The Coldest Case by Martin Walker (mobi reader android txt) 📕

climate change speeds up. Did you see they even had them in Sweden a couple of years ago?’

‘Exactly,’ said Bruno. ‘Prunier is planning to set up a working group in this département but you could use your Paris connections to make this a nationwide process. We need to do it.’

‘We’ll discuss this tomorrow when you come back in. I want you to take the rest of the day off. Get some sleep.’

Bruno ignored the remaining calls and since the Land Rover still smelled of urine, he washed down the rear benches and floor and drove with all the windows open to the riding school. Balzac, recognizing the sound of the engine, was running into the stable yard to greet him. His barking alerted Hector, who gave a welcoming neigh and then Pamela appeared at her kitchen door.

‘Well done,’ she said, coming to give him a warm hug, with Virginie following along behind. ‘We saw you on TV and Virginie found a way to download it onto her laptop and emailed it to me, so I sent it to all our friends. Have you seen it yet?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘And I don’t think I need to. I was there. I’m told I looked filthy.’

‘Everybody did, from the smoke.’

‘Bonjour, Virginie,’ he said, leaning forward to kiss her cheeks, and was slightly surprised when she wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug.

‘I’m in love with Balzac, he’s wonderful,’ she said. ‘I learned how to saddle a pony and Pamela wants me to help with the little ones later today.’

‘I feel the need for a ride on Hector,’ said Bruno and looked at Pamela. ‘Want to come?’

‘I can’t,’ she replied, shaking her head. ‘I have the big girls coming for riding lessons at four. Do you want to stay for dinner? Virginie is cooking us another vegetable feast.’

‘Thanks, I’d love to but I have to see J-J about this case we’ve been working on,’ he said. ‘And I should go to the clinic and find out how some of the evacuees are doing. But first, I need a run with Hector.’

Virginie came into the stables as he was saddling his horse and said, ‘I want to thank you for that kind message you sent to Madame Daynès about the head I made. She called me this morning to offer me a job at her studio, starting in September.’

‘Congratulations, that’s great news,’ he said. ‘You earned it. What will you do until then? Go back to Paris?’

‘I have a week’s more work at least in Périgueux, making the extra heads. After that, Pamela says I can stay here through the summer, learn to ride and help with the kids. She can’t pay me but I’ll be able to live here for free.’

‘Good, she’ll make a fine horsewoman of you. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed meeting my friends. I know they enjoyed meeting you.’

He walked Hector out, mounted and with a wave at Virginie, set off up the trail to the ridge, Balzac trotting at his heels. Hector seemed as eager for a good run as Bruno was. He cantered off the last shallow slope then began to gallop almost as soon as they were on level ground. They paused at the woods for Balzac to catch up and Bruno stared across at the familiar landscape that was still untouched by fire. He fervently hoped it stayed that way, and once Balzac joined them, Hector trotted through the trees to the long firebreak.

Balzac knew the place well and knew how fast the horse would run so he stayed where he was, watching Hector canter at first and then move easily into a fast run, not quite a gallop. At the far end, Bruno slowed, turned and this time Hector went all out, as fast as Bruno could remember riding, an exhilaration so intense he heard himself whooping for joy until Hector slowed for the woods and Balzac barked in welcome at their return. Minutes later, the riding school came into view and Bruno could see Pamela’s swimming pool was full of water, unsullied by ashes and empty of people. It looked very inviting indeed.

Bruno’s phone vibrated. It was J-J and he thought he’d better take it.

‘How’s the TV star? And have you heard the news from Paris?’

‘What news?’ Bruno asked, thinking it better to be discreet about how far Isabelle had confided in him, with all that it implied for the closeness of their relations.

‘The Elysée is letting Henri off the hook in return for those Stasi documents he’s been sitting on. Prunier heard it from General Lannes, who didn’t sound at all happy about it. I’d have thought you’d have heard.’

‘I was up all night, firefighting. I’ve been catching up on sleep. So what do you do now?’

‘I have a call in to Isabelle. She might have some ideas.’

‘I wouldn’t go up against the Elysée if I were you.’

‘That’s what Prunier said. And well done last night. We’ll talk after I hear from Isabelle.’

Bruno unsaddled Hector in the stables, gave him a wizened apple from the barrel and rubbed him down while Balzac snuffled around their feet. Then he strolled up to the pool, stripped off to his undershorts and dived in, his momentum taking him underwater most of the length of the pool. He rose, swam three fast lengths and then floated, arms outstretched, his fingers fluttering, eyes closed, enjoying the heat of the sun on his face. He stayed like that until his head bumped gently against what he thought was the side of the pool at the shallow end, and he opened his eyes to see Balzac nudging him. He climbed out, patted Balzac and stood for a while looking up at the ridge, almost able to feel the water on his skin evaporate in the warmth. The breeze was still from the south and he sighed at the thought that there could be another heavy night.

‘There you are,’ came a voice. ‘The medieval catapult man himself.’

It was Jack Crimson, grinning