need to replace my records.”
“Perhaps you could confirm your assistant’s story.”
“What story?”
“Of what happened to your records?”
“Right.” Piers own phone buzzed. A text message from Sidney. He struggled to open it up as he talked. “What happened to the records? Right. Well. There was er, a—” He read Sidney’s text message aloud. “Flood.”
The young man continued. “That is what your assistant said. But I’m curious about how a flood could have happened as you live on the fourth floor.”
“Ahhhhh, yes. Curious. Yes, yes, indeed. I would be too. Right. Yes. A flood. Well … the flood happened as a result of a … fire. Yes, a fire.”
His phone buzzed with another text message that read “Break-in.”
Shit.
“I see, monsieur,” said the young man, “That’s not quite the story you assistant told me.”
“Right, right, yes. That’s because that’s not the end of the story, you see.”
“Monsieur?”
“The flood was caused by a fire that was caused by a … break-in. Yes, yes. The criminals broke in and started a fire, and putting the fire out caused the flood.”
“I see, monsieur.”
“Yes, I know. It’s a long story. That’s why I was hesitant to tell it. Remarkable really.”
“It is, monsieur, but it does agree with your assistant’s story. We do like to check these things for security, monsieur.”
“Good, now if you don’t mind I’d like my assistant back as soon as possible. There is a lot of … er … tidying up to do.”
“I understand, monsieur. I will send her back as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Piers switched off the phone and stared through the bank’s windows. The young man opposite Sidney was busy at a keyboard. After a long minute, he beckoned Sidney to follow, and they disappeared through a doorway into the back offices of the bank.
Piers breathed a sigh of relief. People only had safety deposit boxes if they had something important to keep. He had a good feeling they were going to find something. The feeling lasted until he saw a police car converging on the bank and screeching to a halt in front of its revolving door. Piers’ heart thumped into his mouth.
Officers leapt from the car before it had even come to a halt. One man stayed in the driver’s seat while the others piled through the revolving door, one-by-one.
Piers paced toward the entrance. What the hell could he do? Sidney was out of sight somewhere inside the bank. They must have recognized her. He bit his lip. The phone call had probably been a ruse to play for time.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Sidney. She answered on the fifth ring, just as he thought it would go to voicemail.
“Sidney, the police are here. Get out now. Use a different way.”
She didn’t say a word, but he heard the click as she mashed the off button on her phone. Piers stamped his foot and swore. Were they holding her already?
Through the windows, he saw a bank official quickly lead the police to the door Sidney had used.
With the umbrella in front of him, Piers walked to the police car. He saw Sidney return to the lobby through a different door. She looked around and started for the exit. Piers’ heart thumped. She looked too uncomfortable, too suspicious.
He breathed hard. What the hell could he do?
He reached the bank entrance. The police car was directly outside with its engine running. Sidney was almost at the revolving door.
He rapped on the police car’s glass and the driver cracked the window. Piers stood so his face was above where the man could see, and pointed into the bank. “Quickly. The Inspector’s in trouble.”
The man twisted to look up at him. “Huh?”
“The Inspector asked for you.”
The man popped open the door.
“Vite, vite.” Piers pointed to the bank door while keeping his back to the driver.
The driver seemed uncertain.
“He sent me to get you,” said Piers. “Vite, vite.”
The driver jumped from the car and barreled through the revolving door.
Piers slipped into the police car’s driving seat and put the car in reverse as Sidney exited the revolving door.
He saw the police running back into the lobby followed by the young bank clerk clutching his groin. Piers floored the accelerator. The car rocketed backward, bounced wildly as it mounted the curb, and smashed into the revolving door, wedging it solid.
Piers leapt from the driver’s seat and raced past Sidney, grabbing her hand and dragging her down the street. He didn’t look back and she didn’t need any urging. They ran flat out, with Sidney