Harlequin's Shadow

Chapter 5: Outed

Neal would not have chosen to sketch Isabelle while she related her history with Bergmann. How could he possibly do her justice when he was listening spellbound? But his fingers had a mind of their own. When André called a break for lunch, he was surprised at how much he'd accomplished.

More importantly, Isabelle was happy. The look in her eyes was the only thanks he needed.

Peter clasped a hand on his shoulder. "You did well," he murmured. "Mozzie and I'll help André. You and Isabelle keep at it."

"I like what you've done," she said, switching to French.

He'd placed her at the piano. André was sitting beside her. "Would you like me to make a painting of it for you?" he asked.

"Something in the style of Matisse?" Isabelle suggested.

He nodded, delighted at her choice. "That's what I was thinking. Matisse's interest in music makes it particularly appropriate. He played the violin. The woman in the Matisse painting you mentioned reminds me a little of you."

Isabelle studied the drawing for a moment. "Then you should include a violin, perhaps on a table next to the piano."

Neal applauded the suggestion. In his mind, that violin would symbolize the Braque painting. "The piano could also reference René. Was he a pianist?"

"How did you know?"

"His code name isn't a common alias. I assumed he had a musical background to know of Ravel's work."

"You're right. René was a superb pianist whose proper milieu was the concert hall. He could perform 'Scarbo' beautifully."

"I'm impressed. That's one of the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire."

Isabelle studied the drawing wistfully. "I wish I could have made a recording of him to play for you."

"Would you like me to include an image of René in the painting? Perhaps a shadow against the wall?"

A smile lightened her face. "I'd like that very much. You could include the sheet music for Gaspard de la nuit on the piano, not that I could play it." She glanced down at her knuckles thickened from arthritis. "Time has not been kind to my hands, but I still sing. André tells me you play and sing as well. We should entertain the others while they prepare lunch. You'll find sheet music in the piano bench."

Many of the songs were ballads from the '40s and unfamiliar to him. When she was younger, Isabelle's voice must have been beautiful. Even now there was a smoky timbre that evoked scenes of the cabaret. She knew Edith Piaf well, and her stories of the famous chanteuse entertained everyone during lunch as they feasted on pâté de campagne, cheese, and salads.

Isabelle related accounts of the songs that had been written by Resistance fighters to boost morale. In between the stories, Mozzie offered to broker her fee for assisting them with the con.

"Leave it to me," he assured her. "André can vouch for my negotiating skill."

Peter looked a little nervous at his words but didn't dispute them. It was understood that André and Isabelle would both receive cuts in the money obtained from selling the forgery. If Adler wound up paying anything near what he'd last offered—ten million euros—funding wouldn't be an issue.

Isabelle had heard of the fractal code Lévy developed but was unable to provide any information on how to decrypt it. She provided Mozzie with a couple of additional names of former Resistance fighters who might know more. "You're not alone in asking about it," she added. "Someone else recently made inquiries. He has offered to pay handsomely for any information."