Page 106 of Radar

Xander turned the sign to closed and locked the door. “Get back down.” He pulled the blinds, so they had a couple of inches to see out, but mostly the interior was shielded from view. “If the glass breaks, this will protect the room from flying shards.” He paused as he pulled down the next one. “It can’t stop a bullet.” He said it in English for Elyssa, then in French for everyone else.

“Has the world gone mad?” the head-looking guy said in heavily-accented English.

Banging at the door. “Jean Michel! It’s me, Victor. Let me in.”

“Let him in. He works here.”

“Look first.” Xander raised the shade.

“Yes. Yes. For sure, this is Victor.”

Xander opened the door, and the guy stumbled in, dropping his hands to his knees and panting. “Ca va.” He raised a hand. “Tout va bien.”

Even from Elyssa’s pitiful French, she recognized the words telling her everything was okay.

“What’s happening out there?” The cashier asked in English. “Are you hurt?”

Victor looked at Xander and asked, “American?”

“My wife and I were vacationing.” He made his voice sound defeated. “Paris in the springtime.”

“So romantic,” Elyssa added wryly.

“I am Victor,” he sent a significant look to Xander. “This is Jean-Michel.” He indicated the man behind the cash register.

Jean-Michel focused on Victor. “What did you see?”

“It’s the adhesive factory. The popping is the sound of explosions contained inside the building. I saw firefighters there. They are running their hoses.”

“Good thing the fire station is within hearing of the factory,” Jean Michel held up his cell phone. “There is nothing. What could have happened to our cell connections?”

“Too many people touching base with loved ones all at once,” Xander said. “It’s best to text.” He turned to Victor. “My wife,” Xander said, “has a disorder that is exacerbated by big noises, public distress, all the things that are happening now. It’s her heart. I’d like to get her out of town to Le Havre.

Victor nodded. “I can do it. I don’t have a fancy boat, but I live on it. So, it has a couch for sitting.” He looked at Elyssa. “You can lie down. I have a bed. I changed the sheets this morning.”

Elyssa was numb and woozy. Just anywhere she could put her head in peace and quiet, without the need to fend off another assailant, would be amazing.

“Is it near here?” Xander asked.

“Yes. Yes. Just there.” He pointed toward a covered window.

Victor walked with them as they made their way to the wharf and onto the boat.

Xander lifted Elyssa into his arms and carried her into the cabin, laying her gently on the couch.

“Seven hours from Paris to Le Havre.” Victor put the two backpacks near the cabinet. “I will have you there by dinner. On board, I have just gone shopping. I can make sandwiches, and I have fruit.”

“Perfect, thank you.” Xander turned to Elyssa. “I’m taking Radar to potty. I’m within hearing range just on the shore.”

Victor had finished bringing the folded wheelchair and roller case on board when Radar trotted into the cabin, thenjumped on top of Elyssa, covering her legs, pushing some much-needed blood to her heart.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Elyssa

Monday

Seine River, France