Private Paris (Private 10)

“Louis,” I began, “Sherman Wilkerson is one of our biggest clients, and—”

“Jack, you are the boss. I know this. But it is clear to me that Kim Kopchinski is a grown woman who does not want our protection,” Langlois said firmly. “So for the time, while you may go on a silly goose chase after her, I am going to the Palais Garnier. Henri Richard, the director of the Paris Opera and an esteemed member of L’Académie Française, has been found there, murdered. We have been hired to help the police find out why.”

Trying to slow my breath and still pissed off about losing Kim, I said, “By who? His wife?”

“Come, Jack,” Louis said wearily. “This is Paris. That was Richard’s mistress, Evangeline, who just phoned me.”

Chapter 15

6th Arrondissement

9 a.m.

GASPING FOR AIR and sweating, Sauvage rolled off Haja for the second time since they’d returned from the opera house to the small flat where he lived.

Haja propped herself up on one elbow. “Satisfied?”

“More than satisfied,” Sauvage said, lying on his back. “You’re a genius.”

“I pleased you,” she said. “I’m glad. It pleases me.”

The major glanced over at her. Her hair was still red from the evening before, but she’d taken out the contact lenses that had turned her eyes so electrically blue. Now they were back to that ice-gray color, which made her look even more striking. She was smiling, but he caught the envy in her expression.

“Is it ever satisfying for you?” he asked.

“In a way,” she said, tightening and looking away.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Haja replied. “You had nothing to do with it.”

Sauvage hugged her and said, “You’ll get your revenge.”

“It’s so close I can taste it like salt.”

The major looked down at her again, and he felt that thing about her that had attracted him almost immediately, that thing that excited him every time he was with her. Haja gave off the sense that she was a true nomad, unfettered by rules, laws, and convention, as if she were limitless, as if there were no boundaries to what she’d say, and no telling what she might do at any given moment. In many ways, she was the most alluring woman he’d ever known.

Haja moved away from him, rose naked from the bed. He watched her cross the room toward the bathroom, her back and arms as powerful as a swimmer’s, her legs and bum as firm as a sprinter’s.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To meet Epée. And you have class in forty minutes.”

The major groaned, looked at his watch, realized she was right. Getting up from the bed a few minutes later, he padded past the bathroom, where she was already rinsing. He joined her, seeing that her hair was no longer red at all and significantly darker, almost back to that deep mahogany color he loved.

“No one would ever recognize you,” Sauvage said.

“Funny that something so superficial as color blinds people.”

“It will be on the news soon.”

“I know.”

“You’re ready?”

“I was ready when I turned twelve.”

“Where will I find you later?”