The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower (28 page)

“He’s jiggling the front door locks of the auction house,” she said barely audible.

“That’s his method? Check if the door is open? Doesn’t seem very clever to me,” I said, squinting to make him out through the haze of my night-vision goggles. All I could see were splodges of green, almost fluid smudges like spilled liquid. Did they need to be switched on or something?

“OK, he’s on the move,” she said. I wrenched my goggles off, and dislodged the GoPro at the same time. Rubbing my face, I leaned forward, peering over the dash.

“What’s he doing now?” Lilou snaked her way into the front seat, squashing me further into the foot well.

“Merde! Can’t you be quiet? We’re trying to watch!”

“Shush,” she said. “I’m trying to see too. I’ve got better eyes than you. Younger.”

I shoved her with my elbow for good measure.

“He’s making a phone call,” Madame Dupont said. “Duck down, quick! He’s coming this way.”

I scrambled lower, which was virtually impossible with Lilou on top of me, her limbs akimbo. She was a tall girl, and didn’t fit well when there was another body vying for space.

“What if he sees us?” Panic rose up; my stomach flipped with angst.

Madame Dupont sat deathly still. I couldn’t even make out the rise of her chest. “Madame?” I whispered, snatching a hand from under Lilou’s leg to reach out to Madame. It would be just my luck she perished on our mission. I’d never forgive myself. Perhaps her ox-strong heart wasn’t cut out for these types of things. “Madame?” I asked querulously.

I was inches away from touching her arm when she sat bolt upright, and flicked the key in the ignition. “He’s crossing the road. Stay down!” she screeched.

My heart pumped so loud I could feel it in my ears. She was alive! And he was about to catch us!

“Mon Dieu, he’s looking straight at me. Hold on, belle filles. Un, deux, trois!” She gripped the steering wheel tight and with a screech of the clutch she pumped the gas and the car shot forward with a scream of burnt rubber.

I was thrown forward into the underside of the dash, as she careened, zigzagging across the road like a madwoman. When we were far enough away, she slowed. I managed to clutch my heart and ask, “Did he get close enough to see in?”

Catching her breath, Madame Dupont took a moment before she responded. “No, I don’t think he did. That was the most fun I’ve had in ages!”

What was I mixed up with here? A woman who thought this was an adventure! I opened the door just as Lilou gave me a shunt with her foot – I promptly fell onto the pavement in a messy heap. It had been claustrophobic being squished by my sister, and I welcomed the fresh air and space to think. Lilou sprang out behind me and hoisted me to my feet.

“Madame Dupont, are you coming in?” I asked. “Shall we debrief?”

“No thank you, I’ve got a date,” she said. “Make notes.” Her brown eyes twinkled mischievously. Honestly, she was a never-ending well of energy. “I’ll watch the footage later and see if I can spot anything else.”

Before I could respond, she roared off down the street, taking the left turn at an alarming speed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Coughing through the plume of exhaust fumes that Madame left in her wake, I turned to go inside, exhausted after the stake-out.

Lilou grabbed my arm and wrenched me back to the curb. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Could I trust her? She wasn’t likely to take it seriously and then where would I be? “No, I don’t, really. And don’t mention anything to Maman. I don’t want her to worry.”

She folded her arms. “Tell me or I’ll find your diary and read about it for myself.”

I glared at her, but she stood firm. “I don’t
know
what’s going on. But I think we’ve just proved Tristan is the jewel thief. And that’s all I can say right now. Don’t breathe a word of it to anyone, especially Henry.”

She scoffed. “Why’s he the thief? Because he rattled a few door handles? That hardly means he’s a criminal. And what if nothing goes missing from there?”

I stifled a sigh. This is why I didn’t want her involved. “Those are all good points. But there’s more to it than that.”

She gave me a benign smile. “You love him, and you’re trying to find an excuse to walk away.”

What
was
it with everyone lately? “I hardly know the guy, and I most certainly don’t love him!”

“Then why do you blush every time someone mentions him?”

“I’m blushing because my life was in Madame’s hands zooming up those roads like a rally driver. My blood pressure is sky high. I feel
faint
!”

“Yeah, right. You always do this, Anouk. Try and find a way out so they don’t break your heart first. So you risked it with Joshua and it didn’t work out. That doesn’t mean you have to give up entirely. Tristan might be the best thing that ever happened to you, but you’ll never know because you’re looking for a way to distance yourself.”

“I didn’t know you were a psychologist.” Honestly, it was like no one thought I had a brain in my head.

She shrugged. “Calling it as I see it.”

The breeze blew past, bringing with it the scent of Maman’s bouillabaisse from the bistro. I would recognize that scent anywhere; it reminded me of home. “Merci, Lilou. When I’m ready for advice from someone who changes boyfriends like they change shoes, I’ll be sure and ask you.”

She put her hands on my shoulders and stared into my eyes. “Anouk, don’t you see? I’m
not
going to settle for second best. When I find the right guy, I’ll know. And I’ve been with Henry for months. He’s got potential, but I doubt he’s the one. Still, I wouldn’t have found him by hiding. One setback, and you’ve given up. Now you’ve hatched some plan to catch Tristan out. You didn’t see the way he looked at you, like you were a prized piece of art…”

With an eye roll, I said, “Yeah, probably wondering if he could sell me on the black market.”

“No, he was probably wondering why he has to try so hard to get your attention. And now, what, he’s a wanted man, a jewel thief? I don’t think so somehow.” She shook her head like I was crazy.

It wasn’t like Lilou to speak like an adult. I hadn’t pegged her for someone who noticed anything other than herself. Had she been paying attention this entire time?

Still, I was the big sister who’d seen a lot more of the real world and its orchestrations than she ever would. “You wouldn’t understand. Life is easy for you – you’re given an allowance, and you work when it suits. You follow the breeze, and any man that comes your way. One of us has to be responsible, and that falls to me. Do I need to remind you Maman is still here, refusing all Papa’s phone calls? He’s falling to pieces without her.” I gave her a hard stare. “Have you called him since the fire? Do you even
know
about the fire?”

She kept me pinned to the spot. “Do you ever think maybe you should leave well enough alone? Maman and Papa are
adults
. Why should you step in and fix things? I know you mean well, but you spend all your time worrying about us, when you should be worrying about yourself. We’ll be OK. And if we make a few mistakes along the way we’ll learn from those.” She shrugged like it was nothing. But really, she just didn’t understand.

I blew out a breath. “That sounds great in theory, Lilou. But if I don’t help things will spiral out of control. Papa is falling into a depression because he thinks his family doesn’t need him. He set the house on fire, on purpose if what Maman believes is true! You’re treating my apartment like it’s a hostel. If you want me to stop worrying, then start behaving like an adult. Make your own money; pay a few bills. Call Papa and tell him you love him. You know?” It was hard to hear Lilou say I was interfering in their lives, when they were taking over mine. Who’d help them if I didn’t?

“Fine.” She dropped her arms to her side. “But just listen to me about Tristan, OK?”

Why did everyone think they knew that man? He was as fake as a spray-on tan, but disguised himself well enough everyone had something good to say about him.

“I can’t promise that. But if he’s innocent then I’ll give it my all and see what happens.”

After a tumultuous night’s sleep, I woke with a clear plan. Nab the thief, and worry about my love life, or lack thereof, later. It was just before seven so I crept to the kitchen phone and dialed Madame. Sleep eluded her as she’d aged, and I knew she’d be up, reading the papers, and drinking coffee, in her front parlor.

“Bonjour, Anouk! I’ve been waiting for your call.”

“Bonjour, Madame. Any word?” With her network, I knew she’d have put the feelers and would know before any reporter did whether the auction house had been robbed overnight.

“Oui.” Her voice was bright, and high, like the mission had given her yet another lease on life. “I’ve heard from a source, no robbery overnight, not there, not anywhere. He must have been doing some kind of reconnaissance. I think we should go back tonight. The GoPro footage showed nothing, just his lovely little saunter down the street.”

I chortled at her typical Madame Dupont response. “OK,” I said. “I was so sure he was going to break in.” I bit my lip, contemplating it all. Something niggled. “Don’t you think it’s strange he’d be so obvious?”

“What do you mean?” she asked. “He didn’t actually
do
anything.”

“Tristan didn’t rob the place, but he did case it out, and his face wasn’t covered, he was easily recognizable on the multitude of CCTV cameras around the building. Isn’t that weird?”

“That is odd, unless that’s his ploy. If they questioned him, he could counter with he wouldn’t be so silly to be in the vicinity, if he was the thief. It’s quite brilliant really.”

“Mhmm,” I mumbled, unconvinced. “Risky, though. It would be easier not to be in the vicinity and save being questioned at all.”

“I have to go, ma chérie.” Peals of sultry laughter rang out behind her. She was incorrigible. “Let’s chat tonight.”

I hung up the phone, and made a pot of coffee, my mind full of Tristan.

***

A week later I was in the shop zombie-like and bone-numbingly exhausted after spending most nights on the lookout. I wanted to curl up in bed and sleep for a month. But Madame Dupont refused to stop, even though I could see it was costing her too. I felt as though she was keener to prove Tristan’s innocence than nab the thief. But hope was fading for me. My handbag hadn’t materialized, so the locks had been changed, and alarm codes reset. Not that it’d matter to the likes of him, the criminal mastermind. The cash was gone, but at least it hadn’t been much, on that slow summery day.

They’d been no robberies, but Tristan had kept a low profile too. Thankfully I had customers aplenty to keep my mind occupied.

With my eye pressed tight against my loupe, I inspected a lapis lazuli gemstone. It was taken from an old brooch whose coupling had disintegrated over time. As gems went, it wasn’t worth much money, but it should have been because it was so stunningly beautiful. It was polished to a shine – bright cobalt blue with gold flecks that shimmered like the sky.

“I know it’s probably not worth anything,” the woman said. She was wearing a polka dotted dress, and smelled like summer, a hint of coconut, and sunshine. She fluffed her ginger curls and gave me a smile. “I have the whole set.” She tapped her handbag. “A ring, earrings, and a necklace, as well as the brooch. They’re all in the same condition, a little rough around the edges but not without charm.”

“What’s the history behind them?” I asked.

“They were my aunt’s. She left them to me, but they’re not my style.” She motioned to herself. She was draped in white pearls. “It seemed a waste to hide them away in a jewelry box.”

“Tell me about your aunt.” I nursed the gemstone in my hand. It was weighty, the stone too large for the brooch that had housed it.

The woman leaned her elbows on the counter. “She was a marine biologist. Hence the lapis lazuli. She always wore blue. She didn’t really like people.” The woman let out a laugh. “Much preferred mammals. The last time we spoke was the happiest I’d ever heard her. I had to tell her to slow down so I could catch what she was trying to say; her words were tumbling together in her excitement.”

“Why was she so excited?”

“Aunt Molly was sailing to the Southern Ocean to help save whales. She was one of a select group chosen for their various abilities, and she was certain they’d achieve their goal. Her skill obviously was being a marine biologist, but they had all sorts on the voyage.”

“Sounds like she was passionate about it,” I said. The gem winked under the lighting, and I knew the previous owner was standing off to the side somewhere listening to her story be told through her niece.

The woman’s lip wobbled, and I sat on a stool behind the counter, giving her time to compose herself.

“They saved the whales. Aunt Molly and a few of the crew jumped aboard the whaling ship, and managed to cut the lines to the harpoons. But after, as she went to board her own ship, she fell into the water. They searched for her into the night, and again at first light. But she was gone, vanished without a trace.”

“I’m so sorry. They never found her?” Goose bumps broke out over my skin. There was more to the story, I was sure of it.

She shook her head. “I found out later she had stage four cancer. I don’t think she wanted to be found. I think she saved the whales and then joined them one last time. It would have been her worst nightmare being surrounded by people as her condition deteriorated. Getting pounded with platitudes, and false smiles would have driven her mad. Instead, she died on her terms.”

It became hard to breathe, like the air had been sucked out of the shop. And I knew I was feeling her last moments, in the gentlest possible way. With a hand on my throat, I said, “You have to keep these gems; they represent so much.” I was in awe of Aunt Molly, living her last minute the way she wanted to. Throwing herself into the vast blue of the ocean, after rescuing a pod of whales for one more day.

“I thought so too. But it’s like I can hear her, see her sometimes, just a brief flash, and I think she’s telling me to pass them on. There’s someone who needs them more, someone they will inspire to do great things.”