“Hear! Hear!” added Ted.

But when she woke the next morning, Lucy found the atmosphere had changed.

“I don’t understand it. They’re not answering my calls,” said Bob when she went into the kitchen in search of coffee.

“It’s early yet,” she said, checking her watch and trying not to notice the fluttery feeling in her stomach. “It’s barely seven o’clock. Their office probably isn’t open yet.”

“They start later here,” said Rachel in a reassuring tone.

“If they’re international, they have to deal with different time zones,” said Bob.

“In France there’s only one time zone,” said Sue. “Theirs.”

“They do seem to think they’re the center of the universe,” admitted Ted. “At least that’s what Richard says.”

“I’ve got the first interview, at nine,” said Lucy, wrapping her hands around her coffee mug and realizing it was extremely unlikely that Bob could arrange for her to be accompanied by a lawyer so early in the day. “They’re just looking for information, right? They don’t consider me a suspect, do they?”

“Of course not,” said Sue, patting her hand.

“No one could suspect you,” said Rachel with an affirmative nod.

“Only if they’re nuts,” said Bill.

“I think you should be prepared for anything,” said Bob, looking grim. “I wish they’d answer their g-d phone.”

Lucy went pale, and Rachel hurried to give her a hug. “Don’t mind him. Bob’s always anticipating the worst.”

“I hope he’s wrong,” said Lucy in a nervous whisper. Just the name of the place is scary somehow. Thirty-six, quai des Orfèvres.”

“There’s a movie with that title,” said Sid. “It’s one of those subliminal things. You’ve heard it, and it has negative overtones, but it’s really just an address.”

“It’s in the Maigret books,” offered Pam. “And he’s such a nice man.”

“I wonder what orfèvres means,” mused Sue, reaching for her dictionary.

“Probably something like the Traitors’ Gate at the Tower of London,” suggested Pam.

“No! Not at all,” crowed Sue. “It means goldsmiths! The quai of goldsmiths!”

“That makes me feel the teeniest bit better,” admitted Lucy. “What do you think I should wear?”

“Avoid stripes,” said Sue, attempting a joke but getting only dirty looks.

“Not funny,” said Lucy, leaving the kitchen to sort through her suitcase. In the end, she chose a black sweater and pants, and Sue lent her a colorful Hermès scarf picturing hot-air balloons by way of apology for her bad joke.