The Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey

The chances of finding out why Isabelle had never returned to Paris were so low as to be ridiculous. But, if she didn’t try, and if Sylvie refused to take the inheritance without further investigation, how would Cat live with herself?
    The best place to start, of course, would be to make a thorough search of Isabelle’s papers. Sylvie, or, preferably not, Loic, must have these somewhere. Surely, there must be bills, accounts, pertaining to the Paris apartment. But then, why hadn’t Sylvie found them? Perhaps they hadn’t been through them yet. The woman in the neighboring apartment in Paris said that all the bills had been paid, but she didn’t know any more than that, other than the owner was a Madame de Florian. Where would an old woman keep her secrets?
    Cat slip ped a bracelet on her wrist. She almost ran down the stairs. There was no time to lose.
    “ Sylvie?”
    The kitchen was empty. It was as tidy as she and Sylvie had left it after breakfast, but Cat could sense that the house was empty too. Suddenly, she jumped at the sound of a Vespa scooting up the steep street. Obstacle number one.
    Then, there was the sound of Sylvie, out on the front doorstep. Clearly, she had been waiting for her son. Cat could almost feel the lead balloon descending on her shoulders. She stayed in the kitchen, walked around the room a couple of times, and straightened her hair.
    “ Chérie?” Sylvie’s voice rang through the house. “Come and look who is here, my darling!”
    Loic should be pleased anyway. He wanted to learn the truth.
    Sylvie almost burst into the room. “Cat!”
    “ I’m here!” Cat laughed.
    Sylvie almost bumped into her. She grabbed Cat by the arms and dragged her into the front entrance hall.
    “Look who has arrived!” she squeaked like a schoolgirl.
    “ Bonjour, Loic,” Cat said. But just as she said the words, she stopped. Someone else was in the entrance hall too. A girl, who was taking off a red helmet, and shaking out her long dark hair. Two large brown eyes raised themselves up to look at Cat, and the girl held out a slim brown hand to shake Cat’s own.
    “ Bonjour, I am Josephine.”
    Loic ’s girlfriend. Of course. Cat smiled at her. “Nice to meet you.”
    Sylvie skipped past Cat and pressed her lips to Josephine’s cheek.
    “Alors,” Loic said, “Let’s go through.”
    Sylvie stood aside as if she were in a receiving line at a wedding.
    “Cat,” Loic took off his gloves and left them with the helmets on the hall table. He was wearing a leather jacket, and his dark hair was slightly ruffled.
    “ Morning, Loic,” Cat said.
    He indicated for her to go through to the kitchen first.
    “Josephine! Josephine!” Sylvie bustled to the espresso machine.
    “ Let me,” Loic marched over to the cupboard and got out coffee beans.
    “ Merci.” Sylvie grabbed Josephine’s hand and led her to the table.
    “ How is Maman today?” Loic asked Cat.
    Cat set four cups on the kitchen bench. “There’s something you should know -”
    “ I thought bringing Josephine over was a good idea.” Loic whizzed the beans like a pro.
    “ Sure.”
    “ She came down last night. Avignon train. I picked her up. We tried a new restaurant in the center of the old town. It was interesting food.”
    “ Aha.”
    “ Damn. Maman should get a new machine.” Loic shook his fingers out. “In fact, I’ll buy her one. There’s a pretty good shop in the village now. Sells this sort of stuff. Handy.”
    “ Loic.”
    Loic stopped and looked at her.
    “ Look.”
    “ Loic?” Sylvie called him to come across. “Josephine has been made a partner in her practice!”
    “ I know, Maman. It’s wonderful news. Excuse me,” he said to Cat. He started walking towards the other women at the table, and then he turned, his head on one side. “Was there something, Cat?”
    “ Oh, later,” Cat smiled, waving him off. She let out a sigh.
    “ Chérie!” Sylvie called. “You come over too. You are part of the