help on my divorce case,” said Lafarge who heard Gerland breathe deeply in surprise.

  “It’s a painful enough event to experience on one’s own but when you have as astute a lawyer as yourself to hand extremely fortunate and comforting,” added Lafarge quickly hoping Gerland would bite.

  “Yes I have experienced two divorces Gaston and neither a very pleasant experience, not least for the social shame they bring so it is pleasant for me to be able to help you navigate such a painful procedure,” said Gerland his tone calm.

  “Being that the case and Isabella not being as yet aware of my wishes, I was keen to make it as fast as possible and I was wondering whether I could drop by today, say around two o’clock,” said Lafarge.

  There was silence at the other end of the phone.

  “Henri, you are still there?” asked Lafarge impatiently.

  “Yes, I am. I had been hoping to meet with some friends for lunch, one of whom has recently decided like myself to avail himself of the freer air down here,” said Gerland sounding disappointed.

  “Well, I normally wouldn’t insist but what if you were to get them to come to you, after my visit, for a late lunch? I am sure you have some of that excellent duck left over, probably better than anything they can provide,” said Lafarge hoping his tone was as calm as that of Gerland's.

  “That could present problems Gaston, for it means a great deal of phoning around and some do not possess a telephone and will already have set out,” said Gerland.

  “That is a shame as I dearly wanted to make more progress on the personal matter. Normally I wouldn’t insist but given I have so little spare time I thought it best to take any opportunity I had to draw up the necessary documents so I can then send them to Isa
bella and her lawyer in Nice,” said Lafarge.

  There was more silence from Gerland’s end as he mulled over Lafarge’s request, the detective hoping his warning had been understood by his friend.

  “Very well Gaston, I will wait here for you, but please don’t dally. Sadly I don’t think it will be possible for me to contact my friend which means I might miss him entirely on this occasion,” said Gerland, who appeared to Lafarge to be warming to the cloak and dagger game.

  “Very well Henri, I have some business to attend to and I will try and not be too tardy for our appointment,” said Lafarge warmly and replaced the handle.

  Lafarge was delighted. Firstly his hunch had been correct and Gerland was due to go to the meeting of the lawyers and doctors cell and secondly should his conversation with Gerland have been listened to by Guillemot’s men or by de Blaeckere and his gang that it would have sewn confusion amongst them.

  Mind you he was a little confused himself as to why he would have used divorcing Isabella as an excuse to warn his friend off going to the rendezvous.

  Perhaps he was just becoming more adept at lying to suit his own ends, he would prefer that as the reason and not wishful thinking on his part.

  What worried him more for the moment was that Gerland’s inference regarding his recently arrived friend suggested de Chastelain would be at the meeting, and there was no means to prevent him going.

  It was now left to Lafarge to save him from being hurt, and that he could see was going to be extremely problematic.

  *

  Guillemot’s confidence that there would be little trouble proved to be wide of the mark as Lafarge had suspected. It wasn’t clear as to who started the shooting but given that de Blaeckere had been leading the assault, it left little to Lafarge’s imagination as to who was to blame.

  He was left idly examining his gun as he, Broglie and his men waited by the side entrance as the shooting intensified. Despite increasingly frenetic pleas to Broglie, his colleague refused to breach the door and go to the aid of de Blaeckere.