by L. B. Simon
"Um, could it be that they accompanied someone who you had invited?" Lachance tried another angle.
"Could be! Yes, but everyone needed to be pre-approved in order to be added to the list, and I was sure that I was familiar with all the names. Maybe I was wrong…" The frown between her eyebrows eased slightly as if this thought brought her relief. "I will ask Samuel to get you the separate list we have of the additional guests and who they were coming with." She handed the prints back.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle, you have been very helpful." The detective’s tone softened.
"Merci." She forced a smile on her lips and went back to Aidan. "Are you free now? Can we get started?"
"Oui, Mademoiselle Belmont, we can get started!" Aidan smiled seeing the joy that ignited her features.
They exited the library and she slipped her arm around his as if they were old friends.
"Do you speak French?" She led him to the stairs in the foyer.
"Un tout petit peu." Aidan used his thumb and index fingers to show just how little he knew.
"Parfait!" She squeezed his arm, and Aidan felt grateful that he had paid some attention in French class.
"I am terribly sorry about François. He is a good man, but he has not been himself lately. He is usually friendlier." She was staring ahead, giving Aidan the impression that her mind was miles away.
"That is funny; he said the same about you."
She widened her eyes in horror.
"He said that I am usually friendlier? What an awful thing to say of your own fiancée! Monsieur Carver, I hate to disappoint, but François had misinformed you; I am no woman of loose morals!"
Aidan stared at her, baffled, not sure what to say. He had not interpreted the words in such way, nor did he plan for them to offend.
"That is not," he began, but she burst out laughing.
"I’m just joking! I am sorry! It has been a very long two days, actually the whole week…" She shrugged. "Come, let's go to my chambers."
They went up the main stairs to the fourth floor. The walls here were cream colored with pine wainscoting that reflected a faint light off its clear coat of varnish, and there were no paintings or museum objects on display. There were four doors along the long hall, each closed. Mélisande passed through the first door on the right, leaving it open for Aidan to follow her in. This too was another sitting area; the walls a soft sage, however, the furniture was modern with white faux leather and redwood.
Aidan was impressed by the simplicity and honesty of the room, a vivid contrast to the rest of the house which was heavy and overwhelming.
The only painting in this room was a large portrait of a woman, a few years older than Mélisande with the same cat eyes and almost identical features.
"My maman…" Mélisande remarked, noting his interest in the portrait.
"Stunning!" Was all he could say.
"Yes, she was!" She nodded soberly. "So, where do we start?"
She was like a little girl on Christmas morning barely containing herself from rushing to see what was in the boxes under the tree.
"Well, Mademoiselle Belmont…"
"Mélisande! We are alone, there is no need for formality." She interrupted him mid-sentence.
"Then you have to call me Aidan." His pulse sped up, suddenly realizing that indeed they were alone.
There was a soft knock and the door opened. Samuel walked in with a tray, shaking Aidan back to reality. The thief released a big breath he hadn’t realized that he was holding. He had to be on his best behavior; they were not completely isolated, after all.
"Mademoiselle," Samuel said curtly, his facial features pinched with displeasure, as he placed two drinks on the table.
"Samuel, please bring us some food, I think our guest has not had the time to eat yet." She narrowed her eyes. "And behave!"
"I’m afraid that he will spit on my food," Aidan confessed once the man left.
"Now that I warned him, he will not. Do not worry… Aidan." She hesitated an instant before saying his name.
Aidan had to admit that he liked the way she said it, the accent made it sensual, made him want to hear her call his name again and again. And he was not minding his P's and Q’s! He forced himself to concentrate on her words, rather than her lips and eyes.
"Samuel means well; he is a really good man! Please, sit down." They sat across from each other at the desk. "Where do we start?" She repeated, peering over the rim of her glass as she took a sip, hiding her amusement.
"Are there any blueprints of the house and the vault? The thief must have had access to them, otherwise, it would be too risky, if not impossible, to pull off such a job." Aidan eyed his drink dubiously.
"Yes, I believe that there are." She got up. "They must be in Papa’s office. Follow me. I think he left about an hour ago, so we should be good."
As they exited the room, a maid hurried off to one of the other doors. Aidan noted with interest that it was the same woman Lachance and he had seen earlier.
"Ah! Fifi! Vous voilà!" Mélisande forced cheerfulness into her voice as she spoke in her melodious French. "If you are here, could you be a darling and go bring up some clean linens, I think my sheets and towels could be changed… And tell Beatrice that I hate the new laundry detergent, use the old one please from now on."
Fifi reddened, obviously caught where she wasn’t supposed to be and unhappy with the task that was given her.
"Allez!" The heiress ordered, her stare icy.
Fifi nodded and rushed off. Mélisande watched her go, an unreadable expression on her face.
"There is really no such thing as privacy in this house," she whispered in English, then let out a heavy sigh.
Once the maid disappeared down the back stairwell, Mélisande touched her finger to her lips and moved quietly down the main stairs. They went down one floor and hurried to a door at the end of the hall. Mélisande pulled out a set of keys and within seconds they slipped into the room.
She opened a few cabinet files, searching for the drawings. Aidan watched her as she stopped at the second cabinet and took out two folders. She waved them triumphantly in the air, and they returned to her room. Samuel came back just as Mélisande spread the drawings out on the table. He froze at the sight.
Chapter 10
"Méli…" The butler’s pitch deepened and his brow furrowed.
"Please, put the plates on the other table." She cut him off.
"You want to jeopardize yourself, so be it!" Samuel practically slammed the tray down and stormed out.
"What does he mean?" Aidan raised an eyebrow.
"I honestly do not care!" There was no disguising the irritation that ran through her being. "What are we looking for?" She changed the subject.
They poured over the prints for the next half hour; analyzing the structure of the vault and the details of the second floor. They ate their warm croque-monsieur sandwiches, made with Emmental cheese and slices of ham, as they planned how to get in the vault and what security features they will have to deal with once inside.
"This is strange, I don’t think you see many houses in Europe that have this type of ventilation systems," Aidan noted, his expression unreadable.
"It was designed by a friend who had done some work in North America. We had problems with air circulation and maintaining a perfect environment for our artwork, so he thought this would be a better solution. He also conceived the elaborate humidity control system. It was a huge job, took months to do the whole house, but it was well worth it!"
"So, the ceilings were lowered and duct panels were installed with pretty powerful exhaust fans." Aidan pointed at one of the layouts. "Must cost you a fortune in electricity bills."
Mélisande just shrugged.
"These are very large panels. And most of the fans are bulky too. This is most unusual!" He examined the vault plans. "Did the insurance company send someone to inspect the vault?"
"Yes, there was a woman who came several times during the work
, and once it was completed. She was satisfied with the end results."
Aidan nodded even as a frown creased his forehead. This wasn’t right. This vault should not have passed inspection, at least, not with this type of design. He stored this information to share with Lachance later and made a mental list of what to bring for the next day’s staged break-in.
Samuel came by with bowls of chocolate mousse, just as they finalized their plans. When the butler left, they sat back and enjoyed their dessert.
"Why did you get the vault?" Aidan inquired.
"It was Papa’s idea." Mélisande stared out the window. "He was concerned that several banks got robbed. He felt that the jewelry would be safer under our own roof. Well, at least that is what he claimed…" She got quiet, lost in her thoughts.
"Mélisande?" Aidan touched her sleeve. "Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"What was the real reason for the vault, then?" He persisted.
She blushed vividly, embarrassed, clenching her hands.
"To make me beg each time I wanted to wear Maman’s jewels!" She admitted, tears filling her eyes, her voice bitter. "To punish me for being willful, stubborn and disobedient."
"And are you all those things?" Aidan studied her as she faced him.
"I have no choice but to be!" She admitted while playing with her engagement ring. "Otherwise I would be driven to dust, become a puppet on a string, a rag doll that throws herself off the Eiffel Tower at the whim of others!"
Aidan felt the raw pain that was ripping at her heart.
"There is tyranny beyond reasonable. And that is my father’s rule." She averted her face as a tear rolled down her cheek. She swiped at it before Aidan could bring himself to wipe it away. "I am sorry!" She laughed. "The past few years have been just too much…"
"It’s all right. I see how you are being treated; I understand." He didn’t say that it made his blood boil or how he would kill anyone who dared to treat his sister in such an offensive way.
"He had always been jealous of the relationship I had with Maman. She and I were best friends, partners in crime; he probably felt left out. Now that she is gone he has carte blanche to make me pay for whatever crimes he thinks we had committed against him. François too is trapped. He is good to me, though you may not have seen it today, and thank God for Samuel! He is the best friend I ever had. If not for him…" She got up and began clearing the table, obviously having changed her mind about finishing her thought. She stopped in front of the portrait of her mother and whispered: "All I ever wanted was the bracelet… Nothing else…"
"How come you have that necklace that you are wearing now?" Aidan too had gotten to his feet and was holding the dessert cups.
She put down the plates that were still in her hands and was startled, finding him next to her.
"This, she had given me as a gift for my sixteenth birthday, just before her death. He can not take it away from me. But he can control my access to the rest, and he does. Just a few weeks ago, it was a whole ordeal to get him to let me wear the sapphires to the première of Shuddering Breath!"
The door creaked open and Samuel entered. He was ashen and Aidan noticed a thin layer of perspiration just above the man’s temple.
"He’s home, and he knows you were in his office!" Samuel took the tray, throwing his employer a sharp glare.
She nodded and stepped away from Aidan.
"I think it’s best if you leave now." She slipped on a mask of indifference.
"No! I’m not leaving you alone to face this." Aidan shook his head vehemently.
"You will make it worst!" Samuel hissed. "I will watch over her. She will be fine. If you stay; I’m not sure…"
Aidan felt a pang of guilt, this was his fault after all; he had asked her for the drawings.
"Thank you for your kindness. But it will be all right." She whispered squeezing his arm, then faced the door as heavy footsteps rang down the hall.
"Mélisande Camille Belmont!" Hollered her father, bursting in. "Aha! And that thief of yours!" He pointed a threatening finger at Aidan. "I am so proud of you, daughter, for breaking into my office, stealing my blueprints, and sharing them with a common thief. Your mother is rolling over in her grave with shame at your delinquent behavior!"
Mélisande dropped her eyes and tightened her lips as if to keep her pain from spilling out. Belmont ogled Aidan with loathing.
"Should we expect you this night or the next, Monsieur Carver? Are you planning to split our throats in our sleep too, while you rob us?" The older man sneered.
"Papa!" Mélisande cried in outrage.
"Silence!" The man was red in the face. "You have been born to this, you do not understand the value of all that you have been handed!" He motioned to their surroundings. "You have no respect for your family or for yourself! You should be ashamed! Give me those prints!"
She handed him the files.
"And the keys to my rooms!" Added the despot.
She took out her keys and began freeing one.
"Now, Samuel, get rid of this… this… trash!" Belmont ordered.
Samuel glanced at Aidan, imploring wordlessly the thief to follow him. Aidan sighed and did so.
"Are you sure she will be all right?" Aidan questioned as they went down the stairs.
"This isn’t her first infraction and not even near the worst she had done; so yes, she will be all right." Samuel’s tone had softened, becoming almost… friendly? Aidan wasn’t sure. "I will go back upstairs as soon as I get these to the kitchen and you out the door." Samuel turned his head to glance at Aidan, without slowing. "Just make sure you don’t steal anything as you go because then, even I won’t be able to keep Méli safe."
Aidan was about to protest when the man grinned.
"Okay, I will try…" Aidan shook his head in exasperation, at the same time as he felt his shoulders relax. "Do you mind if I leave through the gardens? My rental is in the back of the courtyard."
"Go, I will lock up after you later." Samuel continued down without a moment’s hesitation. "Bonne nuit!"
After wishing good night to Samuel’s back, Aidan went out through the patio doors and exited into the refreshingly cool evening. Crickets serenaded the night and a few moths fluttered around the lights brightening the pathways.
Aidan stopped to examine the mansion and saw that Mélisande’s parlor had darkened. He waited a moment watching if any other lights would be lit. He was about to go to his car when the next set of windows brightened up. Mélisande swung the panes wide and gazed out at the horizon. Aidan hooted like an owl attracting her attention. He approached the climbing vines at the wall and she leaned out slightly. The rest of the house was dark.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Oui." She squinted, trying to see him better. "You are still here?"
"I didn’t want to leave without saying good night!" Aidan didn’t add that he wanted to check on her too, afraid of what that man might have done to her in his anger.
"Bonne nuit!" She waved to him. "See you in the morning!"
"Good night!" He raised his hand, before heading to his car and driving off into the night, back to the heart of the Opera Quarter where his empty hotel room awaited him.
Chapter 11
It was late afternoon when Aidan was given the green light by Lachance to break into the vault. Mélisande met Aidan in the library. While the rest of the household was instructed to remain on the lower floor, Belmont waited with Lachance and Kárpáti in the sitting room next to the vault, raging that his daughter was permitted to participate in this folly.
Mélisande on the other hand, was almost beside herself with happiness, ready for the adventure of a lifetime. She wore a black turtleneck and matching yoga pants, her hair up in a tight bun; while Aidan wore a black, fitted T-shirt and jeans.
He passed a fanny pack around Mélisande’s waist, ignoring their proximity.
"This has everything you will need: screwdriver with different tips, a spray for the laser
, flashlight, earplugs and wire cutters in case we encounter something unexpected." He pulled out a stick of olive camouflage face paint and smeared some on her face. He smiled mischievously. "Sorry, couldn’t help myself!"
"I must look ridiculous!" She laughed running her gaze around the room, trying to catch her reflection in some object.
"You couldn’t possibly look ridiculous even if you tried." He avoided her gaze, putting on his own waist pack which was larger than hers and heavier. He gave her a pair of black leather gloves, then slipped on his own. "Are you ready?"
He moved his arms and shoulders, warming up his muscles. Nodding, she followed his lead and did a few stretches.
"All righty; let’s rock and roll!" Aidan flashed her a grin and grabbed her hand.
They sneaked out of the library, went around the corner, and stopped at the stairwell door. Aidan lowered himself and pulled out his lock pick kit. Once he had the picks in position and all the lock needed was a twist to open, he motioned for her to take over. Whispering a few instructions, he waited for her to unlock the door. She was so thrilled when the lock gave way that she did a little happy dance. Aidan couldn’t help smiling; her concerns were forgotten, even if it was only for a moment.
They entered the dark hall that housed the spiral staircase and used the flashlight to guide their way up to the second floor. The planks were too narrow for Aidan’s size ten shoes; the steps having been built at a different time when most people were shorter and had smaller feet.
When they reached the second-floor landing, Aidan removed the air vent cover, hoisted himself up to peek in, making sure it was safe, then returned down to help Mélisande get into the shaft. He followed her in and they moved swiftly through the tunnel.
"Do you see the panel?" Aidan estimated that they were at about the right spot.
"Not yet." Mélisande shifted forward some more. "There it is."
She shined the light on the detachable panel for a brief instant then pulled out the screwdriver, changed the bit and began removing the screws, placing them into a small pocket in her pouch. Aidan watched in amazement how rapidly she worked.