Chapter 24
880 Words
Chapter 24It was Gilles Maron who found him. As well as checking several times during the day, Maron had been driving by the Broussard house at least once or twice every night since seeing the incriminating video. Finally, on Monday night, eleven days after Amy Bennett had disappeared, he saw a small light on in the kitchen, barely visible from the road.
Lapin did not run when Maron came in the back door. And he did not protest when Maron packed him into his car and then into the small cell at the station and locked him up, although there was not nearly enough evidence to justify doing so.
“We’re going to want a DNA sample,” Maron said roughly, handing Lapin a blanket that did not smell fresh.
Lapin merely nodded. His head drooped as though something had gone wrong with his neck. His eyes were glassy.
“So what did you do with her?” Maron asked. He had alerted Dufort but hoped to get something out of Broussard before the Chief got there.
Broussard did not answer. He just shook his head, pulled the blanket over his lap, and leaned his big body against the wall, his eyes on the floor.
“Well, what I heard is that he gave them a DNA sample. Doesn’t even have a lawyer.” Molly sipped her kir and put her elbows on the bar at Chez Papa, her voice low despite the noise of the bar.
“Disappointing in a way, isn’t it? DNA has taken all the fun out of detective work.”
“Lawrence!”
“Oh, you know I’m kidding. At this point what good is a DNA sample going to do anyway? What do they have to match it with?”
“I’m sorry to say it, but no one else is saying it: they’ve got to find the body.”
Lawrence nodded. “You’ve clearly watched far too much Law & Order, but…I’m afraid you’re right. Doubtless Dufort is looking. He has never struck me as a man who shies away from…from what needs to be done.”
“But what about the other cases? You don’t think…I mean, two other women have disappeared, right? Cases unsolved? Yes, Dufort seems like a good guy when you talk to him. But he’s not exactly got a winning record.”
“No,” said Lawrence, taking a long pull on his Negroni. “he does not. Though I’m not sure you can look at the situation like it’s a baseball season or something. Maybe this person he’s up against is more devious and smart than the rest of us, Dufort included. Maybe more evil that we can comprehend.”
“Or lucky.”
“Could be that too.”
“Or maybe…maybe the three cases are unrelated. Could be that one of the women is living incognito in Mexico, another is happily married in Gdansk, and only poor Amy is really lost….”
“I wonder if a detective has to have a rather dark side to be any good. I mean, to understand the whys and hows.”
Molly thought about it. She hadn’t spent that much time with Dufort, had only seen him in action that one time at the station with the Bennetts. “My main impression of Dufort is that he really is a very decent man. A little nervous, maybe? I can’t really say because honestly, being around the Bennetts makes me want to jump out of my skin, so I’m not the best judge.”
“Are they still hunkered down in your cottage?”
“They’ve never left, except the one time. But really—what is there for them to say? What is there for them to do?” Molly rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s so heart-breaking. They brought a bag of things for her, you know. Her favorite cookies from home. Like they were visiting her at camp.”
Lawrence just shook his head. “And how are you doing? Does it make you nervous, living alone in that big house?”
Molly considered. “I’m not lying awake at night, but I admit I don’t feel totally at ease either. I went for a walk this afternoon, and I…I don’t know. I got creeped out, being in the woods alone. Might be nice to have a big burly guy living with me at La Baraque.”
“Didn’t realize your tastes ran in that direction,” said Lawrence, teasing.
“I’ll probably get a dog,” said Molly.
“Are you relieved at least that Lapin is in custody?”
“I would be, if more people thought he was guilty. But so far I haven’t found a single person who says, ‘Oh yeah, now that I think of it, that Lapin Broussard for sure could have taken that girl away. I always knew he had a dark side.’ What I find is a village of apologists and defenders.”
Lawrence laughed drily. “Who?”
“Rémy, for one. Manette. You.”
“Oh,” said Lawrence, his eyebrows shooting up. “You’ve met Rémy, have you? Good-looking man,” he added, pretending to inspect a bit of non-existent lint on his sleeve.
“Oh, stop,” said Molly, remembering Rémy’s mouth, and thinking that the idea of being under someone’s protection was really very appealing. Just let those strong arms and back take care of everything, she thought dreamily.
“…still young,” Lawrence was saying.
“Who’s still young?”
“You are, my dear! Though apparently a touch deaf.”
“Pshh. I’m in my declining years, but I’ve made peace with it,” she said, glancing down the bar at Nico.
“Liar. And let me say quite unequivocally that you haven’t lost your je ne sais quoi, Molly. I’ve no doubt the men of the village have noticed your arrival with enthusiasm and interest, and I’m not just talking about the chumps leering at your fake ta-tas.”
Molly turned to Lawrence with a soft smile. “You’re very kind to say that,” she said, and then steered the conversation elsewhere.
She hadn’t entirely given up on love, it was true. Although she very much believed she would be happier if she did.
- Writer
