Carroge - Book 3 E-Book

Laporte Gilbert

• Herausgeber: Le Tram Noir - INT
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Serie: Carroge
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 142

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

A series of murders following a religious ritual shake the Paris region while numerous strange phenomena cause panic in Africa and America...

After identifying the home of the murderer nicknamed 666, Lieutenant Martin Delpech is stunned to see that he hsa been filming the torture he inflicts on his victims, inspired by biblical themes. Pierre Demange, meanwhile, will discover unknown gospels hidden deep in a cave, but his discovery will turn out badly. Especially when his wife finds herself confronted by the killer...

Discover the third volume of one of Lieutenant Delpech's investigations, as he attempts to unravel the devil's clues.

WHAT THE CRITICS THINK

Passionate about the subject of the creation of the Gospels, as he explains at the end of the book, Gilbert Laporte uses this subject to create an original and very well-crafted plot, on a theme that has already been explored several times, around the psychology of the murderer, and greed in particular. A very good first novel with fluid writing but also dynamic when necessary. A must-read! - Aucafélittérairedecéline, Babelio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gilbert Laporte was born in Paris and lives in the south of France. He completed his higher education in Nice and worked as an executive at several large companies. He divides his leisure time between reading history, cinema, music, travel, and writing.

Leseprobe

Couverture

Page de titre

1

Business Angels

The meeting room was brand new. It had been set up in the vast living room of a colonial-style property, a grand house located not far from the green banks of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. A large bay window showcased an expansive landscaped park, with a wide lawn dotted with rose bushes and bordered by majestic trees. The other walls were adorned with molded oak panels featuring Art Deco motifs. At the ceiling’s edge, indirect lighting perfectly mimicked natural light, and exotic plants placed in each corner of the room made this workspace quite pleasant. This peaceful setting was only disrupted by a contemporary painting in crimson hues that dominated the scene and clashed with the building’s classic style. A long table made of solid cherry wood occupied the center of the room, facing a large flat-screen TV connected to a laptop.

A hostess, neatly dressed in a green skirt and a white blouse, opened the double doors leading into the room. About ten participants entered slowly, engaged in serious conversation. They took their seats around the table after locating their name tags placed on it. These individuals were of various ages, but all were dressed in dark suits, often tailored, giving them the appearance of high-level businesspeople. Some stood up to fetch coffee from a silver coffee pot resting on a low mahogany side table.

After a few minutes, a young man, dressed in a strict yet elegant suit, entered the room and positioned himself next to the screen as the hostess quietly closed the door behind him. He pondered for a few seconds, glanced around the table to ensure all expected participants were present, and began to speak.

“Good morning, gentlemen, I’m delighted that you could all accept our invitation, and I hope you had a pleasant journey.”

Most individuals nodded in agreement, but a few frowned.

“I know you are all very busy, so I’ll get straight to the point of our discussion.”

3D graphs, featuring intricate curves and colorful bars, appeared on the screen.

“First of all, I want to inform you that our program has fully launched, and all our teams are operational. As you can see from the first graph, attendance figures are rising sharply, and our revenues are following suit.”

The screen was touch-sensitive: he scrolled through the various presentations with his fingers and spread his hands to enlarge some of them.

“Sales of ancillary products are very satisfactory, especially since we have not yet rolled out our entire range of items and our promotional efforts are still ongoing. In any case, word-of-mouth is currently working very well, and media coverage has been positive for us.”

Laughter and smirks arose around the table.

“In short, the development prospects are enticing. Our marketing analyses have proven their relevance, with only one or two exceptions. We must therefore ensure that we project an image that aligns well with our customers’ main expectations, without causing any disruption. We need to deliver a service that matches the fundamental needs of individuals, without trying to overly cater to specific demands that may arise, in order to limit costs and maximize our return on investment.”

For most of the people around the table, their first encounter with this marketing approach to their business had been entirely new and had initially left them quite perplexed, even skeptical about the outcome. But they all had to acknowledge that this policy was working.

For now, at least…

“The files placed in front of you summarize our promotional actions, and you will also find a budget overview. Of course, these files are available for consultation only and must be left here upon your departure. Do you have any questions?”

The man who appeared to be the oldest in the assembly spoke up.

“You know that originally I was not in favor of launching these ‘actions.’ It did not align, in my opinion, with our usual practices and markets. However, I must admit that the current results are satisfactory.”

The facilitator was delighted that one of the main leaders of their organization now shared his viewpoint. He displayed a broad commercial smile.

”In fact, it was a foregone conclusion. Some people need to believe in the fantastic, and this is sometimes reinforced by misfortune or illness. Moreover, in a world dominated by industrial and financial logic, people increasingly need to dream…”

“… and we provide them with dreams.”

“Yes, you are absolutely right, just as other companies market films or songs to entertain us and help us escape from daily life.”

Another member of the organization spoke up. He had the profile of a typical killjoy who systematically criticizes everything during a meeting.

“Selling books and videos doesn’t bring in much,” he grimaced.

The facilitator did not let himself be thrown off by the question. He knew he had to counter such characters immediately while partially agreeing with him to prevent him from ruining the conference.

“No, of course, you are right, as we are far from our usual margins. But it still constitutes a small supplementary source of income and, above all, it’s allowed us to infiltrate the Church of Jesus and Holy Mary.”

“And they have no idea?”

– Absolutely none. You know, those people are believers, idealists. They cannot imagine for a second that we could use them to launder money or draw from the church’s funds. In any case, our men now hold all the treasurer positions in every temple. We even created a website for them that solicits donations, which we partially capture before the funds pass through their accounting system.”

Some around the table had an admiring expression:

“The overall profit curve is exponential,” someone in the room remarked.

“Yes, indeed. Furthermore, the Organization invests in real estate in excellent locations. Every building we construct or convert into a temple can potentially be repurposed into shops or offices, should we need to sell, or simply to realize a profit.”

He opened a new document by touching the screen with the tip of his right index finger. “Moreover, we are considering diversifying into the psychotherapy market, targeting so-called ‘fragile’ individuals: the depressed, alcoholics, divorcees, or others who have experienced painful periods. This will allow us to tap into a second customer market, including those who are non-believers. Of course, we will not appeal to the fantastical, but we will sell a more scientific image here. Our project involves opening detox centers, psycho-spiritual centers, and luxury rest clinics…”

Photos of ultra-modern real estate complexes appeared on the screen as he spoke.

“We’re also planning to market soothing para-pharmaceutical products, relaxation books and CDs, and a beneficial infrared device sold for $600 with a wholesale price of barely $100.”

He spoke with a complete absence of emotion in his voice. A stylish, blond man in his forties raised his hand to signal he wanted to speak.

“Do these devices and medications have any real medical effects?”

“Of course not…”

He didn’t even respond in a joking tone. The man seemed to be a machine coldly dispensing figures and arguments.

“These are placebo effects; only some pills are made from tranquilizers or vitamins. Our interest lies in creating a psychological dependency and drawing followers toward increasingly expensive treatments. We are also considering ‘purification’ and ‘rejuvenation’ retreats, which will be priced at $250 per day. Guides will be responsible for following the participants and gradually leading them into our movement, first by having them subscribe to a membership card that will grant them fake discounts on our psychological support books and videos, and then soliciting donations for the community.”

Another speaker, the resident worrywart, furrowed his brow:

“All this is very well, but I would like to discuss the ‘miraculous’ apparitions. Aren’t we at risk of getting caught in the long run?”

2

Research

“This is amazing! This is amazing!”

Pierre Demange repeatedly exclaimed this phrase while excitedly handling the crumpled papers he had carefully unfolded and spread out on the dining room table. Claire leaned forward and affectionately placed her left hand on her husband’s shoulder.

“Are you managing well, my dear?”

He nodded, taking a small cloth from his pants pocket to wipe his glasses.

“Yes, I think I will be able to make something of this… It’s really great that you found these notes. That must be what they call feminine intuition…”

She smiled, delighted to have pleased him so much.

“Let’s just say that you men, when you pursue your ideas headlong, sometimes lack a bit of practicality…”

“Yes, perhaps,” he replied thoughtfully.

The historian had put his glasses back on and was examining the documents closely again. She kissed his forehead and grimaced at the sweat covering him.

“I’ll let you work…”

He held her back by the arm.

“No, no, on the contrary,” he protested. You’re not bothering me at all. “Here, sit next to me; you could help me organize all this.”

She complied with pleasure. It was not typical of her solitary husband to share his research work with her.

“What elements do you have?” she asked, curious.

“Fragments of sentences and scattered words in Old French… some haven’t been translated into modern French, others have.”

“For example?”

“There is, of course, the word ’carroge’ which is underlined twice. This crossroads must have held particular importance for him.”

“Undoubtedly. And then?”

“There is mention of ‘croye,’ meaning chalk. It also says ‘estroite sente,’ a narrow path that leads into the “forest” where they have ‘cele,’ in other words, hidden ‘tes,’ which are pottery, vases, or something of that sort, hence the origin of the modern French word ‘tesson.’”

He couldn’t help but lecture, but since he was knowledgeable in his field and not pretentious in the slightest, those who interacted with him never took offense.

“And what else?” Claire pressed on, eager to know more.

“There is ‘la bove qui sos terre est bastie.’ The pottery is located in an underground chamber that has been dug by hand, a sort of cellar, perhaps…”

“And where is it located?”

“I don’t know yet, unfortunately, he replied with a contrite expression. Apparently, you get there by riding ‘lez une rivière,’ along a river. But which one? It isn’t named. It just specifies…”

He squinted to better decipher the manuscript.

“‘enmi le brac une ile avait,’ there is an island in the middle of the river’s arm. And then, on a second sheet, there is another location indication: ‘tant qu’il y eu un tertre amonte,”’until he had climbed the hill ‘en la bonne voie.’»

He searched for another paper on the table.

“Here, it mentions ‘d’avaler des degres.’»

“What does that mean?”

“The ‘degres,’ I think, are steps. And ‘avaler’ means to descend, to go down into the valley. So you need to descend steps to find the pottery.”

Carrel, who had been lounging on the couch until then, lifted his nose from the manga he had been flipping through distractedly.

“Speaking of ’avaler,’ I could ‘descend’ and get a cold beer right now,” Mathieu called out. Anyone want one?

In the absence of a reaction from the couple, he shrugged and went to fetch his drink from the kitchen, yawning and scratching his neck.

The double living room of the apartment reflected the paradoxical nature of the private investigator’s personality. It was very modern in style, with quality furniture. Abstract paintings and various knick-knacks and figurines completed the decor. Beautiful frosted glass and lacquered steel shelves were filled with popular magazines. There were enough sports dailies, celebrity weeklies, and automotive monthlies to rival any doctor’s waiting room or salon magazine rack…

Pierre Demange continued his presentation with the utmost seriousness:

“There is also a very strange phrase at what seems to be the end of the text: ‘Criem Deu ne me face pardon.’ It is evident that this means: ‘I fear that God will not forgive me.’ Apparently, the one who wrote these words was afraid of divine power in light of what he had done. But what? A little further on, he specifies that he wished ‘estre en repos eissement… ame alast devant Deu,’ that his soul be at rest before going before God. A part of the sentence is missing, but that must be approximately the meaning of this passage.”

“Well, he has things to reproach himself for, that one!”

Claire scanned the papers spread out on the table, picked one up, and handed it to her husband after studying it.

“Look.”

Pierre frowned.

“’tranche le chief’ and ‘moines.’ So it says that he killed the head of the monks,” she noted. “That doesn’t make any sense…”

“The ‘chief’ is the head, and not a leader in this case, the historian clarified.”

“He beheaded a monk! How horrific!” his wife exclaimed.

“That’s not all,” said her husband, who had continued reading the text. “He ‘tresperchie,’ pierced another monk, and made ’trebuchier aval son cor.’ He tipped his body into something, a ravine or a hole. The document seems to indicate that he killed a total of four monks in the forest of Eve!”

“Just that? That’s monstrous. No wonder he fears God. And where is this forest of Eve?”

Pierre shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t know. Never heard of it.”

“What else do we have then?” the young woman asked.

“There is mention of a ‘perriere.’ A stony place, evidently, perhaps a stone quarry.”

He furrowed his brow and quoted a passage from the continuation of the text aloud:

“’... est d’une lame couverte.’ Please look up the word ‘lame’ on your phone.”

Claire took a few minutes to find the solution using her smartphone.

“«=’Bande mince’ or ‘pierre sépulcrale.’ Yes, it’s certainly a tombstone. It mentions a hole covered by ‘un grand perrun de marbre bis,’ a large slab of gray marble. A grave, could it be related to the murder of the monks?”

“No, the murders are something else. I think it’s a hiding place.”

“What would it conceal, in your opinion?”

“Probably the pottery, but I can’t figure out what they might contain. We lack elements. We don’t have the entire original text, just scattered notes…”

He reorganized the various scraps of paper in front of him to try to form coherent sentences.

“There is also mention of opening to access the place where the monks have… There is the verb… ‘enfosser,’ so ‘have buried vases.’”

He nervously gnawed at the nail of his left thumb.

“Goodness, what could be in these pots?” he muttered between his teeth.

“A treasure?” Claire mused.

“No, I’m thinking more of relics. It says that something is marked with a ‘crois,’ obviously a cross.”

“Still no other location indications?”

“Yes, listen: to approach these woods, you need to turn ‘a senestre,’ to the left, after ‘la vanne Charles.’”

“What is a ‘vanne’?”

“I don’t know...”

“I know what a ‘vanne’ is, Mathieu interjected from his couch.”

“No, you don’t!” the Demanges protested in chorus.

They burst into laughter while their friend mimicked a silly expression, sticking out his tongue:

“Wait, I’m looking…” Claire continued. “Ah, here it is. It’s a fishery.”

“A fishery?”

“Yes, apparently, it specifies that the name’s origin comes from the fact that fishermen caught fish in traps made of wicker. And then?”

“You need to follow a ‘cort,’ a farm or a farmyard, just before the village of ‘bolges.’ ‘Bolges’?”

Claire instantly grasped the word on the Internet.

“I found it; they are caves, it’s another form of the word ‘bove.’”

“A village of caves or grottos?”

“Yes, apparently.”

He struggled to decipher the next word.

“After that, you need to take a… ‘l-a-i-e.’”

“A what?”

“A ‘laye,’ it’s a forest path, you know, as in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.”

“I know that,” Mathieu Carrel interrupted.

“We can guess,” Claire replied, turning in her chair. “By the way, if you have a bottle of wine left, we wouldn’t mind if you offered us some, because beer is not my thing…”

Mathieu sighed tiredly.

“Well, all this makes me think it’s time to prepare some food. Are you hungry, researchers?”

“Not too much,” with this heat, Claire replied, fanning herself with her hand while her husband remained nose-deep in his papers.

“Well, I’ll make something light, like fish and salad.”

“That will be just fine for me.”

Then, turning to her husband:

“Have you found anything else?”

“No, we’ve gone through what we had, except for the phrase: ‘Deu m’a esleu a un suen servise faire que nus ne porroit faire se je non,’ which must mean approximately: ‘God has chosen me to perform a service that no one else but me could do.’”

Claire summarized the state of their research:

“So, we have a man who killed four monks, one by beheading and another by throwing him into a ravine or a hole. He reproaches himself for these murders, even though he committed them in the name of God.”