Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret tend un piège)

Yes.

No, it's Simoni.

Oh, it's you.

Nope.

Nothing, but nothing. Dead calm.

- Bless you! - It's Lagrume?

At the Sevigné newsstand? O.K.

If I hear anything about the killer, I'll give you a call.

- He's driving himself nuts with that killer. - And driving us, too.

Hot toddy.

- Hello. - Hello, Mme Juteaux.

- You're running late. - With this heavy weather, I fell asleep.

Have a good evening.

This is the police.

Hello?

Speak up. I'm listening.

It's from Quai Celestins. Yes, hello.

Tell M. Maigret that the Marais Killer has claimed a new victim.

Really? Where? Tell me where.

Rue Rosiers.

What number?

What number on Rue Rosiers? The woman killer has struck again.

The passageway on Rue Rosiers. Must be at number 68.

Hello. Headquarters?

This is the central station of the 4th district.

A woman was just attacked on Rue Rosiers.

- Dead? - I suppose.

Apparently it's the Marais killer. He doesn't usually miss.

Has your wagon left?

It's leaving now.

Hello? They also asked me to notify Inspector Maigret.

You'll take care of it? Thanks.

- Well? - He must have slipped out via Rue Caron.

No. No way.

- I'd have seen him. - Apparently not.

I was watching at the corner of Rue St. Antoine.

This is where we lost him.

You two, get back to Rue Rosiers.

Don't you think we should notify the Crime Squad?

- There's no hurry. - Still, this concerns Maigret.

If someone's going to catch the guy, it might as well be us.

What more could Maigret do? And a Chief Inspector must be fast asleep at this hour.

But...

- What are you doing here? - This is my home.

That's not an answer. And at this hour, butcher shops are closed!

And who's going to prepare my orders for tomorrow morning?

What's going on?

- Who are you? - I'm the concierge.

- Where are you going? - The crime scene? Want a ride?

- Who notified you? - Got a call 5 minutes ago. Get in if you want a ride.

- The Crime Squad will be there soon. - The Crime Squad?

Since everyone has already been notified...

Same work as with the other three. Two stab wounds to the chest.

One would have been enough.

But this time, he used a different tool. He's no longer using an awl.

The wounds are larger.

- What time did she go out? - At half past. I even mentioned it to her.

- Marguerite Juteaux, musician. - Violinist.

What a terrible loss.

- Is there a husband? - Of course.

Poor M. Juteaux must be playing cards like every Saturday night, and he has no idea.

And the little girl asleep upstairs.

- Say, Lucas... Where is he playing? - At Bar Bastille.

- Go get M. Juteaux at Bar Bastille. - You're not checking out the apartment?

Later. There's a kid asleep there. She'll wake up soon enough.

- Leave someone to guard the front door. - Yes.

You were in the area but saw nothing?

I was there all right. I can't stop thinking about it.

- He was right under my nose! - Bravo.

It's my fault, I know. I stopped by the cafe just this once...

- No one is blaming you. - I am! Right under my nose...

- You can see, her clothes are shredded. - Yes. As usual.

- She was... - What?

Not even. He just tears them apart and leaves them.

- You think rape would make things better? - It might help us to understand them.

- If I may... - Careful! You're stepping in the sauce.

If you may what?

Alfonsi and I could go back to Rue Turenne, where he disappeared.

Oh, if you like. After all, you know your neighborhood best.

Well, then. Question anyone you see.

You might get something out of them.

La vie en rose

Well, well! Bravo. You at least aren't wasting time.

Here's the murder weapon.

- You see? - It's a butcher's knife.

- And I think Alfonsi and I know its owner. - Could very well be.

- Good. Follow up without me. You have free rein. - Thank you, sir.

Lapointe.

- What's this circus? - Lagrume's raid.

- Inspector. - You're here? It's been a while.

Your name is...

Barberot, Emile.

Butcher. 22, Rue Turenne. It's the 10th time I've told you.

And this? Remind you of anything?

Of course.

- Is it yours? - No.

Be careful how you answer. A woman was killed with this.

- Was she deboned? - Deboned?

Well, yes. When you use a deboning knife, it's to debone. Goes without saying, no?

That still doesn't tell us what you were doing in your shop at 9pm.

I was preparing the orders for tomorrow Sunday!

Because some of us have to work for a living.

Got anything from the knife?

It's an Augent, the biggest supplier to butcher shops.

Judging from the wear, it was made a while ago.

Not much else.

Some faint greasy prints, probably overlaid by a gloved hand.

- I took three snapshots. But, you know... - OK, thanks anyway.

This is awful. I'm getting really fed up.

I get up at 6am. I won't spend the night listening to the two of you.

You see the type, sir?

- You think the knife is his? - Hard to know. He won't say.

Well, keep looking. This butcher or another...

I just want the knife's owner. Up to you to find him.

You really think that...

You found the lead. It's yours.

Rest assured I'll do my best, sir.

I don't doubt it for a moment.

Say, Lagrume...

Thanks for calling me in.

5 min. after the crime. Can't do better.

But I wasn't the one who called you, sir.

Alfonsi.

Thank you.

- For what? - For notifying me. He doesn't always remember to do it.

But I didn't do it either, sir. A patrolman probably did.

Yes, probably.

- What are you looking for? - The coffee pot.

Cold or hot?

Ah! Hot.

Did you turn on the water?

You have problems? What's the matter?

He's back at it.

Another woman?

And nothing?

Nothing...

A kid who's probably waking up now,

a husband who doesn't understand, and a creep who's off to sleep.

That's all we have.

We've questioned dozens of guys, even a butcher.

But I think he's innocent.

Unless I got it wrong. It's possible.

After all, maybe it isn't only coffee pots I've lost the knack for finding.

Here.

Don't worry about the suitcases. I'm used to packing and unpacking.

You'd better unpack the suitcases once and for all.

We could fix up the little house at La Rochelle. I could putter around there.

- You? - I'm tired, Louise.

Tired.

For example, I'm losing my memory.

Earlier, Alfonsi told me that...

I don't even remember what he told me.

Anyway...

I thought I was on to something, and... No, I swear, it feels like retirement.

Well, then, let's retire.

I know at least one person who'll be happy about it.

Your creep.

You have to admit it's a success:

Four murders in the 4th district, and old Maigret goes fishing.

He probably already had a high opinion of himself. But now...

It's simple. He only needs to start killing every day.

Why hold back if it's working? Soon, he'll be giving interviews.

Here. They're ready to crown him.

FROM JACK THE RIPPER TO MR. X What Will the Killer Dare Next? Inspector Maigret starts over again.

- He must be thinking: I'm the king. - You believe he really thinks that way?

I have no idea.

But if he's at all proud, he must be pleased with himself.

- Proud... - Why wouldn't he be?

Hello, police? This is Inspector Maigret. Give me headquarters.

Headquarters? Maigret.

Who asked you to call me last night?

The 4th district station.

- Can you put them on? - Easy.

Please connect the 4th district to Inspector Maigret.

Hello. The 4th?

It's about last night's call.

I just passed on the message, sir.

The call came from Box 28, on Quai Celestins.

No, not a watchman. The glass was broken. A witness, probably.

A witness, 600 meters from the crime scene?

I'd love to know what your "witness" had to say.

Yes, every word.

He said:

"You can notify M. Maigret that the Marais Killer

"has claimed a new victim." That's all.

OK, that's good. Thanks.

Say, there's a big brain

under those rollers!

You were right. He's gloating.

5 minutes after the crime, he had the nerve to call me.

" Monsieur Maigret."

I'll show him " Monsieur Maigret!"

- Hey, what...? - Out of the way!

- Is this for Maigret? - You'll see. Let us through.

- Is he a suspect? - A witness? - All right, all right.

- I can't say anything. - Thanks for the cooperation!

- If Lucas is here, it's for Maigret. - If Lagrume is here, it's about the 4th.

- The 4th, that's the Marais! - Yes. Try to develop those right away.

- Could be 5 columns if it's the killer! - Could be a common thief.

And that? That's a patrolman?