Cold Winter in Bordeaux Read Online Free PDF Page B

that we’ll find that this is the explanation for the murder. As I said, we need to know much more about her. Meanwhile we need to get hold of the so-called uncle. Have another word with the concierge, will you? And, René, you might see if you can get anything more from the maid, Marie. She was frightened of me, as well as suffering from shock. She may be more forthcoming with you.’
    * * *
    He couldn’t get the photographs out of his head. Who took them and who were they taken for? Only the woman herself? How often did she look at the nude ones? And when, in what circumstances?
    A maid admitted him to the apartment in the rue Michel-Montaigne and showed him into the salon. High ceilings, Second Empire furniture, paintings, mostly landscapes of no particular quality. The airlessness of a room in which the windows were never opened, Venetian blinds drawn, and vases of artificial flowers. ‘Madame will be with you in a moment,’ but it was at least a quarter of an hour till the door opened and a tall woman came in. She wore a brown velvet dress and her dark hair was pulled back in a bun.
    ‘I’m surprised to see you,’ she said. ‘I assume your visit is on account of the sad death of Madame Peniel, but I have already told your young officer that we have nothing to say. She taught our daughter the piano, very well too, but we had no other dealings with her and I cannot see that her death concerns us.’
    ‘I am sure it doesn’t,’ Lannes said. ‘Nevertheless, I should like to speak with your daughter. You told Inspector Martin that she was fond of Madame Peniel and is distressed by the news of her death. It’s possible that Madame Peniel may have said something to her which might help us find the killer.’
    ‘Impossible. It’s ridiculous to suppose that Charlotte can say anything that would help you. She knows nothing about that.’
    She smoothed her dress over her bottom and sat down, quite heavily, in a high-backed chair. She sat very straight and sniffed, loudly, twice.
    ‘But I should like to speak with her, and I would rather do so here, in your presence if you prefer, than summon her formally to my office. You will understand, Madame Duvallier, that I have the authority to do so. However, I have no wish to exercise that authority.’
    The fencing continued for several minutes. Then Lannes, who had not been invited to sit down, said, ‘I understand your reluctance, and this is indeed a delicate matter, no doubt upsetting for your daughter. Moreover I have no wish to report to the examining magistrate that you have been obstructing me in the performance of my duty, which is nevertheless what I may have to do. Now will you fetch your daughter, or shall I ask the magistrate for a warrant summoning her to a formal examination? It’s one or the other, and the choice is yours.’
    She sniffed again and got up and left the room. Lannes waited. He wanted to smoke but hesitated to do so. If she isn’t back in five minutes, he thought, I’ll either light up or walk out and send them a summons. What a futile business it was. He was sure now the girl would tell him nothing. Her mother would be making certain that she didn’t. Well, he would see about that, if they came back. He felt very tired, extricated a Gauloise from the packet and tapped it on his thumbnail.
    The door opened. Madame Duvallier resumed her seat, her back stiff with antagonism. The girl stood a little apart, twisting her handkerchief in her hands. Her mother told her to stop doing that and stand up straight. She was a plump girl with black hair, dark eyes and a big, full-lipped mouth.
    ‘Your mother will have told you why I’m here,’ Lannes said. ‘Did you like Madame Peniel?’
    ‘She was all right.’
    ‘A good teacher?’
    ‘All right, I suppose. I’m sorry she’s dead. At least I suppose I am.’
    ‘Charlotte!’
    ‘Well, I haven’t really thought about it, Maman. I mean, why should I? She was only my music teacher.