Page 81 of Where the Snakes Sleep

“It became larger over time.”

“My grandfather lived there?”

I nod. “For years.”

“With Henri,” Ryan adds softly.

“Yes.”

“And this is where everything happened.”

“Yes.”

I flip forward through copies of import records, archived articles, and old correspondence. All material that has accumulated over decades.

“The first serious allegations concerned animals.”

Ryan’s attention snaps back to me. “What kind of allegations?”

“That some specimens kept at Le Mas may not have entered France through legal channels. There were inconsistencies involving permits and provenance records. Protected species appeared in collections without documentation adequate to explain where they had come from or how they had been acquired.”

“So… trafficking?” Ryan asks, frowning.

“Allegedly, yes. There is evidence that people associated with Le Mas were involved in illegal acquisitions. Establishing exactly which decisions originated with Henri is more difficult.”

“But he owned the place,” Ryan says.

“Yes.” I move to another section. “There were also questions about payments made through intermediaries. Money moving through accounts connected to people who supplied specimens, transportation, private collectors. Some of those transactions appeared deliberately difficult to trace.”

Ryan whistles softly. “Rich-person crime.”

“There were discrepancies with the venom samples as well,” I add. “Samples that appear to have left Le Mas without corresponding research records. Transfers that were never properly documented. Allegations that material intended for legitimate research was sold privately.”

Ryan’s brows furrow. “Wait, he sold venom?”

“There’s no definitive evidence to prove he did. At least, not now.”

“Not now…?” Ryan pauses. “Is that what you think those people were looking for? Evidence? They think Alberte hid something in the cottage? Why?”

“ I’ll explain in a moment. Alberte was not a peripheral employee. By the later years, he had been by Henri’s side for decades. He understood the research, the estate, many of the people involved. He had access.”

“To what?”

“Records. Laboratories. Correspondence. Financial information, potentially. He was trusted.”

“And sleeping with the boss…” Ryan says quietly.

“Yes, it’s more than likely.”

“So when allegations started…”

“His name appeared alongside Henri’s.”

Ryan looks down at his hands. “Did they accuse him of trafficking too?”

“Informally, yes. There were people who believed Alberte helped arrange acquisitions—or at minimum knew where the animals were coming from.”

“Did he?”