The Criminals’ Calculation and Its Failure

Maigret and the Dead Girl

This flow follows Albert Falconi and Bianchi as they recognize an opportunity, build a plan around Louise’s identity, and lose control of it.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Unlicensed Bar The Unlicensed Bar from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Unlicensed Bar A Criminal Meeting Place Albert Falconi runs Pickwick’s Bar among a close circle of regular customers.

The Unlicensed Bar from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Unlicensed Bar A Criminal Meeting Place Albert Falconi runs Pickwick’s Bar among a close circle of regular customers.

The Unlicensed Bar A Criminal Meeting Place Albert Falconi runs Pickwick’s Bar among a close circle of regular customers. Jules Maigret knows Falconi from earlier arrests, but has never secured a lasting conviction that removes him from the underworld. An Opportunity Appears Jimmy O’Malley uses the bar as a meeting point and leaves a message for Louise. Falconi’s familiarity with criminal work makes him alert to the possibility that the message carries value.

The Letter Opened The Letter Opened from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Letter Opened Curiosity Becomes a Plan Falconi follows Jimmy to the airport and, once he knows the visitor has gone, opens the letter meant for Louise.

The Letter Opened from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Letter Opened Curiosity Becomes a Plan Falconi follows Jimmy to the airport and, once he knows the visitor has gone, opens the letter meant for Louise.

The Letter Opened Curiosity Becomes a Plan Falconi follows Jimmy to the airport and, once he knows the visitor has gone, opens the letter meant for Louise. It explains that a man will provide her with money if she proves her identity. Bianchi’s Involvement Falconi shows the message to Bianchi. Together they see a way to turn Louise’s identity card into access to the hidden funds, shifting from passive observation to a deliberate criminal scheme.

A Substitute Identity A Substitute Identity from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". A Substitute Identity The Intended Fraud The criminals cannot collect the money openly, so they plan to take Louise’s identity card and use it to obtain…

A Substitute Identity from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". A Substitute Identity The Intended Fraud The criminals cannot collect the money openly, so they plan to take Louise’s identity card and use it to obtain…

A Substitute Identity The Intended Fraud The criminals cannot collect the money openly, so they plan to take Louise’s identity card and use it to obtain documents for another woman. Their scheme depends on replacing the rightful claimant without attracting attention. A Vulnerable Target They assume that an isolated young woman can be robbed quickly. Their calculation overlooks both Louise’s desperation and the chain securing the silver handbag to her wrist.

The Robbery Turns Violent The Robbery Turns Violent from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Robbery Turns Violent Resistance at the Street Bianchi tries to snatch Louise’s handbag, but the chain catches at her wrist.

The Robbery Turns Violent from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The Robbery Turns Violent Resistance at the Street Bianchi tries to snatch Louise’s handbag, but the chain catches at her wrist.

The Robbery Turns Violent Resistance at the Street Bianchi tries to snatch Louise’s handbag, but the chain catches at her wrist. She falls, struggles, and appears ready to call for help. Murder and Concealment Bianchi punches her and then strikes her repeatedly with a blackjack. The group removes her body and leaves it in Montmartre, hoping that the location and her borrowed clothes will hide the connection to their bar.

The False American The False American from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The False American A Manufactured Pursuit Falconi invents a tall American who supposedly follows Jimmy and leaves Paris for Brussels.

The False American from "Maigret and the Dead Girl". The False American A Manufactured Pursuit Falconi invents a tall American who supposedly follows Jimmy and leaves Paris for Brussels.

The False American A Manufactured Pursuit Falconi invents a tall American who supposedly follows Jimmy and leaves Paris for Brussels. The lie gives Inspector Lognon a lead that appears to explain the bar’s recent activity. The Plan Unravels Jules Maigret recognizes that Falconi’s account was designed to remove Lognon from the scene and delay scrutiny. The false trail confirms that the bar’s owner knows more than he has admitted.

Before Jimmy O’Malley leaves Paris

After Jimmy’s departure for the United States

In the days before the wedding

Around two in the morning on the murder night

After the murder, when Lognon visits Pickwick’s