Chapter 39

 

 

By the time Jacob arrives in Paris, Felix and Amos are already ensconced in a beautiful up- scale Parisian hotel, not of the international hotel chain variety, and celebrating their success in Zurich over a sumptuous meal and some exquisite French wine. Soon after they had gotten to their suite, Felix called Pierre to let him know everything went as planned regarding their most recent business endeavor and where they were staying. “Jacob is driving from Zurich to Paris and should arrive here in a few hours. We’d like to get together with you sometime tomorrow to discuss the possibility of using your channels to expedite the sale of some new merchandise that has come into our possession. Would that be convenient for you?”

 

Understanding the need for discretion when talking about their business issues on the phone Pierre replies, “My calendar is clear for the entire day. Why don’t we plan to meet here at my chateau at noon and we can discuss what’s on your mind over lunch. That will enable Jacob to get a good night’s sleep so he will be fresh and ready to do his damndest to negotiate me into the poor house.”

 

Felix chuckles and says, “We’ll be knocking on your door at noon.”

 

Now, over an out of this world after dinner brandy, Felix confides in Amos. “You know, now that I’ve been in the field as they say in those spy novels and have had to play a more active role in one of our escapades, I’m surprised to find that I kind of like it. It’s kind of addictive.”

 

“Well, better late than never I guess. As for me, I was petrified the whole time and I’m glad this is our last hoorah. I’m looking forward to retirement and just living the good life.”

 

Now that Zurich is behind them, they’re in a festive mood and whatever stoicism they might possess is deeply buried in their psyche. But moods are amorphous things. They can change in a nanosecond. If Felix and Amos had known that Felix’s conversation with Pierre had been monitored, the change in theirs would have set a new world record.

 

As soon as Pierre hangs up, Chuck’s assistant manager in his Paris office gets him on the phone and plays back the conversation. After listening to it several times he says, “Andre, I agree with you. The mention of this Jacob driving to Paris from Zurich and the cautious way the purpose of the meeting was expressed certainly have my red flags waving. I wish we would have been able to plant some bugs throughout the chateau. It sure would be nice to be a fly on the wall when that luncheon takes place.”

 

This thought generates another and he adds, “Andre, give the man you’ve been liaising with at la Sûreté a call and fill him in. He may have some eaves dropping equipment like parabolic mikes, etc. he can employ to give us an invisible seat at that luncheon table. I told you where Vicki Valance and I had dinner with Pierre when we were in Paris. Chances are these people will eat in the same room. Like here in the U. S., he might have legal issues that will get in the way, but it’s worth a shot. If he can’t or won’t help you, put tails on everyone that attends that lunch and we’ll have to play it by ear.”

“I’m on it. Bye.”

 

Chuck calls Mickey and gives him a heads up and gets a surprise. “Chuck, I’m going to get on the next plane out of here to Paris even if I have to pay my own way. I’m sick and tired of being a couch potato while all the action is taking place elsewhere. Will you arrange for someone from your Paris office to meet me at the airport when I arrive? If you give me a number to call, I’ll call them when I have my flight information.”

 

“Will do, Mickey, but are you sure you want to do this? You have no authority to do anything in Paris and might wind up being more frustrated than you are right now.”

“That would be impossible. Besides, I think with what has gone down, we now have good reason to believe we’re on the right track to putting an end to this crime spree and locking these creeps up for the rest of their lives. I want to be there for the grand finale. I think I can convince Clancy to let me go and lend a helping hand. I’ve seen these guys up close and won’t be easily fooled by any disguises and I’m totally familiar with their methods of operation. Another thing in my favor when I make my pitch to Clancy for his nod on a flight to Paris is the sooner we put these guys out of business the sooner the higher ups and the media get off his back.”

 

“Okay, Mickey, go for it. As soon as you have clearance to go and have your flight info, call me and I’ll set things up with my Paris office.”

 

While Mickey is scurrying around making plane reservations, packing, if throwing things helter skelter into a suitcase can be considered packing, leaving messages for the detective bureau’s Gal Friday as to where he’s headed and why, trying numerous times to reach Captain Clancy without any luck and on the last attempt leaving a message as to what he’s up to, hoping he’ll get after the fact approval, and tapping his savings account for some traveling money, Jacob Kessner is pulling into a small town a couple hours outside of Paris to get some gas and a bite to eat. After he fills his tank, he rides around the town until he finds a small bistro that looks like it will have some decent fare to offer.

 

While he’s eating his meal he glances out the window of the quaint restaurant and sees a couple of teenage punks messing with the driver’s door of his rental car. All of the take from the bank robbery is in the trunk and the thought that they might get away with not only boosting his car but the loot along with it has him flying out the door to confront them. One of the kids is a big bruiser, over six feet tall with a lot of muscle and isn’t afraid of the unimpressive looking Jacob and is preparing to take him on. Big mistake. Jacob’s temper balloons and in seconds Jacob draws his gun from the holster on his belt resting in the small of his back and shoots both of them in the head. They are dead before they hit the ground.

 

So much for eating. He quickly unlocks the door, jumps in and takes off before anyone can come to investigate what has happened and perhaps take down his license plate number. The rental is a tan, non-descript, low-end of the model range Renault of which there are many on the road, so there’s nothing about it that will enable the cops to single him out. The people in the restaurant will know he’s an American because they heard him talk when he ordered his food and they’d seen his face, but that won’t lead to the authorities knowing where to look for him. As soon as he clears the outskirts of the town he slows down to the posted speed limit so he will blend in with the other traffic.

 

Once again, Jacob’s temper has gotten him into trouble. He could have just threatened the teenagers with the gun and they would probably have taken off, but Jacob was angry and when he’s angry he’s not apt to be thinking clearly. These kids paid the ultimate price for ticking him off. It cost them their lives. By the time he reaches Paris, they will be a distant memory. There is nothing about this incident that will link it in any way to the bank robbery, so Jacob pushes it to the back of his mind.

 

However, Jacob wouldn’t have been so blasé about the encounter if he had been aware that a very observant patron of the bistro, a budding artist of which there are many in and around Paris, has immediately put pencil to paper when the Renault takes off and writes down a partial license plate number and sketches the rear end of the car which has some noticeable dents and scratches in its trunk lid and a broken tail light. Apparently, the damage to the trunk lid and the tail light was caused when the kids were messing with the car. The artist also draws a detailed sketch of the driver from what she remembers when he was eating in the bistro.

 

When the police arrive, the artist turns over her sketches to the investigating officer, copies of which wind up on the desk of someone at la Sûreté who is a member of the newly formed international joint task force looking into the rash of precious gem robberies around the world. Evidently, la Sûreté has sent requests to all of the local police departments along the routes running between Zurich and Paris to be on the alert for anything unusual taking place involving a lone American male.

 

The sketch of the driver reminds him of one of the men he has seen pictures of who are suspects in the recent jewel robberies. When he compares the two, the likeness is too close to be a coincidence and a BOLO is put out to all law enforcement agencies along the routes to Paris for a Renault matching the artist’s depiction and being driven by the American in the accompanying picture.

 

Despite this development, however, Jacob arrives in Paris without any difficulty. When he arrives at the hotel where Felix and Amos are staying and goes to get his luggage out of the trunk of the Renault, that’s when he becomes aware of the damage. “Those damned punks did this.”

He quickly opens the trunk and is relieved to see things are as they are supposed to be. There are four suitcases and a gym bag all stuffed with the contents of the safe deposit boxes he has pilfered and an overnight bag containing a few changes of clothes and some personal items. He takes the overnight bag out of the trunk and with some trepidation closes the trunk and gives the valet the valet key and enters the hotel. He calls Felix’s and Amos’s room and tells them he has arrived and is waiting for them in the lobby.

 

When they come down Felix asks, “Why didn’t you immediately come up to our room? We’ve been waiting for you.”

 

“I want to meet with Pierre as soon as possible. The longer we’re hauling this stuff around we’re increasing the odds of something going wrong and winding up in a cell. I need a drink and then I want to get out of here.”

 

Amos tells him about the arrangements to meet with Pierre tomorrow at noon at his chateau for lunch and to discuss the disposal of the take.

 

Jacob tells them about what has happened at the bistro and ends with, “I’m pretty sure I got away without anyone being able to identify me, but I’ll feel safer when we’re out of Europe and basking in the sun and enjoying the good life someplace else thousands of miles away from here.”

 

Felix asks, “Where’s the take?”

 

“In the trunk of the car I rented locked in suitcases and a gym bag. The valet only has the valet key. They should be safe there for a short time.”

 

“Felix says, “Okay, let’s have that drink in our room and if you’re hungry we can order something from room service. You can get a good night’s sleep and be ready to deal with Pierre tomorrow.”

 

They retire to their suite feeling pretty good about what they have accomplished, completely ignorant about the trouble that is brewing and heading their way.