Free Dead Run by Josh Lanyon

nuts.”
    “True. But why bring attention to themselves?”
    “What? That’s what these nuts do. That’s what it’s all about.”
    Taylor leaned back in the large leather chair, frowning as he gazed into the distance. “No. That doesn’t make sense.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    Taylor lifted his cup and drank, still thinking. Studying him, Will felt a surge of affection. This felt right . Working together again, being together again. This was how it was meant to be between them. This was what they needed.
    Taylor said slowly, “If Finistère is back, if they’ve regrouped and they’re planning to resume their terror tactics, why wasn’t there a bomb in the Eiffel Tower?”
    “Trial run,” Will said again.
    Taylor shook his head. “No. First of all, what would they be testing? As you say, there have been enough bomb scares on that site that they would already have a good idea of how the police would respond. Secondly, why would they tip anyone off to what they might be up to? And thirdly, they wouldn’t announce their return with a dud. That’s not how groups like that operate. They’d want to come back with a bang.”
    True. True. And true . “Okay. Agreed. So what’s going on?”
    Taylor frowned into space again. He sipped his coffee. Finally he put the cup down. “Someone wants us to think Finistère is back.”
    Will gasped. “That is absolutely astoundingly brilliant, Holmes.”
    Taylor curled his lip. “And it’s not Finistère.”
    * * *
    David called the embassy while Will was following up on Hinault’s passport.
    “Hey there,” Will said warmly when he heard David’s voice.
    Maybe too warmly? He threw a guilty look at the door of his cubicle, expecting Taylor to walk in any moment. He was currently meeting with Stone, sharing his new theory that Yann Helloco had not arisen from the dead after all.
    David’s deep voice was equally warm. “I was wondering if you and MacAllister would like to join me for dinner tonight?”
    Will hesitated a fraction too long.
    “No?” David’s disappointment was just obvious enough to be flattering without actually applying any pressure. “I’d suggest another evening, but I’m going to be busy the rest of my stay with the D-day memorial events.”
    “Taylor’s sister is in town, and I think he mentioned trying to get together with her tonight.”
    “Any chance of switching evenings?” David suggested.
    “No harm in asking.” Although Will wasn’t absolutely convinced of that.
    “Why don’t you check with your better half and give me a call back at my hotel?”
    “I’ll do that.”
    “Great. There’s a place in the Latin Quarter called La Boussole . Everyone keeps telling me I’ve got to eat there. “
    “I’ve heard of it,” Will said. “I’ll let you know.”
    “You’ve heard of what?” Taylor walked through the doorway as Will set down the handset. Taylor was skimming the folder he held, and it was a miracle he didn’t fall over one of the chairs on his way toward Will’s desk.
    Will mentally squared his shoulders. “A place called La Boussole in the Latin Quarter. David invited us to dinner tonight.”
    Head still bent, Taylor asked absently, “David who?”
    “Bradley.”
    Taylor looked up from the file and snorted.
    Pretty much the reaction Will expected, but it still irked him. “What’s that mean?”
    “Oh, I dunno,” Taylor drawled. “ Awkward ?”
    “Why is it awkward? It’s natural he’d want to get together. We’ve worked together. We’re… He’s an American in Paris.”
    “I saw the film, Will. I don’t need the review.”
    That was Taylor being deliberately offensive. Which meant he was feeling insecure. Will yanked back his temper with an effort. “Okay. Then the answer’s no thanks ?”
    “Tara wants to get together with us, remember?”
    “So the answer is no thanks, or maybe we can switch and have dinner with Tara tomorrow night?”
    Taylor drew a sharp breath and then let it out