The girl on the cliff

The warm rays of summer sun shone through a big glass wall to an immense living room, a beautiful room with simple but elegant furniture although theirs colors were quite cold and dark. The only thing that looked warm was a vase of orange roses on the table.

The sunlight evaded the room increasely, warmed up everything it touched, the curtains , the sofa, the carpet...and the closed eyes of a young man who slept on the floor, just next to the sofa.

Just some minutes after being touched by the sun light, he woke up and then rose up immediately. After glanced a few seconds around the room, he held his head with both of his hand, massaged his temples roughly. Some curls of his dark brown hair fell on his face, nearly cover his eyes.

Then the sound of phone rang to break the silence. He looked around to find his smartphone which was stuck into the sofa's corner. He stood up to get it but as if he lost his balance, he fell into the sofa. Anyways, his hand touched the phone and he hit the button to answer:

- Yes Judith, i'm here...I'm fine. What happens?...oh, I'll be there in 30 minutes...

He tossed the phone aside and glanced at the watch. Then he looked at his wrinkled white shirt before stood up and walked through a long and large hall into another large room, his bedroom. He entered the bathroom that connected to the bedroom to take a shower.

He chose the cold water and let it fall over his tall body. After drying carelessly his curls and his body, he wrapped the towel around his waist and returned to the bedroom. He opened the dressing to take a white polo, a dark blue jacket and a pair of jeans. He put them on very fast and left the room without throwing a single glance to the big mirror beside the dressing.

He entered in the lift and touched the button for the first floor. As the lift 's door opened, he rushed out and without notice he hit the employee who was cleaning the floor on her shoulder.

- Sorry - he said with a warm and deep voice.

- It's alright...Good..Good morning ...Mr Anderson.

He frowned and then smiled to the woman. She was about 50 years old, wearing the grey and green uniform of the Company that takes responsibility of cleaning all space of this luxurious building.

- Have a nice day Mr Anderson- she said

- You too madam. Bye.

The woman still stood there looking at the young man as he walked down the escalator to access to the underground parking. She knew him. She has been working for the building since it was built, 10 years ago. She saw the young man for the first time 1 year ago, when he moved to live in one of these penthouses. Not like most of other rich owners in this expensive building, arrogant and cold who never gave a single glance to a mere employee like her, the young man always smiled gently whenever he saw her. And he always greeted her with his warm and yet deep voice. She loved to see that bright smile. It could take away all her tireness with it.

***

Julian Anderson drove to see his lawyer and also his close friend, Judith Miller. Judith was 2 years older than Julian but they were childhood friends and also classmates. Judith, Julian and his older brother James were in the same class since their primary school. Julian attended scholar life at the age of 4 when his father found out that his little son could read and write at that age without any help. He taught himself looking at the children books that his nanny read to him.

- Come in - Judith said when she heard the knocks on the door of her office. She still stared at her computer's screen. She typed something.

The door opened and Judith did not look up as she knew who entered. She was so familiar with Julian that she could feel his presence without looking up.

- Hey...- Julian smiled

- Hey...Give me just a minute - Judith said

- Okay - Julian pulled out the chair and sat down while locking at his friend. Judith seemed to concentrate completely in her work that she frowned and her lips tighted. With her black blazer and light blue shirt, she looked a little bit older than her age of 26. Her blonde hair was ponytailed neatly and her big glasses sparked on her nose.

- Finished - she said while pushed her glasses a little higher up on her nose. Her eyes looked gently and happily at the familiar handsome face. Julian seemed to be exhausted but that still captive. Some curls fell on his eyes but he did not bother to make it in order. His white polo was very simple, but it had all its charm on Julian's perfect body.

After allowing herself a few seconds to satisfy her eyes with her friend's beauty, Judith said with a frown:

- You were drunk, weren't you?

- Hmmm...you called me here for an important thing. What's it?

- You haven't answered my question yet...But we'll..

I'll answer yours...Mr Donovan called me this morning. He wanted to see you.

- Oh he found her?- Julian looked at his friend with hope.

- He didn't say much...But I guess so. He will be here soon in 5 minutes, you will...

She hasn't finished her sentence yet, a knock on the door cut her off.

- it must be him...Judith smiled and said more loudly - Come in please!

The door was opened and a man in his forties appeared with a black suit entered in the office. He's detective Donovan

- Mr Anderson, Ms Miller - He greeted them.

- Mr Donovan...They greeted him back together and stood up to shake his hand.

- Please take a seat Mr Donovan - Judith said after sat down on her chair - Both of you want a coffee?

- Yes, a coffee but no sugar - Mr Donovan smiled

Judith looked at Julian, he nodded. She called her assistant to prepare the coffee and turned to the men.

- Mr Donovan, Ms Miller said that you wanted to see me - Julian said as Judith turned to them - Did you find out anything....?

- Yes Mr Anderson...we found out something...about that woman. After the information we gathered, she's now living in a small village in Corse.

- Corse?- Julian repeated.

- That could be possible - Judith said after some frowns and looked in Julian's eyes- if she was french as oncle Dan told you.

The expression on Julian's face was something between worry and hesitation.

- Then...- he asked after some minutes - the child...?

- That's a girl ..about 13 or 14 years old - Detective Donovan said.

- Then that was also possible...- Judith nodded

- You have her address? - Julian asked

- Sure - Mr Donovan took out his wallet and gave Julian a small paper note - It was noted here, sir...

Julian took the note and read with a low voice:

- Numer 1 La Falaise, Casabianca, Haute Corse, France.

- It is a small village, the population is about 100 people.

- Another info?

- The woman works at her home. She made handmade gifts with fabric to sell to tourists. She lives alone with her daughter. The girl goes to school in the neighbor village because Casabianca is too small to have a school . That's all infos we have, sir...

- It's very good Mr Donovan. Ms Miller will talk to you about the recompense. I won't mind you anymore - Julian said and rose up.

- Mr Anderson...- the detective hesitated

- There is something you want to tell me?- Julian asked

- If you come to Corse or send your people there, please be careful. Corsica is quite like Scicilia...Some violence are out of control...

- Thank you, I will be careful...Julian smiled.

- You will go there yourself?- Judith asked and as Julian nodded, she added - I will go with you.

- No Judith, you will go nowhere!

- But...

- A No is a No, okay?

- Then when will you go?

- Today...