Read The 7th Woman for Free Online

interviews again and again. You would have doubts and wade through terrible nightmares.
    â€œI’m sorry, David.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault. It’s the same for everyone here. You looked fried yourself.”
    There was no need to respond. Who could remain indifferent when faced with torture and murder? What surprised Nico was the distress that Commander Kriven was exhibiting. He was a showoff some of the time, but he was just a cop like the others. Deep down, that was reassuring.
    â€œYou’ll see, David, it gets easier with age,” he said, winking at Deputy Chief Rost to conclude the conversation.
    Commander Kriven didn’t believe him but was grateful for the reassurance. Nico slapped him on the shoulder, and they relaxed a little.
    â€œThe interview with Paul Terrade didn’t provide anything useful,” Nico said. “He doesn’t appear to have anything to do with what happened and seems to be telling the truth. His girlfriend was one month pregnant, and we need to find out if Terrade was the father.”
    â€œThat’s horrible!” Kriven said.
    â€œI know. Terrade didn’t talk to me about it. Does he know? Did she know? This is what we need to find out this morning. Rost?”
    â€œI’ll join Théron’s squad to speed things up. Today we need to see the couple’s doctors, go to the bank to go over their accounts, visit the Sorbonne, where she was teaching, and finish questioning Terrade’s employer, colleagues, family and friends.”
    â€œOK for Théron,” Nico said.
    Indeed, he thought that Joël Théron’s team would need all the help it could get to collect as much information as possible in such a short time frame. Three of the four sections he managed worked on serious infractions—murders, kidnappings, missing persons and sexual molestation. The fourth dealt with counter-terrorism and had been particularly busy since September 11, 2001. The men assigned to it were worn out and constantly on call, just as he and his deputy chiefs were. He was already concerned about the holiday season. Right now, things were relatively calm as far as criminal cases were concerned. So Théron’s men could work with Kriven’s on the Jory case.
    â€œI will deal with the paternity issue and contact Ms. Jory’s gynecologist,” Nico said. “Then I’ll go to the Sorbonne. Go ahead with the rest. Use the usual methods. I have an appointment at eleven a.m. with the state prosecutor, so we’ll do a first review of the investigation at ten. Let’s get those scientists to move their asses on this.”
    Rost and Kriven left the office. Nico called Paul Terrade’s sister, where he had spent the night. She answered after a single ring.
    â€œHow is your brother holding up?” Sirsky asked after identifying himself.
    â€œHe was up all night. He refuses to sleep, as if he were keeping vigil for Marie-Hélène.”
    â€œHe won’t last long that way. You should take him to see a doctor. He has experienced a trauma that he may have trouble handling on his own.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I was going to suggest today. But Paul can be so stubborn.”
    Nico had the impression that Paul Terrade was in good hands. His sister was obviously sad, but she was dealing with the situation.
    â€œI need to see your brother. It’s urgent.”
    â€œWhy? Do you have something new?” she asked.
    â€œIn a way. Can you manage to be in my office at nine?”
    â€œSo it is important. Of course, we’ll be there.”
    â€œSee you then,” Nico concluded.
    He then made a list of the couple’s doctors, including their general practitioner, his ophthalmologist, a dentist and her gynecologist. He was most interested in talking with the gynecologist, whose offices were certainly not open yet. He asked his staff to find the physician’s home phone number and called it. A