The Honest Folk of Guadeloupe Read Free Page A

d’excellence
.”
    “You must’ve been teacher’s pet.” The headmistress put down the glass and took a pen from the mahogany inkstand in front of her. “Everybody knew it was a mistake. Liliane should never have married Dugain. Few people will miss him. Not even his groupies.” She jotted something onto a scrap of paper. “In your position, I’d forget about justice and I’d certainly forget about
Monsieur Environnement
.” She folded the piece of paper twice, firmly, as if she wanted to have nothing to do with its written contents. “A womanizer and a fraud.”
    “You’re not in my position.” Anne Marie took the slip of paper, without glancing at it.
    “But like you, I’m a woman.”

5
Trousseau
    Trousseau had been putting on weight.
    “They told me downstairs you were here,
madame le juge
.”
    Lucette Salondy smiled brightly. “Please enter.”
    Trousseau took a hesitant step into the office. He held a briefcase under his arm, and beneath the white shirt, the narrow shoulders ran down to a bulging belly that pushed at the cracked crocodile belt of his trousers. His eyes darted from one woman to the other. He smiled nervously and straightened his tie. “I wouldn’t have …”
    “Come in and sit down, Monsieur Trousseau.” Anne Marie gestured him to the chair beside her. “Nobody’s going to hurt you. Just two old ladies chatting.”
    “Bit of a hurry,
madame le juge
.” He stood with his dark hand on the handle of the open door. “I’ve just come from the
palais de justice
.”
    “Monsieur Trousseau, you know Mademoiselle Salondy?”
    He moved reluctantly toward the desk and shook the outstretched hand, while his eyes remained on Anne Marie. “There’s a plane waiting for you,
madame le juge
. At the airport.”
    She laughed. “My children are waiting for me.”
    “You’re wanted in Saint-François.”
    “On Wednesdays I have lunch with my children. You know that, Monsieur Trousseau. This afternoon I’m taking them to the beach.”
    “It’s urgent.”
    The laughter left her eyes. “Why a plane, Monsieur Trousseau?”
    He smiled nervously and edged back toward the door.
    “And to think that I chose this job.” Anne Marie looked at Lucette Salondy. “A functionary of the state,” she sighed before getting wearily to her feet. “Come and see the children soon.”
    Lucette held Anne Marie’s hand. “I’m retiring at the end of the year. An old woman, thirty-seven years a teacher. I’ll have plenty of time to visit you then.”
    Trousseau pulled at the dark tie again. “The
procureur
insisted on an escort.”
    “Give my love to the children, Anne Marie. Kiss the lovely Létitia.”
    “If the
procureur
ever allows me to see them.”
    The two women embraced and Lucette Salondy squeezed Anne Marie’s hand.

6
Gendarme
    The officer helped Anne Marie from the military helicopter and accompanied her to the waiting car—a dark blue Peugeot that glinted in the sunshine. Trousseau followed, muttering to himself and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
    “We’ll be there in a few minutes.” The
gendarme
spoke with an educated accent. He belonged to the generation of West Indians that was now beginning to reach positions of authority. There was about him the faint odor of expensive
eau de cologne
and self-assurance. Anne Marie got into the car and he closed the door behind her. He went around the back of the vehicle and climbed in from the other side. A smile played at the edge of his lips.
    Trousseau sat beside the uniformed driver. He held the battered attaché case on his knees. He was now wearing his threadbare jacket.
    “To the Pointe des Chateaux.” The
gendarme
removed his
képi
. He had a high forehead and short, curly hair that had begun to recede. He was good-looking, but slightly chubby. “Capitaine Parise,” he said.
    “Anne Marie Laveaud.”
    The lips broke into a wide smile. “I’ve heard much about you.” He held out his hand; Anne Marie noticed a gold