Wednesday 1300 Paris
(1200 London, 0700 Washington)
Ellen saw Gerard Astier, the U.S. French-based agent, in her peripheral vision. She could see he too was on high alert, watching every movement. Ellen counted twelve tour groups that had come and gone. Acting as one of the curators, she answered a thousand questions shamelessly making up what she didn’t know. She kept moving to take in all aspects of the room.
Ellen watched the security guards swap over for their lunch break at one p.m. The head of security, Revault, came to check on progress. Abrupt and distracted, he suggested Ellen take a break.
“Thanks, Gilles, but this is one day where I intend to stay put, even if it means concentrating for nine hours straight.” She sighed with frustration. “We’ve been here half the day and noth
