Chapter 17

           «Whatdoyoumeanshe’snotanswering?»Fachelookedincredulous.«You’recallinghercellphone,right?Iknowshe’scarryingit.»

           CollethadbeentryingtoreachSophienowforseveralminutes.«Maybeherbatteriesaredead.Orherringer’soff.»

           FachehadlookeddistressedeversincetalkingtothedirectorofCryptologyonthephone.Afterhangingup,hehadmarchedovertoColletanddemandedhegetAgentNeveuontheline.NowCollethadfailed,andFachewaspacinglikeacagedlion.

           «WhydidCryptocall?»Colletnowventured.

           Facheturned.«TotellustheyfoundnoreferencestoDraconiandevilsandlamesaints.»«That’sall?»«No,alsototellusthattheyhadjustidentifiedthenumericsasFibonaccinumbers,buttheysuspectedtheserieswasmeaningless.»

           Colletwasconfused.«ButtheyalreadysentAgentNeveutotellusthat.»Facheshookhishead.«Theydidn’tsendNeveu.»«What?»

           «Accordingtothedirector,atmyordershepagedhisentireteamtolookattheimagesI’dwiredhim.WhenAgentNeveuarrived,shetookonelookatthephotosofSaunièreandthecodeandlefttheofficewithoutaword.Thedirectorsaidhedidn’tquestionherbehaviorbecauseshewasunderstandablyupsetbythephotos.»

           «Upset?She’sneverseenapictureofadeadbody?»

           Fachewassilentamoment.«Iwasnotawareofthis,anditseemsneitherwasthedirectoruntilacoworkerinformedhim,butapparentlySophieNeveuisJacquesSaunière’sgranddaughter.»

           Colletwasspeechless.