Chapter 16 Chapter Fourteen

"Where's Langdon?" Fache asked as he returned to command post with his last puff of cigarette. "Still in the men's room, sir." Lieutenant Collet had expected him to ask that question. Fache grumbled, "You can tell he's wasting his time." The chief watched the satellite fix over Collet's shoulder.Collet could almost hear the wheels turning.Fache tried to restrain himself from checking Langdon.Ideally, the subject of observation is given the maximum amount of time and freedom to lure him into a false sense of security.Langdon had to come back voluntarily.However, it was almost ten minutes.

too long. "Is it possible that Langdon is aware of us?" Fache asked. Collet shook his head and said, "We could also see some small movement in the men's room, so the GPS tracker is obviously still on him. Maybe he's not feeling well? If he found the tracker, he'd throw it away and try escaped." Fache looked at his watch and said, "Very good." Fache still seemed very focused.All night, Collet felt a different kind of nervousness from the Chief.Usually under pressure, he seemed to have nothing to do with it, very cold, but tonight Fache seemed to be emotional, as if it was a personal matter.

No wonder, Collet thought.Fache badly needed this guy arrested.Recently, ministers and the media have increasingly criticized Fache's overreaching tactics, conflicts with embassies of major powers, and investment in new technologies that have greatly exceeded budget.Tonight, he will use high technology to accurately arrest an American.This will silence those who criticize him and help him secure his position until retirement, when he can retire with a handsome pension.God knows, he needs this pension, Collet thought.Fache's obsession with high technology has damaged him both professionally and personally.Rumor has it that Fache invested all his savings in the tech craze a few years ago and lost everything.But Fache is the one who cares most about face and never admits defeat.

There is still enough time tonight.Sophie Neveu's inexplicable interruption, though unlucky, was only a minor setback and passed quickly.She is gone now.Fache still has cards to play.He would tell Langdon that his name was written on the floor next to the victim.PS: Find Robert Langdon.How Americans react to this little piece of evidence will tell. "Director," a central judicial policeman called from his office, "I think you'd better take this call." He was holding the receiver, looking very disturbed. "Who hit it?" Fache asked. The policeman frowned. "It's the director of our cryptography department."

"What did you say?" "It's about Sophie Neveu, sir, and there seems to be something wrong."