“Yup, just landed. Although it took me forever to get permission to come. My passport expired, and it’s at the Municipal Services office. So I missed the first connection while I was waiting for a green light from the airport authorities, but now I’m here. Any news?”

“Yes, there’s a summary of charges from Heloise’s credit card from the last twenty-four hours. She took an Uber from Orly Airport this morning, and she checked into a hotel in the third arrondissement called …” There was a pause and then: “Le Pavillon de la Reine. It’s downtown, close to the Seine, close to Notre Dame.”

“Okay, anything else? Has she used her credit card anywhere else?”

“Yes, she withdrew some cash from an ATM at the airport. Two hundred fifty euros. Other than that? Nothing.”

“Have you talked to the French police since I boarded?”

“Yes, I was just speaking with them. They’ll grab Heloise if she shows up at the prison in Fresnes before you—wait! Just a second. Hang on for a minute …”

He could hear her talking to someone, but the connection was bad, and the voices flowed together. When she came back, her voice seemed accelerated. “Hello?”

“Yes?”

“She’s already been there!”

“Where?”

“In the prison, with her father. They just called from the prison—she already left.”

“When did she leave? How long ago?”

“Just a moment ago.”

“Why the hell didn’t they stop her?”

“The prison staff hadn’t gotten the message that they were supposed to—”

“Damn it!” Schäfer exclaimed.

Augustin was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “So, now what?”

Schäfer chewed on his lips as he contemplated this. “Call them back. Explain to them that Heloise just left the prison and that Anna Kiel may be staying somewhere nearby.”

“Okay. What about you?”

“I’m still going to go to Fresnes. I have to talk to Nick Kaldan. I need to know what the visit was about—what all of this is about.”

“All right. Let me know once you’ve been there, okay?”

Schäfer promised that he would keep her updated and then hung up and exhaled loudly.

A ding could be heard as the seat belt sign turned off, followed by a symphony of metallic clicks. The whole cabin lumbered to their feet. Carry-on bags were hauled down from the overhead compartments and people started making their way slowly, pushing, down the central aisle.

“We seem to have swapped facial expressions. Have you noticed that?”

Schäfer looked back and saw that the woman who had been sitting next to him was behind him now.

“I’m sorry?”

“That worried look,” she said, nodding toward his furrowed brow. “You’re the one who looks burdened now, whereas I’m just happy to be alive.” She smiled. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine, thank you. It’s just work.”