Chapter 58 - Car journey into the past

Adrien had fallen asleep on her lap when they made their way home in Alexandre's Porsche.

After the bargained chocolate ice cream and another glass of Coke, the little guy had rolled himself up on Lily's lap and fell asleep happily.

It was just before 5 p.m., yet Lily, too, was gripped by this tiredness and nodded off. Only the quiet breathing of his little family could be heard in the car. It was a peaceful and pleasant silence that finally let Alexandre ease after all the stress since yesterday evening.

Alexandre held his gaze straight ahead, looking out at the road as he steered his car through the streets.

He really enjoyed the time he spent with Adrien and Lily. Although the two had entered his life less than a month ago, he felt very close to them. He liked the feeling of coming home in the evening to a house filled with laughter and warmth. A house where he was awaited and welcomed.

It felt at home.

Although he had never asked for it, the two had taken him into their small family and given him something he could not call by name.

He had only understood when he saw Lily lying on the floor so badly injured. Crying. Her smile had disappeared from her eyes. She seemed so fragile. Everything was so temporary. For the first time it hit him hard to understand how fragile everything was. His small family was built on a shaky foundation.

The horror had gone through with him at that moment. He was afraid to lose everything again...

How many years had it been since he felt so fragile?

Five?

He was only 23 years old that night after a call rang him out of his sleep. It had been a gray autumn morning, hardly a ray of light on the horizon of Paris broke through the heavy cloud cover.

"Do I speak to Alexandre de Valois?" A rough voice asked from the other end of the line.

"Yes!" Had he barked into the phone, tired from the long night in various clubs and a climaxing detour to the Moulin Rouge. He hardly could open his eyes while fishing for his watch.

" Here speaks Commissioner Gérard Bichot. I'd like to ask you to come to the Commissariat de Police du 1er Arrondissement immediately."

"What is the matter? Alexandre asked into the telephone, confused.

"We have to make conversation, but not on the phone." That was the police officer's short answer. "I hope for your cooperation." He explained vaguely and then hung up.

Alexandre had struggled to get out of bed with a heavy head. Annoyed and slow.

Had he only known what was awaiting him. He would have hurried.

But he had not known it.

Unwillingly he had put on his slightly crumpled suit from yesterday and set off.

With deep circles under his eyes he entered the mentioned police station. His mood had been at its rock bottom. At least that's what he had thought before he turned to a policeman in boredom and told him the reason for his visit.

Through a long corridor he was led into a back room, where another of gendarmes greeted him.

Deep circles were also visible under his eyes. But his were darker, deeper. Even his gaze was dull, Alexandre was reminded of a lazy guard dog. The face was leathery and a dark shadow hung around the mouth. Dark blonde strands hung chaotic in his face. As if he had fuzzled the whole night with his hands through his hair. The white shirt was crumpled and hung with a corner out of its dark pants.

"Inspector Bichot, I was on the phone." He stretched out his horny hand to Alexandre.

"Alexandre de Valois."

"May I ask you to come in." The police officer pointed to a room with a white table and two chairs on each side.

For the first time that morning he was struck by the first flood of anxiety. But still he followed into the interrogation room.