The 7th Woman by Frédérique Molay Page B

unit.”
    Nicole Monthalet nodded in both agreement and impatience.
    â€œBut that is not why we are here right now,” she said. “Mr. Sirsky, give us an overview of your investigation.”
    â€œSince this morning, we have been visiting all the shops in Paris that specialize in nautical equipment. We are also trying to find out more about how these victims, both of whom were pregnant, are related. We are waiting for the DNA analysis of the lock of hair the murderer left for us and the blood he wrote with. These leads are far from insignificant, and we are doing everything we can to follow them up.”
    â€œIn the end, we don’t have any other solution than to wait for a new murder to be committed,” Judge Becker said.
    â€œWe are informing all the precincts in the capital so that our officers in the field can step up their vigilance,” Nico said.
    â€œMr. Cohen suggested that we hold a press conference,” Nicole Monthalet said. “Reporters are going to run with the murders in the next few hours. It is perhaps in our best interest to take the first step and issue a warning.”
    â€œWho will do it?” the prefect asked.
    The question implied that they were all in agreement, but he would not be the one to take the initiative. The case was getting bigger, and it would serve to have a fall guy if any complications arose.
    â€œCohen will handle it,” the commissioner decided.
    â€œGood,” said the prefect. “Judge Becker will work with your office, Madame . I’ll go alert the interior minister immediately.”
    THE phone rang right after Nico returned to his office. He saw that it was his sister, Tanya. He hesitated to answer, because he had more urgent things to do, but in the end, he picked up the phone.
    â€œSo, your endoscopy?” she asked.
    â€œI have a three-month treatment for a little inflammation. It’s benign and nothing to worry about.”
    â€œPerfect. I’m glad to hear that. But be careful anyway. So, tell me, I’m also calling about that dinner invitation.”
    â€œI really don’t have the time this week,” he cut in. “I have a tough investigation on my hands, and I have to work night and day.”
    â€œEven if Dr. Caroline Dalry is with us?”
    Nico went speechless. How could that be?
    â€œWell, don’t you have anything to say? It’s tonight at our place, between eight-thirty and nine. And Alexis wants to see you. It’s important, but he didn’t want to tell me what it was about.”
    A dinner with Caroline Dalry was tempting, even in the current situation.
    â€œOK. I’ll do my best,” he said.
    â€œI knew it! You’ve taken a fancy to the beautiful Caroline.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous.”
    â€œCould you finally be in love?”
    â€œDon’t fast forward things, Tanya. And don’t let it slip out.”
    â€œHe admits it! I also heard a little tremor in her voice when I mentioned that you would be the fourth guest. Great! See you tonight, big brother.”
    Nico gave a loud sigh. His sister read him like an open book, and that wasn’t always very comfortable. But he didn’t have any time to think about it; there was an email from the Nantes University Hospital waiting on his computer. Paul Terrade was the father of Marie-Hélène Jory’s child, according to the paternity test. Human cells have forty-six chromosomes arranged in pairs, each pair containing chains of DNA. A child gets twenty-three chromosomes from each parent, which makes it possible to prove if two people are related. All you have to do is compare their respective genetic material. But this result was not surprising. The mystery would not be solved in the victims’ inner circle. It was far more complex and perverse.
    FLORENCE was feeling mischievous. She carried a dark package with a bright blue ribbon around it. It contained a pale green silk chemise