Chapter 36

           OutsidetheSalledesEtats,BezuFachewasfumingasLouvrewardenGrouardexplainedhowSophieandLangdonhaddisarmedhim.Whydidn’tyoujustshoottheblessedpainting!

           «Captain?»LieutenantColletlopedtowardthemfromthedirectionofthecommandpost.«Captain,Ijustheard.TheylocatedAgentNeveu’scar.»«Didshemaketheembassy?»«No.Trainstation.Boughttwotickets.Trainjustleft.»

           FachewavedoffwardenGrouardandledCollettoanearbyalcove,addressinghiminhushedtones.«Whatwasthedestination?»

           «Lyon.»

           «Probablyadecoy.»Facheexhaled,formulatingaplan.«Okay,alertthenextstation,havethetrainstoppedandsearched,justincase.Leavehercarwhereitisandputplainclothesonwatchincasetheytrytocomebacktoit.Sendmentosearchthestreetsaroundthestationincasetheyfledonfoot.Arebusesrunningfromthestation?»

           «Notatthishour,sir.Onlythetaxiqueue.»

           «Good.Questionthedrivers.Seeiftheysawanything.Thencontactthetaxicompanydispatcherwithdescriptions.I’mcallingInterpol.»

           Colletlookedsurprised.«You’reputtingthisonthewire?»

           Facheregrettedthepotentialembarrassment,buthesawnootherchoice.

           Closethenetfast,andcloseittight.

           Thefirsthourwascritical.Fugitiveswerepredictablethefirsthourafterescape.Theyalwaysneededthesamething.Travel.Lodging.Cash.TheHolyTrinity.Interpolhadthepowertomakeallthreedisappearintheblinkofaneye