Mission Summary and Team
19 May 1941
A Week Has Passed
- Laurent recovered the gold box from the church and has been watching over Norris during his researches.
- Norris has been studying the gold box, making trips to the Rennes library and local bookstores.
- Laurent suspected that Norris’ inquiries into Aramaic and Jewish themes may have attracted Gestapo attention. He had noticed what might have been people following them and has used various techniques to successfully lose the suspected tails.
- Laurent also suspected that Julienne Bonnet, the concierge of their apartment building, might be a potential Gestapo informant. She seemed to know when everyone was coming and going from the building, especially at night, was very observant, and asked a lot of casual questions.
- Raymond had been establishing his presence at the law firm and making a show of reviewing case files.
At the Apartment
- Madam Bonnet, the Concierge of their Apartment Building, rang the doorbell around 10:00 am. Laurent, Norris and Raymond were at home at that time.
- Laurent opened the door. Bonnet tried to gain entry, but Laurent blocked her way. Norris was in view from the doorway sitting in the living room, but she could not see what he was doing.
- “Still no luck finding work, Mr. Gilbert? What has it been? Almost two weeks since you came to my residence. Your rent is only paid through the end of the month. I will expect the next month’s rent when it is due.”
- She suggested seeking work from the Germans. They were hiring French workers to maintain their facilities and keep things working so that they could go about taking care of their official duties.
- “How are your researches coming, Mr. Fournier? What was it you were studying again? How fascinating! I trust you will be able to meet your responsibilities at months’ end.”
- She pressed him on the nature of his researches, but Norris succeeded in keeping his inquiries secret from her.
- After she left, Norris continued examining the gold box and its wrappings:
- The Stars of David on the prayer shawl had been recently (compared with the garment) augmented with embroidered swastikas in the center of each.
- Norris also noted tiny five pointed stars with flames in their centers inscribed into the hieroglyphic pattern on the sides of the box.
- Norris identified the script used in the inscription above the wings on the box top as medieval Aramaic dating from 15th century Eastern Europe. The inscription said:
The lord God is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? God is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise up against me, even then will I be confident.
(from Psalms 27: 1-3)
- Laurent told Norris about the inscription on the golem’s forehead.
- The box is locked with a star shaped key hole.
- Norris was of the mind to seek out the key as the box was an archaeological treasure that should be preserved
- Raymond responded that they were in greater Germany and getting caught with the box would be bad. He proposed forcing the box. He hypothesized that the box could be opened and only sacrifice the lock.
Raymond suggested research the type of box so as to better understand what might be in it. - Laurent did not have an opinion.
- Norris said he could make charcoal rubbings to take with them.
- They concealed the box in the vent behind the wardrobe in the closet off the bathroom.
In the Marketplace
- Raymond approached a woman at a fruit stall and made flirtatious small talk until she walked off. He bought some fruit and observed the marketplace.
- As Laurent and Norris walked by, Raymond noticed an old man at another stall watching them. Laurent noticed him as well. The old man noticed Laurent noticing him and turned to sell a wool hat to a customer (in May).
- Raymond moved on to watch the old man from another booth where an older man was selling overcoats (in May).
- Laurent and Norris continued on their way, noting that an old woman watching now them. Raymond noticed as well. Laurent and Raymond concealed their observation, but Norris was startled when he saw her looking at him and the woman turned to sell a silk handkerchief to a customer.
- Raymond waited for Laurent and Norris to leave the marketplace to ensure that they were not followed before continuing to his meeting.
At the Library
- Laurent and Norris arrived at the library.
- Norris did some research in the Archaeology section.
- He did not find anything useful related to the box.
- He did uncover that the inscription that Laurent had told him was on the forehead of the golem was composed of four Hebrew characters that spelled the Hebrew word for Truth. However, if the first character was removed, it spelled the Hebrew work for Dead.
- Laurent spotted a man watching Norris. The man noticed that he was being watched and left the library quickly.
Meeting at the Café
- Raymond found his way to the designated location, which turned out to be in a casino. He maneuvered through the crowds of German officers and their companions to find Brisette alone in a private room.
- Brisette has discovered potential informants at the firm.
- Felicienne Artois, one of the junior attorneys, was suspicious of Cormier’s presence at the law offices.
- Tabor Duffet, another attorney, had overheard Brisette and Valérie Chassé, Routhier’s secretary, discussing cases for Cormier, but he has not done or said anything to compromising, yet.
- Archard Rocheleau, a paralegal who sat at the desk nearest Brisette’s, was aware of Brisette’s subterfuge with respect to reviewing cases for specific criteria on the direction of Routhier, but has not said anything.
- He was confident that Duffet and Rocheleau would keep the secret, but he was not sure about Artois.
- Brisette presented Raymond with a Home Insurance claim case filed by Louis Rancourt
- Rancourt owned a construction company working for the Germans to rebuild the rail yard, which was seriously damaged in the invasion.
- His penthouse was invaded and artwork was stolen.
- The artwork was paintings and small statuary that may be considered contraband by the Nazis, or it may have been stolen by them.
The Rennes police had designated the case a low priority. - It was know by the Routhier that Rancourt had connections to organized crime.
- Brisette gave Raymond a folder with photos of the art and the address of the residence.
At The Penthouse
- Raymond was greeted at the door by a large, muscular man who did not introduce himself. He escorted Raymond to a sitting room, where Louis Rancourt and an associate were seated.
- Rancourt was very open and informative about the theft, but said nothing else other than mentioning that he had business meetings at the penthouse.
- He told Raymond that he had noticed the artwork missing two days ago (Monday) and contacted the police immediately. The police had designated the crime a low priority. He contacted the insurance company at the same time.
- He said that Adorlee Mousseau, his girlfriend had been home alone on Monday, but she had not seen or heard anything, and impressed the point that he was inclined to believe her.
- Rancourt reviewed the photographs of the artwork with Raymond and showed him where the pieces had been.
- Statuette 1: Gog – a 1 foot tall stone statuette depicting a reptilian proto-Jew. Rancourt mentioned that an SS Officer who had been at the penthouse on business once was intrigued by it, but had made no attempts to acquire it.
- Statuette 2: Old Man Wandering – a six inch tall ceramic statuette. The same SS Officer, a von Laue, was equally interested in it, citing its Jewish features though the piece was clearly Oriental and had been acquired in Shanghai.
- Statuette 3: Mehrgarh, a ceramic statuette from India that appeared to be gold.
- Statuette 4: A winged octupoid on pedestal with Phoenician inscription. The pedestal was a six in cube, and the entire piece was approximately eighteen inches tall. It was composed of an unusual green limestone compound.
- Painting 1: Goddess by Kilian Zeelen, Oil Painting, 2′ x3′. Acquired in Paris in 1926. Dutch artist, deceased.
- Painting 2: Union of Consciousness by Miervaldis Eusebius, 2′ x 2′ Oil, 3′ x 2.5′ Framed. Acquired in Paris in 1932. Greek artist, deceased. Noteworthy because geometric modern style was not common in the 1880s when it was painted.
- Painting 3: Creation by Kamil Sörös, 4′ x 3′ oil. Acquired in Athens in 1935. A rural Turkish painter. Rancourt did not know if the artist was dead or alive.
- Painting 4: Chaos by Corneliu Valerios, 4′ x 3′ oil. Also acquired in Athens in 1935. A Greek painter. Rancourt did not know if the artist was dead or alive. The painting had a controversy because some said that if one stared into it long enough, one would see hallucinations. Rancourt had not. He thought Creation was more sinister as it seemed to have lots of eyes in it looking at you.
- Raymond requested to interview Ms. Mousseau, who repeated Rancourt’s story and Raymond noted her confirming with him that she got it right.
- Before Raymond was escorted out, Rancourt offered whatever assistance he could to assist with Raymond’s investigation.