Robert Langdon, #2
The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown
Contents
CHAPTER 79
Overview
While Fache pursues the London lead, Collet supervises the search of Château Villette and finds evidence tying Teabing's home to Grail, Priory, and Opus Dei material. The chapter shifts the investigation by revealing that André Vernet, previously disguised as the armored car driver, is connected to the fugitives' escape and has lied to police.
Collet's discovery gives him a new independent lead and raises the stakes around the Depository Bank of Zurich, suggesting the bank president may be more deeply involved than he first appeared.
Summary
At Château Villette, Lieutenant Collet remains behind while Captain Fache travels toward London. Collet oversees the PTS team as investigators collect scattered evidence from Teabing's house, including a bullet in the floor, notes about the blade and chalice, and a bloody spiked cilice belt linked to Opus Dei.
In Teabing's ballroom study, the chief PTS examiner reports that fingerprints have not yet yielded anything new. The examiner shows Collet unusual materials from Teabing's files, including a photograph of a Gothic cathedral annotated with sexual and pagan symbolism, reinforcing how deeply Teabing's research mixes religion, symbolism, and the Grail.
Collet then examines a copy of a document labeled Les Dossiers Secrets, listing alleged Grand Masters of the Priory of Sion from Jean de Gisors through Jean Cocteau, including figures such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Debussy. The document connects Teabing's research directly to the Priory material at the center of the case.
An urgent call intended for Fache comes through from André Vernet of the Depository Bank of Zurich. Vernet sounds tense and asks why Fache has not updated him, but when Collet identifies himself, Vernet abruptly ends the call.
Collet realizes he recognizes Vernet's voice: Vernet was the armored car driver with the fake Rolex who lied to Collet earlier that night. Seeing this as a major break and a possible chance to prove himself, Collet concludes that Vernet is involved and asks Interpol for all available information on the bank and Vernet.
Who Appears
- Lieutenant ColletOversees the Château Villette search and identifies Vernet as the disguised armored car driver.
- André VernetZurich bank president whose nervous call reveals his earlier deception to Collet.
- Chief PTS examinerForensics officer who shows Collet unusual Teabing evidence and reports on fingerprint work.
- Captain FacheAbsent superior pursuing the London lead while calls and updates are redirected to Collet.
- Leigh TeabingAbsent homeowner whose collected documents and photographs deepen the Grail investigation.