CHAPTER 49
Julian Lawrence was standing at his study window at the Domaine de la Cade as his nephew turned the car and drove back down the long drive. He switched his attention to the woman who’d just got out and who was now waving goodbye. The American, he presumed.
He nodded his approval. Good figure, athletic but petite, straight dark hair to her shoulders. It wouldn’t be such a trial to spend a little time in her company.
Then she turned round and he got a proper look at her.
Julian recognised her, although couldn’t place her. He dug into his memory, until it came to him. The pushy bitch from the traffic hold-up in Rennes-les-Bains last night. The American accent.
Another flash of paranoia shot through him. If Ms Martin was here working with Hal, and had mentioned she’d seen him driving into the town, his nephew might legitimately question where he’d been. Might realise the excuse Julian had given for being late didn’t make sense.
He drained his glass, then made a snap decision. He crossed the study in three strides, pulled his jacket from the back of the door and walked out to intercept her in the lobby.
On the journey back from Rennes-le-Château, Meredith started to feel excited. Before, Laura’s gift had felt a burden. Now, the Tarot cards seemed full of intriguing possibilities.
She waited until Hal’s car disappeared from view, then turned and headed up the steps to the main door of the hotel. She felt nervous, but fired up too. The same contradictory feelings she’d experienced when sitting with Laura were back and big time. Hope versus scepticism, the prickling anticipation versus the fear that she was putting two and two together and coming up with five.
‘Ms Martin?’
Caught by surprise, Meredith turned in the direction of the voice to see Hal’s uncle striding towards her across the lobby. She tensed, hoping after their bad-tempered exchange in Rennes-les-Bains last night, he wouldn’t recognise her. But today, he was smiling.
‘Ms Martin?’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘Julian Lawrence. I just wanted to welcome you to the Domaine de la Cade,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’
They shook hands.
‘Also,’ he stopped, giving a slight shrug, ‘also I wanted to apologise if I was rather abrupt yesterday, in the town. If I’d known you were a friend of my nephew’s, I would of course have introduced myself then.’
Meredith coloured up. ‘I didn’t think you’d remember me, Mr Lawrence. I’m afraid I was pretty rude myself.’
‘Not in the slightest. As I’m sure Hal told you, it was a rather difficult day for us all yesterday. It’s no excuse, I know, but…’
He left the apology hanging.
Meredith noticed how he had the same habit as Hal of staring right at a person with an unwavering gaze that seemed to blot out everything else. And, although some thirty years older, he’d got that same kind of charisma as Hal, a way of filling the space. She wondered if Hal’s father had been the same.
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry for your loss, Mr Lawrence.’
‘Julian, please. And thank you. It was a shock.’ He paused. ‘Speaking of my nephew, Ms Martin, I don’t suppose you know where he’s disappeared off to? I was under the impression you were going to Rennes-le-Château this morning but that he would be here this afternoon. I had been hoping to have a word with him.’
‘We did go, but a call just came through from the police station, so he dropped me off before going on to deal with things. Couiza, I think he said.’
She sensed a sharpening of interest, even though Julian’s expression didn’t change. Immediately Meredith regretted letting the information out.
‘What sort of things?’ he said.
‘He didn’t really say,’ she said in a rush.
‘Pity, I had hoped for a word.’ He shrugged. ‘But it’s nothing that can’t wait.’ He smiled again, but this time it failed to reach his eyes. ‘I trust you’re enjoying your stay with us? You have everything you need?’
‘Everything’s great.’ She glanced at the stairs.
‘Forgive me,’ he said. ‘I’m holding you up.’
‘I’ve got some stuff I need to …’
Julian nodded. ‘Ah, yes. Hal mentioned you were a writer. Are you here working on an assignment?’
Meredith felt pinned to the spot. Kind of trapped.
‘Not really,’ she replied. ‘At least, a little research.’
‘Is that so?’ He offered his hand. ‘In which case, I won’t delay you further.’
Not wishing to be rude, Meredith took it. This time, the touch of his skin made her uncomfortable. Too personal, somehow.
‘If you see my nephew before I catch up with him,’ he said, squeezing her fingers a little too tight, ‘do let him know I’m looking for him, won’t you?’
Meredith nodded. ‘Sure.’
Then he let her go. He turned and walked back across the lobby without a backward glance.
Clear message. He was confident, sure of himself, in control.
Meredith let a long breath escape from between her lips, wondering exactly what had just happened. She stood staring into the empty space where Julian had been. Then, mad at herself for letting him get to her again, she pulled herself together.
Put it out of your mind.
She glanced around. The desk clerk was dealing with a query and facing the opposite direction. From the noise coming from the restaurant, Meredith figured most guests were already in the dining room having lunch. Perfect for what she had in mind.
She walked quickly across the red and black tiles, ducked round beside the piano and reached up and took the photograph of Anatole and Léonie Vernier and Isolde Lascombe from the wall. She slipped it beneath her jacket, then doubled back and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Only when she was back in her room, with the door safely shut behind her, did her breathing return to normal. She paused a moment, narrowed her eyes and looked around the room.
There was something about the atmosphere that seemed different. An alien smell, very subtle, but there all the same. She wrapped her arms around herself, remembering her nightmare. Then she shook her head. Don’t do this. The maids had been in to make up the bed. Besides, she thought, it wasn’t at all like what she’d felt in the night.
Dreamed, she corrected herself.
Just a dream.
Then, there was a definite sense of someone being in the room with her. A presence, a chill in the air. Now, it was just . . .
Meredith shrugged. Polish or cleaning product, that was all. It wasn’t so strong. Not really. Although she couldn’t help wrinkling up her nose. Like the smell of the sea washing stagnant on the shore.
