“You have to admit, he’s a very smart man.” Mireille murmurs in my ear as we sit in the back of the limo. “He outsmarted Soldats on this round.”
Insurance. That’s what Uncle called it. To find the book, we need Droger and his group alive.
“He’s virtually assured himself a trouble-free release from prison.” She twirls her hair in thought. “I always wondered what was in that book- did you read any of it?”
“A little.” I nod my head. “It’s very old and fragile.”
“Tell me about it.” she urges me, and I wrinkle my brow, trying to remember.
“We’re here.” Uncle interrupts us. The doors open and I can smell the remnants of the fire. I cough a few times, as does Mireille. I look back and realize we’ve driven through some sort of old iron gate, which is now closed again by a policeman.
“Wait here.” Uncle waves his hand at us, as several men approach him.
“Executor of the estate. I spoke to you this morning.” He greets the men, and hands them a card. “My associates and I would like to take a look around.”
“Be careful where you go. We’ve marked off some sections with tape- make sure you don’t disturb those areas.” A man with a blue cap and a badge on his chest waves his arm toward the buildings. “In fact, I’ll go with you.”
I look over at the two buildings, one a badly burned new building adjoined to an old stone building. I stare at the old building.
“Mireille.” I whisper to her as we all walk forward.
“What is it?” she falls into step with me.
“I’ve been here before.”

“And as you can see, the fire started from here and spread. It’s an obvious case of arson. Do you have any idea of someone who would do such a thing?” the man in the blue cap, Georges, looks over at Uncle.
“I’m sorry, I really don’t.” Uncle answers quietly. We stand in the older part of the building. Uncle looks around at the walls, and at the glass display case that once held the book.
“I understand thieves, but why set the place on fire once they had what they wanted?” Georges muses out loud. “It’s very odd.”
“It certainly is.” Uncle nods his head, and takes out his notebook. “If you don’t mind, I need to make some notes.”
“Not at all. I hope you have adequate insurance on the paintings and books that were taken. We will keep an eye out for anything popping up on the black market.”
“I thank you for your help.” Uncle nods his head. “You said there was one survivor?”
“Yes, Frere Mueller is at the hospital. He’s been badly burned and in the intensive care unit. I’m not sure he’ll make it, from what I hear.” Georges sighs. “We’ve tried talking to him, but he doesn’t know anything.”
I walk away from them, studying the room. It seems familiar. I feel Mireille come up behind me.
“So when were you here?” her voice is low, meant only for me.
“I don’t know.” I wrinkle my brow. “But I know that if you go out of this room, there’s a stairway to the left.”
“Let’s look then.” She touches my arm.
“We’re going to look around a bit more, if you don’t mind.” She announces out loud. Uncle looks up from his conversation with Georges and nods his head. We walk through the old archway and into a smaller room. I catch my breath as I see the old steps winding upward.
“It’s here.” Mireille sounds shocked. “It’s really here.” She steps forward and takes my hand, looking down at me.
“Do you want to go up there…” she hesitates. “What if- that room is up there.”
We look at each other for a moment. She purses her lips, then nods her head at me.
“But you have to go, don’t you?” she says softly.
I pull her hand and we start up the steps together.

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