Private Paris (Private 10)

“I was an instrument through which Allah expresses himself. If God will

s it, it shall be done.”

The magistrate seemed to tire of this line of questioning, and returned to the murders. “Did you kill or participate in the murder of René Pincus?”

“Me? No. I’m guilty of the statue and nothing more.”

“Bullshit,” I said.

“You were seen leaving the scene of a bombing,” Fromme said. “The witness, Jack Morgan of Private, is willing to testify.”

“I’ve got nothing to say about that,” Haja said.

“I’m sure the prosecutors will have a lot to say about it,” Hoskins snapped. “And whose body burned in the linen factory fire? Was it Paul Piggott? Epée?”

Haja’s puffy eyebrows rose at the question. “I have no idea who that is, and body? Some bum must have snuck in after I left.”

Hoskins looked irritated. “Is this a game to you?”

“No,” the sculptor snapped. “This is war.”

Chapter 99

IN THE OBSERVATION booth, Rousseau, the taller intelligence officer, said, “That’s one war you are going to lose, bitch.”

Haja asked for water. While Fromme poured it for her and held the cup and straw to her lips, I remembered something from earlier in the day.

“Do you have access to the list of evidence seized at her apartment?” I asked La Roche.

“It’s still being processed,” he replied. “From what I understand, there was so much stuff the floors were about to cave in.”

“I told La Crim about a busted cell phone I saw in the Dumpster beneath her bedroom window,” I said. “Has anyone analyzed it yet?”

La Roche pondered me a moment, and then said, “I’ll find out.”

He left the room, and was not present when Hoskins said, “Were you involved in the killing of Lourdes Latrelle?”

“No,” Haja said. “That was another cell of believers.”

“Minister of culture Guy LaFont?” Fromme asked.

“No, though I heard it might be coming.”

“From?”

“Amé, my dead friend, and martyr.”

“You’re referring to the blonde who died in your apartment? Amé Thies?” the magistrate asked.

“Who else?”

“Where did she hear that LaFont might be assassinated?”

“Can’t help you. She had the contacts. I didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you,” Hoskins said sharply. “You need to start leveling with us if you want to have some chance of seeing daylight ever again.”

Haja responded smugly, “You can’t offer me hope, madame investigateur. I know my fate and accept it as any true believer would.”