18Later that afternoon, André had a meeting with his friend Alain in the basement of Alain’s house on the edge of the village. “It’s so dead around here,” said Alain. “Why Castillac, for God’s sake? Why not someplace with a little size to it, make the operation easier to hide, you know?”
“The small size is part of the plan,” André said impatiently. “We try to set up in Bordeaux or Toulouse, the gendarmes will be on us in two seconds flat. Here in charming Castillac, we’ve got nothing more than a few bumbling fools to deal with. If I can just get on the council and unseat that insufferable Coulon, we’ll be on easy street, I promise you that.”
“You’re never short on promises,” mumbled Alain, getting settled on a rowing machine and doing a few perfunctory rows. He was short and lean, in goo
