Read The Square of Revenge for Free Online Page A

he got out of the Scorpio.
    “Guido Versavel,” said De Kee. “He was finishing his night shift. But you know Versavel. There’s no stopping the man,” he added in what was close to a sneer.
    “Versavel’s an excellent officer,” said Van In resolutely. De Kee looked at him in amazement but said nothing. He had spotted Degroof, who had left the store and was walking in his direction.
    “Bonjour, mon cher Commissaire.”
    De Kee walked up to Ghislain Degroof with a distinguished smile on his thin lips. They greeted one another elaborately on the sidewalk in front of the store with pats on the back, incomprehensible French salutations, and what seemed to be an endless handshake. In contrast to an hour earlier, Degroof was conspicuously relaxed.
    Van In was demoted on the spot to a useless establishment appendage.
    Versavel appeared at the door and saved the day. The sergeant nodded approvingly and beckoned Van In with a languid gesture. He was happy to hand over the investigation to Van In. Working with Vermeersch and Decoster was getting him nowhere.
    “Guido, you look tired, my friend.”
    “You’d be the same if you’d spent the entire night playing nanny!”
    Van In raised his eyebrows.
    “Petitjean,” said Versavel.
    “Is that poor bastard still not married?” Van In smiled. Everyone on the force had heard about the young officer’s amorous crusade.
    “Vermeersch and Decoster are taking photos in the workshop,” said Versavel. “The Deputy’s keeping an eye on them.”
    “The Deputy!” Van In groaned. “Why not bring in the attorney general? No publicity. Jesus H.”
    “What are you driveling on about?” asked Versavel.
    “Never mind. So tell me, what’s the situation?”
    Versavel quickly filled him in. He also confessed that he had played a joke on De Keyzer, the duty officer. “I wasn’t surprised when he walked right into it, but I hadn’t reckoned on her doing the same.”
    “So she’s as dumb as the rest of her magistrate colleagues,” said Van In disdainfully.
    “I don’t know if she’s dumb,” muttered Versavel. “But she’s certainly cute …”
    “I’ll be the judge of that, Sergeant,” said Van In. “Since when did this sudden interest in the opposite sex emerge, by the way?”
    Van In and Versavel had known each other for years, and Versavel had grown immune to his insinuations.
    “I called Leo. He’ll be here any minute,” said Versavel, ignoring Van In’s provocation. Leo Vanmaele was a forensics expert for the NIC. He was also one of Pieter Van In’s closest friends.
    “Excellent,” said Van In.
    “Come, let’s go inside,” Versavel suggested. His tiredness was slowly getting the better of him.
    Van In’s feet sank half an inch into the mouse-gray wall-to-wall carpet into which the Degroof Diamonds and Jewelry monogram had been woven.
    “Call this art?” he muttered.
    “Not impressed?” said Versavel, slightly surprised. Van In shook his head resolutely.
    He took a careful look around. It was a small space, twelve by forty at the most, he figured. The walls, into which eight imitation gothic alcoves had been carved, were covered with old hand-cleaned bricks. The alcoves had glass doors and served as display cabinets for the jewelry. But on this particular Sunday morning there was nothing in the alcoves except the blue velvet display mats.
    A pair of crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and a couple of tables at which Degroof received his clients were the only furnishings. Van In couldn’t quite put his finger on their style. A mixture of all the French Louis put together, an excess of gold leaf, and yards of Cordovan leather. Each table had three chairs in the same indefinable style. The seats were covered in velvet.
    Van In lit a cigarette.
    “Maybe I should introduce you to our Deputy first,” said Versavel by way of precaution.
    “Do you have to?” Van In growled. “You know I don’t like working with women. First they snare you, then