Today's Reading
"Well, I have no idea what he's done," said Mother. "I do know you, however. And you can be very demanding. Are you sure this isn't one of those times? Are you sure you're not looking for perfection when you should be looking for happiness?"
Francie saw a farmer's cart approaching the road. She accelerated past the cart and then thought about her mother's words. She had considered that possibility. But she'd never imagined any man as a husband until she met John. So, no, she wasn't holding out for perfection. She was thinking about how happy she'd be. And that's when doubt surfaced.
"Let's say he did something," said Mother. "Something to upset you, betray your trust. You only knew him a little while. You can't expect a man to break from his past so soon. It takes time, dear. People change with time."
Francie grimaced. People don't change. At some point, they became— and would always be— precisely who they were. That was John. He admitted as much, telling her that he was a retired thief, not reformed. He wasn't ashamed of what he'd done. And he'd thought only of himself when trying to clear his name. There was no other way to say it. John was selfish, always looking to take what he wanted. John Robie might not be a jewel thief now, but he was a thief of hearts.
"If nothing else..." said Mother, "be prepared. You may not want to see him, but he'll find you."
Francie nodded in agreement. She wasn't looking forward to that conversation. How would he react? Whatever might happen, Francie knew it would be worse once John saw her with Alex.
CHAPTER THREE
John sprinted down the hotel hallway, his sleeves rolled up, jacket in hand, and collar unbuttoned. Paul was a step behind.
"What was all that about?" asked Paul.
"I would have pulled him up, but..."
"Not that. You said you went up that pipe. How?"
John stopped at the elevators and pressed the button. "I was an acrobat. I think you knew."
Paul bent over, hands on knees. "An acrobat and a—"
"Yes," he said, cutting him off. "I was that, too. But I learned that as an acrobat." John straightened his collar. "I was good." He had a lot to cover with Paul, mostly what had just happened. And he also had to figure out the best time to ask for his favor. It might seem parochial now, given the evening's events, but it was important to him.
The elevator rang, announcing its arrival. The doors parted, and they stepped into an empty car.
"You never told me you could climb a building," Paul said.
"And you never told me this little favor of yours was a full on hunt for a dangerous man. He had a gun, you know."
Paul shook his head. "I wasn't aware. How do you know?"
"I was in his room."
Paul looked puzzled. "How did you get...?" He paused, then said, "Never mind. Look, this is a setback, John. A big one. I needed him alive. I have no idea why he came here, what he was doing, or where he was going."
"Who was he?"
Paul glanced at his watch. "In Paris, I was watching a foreign agent, and this man just appeared one day. I saw the agent passing a newspaper to him with a brown envelope inside the fold. He and the agent talked. Very tense. So I followed this man. I found no record of his entry into our country. His passport, on file at his hotel, was a forgery. Not good signs. The next day, he was walking near the College de France, just across from the Sorbonne. Do you know these universities?"
John knew them both. "They do a lot of research for the government, don't they? Everything from crops to astronomy, as I recall."
Paul nodded.
"What was he doing there?"
"No idea. And I never got the chance to find out. He spotted me, and after he thought he lost me, he came to the Riviera." Paul paused. "Why here? Politics, international issues, all of that is back in Paris."
...
