divert his attention, the nerve ends kept sending memory messages to a limb that was no
longer there. Katz shifted restlessly in his seat, trying to ease the pressure on his hip. He
had tried to see Noelle every day since he had arrived in Athens but with no success. He
had spoken to Napoleon Chotas, and the lawyer had explained that Noelle was too upset to
see old friends and that it would be best to wait until the trial was over. Israel Katz had
asked him to tell Noelle that he was here to help her in every way he could, but he could
not be certain that she ever received the message. He had sat in court day after day, hoping
Noelle would look his way, but she never even glanced at the spectators.
Israel Katz owed his life to her, and he felt frustrated because there was no way he
could help repay that debt. He had no idea how the trial was going or whether Noelle
would be convicted or acquitted. Chotas was good. If any man in the world could free
Noelle it was he. Yet somehow Israel Katz was filled with unease. The trial was far from
over. There could still be some surprises ahead.
A witness for the prosecution was being sworn in.
“Your name?”
“Christian Barbet.”
“You are a French national, Mr. Barbet?”
“Yes.”
“And where is your residence?”
“In Paris.”
“Would you tell the Court your occupation?”
“I am the owner of a private detective agency.”
“And where is that agency located?”
“The main office is in Paris.”
“What kind of cases do you handle?”
“Many kinds…commercial pilfering, missing persons, surveillance for jealous
husbands or wives…”
“Monsieur Barbet, would you be good enough to look around this courtroom and tell
us whether anyone in this room has ever been a client of yours?”
A long, slow look around the room. “Yes, sir.”
“Would you tell the Court who this person is, please?”
“The lady sitting over there. Miss Noelle Page.”
A murmur of interest from the spectators.
“Are you telling us that Miss Page hired you to do some detective work for her?”