Page 70 of In Shining Armor

Listening Pays Off

Flicka von Hannover

People think I don’t listen to them

because surely a princess has better things to do with her time,

but I do.

Flicka cleared her throat as the law office receptionist rang the phone of Monsieur Blanchard, the French attorney who had finalized her prenuptial agreement before the wedding just a few months ago.

The phone line picked up. A man’s voice said,“Bonjour?”

“Howdy,” Flicka said, lengthening her vowels. “My French isn’t very good. Do y’all speak English?”

Dieter was grinning at her from where he sat across the van. He was smiling so hard that laugh lines radiated from his eyes and gathered around his mouth.

Ever since the meeting with the lawyer had devolved from an office meeting into a kidnapping, an energy had seized him, and the wildness in his gray eyes reminded her of a mountain lion’s hunting stare.

Over the phone, the lawyer said, “Yes, I speak English.”

Flicka drawled, “Perfect. This is Rae Stone-von Hannover. I’m the wife of Wulfram von Hannover, one of your clients?”

Wulfram was one of his best clients, Flicka knew. She’d seen Joachim Blanchard drop all his meetings and fly to America when Wulfram needed a private consultation on a legal matter.

“Of course, Madame von Hannover,” Blanchard said, his voice warming. “I am at your disposal.”

“Wulfram’s little sister has gone missin’,” Flicka said. “We’re very concerned about her, and Wulfram is coming to Paris to consult with you about the state of herprenuptialagreement.” Flicka hit thepre-part hard, like a Westerner would. “He was a-wonderin’ if you could be so kind as to make the time to meet him this mornin’?”

“It would be my pleasure, Madame von Hannover. What time?”

Flicka made the arrangements for Joachim Blanchard to step out of his office at the correct time.

When she ended the call, Dieter was still grinning at her.

From the front seat, Aaron Savoie said, “If she ever wants a job in the clandestine service, the Mossad would love to talk to her.”

Dieter said, “Flicka, you missed your calling. You would have made a lovely spy.”