Red Dreams, Paris Blues
Malcolm Sunderland is extremely interested in
the mysterious gold medal that was found outside Claire Martelli's suite . . . and in Claire herself. He
is waiting to see the proprietress of the Residence Saint-Germain, who has placed the medallion in
a safety deposit box as a precaution.
"Pardon, docteur, for my lack of manners. I did not mean to ignore you. In fact, I have something to tell you. You see, there was a break-in last night."
At his shocked look, she continued. "Oui, I'm afraid I was negligent in securing the medallion that Dominic found in the hallway outside the Martelli's suite. Fortunately, it was the only thing taken. I am telling only you, in confidence," she said nervously, looking around as if the Saint-Germain lobby was a hot-bed of spies left-over from the Nazi occupation, "because you have shown such interest in the trinket. Please, come in. It is only fitting that you hear the whole story.""But how did they get in? How did they get into the safety deposit box . . . how did they even know where to look for it? I guess the biggie is . . . why?" Malcolm's head swirled with speculations as Mme Fontaine shook hers in answer to his last question.
She pointed to the set of French doors down the hallway from the reception, leading to the garden.
"They came in just there . . . breaking a pane of glass. Then it was a simple matter to turn the bolt
and enter. I pray the authorities are wrong, but they have said the situation may not be the simple matter
of a break-in after all."
