Left to Vanish (An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Eight) Blake Pierce (classic english novels TXT) 📖

The man was shaking his head and saying, “I’m sorry, butthis is private property.”

“I don’t mean to startle you. I’m Agent Sharp, with theDGSI.”

The man fixed her with a stunned gaze. “Are you here aboutthe owner?”

Adele glanced at the sign. A for sale sign. With LaPetite Realty.

She pointed toward the sign and said, “You’re selling theplace?”

“Got a call this morning. They wanted it rushed. I onlyjust got here. Sorry, but what is DGSI doing here?”

She ignored the question. “Who called you?”

The man shuffled uncomfortably, glancing back over his shoulderto Adele again. “A Mrs. Schmidt. The sister-in-law of the house owner.”

Adele nodded slowly. This made sense. The husband of thethird victim had been beside himself with grief. But the fiery, red-facedsister-in-law had seemed a commanding presence. Adele wouldn’t have put it pasther to put the house up for sale so quickly.

“Do you know why they’re selling?”

“I don’t. Just heard there was some bad business inGermany.”

Adele combed a hand through her hair. Perhaps the husbanddidn’t want the house without his wife. Perhaps the sister was getting ahead ofherself and making a play for an inheritance payout. Whatever the case, Adelewasn’t with financial crimes.

She said, “What do you know about this place?”

He glanced at the house and back at her. “Not much. It’s ina good area. It didn’t used to be, but things have looked up recently. Housesare going for three times what they were ten years ago.”

“I see.”

“Are you looking to buy?”

“No. Is there anything…” She trailed off, wrinkling herbrow. “…strange about this place?”

“Strange in what way?”

“Any way.”

The round-faced real estate agent scratched at his chin anduntucked his collar, breathing slowly. “I mean it’s old. But you can see that.”

Adele sighed, shaking her head. Perhaps she should havegone with Agent Paige. Was she just fooling herself at this point?

“I don’t mean to bother you, but there’s a second house;632 Route de Contis.”

“What about it? Is it yours? We give very competitive ratesif you’re looking to sell.”

“I’m just curious if you know who sold that home?”

The agent frowned a bit, leaning against the yard sign, andthen said, slowly, “Funnily enough, I think I do. I try to keep track of mostthe competitors in the area. We’re a small firm.”

“So who sold that one?”

“It wasn’t one of the big firms,” said the real estateagent. “Which is why I remember it. Was a good deal from what I recall. You won’tfind the guy at an agency; he works out of a trailer.”

Adele blinked in surprise. “A trailer? Where?”

“On an undeveloped lot on the other side of town, behindsome of the eateries for the tourists.”

“What’s his name?”

“Etienne Durand.”

“Do you have an address for Mr. Durand?”

“Look it up on your phone. He advertises. Say, are you sureyou’re not in the business for a house? Like I said, very competitive rates. Thisplace, in fact, I’ll knock a percent off the price, if you want to come in witha bid.”

“No, that’s quite all right. Thank you.” Adele looked back towardthe strange house. For a moment she considered going inside, but what would bethe point?

She wasn’t here because of the architecture. Odd though itwas. She was here because this was a common point among all three victims. Shejust couldn’t tell why. Why did it matter? The first building had strangearchitectural parts too. Some old columns, and the stained glass window in thebathroom. This third one looked practically like a miniature castle. But thesecond had seemed modern. So what was the connection?

Etienne Durand. The rogue real estate agent who worked outof a trailer on an undeveloped lot. Maybe he would have the answers she waslooking for. And if not, she wasn’t sure how she would be able to return andface Agent Paige or Foucault.

Especially not if another body dropped in the interim.

***

Adele stalked toward the small trailer, situated against thered brick wall of one of the eateries on the touristy boulevard. The windowswere bright, orange light emanating out into the late afternoon. A large pictureon the side of the RV displayed a grinning face, a little too exaggerated to behandsome, with a weak chin. The face was next to words that read, EtienneRealty.

Adele had found the address online and had read a few ofthe reviews for the place. Mostly satisfied customers, but a couple of one-starreviews had come from people who’d accused Mr. Durand of being shady with theirmoney.

One had flat out accused him of stealing.

Adele rubbed her fingers against each other as sheapproached the door, and then rested her hand on her belt. She wrapped her fingersagainst the metal handle and called, “DGSI!”

A pause, then a sound like a small cough. “Customer orcollector?” a voice called from inside.

She frowned. “DGSI,” she repeated, louder now.

“What’s that?” the voice replied.

“Police,” she said.

The door suddenly swung open, nearly knocking into her. Shetook a quick step back, avoiding the swinging frame. A much smaller version ofthe man on the poster beneath the trailer windows blinked out at her.

The smile was almost to scale. It took up most of his face.Teeth nearly the size of thumbnails flashed out from stretched lips.

“Police?” he said, through his forced smile. “Well, I’malmost off work. Do you mind coming back later?”

The man had oily hair, slicked to one side, and his million-dollarsmile seemed just a bit too white, suggesting whitening strips. His weak chinbristled with attempts of a beard to hide its structure, but the facial hairhadn’t come in completely yet.

He wore a suit top, but his bottom half was clad only in boxers.

Adele glanced pointedly down at the man’s underwear, and hefollowed her gaze.

“Whoops,” he said, nonchalantly. “Sorry, I was working onthe computer.”

He made no move to return into the trailer and don somepants.

Adele sighed. “Are you Etienne Durand?”

“That’s me. Who’s asking?”

She crossed her arms now, placing one foot in front of theother. “Agent Sharp. I have a couple of questions for you.”

His expression remained rather fixed. “Is this about thatdeal for the houseboat? It’s not my fault they didn’t have a permit. Besides,pending litigation, you’re not supposed to harass me about that anymore.”

Adele shook