Chapter one: The Case

Paris

Maggie walked down the grand stairwell of the Paris opera house, carrying a book of art she was looking over for the opera house. She was the last one to leave, as usual and went to give the rough draft of her ideas to her client.

"Good night, Madame," the evening guard said.

"Good night," Maggie said.

As she made it to the last step the lights in the grand lobby flickered. She stopped short and glanced around. She thought nothing of the flickering light fixtures remembering that they were working on the lighting and there would be times there would flicker.

Maggie stepped down and saw someone standing at the door. She walked towards the front and rested her hand on the gentleman's shoulder.

"Jim, I'm so sorry for keeping you," Maggie said. "I thought I would be out sooner than I did."

Sterling turned and smiled at her.

"It's quite alright," he remarked.

Maggie smiled and kissed him.

"I hope you weren't too bored without me today." Maggie stood in front of him.

He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

"Bored? I wasn't bored without you, Maggie, I was lost without my beautiful wife," Sterling remarked.

Maggie kissed him once more. "Good answer, Jim."

It had only been three months since Sterling and Maggie tied the knot, but a year since they began to see each other.

It was by chance that they ended up in the same bar after a long day. From there it was reconnecting and enjoying each other's company. When they finally decided to see each other they understood that there was no rush into getting married. They wanted to get to know each other again. But as they grew closer Sterling took the chance to ask Maggie to marry him.

Since that time they had found their marriage only deepened their relationship and understanding of one another. They balanced each other and understood what each of other's needs.

They walked along the Parisian streets and took a back way to get to their hotel. But they were unaware that they were not alone.

As they walked down the back street someone came up behind them. They grabbed Maggie and Sterling had no chance to even take a shot at the assailant. He was struck by a blunt object and beaten by a second assailant. The last thing he had heard was Maggie's cries for help before everything went black.

It was hours later that he awoke to the sounds of beeping monitors. The pain alone made him feel weak. Sterling opened his eyes to see someone sitting in a chair near the door. He closed his eyes as he tried to ignore the pain.

"Maggie," he whispered.

The sound of heels hitting against the hard floor made him turn. He saw that the person sitting in the chair was not Maggie, but a young woman. She was dressed in a finely pressed, black skirt suit. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her very presence suggested she was someone of authority.

"You are awake, Monsieur," She spoke English with a thick French accent.

"Barely," Sterling said breathless.

"You mustn't stress yourself out. You were attacked," she said.

Sterling stared at the young woman. She reached into her black coat and pulled out her badge. Her dark eyes stared at him as he reached for the badge.

"Detective Marie Bedeau," she introduced herself. "If you are alright to answer some questions I'd like to ask you something about your attack."

Sterling swallowed and winced in pain that it even hurt him to swallow. He reached up and found a thin layer of gauze around his neck. He looked at Marie as she seemed stiff and wished for answers.

"Where is my wife?" he asked.

"I do not know, Monsieur," Marie remarked. "We only found you. You are lucky to be alive. Your wife was with you?"

"We were heading to our hotel," Sterling remarked. "Coming from the opera house. My wife was hired to arrange some art work there."

He was becoming anxious to find Maggie. He knew the longer it took them to find her the more likely they would not find her alive. He couldn't let that happen even if it meant doing it himself.

"The opera house, Monsieur? Do you recall someone following you?" Marie asked.

"No, why?"

"I believe you survived an attack that is related to two other attacks. You are lucky; the other two did not survive." Marie reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an evidence bag. "This is all that we collected at the scene. A note written on paper that dates back two centuries."

Sterling looked at the old paper and stared at the handwriting.

"You think whoever wrote that note took my wife?"

"Monsieur, I would not be so hopeful that your wife is alive. In the next forty-eight hours we will find her, but it is you who will have to identify the body."

Sterling felt his stomach churn. He had never really been one to worry a time frame unless it dealt with people he cared about.

"I can help you," Sterling said.

"You are in no condition to help us."

"I may not be, but I can give you someone who will be just as eager to."

"Who?"

Sterling looked at her. "Go see Nathan Ford. Tell him Jim Sterling sent you."