Grass Grows in the Pyrenees

Chapter 4

Chapter 4I resist the temptation to look back again, instead making my way over the road to the café. People are beginning to gather for the parade, which is due to start in under half an hour. The two young policemen who've been assigned to assist me today are oblivious to everything that's going on around them, as they're too busy flirting with a group of young, female tourists. They don't even notice me as I pass them by and it's clear, from their body language and their laughter, that they'll be doing little, if any, work today. Finally, when I'm at the door of the café, and safely out of view of the other side of the street, I look back across the road, relieved to see Eddy's car pull away from the kerb and slowly drive off.

There are two men sitting at a table just outside the café entrance. One is tall, thin and wiry, with a Spanish look about him. He has long, straggly hair arranged into two thin plaits which hang on either side of his face. His narrow goatee beard is also plaited, and when he smiles, I can see he has a gold cap on one of his incisors. He's wearing a battered, gaucho-style hat which looks incongruous with his suit. His jacket is slung casually over the chair back and his tie has been loosened, but not removed. I recognise him, his name is Jean-Luc. People call him 'Jean-Luc the Pirate', because he reminds them of Johnny Depp in the film 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.

His companion is a big, thick-set man with distinctively bowed legs. He's almost as wide as he is tall, with a waistline like a roundabout. His complexion is very ruddy, his cheeks are round and his skin shines with perspiration. His bright blue eyes look like large marbles. This man is called Aidan O'Brien and I know that like Jean-Luc, he lives on a farm in the mountains. He is also wearing a suit, but as he's Irish and not French, I know that his formal dress has nothing to do with today's proceedings.

Both of these men are suspected of growing c******s on their land and I can only assume they've come to town to meet with Eddy the Red. They look furtively at me as I make my way past them. Jean-Luc can't meet my gaze, but Aidan attempts to greet me. “Bonjour officer,” he says nervously, in a strong Irish brogue. His cheeks are hot and he looks at me for only a moment before dropping his chin and staring at the ground.

“Messieurs,” I reply. “What brings you to town today?”

Jean-Luc fires a warning glance at Aidan, who doesn't reply.

“I've brought some of my children to see the celebrations,” Jean-Luc says. “Aidan's wife, Siobhan, and their children are also in town, so we thought we'd meet up for a drink.”

“And is your wife not in town today?” I ask Jean-Luc. I know that he rarely permits his wife to leave their home, because he won't let her frequently bruised face be seen in public. However, until she makes a complaint about him, he'll continue to hit her and no one will intervene.

“My wife's at home with the two bébés. There's a lot of work for her to do, cleaning, cooking and tidying my house. She's much too busy for a day off, and besides, a woman's place is in the home. It's her job to look after me and my children.”

“She obviously looks after you very well,” Aidan adds with a leer. “That's why you've got five children, Jean-Luc.”

Aiden's trying to make me feel uncomfortable and I'm ashamed to say that he's succeeding. They're both laughing and staring at me, challenging me to make a comment. “Enjoy your day, Messieurs,” is all I can manage, and as I walk towards the bar, I can hear their laughter ringing in my ears.

I'm happy to see a familiar, friendly face sitting at the bar enjoying a pastis and sharing conversation with the patron. He's a tall, slim English gentleman of about sixty years of age, and as usual, his elegant frame is clothed in fashionable designer wear.

“Bonjour, Byron,” I say “Ça va?”

“Ah, bonjour Mademoiselle,” he replies, taking my hand in his and kissing it gently. “Perhaps I shouldn't kiss you when you're on duty, but I can't help myself,” he says with a wink and a cheeky smile. “And I'm very well. Thank you for asking,” he adds. “And you? How are you today?”

“I too am well, thank you,” I reply.

I'm very fond of Byron and over the last year or so he's become a good friend to me. Indeed his friendship has been instrumental in my achieving the life I now enjoy.

“I saw you speaking to that motley pair sitting by the door,” he continues. “I trust they're up to no good.”

“I'm not sure,” I reply. “I've just had an encounter with Eddy the Red and I'm wondering if they're involved in business dealings with each other. I'm very upset that gangsters have returned to this town and Eddy's just told me that his business partner is Magda Gold”

“I wouldn't trust any of them as far as I could throw them,” Byron replies. “Just be very careful, Danielle. They're a bad lot and I think they could be very dangerous. If things start to kick off, be sure to call for assistance. Don't be too proud to ask for help.”

“Don't worry, Byron,” I reply. “I'll know if I'm out of my depth.”

The truth is, I'd never ask for help, because it's taken me too long to prove myself in this job, so come what may, I'll try to cope with whatever happens.