The Red Notebook

by Antoine Laurain

It had been four days now, and Laure had still not woken up.

the fact that she was still in a coma surely did not bode well.

‘Something happened on the night of the 15th. Sorry, I’m not being very clear, but what I can tell you is that Laure was mugged. She had her bag stolen, she hurt her head, she’s in a coma at the moment, but they think she’ll wake up.’

We’ve been all over the place together; she taught me everything I know. Laure’s the best gilder out there.’

From having performed a fine act of citizenship (as the police put it), he was now sitting by Laure’s open fire, which effectively made him guilty of breaking and entering. His amateur investigation had worked like a dream and when it came to an end – which it inevitably would – he would wonder whether these past few days had actually happened.

But since this morning, I’ve been feeling the need to make a record of what has happened. I know the name and address of the man who brought my bag back. His name is Laurent Letellier. He’s the owner of Le Cahier Rouge. I’ve just realised that’s almost word for word what his daughter told me.