Chapter One

The Orient Express, January 6, 1850

Belgian detective Jean-Claude was wearing a thick fur coat to protect him from the harsh winter cold. The Orient Express lurched through the snow-covered landscape of the Middle East. Jean-Claude was exhausted after months spent solving a complex case in Paris, and now longed to return home to Belgium.

Beside him sat French police lieutenant Basil Duval, a sharp-witted young man with piercing eyes and jet-black hair. Basil was on a special mission, but in Jean-Claude's company, he found an opportunity to exchange experiences.

In front of them, a smart man in a gray wool suit clutched a copy of Le Figaro, intently reading the news. His wife, a young woman wearing a feathered hat, sat beside him, staring absently out the window.

A cabin attendant came in with a friendly smile. This young woman was responsible for taking orders and attending to the passengers' needs. "Any requests, sir?" Jean-Claude asked in fluent French.

"Yes, please, another newspaper," Jean-Claude asked. "I'd like to see the latest news."

The attendant brought the newspaper, and Jean-Claude began flicking through the pages. A headline in bold print caught his eye:

"Monsieur, le Crime is terrorizing Europe!"

There was hardly a person in Europe who hadn't heard of "Monsieur, le Crime," the mysterious thief who was committing daring crimes across the continent. The police were powerless to catch him, and his name had become synonymous with terror and mayhem.

"May I?" Basil asked, pointing to the newspaper.

Jean-Claude nodded. "Of course."

Basil stood up. "I'm going to use the bathroom to get ready for a while."

The air was cold, and the train continued its journey through the winter landscape. As Jean-Claude read about "Monsieur, le Crime," he had no idea that this journey would take him to the heart of a mystery even more complex than he had imagined.