The Secret

Armed with an address in rue Saint-Sabin he flagged down a taxi and was there in under fifteen minutes, asking at the desk for Guy Monfils, the man who had spoken at Simone’s funeral. He was invited to wait and used the time to examine the posters on the office walls, something that left him surprised at how large the organisation was: he was quickly disabused of his previous belief that it was primarily French. Médecins Sans Frontières had offices in many countries including the UK where it had premises in Saffron Hill in London. He noted that in several countries it was known as Doctors Without Borders, much more prosaic than the French name which rolled so easily off the tongue.

‘Dr Dunbar, this is a surprise,’ said Monfils, entering the room. ‘What brings you back to Paris?’

‘Aline Lagarde’s murder,’ Steven replied briefly.

‘Why don’t we go through to my office?’

Monfils settled into his chair and invited Steven to do likewise with an outstretched hand. ‘I just hope the police catch the swine,’ he said. ‘We have lost two of our most dedicated workers in the space of two weeks. It’s beyond belief.’

‘Tragic,’ agreed Steven.

‘I’d like to think this a social visit, doctor, but I have a feeling it’s not. What can I do for you?’

‘I had a letter from Simone Ricard just before she died. In it she confided that she felt something was very wrong.’

Monfils appeared to consider for a moment before asking, ‘Did she say what?’

‘She didn’t, and now she’s dead... as is her colleague Aline Lagarde.’

‘But surely this is some awful coincidence? Simone’s death was an accident and Aline was murdered by some lunatic the police are currently hunting for.’

‘Maybe,’ said Steven, remaining expressionless.

‘You can’t be suggesting a link?’

‘Let’s say I’m not ruling it out.’

‘My God, what possible reason could there be?’

‘I was hoping you might help with that. The Pakistan/Afghanistan border is a wild, untamed place. Is it conceivable that the women might have upset some people there, some gang, some faction that weren’t too keen on having foreigners around?’

Monfils spread his hands and pursed his lips as if doubting the suggestion but wanting to find some way of agreeing. ‘Aid organisations are always walking on eggshells in such places,’ he said, ‘and bandits are a continual problem. But surely the scenario you are suggesting might have accounted for their deaths if they’d died out there... not in Prague or Paris.’

Steven had to agree. It was unlikely they would have been followed abroad. He changed tack. ‘I understand Aline made an appointment to come and see you before she returned to Pakistan.’

‘She did,’ Monfils agreed.

‘Can I ask what about?’

‘She was worried Simone might not have made her concerns known to me in Prague.’

Nine

Steven was disappointed. He’d hoped for some new slant. ‘You mean that Children First weren’t doing a good job?’

‘Precisely that. Simone expected the best from everyone where children’s lives were concerned.’

‘But no one wanted her speaking about this at the Prague meeting?’

Monfils picked up a pen and appeared to scrutinise it closely as he pondered a reply. Eventually, he said, ‘Simone approached both Dr Schultz and myself about speaking but we decided there was no need for her to labour the point publicly. Children First is supported by a number of American charities. Americans tend to be very generous — they are by nature a very generous people.’

Steven thought he saw what was coming next and said, ‘And any criticism might have upset the cash flow?’

‘Worse than that,’ said Monfils. ‘We are on the brink of something special. All of us working on the eradication of polio have been disappointed by the persistence of the disease in the region where Simone was working, but now money has been found for a massive attack on the problem — American money.’

‘Government money?’

Monfils shook his head. ‘No, charity money. Money from film stars, pop stars, business magnates, people all coming together to wipe out this awful disease for once and for all. It hasn’t been publicly announced yet but it’s going to happen soon. There will be a rapid expansion of aid teams in the area and cash made available for the latest, most effective vaccine.’

‘Sounds wonderful.’

‘The money, of course, will be channelled through American aid teams.’

‘Like Children First,’ said Steven, suddenly seeing where Monfils was leading.

‘It is, of course, perfectly understandable that American benefactors would like to see the work being carried out by American teams and credit being given to their country of origin.’

‘Only human nature,’ Steven agreed. ‘It’s a pity Simone didn’t know about this. It sounds like too big a boat to rock.’

‘She did,’ said Monfils. ‘I told her in confidence in Prague.’

Steven was taken aback. ‘So what was her reaction?’

‘She went straight to Thomas Schultz and demanded an opportunity to speak to the meeting, saying that it was now more important than ever.’

‘Why?’