Thirty

In Amiens, Commissaire Massin was working late, trying to catch up with paperwork while dwelling on the police officers’ function near Versailles. He was still feeling vexed by the turn in the conversation with Ceyton, and couldn’t get rid of the feeling that somehow the senior officer had deliberately found him and steered the talk towards the Bourdelet case. He’d tried telling himself that it was rubbish, that it had been his decision to attend the event, so there was no way Ceyton could have known he’d be there.

And yet … why did he feel that the last few words uttered by Ceyton had come across as a threat? That if Rocco didn’t do as he was told, which by implication meant call a halt to the investigation when ordered, it would be the end of his career – and by association, Massin’s, too.

On the other hand, hadn’t Ceyton offered to help him investigate potential links between Bourdelet, Petissier and Gambon? Why would he do that if he wanted it to fail?

Even as he thought it through his telephone rang. He snatched it up. ‘Massin.’

‘Ah, François. I’m glad I got you.’ It was Ceyton. ‘I thought you’d like to hear about my investigations on your behalf following our little chat.’

Massin’s heart pounded. Had he been wrong about the man’s intentions? ‘Yes, sir. Of course.’

‘Well, a big zero, is what I discovered. By that I mean no connections at all.’

Massin felt his belly go cold. Ceyton’s voice sounded oddly relieved, as if it had been a sticky subject that could now be forgotten and filed away, a dead-end case with no result.

‘Not even Gambon and Petissier? I’d have thought a judge and a senior policeman would have had some passing professional acquaintances in common.’

Ceyton chuckled. ‘You’d think, wouldn’t you? Believe me, there’s not as much contact between the police and the judiciary as you might think at our level. We’re all too busy watching our backs. I did a thorough job, I can promise you. Enjoyed myself, too, rattling a few bones and raking in favours owed. But the answers all came back the same: as far as anyone can tell, they all moved in different circles, belonged to different clubs and would not have studied together due to their different ages. The short answer is Bourdelet was a snob and loner, Petissier was the most God-awful career-hound and social climber, and neither of them would have acknowledged Gambon if he’d been on fire in the courtyard of the Élysée Palace.’

‘I see. Well, thank you for your efforts, sir. I appreciate it. I’ll tell Rocco.’

‘Good. You might want to tell him something else, too, while you’re at it. While I was rattling a few bones, I happened to get a call from high up in the Interior Ministry – and I mean nose-bleedingly high.’

Massin didn’t like the sound of that. ‘About what?’

‘There have been calls to impose a time limit on how long this investigation can go on.’

‘I hope that’s not going to be unreasonable, sir. These things take time. And Rocco’s investigation has barely got off the ground.’

‘I’m sorry, Massin.’ That hard tone in his voice was back, the one Massin had heard at the function. ‘Certain people high up in the government are getting impatient. They need answers soon in order to bring the Bourdelet investigation to a close. The longer it goes on the more likely it will be for rumours to build and for stories to begin circulating. And the government can’t have that. I did warn you.’

‘What’s the sudden rush?’

‘Simple. A new secretary of state for finance is about to be appointed and they can’t have an unresolved investigation involving the misuse of departmental funds hanging over the newcomer’s head. It’s bad for government business and won’t help public confidence in such an important element of the state.’

‘What about the other two cases – Petissier and Gambon?’

‘Those, too. I think you should advise your man to report what he has found so far and we’ll see what the response is.’

Massin felt a sense of unease. Unless Rocco had moved further along in his assignment than he was aware, and had somehow triggered a sensitivity in the machinery of government, this went against all the normal protocols of a criminal investigation. He’d read the blackmail letters and in each one there was a clear criminal intent in the threat to the reputation of the victim. Were some elements of the government playing at following the rule of law while deciding to sweep the three cases under the carpet? If so, it confirmed what Ceyton had suggested.

He already knew that Rocco’s first response would verge on the unprintable. But his first question would be entirely rational. ‘How long do we have?’

‘Days,’ replied Ceyton. ‘Two or three at most. Candidates for the post are already being lined up. I’m sorry to be the bearer of such news, but there’s nothing more I can do.’ He hesitated. ‘It has been put to me that the view in the Ministry is that Rocco would be a most useful asset to the BRI here in Paris. He has the right experience and background and is a natural choice to be a senior member of the team. You might like to remind him of that while he makes up his mind about this case. Good luck.’

The call was ended, leaving Massin staring at the wall. He was appalled. In his years in the military and the police he had witnessed pressure. You toed the line or you could forget reaching any further in your career. But the pressure had usually been subtle, a suggestion rather than a heavy threat, understood and accepted as a normal part of being on a career ladder surrounded by competitors. This was beyond direct; it was an open reminder that if Rocco wanted to advance further, he should remember where his future lay.

He got up and paced around his office. Even before speaking to Rocco, he knew the detective’s contention would be that if the three men had had nothing in common and were unlikely to have even known each other, then the common factor, the connection bringing them together in the blackmail scheme had to be through someone else. An outsider. Somebody who knew them all, or knew their individual history.

How the hell Rocco was going to find that person in a couple of days was hard to imagine.

He picked up the phone and called the radio room. ‘Get Inspector Rocco to call me. Urgent.’