Chapter 5
The house is in an uproar. The noise wakes Florian before sunrise and he dresses quickly, suppressing a yawn as he hurries downstairs. He finds Laila and Luc hurrying from the study to the dining room with armloads of books.
"What's going on?" Florian asks, but Laila only motions towards the study and keeps going.
"Ray?" Florian peers into the study only to find Ray half buried behind teetering stacks of books and papers. "What happened?"
"This is what happened." Ray shoves a stack of books aside, not bothering to catch them when the pile topples over onto the floor. In the center of the desk is a very crumpled piece of stationary with Heart's Blood in the middle.
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I!" Ray snaps. "I went to get this last night only to find it missing and Mirage's calling card in its place. He was waiting for me, outside the hotel, as if he knew I'd be there. He tossed this at me and took off. I was almost caught by a police patrol so I had to let him go. Damn it!" He thumps his fist down on the desk, dislodging another small stack of books.
"What does the note say?" Florian asks as he bends over to pick up the books. He looks around uncertainly before setting them on the nearest chair ? one of the few surfaces not already overflowing with books and papers. He casts a look at Ray before picking up more of the scattered volumes.
"Nothing," Ray finally growls. "There's nothing on it."
"Oh," Florian says quietly, at a loss for how to help. He looks down at the books in his hands, reading the title on the topmost volume. "British aristocracy? What has that got to do with Mirage?"
"Just a suspicion." Ray waves the question aside lightly but Florian doesn't believe the act. Ray always has a reason for his suspicions, even if they don't make sense to anyone else.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
"No, I've got Laila and Luc working on it." He rubs the back of his head and grins sheepishly. "I think we should eat in the kitchen this morning. I had them take over the dining room ? more space to spread out."
"Then I'll make breakfast. It's the cookfs morning off." Florian gathers the last of the fallen books and sets them neatly on the chair. He gives Ray a smile and heads off to prepare a simple meal. He isn't the world's best cook, but at least he hasn't poisoned anyone yet.
XXXXX
"So that's what Mirage was after." Ray tosses the newspaper down on the kitchen table and scowls at it. The headline reads: "Masterpieces Stolen" and the article states that 2 paintings were taken from the hotel suite of a visiting dignitary. There are few facts, but that is to be expected when the robbery took place so late the previous evening.
Florian reaches over and picks up the paper, quickly scanning the article. "It doesn't identify the owner of the paintings, nor does it mention anything about Heart's Blood. Could it be possible that there were two different robberies last night?"
"Possible, yes. Likely, no. And the paintings stolen were small canvases, carefully removed from their frames, just like the others. Mirage must have gotten there very early and hidden them somewhere before coming back to wait for me." Ray lights another cigar and clenches it with his teeth. He's in one of the worst moods Florian's ever seen him in.
"I'll clean up and take care of the day's paperwork." He gathers the dishes quietly, not wanting to irritate Ray any more. "Did you sleep at allc?"
"No, and it's not likely I'll have a moment's peace today either." He glowers at the paper again and puffs his way through the rest of the cigar.
"If I can do anything." Florian puts a tentative hand on Ray's before taking up the last of the dishes and carrying them to the sink. He tries to be as quiet as possible, but from the corner of his eye he sees Ray rubbing his head as if he has a headache.
Florian fills the tea kettle and offers a cup of mint tea without comment. He finishes the rest of the dishes quickly and leaves Ray sitting, staring into the distance and sipping the tea.
XXXXX
"This is not a good day," Florian tells the detective who stands on the doorstep looking far too cheerful. Solomon Sugar just smiles and tries to take a step into the house. Florian blocks him with his body and a fierce look that he learned from Ray.
"Certainly you don't intend to turn me away. Not after everything I've done for you and your Count." Solomon's smile gets bigger and he pushes past Florian into the foyer. Ray stands in the doorway to the parlor and looks both furious and nauseous.
"Not today, Sugar!" he exclaims and turns away, headed for his study. Florian makes one more attempt to stop the larger man, but he's easily brushed aside.
"Now, Ray," Sugar chides with good humor. "If you run away like this I'll just have to chase you."
Florian closes the door and shakes his head. He's tempted to go to the opposite end of the house, or maybe even the opposite side of Paris, but finally decides he'd better go save the detective from Ray who is in a very bad mood.
He finds them in Ray's study, Ray at his desk and the detective roaming among the piles of books. He stops here and there, reading titles as he wanders. Ray smokes his cigar and watches Solomon with a death glare.
"Interesting what you've done with the place," Solomon comments as he finally settles at Florian's desk, leaving the young aristocrat standing awkwardly near the door.
"Not going to the Countess' masque," Solomon comments as he shuffles through the stack of mail Florian had been planning to finish. "Or the Opera." He sets the materials down in the wrong place and smiles up at Florian who has come to restore order to the desk.
"Do they pay you to harass me in particular or are your employers just glad to get you out of the building?"
"Neither, actually. I'm following a reliable lead. But the puzzle is: what would my dear Black Cat want with paintings when there are still so many jewels to be had?"
"And this has what to do with me, exactly?" Ray idly picks up the nearest book and opens it to the marker. He leans back in his chair and starts to read, or at least pretends to. Florian can tell that he's taking more notice of Solomon than he wants the detective to be aware of.
Solomon attempts to play the same game, picking up a lavishly printed invitation and opening it but Florian snatches it out of his hand, slamming it down on the desk before getting behind the detective's chair and pushing it away from the desk.
"You're stronger than you look," Solomon comments, giving Florian an appraising look that gets Ray's immediate attention.
"That's enough!" He leaves the chair and stalks over to Solomon, taking him by the arm. "Allow me to escort you out."
"But I haven't asked you about the paintings yet," Solomon protests with a grin. Irritating Ray is his absolute favorite pastime.
"Why don't you go ask the thief," Ray counters. "I have work to do, and so does Florian."
"You look tired," Solomon comments. "Late night?"
"You make me tired, now go." Ray opens the door and fights the desire to shove the man out. Instead he waits stiffly as Solomon leans close one last time and whispers, "Stick to pretty gems. They are much more fitting for my lovely Black Cat."
"Out," Ray barks, slamming the door with Solomon barely across the threshold. He locks it for good measure and turns to see Florian watching. "Get those papers done. I've got an appointment at eleven."
Florian hurries off while Ray goes to bark instructions at Laila in preparation for his new client.
XXXXX
Florian climbs down from the car and turns to help Noel. The boy's hands are full of his bear and the get well gift they'd just purchased.
"Thank you for the ride, Monsieur Renault. We'll meet you at the museum in thirty minutes." Florian places a hand lightly on Noel's shoulder since the boy's hands are full. They wave to their tutor as the man drives away, then turn and proceed into the hotel to pay a visit to the still-ailing Agnes Dobbs.
Florian had spoken to Miranda earlier in the day, making arrangements for their final "date" at the exhibition closing to be held the following evening. She'd mentioned that Agnes was recovering slowly but still not feeling well enough to venture out.
Nodding to the concierge, Florian and Noel proceed to the second floor and down the hall to the last door on the left. Florian takes the gift from Noel and lifts the boy up so he can knock.
There is a long delay and Florian worries that Agnes might be sleeping. He is setting Noel down, preparing to leave when there is rustling beyond the door and it opens.
Florian is a bit taken aback by the woman who answers the door. With her hair back in a braid and dressed in a simple dress, Agnes looks younger and less severe than the other times he's seen her. She frowns a little at Florian, then smiles when she catches sight of Noel.
"We're sorry to intrude," Florian speaks softly. "Miranda thought it would be alright for us to pay a brief visit. But if we're disturbing youc"
"Not at all. Please, come in." Agnes steps back and motions the two visitors into the parlor of the suite. A few dresses are scattered about and she gathers them, flushing a little in embarrassment. "I was just tending Miranda's gowns."
"Please don't let us disturb you, then. We can't stay long. We're meeting our tutor at the art museum shortly. He was kind enough to give us a ride."
"No, please, I'm thankful for the company. Won't you have a seat?" Her voice is a little raspy and she is paler than Florian remembers, but then he hasn't seen her without makeup before.
"First, allow me to introduce you to my young friend, Noel Tassel. Noel is staying with me for a time." Noel bows just as Florian has taught him and Agnes smiles brightly at the charming child.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Noel. What a lovely bear."
"Noel holds up his faithful stuffed companion for her inspection. "This is Betty Deux. My papa gave him to me."
"Very nice to meet you both then. Would you like an apple?" Agnes motions her visitors towards a settee and brings over a small bowl of fruit from a side table. Noel takes one with a big smile.
"Thank you."
Agnes offers the bowl to Florian who politely declines. Instead, he touches Noel's arm and hands him the bag.
"Oh. We brought you a present." Noel hops down off the settee and carries the bag over to Agnes, who's taken a seat opposite them.
"That was very kind of you. Thank you." She opens the bag and finds a box of chocolates and a thin hardcover novel.
"Florian picked out the book but I picked out the chocolate," Noel tells her, going back to his seat beside Florian and biting into his apple.
"Thank you both. You are very kind to bring such lovely things to someone you barely know."
"Florian said that you are really good friends with the nice lady who has all the paintings, so you must be really nice too." Noel bites into the apple again, swinging his legs as he looks around.
"I enjoyed your company at the ball," Florian reassures the slightly flustered woman. "I hope you will be able to join us tomorrow night. I was hoping for a dance."
"Miranda is a much better dancer, Marquis. I could hardly be a suitable partner."
"I shouldn't worry about that. It would be an honor to share a dance with you." Florian gives her one of his most charming smiles. "Please consider it if you are well enough."
"Ic I will. Thank you." Agnes looks around uncomfortably and Florian takes that as his cue.
"I hope you will enjoy the book. The gentleman in the bookstore said it was very popular with ladies." Florian stands up and takes the apple core from Noel, placing it in the wastebasket near the writing desk. Noel imitates Florian's slight bow to Agnes.
"I hope you will forgive us for intruding. We'll leave you to your recuperation and hope to see you tomorrow night."
"Thank you for stopping by." She leans down slightly to address Noel. "It was very kind of you to visit, Master Tassel."
"Thank you for the apple," Noel replies, reaching up to take Florian's hand. "I hope you feel better so you can eat lots of chocolate."
"I'm sure I will," Agnes assures him as she shows them out.
Florian checks his pocket watch as they descend to the lobby and leave the hotel. "We're a little early. Would you like to take the long way to the museum and see the ducks?"
"Yes!" Noel cheers and increases his pace, pulling Florian along with one hand and the teddy bear with the other.