Part 10 (1/2)
”Yes, sir. As I'm sure a man of your stature is wellaware, the Canadian government works hard to protect its countrymenfrom the indignities suffered in these, er-shall wesay-less refined countries.” Cloucharde's thin lips parted in a knowing smile. ”Butof course ... how pleasant.”
”You are a Canadian citizen, aren'tyou?”
”Yes, of course. How silly of me. Please forgive me.Someone in my position is often approached with ... well ...you understand.”
”Yes, Mr. Cloucharde, I certainly do. The price one paysfor celebrity.”
”Indeed.” Cloucharde let out a tragic sigh. He was anunwilling martyr tolerating the ma.s.ses. ”Can you believe this.h.i.+deous place?” He rolled his eyes at the bizarresurroundings. ”It's a mockery. And they've decidedto keep me overnight.”
Becker looked around. ”I know. It's terrible. I'msorry it took me so long to get here.”
Cloucharde looked confused. ”I wasn't even aware youwere coming.”
Becker changed the subject. ”Looks like a nasty b.u.mp onyour head. Does it hurt?”
”No, not really. I took a spill this morning-the priceone pays for being a good Samaritan. The wrist is the thingthat's hurting me. Stupid Guardia. I mean, really!
Putting aman of my age on a motorcycle. It'sreprehensible.”
”Is there anything I can get for you?”
Cloucharde thought a moment, enjoying the attention. ”Well,actually ...” He stretched his neck and tilted his head leftand right. ”I could use another pillow if it's nottoo much trouble.”
”Not at all.” Becker grabbed a pillow off a nearby cotand helped Cloucharde get comfortable.
The old man sighed contentedly. ”Much better ... thankyou.”
”Pas du tout,” Becker replied.
”Ah!” The man smiled warmly. ”So you dospeak the language of the civilized world.”
”That's about the extent of it,” Becker saidsheepishly.
”Not a problem,” Cloucharde declared proudly. ”Mycolumn is syndicated in the U.S.; my English is firstrate.”
”So I've heard.” Becker smiled. He sat down onthe edge of Cloucharde's cot. ”Now, if you don'tmind my asking, Mr. Cloucharde, why would a man such as yourselfcome to a place like this? There are far better hospitals inSeville.”
Cloucharde looked angry. ”That police officer ... hebucked me off his motorcycle and then left me bleeding in thestreet like a stuck pig. I had to walk over here.” ”He didn't offer to take you to a betterfacility?”
”On that G.o.dawful bike of his? No thanks!”
”What exactly happened this morning?”
”I told it all to the lieutenant.”
”I've spoken to the officer and-”
”I hope you reprimanded him!” Clouchardeinterrupted.
Becker nodded. ”In the severest terms. My office will befollowing up.”
”I should hope so.”
”Monsieur Cloucharde.” Becker smiled, pulling a penout of his jacket pocket. ”I'd like to make a formalcomplaint to the city. Would you help? A man of your reputationwould be a valuable witness.”
Cloucharde looked buoyed by the prospect of being quoted. He satup. ”Why, yes ...
of course. It would be mypleasure.”
Becker took out a small note pad and looked up. ”Okay,let's start with this morning.
Tell me about theaccident.”
The old man sighed. ”It was sad really. The poor Asianfellow just collapsed. I tried to help him-but it was nouse.”
”You gave him CPR?”
Cloucharde looked ashamed. ”I'm afraid I don'tknow how. I called an ambulance.”
Becker remembered the bluish bruises on Tankado's chest.”Did the paramedics administer CPR?”
”Heavens, no!” Cloucharde laughed. ”No reason towhip a dead horse-the fellow was long gone by the time theambulance got there. They checked his pulse and carted him off,leaving me with that horrific policeman.”
That's strange, Becker thought, wondering where thebruise had come from. He pushed it from his mind and got to thematter at hand. ”What about the ring?” he said asnonchalantly as possible.
Cloucharde looked surprised. ”The lieutenant told you aboutthe ring?”
”Yes, he did.” Cloucharde seemed amazed. ”Really? I didn't think hebelieved my story. He was so rude-as if he thought I werelying. But my story was accurate, of course. I pride myself onaccuracy.”
”Where is the ring?” Becker pressed.
Cloucharde didn't seem to hear. He was gla.s.sy-eyed, staringinto s.p.a.ce. ”Strange piece really, all thoseletters-looked like no language I'd ever seen.”
”j.a.panese, maybe?” Becker offered.
”Definitely not.”
”So you got a good look at it?”
”Heavens, yes! When I knelt down to help, the man keptpus.h.i.+ng his fingers in my face. He wanted to give me the ring. Itwas most bizarre, horrible really-his hands were quitedreadful.”
”And that's when you took the ring?”
Cloucharde went wide-eyed. ”That's what the officertold you! That I took the ring?”
Becker s.h.i.+fted uneasily.
Cloucharde exploded. ”I knew he wasn't listening!That's how rumors get started! I told him the j.a.p fellow gaveaway the ring-but not to me! There's no way Iwould take anything from a dying man! My heavens! The thought ofit!”
Becker sensed trouble. ”So you don't have thering?”