[NS] The Investigation Continues

Upon entering the reception area outside his office, Captain Renault was greeted with a 'good afternoon' by the policeman assigned as his clerk. The Prefect of Police responded with, "Come with me, please, Officer Morillot...and bring your pad."

Once the two men were inside Renault's office, he pulled the passport of the deceased Baxter from an outside pocket of his uniform jacket. "Dispatch this to the forensics department in Vichy with the following letter."

He waited until Morillot was clutching the steno pad in his hand, his pen ready to write. "My Dear... look up the name and title of whoever is in charge now... Pleased find attached the passport of a **** victim. I have reason to believe it may be a forgery. Respectfully request that its validity be verified. Respectfully submitted, Captain Louis... etcetera, etcetera."

"Sir, you used the word 'respectfully' twice," Morillot said, studying the transcript. "Show I find a substitute?"

"No, no," Renault answered as he slid into the chair behind his desk and lifted the phone receiver. "When flattering your superiors, they =love= to hear the word 'respect'." He dialed the three digit number that would connect him with the Desk Sargent down on the first floor."

"I shall keep that in mind, Sir," Morillot replied as he closed the steno pad. "I have always respected you for the way you share your wisdom with us subordinates."

"Get out of here and type that letter," Renault said in a jovial tone, his hand waving towards the door.

The other end of the phone line answered, "Sergeant, this is Captain Renault. Do you have a copy of the report of the **** of a one William Baxter?"

He waited while a clipboard was consulted. "Ah, good! Round up the usual suspects."