Free The Flinck Connection (Book 4) (Genevieve Lenard) by Estelle Ryan

moment you park your car on the street, an innocent-looking pedestrian can easily place a magnetised bug somewhere on the car. We’d have to sweep the cars all the time. Too impractical.”
    I saw the logic in Francine’s argument. “I will refrain from talking in the car.”
    “Supermodel will tell you which computers you can use for research, but use your Interpol access only from one computer and be very careful what you look for on the Interpol system.”
    Francine got up and slowly walked to Manny. She was wearing a brown leather skirt stopping mid-thigh, dark brown tights and high-heeled boots that covered her knees. Her cream silk shirt was more costly than the last three first-edition collector’s books I had bought combined. I had been with her when she had chosen that shirt. But it wasn’t her outfit, her exotic looks or her beautiful hair that caught my attention. It was the way she walked towards Manny. On the National Geographic channel, I had witnessed it numerous times when predators stalked their prey.
    “Manny.” She stopped in front of him and ran a manicured nail down the collar of his jacket. Her voice was husky, her mouth a slight pout. “You know just how to turn me on. Please tell me why we are playing little computer games with Interpol. Or even better, tell me that we are going to screw over one of the Big Brothers like the NSA.”
    “Get off me, Delilah.” Manny pushed her hand away, but she brought up her other hand and played with his earlobe.
    “Come on, you sexy animal. That’s not what you said last night.”
    “Bloody hell, woman.” His face flushed, Manny grabbed both her hands and pushed her until she had to take a step back to regain her balance. “Stay away from me, you evil siren.”
    “Look at you flirting with me.” Francine failed to control her enjoyment and laughed. “Nikki is right, you know. You make this too easy. Now could you please tell us why we should be so careful? I mean, we all know the government is constantly spying on us with huge dragnets, but you’ve never been paranoid like this. Am I bringing you over to my side?”
    Manny sat down at the round table and gestured at the empty seats with both hands. He waited until everyone was seated. “Henri Fabron is toying with me. I don’t like when someone thinks he can dupe me. His visit and those bloody bugs prove to me that he is trying to hide something about Savreux. He’s really stupid if he thinks his orders are going to get us to stay away from looking into Savreux’s death.”
    “Is that why you didn’t tell him about Nikki’s direct messages?” I asked.
    “That’s one of the reasons, yes.” Manny was all business now. There was no fake slouch, no pretend ignorance. “I also don’t want him to as much as glance in Nikki’s direction. He’s a politician—”
    “And we don’t trust politicians,” Francine said.
    “—and they always look for easy scapegoats,” Manny said, glaring at Francine. He looked at me. “Doc?”
    “I know what a scapegoat is.”
    “Good.” Manny nodded. “Since we still don’t know anything about who’s sending those bloody direct email messages, and why they are sending it, I think it is better that little Henri doesn’t know about it. Once we have enough information, we will take it to the president.”
    “Do you trust him in this?” I asked.
    “I don’t trust anyone, Doc.” He scowled when I inhaled to point out his lie. “With the exception of you and Nikki.”
    “You trust me?” The lightness in Nikki’s tone indicated her surprise and pleasure.
    “Yes, I do. More than I trust these criminals.”
    I could see that everyone knew Manny was lying. Manny knew everyone was aware of his untruth. These people were so strongly opposed to being clear and honest with their emotions. I considered life much less complicated with honesty.
    “Supermodel?” Manny waited until Francine looked at him. “Stop painting your nails and find out who the