按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the office。 There was a bitch quality in the perfumed air； these were the quarters of an ageing； pacing tigress； swift to attack any who threatened her possessions or the sating of her appetites。 Yet she was disciplined； all things considered； an estimable liaison to Carlos。
Who was that man on the switchboard？ Where had he seen him？
He was offered a drink from a selection of bottles； he chose brandy。
'Do sit down； Monsieur。 I shall enlist the help of Rene himself； if I can find him。'
'That's very kind； but I'm sure whatever you choose will be satisfactory。 I have an instinct about taste； yours is all through this office。 I'm fortable with it'
'You're too generous。'
'Only when it's warranted；' said Jason； still standing。 'Actually； I'd like to look at the photographs。 I see a number of acquaintances； if not friends。 A lot of these faces pass through the Bahamian banks with considerable frequency。'
'I'm sure they do；' agreed Lavier； in a tone that bespoke regard for such avenues of finance。 'I shan't be long； Monsieur。'
Nor would she； thought Bourne； as Les Classiques' partner swept out of the office。 Mme Lavier was not about to allow a tired； wealthy mark too much time to think。 She would return with the most expensive designs she could gather up as rapidly as possible。 Therefore； if there was anything in the room that could shed light on Carlos's intermediary … or on the assassin's operation … it had to be found quickly。 And； if it was there it would be on or around the desk。
Jason circled behind the imperial chair in front of the wall； feigning amused interest in the photographs； but concentrating on the desk。 There were invoices； receipts and overdue bills； along with dunning letters of reprimand awaiting Lavier's signature。 An address book lay open； four names on the page； he moved closer to see more clearly。 Each was the name of a pany； the individual contacts bracketed； his or her positions underlined。 He wondered if he should memorize each pany； each contact。 He was about to do so when his eyes fell on the edge of an index card。 It was only the edge； the rest was concealed under the telephone itself。 And there was something else … dull； barely discernible。 A strip of transparent tape； running along the edge of the card； holding it in place。 The tape itself was relatively new； recently stuck over the heavy paper and the gleaming wood； it was clean； no smudges or coiled borders or signs of having been there very long。
Instinct。
Bourne picked up the telephone to move it aside。 It rang； the bell vibrating through his hand； the shrill sound unnerving。 He replaced it on the desk and stepped away as a man in shirtsleeves rushed through the open door from the corridor。 He stopped； staring at Bourne； his eyes alarmed but nonmittal。 The telephone rang a second time； the man walked rapidly to the desk and picked up the receiver。
'Allo？' There was silence as the intruder listened； head down； concentration on the caller。 He was a tanned； muscular man of indeterminate age； the sun…drenched skin disguising the years。 His face was taut； his lips thin； his close…cropped hair thick； dark brown and disciplined。 The sinews of his bare arms moved under the flesh as he transferred the phone from one hand to the other； speaking harshly。 'Pas id maintenant。 Je ne sais pas la expanse。 Appelez encore。' He hung up and looked at Jason。 'Oil est Jacqueline？'
4A little slower； please；' said Bourne； lying in English。 'My French is limited。'
'Sorry；' replied the bronzed man。 〃I was looking for Madame Lavier。'
The owner？'
'The title will suffice。 Where is she？'
'Depleting my funds。' Jason smiled； raising his glass to his lips。
'Oh？ And who are you； Monsieur？'
'Who are you？'
The man studied Bourne。 'Rone〃 Bergeron。'
'Oh； Lord！' exclaimed Jason。 'She's looking for you。 You're very good； Mr Bergeron。 She said I was to look upon your designs as the work of an emerging master。' Bourne smiled again。 'You're the reason I may have to wire the Bahamas for a great deal of money。'
'You're most kind； Monsieur。 And I apologize for barging in。'
'Better that you answered that phone than me。 Berlitz considers me a failure。'
'Buyers； suppliers； all screaming idiots。 To whom； Monsieur； do I have the honour of speaking？'
'Briggs；' said Jason； having no idea where the name came
from； astonished that it came so quickly； so naturally。 'Charles Briggs。'
'A pleasure to know you。' Bergeron extended his hand； the grip was firm。 'You say Jacqueline was looking for me？'
'On my behalf； I'm afraid。'
'I shall find her。' The designer left quickly。
Bourne moved quickly to the desk； his eyes on the door； his hand on the telephone。 He moved it to the side； exposing the index card。 There were two telephone numbers； the first recognizable as a Zurich exchange； the second obviously Paris。
Instinct。 He had been right； a strip of transparent tape the only sign he had needed。 He stared at the numbers； memorizing them； then moved the telephone back into place； and stepped away。
He had barely managed to clear the desk when Madame Lavier swept back into the room； a hall dozen dresses over her arm。 'I met Rene on the steps。 He approves of my selections most enthusiastically。 He also tells me your name is Briggs； Monsieur。'
'I would have told you myself；' said Bourne； smiling back； countering the pout in Lavier's voice。 'But I don't think you asked。'
'〃Spoors in the forest〃； Monsieur。 Here； I bring you a feast！' She separated the dresses； placing them carefully over several chairs。 'I truly believe these are among the finest creations Rene has brought us。'
'Brought you？' replied Jason。 'He doesn't work here then？'
'A figure of speech： his studio's at the end of the corridor； but it is a holy sacristy。 Even I tremble when I enter。'
'They're magnificent；' continued Bourne； going from one to another。 'But I don't want to overwhelm her； just pacify her；' he added； pointing out three garments。 I'll take these。'
'A fine selection； Monsieur Briggs！'
'Box them with the others； if you will。'
'Of course。 She is； indeed； a fortunate lady。'
'A good panion； but a child'。 A spoiled child； I'm afraid。 However； I've been away a lot and haven't paid much attention to her； so I feel I should make peace。 It's one reason I sent her to Cap Ferrat。' He smiled； taking out his Louis Vuitton wallet。 'Lafacture； s'il vous plait？〃
I'll have one of the girls expedite everything。' Mme Lavier pressed a button on the inter next to the telephone。 Jason watched closely； prepared to ment on the call Bergeron had answered in the event the woman's eyes settled on a slightly out…of…place phone。 'Envoyez Janine id avec Us vetements sur ptoir cinq。 Aussi la facture。' She stood up。 'Another brandy； Monsieur Briggs？'
'Merci bien。' Bourne extended his glass； she took it and walked to the bar。 Jason knew the time bad not yet arrived for what he had in mind； it would e soon … as soon as he parted with money … but not now。 He could； however； continue building a foundation with the managing partner of Les Classiques。 'That fellow； Bergeron；' he said； 'you say he's under exclusive contract to you？'
Madame Lavier turned； the glass in her hand。 'Oh； yes'。 We are a closely knit family here。'
Bourne accepted the brandy； nodded his thanks； and sat down in an armchair in front of the desk。 That's a constructive arrangement；' he said pointlessly。
The tall； gaunt clerk he had first spoken to came into the office； a salesbook in her hand。 Instructions were given rapidly； figures entered； the garments gathered and separated as the salesbook exchanged hands。 Lavier held it out for Jason's perusal。 'Lafacture；' she said。
Bourne shook his head； dismissing inspection。 'bien？' he asked。
'Vingt mille soixante francs； monsieur；' answered the Les Classiques partner； watching his reaction with the expression of a large； wary bird。
There was none。 Jason merely removed six five…thousand franc notes and handed them to her。 She nodded and gave them in turn to the slender salesgirl； who walked cadaverously out of the office with the dresses。
'Everything will be packaged and brought up here with your change。' Lavier went to her desk and sat down。 'You're on your way to Ferret； then。 It should be lovely。'
He had paid； the time had e。 'A last night in Paris before I go back to kindergarten；' said Jason； raising his glass in a toast of self…mockery。
'Yes； you mentioned that your friend is quite young。'
'A child is what I said； and that's what she is。 She's a good panion； but I think I prefer the pany of more mature women。'
'You must be very fond of her；' contested Lavier； touching her perfectly coiffed hair； the flattery accepted。 'You buy her such lovely … and； frankly … expensive things。'
'A minor price considering what she might try to opt for。'
'Really。'
'She's my wife； my third to be exact； and there are appearances to be kept in the Bahamas。 But all that's neither here nor there； my life's quite in order。'
'I'm sure it is； Monsieur。'
'Speaking of the Bahamas； a thought occurred to me a few minutes ago。 It's why I asked you about Bergeron。'
'What is that？'
'You may think I'm impetuous； I assure you I'm not。 But when something strikes me； I like to explore it。。。 Since Bergeron's yours exclusively； have you ever given any thought to opening a branch in the islands？'
The Bahamas？'
'And points south。 Into the Caribbean； perhaps。'
'Monsieur； Saint…Honore' by itself is often more than we can handle！ Untended farmland generally goes fallow； as they say。'
'It wouldn't have to be tended； not in the way that you think。 A concession here； one there； the designs exclusive； local ownership on a percentage…franchise basis。 Just a boutique or two； spreading； of course； cautiously。'
That takes considerable capital； Monsieur Briggs。'
'Key prices； initially。 What you might call entrance fees。 They're high； but not prohibitive。 In the finer hotels and clubs it usually depends on how well you know the managements。'
'And you know them？'
'Extremely well。 As I say； I'm just exploring； but I think the idea has merit。 Your labels would have a certain distinction。 Les Classiques； Paris； Grand Bahama。。。 Cancel Bay； perhaps。' Bourne swallowed the rest of his brandy。 'But you probably think I'm crazy。 Consider it just talk。。。 Although I've made a dollar or two on risks that simply struck me on the spur of the moment。'
'Risks？' Jacqueline Lavier touched her hair again。
'I don't give ideas away； Madame。 I generally back them。'
'Yes； I understand。 As you say； the idea does have merit'
'I think so。 Of course； I'd like to see what kind of agreement you have with Bergeron。'
'It could be produced； Monsieur。'
Tell you what；' said Jason。 'If you're free； let's talk about it over drinks and dinner。 It's my only night in Paris。'
'And you prefer the pany of more mature women；' concluded Jacqueline Lavier； the mask cracked into a smile again； the white ice breaking beneath eyes now more in concert。
'D'accord； madame。'
'It can be arranged；' she said； reaching for the phone。
The phone。 Carlos。
He would break her； thought Bourne。 Kill her if he had to。 He would learn the truth。
Marie walked through the crowd towards the box in the telephone plex on rue Vaugirard。 She had taken a room at the Meurice； left the attaché case at the front desk and sat alone in the room for exactly twenty…two minutes。 Until she could not stand it any longer。 She had sat in a chair facing a blank wall thinking about Jason； about the madness of the last eight days that had propelled her into an insanity beyond her understanding。 Jason。 Considerate； frightening； bewildered Jason Bourne。 A man with so much violence in him； and yet； oddly； so much passion。 And too terribly capable in dealing with a world ordinary men knew nothing about。 Where had he sprung from； this love of hers？ Who had taught him to find his way through the dark back streets of Paris； Marseilles and Zurich。。。 as far away as the Orient； perhaps？ What was the Far East to him？ How did he know the languages？ What were the languages？ Or language？
Too。
Che…sah。
Tarn Quan。
Another world； and she knew nothing of it。 But she knew Jason Bourne； o