Blood-Red Rivers aka The Crimson Rivers Read online

  "Tell us about his eyes."

  "His eyes?"

  The question came from Barnes. His voice had shot up a tone in astonishment. Niémans was good enough to reply:

  "Yes, his eyes. Earlier, in the hospital, I noticed that the killer had stolen his victim's eyes. The sockets even seemed to be full of water…"

  "Precisely," Costes intervened.

  "Tell us everything from the beginning," Niémans ordered.

  "The killer operated beneath the eyelids. He slipped a cutting instrument under them, severed the oculomotor muscles and the optical nerve. He then extracted the eyes. After that, he then carefully scratched clean the interior of the two sockets."

  "Was the victim dead by then?"

  "Impossible to say. But I did notice evidence of hemorrhaging in that region, which could indicate that Caillois was still very much alive."

  Silence closed over his words. Barnes was ghostly white; Joisneau as though crystallised by terror.

  And then?" Niémans asked to break that feeling of panic, which was rising ever higher.

  "Later, when the victim was dead, the killer filled up the sockets with water. From the river, I suppose. Then he carefully closed the eyelids again. Which explains why the eyes were shut and protruding, as though they had not been mutilated in any way."

  "Let's get back to the excision. In your opinion, does the killer know about surgery?"

  "No. Or, at best, only vaguely. I would say that, as for the torturing, he knows how to apply himself."

  "What instruments did he use? The same as for the lacerations?"

  "The same sort, in any case."

  "What sort?"

  "Industrial tools. Carpet cutters."

  Niémans stood in front of the doctor.

  "Is that all you can tell us? No clues? No obvious lead that arises from your report?"

  "No, unfortunately not. The body was thoroughly washed before being wedged into the cliff. It can tell us nothing about the scene of the crime. And even less about the identity of the killer. All we can suppose is that he is strong and dexterous. That is all."

  "Which isn't much," Niémans grumbled.

  Costes paused for a moment, then went back to his report. "There is just a further detail which hasn't been discussed yet…A detail which has no direct bearing on the crime itself."

  The superintendent's ears pricked up.

  "Which is?"

  "Rémy Caillois had no fingerprints."

  "Meaning?"

  "That his hands were corroded, worn away to such a point that not a trace of a print was left on his fingertips. Maybe he was burnt in an accident. But the accident must have occurred a long time ago."

  Niémans looked questioningly at Barnes, who raised his eyebrows in ignorance.

  "We'll check that out," the superintendent said gruffly.

  Then he went over to the doctor, so close to him that he brushed against his parka.

  "And what is your personal opinion about this murder? What's your feeling? What's your intuition as a medic as regards the torture?"

  Costes took off his glasses and rubbed his eyelids. When he put his spectacles back on, his gaze seemed clearer, as though polished bright.

  "The murderer carried out some obscure ritual. A ritual which had to finish up with this fetal position in a hollow in a rock. The whole thing seems to have been well worked out, perfectly planned. And so the mutilation of the eyes must be an integral part of it. Then there is the water. The water replacing the eyes under the lids. As though the killer wanted to cleanse and purify the sockets. I am having tests made on that water. Who knows? They might provide us with a clue…some chemical lead."

  Niémans brushed these words away with a vague gesture. Costes had spoken of a rite of purification. Since visiting that little lake, the superintendent, too, had had an act of catharsis in mind. They were both thinking along the same lines. Above that lake, the killer had tried to purify that defilement – or perhaps wash away his crime?

  Several minutes ticked by. Nobody dared to move. In the end, Niémans opened the door of the room and murmured:

  "Back to work. We don't have much time. I don't know what Rémy Caillois was forced to admit. I only hope that it won't lead to any more murders."

  CHAPTER 12

  Niémans and Joisneau went back to the library. Before going in, the superintendent glanced at the lieutenant. His face was haggard. So, blowing out like an athlete, he slapped him on the back. Young Eric replied with an unconvincing smile.

  The two of them entered the main room. An unexpected sight was in store for them. Two regional crime squad officers, as well as a horde of uniformed men in shirt sleeves, had invaded the library and were giving it a thorough search. Hundreds of books were piled up in front of them in columns. Joisneau asked, in astonishment:

  "What the hell's going on here?"

  One of the officers replied:

  "We're only following orders…We're looking out all the books about evil and religious rituals and…"

  Joisneau looked across at Niémans. He seemed horrified by this disorderly operation. He yelled at the crime squad:

  "But I told you to go through the computer! Not get all the books down from the shelves!"

  "We did a computer search, according to title and subject matter. And now we're going through the books looking for clues, or points of similarity with the murder…"

  Niémans butted in:

  "Did you ask the boarders for advice?"

  The officer pulled a face.

  "They're all philosophers. They just started bullshitting. The first one told us that the notion of evil was a bourgeois concept, and that we'd have to adopt a more social, or even Marxist approach. So we dropped him. The second one went on about frontiers and transgression. But according to him, the frontier was inside us…our consciences were in constant negotiation with a higher censor and…Well, anyway, it didn't mean much to me. The third one got us going with the Absolute and the quest for the impossible…He told us about mystical experiences, which could take place with either good or evil as the goal. So…I…Well, in fact, we're a bit up to our ears in it, lieutenant."

  Niémans burst out laughing.

  "Told you so," he whispered to Joisneau. "Never trust an intellectual."

  He turned to the confused cop:

  "Keep looking. To the key words `evil, `violence, `torture' and `ritual' you can now add `water, `eyes' and `purity. Go through the computer. Above all, dig out the names of the students who consulted this sort of book, or who were working on this sort of subject matter, for their PhDs for example. Who's working on the main computer?"

  A broad-backed young man, who was shifting his shoulders about inside his jacket replied:

  "I am, superintendent."

  "What have you found in Caillois's files?"

  "There are lists of damaged books, books to be ordered etc. Then lists of students who use the library and the places where they sit."

  "Where they sit?"

  "Yup. Caillois's job was to place them all…" He nodded toward the glass carrels. "…in those little boxes over there. He put each seat into his computer's memory."

  "You haven't found the thesis he was working on?"

  "Yes, I have. A thousand pages about the ancient world and…" He looked at a sheet of paper he had scribbled on. "…Olympia. It's about the first Olympic games and the religious ceremonies that went on around them…Pretty heavy going, I can tell you."

  "Print it out and read it."

  "Eh?"

  Niémans added, ironically:

  "Speed-read it, I mean."

  The man looked crestfallen. The superintendent immediately went on:

  "Nothing else in his machine? No video games? No e-mail?"

  The officer shook his head. This came as no surprise to Niémans. He had guessed that Caillois's entire life had been in books. A strict librarian, who allowed just one thing to impinge on his professional responsibilities: the writing of
his thesis. What could have been tortured out of such a hermit?

  Pierre Niémans turned round to Joisneau:

  "Come with me. I want to know where your investigations stand."

  They took shelter between two rows of shelving. At the end of the alleyway, an officer in a cap was grappling with a book. Faced with such a sight, the superintendent found it difficult to remain serious. The lieutenant opened his notebook.

  "I've questioned several of the boarders and Caillois's two colleagues in the library. Rémy was not very well liked. But he was respected."

  "Why was he unpopular?"

  "No particular reason. I get the impression that he made people feel uneasy. He was a close, secretive type. He made no effort to communicate with others. And, in a way, it went with the job." Joisneau stared around, almost in fear. "Just imagine it…Spending all day in this library, staying quiet."

  "Did anyone mention his father?"

  "You know that he was the previous librarian? Yeah, some mention was made of him. Same sort of guy. Silent, impenetrable. It's like a confessional in here, I suppose it must get to you in the end."

  Niémans leant back against the books.

  "Did anyone say that he died in the mountains?"

  "Of course. But there's nothing suspicious about that. The poor guy was swept away by an avalanche and…"

  "I know. Do you think anybody could have had it in for the Caillois family, father and son?"

  "Superintendent, the victim fetched books from the reserve, filled out slips and gave the students the numbers of their reading desks. Who would want to avenge that? A student who hadn't been given the right edition?"

  "OK. What about his climbing?"

  Joisneau flicked back through his notebook.

  "Caillois was both an excellent climber and a highly experienced hiker. Last Saturday, according to the witnesses who saw him leave, he probably set out for a hike, at about six thousand feet, without any equipment."

  "Any hiking friends?"

  "None. Even his wife never went with him. Caillois was a loner. Practically autistic."

  Niémans then relayed what he had learnt:

  "I've been back to the river. And I discovered traces of spits in the rock. I think the killer used a climbing technique to winch up the body."

  Joisneau's face went tense.

  "Shit, I went up there, too, and I didn't…"

  "The holes are inside the cavity. The killer fixed pulleys into the niche, then lowered himself down to act as a counterweight for the body."

  "Shit."

  On his face was a mixture of bitterness and admiration. Niémans smiled.

  "I don't deserve any praise for that. I was helped by a witness. Fanny Ferreira. She's a real pro." He winked. "And a hot number. I want you to investigate further in that direction. Get a complete list of all the experienced climbers and everyone who has access to that sort of equipment."

  "We're talking about thousands of people!"

  "Get your team mates to help. Ask Barnes. Who knows? Something might turn up. I also want you to deal with the eyes."

  "The eyes?"

  "You heard forensics, didn't you? The killer made off with his eyes, and was extremely careful about it. I have no idea why he did that. Fetishism, maybe. Or a particular form of purification. Maybe those eyes reminded the killer of something the victim witnessed. Or the weight of a stare which the murderer had become obsessed with. I don't know. It's all a bit vague and I don't like this sort of psychological bullshit. But I want you to shake up the town and pick up anything that may have something to do with those eyes."

  "For instance?"

  "For instance, find out if, in the town or university, there have been any accidents involving that part of the anatomy. Go through the statements taken by the local brigade over the last few years, and news stories in the local press. Any fights where someone might have got injured. Or else, animals being mutilated. I don't know, just look. And find out if there are any big eye problems, or cases of blindness in this region."

  "You really think I'll be able to…"

  "I don't think anything," Niémans sighed. "Just do it."

  At the end of the row, the uniformed officer was still staring sideways. At last, he dropped his books and made off. Niémans went on in a whisper:

  "I also want all of Caillois's comings and goings over the last few weeks. I want to know who he saw, and who he spoke to. I want a list of the phone calls he made, both at home and at work. I want a list of the letters he received. Maybe Caillois knew his murderer. Maybe they even arranged to meet up there."

  "What about his wife? Anything interesting?"

  Niémans did not' answer. Joisneau added:

  "I've heard she's a bit of a handful."

  Joisneau put his notebook away. His face had gone back to its usual color.

  "I don't know if I should tell you this…what with that mutilated body…and that crazy killer on the loose…"

  "But?"

  "But, I really feel like I'm learning things working with you."

  Niémans was flicking through a book: The Topography and Reliefs of the Isère. He chucked the volume to the lieutenant and concluded:

  "Then just pray we learn as much about the killer."

  CHAPTER 13

  The curled-up profile of the victim. Muscles as tense as ropes under the skin. Blue and black wounds intermittently slicing into the pallid skin.

  Back in his office, Niémans was examining the Polaroid photographs of Rémy Caillois.

  The face front on. Eyelids open on the black holes of the sockets.

  Still in his coat, he thought of what that man had suffered. Of the violent panic that had suddenly arisen in that innocent region.

  Without even admitting it to himself, the policeman now feared the worst. Another murder, perhaps. Or, rather, an unpunished crime, swept aside by time and fear, which would help everyone to forget. Rather than to remember.

  The victim's hands. Photographed from above, then from below Beautiful delicate hands, opening out onto their anonymous tips. Not the slightest fingerprint. Traces of cuts into the wrists. Granular. Dark. Stony.

  Niémans tipped back his chair and leant against the wall. He folded his hands behind his neck and thought over his own words: "Each element in an investigation is a mirror. And the killer is hiding in one of the dead angles." There was one idea that he could not get out of his mind: Caillois had not been chosen by chance. His death was connected to his past. To someone he had once known. To something he had once done. Or to some secret he had learnt.

  What?

  Since his childhood, Caillois had spent his life in the university library. Then, every weekend, he used to disappear into the airy heights which overlooked the valley. What could he have done or found out to deserve such punishment?

  Niémans decided to make a rapid investigation of the victim's past. Instinctively, or by personal predilection, he chose to begin with a detail which had struck him during his questioning of Sophie Caillois.

  After a few phone calls, he managed to get through to the 14th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed near Lyons and which was the place where all the young men from that region went for their three days' national service induction. When he had given his name and explained the reason for his call, he was transferred to archives and got them to dig out the file of Rémy Caillois, who had been declared unfit for service during the 1990s. Niémans could make out the furtive tapping of the keyboard, the distant footfalls in the room, then the shuffling of pieces of paper. He asked the clerk:

  "Read me the conclusions in his file."

  "I don't know if I can…What proof is there that you're really a superintendent?"

  Niémans sighed.

  "Call the gendarmerie in Guernon. Ask for Captain Barnes and…"

  "OK, OK. Here we go, then." He flicked through the pages. "I won't go into any details, the answers to the tests, and all that. The conclusion is that your man was declared u
nfit, due to 'schizophrenia'. The psychiatrist added a handwritten note in the margin. It says: `Therapy requested', which is underlined. Then, after that: `Contact the Guernon University Hospital'. If you want my opinion, he must really have had a screw loose, because in general we just…"

  "Do you have the doctor's name?"

  "Of course, it's Dr Yvens."

  "Does he still work in your unit?"

  "Yes. He's upstairs."

  "Put me through to him."

  "I…OK. Hang on."

  A synthetic fanfare burst from the receiver, then a basso profondo voice boomed out. Niémans introduced himself and explained what he wanted. Doctor Yvens sounded skeptical. He finally asked: "What was the recruit's name?"

  "Caillois, Rémy. You discharged him five years ago. Acute schizophrenia. You wouldn't remember him by any chance? If you do, what I'd like to know is whether you think he was acting mad or not."

  The voice objected:

  "This information is strictly confidential."

  "We've just found his body wedged into a rock face. Throat slit. Eyes ripped out. Multiple tortures. Bernard Terpentes, the investigating magistrate, has called me in from Paris to lead the enquiries. He could contact you himself, but I'd rather we didn't waste time. Do you remember…?"

  "Yes, I remember," Yvens cut in. "He was sick. Crazy. No doubt about it."

  This was, in fact, what Niémans had been expecting, but he was still taken aback by the reply. He repeated:

  "So he wasn't putting it on?"

  "No. I see play-actors all year. Healthy minds are far more imaginative than sick ones. They come up with the most incredible ideas. The truly sick are easy to spot. They are locked into their madness. Obsessed, consumed by it. Even insanity has its own…logic. Rémy Caillois was sick. A textbook case."

  "What form did his madness take?"

  "Ambivalent thought processes. Loss of contact with the outside world. Surly silences. The classic symptoms of schizophrenia."

  "Doctor, that man was librarian at the University of Guernon. Every day, he was in contact with hundreds of students and…"