I shared a look with Nazari. They must have fired up the police station when they knew that last night’s raid on Brumaire had failed. I pictured the scene at the police station. Big fire, every resource mobilized to tackle it. Good tactics. I said, “Ok. So the game is on for real now. The fire’s a diversion. All in all it’s a good thing. Everything’s coming out in the open.”

Bonnet snorted, “A good thing! That’s rich. There are dead cops now.”

“Which is why we need to go up to the house and regroup.”

“Who put you in charge? I’m acting chief so we’ll do as I say.” Bonnet looked uncertainly at the gunman’s body, sprawled like a puppet on the edge of the road.

I made eye contact with Bonnet and didn’t break it. At the same time, I lifted the H&K and popped the last round out of the chamber. The bullet flew up in the air and I caught it without looking, and put it between my teeth. I pulled the empty mag out and traded it for the fresh one from my back pocket. Once the new mag was properly seated I slipped in the extra round and closed the bolt.

I said, “Far as I’m concerned you’re not acting chief of anything.”

Bonnet was looking at me like a hypnotized lobster. Nazari said, “Tom’s right. Looks like that creep mayor Marbot is behind this. If he put you in charge, it wasn’t for any of the right reasons. We’ve done the leg work, so you’d be better off cooperating.”

Bonnet was wavering. “I should go back.”

I said, “This is the priority, right here and now. Believe me. We’re going to end it.”

“From the house?”

“Yes.”

Miriam was listening. She said, “Quit wasting time.”

Miriam helped me drag the guy’s body off the road and behind Nazari’s Peugeot. I retrieved his weapon and ammunition. Then we all went up to the house.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Daniel was up on the terrace in the rocking chair. The Chapuis double barrel was cradled in his lap. He hadn’t fired it, yet. When we came up he said, “Breakfast in the kitchen if you want it.” We wanted it.

Madame Vaugeois had put together egg sandwiches with bacon and cheese. She said that it was a special recipe for when her husband Gilles went out hunting. I asked her what was special and she pointed at Maria. “Maria’s bread.”

Maria was pulling rolls out of the oven. Smelled real good. Maria said, “Busy night deserves a wholesome breakfast.”