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Roberto, he glanced inside. What are you men doing
here? he asked.
Roberto swallowed but managed an uncertain smile.
Well
Uh just moving stuff, Colby said. We re in the
moving business like it says the sign He couldn t
seem to get himself turned off.
The gray eyes probed. Foreigner, aren t you?
Colby nodded. Czech.
Let s see your identity card.
Well, wait a minute, Colby said. Who are you?
Police Judiciaire. Voivin reached in his coat pocket
and flashed identification in the palm of his hand. It was
only an art study of a markedly uninhibited young lady,
but Colby looked properly impressed. He produced his
driver s license. Voivin glanced at it and handed it back.
What s in that box? he asked.
Books, Colby said.
The Wrong Venus 137
Dishes, Roberto replied at the same instant.
Just stuff Henri began, but stopped. Almost in time.
Oh? Voivin stepped closer, and studied the box with a
speculative eye, obviously gauging its length. And you
just brought it out of that house?
Oh no, Colby said. It didn t come out of this house.
We picked it up over in in
Well, what are you doing here?
We re uh that is, we re delivering it here.
Oh. Voivin gave him a suspicious glance, but
shrugged. I thought you were putting it on the truck.
Oh, no, Colby said. Taking it off.
Okay. Voivin turned away indifferently and started up
the walk again. He turned. Well? What are you waiting
for? Take it in. It s all right.
Sure. Thanks, Colby said. We ve got some other stuff
we ll take in first
Why don t you turn off your engine?
It s hard to start, Roberto said. Weak battery
Voivin was still staring at them suspiciously. Henri
began shoving the other things toward the rear. Roberto
and Colby grabbed up random pieces of the bedstead and
started up the walk, followed by Henri. Voivin turned
again and went on toward the front door. When he
disappeared inside they all turned and looked longingly
back at the truck, but Colby jerked his head and they
went on. Not yet; wait ll he gets upstairs.
Decaux should have it now. They d had to get her out
because the police had finally learned who Bougie was
and were coming to search the place. Bougie was in the
box, and in about five minutes or less Inspector Voivin of
the Police Judiciaire was going to figure it out for himself.
He and Roberto went through the door. Voivin and the
two men were standing to one side out of the way. Colby
ran to the drape to peer out. Decaux was still calmly
painting. And he d heard every word; he d simply seen
through it, and it wasn t going to work. But Henri was
still on the walk. He came in. The door closed. Colby s
hands clenched. Come on come on !
Decaux waved an arm and ran for the door of the cab.
The man who was in the parked car leaped out of it,
The Wrong Venus 138
slammed the rear doors of the van, and ran around to the
other side, making it onto the running board with a flying
leap as Decaux gunned it ahead. Colby felt all the breath
ooze out of him at once and he wanted to slump down. As
the truck roared ahead into the next block another car
fell in behind it. Colby turned and nodded.
All the tension in the room snapped at once and there
was pandemonium. Martine fell in his arms. Darling! We
did it, we did it! She pulled his head down and kissed
him.
Voivin had headed for the door. With his hand on the
knob, he turned to Colby, Now?
Yes, Colby said. Don t try to stay close. Just watch
for a traffic jam.
He and the other men ran out. Roberto was throwing
off his denim coverall. He kicked it aside and shot for the
door. Go down the Rue Mon Coeur, Martine said. It s
nearer.
Back in three minutes. He ran out. Colby was
unbuttoning his own coverall. He stepped out of it and
handed it to Kendall. While she was pulling it on, Martine
worked the beret over her pinned-up hair, poking loose
strands up inside. Colby drew the drapes and looked out.
Except for the one the man had abandoned to get on the
van, there wasn t a car in sight.
Kendall kissed Madame Buffet and said goodbye to
Dudley and Georges. The pickup came into view and slid
to the curb. Here he is, Colby said. I ll take your bag.
Adieu, mes enfants. Don t let the bastards wear you
down. Kendall grabbed Martine and kissed her, the
reckless gray eyes moist with tears, and then kissed
Colby. They threw two pillows and a folded blanket onto
her shoulder. The arm she put up to hold them shielded
the other side of her face. Colby grabbed up the suitcase
and they went down the walk. He opened the rear door
and she climbed in, not turning until she was hidden
inside, seated on one of the bunks. He set the bag on the
other. She smiled, while tears still overflowed her eyes.
Thanks, Trooper Colby. For this and that.
Pas de quoi.
Maybe sometime in another country.
The Wrong Venus 139
With luck. Goodbye, Champ. He closed the door, hit it
once with his fist, and Roberto shoved it in gear. He
watched it out of sight. Three blocks ahead it turned
right, still alone. Nobody was following it.
He went back inside. Martine was on the phone at a
stand on one side of the salon, and Madame Buffet and
Georges were tidying up, carrying out the things they d
brought in from the van. Dudley had a bottle of whiskey
and some glasses. He poured two jolts, handed one to
Colby, and downed his with a gulp. He sputtered, and
then, for the first time since he d known him, Colby saw
him smile.
Wow! I needed that. All I can say is, you and Martine
oh, brother! It s finished!
. . . not there! Oh, no! Martine waved to Colby, her
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