Chapter 10 - THE WRONG CAR
The officer outside the estate had checked the driver’s identification.
The papers were real.
The man claimed to work for a child protection service. He knew Mathéo’s full name, the fire report number, and the address of the temporary apartment where Alexandre planned to take him.
He carried a signed emergency order.
By the time the officer discovered the order was forged, the car was gone.
Alexandre listened without moving.
Then he said, “Put her on.”
Mrs. Besson could barely speak.
“He had his little backpack. He asked if you’d be there.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“I let him go.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
Lucie heard what it cost him to say it.
He hung up and turned toward Moreau.
“Find him.”
“We’ve issued an alert.”
“Find him.”
Moreau let the repetition stand.
Lucie opened her phone.
That morning, Mathéo had borrowed it to photograph Biscuit wearing a napkin.
He had also shown her his new watch.
“It counts my steps,” he’d said proudly. “And Uncle Alex can find me if I get lost.”
She grabbed Alexandre’s sleeve.
“The watch.”
He stared, then reached for his phone.
A map loaded.
A small blue dot sat near a highway service road.
Moving south.
Moreau called it in.
For nine minutes, they watched the dot travel.
Then it stopped.
Alexandre’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Moreau signaled for him to answer.
Vasseur’s voice was smooth.
“Alexandre. We need a sensible conversation.”
“Let me hear him.”
“The boy is fine.”
“Let me hear him.”
A shuffle.
Then Mathéo, small and breathless.
“Uncle Alex?”
“I’m here.”
“He says you’re mad at me.”
“No. Listen carefully. I am not mad at you.”
“I told him I wanted Lucie.”
Lucie pressed her hand against her mouth.
Alexandre closed his eyes.
“We’re coming.”
Vasseur returned.
“You have documents that belong to me.”
“You’ll get nothing until the boy is safe.”
“Your wife said something similar fifteen years ago.”
Moreau’s expression hardened.
Vasseur named an abandoned packing warehouse near the river.
“Come alone. Bring the originals.”
The line went dead.
On the map, Mathéo’s watch began moving again.
May you like
But the direction made no sense.
It was heading away from the warehouse.
