Free All That Glitters by Ruthe Ogilvie Page B

trip today. I came back here to the barge because I felt that Francois was up to no good, and I hoped to find out what it was. Time is running out.”
    Jay looked at him anxiously. “And? Anything?”
    “I heard only his side of a phone conversation, but it made me very uneasy. Francois said, ‘How are things progressing?’ Then I heard him say, ‘Good work, Gabe.’”
    Jay and Peter looked puzzled. “Maybe he’s planning a special surprise for Cammie on their honeymoon,” Peter suggested.
    “I certainly hope that’s all there is to it,” Zack replied, “but I shudder to think what that surprise might be. You may not think it’s so innocent when I tell you the rest. He said, ‘Things are going exactly as I planned. I’ll let you know when to expect us.’ Then he said, ‘You’re sure the locks are all in place and the room is soundproofed?’ Something about the way he said it gave me the creeps.”
    Jay became alarmed. “What do you think he meant?”
    Zack raised his eyebrows. “I wish I knew. My intuition tells me it’s not good. I have a weird feeling that all this ties in with what Andre told me yesterday after you and Hildy left.”
    “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” said Jay. “I had a feeling he told you something more.”
    Zack looked directly at the two men as he spoke. “He said that Francois would stop at nothing to get what he wants—not even murder! Maybe he doesn’t intend to harm Cammie, but if he’s capable of killing someone, then Cammie could find herself married to a murderer. And she’d be involved in any scheme he might plan. No matter how much Cammie thinks she loves Francois, I’m sure she wouldn’t want anything to do with a murderer!”
    Jay’s face paled. “Just like Greg,” he muttered. “He not only looks like him—he acts like him. Does Andre have any proof that he’s ever murdered anyone?”
    “I don’t know,” Zack replied. “He acted frightened. I wish I had had more time to question him, but the warning whistle blew and I had to get back on the barge. I’ve been hoping to run into him again.”
    “Is that all?” Jay asked Zack.
    Zack hesitated. “He also said he couldn’t understand why Francois wanted Cammie to give up her career. There aren’t that many duties for a Countess.”
    Jay rose from his chair and began to pace nervously. Then he turned to Zack. “We should be in Nuits tomorrow. While we’re visiting the Chateau de Rochefort, maybe that would be a good time for you to go into town and do that research you mentioned.”
    “That’s exactly what I plan to do,” Zack replied.
    “Thanks for keeping us up to date, Zack,” Peter said. “Now—I think we’d better get back to the gals, don’t you, Jay?”
    “Yes, but I don’t think it’s wise to say anything to them at this point,” Jay cautioned. “We don’t know for sure what’s going on.”
    “Jenny is already wondering what we’re up to,” Peter told him.
    “I think Hildy is, too,” Jay sighed. “I don’t want to worry her any more than I have to. It’s just a darned shame that this whole situation is casting such a pall on our trip.” He paused at the doorway and looked back at Zack. “Keep up the good work, Zack. How can we ever repay you?”
    Zack looked surprised. “You’re my family,” he said. “I’d do anything I could to help. You know that.”
    Jay nodded. “Thank you, Zack. See you tomorrow,” he said as they left.
    The next morning when Zack went up on deck, the others were already gathered around the breakfast buffet. Hildy looked more rested and her appetite seemed to have returned. Or maybe she was just putting on a good act. It was hard to tell. At any rate, he was glad to see that she was eating a little more than she had yesterday.
    After breakfast, as they were preparing to board the bus that would take them to the Chateau de Rochefort, Zack remained seated.
    “Zack? Aren’t you coming with us?” Hildy asked him.
    Zack