One of several signals flickered, flared briefly, and died.
Raymond stared at the sensor board for a moment, considering what such a performance could mean. As he understood the technology, the signals should remain active as long as the device to which each was linked remained intact. Something, then, logic dictated, had happened to one of the devices.
He consulted the board again. Signal "Aurek" was, at the moment, moving through Paris, somewhat erratically, but steadily nearing Rue Duvergé. Signal "Cresh" remained in home position: the extra set, that. It was signal "Besh" that had winked out so suddenly.
The younger? Raymond wondered what could have happened. If I've lost one, before she could even arrive to deal with them . . . Or perhaps it was just that the device had been discovered--though she had assured him that would not happen.
"Aurek" moved nearer and nearer to his own position. "Cresh" remained stable. "Besh" did not return. Raymond gazed out the window, across the street to 13 Rue Duvergé, and wondered what to do.
Through the binoculars he watched them return to their apartment, counting them off. Four and Nine, Three and Seven: he did not see the last two. Was Three dressed differently now? Perhaps that explained the loss of her signal.
Did that mean discovery, though?
Signal "Aurek" was moving again, as the elder suddenly shot out of the apartment. Raymond set down the binoculars. If he had been discovered, time might be short. The moment for action had come. She would arrive when she would arrive; he could wait no longer.
Taking up the handheld tracker and attuning it to signal "Aurek," Raymond left the apartment and followed in Nine's wake. And as soon as he could make a reasonable guess of where she was going, he pulled out the comlink.
"Oui, she was here," said Michelle. "I arrived after she did, but she stayed long enough that I was able to make contact."
"And when she left . . ."
"I sent her to la Moulin. They're expecting her."
"Ah, bien." Raymond paused and looked around at the now-deserted Maison du Chocolat. "Efficient as always."
"It's our job."
"Oui. Michelle--you know my situation."
Michelle gave him only an amused smile in answer.
"Well, I've encountered difficulties. I'm not to make contact until she arrives, but I lost one of the trackers today. And the trackers are rather limited anyway; they can't wear those clothes forever. The trackers served to lead me to their lair, but perhaps it's time for something more . . . efficient."
"Ah, but for that--if I have understood you--you want to get inside the apartment."
"I should be able to break in before morning--"
"It's better guarded than you think. No, I have a better idea." She handed him a rather hefty bag of chocolates.
"What's this?"
"Congratulations, Raymond. You're our newest delivery boy."