Tower of Shadows Read Free

very back, her mother's suede
    jewellery case. Sabine extracted it gently. Her mother had been
    quite specific about it. 'My jewellery case and all its contents to my
    daughter Sabine', her will had read, with the added proviso that the
    bequest should only take place after Hugh Russell's own death.
    Maman's perception had probably told how impossible it would be
    for him to part with any of her things in his lifetime.
    In fact, there was very little inside the case, just her watch, a few
    pairs of earrings, and her cultured pearl necklace. The tray didn't
    fit very well, she noticed, and when she lifted it out she discovered
    why. Under it was a small flat package wrapped in yellowing
    tissue paper.
    Sabine removed the paper carefully, trying not to tear it, feeling in
    many ways like an intruder. An oval silver medallion and chain
    slid into her hand, and she studied it, frowning. She knew all
    Isabelle's small store of jewellery, and she'd certainly never seen
    this before, although she had to admit it was a beautiful thing.
    Moreover, it looked old, and by its weight in her hand could also
    be valuable. And equally clearly, concealed in the base of the box,
    it had not been for public view.
    There was some kind of engraving on the medallion, and she took
    it over to the window for a closer look. The design wasn't very
    clear, but she could just make out a building shaped like a tower,
    she thought, tracing the outline with her fingertip, and beneath it a
    flower which might or might not be a rose.
    Sabine looked at it for a long moment, aware of a faint stirring in
    her consciousness, some elusive memory, fleetingly brought to
    life. But as she reached for it, tried to bring it into sharper focus, it
    was gone. Just another unanswered question, she acknowledged
    with a small sigh, as she re-wrapped it.
    She was about to replace it when she noticed that the satin lining in
    the bottom of the case had been torn away from one edge, and
    stitched back into place with large clumsy stitches.
    Not Maman's style at all, she thought, frowning. I wonder when
    that happened?
    She ran her fingers over the base, finding an unexpected bulkiness.
    There was something there—under the lining. She found a pair of
    nail scissors and cut the stitches.
    The something was an elderly manila envelope, secured with a
    rubber band.
    Slowly Sabine opened it, and emptied the contents on to the
    dressing-table. A latch-key-attached to a ring in the shape of a
    small enamelled owl fell out first to be followed by a thin folder of
    photographs, a picture postcard, a label from a wine bottle, and,
    lastly, some kind of official document in French.
    It was a mixed bunch, she thought wonderingly. Rather like that
    game where you had to memorise so many objects on a tray.
    She picked up the document, and spread it open. Her heart seemed
    to be beating very slowly and loudly as she looked down it. She
    read it carefully twice, but her conclusion was the same both times.
    It was some kind of title deed to a house in France. A house called
    Les Hiboux, sited in the departement of the Dordogne, which she
    knew was in the south-west, near a community called Issigeac. Not
    that it meant a thing to her.
    'My jewellery case and all its contents to my daughter Sabine'.
    All its contents.
    She felt cold suddenly, and pushed everything back into the
    envelope. She would look at the rest later. For now, she had
    enough shocks to assimilate, she thought, as she put the case into
    her bag, and took a last look round.

    She left the envelope on her dining table while she prepared her
    evening meal. Everywhere she went in the flat, she seemed to
    catch sight of it out of the corner of her eye. It was not to be
    ignored.
    She'd called at the library on her way home and borrowed some
    books on the Dordogne. She glanced through them as she ate. The
    actual region where the house was situated was called the
    Perigord, and it was divided up into the White, the Green and