Chapter 9

           ToensurehisconversationwithMr.Langdonwouldnotbeinterrupted,BezuFachehadturnedoffhiscellularphone.Unfortunately,itwasanexpensivemodelequippedwithatwo-wayradiofeature,which,contrarytohisorders,wasnowbeingusedbyoneofhisagentstopagehim.

           «Capitaine?»Thephonecrackledlikeawalkie-talkie.

           Fachefelthisteethclenchinrage.HecouldimaginenothingimportantenoughthatColletwouldinterruptthissurveillancecachée–especiallyatthiscriticaljuncture.

           HegaveLangdonacalmlookofapology.«Onemomentplease.»Hepulledthephonefromhisbeltandpressedtheradiotransmissionbutton.«Oui?»

           «Capitaine,unagentduDépartementdeCryptographieestarrivé.»

           Fache’sangerstalledmomentarily.Acryptographer?Despitethelousytiming,thiswasprobablygoodnews.Fache,afterfindingSaunière’scryptictextonthefloor,haduploadedphotographsoftheentirecrimescenetotheCryptographyDepartmentinhopessomeonetherecouldtellhimwhatthehellSaunièrewastryingtosay.Ifacodebreakerhadnowarrived,itmostlikelymeantsomeonehaddecryptedSaunière’smessage.

           «I’mbusyatthemoment,»Facheradioedback,leavingnodoubtinhistonethatalinehadbeencrossed.«Askthecryptographertowaitatthecommandpost.I’llspeaktohimwhenI’mdone.»

           «Her,»thevoicecorrected.«It’sAgentNeveu.»

           Fachewasbecominglessamusedwiththiscalleverypassingmoment.SophieNeveuwasoneofDCPJ’sbiggestmistakes.