“Mass killers, you mean?”
Mallory interpreted the intent behind her words immediately. “You are nothing like the Fedir Kuchins of the world, Regina.”
“Funny, some days it’s hard for me to tell the difference, really.”
Mallory stood so fast that he dropped his novel. He strode over to the table, picked up a piece of paper, and came back to her, thrusting it in her hands.
It was the photo o
f the remains of the incinerated farmer. “There is the difference, Regina. Right there.” He took her hand, gripped it firmly, and looked directly into her eyes. “And now tell me about the church.”
CHAPTER
16
THEY WERE SITTING in a car outside Charles de Gaulle Airport. Shortly, a turboprop plane would be taking Shaw to Avignon. The plan was for him to stay there a few days before venturing on to Gordes, which was less than an hour’s drive away.
Frank said, “Amy Crawford is already in Provence.”
“I’ve worked with her before. She’s a top-notch field agent.”
“Got the plan down pat?”
“In my head it’s perfect. We’ll see how it flies on the ground.”
Frank made to light one of his little cigars, but Shaw stopped him. “Give it a rest until I’m twenty thousand feet up. I need the extra oxygen right now.”
Frank put his cigar away. “Nervous? Not like you.”
“I saw Katie the other night.”
“The hell you say. Where?”
“Right here in Paris. You telling me you didn’t know?”
“Scout’s Honor. First I heard of it.”
“Come on, Frank. She showed up at the restaurant where I was having dinner. How do you think she managed that?”
“You ever stop and think that the lady is a world-class journalist? She finds stuff out.”
“Right.” Shaw clearly did not believe this.
“What’d she want?”
Shaw didn’t answer right away because he didn’t really have an answer. What did she want? Was it really just to see for herself that I was okay? But I told her that on the phone.
“Shaw?”
He noticed that Frank was staring at him and didn’t look happy. “You just zoned out on me. You’re heading out on a mission against one very scary guy and you’re already zoning? Not good.”
“She didn’t really say what she wanted. And she only stayed a minute.”
Frank gripped his arm. “What, you telling me you didn’t invite her to join you for dinner? She traveled all that way and—”
“How do you know how far she traveled?”
Frank made a face and slumped back in his seat.