"It would have made more sense for me to begin to look for Ted when the French First Army headed North through the Rhone Valley and according to documented legend were aided by the Resistance. But in my family the best source of information regarding the role of the Resistance in supporting the French First Army after Operation Dragoon is my Uncle Pierre." Nico paused to begin eating roasted sea bass garnished with lime and beurre blanc.
"For food and drink reasons," he explained, "Uncle Pierre, who controls the Trust that will support my part of this journey, has retired to Marseille, and so we begin in Marseille. That is why we are at this restaurant with its Yacht-like resonance. I thought it might remind you of your childhood days sailing off of Cape Cod. It reminds me of cruising the Mediterranean on Uncle Pierre's yacht. We'll take the Bullet Train from Paris to Marseille -- where Uncle Pierre will lend us his 1989 Mercedes 560SL."
Emerging from undivided attention on grilled sole and a second glass of Pouilly-Fume, Jack pondered tracking antiques smugglers on the Cote d'Azur, followed by a trip through the Rhone Valley in a Mercedes 560SL. "As you know, our agency has discovered that a known smuggler of French antiques -- with Marseille connections -- resides in San Francisco at the Hotel California Trail. While you are talking with Uncle Pierre, I will investigate this connection. Our journey will take only a week or so from my role as a Forward with Giselle's bother's team, and we've got a young Forward from Clairefontaine on the squad. He needs some practice. Lets go!"
