All That Glitters (9 page)

Zack looked surprised. “You’re my family,” he said. “I’d do anything I could to help. You know that.”

Jay
nodded. “Thank you, Zack. See you tomorrow,” he said as
they left.

The next morning when Zack went up on deck, the others were already gathered around the breakfast buffet. Hildy looked more rested and her appetite seemed to have returned. Or maybe she was just putting on a good act. It was hard to tell. At any rate, he was glad to see that she was eating a little more than she had yesterday.

After breakfast, as they were preparing to board the bus that would take them to the Chateau de Rochefort, Zack remained seated.

“Zack? Aren’t you coming with us?” Hildy asked him.

Zack yawned and stretched as he made his excuses. “I think I’ll stay here and get some rest if you don’t mind,” he told her. “I guess I’m a bit out of shape,” he chuckled. “The bike ride yesterday was too much. I’m a little tired this morning.”

“You stay here and get the rest you need,” Jay told him. “We’ll miss you, but we understand. We’ll see you when we get back.”

“I may go for a walk a bit later if I feel like it,” Zack told them. “I won’t be gone very long.”

Jay nodded. “We’ll be back around one.”

Zack got the message. “Oh, I’ll be back by then,” he promised.

As soon as they left, he picked up his jacket to fend off the morning chill which still lingered in the air. After making sure the bus was gone and Francois had gone with them, he approached one of the crew. “Pardon, Monsieur, is there a library in town?”

“One moment, Sir,” the crewman answered. “I will ask the Captain.” In a few minutes he was back. “Oui, Monsieur. The Captain says there is a library in the center of Nuits. Here are the directions,” he said, handing Zack a piece of paper with a roughly drawn map. “This will get you there.”

“Oh! One more thing,” Zack said. “May I borrow your motorbike? I need to get there in a hurry.”

“Oui, mais certainement,” the crewman replied with a smile, and handed him the keys. “You are welcome to it.”

“Merci!” Zack answered. “I’ll be careful with it.”

The directions the Captain had drawn out were a cinch to follow. It took him only twenty minutes to find the library. He went inside and found the aisle he was looking for. After picking up several books, he sat down at one of the tables. He thumbed through volume after volume for almost an hour, but found no more records about the Dubonnet family.

Deeply disappointed, he left the library to return to the barge. He was about to ride off on the motorbike when he suddenly spied Andre. “Andre! Am I glad to see you!” Zack exclaimed as he shook his hand. “I wanted to ask you some more questions about Francois.”

Andre stiffened and looked around, as if he expected someone might be spying on him.

“What is it?” Zack asked. “What are you afraid of?”

Andre hesitated. “Well—” he whispered—“uh—I’ve heard things. I can’t take any chances.”

Zack was puzzled. “What things, Andre? I really need to know. I promise you it won’t go any further. There’s no way that I would let it get back to Francois, if that’s what you’re worried about. But someone’s whole happiness is at stake.”

Andre raised his eyebrows. “You mean Mademoiselle Cameron Stuart?”

“Exactly!” Zack replied.

Andre looked around again before speaking. “This must go no further,” he cautioned Zack. “If it does, my life will be in danger. I must insist that you tell no one!”

“You have my promise,” Zack told him.

Andre cupped his hand over his mouth and spoke in almost a whisper, corroborating what Zack had been thinking. “I have heard that Francois has on occasion hired a hit man when someone has proved a threat to his plans.”

If Zack had been worried before, it was nothing to what he felt now, as he realized his intuition had been right on target. A great fear for Cammie overwhelmed him. “Is that all?” he asked. “Or is there more?”

Andre whispered. “A friend of mine met with an accident under—how you say?—mysterious circumstances.”

“Why? What did he do?” Zack demanded.

Again Andre had that frightened look, as though he expected someone might be hiding, ready to attack him. “I can’t tell you anymore. I must leave now,” he said. “Please understand!”

“Thank you, Andre!” Zack called after him. “You can trust me with this.”

He mounted the motorbike, and was back at the barge in about fifteen minutes. He sat in one of the chaise lounges, deeply concerned. Why is Andre so afraid of Francois? I’ve got to find out more. He was still pondering this when the others returned.

Cammie walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “How are you feeling, Uncle Zack? All rested up, I hope.”

He hugged her. How dear she was to him! And how very much he wanted to protect her from making a big mistake. What to do! He knew there was no point in talking to her yet. She would never believe him without definite proof.

This only
served to make him all the more determined to keep
digging till he found something that would help Cammie without
hurting Andre. This was a tricky situation, but he knew
if there was something evil, it couldn’t remain hidden forever.
He only hoped it would be uncovered in time.

CHAPTER XII
 

The week on La Litote passed by all too fast. The cloud of apprehension that hung over them had all but ruined their trip, and the wedding loomed up in the near distance like a black shroud of disaster.

Zack had been in his cabin all morning trying to figure out some of the things Andre had told him. A sense of desperation overwhelmed him. Where do I start? If only Andre had given me actual events to back up his accusations! I need proof.

As he joined the others on the upper deck, the sound of laughter interrupted his thoughts, and he turned around to see Cammie hanging on to Francois’ arm as they ascended the steps to the deck.

His heart sank. For a moment he was tempted to drop the whole investigation. Think what it will do to Cammie if I find out that what I suspect is true! he thought. How can I do that to her? But think what it might do if I don’t! If I can save her from a life of misery it will be worth it, even if she ends up hating me. The thought of this made him sad, but didn’t deter him.

They
were just finishing breakfast as La Litote approached the pier
where it would anchor. From there they would go to
the train that would take them back to Paris. Francois
planned to fly them tomorrow in his private plane to
his Chateau in Biarritz, where the wedding would take place.

They were sipping their final cup of coffee when Francois made an unexpected announcement. “I talked with my mother and father last night,” he told them. “They’re anxious to meet you. So we decided that I would fly you first to Amboise where they live. We’ll stay there for a few days before going to Biarritz. Is that all right with you?”

Actually, they were relieved. This would not only give them an opportunity to see what kind of family Francois came from, but it would also postpone the wedding by another week or so.

Zack, in particular, was pleased. There might be records there that he hadn’t been able to find yet.

The bus was waiting to take them to the train, and the crewmen loaded their luggage on board. The ride to Paris took about an hour, and they went directly to La Grande Veue Hotel to spend the night before taking off for Amboise first thing in the morning.

They decided to dine one more time in the restaurant overlooking the River Seine. It was raining off and on, and the moon and stars, appearing and disappearing spasmodically, looked as though they were playing a delightful game of tag with each other as they peeked in and out from behind the clouds.

The group met in the lobby dressed in raincoats and boots, ready to brave the storm. The limousine whisked them away to the restaurant, stopping directly in front of the canapé that would protect them from the heavy downpour.

* * *

Jeremy Douglass had spent the past week making trips to outlying towns of Paris, looking for clues to his past, but to no avail. He had given up hope of running into Cammie again, and decided to eat at the restaurant with the twinkling lights that he had admired when he first came to Paris. Before he left the hotel, he made arrangements to rent a car and drive to Mont Richard tomorrow to try and track down the director of “First Love.”

He had put it off for two reasons. First, he was afraid he might not find the information he so desperately needed, and all hope would be gone. And second, he longed to see Cammie again. Every day he looked for her in the lobby and restaurant, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

But as he got out of the taxi, he spied her getting out of a limousine. As their eyes locked, she lost her balance and stumbled. He rushed over and caught her just before she fell, and as he held her briefly in his arms, she looked up at him, and his heart did a somersault. Her blue eyes looked deep into his.

“Thank you!” she said. She laughed, slightly embarrassed.

Francois ran over and glared at Jeremy, as he put his arm in a possessive manner around Cammie. “Are you all right?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she assured him, “I’m fine.”

As Jeremy looked into Francois’ eyes, he felt for a moment that he had traveled twenty-one years back into his past. Something very strong stirred in his memory, and he had a sudden, almost irresistible urge to punch Francois in the face.

He was stunned! It wasn’t at all like him to entertain such impulses. Where do these intense feelings come from? I’ve never met this man before! Or have I? He merely nodded as he entered the building, not trusting himself to stay any longer.

He tried to distance himself from Francois as he made his way to the elevator. The others followed, and they went up together to the restaurant. When they arrived, as if planned by fate, the maitre d’ seated them at tables by the window next to each other, and Jeremy found himself facing Cammie and Francois.

As he sat there studying Francois, the momentary flash of—was it memory or just an illusion on his part?—was gone. He still felt great animosity toward him, and it was enough to convince him that Francois must be part of the past that he couldn’t remember. Why do I feel so angry? he wondered. He turned his attention to the menu.

After giving his order to the waiter, he turned his attention again to Cammie. He had hard work to keep his eyes off of her. She’s so beautiful, he thought, and he felt an innate desire to somehow get her away from Francois. He seemed to sense instinctively that she was in for a tough time with him. Why do I feel this way?

Puzzled,
he put his laptop computer on the table the other
side of his place setting, and entered into its data
all the anger that he felt toward the Count, intending
to study it later when he was alone. More and
more memories were nudging him each day, and he was
more hopeful than ever that he would soon remember it
all. New things—hints of the past—kept knocking at the door
of his consciousness, urging him on, giving him hope.

* * *

Cammie watched as Jeremy pressed the keys on his computer. What in the world is he doing? Whatever it was, it fascinated her. Something about him drew her like a magnet. She felt guilty. I’m in love with Francois! she reminded herself. Why are you looking at another man?

She turned her gaze to the view of the River Seine and the lights of Paris. What a magnificent sight! She reached for Francois’ hand, trying to erase the strong attraction she felt for this man who was facing her from the other table—the one who saved her from falling. Who is he? Oh, there you go again! she berated herself. Stop it!

“Excuse me,” Hildy said, interrupting her thoughts, “I think I’ll go to the powder room. Would you like to come with me?” she asked rather pointedly.

Cammie nodded. “Sure, Mom.” She rose and patted Francois on the shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she told him.

As soon as they reached the ladies room, Hildy turned to her. “Honey, I can’t help noticing your interest in the young man at the next table. Are you—” she paused. “Are you having doubts about marrying Francois? I mean, you seem fascinated with that young man. If you really loved Francois you wouldn’t be so interested in someone else. You know, it’s not too late to call off the wedding if you’re not sure.”

Cammie hesitated for only a moment. “No! Of course not!” she declared vehemently. “Whatever gave you that idea? I don’t even know who he is. I’m just fascinated with his computer. I can’t help wondering if he’s a writer or something.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Hildy asked.

Cammie emitted an exasperated sigh. “Mom, I’m not a teenager any more. I know what I’m doing.”

Hildy averted her gaze and turned toward the mirror, fussing with her hair. “I certainly hope so,” she mumbled.

“Mom, what is it that you don’t like about Francois?”

Before Hildy could answer, Jenny joined them. “Hey, what’s going on? We’ve been wondering what’s taking you so long.” Her eyes twinkled. “Did you notice that handsome young man at the next table? The one who saved you from falling? Va—va—va—voom!” She paused and looked at them intently. “Is that what this is all about? He is a hunk, isn’t he?” she teased.

Cammie blushed, but Hildy looked deeply concerned as she turned to Jenny. “I just wondered if Cammie was having doubts about her feelings for Francois. She seemed quite taken with this young man.”

“Oh, Hildy, don’t take it so seriously,” Jenny laughed. “I think anyone would stare at him. He looks like a movie star. That doesn’t mean a thing. I was staring at him myself,” she joked.

“It’s not the same thing,” Hildy retorted. “I just want to be sure Cammie isn’t making a big mistake marrying Francois.”

By this time
Cammie was becoming quite annoyed. “I know what I’m doing!”
she stated in no uncertain terms. Then she looked at
her mother’s troubled face and relented. She put her arms
around her and spoke gently. “Mom, I’m okay. I just
wish you liked Francois a little better. I can’t figure
out why you don’t. He’s a great catch. I would
think you’d be happy for me.”