Murder on the Mediterranean (Capucine Culinary Mystery) (27 page)

Capucine knew Jacques’s little pieces of paper were never wrong. She would have to leave her brigade. There would be no more Isabelle. No more Momo. Just meetings. And even more meetings. Her shoulders drooped.

Alexandre joined them. “What’s the matter? Are you two tiffing again?”

Neither Jacques nor Capucine answered. They moved out onto the narrow rue de Richelieu. Jacques led them to the left.

“Aren’t we going the wrong way?” Capucine asked.

“No,” Jacques said. “There’s a little passage we can duck through right . . . here.” He pushed open a black metal gate that looked like it might be the entrance to a building. After walking twenty feet, they found themselves in the immense, cavernous void of the Palais Royal. They strolled down a covered archway, past shops selling antique ball gowns, precious antiques, ancient medals and decorations.

Jacques tapped the glass storefront of one of the shops that sold medals. “It was either that or one of these.” He pointed at the white, five-pointed cross hanging by the carmine ribbon of the Legion of Honor.

“I don’t know which is worse.” Capucine’s eyes filled with liquid.

Jacques threaded his arm through hers and led her into the middle of the over-tended garden. The moon was full again. Alexandre followed behind, listening.

Of course you do. You’re going to be needing lots more time at the hearth. And a ribbon would be no help at all for that.

“You’re radiant in the moonlight,” Jacques said.

“Isn’t she?” Alexandre said from behind.

“I’d always heard about that but never thought it was really true.”

“Jacques, does anyone keep any secrets from you?”

“Of course not. That’s what I’m paid for.”

He left them and sauntered down the garden. Capucine and Alexandre could just see the ruddy glow of his cigar when he puffed. At the end of the garden there might, or might not, have been two or three people waiting for him.

“So
that’s
why you’re having the guest bedroom repainted.”

Capucine smiled up at him and said nothing.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
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New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2014 by Alexander Campion

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

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Library of Congress Card Catalogue Number: 2014934215

ISBN: 978-0-7582-6883-9

ISBN-10: 0-7582-6883-1
First Kensington Hardcover Edition: July 2014

eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-319-2
eISBN-10: 1-61773-319-9
First Kensington Electronic Edition: July 2014