Read Doctor Frigo for Free Online

its thick coating of sugar the taste of the pill inside was unmistakably nasty. But there seemed no point at that moment in prolonging the interview by telling him that I had no intention whatever of acting as a DST spy.
    He nodded approval. ‘Good. In anticipation of your understanding and co-operation we have made an appointment for you to see Villegas at his villa tomorrow morning at eleven. I hope that will not be too inconvenient for you, but I am sure that Dr Brissac will be helpful.’
    ‘Very well, Commissaire.’
    ‘Reports may be made verbally by telephone but must be confirmed weekly in writing.’
    I got up to go but he raised his hand. ‘I have referred to Les Muettes as the patient’s villa. I should perhaps mention that for security reasons of his own – perhaps he hoped to deceive the Press – Villegas did not lease the villa himself. That was done on his behalf by Segura, your Uncle Paco. So that is the name that you will see on the post box at the outer gate. You will also find one of my security boys on duty there. He will have his instructions. Just identify yourself to him.’
    ‘All right.’
    I again made to leave. This time he let me get as far as the door.
    ‘One more thing, Doctor. A small piece of information, but it may serve, when you are thinking over what has been said in this room today, to set your mind at rest in a sensitive area.’ He paused then went on slowly. ‘Colleagues of ours in another department made a secret but very full investigation into the circumstances of the plot against your father. And they made it immediately after the tragic outcome. A précis of their report was recently made available to us by the Quai d’Orsay.’ He picked up a sheet of paper and read from it. ‘
No conclusive evidence was found by our investigators which implicated any particular member of the Democratic Socialist Party in the Castillo assassination plot. This information may be communicated to Doctor Castillo at your discretion.
’
    ‘Thank you, Commissaire. No
conclusive
evidence?’
    ‘That’s right.’
    ‘Does that imply that there was
in
conclusive evidence?’
    ‘I haven’t the slightest idea, Doctor. I was merely giving you the information I was told I might give just as I received it.’
    I thanked him again.
    When I went through the outer office on my way out, the telex machine was silent; but the operator, now sifting through the long tear sheets on the table beside it, was still groaning as he worked.
    It is now 04.00 hrs. Must get at least some sleep. Accounts of information obtained from Elizabeth evening 12 May and first interviews at Les Muettes 13 May much too important record when tired. Liable skimp, forget salient points. Can only hope quiet night here tomorrow.
EVENING
    Late that afternoon, after I had seen Gillon, I met with Dr Brissac in his office. Naturally, he wanted a detailed account of my interview at the Préfecture; but as I was sure that he would chatter about it to Gillon the next time they played bridge I was careful to be discreet. However, I told him about the honorarium, and, although I doubted very much whether he had had anything to do with obtaining it for me, thanked him for doing so. He waved my thanks away graciously and offered to lend me one of the hospital’s portable electro-cardiograph machines if I thought I needed it. I would have to borrow a car in which to transport it though. He disapproved of my motocyclette which he considered an insufficiently dignified mode of transport for a doctor. He reminded me that, with an extra five hundred francs a month coming in, I would be able to afford the down payment on a car.
    When I left the hospital for the day I went to see Elizabeth.
    She, too, lives in one of the restored houses, though hers, unlike mine which is split up into apartments, is undivided. She has her studio there and a full-time femme-de-ménage. She also owns a gallery in the shopping arcade of the Hotel Ajoupa. Through