Chapter 4

Promptly at 20:00 in the old town of Cap d'Agde, the doorbell rang. Sandy Duvin went to the door, let the small, intense woman into the dim entry and closed the door behind her. She stepped into his arms and they embraced. Their kisses were tentative, but sincere and promising.

"Got your phone call," he said finally, "what's up?" He led the way into the living room, where the evening light came through the bare windows, scarcely lighting the bare floor.

She looked around the empty room. "You're not here any more?"

"Moved to my new apartment at the store. I haven't rented this yet and it seemed a better place to meet. There's quite a bit of traffic at the new place, so this is more discreet." He moved to the raised hearth and they sat down, there being no other place to sit.

"What's happening? Your call was just code." he asked again.

"The company wants me back in Hamburg."

"Really?" He sensed the doubt in her voice.

"Well, sort of. Anyway, that's what the message said. It's code, just like my message to you today, so there's no nuance, no way to get the meaning. I mean, think about it. I've been in Sète for three years now. I got the lay of the land long ago and I know most of the regulars now. Know them pretty well."

"And they know you."

"Yes. They know me as a person they can trust. They tell me things."

"Good. And you pick things up, as well. I think you've done a helluva job."

"They use me as a sort of communications center. A whole lot of stuff goes across my desk."

"Even though you're not one of them."

"I don't really know why that is. Usually — other families I've covered — they only work through their own people. This seems to be an exception. Now, the company wants me back in Hamburg and I don't know why. The message just said to close all operations and report to the Hamburg office. No explanation: there never is. I really thought I had a solid, secure situation. But who knows?" She shifted on the hard stone of the hearth. "When you and I were in Hamburg, you know, it was different. I had to cover my targets from a distance. But you never got into that."

"No. Not my thing."

"Oh, I don't mean to sound critical. We were in different businesses. You had solid intelligence on the families and you shared with me. That was an enormous help. You weren't one of us — at least that's what I always thought. Now, I'm not so sure. Me, I'm... Well never mind. You know your business, I know mine. I'm really angry at being pulled out, and not knowing why has got me in a state."

Sandy put a comforting arm around her. "I know how you feel. It's one of the reasons I got out. Too many arbitrary decisions being made by people who really didn't know what's going on." He repeated himself: "I know how you feel."

She put her head on his shoulder. "I know you do. I guess I could have done the bunk by myself, but I really wanted to see you, to talk to you about it before I left. I couldn't just vanish. I feel better already."

"How are you going to leave? Won't there be problems?"

"Yes, of course there will be. There's no one to take my place — I can't believe that! And I can't do it gracefully. That is, I can't say I've got a better job — it's my own business, and it's prosperous. I decided I need to just disappear. I can't think of another way."

"When are you going to do this?"

"I already have. I wiped the computer files — actually overwrote them with random stuff. I've got copies with me. But all my stuff that's legal is still there — I only got rid of their stuff that I'd cached. My partner in the business will be there tomorrow, and I'll just never show up again. There's a clause in our contract that leaves him the business. He'll be surprised, but he'll be glad, too. I have no idea if he'll be able to do the job."

Sandy thought for a moment. "I imagine they may think you're compromised. But what if they've screwed up? What if they want you to come back?"

"I guess I could manage it, but it would be really difficult." She looked at him directly. "Really, if it's a screw-up, I'll quit. I've put a lot of work into making this a really good connection, and if they've fucked up..."

"So what do you want from me?"

"Well, I thought you'd have a bed at least. We used to make that work pretty well."

"Very well." He hugged her to him. "Sorry. But you have to get going. Wouldn't do for you to be seen here. How did you get here?"

"I'm pretty sure I haven't got a tail. I got on the bus to Beziers, but I got off before it left: no one else did. Then I got on the express bus to Montpellier. I was the only one who got on in Sète. In Montpellier, I took the train to Beziers and rented a car when I got there. It's parked not far from here."

"What about your apartment and your car?"

"Come on, Sandy. I've been in this long enough, and you know we can handle this kind of thing. You're not one of us any more than I'm one of the Mafia, but we trust you. You've got the background and the experience. We worked really well together in Hamburg until..." She stared out the window for a few moments, then resumed.