“So: Our murder. Their painting.” “Seems so.” Claude hadn’t woken when she’d crawled in beside him the previous night. She’d hurried out before he’d got down to the kitchen that morning. But once at the office it was her duty to inform him of her movements on the new case. Alors: victim a French citizen employed in Basel as a security guard; gay or bisexual. She had feelers out concerning the club he frequented and possible links to a similar ‘art-related’ murder on the Swiss side, possibly the same day. Commissaire Néon said, “I really wish you wouldn’t do that.” He meant going to Basel unannounced and uninvited. He did not dare mention the late hour of her return – two? closer to three; he’d been fast asleep. Claude knew their relationship was hanging by a thread. Inspector Nouvelle did not respond to wishes. “I have to. Sometimes. You know that. I had a beer — very low key. To them I’m some friend from across the border who was going to meet him. They had no idea. Probably still don’t.” While the probable gay factor in Martin Bettelman’s violent death was noted