Private Monaco

Chapter 7

“Mr. Morgan... Jack, I’m so sorry to hear about what happened,” Duval said, offering me his hand. “Based on news reports and information from my friends in the police, this was no street robbery gone wrong.”

I shook my head. “No. It was targeted. They tried to abduct us both. And when that failed, they took Justine.”

“I’m so sorry,” he repeated.

I considered myself a good judge of character, and he seemed genuinely concerned and shaken.

“Such things don’t happen in Monaco, and the fact it took place outside my office when you were on your way to meet me...”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence because we both understood the implication. He was demonstrating intelligence as well as empathy. If he hadn’t shown up at police headquarters, he would have been the second person I spoke to after being released.

“I need to know who you told about our meeting,” I said.

There was no point in choosing my words more tactfully. There were a limited number of ways the kidnap gang could have known where we’d be. An operation like that took careful planning. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing.

“It is natural for you to be cautious in your dealings with me,” Duval said. “We don’t really know each other — only by recommendation of Eli Carver, and by reputation. But I can assure you, I told no one of our meeting. I didn’t even record it in writing, a security habit from my days as Interior Minister. And I can assure you, I never record any sensitive information on a computer. My time in government impressed upon me the need for vigilance, and since I retired my ministerial post, my diary is not so busy that I cannot commit significant events to memory.”

He smiled.

“I feel personally responsible for the disappearance of Ms. Smith and would like to offer you all the assistance I can. I still have friends here and in government in Monaco and France. I will place all my resources at your disposal.”

He seemed genuine and I was prepared to take him at face value — for now. One of the many things I planned to request from Mo-bot was a thorough examination of every aspect of Philippe Duval’s life.

I shook his hand. “I’m grateful for your support, Monsieur Duval.”

“Philippe, please,” he corrected me. “I was eager for us to work together, but not under such circumstances.”

“I appreciate that, and I would like your help,” I told him. “I’m going to need someone local to steer me around the hazards of Monégasque politics, someone who can name people with the capacity to pull off this sort of thing in broad daylight.”

He nodded. “We should go to my office then and discuss—”

I cut him off. I wouldn’t put him on the inside of any investigation until I heard the outcome of Mo-bot’s review. “First I need to call my team and set certain things in motion.”

“Of course,” he said. “I understand. Tomorrow then?”

I nodded.

“Shall we say eight?”

“See you there,” I replied, and we shook hands again before he left.

I paused before discreetly following him out of the lobby. Much like police headquarters in Rome, this building featured an archway that connected the street with a parking lot filled with liveried police vehicles.

I turned away from the lot and stepped onto the street that ran alongside. To my left at the other end of the street lay the main port. I could see the bristling forest of yacht masts. Opposite me was a ramp leading to an underground parking garage and next to it a narrow street with an ice-cream parlor on one corner.

I stood beneath the awning as I took out my phone and dialed. It was a little after 3 p.m. in Monaco, which meant it was 7 a.m. in Los Angeles, but I knew Mo-bot would already be up.

“Jack,” she said enthusiastically when she answered. “How’s the honeymoon... I mean, vacation?”

“Very funny,” I replied.

She and Sci had been cracking wise about a secret European wedding ever since Justine and I had told them about our vacation plans.

“It’s over,” I said. “Justine has been kidnapped.”

I heard a sharp intake of breath and felt Mo-bot’s shock.

“You’re not—” she began.

“No,” I interrupted. “I’m not kidding. Justine has been taken. I want you to alert the entire Private organization. I want everyone on this. We have to find her.”