Little Death by the Sea Read Online Free

Roger
smiled, but Maggie detected the slightest edge beneath his
tone.
    “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, really.” She
turned briefly to Monsieur Dernier, then turned abruptly back to
Roger. “It’s just that the nature of my business is rather
delicate...and I would hope that you’d know that the fewer people
who know about it, the better. If you say you need this man to get
my niece back...well, okay...just understand my position, if you
can...”
    “I should leave, Roger. She is not
comfortable.”
    “No, wait.” Maggie turned to look at him
fully for the first time. He was extraordinarily good-looking, she
noted. Broad and large, with handsome, big hands. A man’s hands,
Maggie thought irrelevantly. His face was calm, with a sweetness to
it that almost seemed to belie his size, his eyes were piercing and
dark, almost pupil-less. His light brown hair was thick and long,
past his shoulders. He was looking at her with a kindness that she
had never felt from a total stranger before. It was a look between
friends. Good friends. “I....well, you’re already here...so let’s
just go on, okay?” she said, feeling a little flustered. “Forget
it, all right? All right, Roger?”
    “Sure, all right.” Roger shrugged and reached
for another roll. He winked at Laurent, making sure that Maggie
noticed.
    “If you are sure, Mademoiselle ...”
    “Yes, yes. I’m just a little rattled, is all.
If you can help, well, then, thanks. I appreciate any help anyone
can give me.” Annoyed and shaken by Laurent’s effect on her, Maggie
pushed her breakfast plate aside and reached for the champagne
bottle. Instantly, Laurent leaned over and took the large flagon
from her. She smiled her thanks as he poured the champagne into her
orange juice tumbler.
    “Right. Let’s map out our day, shall we?”
Roger took a swig of his coffee and dropped his napkin onto the
table. “First, I will begin with Step One of Plan A. Laurent, you
will take Mademoiselle Newberry to Section Two of Plan A at the
designated hour.”
    “Hold on, Roger,” Maggie said, frowning. “Why
do I have to go someplace special? Why can’t I just hole up in my
hotel room and wait for your call?”
    “Anyone ever tell you that you have jolly
little flair for adventure? It may not be a phone call, that’s
why.”
    “I don’t understand—“
    “Must you understand everything? You
Americans—“
    “And I’m sick of the ‘you Americans are such
whine-bags’ schtick. I want to know...”
    “You always want to know! Bloody hell! Can’t
you trust someone else to carry out the details without your having
to know too?”
    “ Mademoiselle ! Roger! Arretez !
Stop, now, both of you! You are causing a big performance, no?”
Laurent leaned over and patted Maggie’s hand in a gesture that was
half consoling, half reprimand.
    He wagged a finger at Roger.
    “ Mon vieux , she is upset, no? Her
sister has disappeared and she is....ahh, triste ....very
sad. The responsibilitie is yours, Roger, n’est-ce
pas ?”
    Roger placed his cup down in its saucer and
leaned across the table toward Maggie.
    “I’m sorry, Maggie, really,” he said. “I
quite forgot myself and the situation. You must excuse me. I know
things are very hard on you now...”
    Maggie knew she must look as tired as she
felt. She nodded gratefully at Laurent and then looked into Roger’s
canny green eyes.
    “Do what you have to do,” she said.
    He smiled at her and then at Laurent.
    “Good girl,” he said.
    2
    The street cleaners crept the early morning
streets, wielding their large garden hoses like weapons, rinsing
away the rubbish and debris of last night’s party. Maggie watched
them from her hotel window. The early morning air was cool, the
Mediterranean sun had not yet had the chance to perform its mellow
alchemy on the coast. Maggie watched as two bedraggled partygoers
picked their way to their hotel across the rough stones of the Rue des Etats Unis . The woman wore a gold lamé