“Morgan?” Hoskins said, waking me. “We’re here.”
I looked around in some confusion at the entrance to the private jetport at de Gaulle because the image of the black dress lingered with me. And I didn’t know why. Then I flashed on a drawing of the dress, and Millie shaking that swatch of black fabric the one and only time we met.
Something about it all clicked, and I said, “I don’t think AB-16 was responsible for Millie Fleurs’s death.”
Hoskins and Fromme twisted around in their seats. “What?”
“There’s another suspect you should consider,” I insisted. “Her assistant, Laurent Alexandre.”
Fromme scowled, but Hoskins said, “Why?”
“The morning before she was killed, I saw a drawing of the dress that Alexandre later said he designed in memory of Millie. It was on his desk.”
“Okay…” Fromme said skeptically.
“Millie had this piece of black fabric that she said she was using to make Princess Mayameen’s little black cocktail dress that night,” I said. “But when we found her, there was no such dress on the mannequins. One of them was bare.”
“So maybe she just decided not to make the dress, and Alexandre used the fabric in her honor from his own design,” Fromme said.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Millie was adamant that the dress had to be ready first thing in the morning. And the princess told Louis and me that she’d gone to Millie’s workshop after the club specifically to see that dress.”
“Seems thin to me,” the magistrate said.
“What do you think happened?” Hoskins asked.
I thought a moment. I spotted Louis limping down the airport sidewalk toward us, pulling my roll-on.
“Alexandre designs the dress,” I began. “And maybe Millie just doesn’t have a good idea for a spectacular cocktail dress that evening, but then she sees her assistant’s design, and she steals it for her own.
“Alexandre kills her in revenge, and pins it on AB-16. He even uses fabric instead of spray paint to form the tag. He comes up with the idea of a fashion show in Millie’s memory. The dress is his again to make a statement in front of the best designers in Paris about the woman he murdered.”
Hoskins looked at Fromme, who shifted uncomfortably before saying, “We would be remiss if we did not look into your theory, Monsieur Morgan.”
“It’s been nice getting to know you, but I think I’ve overstayed my welcome,” I said, and opened the back door to climb out.
“Morgan,” Hoskins said.
I stopped, looked at her.
“Thanks,” she said. “For everything.”
“Moi aussi,” Fromme said with his hunched back to me.
“My pleasure,” I said, and got out and shut the door.
“You look like shit,” Louis said.
“Appreciate the vote of confidence,” I said, yawning. “The jet here?”
“Already refueled,” he said. “They have a shower inside you can use before you go. Your clothes and shaving kit are here, and your passport.”
I showered, shaved, and dressed in cleaner clothes. Louis had nodded off in the waiting lounge.
“Time for me to leave Paris,” I said after waking him.
Louis stood and threw his arms around me. “You are a hard man to contain, Jack Morgan.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“No,” he said. “This is a great compliment, a-”
His cell rang. He looked, raised his eyebrow, and answered. “Justine?” Louis listened, and then handed me the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
“You caught me about to board,” I said. “Can this wait until I get back?”
“No, actually,” Justine said. “We just got a call from General Santos with the Rio de Janeiro Olympic authority. He’s nervous that Brazil isn’t handling security for the games well at all, and he wants Private involved.”
“That’s not what he said after the World Cup,” I said.
“Things change.”
“The games are in what, less than four months?”
“Fifteen weeks, Jack,” she said. “Which is why I’m afraid you’re not coming home to L.A. Tell the pilot you’re bound for Rio.”
Acknowledgments
Private Paris could not have been written without the gracious assistance of many people. First and foremost, our deepest gratitude goes out to Paris expert and author Heather Stimmler-Hall for guiding us, opening doors, and introducing us to the right people.
Thanks to Detective Nicolas Gouzien of the New York Police Department and Detectives Luc Magnien and Eric Trunel of the Paris Police Prefecture for patiently explaining “La Crim,” the French judicial system, and the racial tensions in the eastern suburbs.
Jean-Manuel Traimond took us into several public housing projects in the suburbs and helped us to understand the forces behind the volatility in those areas.
At the War College, we were greatly helped by Rear Admiral Marc de Briancon, Brigadier General Christian Beau, and Colonel Thierry Noulens.
Chef Cristophe Saintange with Chef Alain Ducasse brought us into the world of three-star Michelin cuisine.
We learned about Parisian high fashion from Laurent Dublanchy, Stephanie Coudert, Eric Charles Donatien, and Eymeric François.
Isabelle Reye at the Academy of Fine Arts helped us. So did hotelier Nicolas Bourgeois and Parkours expert Thiboult Granier.
Léttitia Petrie and Emmanuel Schwartz were kind enough to take us inside the Institute of France and explain how it works.
The staff at Plaza Athénée, especially Elodie, could not have been more helpful.
Any mistakes are our own, and to one and all, Merci beaucoup!
About the Authors
JAMES PATTERSON has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years. His other bestselling novels feature the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Private, and NYPD Red. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977, James Patterson’s books have sold more than 300 million copies.
James Patterson has also written numerous number one bestsellers for young readers, including the Maximum Ride, Witch & Wizard, Middle School, and Treasure Hunters series. In total, these books have spent more than 330 weeks on national bestseller lists. In 2010, James Patterson was named Author of the Year at the Children’s Choice Book Awards.
His lifelong passion for books and reading led James Patterson to create the innovative website ReadKiddoRead.com, giving adults an invaluable tool to find the books that get kids reading for life. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.
MARK SULLIVAN is the solo author of thirteen thrillers, including Thief, and the coauthor of four Private novels with James Patterson.
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