Death on the Pont Noir - By Adrian Magson Page 0,58

considered for a moment what Saint-Cloud had said about keeping this assignment quiet. The man had great powers, and in effect, Rocco was now following orders approved by the Interior Ministry. Even so, there were some lines you didn’t cross. Being forced by another official to conceal details from his superior officer was one. And while he himself didn’t always tell Massin everything he was working on, this was very different.

He took a deep breath, choosing his words with care. ‘I believe these Englishmen and the reasons for the local security review are somehow connected.’

A brief silence. ‘How?’

‘The ramming, the use of a black, official-looking DS … and the real possibility of a visit to the area by the president.’ He mentioned his talk with Blake at the War Graves Commission office. ‘It all coincides. I think the ramming witnessed by the farmer, Simeon, may have been a practice run.’ He then told him about finding the Pont Noir on the map, and its uncanny similarity to the ramming site. He concluded with the visit with Saint-Cloud to the bridge and the security chief’s complete scepticism. ‘That aside, I think killing Bellin was closing a door. He knew too much, so he had to go. Someone higher up the chain decided he was a liability. We can’t get anything out of Bellin anymore, but we might be able to get something out of the man who delivered the car: Calloway.’

Massin said nothing, his face carefully blank. A car revved up outside, and a burst of laughter drifted up from the street. It highlighted to Rocco how everything had receded while he was in this room, as if the outside world had been shut out. Finally Massin sat forward. ‘You have to admit, Rocco, that this is all one hell of a leap of the imagination, even for you. You could be wrong.’

‘I hope I am,’ Rocco replied calmly, adding, ‘but dare we take that risk? The location is remote, it fits exactly with where the ramming took place, and if de Gaulle fulfils his expressed wish to make an unpublicised visit to this location, he’ll be out in the open with only his immediate guards to protect him.’

‘They’ve never failed him yet.’

‘There’s always a first time. And the last attempt resulted in one dead and one seriously wounded. In terms of an attack to kill the car’s occupants, that would be classified as a success.’

Massin took in a deep breath, his nose pinched. He lifted his chin to ease his collar, and said, ‘Have you told Colonel Saint-Cloud all of this?’

‘Not everything.’

‘Really? What a surprise. I suppose I should feel comforted that you keep him underinformed as well. What did you leave out?’

‘The English connection.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I want to be certain of my facts. If there’s a proven foreign element to this, it’s very different to anything else that’s gone before. Any hint of British involvement will not be kept quiet for long, and if it is a planned attack, the organisers will go underground. Next time we might not get to hear about it until it’s too late.’

‘But you could still be wrong. This could all be … circumstantial and coincidental.’

‘I agree. But I need a couple of days to check it out. Nobody need know that … apart from you.’

Massin looked sceptical. ‘Why am I not reassured by your consideration?’ He tapped his fingers on the desk, then said, ‘Leave it with me for a few minutes. You have presented me with an awkward situation, Rocco. I need to consider my decision carefully. Don’t leave the building.’

Rocco was surprised, then puzzled. At least Massin hadn’t thrown him out and put him on traffic duties. But why the delay? Then, as he turned to open the door, he saw Massin reaching for the telephone, and knew what was going to happen: he was going to phone the Interior Ministry. It was his way out of a tricky situation.

Fifteen minutes later, the desk sergeant put his head round the door of the main office and said, ‘Lucas? The chief wants to see you.’ He dropped his lower lip in sympathy and disappeared.

Rocco walked upstairs and into Massin’s office. He found the officer staring out of the window. A plain white envelope lay on the desk in front of him.

He wondered how this was going to play out. If ever he had given Massin a reason to get rid of him, short of claiming to see flying saucers over Amiens, an attack