Free Codename Eagle by Robert Rigby Page A

Here! In Bélesta! Is that really necessary? We’re peaceful people here in Bélesta. You’ll find no criminals here. Is that what you’re doing? Are you searching for criminals?”
    Lau thought for a moment before replying. “Not exactly. But we urgently need to speak to Monsieur Bernard.”
    “Max? What do you want with Max?”
    Lau answered with a question of his own. “Do you know where he is?”
    “I have no idea,” Rosalie said sincerely.
    “Does he go away often?”
    “Away? Is he away?” Rosalie asked innocently. “Where?”
    “That’s what we’re trying to discover, Madame…”
    “Granel,” Rosalie said. “I live down the street. I’ve lived in Bélesta all my life.”
    “Yes, I understand. And as I said, we’re very sorry…”
    “But I don’t recognize you, any of you. You’re not local, are you? I know the local police officers; I know everyone.”
    “I’m sure you do.”
    “Then who are you? Where are you from?”
    “From Toulouse, Madame Granel.”
    “Toulouse? What has Toulouse to do with Bélesta?”
    “All I can tell you, madame, is that we’re here on a matter of national importance. And I must ask you to keep that to yourself.”
    “Oh, you can trust me. I never say anything to anyone. Not even my husband.”
    Lau forced another smile. “Now perhaps you’ll permit me to escort you home?”
    “But what about the cleaning?”
    “I’m afraid the cleaning will have to wait this week.”
    “And what about Julia? Where’s Julia?”
    Lau reached down and gently but firmly took one of Rosalie’s arms. “Allow me to help you to your feet, madame.”
    “But I’m still feeling a little faint.”
    “The air will help you,” Lau said more forcefully as he hoisted the elderly woman to her feet. “You’ll feel better outside.”
    “I can manage, thank you,” Rosalie said, pulling herself free. “And there’s really no need for you to come with me. I know the way.”
    “But I insist,” Lau told her. “You’re still feeling a little faint; you said so.”
    “I feel better now, there’s no need.”
    “I insist, madame!”
    This time Rosalie realized that there was no arguing. She sighed and walked unsteadily from the sitting room. Lau gestured to Steidle and Werner to accompany him and to the Brothers Grimm to remain where they were.
    The two soldiers waited until they heard the front door shut before grinning and sitting down. “She was lucky not to get her head blown off,” the more talkative of them said. “Werner’s trigger-happy, he’s determined to kill someone on this mission.”
    The other man nodded his agreement. “First the old girl was certain Werner would shoot her, then she was certain she was having a heart attack. Playing us for fools, she was. And she knows more than she’s letting on.”
    “Hauptmann Lau knows that,” the other soldier said. “That’s why he’s gone with her. He’ll find out exactly what she knows. And if he doesn’t, Steidle will.”

FIFTEEN
    T here was an overpowering reek of garlic as the Spaniard grinned through yellowing teeth at Josette and her grandmother, Odile. At least, Josette thought it was a grin, but it could have been a sneer. The expression had already vanished and the Spaniard was now focusing on cutting another thin slice from the long, fat sausage lying on the wooden chopping board.
    Josette reckoned the black sausage was probably made of wild boar, and the pungent smell that filled the room suggested it contained an almost equal amount of garlic.
    The Spaniard was a familiar figure in Lavelanet. His name was Inigo, but few people knew that, and if they did, they rarely used it. To most he was simply the Spaniard, or just Spaniard. He was a small man in his mid-thirties, dark-haired, unshaven and dressed in a shirt that looked two sizes too big, and loose-fitting, baggy trousers held up by a rope belt. Inigo looked much older than his years, but his bright, darting eyes and inquisitive look hinted