Rough Trade by Dominique Manotti Read Free Book Online Page B

Others pretend they thought we did it for fun. Girls who don’t sleep around don’t get the jobs, that’s all there is to it.’
    Daquin sat down again.
    ‘OK. Let’s move on to drugs. Romero, take a look at Mademoiselle Lamouroux’s arms and ankles. I don’t suppose you had time to do it just now. Any needle marks?’
    ‘No, commissaire .’
    ‘So, mademoiselle, what form are you taking them in?’
    ‘Who told you I was taking drugs?’
    Daquin stood up to his full, massive height. He was seriously angry. He came round the desk, caught her by the hair and forced her to look up at him.
    ‘Just look at me, and stop behaving like a child. At twenty-five, you’re a dealer and a tart and you take drugs. Which ones and how?’
    ‘Heroin. I smoke it,’ she said regretfully.
    ‘Go on.’
    ‘Powder. In a special silver cupel, you heat it with a candle. It goes like caramel and gives off smoke. You lean over it, with a scarf over your head, and inhale it very slowly and deeply. It makes you feel fabulous and it’s not dangerous, it’s not like using a needle. I’ve never injected myself. I’m frightened of injections.’
    ‘It’s a rather unusual way of taking it. Who taught you?’
    She hesitated. Daquin moved closer to her.
    ‘It comes from Iran, it was some Iranians, at parties. I don’t know their names.’
    ‘Parties?’
    ‘Yes. In ready-to-wear, you meet lots of people. And very different sorts. At parties given by one lot or another.’
    ‘And taking heroin happens quite frequently on such occasions?’
    ‘Not frequently perhaps, but not infrequently either. Heroin and a load of other things.’ She sat up in her chair. ‘Don’t tell me, commissaire , that you didn’t know.’
    ‘Who gave you the address in rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin?’
    ‘The addresses of the suppliers get passed around and change a lot. That address was given me a fortnight ago. It’s the first time I’ve been there.’
    ‘Who gave it to you? You haven’t answered my question.’
    ‘I don’t remember any more.’
    Daquin made a show of putting on his signet ring and raised his hand.
    ‘Perhaps it was Lestiboudois, a businessman I went out with that evening. I haven’t seen him since.’
    Daquin paced up and down his office, saying nothing. Then: ‘I’m going to release you. For the moment. You’re going to sign a short statement. I ask you not to leave Paris, and to let me know if you change your address. And to report in at the 10th arrondissement police station every two days at 9 a.m. from Monday next.’
    ‘And if I don’t sign?’
    ‘I’ll lock you up for being caught in the act.’
    A moment’s reflection.
    ‘I’ll sign.’
    ‘Romero. Take Mademoiselle Lamouroux back downstairs.’
    The Super waited for him to come back, saying nothing, rocking in his chair.
    *
     
    ‘So, Romero, clear something up for me. Did you rape her before or after you found the drugs?’
    ‘After, commissaire .’
    ‘Are you aware that I’ve just got you off being transferred to some dead-end place in the sticks, or are you proud of yourself?’
    ‘I’m not proud of myself, commissaire .’
    ‘Right. Let’s recap, Romero. You prepare a report for me on Virginie Lamouroux’s arrest for tomorrow morning, omitting anything that could harm our team’s reputation. I’ll make a note on her cross-examination myself. You both keep the investigation into this girl. In my opinion she’s rotten to the core and she hasn’t given us anything she knows. Even if she doesn’t know all that much probably. You can begin by locating her, which may not be all that easy, and lay on the pressure for me, since we haven’t anything better we can do. Either she’ll crack, or people in the network will take the initiative. We’ll observe and gather information. So, get down to it. Try to be as efficient as you can and show a bit more restraint.’

2 p.m. Rue des Petites-Ecuries
     
    Santoni returned to the van where Thomas was