Part 10 (2/2)
”Heavens, no!”
A dull ache crept through the pit of his stomach. ”Then whohas it?”
Cloucharde glared at Becker indignantly. ”The German! TheGerman has it!”
Becker felt like the floor had been pulled out from under him.”German? What German?”
”The German in the park! I told the officer about him! Irefused the ring but the fascist swine accepted it!”
Becker set down his pen and paper. The charade was over. Thiswas trouble. ”So a German has the ring?”
”Indeed.”
”Where did he go?” ”No idea. I ran to call the police. When I got back, he wasgone.”
”Do you know who he was?”
”Some tourist.”
”Are you sure?”
”My life is tourists,” Cloucharde snapped. ”Iknow one when I see one. He and his lady friend were out strollingthe park.”
Becker was more and more confused every moment. ”Ladyfriend? There was somebody with the German?”
Cloucharde nodded. ”An escort. Gorgeous redhead. Mon Dieu!Beautiful.”
”An escort?” Becker was stunned. ”As in ... aprost.i.tute?”
Cloucharde grimaced. ”Yes, if you must use the vulgarterm.”
”But ... the officer said nothing about-”
”Of course not! I never mentioned the escort.”Cloucharde dismissed Becker with a patronizing wave of his goodhand. ”They aren't criminals-it's absurd thatthey're hara.s.sed like common thieves.”
Becker was still in a mild state of shock. ”Was thereanyone else there?”
”No, just the three of us. It was hot.”
”And you're positive the woman was aprost.i.tute?”
”Absolutely. No woman that beautiful would be with a manlike that unless she were well paid! Mon Dieu! He was fat, fat, fat! A loudmouthed, overweight, obnoxious German!”Cloucharde winced momentarily as he s.h.i.+fted his weight, but heignored the pain and plowed on. ”This man was abeast-three hundred pounds at least. He locked onto that poordear like she was about to run away-not that I'd blameher. I mean really! Hands all over her. Bragged that he had her allweekend for three hundred dollars! He's the one whoshould have dropped dead, not that poor Asian fellow.”Cloucharde came up for air, and Becker jumped in.
”Did you get his name?”
Cloucharde thought for a moment and then shook his head.”No idea.” He winced in pain again and settled slowlyback into his pillows.
Becker sighed. The ring had just evaporated before his eyes.Commander Strathmore was not going to be happy. Cloucharde dabbed at his forehead. His burst of enthusiasm hadtaken its toll. He suddenly looked ill.
Becker tried another approach. ”Mr. Cloucharde, I'dlike to get a statement from the German and his escort as well. Doyou have any idea where they're staying?”
Cloucharde closed his eyes, his strength fading. His breathinggrew shallow.
”Anything at all?” Becker pressed. ”Theescort's name?
There was a long silence.
Cloucharde rubbed his right temple. He was suddenly lookingpale. ”Well ... ah ...
no. I don't believe . ..” His voice was shaky.
Becker leaned toward him. ”Are you all right?”
Cloucharde nodded lightly. ”Yes, fine ... just a little .. . the excitement maybe ...”
He trailed off.
”Think, Mr. Cloucharde.” Becker urged quietly.”It's important.”
Cloucharde winced. ”I don't know ... the woman ...the man kept calling her ...” He closed his eyes andgroaned.
”What was her name?”
”I really don't recall ...” Cloucharde wasfading fast.
”Think.” Becker prodded. ”It's importantthat the consular file be as complete as possible. I'll needto support your story with statements from the other witnesses.
Anyinformation you can give me to help locate them ...”
But Cloucharde was not listening. He was dabbing his foreheadwith the sheet. ”I'm sorry ... perhaps tomorrow . ..” He looked nauseated.
”Mr. Cloucharde, it's important you remember this now.” Becker suddenly realized he was speaking too loudly.People on nearby cots were still sitting up watching what was goingon. On the far side of the room a nurse appeared through the doubledoors and strode briskly toward them.
”Anything at all,” Becker pressed urgently.
”The German called the woman-”
Becker lightly shook Cloucharde, trying to bring him back.
Cloucharde's eyes flickered momentarily. ”Her name . ..”
Stay with me, old fella ... ”Dew ...” Cloucharde's eyes closed again. Thenurse was closing in. She looked furious.
”Dew?” Becker shook Cloucharde's arm.
The old man groaned. ”He called her ...” Clouchardewas mumbling now, barely audible.
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