Free Island of Doom: Hunchback Assignments 4 (The Hunchback Assignments) by Arthur Slade

it. And the French agents were looking for his family, so there had to be something to it.
    Why was she helping him? Out of pity? Did she feel she owed him?
    He put the documents in his jacket pocket. He stole several other papers that he hoped would contain something about his parents. He began to comb through the remaining papers, madly hoping to find his parents’ current residence.
    The door swung open and a man walked in. “Directeur Bélanger!” the agent exclaimed in French. “I didn’t expect to see you in the office this evening.”
    Modo closed the file drawer with a bang, keeping his voice gruff. “Since when do I report to you?”
    Colette had described Quint as thin and pale, and this man fit that description, though the electric lighting madeeveryone look pale. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
    “No, Quint. Nothing.” Modo kept his sentences short. The more French he spoke, the greater the chance of a gaffe. The agent would know Bélanger’s voice well, but Modo had discovered that people would believe their eyes before they’d believe their ears.
    “I understand, sir. May I have a few seconds of your time?”
    “I’m extremely busy.”
    “I just need to ask you about the Modo case. I’ve made great headway on the location of his family. And I have an important request.”
    “What’s that?”
    “I would like Colette Brunet to be arrested.”
    “Brunet? Why?”
    “Because, sir, she has betrayed her former position. I have proof she has been continuing to research Modo, even after her removal from the Bureau. She has recently been associating with foreign spies.”
    Modo stood up. “How do you know this?”
    “For the past few weeks I’ve had her followed.”
    “Under whose orders?”
    “You gave me full rights, sir. Remember?
Do what is necessary
were your exact words.”
    “Quint! Don’t be impertinent!”
    “I apologize. But I must tell you that these spies she has been dealing with are British.”
    “British? Have you proof?”
    “Yes, sir.” He paused, a glimmer of a smile crossing his face. “You are the proof.”
    Modo stiffened. How could the man have guessed? “I don’t follow.”
    The agent reached into his coat and removed a pistol from his pocket in a swift, well-rehearsed motion. “I am not Quint. My dear directeur may have hundreds under his command, but he would recognize me. I can’t believe you are here, that you have come to us.”
    “Put away that gun! What madness is this?”
    “I’ve been doing much of the fieldwork on your case for eight months now. I’ve interviewed Brunet. I’ve read the reports of your ingenious robbery of the French Embassy in London. Do you think I’d miss the connections? But never did I imagine that you’d walk right into my office.”
    “Put down that gun at once. You are mistaken!”
    “Am I? Then tell me my name.” Colette hadn’t mentioned any other agents.
    “Put away the gun, you fool!”
    “Modo, enough of this,” the man said calmly, this time in English. “I am impressed. You do look very much like Bélanger, except shorter. I was handpicked and trained by him. He comes from southern France and has a Meridional accent. Oh, and Quint retired three weeks ago; I inherited his office.”
    Modo sat down and shrugged in a friendly manner. “You’ve caught me. Congratulations. What is your name?”
    “Philip Laroche. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am—how do you English say?—an admirer of your work.”
    “So what do you intend to do with me?”
    “Ah, you’ll know soon enough. For now, we have a room where I would like to take you for questioning. It’s a quiet place on the lower floor of the building. I’d like to inquireabout so many things. This Clockwork Guild, were they just a figment of Brunet’s imagination? And the Association de la Permanence that controls you. And this Mr. Socrates. So much to review. You’ll be detained for some time, but your favorite meals will be served.