"Alastair Reynolds - Century Rain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reynolds Alastair)

interested in the womanтАЩs case. But why have you called me?тАЭ

тАЬAre you implying that it was a mistake?тАЭ

тАЬNo, not at all. ItтАЩs just that most of my cases come through personal recommendation. I donтАЩt get much
work through people finding my name in the telephone book.тАЭ

The man at the other end of the line chuckled knowingly. The sound was like coal being stirred in a
grate. тАЬI should think not. You are an American, after all. Who but a fool would seek the services of an
American detective in Paris?тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm French,тАЭ Floyd said, slicing open the second envelope.

тАЬLet us not quibble over passports. Your French is impeccable, Monsieur FloydтАФfor a foreigner. But I
will say no more than that. You were born in the United States, were you not?тАЭ

тАЬYou know a lot about me. How did you get my name?тАЭ

тАЬI got it from the only reasonable policeman I spoke to during this whole affairтАФan Inspector Maillol. I
gather you and he know each other.тАЭ

тАЬOur paths have crossed. MaillolтАЩs a decent enough fellow. CanтАЩt he look into this supposed suicide?тАЭ

тАЬMaillol says his hands are tied. When I mentioned that the woman was American, your name naturally
popped into his head.тАЭ

тАЬWhere was she from?тАЭ

тАЬDakota, I believe. Or perhaps it was Minnesota. Somewhere to the north, at least.тАЭ

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тАЬIтАЩm from Galveston,тАЭ Floyd said. тАЬThat puts us a world apart.тАЭ

тАЬNone the less, you will take on the case?тАЭ

тАЬWe have an appointment, monsieur. We can discuss things then.тАЭ

тАЬVery well, then. I shall expect you on the hour?тАЭ

Floyd shook the second letter from its envelope, which was postmarked from Nice. A single sheet of
grey paper, folded in two, tipped out on to the desk. He flicked the paper open to reveal a handwritten
message in watery ink that was only a shade darker than the paper on which it was written. He
recognised the handwriting immediately. It was from Greta.

тАЬMonsieur Floyd?тАЭ