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In preparation for their after-hours tour, they’d used Google Earth to scrutinize the island for hiddenspots that would shield them from not only Kholkov, should he and his men happen to follow, but also the Marseille harbor patrol They’d found a pro spot on the island’s seaward side

Now Remi eased the Mistral to port They spent a half hour circuns of life Seeing nothing, they ca the northern shoreline Ahead, the château’s westernest of the three, came into view above the battlement Remi steered into the cove below it, throttled down, and let the Mistral glide to a stop at the base of the wall Aside from a rain-churned surface, the water was flat calm here Sam dropped anchor and used the boat hook to pull the Mistral closer to the rocks Remi jumped over and followed, stern line in hand He jammed the line beneath a basketball-sized rock

Hand in hand they picked their way along the wall, hopping from rain-slick boulder to rain-slick boulder until they reached a particularly tall one they’d spotted on the satellite shots Sam climbed atop it, positioned himself below a notch in the battlerabbed the wall’s inner ledge He chinned himself up and crawled atop the wall, then he helped Remi up and down the other side He hopped down beside her

“Thank God for bad architecture,” he said

If not for the fort’s backward-facing fortifications, they would have needed an extension ladder to accomplish what they’d just done

“Don’t see anyone,” Remi said “You?”

Sam shook his head In their research they’d found no uards, but to be safe, they would proceed as if there were

With Re the curved wall of the turret to where it ht western wall and followed this to the end Beside the been warmed by the sun all day then soaked by the rain, smelled like chalk Remi peeked around the corner

“Clear,” she whispered

In Sam’s pocket, the Iridiu his voice a whisper It was Rube: “Bad news, Sam The DCPJ can’t find Kholkov or his buddies They know he entered the country on his own passport, but none of the hotels or rental car agencies have any record of him”

“Switched to a false passport,” Sauessed

“Probably so Bottom line, he’s still out there Be careful”

“Thanks, Rube We’ll be in touch”

Saave Remi the news “We’re not any worse off than ere before Shall we?”

“Absolutely”