《The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5)》


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    ONE


    ¡°All of them? Even the children?¡± The fireplace sputtered and crackled and swallowed his gasp. ¡°Slaughtered?¡±


    ¡°Worse.¡±


    There was silence then. And in that hush lived all the things that could be worse than slaughter.


    ¡°Are they close?¡± His back tingled as he imagined something dreadful creeping through the woods. Toward them. He looked around, almost expecting to see red eyes staring through the dark windows. Or from the corners, or under the bed.


    ¡°All around. Have you seen the light in the night sky?¡±


    ¡°I thought those were the Northern Lights.¡± The pink and green and white shifting, flowing against the stars. Like something alive, glowing, and growing. And approaching.


    Olivier Brul¨¦ lowered his gaze, no longer able to look into the troubled, lunatic eyes across from him. He¡¯d lived with this story for so long, and kept telling himself it wasn¡¯t real. It was a myth, a story told and repeated and embellished over and over and over. Around fires just like theirs.


    It was a story, nothing more. No harm in it.


    But in this simple log cabin, buried in the Quebec wilderness, it seemed like more than that. Even Olivier felt himself believing it. Perhaps because the Hermit so clearly did.


    The old man sat in his easy chair on one side of the stone hearth with Olivier on the other. Olivier looked into a fire that had been alive for more than a decade. An old flame not allowed to die, it mumbled and popped in the grate, throwing soft light into the log cabin. He gave the embers a shove with the simple iron poker, sending sparks up the chimney. Candlelight twinkled off shiny objects like eyes in the darkness, found by the flame.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be long now.¡±


    The Hermit¡¯s eyes were gleaming like metal reaching its melting point. He was leaning forward as he often did when this tale was told.


    Olivier scanned the single room. The dark was punctuated by flickering candles throwing fantastic, grotesque shadows. Night seemed to have seeped through the cracks in the logs and settled into the cabin, curled in corners and under the bed. Many native tribes believed evil lived in corners, which was why their traditional homes were rounded. Unlike the square homes the government had given them.


    Olivier didn¡¯t believe evil lived in corners. Not really. Not in the daylight, anyway. But he did believe there were things waiting in the dark corners of this cabin that only the Hermit knew about. Things that set Olivier¡¯s heart pounding.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he said, trying to keep his voice steady.


    It was late and Olivier still had the twenty-minute walk through the forest back to Three Pines. It was a trip he made every fortnight and he knew it well, even in the dark.


    Only in the dark. Theirs was a relationship that existed only after nightfall.


    They sipped Orange Pekoe tea. A treat, Olivier knew, reserved for the Hermit¡¯s honored guest. His only guest.


    But now it was story time. They leaned closer to the fire. It was early September and a chill had crept in with the night.


    ¡°Where was I? Oh, yes. I remember now.¡±


    Olivier¡¯s hands gripped the warm mug even tighter.


    ¡°The terrible force has destroyed everything in its way. The Old World and the New. All gone. Except . . .¡±


    ¡°Except?¡±


    ¡°One tiny village remains. Hidden in a valley, so the grim army hasn¡¯t seen it yet. But it will. And when it does their great leader will stand at the head of his army. He¡¯s immense, bigger than any tree, and clad in armor made from rocks and spiny shells and bone.¡±


    ¡°Chaos.¡±


    The word was whispered and disappeared into the darkness, where it curled into a corner. And waited.


    ¡°Chaos. And the Furies. Disease, Famine, Despair. All are swarming. Searching. And they¡¯ll never stop. Not ever. Not until they find it.¡±


    ¡°The thing that was stolen.¡±


    The Hermit nodded, his face grim. He seemed to see the slaughter, the destruction. See the men and women, the children, fleeing before the merciless, soulless force.


    ¡°But what was it? What could be so important they had to destroy everything to get it back?¡±


    Olivier willed his eyes not to dart from the craggy face and into the darkness. To the corner, and the thing they both knew was sitting there in its mean little canvas sack. But the Hermit seemed to read his mind and Olivier saw a malevolent grin settle onto the old man¡¯s face. And then it was gone.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the army that wants it back.¡±


    They both saw then the thing looming behind the terrible army. The thing even Chaos feared. That drove Despair, Disease, Famine before it. With one goal. To find what was taken from their Master.

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    ¡°It¡¯s worse than slaughter.¡±


    Their voices were low, barely scraping the ground. Like conspirators in a cause already lost.


    ¡°When the army finally finds what it¡¯s searching for it will stop. And step aside. And then the worst thing imaginable will arrive.¡±


    There was silence again. And in that silence lived the worst thing imaginable.


    Outside a pack of coyotes set up a howl. They had something cornered.


    Myth, that¡¯s all this is, Olivier reassured himself. Just a story. Once more he looked into the embers, so he wouldn¡¯t see the terror in the Hermit¡¯s face. Then he checked his watch, tilting the crystal toward the fireplace until its face glowed orange and told him the time. Two thirty in the morning.


    ¡°Chaos is coming, old son, and there¡¯s no stopping it. It¡¯s taken a long time, but it¡¯s finally here.¡±


    The Hermit nodded, his eyes rheumy and runny, perhaps from the wood smoke, perhaps from something else. Olivier leaned back, surprised to feel his thirty-eight-year-old body suddenly aching, and realized he¡¯d sat tense through the whole awful telling.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s getting late and Gabri will be worried. I have to go.¡±


    ¡°Already?¡±


    Olivier got up and pumping cold, fresh water into the enamel sink he cleaned his cup. Then he turned back to the room.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± he smiled.


    ¡°Let me give you something,¡± said the Hermit, looking around the log cabin. Olivier¡¯s gaze darted to the corner where the small canvas sack sat. Unopened. A bit of twine keeping it closed.


    A chuckle came from the Hermit. ¡°One day, perhaps, Olivier. But not today.¡±


    He went over to the hand-hewn mantelpiece, picked up a tiny item and held it out to the attractive blond man.


    ¡°For the groceries.¡± He pointed to the tins and cheese and milk, tea and coffee and bread on the counter.


    ¡°No, I couldn¡¯t. It¡¯s my pleasure,¡± said Olivier, but they both knew the pantomime and knew he¡¯d take the small offering. ¡°Merci,¡± Olivier said at the door.


    In the woods there was a furious scrambling, as a doomed creature raced to escape its fate, and coyotes raced to seal it.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± said the old man, quickly scanning the night sky. Then, before closing the door, he whispered the single word that was quickly devoured by the woods. Olivier wondered if the Hermit crossed himself and mumbled prayers, leaning against the door, which was thick but perhaps not quite thick enough.


    And he wondered if the old man believed the stories of the great and grim army with Chaos looming and leading the Furies. Inexorable, unstoppable. Close.


    And behind them something else. Something unspeakable.


    And he wondered if the Hermit believed the prayers.


    Olivier flicked on his flashlight, scanning the darkness. Gray tree trunks crowded round. He shone the light here and there, trying to find the narrow path through the late summer forest. Once on the trail he hurried. And the more he hurried the more frightened he became, and the more fearful he grew the faster he ran until he was stumbling, chased by dark words through the dark woods.


    He finally broke through the trees and staggered to a stop, hands on his bent knees, heaving for breath. Then, slowly straightening, he looked down on the village in the valley.


    Three Pines was asleep, as it always seemed to be. At peace with itself and the world. Oblivious of what happened around it. Or perhaps aware of everything, but choosing peace anyway. Soft light glowed at some of the windows. Curtains were drawn in bashful old homes. The sweet scent of the first autumn fires wafted to him.


    And in the very center of the little Quebec village there stood three great pines, like watchmen.


    Olivier was safe. Then he felt his pocket.


    The gift. The tiny payment. He¡¯d left it behind.


    Cursing, Olivier turned to look into the forest that had closed behind him. And he thought again of the small canvas bag in the corner of the cabin. The thing the Hermit had teased him with, promised him, dangled before him. The thing a hiding man hid.


    Olivier was tired, and fed up and angry at himself for forgetting the trinket. And angry at the Hermit for not giving him the other thing. The thing he¡¯d earned by now.


    He hesitated, then turning he plunged back into the forest, feeling his fear growing and feeding the rage. And as he walked, then ran, a voice followed, beating behind him. Driving him on.


    ¡°Chaos is here, old son.¡±


    TWO


    ¡°You get it.¡±


    Gabri pulled up the covers and lay still. But the phone continued to ring and beside him Olivier was dead to the world. Out the window Gabri could see drizzle against the pane and he could feel the damp Sunday morning settling into their bedroom. But beneath the duvet it was snug and warm, and he had no intention of moving.

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    He poked Olivier. ¡°Wake up.¡±


    Nothing, just a snort.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    Still nothing.


    ¡°Ethel Merman!¡±


    Nothing. Dear Lord, was he dead?


    He leaned in to his partner, seeing the precious thinning hair lying across the pillow and across the face. The eyes closed, peaceful. Gabri smelled Olivier, musky, slightly sweaty. Soon they¡¯d have a shower and they¡¯d both smell like Ivory soap.


    The phone rang again.


    ¡°It¡¯s your mother,¡± Gabri whispered in Olivier¡¯s ear.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Get the phone. It¡¯s your mother.¡±


    Olivier sat up, fighting to get his eyes open and looking bleary, as though emerging from a long tunnel. ¡°My mother? But she¡¯s been dead for years.¡±


    ¡°If anyone could come back from the dead to screw you up, it¡¯d be her.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one screwing me up.¡±


    ¡°You wish. Now get the phone.¡±


    Olivier reached across the mountain that was his partner and took the call.


    ¡°Oui, all??¡±


    Gabri snuggled back into the warm bed, then registered the time on the glowing clock. Six forty-three. On Sunday morning. Of the Labor Day long weekend.


    Who in the world would be calling at this hour?


    He sat up and looked at his partner¡¯s face, studying it as a passenger might study the face of a flight attendant during takeoff. Were they worried? Frightened?


    He saw Olivier¡¯s expression change from mildly concerned to puzzled, and then, in an instant, Olivier¡¯s blond brows dropped and the blood rushed from his face.


    Dear God, thought Gabri. We¡¯re going down.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he mouthed.


    Olivier was silent, listening. But his handsome face was eloquent. Something was terribly wrong.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Gabri hissed.


    They rushed across the village green, their raincoats flapping in the wind. Myrna Landers, fighting with her huge umbrella, came across to meet them and together they hurried to the bistro. It was dawn and the world was gray and wet. In the few paces it took to get to the bistro their hair was plastered to their heads and their clothes were sodden. But for once neither Olivier nor Gabri cared. They skidded to a stop beside Myrna outside the brick building.


    ¡°I called the police. They should be here soon,¡± she said.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Olivier stared at his friend and neighbor. She was big and round and wet and wearing bright yellow rubber boots under a lime green raincoat and gripping her red umbrella. She looked as though a beachball had exploded. But she also had never looked more serious. Of course she was sure.


    ¡°I went inside and checked,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh, God,¡± whispered Gabri. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°How can you not know?¡± Olivier asked. Then he looked through the mullioned glass of his bistro window, bringing his slim hands up beside his face to block out the weak morning light. Myrna held her brilliant red umbrella over him.


    Olivier¡¯s breath fogged the window but not before he¡¯d seen what Myrna had also seen. There was someone inside the bistro. Lying on the old pine floor. Face up.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Gabri, straining and craning to see around his partner.


    But Olivier¡¯s face told him all he needed to know. Gabri focused on the large black woman next to him.


    ¡°Is he dead?¡±


    ¡°Worse.¡±


    What could be worse than death? he wondered.


    Myrna was as close as their village came to a doctor. She¡¯d been a psychologist in Montreal before too many sad stories and too much good sense got the better of her, and she¡¯d quit. She¡¯d loaded up her car intending to take a few months to drive around before settling down, somewhere. Any place that took her fancy.


    She got an hour outside Montreal, stumbled on Three Pines, stopped for caf¨¦ au lait and a croissant at Olivier¡¯s Bistro, and never left. She unpacked her car, rented the shop next door and the apartment above and opened a used bookstore.


    People wandered in for books and conversation. They brought their stories to her, some bound, and some known by heart. She recognized some of the stories as real, and some as fiction. But she honored them all, though she didn¡¯t buy every one.


    ¡°We should go in,¡± said Olivier. ¡°To make sure no one disturbs the body. Are you all right?¡±


    Gabri had closed his eyes, but now he opened them again and seemed more composed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a shock. He didn¡¯t look familiar.¡±

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    And Myrna saw on his face the same relief she¡¯d felt when she¡¯d first rushed in. The sad fact was, a dead stranger was way better than a dead friend.


    They filed into the bistro, sticking close as though the dead man might reach out and take one of them with him. Inching toward him they stared down, rain dripping off their heads and noses onto his worn clothes and puddling on the wide-plank floor. Then Myrna gently pulled them back from the edge.


    And that¡¯s how both men felt. They¡¯d woken on this holiday weekend in their comfortable bed, in their comfortable home, in their comfortable life, to find themselves suddenly dangled over a cliff.


    All three turned away, speechless. Staring wide-eyed at each other.


    There was a dead man in the bistro.


    And not just dead, but worse.


    As they waited for the police Gabri made a pot of coffee, and Myrna took off her raincoat and sat by the window, looking into the misty September day. Olivier laid and lit fires in the two stone hearths at either end of the beamed room. He poked one fire vigorously and felt its warmth against his damp clothing. He felt numb, and not just from the creeping cold.


    When they¡¯d stood over the dead man Gabri had murmured, ¡°Poor one.¡±


    Myrna and Olivier had nodded. What they saw was an elderly man in shabby clothing, staring up at them. His face was white, his eyes surprised, his mouth slightly open.


    Myrna had pointed to the back of his head. The puddled water was turning pink. Gabri leaned tentatively closer, but Olivier didn¡¯t move. What held him spellbound and stunned wasn¡¯t the shattered back of the dead man¡¯s head, but the front. His face.


    ¡°Mon Dieu, Olivier, the man¡¯s been murdered. Oh, my God.¡±


    Olivier continued to stare, into the eyes.


    ¡°But who is he?¡± Gabri whispered.


    It was the Hermit. Dead. Murdered. In the bistro.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Olivier.


    Chief Inspector Armand Gamache got the call just as he and Reine-Marie finished clearing up after Sunday brunch. In the dining room of their apartment in Montreal¡¯s Outremont quartier he could hear his second in command, Jean Guy Beauvoir, and his daughter Annie. They weren¡¯t talking. They never talked. They argued. Especially when Jean Guy¡¯s wife, Enid, wasn¡¯t there as a buffer. But Enid had to plan school courses and had begged off brunch. Jean Guy, on the other hand, never turned down an invitation for a free meal. Even if it came at a price. And the price was always Annie.


    It had started over the fresh-squeezed orange juice, coursed through the scrambled eggs and Brie, and progressed across the fresh fruit, croissants and confitures.


    ¡°But how can you defend the use of stun guns?¡± came Annie¡¯s voice from the dining room.


    ¡°Another great brunch, merci, Reine-Marie,¡± said David, placing dishes from the dining room in front of the sink and kissing his mother-in-law on the cheek. He was of medium build with short, thinning dark hair. At thirty he was a few years older than his wife, Annie, though he often appeared younger. His main feature, Gamache often felt, was his animation. Not hyper, but full of life. The Chief Inspector had liked him from the moment, five years earlier, his daughter had introduced them. Unlike other young men Annie had brought home, mostly lawyers like herself, this one hadn¡¯t tried to out-macho the Chief. That wasn¡¯t a game that interested Gamache. Nor did it impress him. What did impress him was David¡¯s reaction when he¡¯d met Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache. He¡¯d smiled broadly, a smile that seemed to fill the room, and simply said, ¡°Bonjour.¡±


    He was unlike any other man Annie had ever been interested in. David wasn¡¯t a scholar, wasn¡¯t an athlete, wasn¡¯t staggeringly handsome. Wasn¡¯t destined to become the next Premier of Quebec, or even the boss of his legal firm.


    No, David was simply open and kind.


    She¡¯d married him, and Armand Gamache had been delighted to walk with her down the aisle, with Reine-Marie on the other side of their only daughter. And to see this nice man wed his daughter.


    For Armand Gamache knew what not-nice was. He knew what cruelty, despair, horror were. And he knew what a forgotten, and precious, quality ¡°nice¡± was.


    ¡°Would you rather we just shoot suspects?¡± In the dining room Beauvoir¡¯s voice had risen in volume and tone.


    ¡°Thank you, David,¡± said Reine-Marie, taking the dishes. Gamache handed his son-in-law a fresh dish towel and they dried as Reine-Marie washed up.


    ¡°So,¡± David turned to the Chief Inspector, ¡°do you think the Habs have a chance at the cup this year?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± yelled Annie. ¡°I expect you to learn how to apprehend someone without having to maim or kill them. I expect you to genuinely see suspects as just that. Suspects. Not sub-human criminals you can beat up, electrocute or shoot.¡±

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    ¡°I think they do,¡± said Gamache, handing David a plate to dry and taking one himself. ¡°I like their new goalie and I think their forward line has matured. This is definitely their year.¡±


    ¡°But their weakness is still defense, don¡¯t you think?¡± Reine-Marie asked. ¡°The Canadiens always concentrate too much on offense.¡±


    ¡°You try arresting an armed murderer. I¡¯d love to see you try. You, you . . .¡± Beauvoir was sputtering. The conversation in the kitchen stopped as they listened to what he might say next. This was an argument played out every brunch, every Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday. The words changed slightly. If not tasers they were arguing about daycare or education or the environment. If Annie said blue, Beauvoir said orange. It had been this way since Inspector Beauvoir had joined the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec¡¯s homicide division, under Gamache, a dozen years earlier. He¡¯d become a member of the team, and of the family.


    ¡°You what?¡± demanded Annie.


    ¡°You pathetic piece of legal crap.¡±


    Reine-Marie gestured toward the back door of the kitchen that gave onto a small metal balcony and fire escape. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    ¡°Escape?¡± Gamache whispered, hoping she was serious, but suspecting she wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Maybe you could just try shooting them, Armand?¡± David asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid Jean Guy is a faster draw,¡± said the Chief Inspector. ¡°He¡¯d get me first.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± said his wife, ¡°it¡¯s worth a try.¡±


    ¡°Legal crap?¡± said Annie, her voice dripping disdain. ¡°Brilliant. Fascist moron.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I could use a taser,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°Fascist? Fascist?¡± Jean Guy Beauvoir almost squealed. In the kitchen Gamache¡¯s German shepherd, Henri, sat up in his bed and cocked his head. He had huge oversized ears which made Gamache think he wasn¡¯t purebred but a cross between a shepherd and a satellite dish.


    ¡°Uh-oh,¡± said David. Henri curled into a ball in his bed and it was clear David would join him if he could.


    All three looked wistfully out the door at the rainy, cool early September day. Labor Day weekend in Montreal. Annie said something unintelligible. But Beauvoir¡¯s response was perfectly clear.


    ¡°Screw you.¡±


    ¡°Well, I think this debate¡¯s just about over,¡± said Reine-Marie. ¡°More coffee?¡± She pointed to their espresso maker.


    ¡°Non, pas pour moi, merci,¡± said David, with a smile. ¡°And please, no more for Annie.¡±


    ¡°Stupid woman,¡± muttered Jean Guy as he entered the kitchen. He grabbed a dish towel from the rack and began furiously drying a plate. Gamache figured that was the last they¡¯d see of the India Tree design. ¡°Tell me she¡¯s adopted.¡±


    ¡°No, homemade.¡± Reine-Marie handed the next plate to her husband.


    ¡°Screw you.¡± Annie¡¯s dark head shot into the kitchen then disappeared.


    ¡°Bless her heart,¡± said Reine-Marie.


    Of their two children, Daniel was the more like his father. Large, thoughtful, academic. He was kind and gentle and strong. When Annie had been born Reine-Marie thought, perhaps naturally, this would be the child most like her. Warm, intelligent, bright. With a love of books so strong Reine-Marie Gamache had become a librarian, finally taking over a department at the Biblioth¨¨que nationale in Montreal.


    But Annie had surprised them both. She was smart, competitive, funny. She was fierce, in everything she did and felt.


    They should have had an inkling about this. As a newborn Armand would take her for endless rides in the car, trying to soothe her as she howled. He¡¯d sing, in his deep baritone, Beatles songs, and Jacques Brel songs. ¡°La Complainte du phoque en Alaska¡± by Beau Dommage. That was Daniel¡¯s favorite. It was a soulful lament. But it did nothing for Annie.


    One day, as he¡¯d strapped the shrieking child into the car seat and turned on the ignition, an old Weavers tape had been in.


    As they sang, in falsetto, she¡¯d settled.


    At first it had seemed a miracle. But after the hundredth trip around the block listening to the laughing child and the Weavers singing ¡°Wimoweh, a-wimoweh,¡± Gamache yearned for the old days and felt like shrieking himself. But as they sang the little lion slept.


    Annie Gamache became their cub. And grew into a lioness. But sometimes, on quiet walks together, she¡¯d tell her father about her fears and her disappointments and the everyday sorrows of her young life. And Chief Inspector Gamache would be seized with a desire to hold her to him, so that she needn¡¯t pretend to be so brave all the time.

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    She was fierce because she was afraid. Of everything.


    The rest of the world saw a strong, noble lioness. He looked at his daughter and saw Bert Lahr, though he¡¯d never tell her that. Or her husband.


    ¡°Can we talk?¡± Annie asked her father, ignoring Beauvoir. Gamache nodded and handed the dish towel to David. They walked down the hall and into the warm living room where books were ranged on shelves in orderly rows, and stacked under tables and beside the sofa in not-so-orderly piles. Le Devoir and the New York Times were on the coffee table and a gentle fire burned in the grate. Not the roaring flames of a bitter winter fire, but a soft almost liquid flame of early autumn.


    They talked for a few minutes about Daniel, living in Paris with his wife and daughter, and another daughter due before the end of the month. They talked about her husband David and his hockey team, about to start up for another winter season.


    Mostly Gamache listened. He wasn¡¯t sure if Annie had something specific to say, or just wanted to talk. Henri jogged into the room and plunked his head on Annie¡¯s lap. She kneaded his ears, to his grunts and moans. Eventually he lay down by the fire.


    Just then the phone rang. Gamache ignored it.


    ¡°It¡¯s the one in your office, I think,¡± said Annie. She could see it on the old wooden desk with the computer and the notebook, in the room that was filled with books, and smelled of sandalwood and rosewater and had three chairs.


    She and Daniel would sit in their wooden swivel chairs and spin each other around until they were almost sick, while their father sat in his armchair, steady. And read. Or sometimes just stared.


    ¡°I think so too.¡±


    The phone rang again. It was a sound they knew well. Somehow different from other phones. It was the ringing that announced a death.


    Annie looked uncomfortable.


    ¡°It¡¯ll wait,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Was there something you wanted to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Should I get that?¡± Jean Guy looked in. He smiled at Annie but his eyes went swiftly to the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Please. I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡±


    He turned back to his daughter, but by then David had joined them and Annie had once again put on her public face. It wasn¡¯t so different from her private one. Just, perhaps, a bit less vulnerable. And her father wondered briefly, as David sat down and took her hand, why she needed her public face in front of her husband.


    ¡°There¡¯s been a murder, sir,¡± whispered Inspector Beauvoir. He stood just inside the room.


    ¡°Oui,¡± said Gamache, watching his daughter.


    ¡°Go on, Papa.¡± She waved her hand at him, not to dismiss him, but to free him of the need to stay with her.


    ¡°I will, eventually. Would you like to go for a walk?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pelting down outside,¡± said David with a laugh. Gamache genuinely loved his son-in-law, but sometimes he could be oblivious. Annie also laughed.


    ¡°Really, Papa, not even Henri would go out in this.¡±


    Henri leaped up and ran to get his ball. The fatal words, ¡°Henri¡± and ¡°out,¡± had been combined unleashing an undeniable force.


    ¡°Well,¡± said Gamache as the German shepherd bounded back into the room. ¡°I have to go to work.¡±


    He gave Annie and David a significant look, then glanced over at Henri. His meaning even David couldn¡¯t miss.


    ¡°Christ,¡± whispered David good-humoredly, and getting off the comfortable sofa he and Annie went to find Henri¡¯s leash.


    By the time Chief Inspector Gamache and Inspector Beauvoir arrived in Three Pines the local force had cordoned off the bistro, and villagers milled about under umbrellas and stared at the old brick building. The scene of so many meals and drinks and celebrations. Now a crime scene.


    As Beauvoir drove down the slight slope into the village Gamache asked him to pull over.


    ¡°What is it?¡± the Inspector asked.


    ¡°I just want to look.¡±


    The two men sat in the warm car, watching the village through the lazy arc of the wipers. In front of them was the village green with its pond and bench, its beds of roses and hydrangea, late flowering phlox and hollyhocks. And at the end of the common, anchoring it and the village, stood the three tall pines.


    Gamache¡¯s gaze wandered to the buildings that hugged the village green. There were weathered white clapboard cottages, with wide porches and wicker chairs. There were tiny fieldstone houses built centuries ago by the first settlers, who¡¯d cleared the land and yanked the stones from the earth. But most of the homes around the village green were made of rose-hued brick, built by United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Three Pines sat just kilometers from the Vermont border and while relations now with the States were friendly and affectionate, they weren¡¯t back then. The people who created the village had been desperate for sanctuary, hiding from a war they didn¡¯t believe in.

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    The Chief Inspector¡¯s eyes drifted up du Moulin, and there, on the side of the hill leading out of the village, was the small white chapel. St. Thomas¡¯s Anglican.


    Gamache brought his eyes back to the small crowd standing under umbrellas chatting, pointing, staring. Olivier¡¯s bistro was smack-dab in the center of the semicircle of shops. Each shop ran into the next. Monsieur B¨¦liveau¡¯s general store, then Sarah¡¯s Boulangerie, then Olivier¡¯s Bistro and finally Myrna¡¯s new and used bookstore.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Gamache nodded.


    Beauvoir had been waiting for the word and now the car moved slowly forward. Toward the huddled suspects, toward the killer.


    But one of the first lessons the Chief had taught Beauvoir when he¡¯d joined the famed homicide department of the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec was that to catch a killer they didn¡¯t move forward. They moved back. Into the past. That was where the crime began, where the killer began. Some event, perhaps long forgotten by everyone else, had lodged inside the murderer. And he¡¯d begun to fester.


    What kills can¡¯t be seen, the Chief had warned Beauvoir. That¡¯s what makes it so dangerous. It¡¯s not a gun or a knife or a fist. It¡¯s not anything you can see coming. It¡¯s an emotion. Rancid, spoiled. And waiting for a chance to strike.


    The car slowly moved toward the bistro, toward the body.


    ¡°Merci,¡± said Gamache a minute later as a local S?ret¨¦ officer opened the bistro door for them. The young man was just about to challenge the stranger, but hesitated.


    Beauvoir loved this. The reaction of local cops as it dawned on them that this large man in his early fifties wasn¡¯t just a curious citizen. To the young cops Gamache looked like their fathers. There was an air of courtliness about him. He always wore a suit, or the jacket and tie and gray flannels he had on that day.


    They¡¯d notice the mustache, trimmed and graying. His dark hair was also graying around the ears, where it curled up slightly. On a rainy day like this the Chief wore a cap, which he took off indoors, and when he did the young officers saw the balding head. And if that wasn¡¯t enough they¡¯d notice this man¡¯s eyes. Everyone did. They were deep brown, thoughtful, intelligent and something else. Something that distinguished the famous head of homicide for the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec from every other senior officer.


    His eyes were kind.


    It was both his strength, Beauvoir knew, and his weakness.


    Gamache smiled at the astonished officer who found himself face to face with the most celebrated cop in Quebec. Gamache offered his hand and the young agent stared at it for a moment before putting out his own. ¡°Patron,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, I was hoping it would be you.¡± Gabri hurried across the room, past the S?ret¨¦ officers bending over the victim. ¡°We asked if the S?ret¨¦ could send you but apparently it¡¯s not normal for suspects to order up a specific officer.¡± He hugged the Chief Inspector then turned to the roomful of agents. ¡°See, I do know him.¡± Then he whispered to Gamache, ¡°I think it would be best if we didn¡¯t kiss.¡±


    ¡°Very wise.¡±


    Gabri looked tired and stressed, but composed. He was disheveled, though that wasn¡¯t unusual. Behind him, quieter, almost eclipsed, stood Olivier. He was also disheveled. That was very unusual. He also looked exhausted, with dark rings under his eyes.


    ¡°Coroner¡¯s just arriving now, Chief.¡± Agent Isabelle Lacoste walked across the room to greet him. She wore a simple skirt and light sweater and managed to make both look stylish. Like most Qu¨¦b¨¦coises, she was petite and confident. ¡°It¡¯s Dr. Harris, I see.¡±


    They all looked out the window and the crowd parted to let a woman with a medical bag through. Unlike Agent Lacoste, Dr. Harris managed to make her simple skirt and sweater look slightly frumpy. But comfortable. And on a miserable day like this ¡°comfortable¡± was very attractive.


    ¡°Good,¡± said the Chief, turning back to Agent Lacoste. ¡°What do we know?¡±


    Lacoste led Gamache and Inspector Beauvoir to the body. They knelt, an act and ritual they¡¯d performed hundreds of times. It was surprisingly intimate. They didn¡¯t touch him, but leaned very close, closer than they¡¯d ever get to anyone in life, except a loved one.


    ¡°The victim was struck from behind by a blunt object. Something clean and hard, and narrow.¡±


    ¡°A fireplace poker?¡± Beauvoir asked, looking over at the fires Olivier had set. Gamache also looked. It was a damp morning, but not all that cool. A fire wasn¡¯t necessary. Still, it was probably made to comfort more than to heat.

 Page 8

    ¡°If it was a poker it would be clean. The coroner will take a closer look, of course, but there¡¯s no obvious sign of dirt, ash, wood, anything, in the wound.¡±


    Gamache was staring at the gaping hole in the man¡¯s head. Listening to his agent.


    ¡°No weapon, then?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Not yet. We¡¯re searching, of course.¡±


    ¡°Who was he?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡±


    Gamache took his eyes off the wound and looked at the woman, but said nothing.


    ¡°We have no ID,¡± Agent Lacoste continued. ¡°We¡¯ve been through his pockets and nothing. Not even a Kleenex. And no one seems to know him. He¡¯s a white male, mid-seventies I¡¯d say. Lean but not malnourished. Five seven, maybe five eight.¡±


    Years ago, when she¡¯d first joined homicide, it had seemed bizarre to Agent Lacoste to catalog these things the Chief could see perfectly well for himself. But he¡¯d taught them all to do it, and so she did. It was only years later, when she was training someone else, that she recognized the value of the exercise.


    It made sure they both saw the same things. Police were as fallible and subjective as anyone else. They missed things, and misinterpreted things. This catalog made it less likely. Either that or they¡¯d reinforce the same mistakes.


    ¡°Nothing in his hands and it looks like nothing under his fingernails. No bruising. Doesn¡¯t appear to have been a struggle.¡±


    They stood up.


    ¡°The condition of the room verifies that.¡±


    They looked around.


    Nothing out of place. Nothing tipped over. Everything clean and orderly.


    It was a restful room. The fires at either end of the beamed bistro took the gloom out of the day. Their light gleamed off the polished wood floors, darkened by years of smoke and farmers¡¯ feet.


    Sofas and large inviting armchairs sat in front of each fireplace, their fabric faded. Old chairs were grouped around dark wooden dining tables. In front of the mullioned bay windows three or four wing chairs waited for villagers nursing steaming caf¨¦ au lait and croissants, or Scotches, or burgundy wine. Gamache suspected the people milling outside in the rain could do with a good stiff drink. He thought Olivier and Gabri certainly could.


    Chief Inspector Gamache and his team had been in the bistro many times, enjoying meals in front of the roaring fire in winter or a quiet cool drink on the terrasse in summer. Almost always discussing murder. But never with an actual body right there.


    Sharon Harris joined them, taking off her wet raincoat then smiling at Agent Lacoste and shaking hands solemnly with the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Dr. Harris,¡± he said, bowing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about disturbing your long weekend.¡±


    She¡¯d been sitting at home, flipping through the television channels, trying to find someone who wasn¡¯t preaching at her, when the phone had rung. It had seemed a godsend. But looking now at the body, she knew that this had very little to do with God.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± said Gamache. Through the windows he saw the villagers, still there, waiting for news. A tall, handsome man with gray hair bent down to listen as a short woman with wild hair spoke. Peter and Clara Morrow. Villagers and artists. Standing like a ramrod beside them and staring unblinking at the bistro was Ruth Zardo. And her duck, looking quite imperious. Ruth wore a sou¡¯wester that glistened in the rain. Clara spoke to her, but was ignored. Ruth Zardo, Gamache knew, was a drunken, embittered old piece of work. Who also happened to be his favorite poet in the world. Clara spoke again and this time Ruth did respond. Even through the glass Gamache knew what she¡¯d said.


    ¡°Fuck off.¡±


    Gamache smiled. While a body in the bistro was certainly different, some things never changed.


    ¡°Chief Inspector.¡±


    The familiar, deep, singsong voice greeted him. He turned and saw Myrna Landers walking across the room, her electric yellow boots clumping on the floor. She wore a pink tracksuit tucked into her boots.


    She was a woman of color, in every sense.


    ¡°Myrna,¡± he smiled and kissed her on both cheeks. This drew a surprised look from some of the local S?ret¨¦ officers, who didn¡¯t expect the Chief Inspector to kiss suspects. ¡°What¡¯re you doing in here when everyone else is out there?¡± He waved toward the window.


    ¡°I found him,¡± she said, and his face grew grave.


    ¡°Did you? I¡¯m sorry. That must¡¯ve been a shock.¡± He guided her to a chair by the fire. ¡°I imagine you¡¯ve given someone your statement?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Agent Lacoste took it. Not much to tell, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

 Page 9

    ¡°Would you like a coffee, or a nice cup of tea?¡±


    Myrna smiled. It was something she¡¯d offered him often enough. Something she offered everyone, from the kettle that bubbled away on her woodstove. And now it was being offered to her. And she saw how comforting it actually was.


    ¡°Tea, please.¡±


    While she sat warming herself by the fire Chief Inspector Gamache went to ask Gabri for a pot of tea, then returned. He sat in the armchair and leaned forward.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I go out every morning for a long walk.¡±


    ¡°Is this something new? I¡¯ve never known you to do that before.¡±


    ¡°Well, yes. Since the spring anyway. I decided since I turned fifty I needed to get into shape.¡± She smiled fully then. ¡°Or at least, into a different shape. I¡¯m aiming for pear rather than apple.¡± She patted her stomach. ¡°Though I suspect my nature is to be the whole orchard.¡±


    ¡°What could be better than an orchard?¡± he smiled, then looked at his own girth. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly a sapling myself. What time do you get up?¡±


    ¡°Set my alarm for six thirty and I¡¯m out the door by quarter to seven. This morning I¡¯d just left when I noticed Olivier¡¯s door was open a little, so I looked in and called. I know Olivier doesn¡¯t normally open until later on a Sunday so I was surprised.¡±


    ¡°But not alarmed.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She seemed surprised by the question. ¡°I was about to leave when I spotted him.¡±


    Myrna¡¯s back was to the room, and Gamache didn¡¯t glance over to the body. Instead he held her gaze and encouraged her with a nod, saying nothing.


    Their tea arrived and while it was clear Gabri wanted to join them he, unlike Gamache¡¯s son-in-law David, was intuitive enough to pick up the unspoken signals. He put the teapot, two bone china cups and saucers, milk, sugar and a plate of ginger cookies on the table. Then left.


    ¡°At first I thought it was a pile of linen left by the waiters the night before,¡± Myrna said when Gabri was out of earshot. ¡°Most of them¡¯re quite young and you never know. But then I looked closer and saw it was a body.¡±


    ¡°A body?¡±


    It was the way someone describes a dead man, not a living one.


    ¡°I knew he was dead right away. I¡¯ve seen some, you know.¡±


    Gamache did know.


    ¡°He was exactly as you see him now.¡± Myrna watched as Gamache poured their tea. She indicated milk and sugar then accepted her cup, with a biscuit. ¡°I got up close but didn¡¯t touch him. I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d been killed. Not at first.¡±


    ¡°What did you think?¡± Gamache held the cup in his large hands. The tea was strong and fragrant.


    ¡°I thought he¡¯d had a stroke or maybe a heart attack. Something sudden, by the look on his face. He seemed surprised, but not afraid or in pain.¡±


    That was, thought Gamache, a good way of putting it. Death had surprised this man. But it did most people, even the old and infirm. Almost no one really expected to die.


    ¡°Then I saw his head.¡±


    Gamache nodded. It was hard to miss. Not the head, but what was missing from it.


    ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°Never seen him before. And I suspect he¡¯d be memorable.¡±


    Gamache had to agree. He looked like a vagrant. And while easily ignored they were hard to forget. Armand Gamache put his delicate cup on its delicate saucer. His mind kept going to the question that had struck him as soon as he¡¯d taken the call and heard about the murder. In the bistro in Three Pines.


    Why here?


    He looked quickly over to Olivier who was talking to Inspector Beauvoir and Agent Lacoste. He was calm and contained. But he couldn¡¯t be oblivious of how this appeared.


    ¡°What did you do then?¡±


    ¡°I called 911 then Olivier, then went outside and waited for them.¡±


    She described what happened, up to the moment the police arrived.


    ¡°Merci,¡± said Gamache and rose. Myrna took her tea and joined Olivier and Gabri across the room. They stood together in front of the hearth.


    Everyone in the room knew who the three main suspects were. Everyone, that was, except the three main suspects.


    THREE


    Dr. Sharon Harris stood, brushed her skirt clean and smiled thinly at the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Not much finesse,¡± she said.


    Gamache stared down at the dead man.


    ¡°He looks like a tramp,¡± said Beauvoir, bending down and examining the man¡¯s clothing. It was mismatched and worn.


    ¡°He must be living rough,¡± said Lacoste.

 Page 10

    Gamache knelt down and looked closely at the old man¡¯s face again. It was weathered and withered. An almanac face, of sun and wind and cold. A seasoned face. Gamache gently rubbed his thumb across the dead man¡¯s cheek, feeling stubble. He was clean shaven, but what might have grown in would¡¯ve been white. The dead man¡¯s hair was white and cut without enthusiasm. A snip here, a snip there.


    Gamache picked up one of the victim¡¯s hands, as though comforting him. He held it for an instant, then turned it over, palm up. Then he slowly rubbed his own palm over the dead man¡¯s.


    ¡°Whoever he was he did hard work. These are calluses. Most tramps don¡¯t work.¡±


    Gamache shook his head slowly. So who are you? And why are you here? In the bistro, and in this village. A village few people on earth even knew existed. And even fewer found.


    But you did, thought Gamache, still holding the man¡¯s cold hand. You found the village and you found death.


    ¡°He¡¯s been dead between six and ten hours,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Sometime after midnight but before four or five this morning.¡±


    Gamache stared at the back of the man¡¯s head and the wound that killed him.


    It was catastrophic. It looked like a single blow by something extremely hard. And by someone extremely angry. Only anger accounted for this sort of power. The power to pulverize a skull. And what it protected.


    Everything that made this man who he was was kept in this head. Someone bashed that in. With one brutal, decisive blow.


    ¡°Not much blood.¡± Gamache got up and watched the Scene of Crime team fanning out and collecting evidence around the large room. A room now violated. First by murder and now by them. The unwanted guests.


    Olivier was standing, warming himself by the fire.


    ¡°That¡¯s a problem,¡± said Dr. Harris. ¡°Head wounds bleed a lot. There should be more blood, lots more.¡±


    ¡°It might¡¯ve been cleaned up,¡± said Beauvoir.


    Sharon Harris bent over the wound again then straightened up. ¡°With the force of the blow the bleeding might have been massive and internal. And death almost instantaneous.¡±


    It was the best news Gamache ever heard at a murder scene. Death he could handle. Even murder. It was suffering that disturbed him. He¡¯d seen a lot of it. Terrible murders. It was a great relief to find one swift and decisive. Almost humane.


    He¡¯d once heard a judge say the most humane way to execute a prisoner was to tell him he was free. Then kill him.


    Gamache had struggled against that, argued against it, railed against it. Then finally, exhausted, had come to believe it.


    Looking at this man¡¯s face he knew he hadn¡¯t suffered. The blow to the back of the head meant he probably hadn¡¯t even seen it coming.


    Almost like dying in your sleep.


    But not quite.


    They placed him in a bag and took the body away. Outside men and women stood somberly aside to let it pass. Men swept off their damp caps and women watched, tight-lipped and sad.


    Gamache turned away from the window and joined Beauvoir, who was sitting with Olivier, Gabri and Myrna. The Scene of Crime team had moved into the back rooms of the bistro, the private dining room, the staff room, the kitchen. The main room now seemed almost normal. Except for the questions hanging in the air.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry this has happened,¡± Gamache said to Olivier. ¡°How¡¯re you doing?¡±


    Olivier exhaled deeply. He looked drained. ¡°I think I¡¯m still stunned. Who was he? Do you know?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°Did anyone report a stranger in the area?¡±


    ¡°Report?¡± said Olivier. ¡°To whom?¡±


    All three turned perplexed eyes on Beauvoir. The Inspector had forgotten that Three Pines had no police force, no traffic lights, no sidewalks, no mayor. The volunteer fire department was run by that demented old poet Ruth Zardo, and most would rather perish in the flames than call her.


    The place didn¡¯t even have crime. Except murder. The only criminal thing that ever happened in this village was the worst possible crime.


    And here they were with yet another body. At least the rest had had names. This one seemed to have dropped from the sky, and fallen on his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little harder in the summer, you know,¡± said Myrna, taking a seat on the sofa. ¡°We get more visitors. Families come back for vacation, kids come home from school. This is the last big weekend. Everyone goes home after this.¡±


    ¡°The weekend of the Brume County Fair,¡± said Gabri. ¡°It ends tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± said Beauvoir, who couldn¡¯t care less about the fair. ¡°So Three Pines empties out after this weekend. But the visitors you describe are friends and family?¡±

 Page 11

    ¡°For the most part,¡± said Myrna, turning to Gabri. ¡°Some strangers come to your B and B, don¡¯t they?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m really an overflow if people run out of space in their homes.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m getting at,¡± said an exasperated Beauvoir, ¡°is that the people who visit Three Pines aren¡¯t really strangers. I just want to get this straight.¡±


    ¡°Straight we don¡¯t specialize in. Sorry,¡± said Gabri. This brought a smile to even Olivier¡¯s tired face.


    ¡°I heard something about a stranger,¡± said Myrna, ¡°but I didn¡¯t really pay any attention.¡±


    ¡°Who said it?¡±


    ¡°Roar Parra,¡± she said, reluctantly. It felt a bit like informing, and no one had much stomach for that. ¡°I heard him talking to Old Mundin and The Wife about seeing someone in the woods.¡±


    Beauvoir wrote this down. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d heard about the Parras. They were a prominent Czech family. But Old Mundin and The Wife? That must be a joke. Beauvoir¡¯s lips narrowed and he looked at Myrna without amusement. She looked back, also without amusement.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Myrna said, reading his mind. It wasn¡¯t hard. The teapot could read it. ¡°Those are their names.¡±


    ¡°Old and The Wife?¡± he repeated. No longer angry, but mystified. Myrna nodded. ¡°What¡¯re their real names?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± said Olivier. ¡°Old and The Wife.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you Old. It¡¯s just possible, but no one looks at a newborn and decides to call her The Wife. At least I hope not.¡±


    Myrna smiled. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m just so used to it I never thought. I have no idea what her real name is.¡±


    Beauvoir wondered just how pathetic a woman had to be to allow herself to be called The Wife. It actually sounded slightly biblical, Old Testament.


    Gabri put some beers, Cokes and a couple of bowls of mixed nuts on the table. Outside the villagers had finally gone home. It looked wet and bleak, but inside they were snug and warm. It was almost possible to forget this wasn¡¯t a social occasion. The Scene of Crime agents seemed to have dissolved into the woodwork, only evident when a slight scratching or mumbling could be heard. Like rodents, or ghosts. Or homicide detectives.


    ¡°Tell us about last night,¡± said Chief Inspector Gamache.


    ¡°It was a madhouse,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Last big weekend of the summer so everyone came by. Most had been to the fair during the day so they were tired. Didn¡¯t want to cook. It¡¯s always like that on Labor Day weekend. We were prepared.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± asked Agent Lacoste, who¡¯d joined them.


    ¡°I brought in extra staff,¡± said Olivier. ¡°But it went smoothly. People were pretty relaxed and we closed on time. At about one in the morning.¡±


    ¡°What happened then?¡± asked Lacoste.


    Most murder investigations appeared complex but were really quite simple. It was just a matter of asking ¡°And then what happened?¡± over and over and over. And listening to the answers helped too.


    ¡°I usually do the cash and leave the night staff to clean up, but Saturdays are different,¡± said Olivier. ¡°Old Mundin comes after closing and delivers the things he¡¯s repaired during the week and picks up any furniture that¡¯s been broken in the meantime. Doesn¡¯t take long, and he does it while the waiters and kitchen staff are cleaning up.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°Mundin does this at midnight on Saturdays? Why not Sunday morning, or any other reasonable time? Why late at night?¡±


    It sounded furtive to Beauvoir, who had a nose for things secretive and sly.


    Olivier shrugged. ¡°Habit, I guess. When he first started doing the work he wasn¡¯t married to The Wife so he¡¯d hang around here Saturday nights. When we closed he¡¯d just take the broken furniture then. We¡¯ve seen no reason to change.¡±


    In a village where almost nothing changed this made sense.


    ¡°So Mundin took the furniture. What happened then?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°I left.¡±


    ¡°Were you the last in the place?¡±


    Olivier hesitated. ¡°Not quite. Because it was so busy there were a few extra things to do. They¡¯re a good bunch of kids, you know. Responsible.¡±


    Gamache had been listening to this. He preferred it that way. His agents asked the questions and it freed him up to observe, and to hear what was said, how it was said, and what was left out. And now he heard a defensiveness creep into Olivier¡¯s calm and helpful voice. Was he defensive about his own behavior, or was he trying to protect his staff, afraid they¡¯d fall under suspicion?

 Page 12

    ¡°Who was the last to leave?¡± Agent Lacoste asked.


    ¡°Young Parra,¡± said Olivier.


    ¡°Young Parra?¡± asked Beauvoir. ¡°Like Old Mundin?¡±


    Gabri made a face. ¡°Of course not. His name isn¡¯t ¡®Young.¡¯ That¡¯d be weird. His name¡¯s Havoc.¡±


    Beauvoir¡¯s eyes narrowed and he glared at Gabri. He didn¡¯t like being mocked and he suspected this large, soft man was doing just that. He then looked over at Myrna, who wasn¡¯t laughing. She nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s his name. Roar named his son Havoc.¡±


    Jean Guy Beauvoir wrote it down, but without pleasure or conviction.


    ¡°Would he have locked up?¡± asked Lacoste.


    It was, Gamache and Beauvoir both knew, a crucial question, but its significance seemed lost on Olivier.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Gamache and Beauvoir exchanged glances. Now they were getting somewhere. The murderer had to have had a key. A world full of suspects had narrowed dramatically.


    ¡°May I see your keys?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    Olivier and Gabri fished theirs out and handed them to the Inspector. But a third set was also offered. He turned and saw Myrna¡¯s large hand dangling a set of keys.


    ¡°I have them in case I get locked out of my place or if there¡¯s an emergency.¡±


    ¡°Merci,¡± said Beauvoir, with slightly less confidence than he¡¯d been feeling. ¡°Have you lent them to anyone recently?¡± he asked Olivier and Gabri.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Beauvoir smiled. This was good.


    ¡°Except Old Mundin, of course. He¡¯d lost his and needed to make another copy.¡±


    ¡°And Billy Williams,¡± Gabri reminded Olivier. ¡°Remember? He normally uses the one under the planter at the front but he didn¡¯t want to have to bend down while he carried the wood. He was going to take it to get more copies made.¡±


    Beauvoir¡¯s face twisted into utter disbelief. ¡°Why even bother to lock up?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°Insurance,¡± said Olivier.


    Well, someone¡¯s premiums are going up, thought Beauvoir. He looked at Gamache and shook his head. Really, they all deserved to be murdered in their sleep. But, of course, as irony would have it, it was the ones who locked and alarmed who were killed. In Beauvoir¡¯s experience Darwin was way wrong. The fittest didn¡¯t survive. They were killed by the idiocy of their neighbors, who continued to bumble along oblivious.


    FOUR


    ¡°You didn¡¯t recognize him?¡± asked Clara as she sliced some fresh bread from Sarah¡¯s Boulangerie.


    There was only one ¡°him¡± Myrna¡¯s friend could be talking about. Myrna shook her head and sliced tomatoes into the salad, then turned to the shallots, all freshly picked from Peter and Clara¡¯s vegetable garden.


    ¡°And Olivier and Gabri didn¡¯t know him?¡± asked Peter. He was carving a barbecued chicken.


    ¡°Strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± Myrna paused and looked at her friends. Peter¡ªtall, graying, elegant and precise. And beside him his wife Clara. Short, plump, hair dark and wild, bread crust scattered into it like sparkles. Her eyes were blue and usually filled with humor. But not today.


    Clara was shaking her head, perplexed. A couple of crumbs fell to the counter. She picked them up absently, and ate them. Now that the initial shock of discovery was receding, Myrna was pretty sure they were all thinking the same thing.


    This was murder. The dead man was a stranger. But was the killer?


    And they probably all came to the same conclusion. Unlikely.


    She¡¯d tried not to think about it, but it kept creeping into her head. She picked up a slice of baguette and chewed on it. The bread was warm, soft and fragrant. The outer crust was crispy.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake,¡± said Clara, waving the knife at the half-eaten bread in Myrna¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Want some?¡± Myrna offered her a piece.


    The two women stood at the counter eating fresh warm bread. They¡¯d normally be at the bistro for Sunday lunch but that didn¡¯t seem likely today, what with the body and all. So Clara, Peter and Myrna had gone next door to Myrna¡¯s loft apartment. Downstairs the door to her shop was armed with an alarm, should anyone enter. It wasn¡¯t really so much an alarm as a small bell that tinkled when the door opened. Sometimes Myrna went down, sometimes not. Almost all her customers were local, and they all knew how much to leave by the cash register. Besides, thought Myrna, if anyone needed a used book so badly they had to steal it then they were welcome to it.


    Myrna felt a chill. She looked across the room to see if a window was open and cool, damp air pouring in. She saw the exposed brick walls, the sturdy beams and the series of large industrial windows. She walked over to check, but all of them were closed, except for one open a sliver to let in some fresh air.

 Page 13

    Walking back across the wide pine floors, she paused by the black pot-bellied woodstove in the center of the large room. It was crackling away. She lifted a round lid and slipped another piece of wood in.


    ¡°It must have been horrible for you,¡± said Clara, going to stand by Myrna.


    ¡°It was. That poor man, just lying there. I didn¡¯t see the wound at first.¡±


    Clara sat with Myrna on the sofa facing the woodstove. Peter brought over two Scotches then quietly retired to the kitchen area. From there he could see them, could hear their conversation, but wouldn¡¯t be in the way.


    He watched as the two women leaned close, sipping their drinks, talking softly. Intimately. He envied them that. Peter turned away and stirred the Cheddar and apple soup.


    ¡°What does Gamache think?¡± asked Clara.


    ¡°He seems as puzzled as the rest of us. I mean really,¡± Myrna turned to face Clara, ¡°why was a strange man in the bistro? Dead?¡±


    ¡°Murdered,¡± said Clara and the two thought about that for a moment.


    Clara finally spoke. ¡°Did Olivier say anything?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. He seemed just stunned.¡±


    Clara nodded. She knew the feeling.


    The police were at the door. Soon they¡¯d be in their homes, in their kitchens and bedrooms. In their heads.


    ¡°Can¡¯t imagine what Gamache thinks of us,¡± said Myrna. ¡°Every time he shows up there¡¯s a body.¡±


    ¡°Every Quebec village has a vocation,¡± said Clara. ¡°Some make cheese, some wine, some pots. We produce bodies.¡±


    ¡°Monasteries have vocations, not villages,¡± said Peter with a laugh. He placed bowls of rich-scented soup on Myrna¡¯s long refectory table. ¡°And we don¡¯t make bodies.¡±


    But he wasn¡¯t really so sure.


    ¡°Gamache is the head of homicide for the S?ret¨¦,¡± said Myrna. ¡°It must happen to him all the time. In fact, he¡¯d probably be quite surprised if there wasn¡¯t a body.¡±


    Myrna and Clara joined Peter at the table and as the women talked Peter thought of the man in charge of the investigation. He was dangerous, Peter knew. Dangerous to whoever had killed that man next door. He wondered whether the murderer knew what sort of man was after him. But Peter was afraid the murderer knew all too well.


    Inspector Jean Guy Beauvoir looked around their new Incident Room and inhaled. He realized, with some surprise, how familiar and even thrilling the scent was.


    It smelled of excitement, it smelled of the hunt. It smelled of long hours over hot computers, piecing together a puzzle. It smelled of teamwork.


    It actually smelled of diesel fuel and wood smoke, of polish and concrete. He was again in the old railway station of Three Pines, abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway decades ago and left to rot. But the Three Pines Volunteer Fire Department had taken it over, sneaking in and hoping no one noticed. Which, of course, they didn¡¯t, the CPR having long forgotten the village existed. So now the small station was home to their fire trucks, their bulky outfits, their equipment. The walls retained the tongue-in-groove wood paneling, and were papered with posters for scenic trips through the Rockies and life-saving techniques. Fire safety tips, volunteer rotation and old railway timetables competed for space, along with a huge poster announcing the winner of the Governor General¡¯s Prize for Poetry. There, staring out at them in perpetuity, was a madwoman.


    She was also staring at him, madly, in person.


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing here?¡± Beside her a duck stared at him too.


    Ruth Zardo. Probably the most prominent and respected poet in the country. And her duck Rosa. He knew that when Chief Inspector Gamache looked at her he saw a gifted poet. But Beauvoir just saw indigestion.


    ¡°There¡¯s been a murder,¡± he said, his voice he hoped full of dignity and authority.


    ¡°I know there¡¯s been a murder. I¡¯m not an idiot.¡±


    Beside her the duck shook its head and flapped its wings. Beauvoir had grown so used to seeing her with the bird it was no longer surprising. In fact, though he¡¯d never admit it, he was relieved Rosa was still alive. Most things, he suspected, didn¡¯t last long around this crazy old fart.


    ¡°We need to use this building again,¡± he said and turned away from them.


    Ruth Zardo, despite her extreme age, her limp, and her diabolical temperament, had been elected head of the volunteer fire department. In hopes, Beauvoir suspected, that she¡¯d perish in the flames one day. But he also suspected she wouldn¡¯t burn.


    ¡°No.¡± She whacked her cane on the concrete floor. Rosa didn¡¯t jump but Beauvoir did. ¡°You can¡¯t have it.¡±

 Page 14

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Madame Zardo, but we need it and we plan to take it.¡±


    His voice was no longer as gracious as it had been. The three stared at each other, only Rosa blinking. Beauvoir knew the only way this nut-case could triumph was if she started reciting her dreary, unintelligible verse. Nothing rhymed. Nothing even made sense. She¡¯d break him in an instant. But he also knew that of all the people in the village, she was the least likely to quote it. She seemed embarrassed, even ashamed, by what she created.


    ¡°How¡¯s your poetry?¡± he asked and saw her waver. Her short, shorn hair was white and thin and lay close to her head, as though her bleached skull was exposed. Her neck was scrawny and ropy and her tall body, once sturdy he suspected, was feeble. But nothing else about her was.


    ¡°I saw somewhere that you¡¯ll soon have another book out.¡±


    Ruth Zardo backed up slightly.


    ¡°The Chief Inspector is here too, as you probably know.¡± His voice was kind now, reasonable, warm. The old woman looked as though she was seeing Satan. ¡°I know how much he¡¯s looking forward to talking to you about it. He¡¯ll be here soon. He¡¯s been memorizing your verses.¡±


    Ruth Zardo turned and left.


    He¡¯d done it. He¡¯d banished her. The witch was dead, or at least gone.


    He got to work setting up their headquarters. He ordered desks and communications equipment, computers and printers, scanners and faxes. Corkboards and fragrant Magic Markers. He¡¯d stick a corkboard right on top of that poster of the sneering, mad old poet. And over her face he¡¯d write about murder.


    The bistro was quiet.


    The Scene of Crime officers had left. Agent Isabelle Lacoste was kneeling on the floor where the body had been found, thorough as ever. Making absolutely sure no clues were missed. From what Chief Inspector Gamache could see Olivier and Gabri hadn¡¯t stirred: they still sat on the faded old sofa facing the large fireplace, each in his own world, staring at the fire, mesmerized by the flames. He wondered what they were thinking.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Gamache went over and sat in the large armchair beside them.


    ¡°I was thinking about the dead man,¡± said Olivier. ¡°Wondering who he was. Wondering what he was doing here, and about his family. Wondering if anyone was missing him.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking about lunch,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Anyone else hungry?¡±


    From across the room Agent Lacoste looked up. ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°So am I, patron,¡± said Gamache.


    When they could hear Gabri clanking pots and pans in the kitchen, Gamache leaned forward. It was just him and Olivier. Olivier looked at him blankly. But the Chief Inspector had seen that look before. It was, in fact, almost impossible to look blank. Unless the person wanted to. A blank face to the Chief Inspector meant a frantic mind.


    From the kitchen came the unmistakable aroma of garlic and they could hear Gabri singing, ¡°What shall we do with a drunken sailor?¡±


    ¡°Gabri thought the man was a tramp. What do you think?¡±


    Olivier remembered the eyes, glassy, staring. And he remembered the last time he¡¯d been in the cabin.


    Chaos is coming, old son. It¡¯s taken a long time, but it¡¯s finally here.


    ¡°What else could he¡¯ve been?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think he was killed here, in your bistro?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± And Olivier seemed to sag. ¡°I¡¯ve been racking my brains trying to figure it out. Why would someone kill a man here? It makes no sense.¡±


    ¡°It does make sense.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Olivier sat forward. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I will.¡±


    Olivier stared at the formidable, quiet man who suddenly seemed to fill the entire room without raising his voice.


    ¡°Did you know him?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve asked me that before,¡± snapped Olivier, then gathered himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you have, you know, and it gets annoying. I didn¡¯t know him.¡±


    Gamache stared. Olivier¡¯s face was red now, blushing. But from anger, from the heat of the fire, or did he just tell a lie?


    ¡°Someone knew him,¡± said Gamache at last, leaning back, giving Olivier the impression of pressure lifted. Of breathing room.


    ¡°But not me and not Gabri.¡± His brow pulled together and Gamache thought Olivier was genuinely upset. ¡°What was he doing here?¡±


    ¡° ¡®Here¡¯ meaning Three Pines, or ¡®here¡¯ meaning the bistro?¡±


    ¡°Both.¡±


    But Gamache knew Olivier had just lied. He meant the bistro, that was obvious. People lied all the time in murder investigations. If the first victim of war was the truth, some of the first victims of a murder investigation were people¡¯s lies. The lies they told themselves, the lies they told each other. The little lies that allowed them to get out of bed on cold, dark mornings. Gamache and his team hunted the lies down and exposed them. Until all the small tales told to ease everyday lives disappeared. And people were left naked. The trick was distinguishing the important fibs from the rest. This one appeared tiny. In which case, why bother lying at all?

 Page 15

    Gabri approached carrying a tray with four steaming plates. Within minutes they were sitting around the fireplace eating fettuccine with shrimp and scallops saut¨¦ed in garlic and olive oil. Fresh bread was produced and glasses of dry white wine poured.


    As they ate they talked about the Labor Day long weekend, about the chestnut trees and conkers. About kids returning to school and the nights drawing in.


    The bistro was empty, except for them. But it seemed crowded to the Chief Inspector. With the lies they¡¯d been told, and the lies being manufactured and waiting.


    FIVE


    After lunch, while Agent Lacoste made arrangements for them to stay overnight at Gabri¡¯s B and B, Armand Gamache walked slowly in the opposite direction. The drizzle had stopped for the moment but a mist clung to the forests and hills surrounding the village. People were coming out of their homes to do errands or work in their gardens. He walked along the muddy road and turning left made his way over the arched stone bridge that spanned the Rivi¨¨re Bella Bella.


    ¡°Hungry?¡± Gamache opened the door to the old train station and held out the brown paper bag.


    ¡°Starving, merci.¡± Beauvoir almost ran over, and taking the bag he pulled out a thick sandwich of chicken, Brie and pesto. There was also a Coke and patisserie.


    ¡°What about you?¡± asked Beauvoir, his hand hesitating over the precious sandwich.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve eaten,¡± the Chief said, deciding it would really do no good describing his meal to Beauvoir.


    The men drew a couple of chairs up to the warm pot-bellied stove and as the Inspector ate they compared notes.


    ¡°So far,¡± said Gamache, ¡°we have no idea who the victim was, who killed him, why he was in the bistro and what the murder weapon was.¡±


    ¡°No sign of a weapon yet?¡±


    ¡°No. Dr. Harris thinks it was a metal rod or something like that. It was smooth and hard.¡±


    ¡°A fireplace poker?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. We¡¯ve taken Olivier¡¯s in for tests.¡± The Chief paused.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Beauvoir asked.


    ¡°It just strikes me as slightly odd that Olivier would light fires in both grates. It¡¯s rainy but not that cold. And for that to be just about the first thing he¡¯d do after finding a body . . .¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking the weapon might be one of those fireplace pokers? And that Olivier lit the fires so that he could use them? Burn away evidence on them?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s possible,¡± said the Chief, his voice neutral.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have them checked,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°But if one turns out to be the weapon it doesn¡¯t mean Olivier used it. Anyone could¡¯ve picked it up and smashed the guy.¡±


    ¡°True. But only Olivier lit the fires this morning, and used the poker.¡±


    It was clear as Chief Inspector he had to consider everyone a suspect. But it was also clear he wasn¡¯t happy about it.


    Beauvoir waved to some large men at the door to come in. The Incident Room equipment had arrived. Lacoste showed up and joined them by the stove.


    ¡°I¡¯ve booked us into the B and B. By the way, I ran into Clara Morrow. We¡¯re invited to dinner tonight.¡±


    Gamache nodded. This was good. They could find out more at a social event than they ever could in an interrogation.


    ¡°Olivier gave me the names of the people who worked in the bistro last night. I¡¯m off to interview them,¡± she reported. ¡°And there are teams searching the village and the surrounding area for the murder weapon, with a special interest in fireplace pokers or anything like that.¡±


    Inspector Beauvoir finished his lunch and went to direct the setup of the Incident Room. Agent Lacoste left to conduct interviews. A part of Gamache always hated to see his team members go off. He warned them time and again not to forget what they were doing, and who they were looking for. A killer.


    The Chief Inspector had lost one agent, years ago, to a murderer. He was damned if he was going to lose another. But he couldn¡¯t protect them all, all the time. Like Annie, he finally had to let them go.


    It was the last interview of the day. So far Agent Lacoste had spoken to five people who¡¯d worked at the bistro the night before, and gotten the same answers. No, nothing unusual happened. The place was full all evening, it being both a Saturday night and the long Labor Day weekend. School was back on Tuesday and anybody down for the summer would be heading back to Montreal on Monday. Tomorrow.


    Four of the waiters were returning to university after the summer break the next day. They really weren¡¯t much help since all they seemed to have noticed was a table of attractive girls.

 Page 16

    The fifth waiter was more helpful, since she hadn¡¯t simply seen a roomful of breasts. But it was, by all accounts, a normal though hectic evening. No dead body that anyone mentioned, and Lacoste thought even the breast boys would have noticed that.


    She drove up to the home of the final waiter, the young man nominally in charge once Olivier had left. The one who¡¯d done the final check of the place and locked up.


    The house was set back from the main road down a long dirt driveway. Maples lined the drive and while they hadn¡¯t yet turned their brilliant autumn colors, a few were just beginning to show oranges and reds. In a few weeks this approach, Lacoste knew, would be spectacular.


    Lacoste got out of the car and stared, amazed. Facing her was a block of concrete and glass. It seemed so out of place, like finding a tent pitched on Fifth Avenue. It didn¡¯t belong. As she walked toward it she realized something else. The house intimidated her and she wondered why. Her own tastes ran to traditional but not stuffy. She loved exposed brick and beams, but hated clutter, though she¡¯d given up all semblance of being house-proud after the kids came. These days it was a triumph if she walked across a room and didn¡¯t step on something that squeaked.


    This place was certainly a triumph. But was it a home?


    The door was opened by a robust middle-aged woman who spoke very good, though perhaps slightly precise, French. Lacoste was surprised and realized she¡¯d been expecting angular people to live in this angular house.


    ¡°Madame Parra?¡± Agent Lacoste held up her identification. The woman nodded, smiled warmly and stepped back for them to enter.


    ¡°Entrez. It¡¯s about what happened at Olivier¡¯s,¡± said Hanna Parra.


    ¡°Oui.¡± Lacoste bent to take off her muddy boots. It always seemed so awkward and undignified. The world famous homicide team of the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec interviewing suspects in their stockinged feet.


    Madame Parra didn¡¯t tell her not to. But she did give her slippers from a wooden box by the door, jumbled full of old footwear. Again, this surprised Lacoste, who¡¯d expected everything to be neat and tidy. And rigid.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to speak to your son.¡±


    ¡°Havoc.¡±


    Havoc. The name had amused Inspector Beauvoir, but Agent Lacoste found nothing funny about it. And, strangely, it seemed to fit with this cold, brittle place. What else could contain Havoc?


    Before driving out she¡¯d done some research on the Parras. Just a thumbnail sketch, but it helped. The woman leading her out of the mudroom was a councillor for the township of Saint-R¨¦my, and her husband, Roar, was a caretaker, working on the large properties in the area. They¡¯d escaped Czechoslovakia in the mid-80s, come to Quebec and settled just outside Three Pines. There was, in fact, a large and influential Czech community in the area, composed of escapees, people running until they found what they were looking for. Freedom and safety. Hanna and Roar Parra had stopped when they found Three Pines.


    And once there, they¡¯d created Havoc.


    ¡°Havoc!¡± his mother cried, letting the dogs slip out as she called into the woods.


    After a few more yells a short, stocky young man appeared. His face was flushed from hard work and his curly dark hair was tousled. He smiled and Lacoste knew the other waiters at the bistro hadn¡¯t stood a chance with the girls. This boy would take them all. He also stole a sliver of her heart, and she quickly did the figures. She was twenty-eight, he was twenty-one. In twenty-five years that wouldn¡¯t matter so much, although her husband and children might disagree.


    ¡°What can I do for you?¡± He bent and took off his green Wellington boots. ¡°Of course, it is that man they found in the bistro this morning. I¡¯m sorry. I should have known.¡±


    As he talked they walked into a quite splendid kitchen, unlike any Lacoste had seen in real life. Instead of the classic, and mandatory as far as Lacoste knew, triangle of fitments, the entire kitchen was ranged along one wall at the back of the bright room. There was one very long concrete counter, stainless steel appliances, open floating shelves with pure white dishes in a regimented line. The lower cabinets were dark laminate. It felt at once very retro and very modern.


    There was no kitchen island but instead a frosted glass dining table, and what looked like vintage teak chairs stood in front of the counter. As Lacoste sat in one, and found it surprisingly comfortable, she wondered if these were antiques brought from Prague. Then she wondered if people really slipped across borders with teak chairs.


    At the other end of the room was a wall of windows, floor to ceiling, that wrapped around the sides giving a spectacular view of fields and forest and a mountain beyond. She could just see a white church spire and a plume of smoke in the distance. The village of Three Pines.

 Page 17

    In the living area by the huge windows two sofas lined up perfectly to face each other, with a low coffee table between them.


    ¡°Tea?¡± Hanna asked and Lacoste nodded.


    These two Parras seemed at odds in the almost sterile environment and as they waited for the tea to brew Lacoste found herself wondering about the missing Parra. The father, Roar. Perhaps it was his angular, hard stamp on this house. Was he the one who yearned for cool certainty, straight lines, near empty rooms, and uncluttered shelves?


    ¡°Do you know who the dead man was?¡± asked Hanna as she placed a cup of tea in front of Agent Lacoste. A white plate piled with cookies was also put on the spotless table.


    Lacoste thanked her and took one. It was soft and warm and tasted of raisin and oatmeal, with a hint of brown sugar and cinnamon. It tasted of home. She noticed the teacup had a smiling and waving snowman in a red suit. Bonhomme Carnaval. A character from the annual Quebec City winter carnival. She took a sip. It was strong and sweet.


    Like Hanna herself, Lacoste suspected.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t know who he was yet,¡± she said.


    ¡°We¡¯ve heard,¡± Hanna hesitated, ¡°that it wasn¡¯t natural. Is that right?¡±


    Lacoste remembered the man¡¯s skull. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t natural. He was murdered.¡±


    ¡°Dear God,¡± said Hanna. ¡°How awful. And you have no idea who did it?¡±


    ¡°We will, soon. For now I want to hear about last night.¡± She turned to the young man sitting across from her.


    Just then a voice called from the back door in a language Lacoste couldn¡¯t understand, but took to be Czech. A man, short and square, walked into the kitchen, whacking his knit hat against his coat.


    ¡°Roar, can¡¯t you do that in the mudroom?¡± Hanna spoke in French, and despite the slight reprimand she was clearly pleased to see him. ¡°The police are here. About the body.¡±


    ¡°What body?¡± Roar also switched to French, lightly accented. He sounded concerned. ¡°Where? Here?¡±


    ¡°Not here, Dad. They found a body in the bistro this morning. He was killed.¡±


    ¡°You mean murdered? Someone was murdered in the bistro last night?¡±


    His disbelief was clear. Like his son he was stocky and muscular. His hair was curly and dark, but unlike his son¡¯s it was graying. He¡¯d be in his late forties, Lacoste reckoned.


    She introduced herself.


    ¡°I know you,¡± he said, his gaze keen and penetrating. His eyes were disconcertingly blue and hard. ¡°You¡¯ve been in Three Pines before.¡±


    He had a good memory for faces, Lacoste realized. Most people remembered Chief Inspector Gamache. Maybe Inspector Beauvoir. But few remembered her, or the other agents.


    This man did.


    He poured himself tea then sat down. He also seemed slightly out of place in this pristine modern room. And yet he was completely comfortable. He looked a man who¡¯d be comfortable most places.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know about the body?¡±


    Roar Parra took a bite of his cookie and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve been working all day in the woods.¡±


    ¡°In the rain?¡±


    He snorted. ¡°What? A little rain won¡¯t kill you.¡±


    ¡°But a blow to the head would.¡±


    ¡°Is that how he died?¡± When Lacoste nodded Parra went on. ¡°Who was he?¡±


    ¡°No one knows,¡± said Hanna.


    ¡°But perhaps you do,¡± said Lacoste. She brought a photograph out of her pocket and placed it face down on the hard, cold table.


    ¡°Me?¡± said Roar with a snort. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know there was a dead man.¡±


    ¡°But I hear you saw a stranger hanging around the village this summer.¡±


    ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You were heard talking about it. Was it a secret?¡±


    Parra hesitated. ¡°Not really. It was just the once. Maybe twice. Not important. It was stupid, just some guy I thought I saw.¡±


    ¡°Stupid?¡±


    He gave a smile suddenly, the first one she¡¯d seen from him, and it transformed his stern face. It was as though a crust had broken. Lines creased his cheeks and his eyes lit momentarily.


    ¡°Trust me, this is stupid. And I know stupid, having raised a teenage son. I¡¯ll tell you, but it can¡¯t mean anything. There¡¯re new owners at the old Hadley house. A couple bought it a few months ago. They¡¯re doing renovations and hired me to build a barn and clear some trails. They also wanted the garden cleaned up. Big job.¡±


    The old Hadley house, she knew, was a rambling old Victorian wreck on the hill overlooking Three Pines.

 Page 18

    ¡°I think I saw someone in the woods. A man. I¡¯d felt someone looking at me when I worked there, but I thought I was imagining things. It¡¯s easy with that place. Sometimes I¡¯d look around fast, to see if someone really was there, but there never was anyone. Except once.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°He disappeared. I called out and even ran into the woods a little way after him, but he¡¯d gone.¡± Parra paused. ¡°Maybe he was never there at all.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t believe that, do you? You believe there really was someone there.¡±


    Parra looked at her and nodded.


    ¡°Would you recognize him?¡± Lacoste asked.


    ¡°I might.¡±


    ¡°I have a photograph of the dead man, taken this morning. It might be upsetting,¡± she warned. Parra nodded and she turned the photograph face up. All three looked at it, staring intently, then shook their heads. She left it on the table, beside the cookies.


    ¡°Everything was normal last night? Nothing unusual?¡± she asked Havoc.


    What followed was the same description as the other waiters had provided. Busy, lots of tips, no time to think.


    Strangers?


    Havoc thought about it and shook his head. No. Some summer people, and weekenders, but he knew everyone.


    ¡°And what did you do after Olivier and Old Mundin left?¡±


    ¡°Put away the dishes, did a quick look round, turned off the lights and locked up.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you locked up? The door was found unlocked this morning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. I always lock up.¡±


    A note of fear had crept into the handsome young man¡¯s voice. But Lacoste knew that was normal. Most people, even innocent ones, grew fearful when examined by homicide detectives. But she¡¯d noticed something else.


    His father had looked at him, then quickly looked away. And Lacoste wondered who Roar Parra really was. He worked in the woods now. He cut grass and planted gardens. But what had he done before that? Many men were drawn to the tranquility of a garden only after they¡¯d known the brutality of life.


    Had Roar Parra known horrors? Had he created some?


    SIX


    ¡°Chief Inspector? It¡¯s Sharon Harris.¡±


    ¡°Oui, Dr. Harris,¡± said Gamache into the receiver.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done the complete autopsy but I have a couple of pieces of information from my preliminary work.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡± Gamache leaned on the desk and brought his notebook closer.


    ¡°There were no identifying marks on the body, no tattoos, no operation scars. I¡¯ve sent his dental work out.¡±


    ¡°What shape were his teeth in?¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s an interesting point. They weren¡¯t as bad as I expected. I bet he didn¡¯t go to the dentist very often, and he¡¯d lost a couple of molars to some gum disease, but overall, not bad.¡±


    ¡°Did he brush?¡±


    There was a small laugh. ¡°Unbelievably, he did. He also flossed. There¡¯s some receding, some plaque and disease, but he took care of his teeth. There¡¯s even evidence he once had quite a bit of work done. Cavities filled, root canal.¡±


    ¡°Expensive stuff.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. This man had money at one time.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t born a tramp, thought Gamache. But then no one was.


    ¡°Can you tell how long ago the work was done?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say twenty years at least, judging by the wear and the materials used, but I¡¯ve sent a sample along to the forensic dentist. Should hear by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Twenty years ago,¡± mused Gamache, doing the math, jotting figures in his notebook. ¡°The man was in his seventies. That would mean he had the work done sometime in his fifties. Then something happened. He lost his job, drank, had a breakdown; something happened that pushed him over the edge.¡±


    ¡°Something happened,¡± agreed Dr. Harris, ¡°but not in his fifties. Something happened in his late thirties or early forties.¡±


    ¡°That long ago?¡± Gamache looked down at his notes. He¡¯d written 20 ans and circled it. He was confused.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to tell you, Chief,¡± the coroner continued. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong about this body.¡±


    Gamache sat up straighter and took his half-moon reading glasses off. Across the room Beauvoir saw this and walked over to the Chief¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Go on,¡± said Gamache, nodding to Beauvoir to sit. Then he punched a button on the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve put you on the speaker. Inspector Beauvoir¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°Good. Well, it struck me as strange that this man who seemed a derelict should brush his teeth and even floss. But homeless people can do odd things. They¡¯re often mentally unwell, as you know, and can be obsessive about certain things.¡±

 Page 19

    ¡°Though not often hygiene,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°True. It was strange. Then when I undressed him I found he was clean. He¡¯d had a bath or a shower recently. And his hair, while wild, was also clean.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯re halfway homes,¡± said Gamache. ¡°Maybe he was in one of those. Though an agent called all the local social services and he¡¯s not known to them.¡±


    ¡°How d¡¯you know?¡± The coroner rarely questioned Chief Inspector Gamache, but she was curious. ¡°We don¡¯t know his name and surely his description would sound like any number of homeless men.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± admitted Gamache. ¡°She described him as a slim, older man in his seventies with white hair, blue eyes and weathered skin. None of the men who match that description and use shelters in this area is missing. But we¡¯re having someone take his photo around.¡±


    There was a pause on the line.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Your description is wrong.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Surely Gamache had seen him as clearly as everyone else.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t an elderly man. That¡¯s what I called to tell you. His teeth were a clue; then I went looking. His arteries and blood vessels have very little plaque, and almost no atherosclerosis. His prostate isn¡¯t particularly enlarged and there¡¯s no sign of arthritis. I¡¯d say he was in his mid-fifties.¡±


    My age, thought Gamache. Was it possible that wreck on the floor was the same age?


    ¡°And I don¡¯t think he was homeless.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Too clean for one thing. He took care of himself. Not GQ material, it¡¯s true, but not all of us can look like Inspector Beauvoir.¡±


    Beauvoir preened slightly.


    ¡°On the outside he looked seventy but on the inside he was in good physical condition. Then I looked at his clothes. They were clean too. And mended. They were old and worn, but propres.¡±


    She used the Qu¨¦b¨¦cois word that was rarely used anymore, except by elderly parents. But it seemed to fit here. Propre. Nothing fancy. Nothing fashionable. But sturdy and clean and presentable. There was a worn dignity about the word.


    ¡°I have to do more work, but that¡¯s my preliminary finding. I¡¯ll e-mail all this to you.¡±


    ¡°Bon. Can you guess what sort of work he did? How¡¯d he keep himself in shape?¡±


    ¡°Which gym did he belong to, you mean?¡± He could hear the smile in her voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Gamache. ¡°Did he jog or lift weights? Was he in a spinning class or maybe Pilates?¡±


    Now the coroner laughed. ¡°At a guess I¡¯d say it wasn¡¯t much walking, but a lot of lifting. His upper body is slightly more toned than his lower. But I¡¯ll keep that question in mind as I go.¡±


    ¡°Merci, docteur,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°One more thing,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°The murder weapon. Any further clues? Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just about to do that part of the autopsy, but I¡¯ve taken a quick look and my assessment stays the same. Blunt instrument.¡±


    ¡°A fireplace poker?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Possibly. I did notice something white in the wound. Might be ash.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have the lab results from the pokers by tomorrow morning,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I have more to tell you.¡±


    Dr. Harris rung off just as Agent Lacoste arrived back. ¡°Clearing up outside. It¡¯s going to be a nice sunset.¡±


    Beauvoir looked at her, incredulous. She was supposed to be scouring Three Pines for clues, trying to find the murder weapon and the murderer, interviewing suspects, and the first thing out of her mouth was about the nice sunset?


    He noticed the Chief drift over to a window, sipping his coffee. He turned round and smiled. ¡°Beautiful.¡±


    A conference table had been set up in the center of their Incident Room with desks and chairs placed in a semicircle at one end. On each desk was a computer and phone. It looked a little like Three Pines, with the conference table as the village green and their desks as the shops. It was an ancient and tested design.


    A young S?ret¨¦ agent from the local detachment hovered, looking as if he wanted to say something.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡± Chief Inspector Gamache asked.


    The other agents from the local detachment stopped and stared. Some exchanged knowing smiles.


    The young man squared his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to help with your investigation.¡±


    There was dead silence. Even the technicians stopped what they were doing, as people do when witnessing a terrible calamity.

 Page 20

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± said Inspector Beauvoir, stepping forward. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to help.¡± By now the young agent could see the truck hurtling toward him and could feel his vehicle spin out of control. Too late, he realized his mistake.


    He saw all this, and stood firm, from either terror or courage. It was hard to tell. Behind him four or five large agents crossed their arms and did nothing to help.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be setting up desks and telephone lines?¡± asked Beauvoir, stepping closer to the agent.


    ¡°I have. That¡¯s all done.¡± He voice was smaller, weaker, but still there.


    ¡°And what makes you think you can help?¡±


    Behind Beauvoir stood the Chief Inspector, quietly watching. The young agent looked at Inspector Beauvoir when answering his questions, but then his eyes returned to Gamache.


    ¡°I know the area. I know the people.¡±


    ¡°So do they.¡± Beauvoir waved at the wall of police behind the agent. ¡°If we needed help why would we choose you?¡±


    This seemed to throw him and he stood silent. Beauvoir waved his hand to dismiss the agent and walked away.


    ¡°Because,¡± the agent said to the Chief Inspector, ¡°I asked.¡±


    Beauvoir stopped and turned round, looking incredulous. ¡°Pardon? Pardon? This is homicide, not a game of Mother May I. Are you even in the S?ret¨¦?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a bad question. The agent looked about sixteen and his uniform hung loosely on him, though an effort had obviously been made to make it fit. With him in the foreground and his confr¨¨res behind it looked like an evolutionary scale, with the young agent on the extinction track.


    ¡°If you have no more work to do, please leave.¡±


    The young agent nodded, turned to get back to work, met the wall of other officers, and stopped. Then he walked around them, watched by Gamache and his homicide team. Their last view of the young officer before they turned away was of his back, and a furiously blushing neck.


    ¡°Join me please,¡± Gamache said to Beauvoir and Lacoste, who took their seats at the conference table.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Gamache asked quietly.


    ¡°About the body?¡±


    ¡°About the boy.¡±


    ¡°Not again,¡± said Beauvoir, exasperated. ¡°There are perfectly good officers already in homicide if we need someone. If they¡¯re busy with cases there¡¯s always the wait-list. Agents from other divisions are dying to get into homicide. Why choose an untested kid from the boonies? If we need another investigator let¡¯s call one down from headquarters.¡±


    It was their classic argument.


    The homicide division of the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec was the most prestigious posting in the province. Perhaps in Canada. They worked on the worst of all crimes in the worst of all conditions. And they worked with the best, the most respected and famous, of all investigators. Chief Inspector Gamache.


    So why pick the dregs?


    ¡°We could, certainly,¡± admitted the Chief.


    But Beauvoir knew he wouldn¡¯t. Gamache had found Isabelle Lacoste sitting outside her Superintendent¡¯s office, about to be fired from traffic division. Gamache had asked her to join him, to the astonishment of everyone.


    He¡¯d found Beauvoir himself reduced to guarding evidence at the S?ret¨¦ outpost of Trois Rivi¨¨res. Every day Beauvoir, Agent Beauvoir then, had suffered the ignominy of putting on his S?ret¨¦ uniform then stepping into the evidence cage. And staying there. Like an animal. He¡¯d so pissed off his colleagues and bosses this was the only place left to put him. Alone. With inanimate objects. Silence all day, except when other agents came to put something in or take something out. They wouldn¡¯t even meet his eye. He¡¯d become untouchable. Unmentionable. Invisible.


    But Chief Inspector Gamache saw. He¡¯d come one day on a case, had himself gone to the cage with evidence, and there he¡¯d found Jean Guy Beauvoir.


    The agent, the man no one wanted, was now the second in command in homicide.


    But Beauvoir couldn¡¯t shake the certainty that Gamache had simply gotten lucky so far, with a few notable exceptions. The reality was, untested agents were dangerous. They made mistakes. And mistakes in homicide led to death.


    He turned and looked at the slight young agent with loathing. Was this the one who¡¯d finally make that blunder? The magnificent mistake that would lead to another death? It could be me who gets it, thought Beauvoir. Or worse. He glanced at Gamache beside him.


    ¡°Why him?¡± Beauvoir whispered.


    ¡°He seems nice,¡± said Lacoste.

 Page 21

    ¡°Like the sunset,¡± Beauvoir sneered.


    ¡°Like the sunset,¡± she repeated. ¡°He was standing all alone.¡±


    There was silence.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t fit in. Look at him.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d choose the runt of the litter? For homicide detail? For God¡¯s sake, sir,¡± he appealed to Gamache. ¡°This isn¡¯t the Humane Society.¡±


    ¡°You think not?¡± said Gamache with a small smile.


    ¡°We need the best for this team, for this case. We don¡¯t have time to train people. And frankly, he looks as though he needs help tying his shoes.¡±


    It was true, Gamache had to admit, the young agent was awkward. But he was something else as well.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take him,¡± said the Chief to Beauvoir. ¡°I know you don¡¯t approve, and I understand your reasons.¡±


    ¡°Then why take him, sir?¡±


    ¡°Because he asked,¡± said Gamache, rising up. ¡°And no one else did.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯d join us in a second,¡± Beauvoir argued, getting up as well. ¡°Anyone would.¡±


    ¡°What do you look for in a member of our team?¡± asked Gamache.


    Beauvoir thought. ¡°I want someone smart and strong.¡±


    Gamache tipped his head toward the young man. ¡°And how much strength do you think that took? How much strength do you think it takes him to go to work every day? Almost as much as it took you, in Trois Rivi¨¨res, or you,¡± he turned to Lacoste, ¡°in traffic division. The others might want to join us, but they either didn¡¯t have the brains or lacked the courage to ask. Our young man had both.¡±


    Our, thought Beauvoir. Our young man. He looked at him across the room. Alone. Coiling wires carefully and placing them in a box.


    ¡°I value your judgment, you know that, Jean Guy. But I feel strongly about this.¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir.¡± And he did. ¡°I know this is important to you. But you¡¯re not always right.¡±


    Gamache stared at his Inspector and Beauvoir recoiled, afraid he¡¯d gone too far. Presumed too much on their personal relationship. But then the Chief smiled.


    ¡°Happily, I have you to tell me when I make a mistake.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re making one now.¡±


    ¡°Noted. Thank you. Will you please invite the young man to join us.¡±


    Beauvoir walked purposefully across the room and stopped at the young agent.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± he said.


    The agent straightened up. He looked concerned. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Behind them an officer snickered. Beauvoir stopped and turned back to the young officer following him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Paul Morin. I¡¯m with the Cowansville detachment of the S?ret¨¦, sir.¡±


    ¡°Agent Morin, will you please take a seat at the table. We¡¯d like your thoughts on this murder investigation.¡±


    Morin looked astonished. But not quite as astonished as the burly men behind him. Beauvoir turned back and walked slowly toward the conference table. It felt good.


    ¡°Reports, please,¡± said Gamache and glanced at his watch. It was five thirty.


    ¡°Results are beginning to come in on some of the evidence we collected this morning in the bistro,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°The victim¡¯s blood was found on the floor and between some of the floorboards, though there wasn¡¯t much.¡±


    ¡°Dr. Harris will have a fuller report soon,¡± said Gamache. ¡°She thinks the lack of blood is explained by internal bleeding.¡±


    Beauvoir nodded. ¡°We do have a report on his clothing. Still nothing to identify him. His clothes were old but clean and of good quality once. Merino wool sweater, cotton shirt, corduroy pants.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if he¡¯d put on his best clothes,¡± said Agent Lacoste.


    ¡°Go on,¡± said Gamache, leaning forward and taking off his glasses.


    ¡°Well.¡± She picked her way through her thoughts. ¡°Suppose he was going to meet someone important. He¡¯d have a shower, shave, clip his nails even.¡±


    ¡°And he might pick up clean clothes,¡± said Beauvoir, following her thoughts. ¡°Maybe at a used clothing store, or a Goodwill depot.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one in Cowansville,¡± said Agent Morin. ¡°And another in Granby. I can check them.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± said the Chief Inspector.


    Agent Morin looked over at Inspector Beauvoir, who nodded his approval.


    ¡°Dr. Harris doesn¡¯t think this man was a vagrant, not in the classic sense of the word,¡± said Chief Inspector Gamache. ¡°He appeared in his seventies, but she¡¯s convinced he was closer to fifty.¡±

 Page 22

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± said Agent Lacoste. ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    That was the question, of course, thought Gamache. What happened to him? In life, to age him two decades. And in death.


    Beauvoir stood up and walked to the fresh, clean sheets of paper pinned to the wall. He picked out a new felt pen, took off the cap and instinctively wafted it under his nose. ¡°Let¡¯s go through the events of last night.¡±


    Isabelle Lacoste consulted her notes and told them about her interviews with the bistro staff.


    They were beginning to see what had happened the night before. As he listened Armand Gamache could see the cheerful bistro, filled with villagers having a meal or drinks on Labor Day weekend. Talking about the Brume County Fair, the horse trials, the judging of livestock, the crafts tent. Celebrating the end of summer and saying good-bye to family and friends. He could see the stragglers leaving and the young waiters clearing up, banking the fires, washing the dishes. Then the door opening and Old Mundin stepping in. Gamache had no idea what Old Mundin looked like, so he placed in his mind a character from a painting by Bruegel the Elder. A stooped and cheery peasant. Walking through the bistro door, a young waiter perhaps helping to bring in the repaired chairs. Mundin and Olivier would have conferred. Money would have changed hands and Mundin would have left with new items needing fixing.


    Then what?


    According to Lacoste¡¯s interviews the waiters had left shortly before Olivier and Mundin. Leaving just one person in the bistro.


    ¡°What did you think of Havoc Parra?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°He seemed surprised by what had happened,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°It might¡¯ve been an act, of course. Hard to tell. His father told me something interesting, though. He confirmed what we heard earlier. He saw someone in the woods.¡±


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°Earlier in the summer. He¡¯s working at the old Hadley house for the new owners and thinks he saw someone up there.¡±


    ¡°Thinks? Or did?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Thinks. He chased him, but the guy disappeared.¡±


    They were silent for a moment, then Gamache spoke. ¡°Havoc Parra says he locked up and left by one in the morning. Six hours later the man¡¯s body was found by Myrna Landers, who was out for a walk. Why would a stranger be murdered in Three Pines, and in the bistro?¡±


    ¡°If Havoc really did lock up, then the murderer had to be someone who knew where to find a key,¡± said Lacoste.


    ¡°Or already had one,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°Do you know what I wonder? I wonder why the murderer left him there.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Lacoste.


    ¡°Well, no one was there. It was dark. Why not pick up the body and take it into the forest? You wouldn¡¯t have to take him far, just a few hundred feet. The animals would do the rest and chances are he¡¯d never be found. We¡¯d never know a murder had been committed.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think the body was left?¡± asked Gamache.


    Beauvoir thought for a minute. ¡°I think someone wanted him to be found.¡±


    ¡°In the bistro?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°In the bistro.¡±


    SEVEN


    Olivier and Gabri strolled across the village green. It was seven in the evening and lights were beginning to glow in windows, except at the bistro, which was dark and empty.


    ¡°Christ,¡± came a growl through the dusk. ¡°The fairies are out.¡±


    ¡°Merde,¡± said Gabri. ¡°The village idiot¡¯s escaped from her attic.¡±


    Ruth Zardo limped toward them followed by Rosa.


    ¡°I hear you finally killed someone with your rapier wit,¡± said Ruth to Gabri, falling into step.


    ¡°Actually, I hear he read one of your poems and his head exploded,¡± said Gabri.


    ¡°Would that that were true,¡± said Ruth, slipping her bony arms into each of theirs, so that they walked across to Peter and Clara¡¯s arm in arm. ¡°How are you?¡± she asked quietly.


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Olivier, not glancing at the darkened bistro as they passed.


    The bistro had been his baby, his creation. All that was good about him, he put in there. All his best antiques, his finest recipes, great wines. Some evenings he¡¯d stand behind the bar, pretending to polish glasses, but really just listening to the laughter and looking at the people, who¡¯d come to his bistro. And were happy to be there. They belonged, and so did he.


    Until this.


    Who¡¯d want to come to a place where there¡¯d been a murder?


    And what if people found out he actually knew the Hermit? What if they found out what he¡¯d done? No. Best to say nothing and see what happened. It was bad enough as it was.

 Page 23

    They paused on the walk just outside Peter and Clara¡¯s house. Inside they saw Myrna putting her effusive flower arrangement on the kitchen table, already set for supper. Clara was exclaiming at its beauty and artistry. They couldn¡¯t hear the words, but her delight was obvious. In the living room Peter tossed another log on the fire.


    Ruth turned from the comforting domestic scene to the man beside her. The old poet leaned in to whisper in his ear, so that not even Gabri could hear. ¡°Give it time. It¡¯ll be all right, you know that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She turned to glance again through the glow at Clara hugging Myrna and Peter walking into the kitchen and exclaiming over the flowers as well. Olivier bent and kissed the old, cold cheek and thanked her. But he knew she was wrong. She didn¡¯t know what he knew.


    Chaos had found Three Pines. It was bearing down upon them and all that was safe and warm and kind was about to be taken away.


    Peter had poured them all drinks, except Ruth who¡¯d helped herself and was now sipping from a vase filled with Scotch and sitting in the middle of the sofa facing the fire. Rosa was waddling around the room, barely noticed by anyone anymore. Even Lucy, Peter and Clara¡¯s golden retriever, barely looked at Rosa. The first time the poet had shown up with Rosa they¡¯d insisted she stay outside, but Rosa set up such a quacking they were forced to let her in, just to shut the duck up.


    ¡°Bonjour.¡±


    A deep, familiar voice was heard from the mudroom.


    ¡°God, you didn¡¯t invite Clouseau, did you?¡± asked Ruth, to the empty room. Empty except for Rosa, who raced to stand beside her.


    ¡°It¡¯s lovely,¡± said Isabelle Lacoste as they walked from the mudroom into the airy kitchen. The long wooden table was set for dinner with baskets of sliced baguette, butter, jugs of water and bottles of wine. It smelled of garlic and rosemary and basil, all fresh from the garden.


    And in the center of the table was a stunning arrangement of hollyhocks and climbing white roses, clematis and sweet pea and fragrant pink phlox.


    More drinks were poured and the guests wandered into the living room and milled around nibbling soft runny Brie or orange and pistachio caribou pat¨¦ on baguette.


    Across the room Ruth was interrogating the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you know who the dead man was.¡±


    ¡°Afraid not,¡± said Gamache evenly. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°And do you know what killed him?¡±


    ¡°Non.¡±


    ¡°Any idea who did it?¡±


    Gamache shook his head.


    ¡°Any idea why it happened in the bistro?¡±


    ¡°None,¡± admitted Gamache.


    Ruth glared at him. ¡°Just wanted to make sure you¡¯re as incompetent as ever. Good to know some things can be relied upon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve,¡± said Gamache, bowing slightly before wandering off toward the fireplace. He picked up the poker, and examined it.


    ¡°It¡¯s a fireplace poker,¡± said Clara, appearing at his elbow. ¡°You use it to poke the fire.¡±


    She was smiling and watching him. He realized he must have looked a little odd, holding the long piece of metal to his face as though he¡¯d never seen one before. He put it down. No blood on it. He was relieved.


    ¡°I hear your solo show is coming up in a few months.¡± He turned to her, smiling. ¡°It must be thrilling.¡±


    ¡°If putting a dentist¡¯s drill up your nose is thrilling. Yes.¡±


    ¡°That bad?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, you know. It¡¯s only torture.¡±


    ¡°Have you finished all the paintings?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all done, at least. They¡¯re crap, of course, but at least they¡¯re finished. Denis Fortin is coming down himself to discuss how they¡¯ll be hung. I have a specific order in mind. And if he disagrees I have a plan. I¡¯ll cry.¡±


    Gamache laughed. ¡°That¡¯s how I got to be Chief Inspector.¡±


    ¡°I told you so,¡± Ruth hissed at Rosa.


    ¡°Your art is brilliant, Clara. You know that,¡± said Gamache, leading her away from the crowd.


    ¡°How¡¯d you know? You¡¯ve only seen one piece. Maybe the others suck. I wonder if I made a mistake going with the paint by numbers.¡±


    Gamache made a face.


    ¡°Would you like to see them?¡± Clara asked.


    ¡°Love to.¡±


    ¡°Great. How about after dinner? That gives you about an hour to practice saying, ¡®My God, Clara, they¡¯re the best works of art ever produced by anyone, anywhere.¡¯ ¡±


    ¡°Sucking up?¡± smiled Gamache. ¡°That¡¯s how I made Inspector.¡±

 Page 24

    ¡°You¡¯re a Renaissance Man.¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯re good at it too.¡±


    ¡°Merci. Speaking of your job, do you have any idea who that dead man is?¡± She¡¯d lowered her voice. ¡°You told Ruth you didn¡¯t, but is that true?¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯d lie?¡± he asked. But why not, he thought. Everyone else does. ¡°You mean, how close are we to solving the crime?¡±


    Clara nodded.


    ¡°Hard to say. We have some leads, some ideas. It makes it harder to know why the man was killed not knowing who he was.¡±


    ¡°Suppose you never find out?¡±


    Gamache looked down at Clara. Was there something in her voice? An imperfectly hidden desire that they never find out who the dead man was?


    ¡°It makes our job harder,¡± he conceded, ¡°but not impossible.¡±


    His voice, while relaxed, became momentarily stern. He wanted her to know they¡¯d solve this case, one way or another. ¡°Were you at the bistro last night?¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯d gone to the fair with Myrna. Had a disgusting dinner of fries, burgers and cotton candy. Went on a few rides, watched the local talent show, then came back here. I think Myrna might¡¯ve gone in, but we were tired.¡±


    ¡°We know the dead man wasn¡¯t a villager. He seems to have been a stranger. Have you seen any strangers around?¡±


    ¡°People come through backpacking or bicycling,¡± said Clara, sipping her red wine and thinking. ¡°But most of them are younger. I understand this was quite an old man.¡±


    Gamache didn¡¯t tell her what the coroner had said that afternoon.


    ¡°Roar Parra told Agent Lacoste he¡¯d seen someone lurking in the woods this summer. Does that sound familiar?¡± He watched her closely.


    ¡°Lurking? Isn¡¯t that a bit melodramatic? No, I haven¡¯t seen anyone and neither has Peter. He¡¯d have told me. And we spend a lot of time outside in the garden. If there was someone there we¡¯d have seen him.¡±


    She waved toward their backyard, in darkness now, but Gamache knew it was large and sloped gently toward the Rivi¨¨re Bella Bella.


    ¡°Mr. Parra didn¡¯t see him there,¡± said Gamache. ¡°He saw him there.¡±


    He pointed to the old Hadley house, on the hill above them. The two of them took their drinks and walked out the door to the front veranda. Gamache was wearing his gray flannels, shirt, tie and jacket. Clara had a sweater, and needed it. In early September the nights grew longer and cooler. All around the village lights shone in homes, and even in the house on the hill.


    The two looked at the house in silence for a few moments.


    ¡°I hear it¡¯s sold,¡± said Gamache, finally.


    Clara nodded. They could hear the murmur of conversation from the living room, and light spilled out so that Gamache could see Clara¡¯s face in profile.


    ¡°Few months ago,¡± she said. ¡°What are we now? Labor Day? I¡¯d say they bought it back in July and have been doing renovations ever since. Young couple. Or at least, my age, which seems young to me.¡±


    Clara laughed.


    It was hard for Gamache to see the old Hadley house as just another place in Three Pines. For one thing, it never seemed to belong to the village. It seemed the accusation, the voyeur on the hill, that looked down on them. Judged them. Preyed on them. And sometimes took one of the villagers, and killed them.


    Horrible things had happened in that place.


    Earlier in the year he and his wife Reine-Marie had come down and helped the villagers repaint and repair the place. In the belief that everything deserved a second chance. Even houses. And the hopes someone would buy it.


    And now someone had.


    ¡°I know they hired Roar to work on the grounds,¡± said Clara. ¡°Clean up the gardens. He¡¯s even built a barn and started reopening the trails. There must have been fifty kilometers of bridle paths in those woods in Timmer Hadley¡¯s time. Grown over, of course. Lots of work for Roar to do.¡±


    ¡°He said he saw the stranger in the woods while he worked. Said he¡¯d felt himself being watched for a while but only caught sight of someone once. He¡¯d tried to run after him but the guy disappeared.¡±


    Gamache¡¯s gaze shifted from the old Hadley house down to Three Pines. Kids were playing touch football on the village green, eking out every last moment of their summer vacation. Snippets of voices drifted to them from villagers sitting on other porches, enjoying the early evening. The main topic of conversation, though, wouldn¡¯t be the ripening tomatoes, the cooler nights, or getting in the winter wood.


    Into the gentle village something rotten had crawled. Words like ¡°murder,¡± ¡°blood,¡± ¡°body,¡± floated in the night air, as did something else. The soft scent of rosewater and sandalwood from the large, quiet man beside Clara.

 Page 25

    Back inside Isabelle Lacoste was pouring herself another watered-down Scotch from the drinks tray on the piano. She looked around the room. A bookcase covered an entire wall, crammed with books, broken only by a window and the door to the veranda through which she could see the Chief and Clara.


    Across the living room Myrna was chatting with Olivier and Gabri while Peter worked in the kitchen and Ruth drank in front of the fireplace. Lacoste had been in the Morrow home before, but only to conduct interviews. Never as a guest.


    It was as comfortable as she¡¯d imagined. She saw herself going back to her husband in Montreal and convincing him they could sell their home, take the kids out of school, chuck their jobs and move here. Find a cottage just off the village green and get jobs at the bistro or Myrna¡¯s bookshop.


    She subsided into an armchair and watched as Beauvoir came in from the kitchen, a pat¨¦-smeared piece of bread in one hand and a beer in the other, and started toward the sofa. He halted suddenly, as though repelled, changed course, and went outside.


    Ruth rose and limped to the drinks tray, a malevolent sneer on her face. Scotch replenished she returned to the sofa, like a sea monster slipping beneath the surface once again, still waiting for a victim.


    ¡°Any idea when we can reopen the bistro?¡± Gabri asked as he, Olivier and Myrna joined Agent Lacoste.


    ¡°Gabri,¡± said Olivier, annoyed.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m just asking.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve done what we need to,¡± she told Olivier. ¡°You can open up whenever you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t stay closed long, you know,¡± said Myrna. ¡°We¡¯d all starve to death.¡±


    Peter put his head in and announced, ¡°Dinner!¡±


    ¡°Though perhaps not immediately,¡± said Myrna, as they headed for the kitchen.


    Ruth hauled herself out of the sofa and went to the veranda door.


    ¡°Are you deaf?¡± she shouted at Gamache, Beauvoir and Clara. ¡°Dinner¡¯s getting cold. Get inside.¡±


    Beauvoir felt his rectum spasm as he hurried past her. Clara followed Beauvoir to the dinner table, but Gamache lingered.


    It took him a moment to realize he wasn¡¯t alone. Ruth was standing beside him, tall, rigid, leaning on her cane, her face all reflected light and deep crevices.


    ¡°A strange thing to give to Olivier, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    The old voice, sharp and jagged, cut through the laughter from the village green.


    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Gamache turned to her.


    ¡°The dead man. Even you can¡¯t be that dense. Someone did this to Olivier. The man¡¯s greedy and shiftless and probably quite weak, but he didn¡¯t kill anyone. So why would someone choose his bistro for murder?¡±


    Gamache raised his eyebrows. ¡°You think someone chose the bistro on purpose?¡±


    ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t happen by accident. The murderer chose to kill at Olivier¡¯s Bistro. He gave the body to Olivier.¡±


    ¡°To kill both a man and a business?¡± asked Gamache. ¡°Like giving white bread to a goldfish?¡±


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± said Ruth.


    ¡°Nothing I ever gave was good for you,¡± quoted Gamache. ¡°It was like white bread to a goldfish.¡±


    Beside him Ruth Zardo stiffened, then in a low growl she finished her own poem.


    ¡°They cram and cram, and it kills them,


    and they drift in the pool, belly up,


    making stunned faces


    and playing on our guilt


    as if their own toxic gluttony


    was not their fault.¡±


    Gamache listened to the poem, one of his favorites. He looked across at the bistro, dark and empty on a night when it should have been alive with villagers.


    Was Ruth right? Had someone chosen the bistro on purpose? But that meant Olivier was somehow implicated. Had he brought this on himself? Who in the village hated the tramp enough to kill him, and Olivier enough to do it there? Or was the tramp merely a convenient tool? A poor man in the wrong place? Used as a weapon against Olivier?


    ¡°Who do you think would want to do this to Olivier?¡± he asked Ruth.


    She shrugged, then turned to leave. He watched her take her place among her friends, all of them moving in ways familiar to each other, and now to him.


    And to the killer?


    EIGHT


    The meal was winding down. They¡¯d dined on corn on the cob and sweet butter, fresh vegetables from Peter and Clara¡¯s garden and a whole salmon barbecued over charcoal. The guests chatted amicably as warm bread was passed and salad served.


    Myrna¡¯s exuberant arrangement of hollyhock, sweet pea and phlox sat in the center, so that it felt as though they were eating in a garden. Gamache could hear Lacoste asking her dinner companions about the Parras, and then segueing into Old Mundin. The Chief Inspector wondered if they realized they were being interrogated.

 Page 26

    Beauvoir was chatting to his neighbors about the Brume County Fair, and visitors. Across the table from Beauvoir sat Ruth, glaring at him. Gamache wondered why, though with Ruth that was pretty much her only form of expression.


    Gamache turned to Peter, who was serving arugula, frizzy lettuce and fresh ripe tomatoes.


    ¡°I hear the old Hadley house has been sold. Have you met the new owners?¡±


    Peter passed him the salad bowl of deep-burled wood.


    ¡°We have. The Gilberts. Marc and Dominique. His mother lives with them too. Came from Quebec City. I think she was a nurse or something. Long retired. Dominique was in advertising in Montreal and Marc was an investment dealer. Made a fortune then retired early before the market went sour.¡±


    ¡°Lucky man.¡±


    ¡°Smart man,¡± said Peter.


    Gamache helped himself to the salad. He could smell the delicate dressing of garlic, olive oil and fresh tarragon. Peter poured them another glass of red wine and handed the bottle down the long table. Gamache watched to see if Peter¡¯s comment held a sting, a subtext. By ¡°smart¡± did Peter mean ¡°shrewd,¡± ¡°cunning,¡± ¡°sly¡±? But no, Gamache felt Peter meant what he said. It was a compliment. While Peter Morrow rarely insulted anyone, he rarely complimented them either. But he seemed impressed by this Marc Gilbert.


    ¡°Do you know them well?¡±


    ¡°Had them around for dinner a few times. Nice couple.¡± For Peter that was an almost effusive comment.


    ¡°Interesting that with all that money they¡¯d buy the old Hadley house,¡± said Gamache. ¡°It¡¯s been abandoned for a year or more. Presumably they could¡¯ve bought just about any place around here.¡±


    ¡°We were a little surprised as well, but they said they wanted a clean canvas, some place they could make their own. Practically gutted the house, you know. It also has loads of land and Dominique wants horses.¡±


    ¡°Roar Parra¡¯s been clearing the trails, I hear.¡±


    ¡°Slow job.¡±


    As he was talking Peter¡¯s voice had dropped to a whisper, so that the two men were leaning toward each other like co-conspirators. Gamache wondered what they were conspiring about.


    ¡°It¡¯s a lot of house for three people. Do they have children?¡±


    ¡°Well, no.¡±


    Peter¡¯s eyes shifted down the table, then back to Gamache. Whom had he just looked at? Clara? Gabri? It was impossible to say.


    ¡°Have they made friends in the community?¡± Gamache leaned back and spoke in a normal tone, taking a forkful of salad.


    Peter looked down the table again and lowered his voice even more. ¡°Not exactly.¡±


    Before Gamache could pursue it Peter got up and began clearing the table. At the sink he looked back at his friends, chatting. They were close. So close they could reach out and touch each other, which they occasionally did.


    And Peter couldn¡¯t. He stood apart, and watched. He missed Ben, who¡¯d once lived in the old Hadley house. Peter had played there as a child. He knew its nooks and crannies. All the scary places where ghosts and spiders lived. But now someone else lived there and had turned it into something else.


    Thinking of the Gilberts, Peter could feel his own heart lift a little.


    ¡°What¡¯re you thinking about?¡±


    Peter started as he realized Armand Gamache was right beside him.


    ¡°Nothing much.¡±


    Gamache took the mixer from Peter¡¯s hand and poured whipping cream and a drop of vanilla into the chilled bowl. He turned it on and leaned toward Peter, his voice drowned out by the whirring machine, lost to all but his companion.


    ¡°Tell me about the old Hadley house, and the people there.¡±


    Peter hesitated but knew Gamache wasn¡¯t going to let it go. And this was as discreet as it was going to get. Peter talked, his words whipped and mixed and unintelligible to anyone more than six inches away.


    ¡°Marc and Dominique plan to open a luxury inn and spa.¡±


    ¡°At the old Hadley house?¡±


    Gamache¡¯s astonishment was so complete it almost made Peter laugh. ¡°It¡¯s not the same place you remember. You should see it now. It¡¯s fantastic.¡±


    The Chief Inspector wondered whether a coat of paint and new appliances could exorcise demons, and whether the Catholic Church knew about that.


    ¡°But not everyone¡¯s happy about it,¡± Peter continued. ¡°They¡¯ve interviewed a few of Olivier¡¯s workers and offered them jobs at higher wages. Olivier¡¯s managed to keep most of his staff, but he¡¯s had to pay more. The two barely speak.¡±


    ¡°Marc and Olivier?¡± Gamache asked.

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    ¡°Won¡¯t be in the same room.¡±


    ¡°That must be awkward, in a small village.¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    ¡°Then why are we whispering?¡± Gamache shut the mixer off and spoke in a normal tone. Peter, flustered, looked over at the table again.


    ¡°Look, I know Olivier¡¯ll get over it, but for now it¡¯s just easier not to bring it up.¡±


    Peter handed Gamache a shortcake, which he cut in half, and Peter piled sliced ripe strawberries in their own brilliant red juice on top of it.


    Gamache noticed Clara getting up and Myrna going with her. Olivier came over and put the coffee on to perk.


    ¡°Can I help?¡± asked Gabri.


    ¡°Here, put cream on. The cake, Gabri,¡± said Peter as Gabri approached Olivier with a spoonful of whipped cream. Soon a small conga line of men assembling strawberry shortcakes was formed. When they¡¯d finished they turned around to take the desserts to the table but stopped dead.


    There, lit only by candles, was Clara¡¯s art. Or at least three large canvases, propped on easels. Gamache felt suddenly light-headed, as though he¡¯d traveled back to the time of Rembrandt, da Vinci, Titian. Where art was viewed either by daylight or candlelight. Was this how the Mona Lisa was first seen? The Sistine Chapel? By firelight? Like cave drawings.


    He wiped his hands on a dish towel and walked closer to the three easels. He noticed the other guests did the same thing, drawn to the paintings. Around them the candles flickered and threw more light than Gamache had expected, though it was possible Clara¡¯s paintings produced their own light.


    ¡°I have others, of course, but these¡¯ll be the centerpieces of the exhibition at the Galerie Fortin.¡±


    But no one was really listening. Instead they were staring at the easels. Some at one, some at another. Gamache stood back for a moment, taking in the scene.


    Three portraits, three elderly women, stared back at him.


    One was clearly Ruth. The one that had first caught Denis Fortin¡¯s eye. The one that had led him to his extraordinary offer of a solo show. The one that had the art world, from Montreal to Toronto, to New York and London, buzzing. About the new talent, the treasure, found buried in Quebec¡¯s Eastern Townships.


    And there it was, in front of them.


    Clara Morrow had painted Ruth as the elderly, forgotten Virgin Mary. Angry, demented, the Ruth in the portrait was full of despair, of bitterness. Of a life left behind, of opportunities squandered, of loss and betrayals real and imagined and created and caused. She clutched at a rough blue shawl with emaciated hands. The shawl had slipped off one bony shoulder and the skin was sagging, like something nailed up and empty.


    And yet the portrait was radiant, filling the room from one tiny point of light. In her eyes. Embittered, mad Ruth stared into the distance, at something very far off, approaching. More imagined than real.


    Hope.


    Clara had captured the moment despair turned to hope. The moment life began. She¡¯d somehow captured Grace.


    It took Gamache¡¯s breath away and he could feel a burning in his eyes. He blinked and turned from it, as though from something so brilliant it blinded. He saw everyone else in the room also staring, their faces soft in the candlelight.


    The next portrait was clearly Peter¡¯s mother. Gamache had met her, and once met, never forgotten. Clara had painted her staring straight at the viewer. Not into the distance, like Ruth, but at something very close. Too close. Her white hair in a loose bun, her face a web of soft lines, as though a window had just shattered but not yet fallen. She was white and pink and healthy and lovely. She had a quiet, gentle smile that reached her tender blue eyes. Gamache could almost smell the talcum powder and cinnamon. And yet the portrait made him deeply uneasy. And then he saw it. The subtle turn of her hand, outward. The way her fingers seemed to reach beyond the canvas. At him. He had the impression this gentle, lovely elderly woman was going to touch him. And if she did, he¡¯d know sorrow like never before. He¡¯d know that empty place where nothing existed, not even pain.


    She was repulsive. And yet he couldn¡¯t help being drawn to her, like a person afraid of heights drawn to the edge.


    And the third elderly woman he couldn¡¯t place. He¡¯d never seen her before and he wondered if she was Clara¡¯s mother. There was something vaguely familiar about her.


    He looked at it closely. Clara painted people¡¯s souls, and he wanted to know what this soul held.


    She looked happy. Smiling over her shoulder at something of great interest. Something she cared about deeply. She too had a shawl, this of old, rough, deep red wool. She seemed someone who was used to riches but suddenly poor. And yet it didn¡¯t seem to matter to her.

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    Interesting, thought Gamache. She was heading in one direction but looking in the other. Behind her. From her he had an overwhelming feeling of yearning. He realized all he wanted to do was draw an armchair up to that portrait, pour a cup of coffee and stare at it for the rest of the evening. For the rest of his life. It was seductive. And dangerous.


    With an effort he pulled his eyes away and found Clara standing in the darkness, watching her friends as they looked at her creations.


    Peter was also watching. With a look of unmarred pride.


    ¡°Bon Dieu,¡± said Gabri. ¡°C¡¯est extraordinaire.¡±


    ¡°F¨¦licitations, Clara,¡± said Olivier. ¡°My God, they¡¯re brilliant. Do you have more?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean, have I done you?¡± she asked with a laugh. ¡°Non, mon beau. Only Ruth and Peter¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s this one?¡± Lacoste pointed to the painting Gamache had been staring at.


    Clara smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not telling. You have to guess.¡±


    ¡°Is it me?¡± asked Gabri.


    ¡°Yes, Gabri, it¡¯s you,¡± said Clara.


    ¡°Really?¡± Too late he saw her smiling.


    The funny thing was, thought Gamache, it almost could have been Gabri. He looked again at the portrait in the soft candlelight. Not physically, but emotionally. There was happiness there. But there was also something else. Something that didn¡¯t quite fit with Gabri.


    ¡°So which one¡¯s me?¡± asked Ruth, limping closer to the paintings.


    ¡°You old drunk,¡± said Gabri. ¡°It¡¯s this one.¡±


    Ruth peered at her exact double. ¡°I don¡¯t see it. Looks more like you.¡±


    ¡°Hag,¡± muttered Gabri.


    ¡°Fag,¡± she mumbled back.


    ¡°Clara¡¯s painted you as the Virgin Mary,¡± Olivier explained.


    Ruth leaned closer and shook her head.


    ¡°Virgin?¡± Gabri whispered to Myrna. ¡°Obviously the mind fucks don¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Ruth looked over at Beauvoir, ¡°Peter, do you have a piece of paper? I feel a poem coming on. Now, do you think it¡¯s too much to put the words ¡®asshole¡¯ and ¡®shithead¡¯ in the same sentence?¡±


    Beauvoir winced.


    ¡°Just close your eyes and think of England,¡± Ruth advised Beauvoir, who had actually been thinking of her English.


    Gamache walked over to Peter, who continued to stare at his wife¡¯s works.


    ¡°How are you?¡±


    ¡°You mean, do I want to take a razor to those and slash them to bits, then burn them?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    It was a conversation they¡¯d had before, as it became clear that Peter might soon have to cede his place as the best artist in the family, in the village, in the province, to his wife. Peter had struggled with it, not always successfully.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t hold her back even if I tried,¡± said Peter. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to try.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a difference between holding back and actively supporting.¡±


    ¡°These are so good even I can¡¯t deny it anymore,¡± admitted Peter. ¡°She amazes me.¡±


    Both men looked over at the plump little woman looking anxiously at her friends, apparently unaware of the masterpieces she¡¯d created.


    ¡°Are you working on something?¡± Gamache nodded toward the closed door to Peter¡¯s studio.


    ¡°Always am. It¡¯s a log.¡±


    ¡°A log?¡± It was hard to make that sound brilliant. Peter Morrow was one of the most successful artists in the country and he¡¯d gotten there by taking mundane, everyday objects and painting them in excruciating detail. So that they were no longer even recognizable as the object they were. He zoomed in close, then magnified a section, and painted that.


    His works looked abstract. It gave Peter huge satisfaction to know they weren¡¯t. They were reality in the extreme. So real no one recognized them. And now it was the log¡¯s turn. He¡¯d picked it up off the pile beside their fireplace and it was waiting for him in his studio.


    The desserts were served, coffee and cognac poured; people wandered about, Gabri played the piano, Gamache kept being drawn to the paintings. Particularly the one of the unknown woman. Looking back. Clara joined him.


    ¡°My God, Clara, they¡¯re the best works of art ever produced by anyone, anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean it?¡± she asked in mock earnestness.


    He smiled. ¡°They are brilliant, you know. You have nothing to be afraid of.¡±


    ¡°If that was true I¡¯d have no art.¡±

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    Gamache nodded toward the painting he¡¯d been staring at. ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°Oh, just someone I know.¡±


    Gamache waited, but Clara was uncharacteristically closed, and he decided it really didn¡¯t matter. She wandered off and Gamache continued to stare. And as he did so the portrait changed. Or perhaps, he thought, it was a trick of the uncertain light. But the more he stared the more he got the sense Clara had put something else in the painting. Where Ruth¡¯s was of an embittered woman finding hope, this portrait also held the unexpected.


    A happy woman seeing in the near and middle distance things that pleased and comforted her. But her eyes seemed to just be focusing on, registering, something else. Something far off. But heading her way.


    Gamache sipped his cognac and watched. And gradually it came to him what she was just beginning to feel.


    Fear.


    NINE


    The three S?ret¨¦ officers said their good-byes and walked across the village green. It was eleven o¡¯clock and pitch-black. Lacoste and Gamache paused to stare at the night sky. Beauvoir, a few paces ahead as always, eventually realized he was alone and stopped as well. Reluctantly he looked up and was quite surprised to see so many stars. Ruth¡¯s parting words came back to him.


    ¡° ¡®Jean Guy¡¯ and ¡®bite me¡¯ actually rhyme, don¡¯t they?¡±


    He was in trouble.


    Just then a light went on above Myrna¡¯s bookstore, in her loft. They could see her moving about, making herself tea, putting cookies on a plate. Then the light went out. ¡°We just saw her pour a drink and put cookies on a plate,¡± said Beauvoir.


    The others wondered why he¡¯d just told them the obvious.


    ¡°It¡¯s dark. To do anything inside you need light,¡± said Beauvoir.


    Gamache thought about this string of obvious statements, but it was Lacoste who got there first.


    ¡°The bistro, last night. Wouldn¡¯t the murderer need to put on the lights? And if he did, wouldn¡¯t someone have seen?¡±


    Gamache smiled. They were right. A light at the bistro must have been noticed.


    He looked around to see which houses were the most likely to have seen anything. But the homes fanned out from the bistro like wings. None would have a perfect view, except the place directly opposite. He turned to look. The three majestic pines on the village green were there. They¡¯d have seen a man take another man¡¯s life. But there was something else directly opposite the bistro. Opposite and above.


    The old Hadley house. It was a distance away, but at night, with a light on in the bistro, it was just possible the new owners could have witnessed a murder.


    ¡°There¡¯s another possibility,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°That the murderer didn¡¯t put the lights on. He¡¯d know he could be seen.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d use a flashlight, you mean?¡± asked Beauvoir, imagining the murderer in there the night before, waiting for his victim, turning a flashlight on to make his way around.


    Lacoste shook her head. ¡°That could also be seen from outside. He wouldn¡¯t want to risk even that, I think.¡±


    ¡°So he¡¯d leave the lights off,¡± said Gamache, knowing where this was leading. ¡°Because he wouldn¡¯t need lights. He¡¯d know his way around in the dark.¡±


    The next morning dawned bright and fresh. There was some warmth in the sun again and Gamache soon took off his sweater as he walked around the village green before breakfast. A few children, up before parents and grandparents, did some last-minute frog hunting in the pond. They ignored him and he was happy to watch them from a distance then continue his solitary and peaceful stroll. He waved at Myrna, cresting the hill on her own solitary walk.


    This was the last day of summer vacation, and while it had been decades since he¡¯d gone to school, he still felt the tug. The mix of sadness at the end of summer, and excitement to see his chums again. The new clothes, bought after a summer¡¯s growth. The new pencils, sharpened over and over, and the smell of the shavings. And the new notebooks. Always strangely thrilling. Unmarred. No mistakes yet. All they held was promise and potential.


    A new murder investigation felt much the same. Had they marred their books yet? Made any mistakes?


    As he slowly circled the village green, his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze far off, he thought about that. After a few leisurely circuits he went inside to breakfast.


    Beauvoir and Lacoste were already down, with frothy caf¨¦ au lait in front of them. They stood up as he entered the room, and he motioned them down. The aroma of maple-cured back bacon and eggs and coffee came from the kitchen. He¡¯d barely sat down when Gabri swept out of the kitchen with plates of eggs Benedict, fruit and muffins.

 Page 30

    ¡°Olivier¡¯s just left for the bistro. He¡¯s not sure if he¡¯ll open today,¡± said the large man, who looked and sounded a great deal like Julia Child that morning. ¡°I told him he should, but we¡¯ll see. I pointed out he¡¯d lose money if he didn¡¯t. That usually does the trick. Muffin?¡±


    ¡°S¡¯il vous pla?t,¡± said Isabelle Lacoste, taking one. They looked like nuclear explosions. Isabelle Lacoste missed her children and her husband. But it amazed her how this small village seemed able to heal even that hole. Of course, if you stuff in enough muffins even the largest hole is healed, for a while. She was willing to try.


    Gabri brought Gamache his caf¨¦ au lait and when he left Beauvoir leaned forward.


    ¡°What¡¯s the plan for today, Chief?¡±


    ¡°We need background checks. I want to know all about Olivier, and I want to know who might have a grudge against him.¡±


    ¡°D¡¯accord,¡± said Lacoste.


    ¡°And the Parras. Make inquiries, here and in the Czech Republic.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°I have an appointment with an old friend.¡±


    Armand Gamache climbed the hill leading out of Three Pines. He carried his tweed jacket over his arm and kicked a chestnut ahead of him. The air smelled of apples, sweet and warm on the trees. Everything was ripe, lush, but in a few weeks there¡¯d be a killing frost. And it would all be gone.


    As he walked the old Hadley house grew larger and larger. He steeled himself against it. Prepared for the waves of sorrow that rolled from it, flowing over and into anyone foolish enough to get close.


    But either his defenses were better than he¡¯d expected, or something had changed.


    Gamache stopped in a spot of sunshine and faced the house. It was a rambling Victorian trophy home, turreted, shingles like scales, wide swooping verandas and black wrought-iron rails. Its fresh paint gleamed in the sun and the front door was a cheery glossy red. Not like blood, but like Christmas. And cherries. And crisp autumn apples. The path had been cleared of brambles and solid flagstones laid. He noticed the hedges had been clipped and the trees trimmed, the deadwood removed. Roar Parra¡¯s work.


    And Gamache realized, to his surprise, that he was standing outside the old Hadley house with a smile. And was actually looking forward to going inside.


    The door was opened by a woman in her mid-seventies.


    ¡°Oui?¡±


    Her hair was steel gray and nicely cut. She wore almost no makeup, just a little around the eyes, which looked at him now with curiosity, then recognition. She smiled and opened the door wider.


    Gamache offered her his identification. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you, madame, but my name is Armand Gamache. I¡¯m with the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec.¡±


    ¡°I recognize you, monsieur. Please, come in. I¡¯m Carole Gilbert.¡±


    Her manner was friendly and gracious as she showed him into the vestibule. He¡¯d been there before. Many times. But it was almost unrecognizable. Like a skeleton that had been given new muscles and sinew and skin. The structure was there, but all else had changed.


    ¡°You know the place?¡± she asked, watching him.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± he said, swinging his eyes to hers. She met his look steadily, but without challenge. As a chatelaine would, confident in her place and without need to prove it. She was friendly and warm, and very, very observant, Gamache guessed. What had Peter said? She¡¯d been a nurse once? A very good one, he presumed. The best ones were observant. Nothing got past them.


    ¡°It¡¯s changed a great deal,¡± he said and she nodded, drawing him farther into the house. He wiped his feet on the area rug protecting the gleaming wooden floor and followed her. The vestibule opened into a large hall with crisp new black and white tiles on the floor. A sweeping staircase faced them and archways led through to various rooms. When he¡¯d last been here it had been a ruin, fallen into disrepair. It had seemed as though the house, disgusted, had turned on itself. Pieces were thrown off, wallpaper hung loose, floorboards heaved, ceilings warped. But now a huge cheerful bouquet sat on a polished table in the center of the hall, filling it with fragrance. The walls were painted a sophisticated tawny color, between beige and gray. It was bright and warm and elegant. Like the woman in front of him.


    ¡°We¡¯re still working on the house,¡± she said, leading him through the archway to their right, down a couple of steps and into the large living room. ¡°I say ¡®we¡¯ but it¡¯s really my son and daughter-in-law. And the workers, of course.¡±


    She said it with a small self-deprecating laugh. ¡°I was foolish enough to ask if I could do anything the other day and they gave me a hammer and told me to put up some drywall. I hit a water pipe and an electrical cord.¡±

 Page 31

    Her laugh was so unguarded and infectious Gamache found himself laughing too.


    ¡°Now I make tea. They call me the tea lady. Tea?¡±


    ¡°Merci, madame, that would be very nice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell Marc and Dominique you¡¯re here. It¡¯s about that poor man in the bistro, I presume?¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    She seemed sympathetic, but not concerned. As though it had nothing to do with her. And Gamache found himself hoping it didn¡¯t.


    As he waited he looked around the room and drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, where sun streamed in. The room was comfortably furnished with sofas and chairs that looked inviting. They were upholstered in expensive fabrics giving them a modern feel. A couple of Eames chairs framed the fireplace. It was an easy marriage of contemporary and old world. Whoever had decorated this room had an eye for it.


    The windows were flanked by tailored silk curtains that touched the hardwood floor. Gamache suspected the curtains were almost never closed. Why shut out that view?


    It was spectacular. From its position on the hill the house looked over the valley. He could see the Rivi¨¨re Bella Bella wind its way through the village and out around the next mountain toward the neighboring valley. The trees at the top of the mountain were changing color. It was autumn up there already. Soon the reds and auburns and pumpkin oranges would march down the slopes until the entire forest was ablaze. And what a vantage point to see it all. And more.


    Standing at the window he could see Ruth and Rosa walking around the village green, the old poet tossing either stale buns or rocks at the other birds. He could see Myrna working in Clara¡¯s vegetable garden and Agent Lacoste walking over the stone bridge toward their makeshift Incident Room in the old railway station. He watched as she stopped on the bridge and looked into the gently flowing water. He wondered what she was thinking. Then she moved on. Other villagers were out doing their morning errands, or working in their gardens, or sitting on their porches reading the paper and drinking coffee.


    From there he could see everything. Including the bistro.


    Agent Paul Morin had arrived before Lacoste and was standing outside the railway station, making notes.


    ¡°I was thinking about the case last night,¡± he said, watching her unlock the door then following her into the chilly, dark room. She flipped on the lights and walked over to her desk. ¡°I think the murderer must¡¯ve turned on the lights of the bistro, don¡¯t you? I tried walking around my house at two o¡¯clock this morning, and I couldn¡¯t see anything. It was pitch-black. In the city you might get streetlights through the window, but not out here. How¡¯d he know who he was killing?¡±


    ¡°I suppose if he¡¯d invited the victim there, then it was pretty clear. He¡¯d kill the only other person in the bistro.¡±


    ¡°I realize that,¡± said Morin, drawing his chair up to her desk. ¡°But murder¡¯s a serious business. You don¡¯t want to get it wrong. It was a massive hit to the head, right?¡±


    Lacoste typed her password into her computer. Her husband¡¯s name. Morin was so busy consulting his notes and talking she was sure he hadn¡¯t noticed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s as easy as it looks,¡± he continued, earnestly. ¡°I tried it last night too. Hit a cantaloupe with a hammer.¡±


    Now he had her full attention. Not only because she wanted to know what had happened, but because anyone who¡¯d get up at two in the morning to smack a melon in the dark deserved attention. Perhaps even medical attention.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°The first time I just grazed it. Had to hit it a few times before I got it just right. Pretty messy.¡±


    Morin wondered, briefly, what his girlfriend would think when she got up and noticed the fruit with holes smashed in it. He¡¯d left a note, but wasn¡¯t sure that helped.


    I did this, he¡¯d written. Experimenting.


    He perhaps should have been more explicit.


    But the significance wasn¡¯t lost on Agent Lacoste. She leaned back in her chair and thought. Morin had the brains to be quiet.


    ¡°So what do you think?¡± she finally asked.


    ¡°I think he must have turned the lights on. But it¡¯d be risky.¡± Morin seemed dissatisfied. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense to me. Why kill him in the bistro when you have thick forests just feet away? You could slaughter tons of people in there and no one would notice. Why do it where the body would be found and you could be seen?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. The Chief thinks it might have something to do with Olivier. Maybe the murderer chose the bistro on purpose.¡±

 Page 32

    ¡°To implicate him?¡±


    ¡°Or to ruin his business.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was Olivier himself,¡± said Morin. ¡°Why not? He¡¯d be just about the only one who could find his way around without lights. He had a key to the place¡ª¡±


    ¡°Everyone had a key to the place. Seems there were sets floating all over the township, and Olivier kept one under the urn at the front door,¡± said Lacoste.


    Morin nodded and didn¡¯t seem surprised. It was still the country way, at least in the smaller villages.


    ¡°He¡¯s certainly a main suspect,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°But why would he kill someone in his own bistro?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he surprised the guy. Maybe the tramp broke in and Olivier found him and killed him in a fight,¡± said Morin.


    Lacoste was silent, waiting to see if he¡¯d work it all the way through. Morin steepled his hands and leaned his face into them, staring into space. ¡°But it was the middle of the night. If he saw someone in the bistro wouldn¡¯t he have called the cops, or at least woken his partner? Olivier Brul¨¦ doesn¡¯t strike me as the kind of guy who¡¯d grab a baseball bat and rush off alone.¡±


    Lacoste exhaled and looked at Agent Morin. If the light was just right, catching this slight young man¡¯s face just so, he looked like an idiot. But he clearly wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°I know Olivier,¡± said Lacoste, ¡°and I¡¯d swear he was stunned by what he¡¯d found. He was in shock. Hard to fake and I¡¯m pretty sure he wasn¡¯t faking it. No. When Olivier Brul¨¦ woke up yesterday morning he didn¡¯t expect to find a body in his bistro. But that doesn¡¯t mean he isn¡¯t involved somehow. Even unwittingly. The Chief wants us to find out more about Olivier. Where he was born, his background, his family, his schools, what he did before coming here. Anyone who might have a grudge against him. Someone he pissed off.¡±


    ¡°This is more than being pissed off.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡± asked Lacoste.


    ¡°Well, I get pissed off, and I don¡¯t kill people.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t. But I presume you¡¯re fairly well balanced, except for that melon incident.¡± She smiled and he reddened. ¡°Look, it¡¯s a huge mistake to judge others by ourselves. One of the first things you learn with Chief Inspector Gamache is that other people¡¯s reactions aren¡¯t ours. And a murderer¡¯s are even more foreign. This case didn¡¯t begin with the blow to the head. It started years ago, with another sort of blow. Something happened to our murderer, something we might consider insignificant, trivial even, but was devastating to him. An event, a snub, an argument that most people would shrug off. Murderers don¡¯t. They ruminate; they gather and guard resentments. And those resentments grow. Murders are about emotions. Emotions gone bad and gone wild. Remember that. And don¡¯t ever think you know what someone else is thinking, never mind feeling.¡±


    It was the first lesson she¡¯d been taught by Chief Inspector Gamache, and the first one she¡¯d now passed on to her own prot¨¦g¨¦. To find a murderer you followed clues, yes. But you also followed emotions. The ones that stank, the foul and putrid ones. You followed the slime. And there, cornered, you¡¯d find your quarry.


    There were other lessons, lots of others. And she¡¯d teach him them as well.


    That¡¯s what she¡¯d been thinking on the bridge. Thinking and worrying about. Hoping she¡¯d be able to pass to this young man enough wisdom, enough of the tools necessary to catch a killer.


    ¡°Nathaniel,¡± said Morin, getting up and going over to his own computer. ¡°Your husband¡¯s name or your son¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Husband,¡± said Lacoste, a little nonplussed. He¡¯d seen after all.


    The phone rang. It was the coroner. She had to speak to Chief Inspector Gamache urgently.


    TEN


    At the Chief Inspector¡¯s request Marc and Dominique Gilbert were giving him a tour of their home, and now they stood in front of a room Gamache knew well. It had been the master bedroom of the old Hadley house, Timmer Hadley¡¯s room.


    Two murders had happened there.


    Now he looked at the closed door, with its fresh coat of gleaming white paint, and wondered what lay beyond. Dominique swung the door open and sunlight poured out. Gamache couldn¡¯t hide his surprise.


    ¡°Quite a change,¡± said Marc Gilbert, clearly pleased with his reaction.


    The room was, quite simply, stunning. They¡¯d removed all the fretwork and googahs added over the generations. The ornate moldings, the dark mantel, the velvet drapes that kept the light at bay with their weight of dust and dread and Victorian reproach. All gone. The heavy, foreboding four-poster bed was gone.

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    They¡¯d taken the room back to its basic structure, clean lines that showed off its gracious proportions. The curtains had wide stripes of of sage and gray and let the light stream through. Along the top of each of the large windows was a lintel of stained glass. Original. More than a century old. It spilled playful colors into the room. The floors, newly stained, glowed. The king-size bed had an upholstered headboard and simple, fresh, white bed linen. A fire was laid in the hearth, ready for the first guest.


    ¡°Let me show you the en suite,¡± said Dominique.


    She was tall and willowy. Mid-forties, Gamache thought, she wore jeans, a simple white shirt and her blonde hair loose. She had an air of quiet confidence and well-being. Her hands were flecked with white paint and her nails cut short.


    Beside her Marc Gilbert smiled, happy to be showing off their creation. And Gamache, of all people, knew this resurrection of the old Hadley house was an act of creation.


    Marc was also tall, over six feet. Slightly taller than Gamache, and about twenty pounds lighter. His hair was short, almost shaved, and it looked as though if he grew it in he¡¯d be balding. His eyes were a piercing, buoyant blue and his manner welcoming and energetic. But while his wife was relaxed there was something edgy about Marc Gilbert. Not nervous so much as needy.


    He wants my approval, thought Gamache. Not unusual really when showing off a project this important to them. Dominique pointed out the features of the bathroom, with its aqua mosaic-glass tiles, spa bath and separate walk-in shower. She was proud of their work, but she didn¡¯t seem to need him to exclaim over it.


    Marc did.


    It was easy to give him what he wanted. Gamache was genuinely impressed.


    ¡°And we just put this door in last week,¡± said Marc. Opening a door from the bathroom they stepped onto a balcony. It looked out over the back of the house, across the gardens and a field beyond.


    Four chairs were drawn around a table.


    ¡°I thought you could use these,¡± a voice said from behind them and Marc hurried to take the tray from his mother. On it were four glasses of iced tea and some scones.


    ¡°Shall we?¡± Dominique indicated the table and Gamache held a chair for Carole.


    ¡°Merci,¡± the older woman said, and sat.


    ¡°To second chances,¡± said the Chief Inspector. He lifted his iced tea and as they toasted he watched them. The three people who¡¯d been drawn to this sad, violated, derelict house. Who¡¯d given it new life.


    And the house had returned the favor.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s more to do,¡± said Marc. ¡°But we¡¯re getting there.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re hoping to have our first guests by Thanksgiving,¡± said Dominique. ¡°If Carole would just get off her derri¨¨re and do some work. But so far she¡¯s refused to dig the fence posts or pour concrete.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps this afternoon,¡± said Carole Gilbert with a laugh.


    ¡°I noticed some antiques. Did you bring them from your home?¡± Gamache asked her.


    Carole nodded. ¡°We combined our belongings, but there was still a lot to buy.¡±


    ¡°From Olivier?¡±


    ¡°Some.¡± It was the most curt answer he¡¯d received so far. He waited for more.


    ¡°We got a lovely rug from him,¡± said Dominique. ¡°The one in the front hall, I think.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s in the basement,¡± said Marc, his voice sharp. He tried to soften it with a smile, but it didn¡¯t quite work.


    ¡°And a few chairs, I think,¡± said Carole, quickly.


    That would account for about one one-hundredth of the furnishings in the rambling old place. Gamache sipped his tea, looking at the three of them.


    ¡°We picked up the rest in Montreal,¡± said Marc. ¡°On rue Notre Dame. Do you know it?¡±


    Gamache nodded and then listened as Marc described their treks up and down the famed street, which was packed with antique shops. Some were not much more than junk shops but some contained real finds, near priceless antiques.


    ¡°Old Mundin¡¯s repairing a few items we picked up in garage sales. Don¡¯t tell the guests,¡± said Dominique with a laugh.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get more from Olivier?¡±


    The women concentrated on their scones and Marc poked at the ice in his drink.


    ¡°We found his prices a little high, Chief Inspector,¡± said Dominique at last. ¡°We¡¯d have preferred to buy from him, but . . .¡±


    It was left hanging, and still Gamache waited. Eventually Marc spoke.


    ¡°We were going to buy tables and beds from him. Made all the arrangements, then discovered he¡¯d charged us almost double what he¡¯d originally asked for them.¡±

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    ¡°Now, Marc, we don¡¯t know that for sure,¡± said his mother.


    ¡°Near enough. Anyway, we canceled the order. You can imagine how that went down.¡±


    Dominique had been silent for most of this exchange. Now she spoke.


    ¡°I still think we should have paid it, or spoken to him quietly about it. He is our neighbor, after all.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like being screwed,¡± said Marc.


    ¡°No one does,¡± said Dominique, ¡°but there are ways of handling it. Maybe we should have just paid. Now look what¡¯s happened.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Well, Olivier¡¯s one of the forces in Three Pines,¡± said Dominique. ¡°Piss him off and you pay a price. We don¡¯t really feel comfortable going into the village, and we sure don¡¯t feel welcome in the bistro.¡±


    ¡°I hear you approached some of Olivier¡¯s staff,¡± said Gamache.


    Marc colored. ¡°Who told you that? Did Olivier?¡± he snapped.


    ¡°Is it true?¡±


    ¡°What if it is? He pays them practically slave wages.¡±


    ¡°Did any agree to come?¡±


    Marc hesitated then admitted they hadn¡¯t. ¡°But only because he increased their pay. We at least did that for them.¡±


    Dominique had been watching this, uncomfortable, and now she took her husband¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure they were also loyal to Olivier. They seem to like him.¡±


    Marc snorted and clamped down on his anger. A man, Gamache realized, ill-equipped for not getting his own way. His wife, at least, appreciated how all this might look and had tried to appear reasonable.


    ¡°Now he¡¯s bad-mouthed us to the whole village,¡± said Marc, not letting it go.


    ¡°They¡¯ll come around,¡± said Carole, looking at her son with concern. ¡°That artist couple have been nice.¡±


    ¡°Peter and Clara Morrow,¡± said Dominique. ¡°Yes. I like them. She says she¡¯d like to ride, once the horses arrive.¡±


    ¡°And when will that be?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Later today.¡±


    ¡°Vraiment? That must be fun for you. How many?¡±


    ¡°Four,¡± said Marc. ¡°Thoroughbreds.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I believe you¡¯ve changed that slightly, haven¡¯t you?¡± Carole turned to her daughter-in-law.


    ¡°Really? I thought you wanted thoroughbreds,¡± said Marc to Dominique.


    ¡°I did, but then I saw some hunters and thought since we lived in the country that seemed appropriate.¡± She looked at Gamache once again. ¡°Not that I plan to hunt. It¡¯s a breed of horse.¡±


    ¡°Used for jumping,¡± he said.


    ¡°You ride?¡±


    ¡°Not at that level, but I enjoyed it. Haven¡¯t been on a horse in years now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to come,¡± said Carole, though they all knew he almost certainly wasn¡¯t going to squeeze himself into a pair of jodhpurs and climb onto a hunter. But he did smile as he imagined what Gabri would make of that invitation.


    ¡°What¡¯re their names?¡± asked Marc.


    Dominique hesitated and her mother-in-law jumped in. ¡°It¡¯s so hard to remember, isn¡¯t it? But wasn¡¯t one called Thunder?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Thunder, Trooper, Trojan and what was the other one?¡± She turned back to Carole.


    ¡°Lightning.¡±


    ¡°Really? Thunder and Lightning?¡± asked Marc.


    ¡°Brothers,¡± said Dominique.


    Their iced teas finished and the scones only crumbs they got to their feet and walked back into the house.


    ¡°Why did you move here?¡± Gamache asked, as they walked down to the main floor.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± asked Dominique.


    ¡°Why did you move to the country and to Three Pines in particular? It¡¯s not exactly easy to find.¡±


    ¡°We like that.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to be found?¡± asked Gamache. His voice held humor, but his eyes were sharp.


    ¡°We wanted peace and quiet,¡± said Carole.


    ¡°We wanted a challenge,¡± said her son.


    ¡°We wanted a change. Remember?¡± Dominique turned to her husband then back to Gamache. ¡°We both had fairly high-powered jobs in Montreal, but were tired. Burned out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not really true,¡± protested Marc.


    ¡°Well, pretty close. We couldn¡¯t go on. Didn¡¯t want to go on.¡±


    She left it at that. She could understand Marc¡¯s not wanting to admit what¡¯d happened. The insomnia, the panic attacks. Having to pull the car over on the Ville Marie Expressway to catch his breath. Having to pry his hands off the steering wheel. He was losing his grip.

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    Day after day he¡¯d gone into work like that. Weeks, months. A year. Until he¡¯d finally admitted to Dominique how he felt. They¡¯d gone away for a weekend, their first in years, and talked.


    While she wasn¡¯t having panic attacks, she was feeling something else. A growing emptiness. A sense of futility. Each morning she woke up and had to convince herself that what she did mattered. Advertising.


    It was a harder and harder sell.


    Then Dominique had remembered something long buried and forgotten. A dream since childhood. To live in the country and have horses.


    She¡¯d wanted to run an inn. To welcome people, to mother them. They had no children of their own, and she had a powerful need to nurture. So they¡¯d left Montreal, left the demands of jobs too stressful, of lives too callow. They¡¯d come to Three Pines, with their bags of money, to heal first themselves. Then others.


    They¡¯d certainly healed this wound of a house.


    ¡°We saw an ad for this place in the Gazette one Saturday, drove down and bought it,¡± said Dominique.


    ¡°You make it sound simple,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°It was, really, once we decided what we wanted.¡±


    And looking at her, Gamache could believe it. She knew something powerful, something most people never learned. That people made their own fortune.


    It made her formidable.


    ¡°And you, madame?¡± Gamache turned to Carole Gilbert.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been retired for a while.¡±


    ¡°In Quebec City, I understand.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. I quit work and moved there after my husband died.¡±


    ¡°D¨¦sol¨¦.¡±


    ¡°No need to be. It was many years ago. But when Marc and Dominique invited me here I thought it sounded like fun.¡±


    ¡°You were a nurse? That will come in handy in a spa.¡±


    ¡°I hope not,¡± she laughed. ¡°Not planning on hurting people, are you?¡± she asked Dominique. ¡°God help anyone who asks for my help.¡±


    They strolled once more into the living room and the Chief Inspector stopped by the floor-to-ceiling windows, then turned into the room.


    ¡°Thank you for the tour. And the tea. But I do have some questions for you.¡±


    ¡°About the murder in the bistro,¡± said Marc, and stepped slightly closer to his wife. ¡°It seems so out of character for this village, to have a murder.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think so, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± said Gamache, and wondered if anyone had told them the history of their own home. Probably wasn¡¯t in the real estate agent¡¯s description.


    ¡°Well, to begin with, have you seen any strangers around?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s a stranger,¡± said Carole. ¡°We know most of the villagers by now, at least to nod to, but this weekend the place is filled with people we¡¯ve never seen.¡±


    ¡°This man would be hard to miss; he¡¯d have looked like a tramp, a vagrant.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen anyone like that,¡± said Marc. ¡°Mama, have you?¡±


    ¡°Nobody.¡±


    ¡°Where were you all on Saturday night and early Sunday morning?¡±


    ¡°Marc, I think you went to bed first. He usually does. Dominique and I watched the T¨¦l¨¦journal on Radio-Canada then went up.¡±


    ¡°About eleven, wouldn¡¯t you think?¡± Dominique asked.


    ¡°Did any of you get up in the night?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± said Carole. ¡°Briefly. To use the washroom.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯re you asking us this?¡± Dominique asked. ¡°The murder happened down in the bistro. It has nothing to do with us.¡±


    Gamache turned around and pointed out the window. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking.¡±


    They looked. Down in the village a few cars were being packed up. People were hugging, reluctant children were being called off the village green. A young woman was walking briskly up rue du Moulin, in their direction.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only place in Three Pines with a view over the whole village, and the only place with a direct view into the bistro. If the murderer turned on the lights, you¡¯d have seen.¡±


    ¡°Our bedrooms are at the back,¡± Dominique pointed out. Gamache had already noted this in the tour.


    ¡°True. But I was hoping one of you might suffer from insomnia.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Chief Inspector. We sleep like the dead here.¡±


    Gamache didn¡¯t mention that the dead in the old Hadley house had never rested well.


    The doorbell rang just then and the Gilberts started slightly, not expecting anyone. But Gamache was. He¡¯d noted Agent Lacoste¡¯s progress round the village green and up rue du Moulin.

 Page 36

    Something had happened.


    ¡°May I see you in private?¡± Isabelle Lacoste asked the Chief after she¡¯d been introduced. The Gilberts took the cue. After watching them disappear Agent Lacoste turned to Gamache.


    ¡°The coroner called. The victim wasn¡¯t killed in the bistro.¡±


    ELEVEN


    Myrna knocked softly on the bistro door, then opened it.


    ¡°You okay?¡± she asked softly into the dim light. It was the first time since she¡¯d lived in Three Pines she¡¯d seen the bistro dark during the day. Even at Christmas Olivier opened.


    Olivier was sitting in an armchair, staring. He looked over at her and smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Ruth¡¯s FINE? Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and Egotistical?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s about right.¡±


    Myrna sat across from him and offered a mug of tea she¡¯d brought from her bookshop. Strong, hot, with milk and sugar. Red Rose. Nothing fancy.


    ¡°Like to talk?¡±


    She sat quietly, watching her friend. She knew his face, had seen the tiny changes over the years. The crow¡¯s-feet appear at his eyes, the fine blond hair thin. What hadn¡¯t changed, from what she could tell, was what was invisible, but even more obvious. His kind heart, his thoughtfulness. He was the first to bring soup to anyone ill. To visit in the hospital. To read out loud to someone too weak and tired and near the end to do it for themselves. Gabri, Myrna, Clara, they all organized villagers to help, and when they arrived they¡¯d find Olivier already there.


    And now it was their turn to help him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I want to open again.¡±


    Myrna sipped her tea and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. You¡¯ve been hurt. It must¡¯ve been a terrible shock to see him here. I know it was for me, and it¡¯s not my place.¡±


    You have no idea, thought Olivier. He didn¡¯t say anything, but stared out the window. He saw Chief Inspector Gamache and Agent Lacoste walking down rue du Moulin from the old Hadley house. He prayed they kept going. Didn¡¯t come in here. With their keen eyes and sharp questions.


    ¡°I wonder if I should just sell. Move on.¡±


    This surprised Myrna, but she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Why?¡± she asked, softly.


    He shook his head and dropped his eyes to his hands, resting in his lap.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s changing. Everything¡¯s changed. Why can¡¯t it be like it always was? They took my fireplace pokers, you know. I think Gamache thinks I did it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t. Olivier, look at me.¡± She spoke forcefully to him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what he thinks. We know the truth about you. And you need to know something about us. We love you. Do you think we come here every day for the food?¡±


    He nodded and smiled slightly. ¡°You mean it wasn¡¯t for the croissants? The red wine? Not even the chocolate torte?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, okay. Maybe the torte. Listen, we come here because of you. You¡¯re the attraction. We love you, Olivier.¡±


    Olivier raised his eyes to hers. He hadn¡¯t realized, until that moment, that he¡¯d always been afraid their affection was conditional. He was the owner of the bistro, the only one in town. They liked him for the atmosphere and welcome. The food and drink. That was the boundary of their feelings for him. They liked him for what he gave to them. Sold to them.


    Without the bistro, he was nothing to them.


    How¡¯d Myrna know something he hadn¡¯t even admitted to himself? As he looked at her she smiled. She was wearing her usual flamboyant caftan. For her birthday coming up Gabri had made her a winter caftan, out of flannel. Olivier imagined her in it in her store. A big, warm ball of flannel.


    The world, which had been closing in on him for days, released a bit of its grip.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the Brume County Fair. Last day. What do you say? Can we interest you in cotton candy, cream soda, and a bison burger? I hear Wayne¡¯s showing his litter of suckling pigs this afternoon. I know how you love a good piglet.¡±


    Once, just once, at the annual county fair he¡¯d hurried them over to the pig stalls to look at the babies. And now he was the piglet guy. Still, he quite liked being thought of as that. And it was true, he loved pigs. He had a lot in common with them, he suspected. But he shook his head.


    ¡°Not up to it, I¡¯m afraid. But you go along. Bring me back a stuffed animal.¡±


    ¡°Would you like company here? I can stay.¡±


    And he knew she meant it. But he needed to be alone.


    ¡°Thanks, but I really am Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and Egotistical.¡±

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    ¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re fine,¡± said Myrna, getting up. After years as a psychologist she knew how to listen to people. And how to leave them alone.


    He watched through the window as Myrna, Peter, Clara, Ruth and the duck Rosa got in the Morrows¡¯ car. They waved at him and he waved merrily back. Myrna didn¡¯t wave. She just nodded. He dropped his hand, caught her eye, and nodded.


    He believed her when she¡¯d said they loved him. But he also knew they loved a man who didn¡¯t exist. He was a fiction. If they knew the real Olivier they¡¯d kick him out, of their lives and probably the village.


    As their car chugged up the hill toward the Brume County Fair he heard the words again. From the cabin hidden in the woods. He could smell the wood smoke, the dried herbs. And he could see the Hermit. Whole. Alive. Afraid.


    And he heard again the story. That wasn¡¯t, Olivier knew, just a story.


    Once upon a time a Mountain King watched over a treasure. He buried it deep and it kept him company for millennia. The other gods were jealous and angry, and warned him if he didn¡¯t share his treasure with them they¡¯d do something terrible.


    But the Mountain King was the mightiest of the gods, so he simply laughed knowing there was nothing they could do to him. No attack he couldn¡¯t repulse, and redouble onto them. He was invincible. He prepared for their attack. Waited for it. But it never came.


    Nothing came. Ever.


    Not a missile, not a spear, not a war horse, or rider, or dog, or bird. Not a seed in the wind. Not even the wind.


    Nothing. Ever. Again.


    It was the silence that got to him first, and then the touch. Nothing touched him. No breeze brushed his rocky surface. No ant crawled over him, no bird touched down. No worm tunneled.


    He felt nothing.


    Until one day a young man came.


    Olivier brought himself back to the bistro, his body tense, his muscles strained. His fingernails biting into his palms.


    Why, he asked himself for the millionth time. Why had he done it?


    Before leaving to see the coroner, the Chief Inspector walked over to the large piece of paper tacked to the wall of their Incident Room. In bold red letters Inspector Beauvoir had written:


    WHO WAS THE VICTIM?


    WHY WAS HE KILLED?


    WHO KILLED HIM?


    WHAT WAS THE MURDER WEAPON?


    With a sigh the Chief Inspector added two more lines.


    WHERE WAS HE MURDERED?


    WHY WAS HE MOVED?


    So far in their investigation they¡¯d found more questions than clues. But that¡¯s where answers came from. Questions. Gamache was perplexed, but not dissatisfid.


    Jean Guy Beauvoir was already waiting for him when he arrived at the Cowansville hospital, and they went in together, down the stairs and into the basement, where files and dead people were kept.


    ¡°I called as soon as I realized what I was seeing,¡± said Dr. Harris after greeting them. She led them into the sterile room, brightly lit by fluorescents. The dead man was naked on a steel gurney. Gamache wished they¡¯d put a blanket over him. He seemed cold. And, indeed, he was.


    ¡°There was some internal bleeding but not enough. This wound,¡± she indicated the collaped back of the victim¡¯s head, ¡°would have bled onto whatever surface he fell on.¡±


    ¡°There was almost no blood on the floor of the bistro,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°He was killed somewhere else,¡± said the coroner, with certainty.


    ¡°Where?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Would you like an address?¡±


    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± said the Chief Inspector, with a smile.


    Dr. Harris smiled back. ¡°Clearly I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ve found some things that might be suggestive.¡±


    She walked over to her lab table where a few vials sat, labeled. She handed one to the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Remember that bit of white I said was in the wound? I thought it might be ash. Or bone, or perhaps even dandruff. Well, it wasn¡¯t any of those things.¡±


    Gamache needed his glasses to see the tiny white flake inside the vial, then he read the label.


    Paraffin, found in the wound.


    ¡°Paraffin? Like wax?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s commonly called paraffin wax. It¡¯s an old-fashioned material, as you probably know. Used to be used for candles, then it was replaced by other sorts of more stable wax.¡±


    ¡°My mother uses it for pickling,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°She melts it on the top of the jar to create a seal, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Dr. Harris.


    Gamache turned to Beauvoir. ¡°And where was your mother on Saturday night?¡±


    Beauvoir laughed. ¡°The only one she ever threatens to brain is me. She¡¯s no threat to society at large.¡±

 Page 38

    Gamache handed the vial back to the coroner. ¡°Do you have any theories?¡±


    ¡°It was buried deep enough in the wound to have been either on the man¡¯s head before he was killed or on the murder weapon.¡±


    ¡°A jar of pickles?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Stranger things have been used,¡± said Gamache, though he couldn¡¯t quite think of any.


    Beauvoir shook his head. Had to be an Anglo. Who else could turn a dill pickle into a weapon?


    ¡°So it wasn¡¯t a fireplace poker?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Unless it was a very clean one. There was no evidence of ash. Just that.¡± She nodded to the vial. ¡°There¡¯s something else.¡± Dr. Harris pulled a lab chair up to the bench. ¡°On the back of his clothes we found this. Very faint, but there.¡±


    She handed Gamache the lab report and pointed to a line. Gamache read.


    ¡°Acrylic polyurethane and aluminum oxide. What is that?¡±


    ¡°Varathane,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°We¡¯ve just redone our floors. It¡¯s used to seal them after they¡¯ve been sanded.¡±


    ¡°Not just floors,¡± said Dr. Harris, taking back the vial. ¡°It¡¯s used in a lot of woodworking. It¡¯s a finish. Other than the wound to the head the dead man was in good condition. Could¡¯ve expected to live for twenty-five or thirty years.¡±


    ¡°I see he had a meal a few hours before he was killed,¡± said Gamache, reading the autopsy report


    ¡°Vegetarian. Organic I think. I¡¯m having it tested,¡± said the coroner. ¡°A healthy vegetarian meal. Not your usual vagrant dinner.¡±


    ¡°Someone might¡¯ve had him in for dinner then killed him,¡± said Beauvoir.


    Dr. Harris hesitated. ¡°I considered that, and it¡¯s a possibility.¡±


    ¡°But?¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°But he looks like a man who ate like that all the time. Not just the once.¡±


    ¡°So either he cooked for himself and chose a healthy diet,¡± said Gamache, ¡°or he had someone cook for him and they were vegetarian.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s about it,¡± said the coroner.


    ¡°I see no alcohol or drugs,¡± said Beauvoir, scanning the report.


    Dr. Harris nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t think he was homeless. I¡¯m not sure if anyone cared for this man, but I do know he cared for himself.¡±


    What a wonderful epitaph, thought Gamache. He cared for himself.


    ¡°Maybe he was a survivalist,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°You know, one of those kooks who take off from the city and hide in the woods thinking the world¡¯s coming to an end.¡±


    Gamache turned to look at Beauvoir. That was an interesting thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m frankly puzzled,¡± said the coroner. ¡°You can see he was hit with a single, catastrophic blow to the back of his head. That in itself is unusual. To find just one blow . . .¡± Dr. Harris¡¯s voice trailed off and she shook her head. ¡°Normally when someone gets up the nerve to bludgeon someone to death they¡¯re in the grip of great emotion. It¡¯s like a brainstorm. They¡¯re hysterical and can¡¯t stop. You get multiple blows. A single one like this . . .¡±


    ¡°What does it tell you?¡± Gamache asked, as he stared at the collapsed skull.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t just a crime of passion.¡± She turned to him. ¡°There was passion, yes, but there was also planning. Whoever did this was in a rage. But he was in command of that rage.¡±


    Gamache lifted his brows. That was rare, extremely rare. And disconcerting. It would be like trying to master a herd of wild stallions, thundering and rearing, nostrils flared and hooves churning.


    Who could control that?


    Their murderer could.


    Beauvoir looked at the Chief and the Chief looked at Beauvoir. This wasn¡¯t good.


    Gamache turned back to the cold body on the cold gurney. If he was a survivalist, it hadn¡¯t worked. If this man had feared the end of the world he hadn¡¯t run far enough, hadn¡¯t buried himself deep enough in the Canadian wilderness.


    The end of the world had found him.


    TWELVE


    Dominique Gilbert stood beside her mother-in-law and looked down the dirt road. Every now and then they had to step aside as a carful of people headed out of Three Pines, to the last day of the fair or into the city early to beat the rush.


    It wasn¡¯t toward Three Pines they gazed, but away from it. Toward the road that led to Cowansville. And the horses.


    It still surprised Dominique that she should have so completely forgotten her childhood dream. Perhaps, though, it wasn¡¯t surprising since she¡¯d also dreamed of marrying Keith from the Partridge Family and being discovered as one of the little lost Romanov girls. Her fantasy of having horses disappeared along with all the other unlikely dreams, replaced by board meetings and clients, by gym memberships and increasingly expensive clothing. Until finally her cup, overflowing, had upended and all the lovely promotions and vacations and spa treatments became insubstantial. But at the bottom of that cup filled with goals, objectives, targets, one last drop remained.

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    Her dream. A horse of her own.


    As a girl she¡¯d ridden. With the wind in her hair and the leather reins light in her hands she¡¯d felt free. And safe. The staggering worries of an earnest little girl forgotten.


    Years later, when dissatisfaction had turned to despair, when her spirit had grown weary, when she could barely get out of bed in the morning, the dream had reappeared. Like the cavalry, like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, riding to her rescue.


    Horses would save her. Those magnificent creatures who so loved their riders they charged into battle with them, through explosions, through terror, through shrieking men and shrieking weapons. If their rider urged them forward, they went.


    Who could not love that?


    Dominique had awoken one morning knowing what had to be done. For their sanity. For their souls. They had to quit their jobs, buy a home in the country. And have horses.


    As soon as they¡¯d bought the old Hadley house and Roar was working on the barn Dominique had gone to find her horses. She¡¯d spent months researching the perfect breed, the perfect temperaments. The height, weight, color even. Palomino, dapple? All the words from childhood came back. All the pictures torn from calendars and taped to her wall next to Keith Partridge. The black horse with the white socks, the mighty, rearing gray stallion, the Arabian, noble, dignified, strong.


    Finally Dominique settled on four magnificent hunters. Tall, shining, two chestnut, a black and one that was all white.


    ¡°I hear a truck,¡± said Carole, taking her daughter-in-law¡¯s hand and holding it lightly. Like reins.


    A truck hove into view. Dominique waved. The truck slowed, then followed her directions into the yard and stopped next to the brand new barn.


    Four horses were led from the van, their hooves clunking on the wooden ramp. When they were all standing in the yard the driver walked over to the women, tossing a cigarette onto the dirt and grinding it underfoot.


    ¡°You need to sign, madame.¡± He held the clipboard out between them. Dominique reached for it and barely taking her eyes off the horses she signed her name then gave the driver a tip.


    He took it then looked from the two bewildered women to the horses.


    ¡°You sure you want to keep ¡¯em?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, thank you,¡± said Dominique with more confidence than she felt. Now that they were actually there, and the dream was a reality, she realized she had no real idea what to do with a horse. Never mind four of them. The driver seemed to sympathize.


    ¡°Want me to put them in their stalls?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. We can do it. Merci.¡± She wanted him to leave, quickly. To not witness her uncertainty, her bumbling, her ineptness. Dominique Gilbert wasn¡¯t used to blundering, but she suspected she was about to become very familiar with it.


    The driver reversed the empty van and drove away. Carole turned to Dominique and said, ¡°Well, ma belle, I suspect we can¡¯t do any worse than their last owners.¡±


    As the van headed back to Cowansville they caught a glimpse of the word stenciled on the back door. In bold, black letters, so there could be no doubt. Abattoir. Then the two women turned back to the four sorry animals in front of them. Matted, walleyed, swaybacked. Hooves overgrown and coats covered in mud and sores.


    ¡°¡¯Twould ring the bells of Heaven,¡± whispered Carole.


    Dominique didn¡¯t know about the bells of Heaven, but her head was ringing. What had she done? She moved forward with a carrot and offered it to the first horse. A broken-down old mare named Buttercup. The horse hesitated, not used to kindness. Then she took a step toward Dominique and with large, eloquent lips she picked the sweet carrot from the hand.


    Dominique had canceled her purchase of the magnificent hunters and had decided to buy horses destined for slaughter. If she was expecting them to save her, the very least she could do was save them first.


    An hour and a half later Dominique, Carole and the four horses were still standing in front of the barn. But now they¡¯d been joined by a vet.


    ¡°Once they¡¯re bathed you¡¯ll need to rub this into their sores.¡± He handed Dominique a bucket of ointment. ¡°Twice a day, in the morning and at night.¡±


    ¡°Can they be ridden?¡± Carole asked, holding the halter of the largest horse. Privately she suspected it wasn¡¯t a horse at all, but a moose. Its name was Macaroni.


    ¡°Mais, oui. I¡¯d encourage it.¡± He was walking round them again, his large, sure hands going over the sorry beasts. ¡°Pauvre cheval,¡± he whispered into the ear of the old mare, Buttercup, her mane almost all fallen out, her tail wispy and her coat bedraggled. ¡°They need exercise, they need good food and water. But mostly they need attention.¡±

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    The vet was shaking his head as he finished his examinations.


    ¡°The good news is there¡¯s nothing terminally wrong with them. Left to rot in muddy fields and bitter cold barns. Never groomed. Neglected. But this one.¡± He approached the tall, walleyed dark horse, who shied away. The vet waited and approached again quietly, making soothing sounds until the horse settled. ¡°This one was abused. You can see it.¡± He pointed to the scars on the horse¡¯s flanks. ¡°He¡¯s afraid. What¡¯s his name?¡±


    Dominique consulted the bill from the abattoir, then looked at Carole.


    ¡°What is it?¡± the older woman asked, walking over to read the bill as well. ¡°Oh,¡± she said, then looked at the vet. ¡°Can a horse¡¯s name be changed?¡±


    ¡°Normally I¡¯d say yes, but not this one. He needs some continuity. They get used to their names. Why?¡±


    ¡°His name¡¯s Marc.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard worse,¡± said the vet, packing up.


    The two women exchanged glances. So far Marc, her husband, not the horse, had no idea Dominique had canceled the hunters in favor of these misfits. He almost certainly wouldn¡¯t be happy. She¡¯d been hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice, and if she gave them mighty, masculine names like Thunder and Trooper he might not care. But he¡¯d certainly notice a half-blind, scarred and scared old wreck named Marc.


    ¡°Ride them as soon as you can,¡± said the vet from his car. ¡°Just walk at first until they get their strength back.¡± He gave the two women a warm smile. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry. These are four lucky horses.¡±


    And he drove off.


    ¡°Oui,¡± said Carole, ¡°until we saddle the wrong end.¡±


    ¡°I think the saddle goes in the middle,¡± said Dominique.


    ¡°Merde,¡± said Carole.


    The S?ret¨¦ was out for blood. If the victim hadn¡¯t been murdered in the bistro he was killed somewhere else, and they needed to find the crime scene. Blood, and quite a bit of it, had been spilled. And while the murderer had had two days to clean up, blood stained. Blood stuck. It would be almost impossible to completely erase the evidence of this brutal murder. Every home, every business, every shed, every barn, garage, kennel in and around Three Pines was scoured. Jean Guy Beauvoir coordinated it, sending teams of S?ret¨¦ officers throughout the village and into the countryside. He stayed in the Incident Room and received their reports, guiding them, occasionally chastising them, his patience eroding as the negative reports flowed in.


    Nothing.


    No sign of a murder scene or a murder weapon. Not even at the old Hadley house, whose new floors proved bloodless. The lab tests had come back on Olivier¡¯s pokers, confirming neither was the weapon. It was still out there, somewhere.


    They did find Guylaine¡¯s missing boots, and a root cellar under Monsieur B¨¦liveau¡¯s house, long overgrown and abandoned, but still housing pickled beets and cider. There was a squirrel¡¯s nest in Ruth¡¯s attic, not perhaps surprisingly, and suspicious seeds in Myrna¡¯s mudroom that turned out to be hollyhock.


    Nothing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll widen the search area,¡± said Beauvoir to the Chief, over the phone.


    ¡°Probably a good idea.¡± But Gamache didn¡¯t sound convinced.


    Through the receiver Beauvoir could hear bells and music and laughter.


    Armand Gamache was at the fair.


    The Brume County Fair was more than a century old, bringing people in from all over the townships. Like most fairs it had started as a meeting place for farmers, to show their livestock, to sell their autumn produce, to make deals and see friends. There was judging in one barn and displays of handicraft in another. Baking was for sale in the long aisles of open sheds and children lined up for licorice and maple syrup candy, popcorn and freshly made doughnuts.


    It was the last celebration of summer, the bridge into autumn.


    Armand Gamache walked past the rides and hawkers, then consulted his watch. It was time. He made for a field to the side of the barns, where a crowd had gathered. For the Wellington Boot Toss.


    Standing on the edge of the field he watched as kids and adults lined up. The young man in charge settled them down, gave them each an old rubber boot, and standing well back he raised his arm. And held it there.


    The tension was almost unbearable.


    Then like an ax he dropped it.


    The line of people raised their arms in unison and shot them forward, and to whoops of encouragement from onlookers a storm of Wellington boots was released.


    Gamache knew in that instant why he¡¯d gotten such an unexpectedly good spot at the side of the field. At least three boots shot his way.

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    He turned and hunched his back, instinctively bringing his arm up to protect his head. With a series of thuds the boots landed around him, but not on him.


    The young man in charge ran over.


    ¡°You okay?¡±


    He had curly brown hair that shone auburn in the sun. His face was tanned and his eyes a deep blue. He was stunningly handsome, and pissed off.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be standing there. I thought for sure you¡¯d move.¡±


    Gamache was treated to the look of someone recognizing they were in the presence of immeasurable stupidity.


    ¡°C¡¯¨¦tait ma faute,¡± admitted Gamache. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m looking for Old Mundin.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    Gamache stared at the flushed and handsome young man.


    ¡°And you¡¯re Chief Inspector Gamache.¡± He stuck out his hand, large and calloused. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you around Three Pines. Didn¡¯t your wife take part in the clog dancing on Canada Day?¡±


    Gamache could barely look away from this young man, so full of vigor and light. He nodded.


    ¡°Thought so. I was one of the fiddlers. You¡¯re looking for me?¡±


    Behind Old Mundin more people were forming up and looking in his direction. He glanced at them, but seemed relaxed.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to talk, when you have a moment.¡±


    ¡°Sure. We have a couple more heats, then I can leave. Want to try?¡±


    He offered Gamache one of the boots that had almost brained him.


    ¡°What do I do?¡± asked Gamache as he took the boot and followed Mundin to the line.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Wellington Boot Toss,¡± said Old Mundin, with a laugh. ¡°I think you can figure it out.¡±


    Gamache smiled. This perhaps wasn¡¯t his brightest day. He took his place beside Clara and noticed Old Mundin jog down the line to a beautiful young woman and a child who¡¯d be about six. He knelt down and handed the boy a small boot.


    ¡°Charles,¡± said Clara. ¡°His son.¡±


    Gamache looked again. Charles Mundin was also beautiful. He laughed and turned the wrong way, and with patience his parents got him sorted out. Old Mundin kissed his son and jogged back to the line.


    Charles Mundin, Gamache saw, had Down¡¯s syndrome.


    ¡°Ready?¡± called Mundin, raising his arm. ¡°Set.¡±


    Gamache gripped his boot and glanced down the line at Peter and Clara, staring intently ahead of them.


    ¡°Toss!¡±


    Gamache swung up his arm and felt his boot whack his back. Then he sliced forward, losing his grip on the muddy boot. It headed sideways to land about two feet ahead of him and to the side.


    Clara¡¯s grip, while stronger, didn¡¯t last much longer, and her boot went almost straight up into the air.


    ¡°Fore!¡± everyone yelled and as one they reeled back, straining to see as it plunged toward them out of the blinding sun.


    It hit Peter. Fortunately it was a tiny, pink child¡¯s boot and bounced off him without effect. Behind Gamache, Gabri and Myrna were taking bets how long it would take Clara to come up with an excuse and what it would be.


    ¡°Ten dollars on ¡®The boot was wet,¡¯ ¡± said Myrna.


    ¡°Nah, she used that last year. How about ¡®Peter walked into it¡¯?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re on.¡±


    Clara and Peter joined them. ¡°Can you believe they gave me a wet boot again?¡±


    Gabri and Myrna hooted with laughter and Clara, smiling broadly, caught Gamache¡¯s eye. Money changed hands. She leaned into Gamache and whispered, ¡°Next year I¡¯m saying Peter leaned into it. Put some money down.¡±


    ¡°Suppose you don¡¯t hit him?¡±


    ¡°But I always do,¡± she said earnestly. ¡°He leans into it, you know.¡±


    ¡°I had heard.¡±


    Myrna waved across the field to Ruth, limping along with Rosa beside her. Ruth gave her the finger. Charles Mundin, seeing this, waved, giving everyone the finger.


    ¡°Ruth doesn¡¯t do the Wellington Boot Toss?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Too much like fun,¡± said Peter. ¡°She came to find children¡¯s clothing in the craft barn.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Who knows why Ruth does anything,¡± said Myrna. ¡°Any headway with the investigation?¡±


    ¡°Well, there was one important finding,¡± said Gamache, and everyone crowded even closer around him. Even Ruth limped over. ¡°The coroner says the dead man wasn¡¯t killed in the bistro. He was killed somewhere else and taken there.¡±


    He could hear the midway clearly now, and hawkers promising huge stuffed toys if you shot a tin duck. Bells jingled to call attention to games and the ring announcer warned people the horse show was about to start. But from his audience there was silence. Until finally Clara spoke.

 Page 42

    ¡°That¡¯s great news for Olivier, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You mean it makes him less of a suspect?¡± said Gamache. ¡°I suppose. But it raises a lot more questions.¡±


    ¡°Like how¡¯d the body get into the bistro,¡± said Myrna.


    ¡°And where he was killed,¡± said Peter.


    ¡°We¡¯re searching the village. House by house.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re what?¡± asked Peter. ¡°Without our permission?¡±


    ¡°We have warrants,¡± said Gamache, surprised by Peter¡¯s vehement reaction.


    ¡°It¡¯s still a violation of our privacy. You knew we¡¯d be back, you could¡¯ve waited.¡±


    ¡°I could have, but chose not to. These weren¡¯t social calls, and frankly your feelings are secondary.¡±


    ¡°Apparently our rights are too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not accurate.¡± The Chief Inspector spoke firmly. The more heated Peter became the calmer Gamache grew. ¡°We have warrants. Your right to privacy I¡¯m afraid ended when someone took a life in your village. We¡¯re not the ones who¡¯ve violated your rights, the murderer is. Don¡¯t forget that. You need to help us, and that means stepping aside and letting us do our work.¡±


    ¡°Letting you search our homes,¡± said Peter. ¡°How would you feel?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t feel good about it either,¡± admitted Gamache. ¡°Who would? But I hope I¡¯d understand. This has just begun, you know. It¡¯s going to get worse. And before it¡¯s over we¡¯ll know where everything is hidden.¡±


    He looked sternly at Peter.


    Peter saw the closed door into his studio. He imagined S?ret¨¦ officers opening it. Flicking on the light switch. Going into his most private space. The place he kept his art. The place he kept his heart. His latest work was in there, under a sheet. Hiding. Away from critical eyes.


    But now strangers would have opened that door, lifted that veil and seen it. What would they think?


    ¡°So far we haven¡¯t found anything, except, I understand, Guylaine¡¯s missing boots.¡±


    ¡°So you found them,¡± said Ruth. ¡°The old bitch accused me of stealing them.¡±


    ¡°They were found in the hedge between her place and yours,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°Imagine that,¡± said Ruth.


    Gamache noticed the Mundins standing on the edge of the field, waiting for him. ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    He walked briskly to the young couple and their son and joined them as they walked to the stall Old Mundin had set up. It was full of furniture, hand made. A person¡¯s choices were always revealing, Gamache found. Mundin chose to make furniture, fine furniture. Gamache¡¯s educated eye skimmed the tables, cabinets and chairs. This was painstaking, meticulous work. All the joints dovetailed together without nails; the details were beautifully inlaid, the finishes smooth. Faultless. Work like this took time and patience. And the young carpenter could never, ever be paid what these tables, chairs, dressers were worth.


    And yet Old Mundin chose to do it anyway. Unusual for a young man these days.


    ¡°How can we help?¡± The Wife asked, smiling warmly. She had very dark hair, cut short to her head, and large, thoughtful, eyes. Her clothing was layered and looked both comfortable and bohemian. An earth mother, thought Gamache, married to a carpenter.


    ¡°I have a few questions, but tell me about your furniture. It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Merci,¡± said Mundin. ¡°I spend most of the year making pieces to sell at the fair.¡±


    Gamache ran his large hand over the smooth surface of a chest of drawers. ¡°Lovely polish. Paraffin?¡±


    ¡°Not unless we want them to burst into flames,¡± laughed Old. ¡°Paraffin¡¯s highly flammable.¡±


    ¡°Varathane?¡±


    Old Mundin¡¯s beautiful face crinkled in a smile. ¡°You are perhaps mistaking us for Ikea. Easy to do,¡± he joked. ¡°No, we use beeswax.¡±


    We, thought Gamache. He¡¯d watched this young couple for just a few minutes but it seemed clear they were a team.


    ¡°Do you sell much at the fair?¡± he asked.


    ¡°This¡¯s all we have left,¡± The Wife said, indicating the few exquisite pieces around them.


    ¡°They¡¯ll be gone by the end of the fair tonight,¡± said Old Mundin. ¡°Then I need to get going again. Fall¡¯s a great time of year to get into the forests and find wood. I do most of my woodwork through the winter.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see your workshop.¡±


    ¡°Any time.¡±


    ¡°How about now?¡±

 Page 43

    Old Mundin stared at his visitor and Gamache stared back.


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Well . . .¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Old,¡± said The Wife. ¡°I¡¯ll watch the booth. You go.¡±


    ¡°Is it okay if we take Charles?¡± Old asked Gamache. ¡°It¡¯s hard for The Wife to watch him and look after customers.¡±


    ¡°I insist he comes along,¡± said Gamache, holding out his hand to the boy, who took it without hesitation. A small shard stabbed Gamache¡¯s heart as he realized how precious this boy was, and would always be. A child who lived in a perpetual state of trust.


    And how hard it would be for his parents to protect him.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Gamache assured The Wife.


    ¡°Oh, I know he¡¯ll be. It¡¯s you I worry about,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Gamache, reaching out to shake her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know your name.¡±


    ¡°My actual name is Michelle, but everyone calls me The Wife.¡±


    Her hand was rough and calloused, like her husband¡¯s, but her voice was cultured, full of warmth. It reminded him a little of Reine-Marie¡¯s.


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It started out as a joke between us and then it took. Old and The Wife. It somehow fits.¡±


    And Gamache agreed. It did fit this couple, who seemed to live in their own world, with their own beautiful creations.


    ¡°Bye.¡± Charles gave his mother the new one-fingered wave.


    ¡°Old,¡± she scolded.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t me,¡± he protested. But he didn¡¯t rat on Ruth, Gamache noticed.


    Old strapped his son into the van and they drove out of the fair parking lot.


    ¡°Is ¡®Old¡¯ your real name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been called ¡®Old¡¯ all my life, but my real name is Patrick.¡±


    ¡°How long have you lived here?¡±


    ¡°In Three Pines? A few years.¡± He thought for a moment. ¡°My God, it¡¯s been eleven years. Can hardly believe it. Olivier was the first person I met.¡±


    ¡°How do people feel about him?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know about ¡®people,¡¯ but I know how I feel. I like Olivier. He¡¯s always fair with me.¡±


    ¡°But not with everyone?¡± Gamache had noticed the inflection.


    ¡°Some people don¡¯t know the value of what they¡¯ve got.¡± Old Mundin was concentrating on the road, driving carefully. ¡°And lots of people just want to stir up trouble. They don¡¯t like being told their antique chest is really just old. Not valuable at all. Pisses them off. But Olivier knows what he¡¯s doing. Lots of people set up antique businesses here, but not many really know what they¡¯re doing. Olivier does.¡±


    After a moment or two of silence as both men watched the countryside go by, Gamache spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered where dealers find their antiques.¡±


    ¡°Most have pickers. People who specialize in going to auctions or getting to know people in the area. Mostly elderly people who might be interested in selling. Around here if someone knocks on your door on a Sunday morning it¡¯s more likely to be an antique picker than a Jehovah¡¯s Witness.¡±


    ¡°Does Olivier have a picker?¡±


    ¡°No, he does it himself. He works hard for what he gets. And he knows what¡¯s worth money and what isn¡¯t. He¡¯s good. And fair, for the most part.¡±


    ¡°For the most part?¡±


    ¡°Well, he has to make a profit, and lots of the stuff needs work. He gives the old furniture to me to restore. That can be a lot of work.¡±


    ¡°I bet you don¡¯t charge what it¡¯s worth.¡±


    ¡°Now, worth is a relative concept.¡± Old shot Gamache a glance as they bumped along the road. ¡°I love what I do and if I charged a reasonable amount per hour nobody¡¯d be able to buy my pieces, and Olivier wouldn¡¯t hire me to repair the great things he finds. So it¡¯s worth it to me to charge less. I have a good life. No complaints here.¡±


    ¡°Has anyone been really angry at Olivier?¡±


    Old drove in silence and Gamache wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d heard. But finally he spoke.


    ¡°Once, about a year ago. Old Madame Poirier, up the Mountain road, had decided to move into a nursing home in Saint-R¨¦my. Olivier¡¯d been buzzing around her for a few years. When the time came she sold most of her stuff to him. He found some amazing pieces there.¡±


    ¡°Did he pay a fair price?¡±


    ¡°Depends who you talk to. She was happy. Olivier was happy.¡±

 Page 44

    ¡°So who was angry?¡±


    Old Mundin said nothing. Gamache waited.


    ¡°Her kids. They said Olivier¡¯d insinuated himself, taken advantage of a lonely old woman.¡±


    Old Mundin pulled into a small farmhouse. Hollyhocks leaned against the wall and the garden was full of black-eyed Susans and old-fashioned roses. A vegetable garden, well tended and orderly, was planted at the side of the house.


    The van rolled to a halt and Mundin pointed to a barn. ¡°That¡¯s my workshop.¡±


    Gamache unbuckled Charles from the child seat. The boy was asleep and Gamache carried him as the two men walked to the barn.


    ¡°You said Olivier made an unexpected find at Madame Poirier¡¯s place?¡±


    ¡°He paid her a flat fee for all the stuff she no longer needed. She chose what she wanted to keep and he bought the rest.¡±


    Old Mundin stopped at the barn door, turning to Gamache.


    ¡°There was a set of six Chippendale chairs. Worth about ten thousand each. I know, because I worked on them, but I don¡¯t think he told anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Did you?¡±


    ¡°No. You¡¯d be surprised how discreet I need to be in my work.¡±


    ¡°Do you know if Olivier gave Madame Poirier any extra money?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But her kids were angry.¡±


    Mundin nodded curtly and opened the barn door. They stepped into a different world. All the complex aromas of the late summer farm had disappeared. Gone was the slight scent of manure, of cut grass, of hay, of herbs in the sun.


    Here there was only one note¡ªwood. Fresh sawn wood. Old barn wood. Wood of every description. Gamache looked at the walls, lined with wood waiting to be turned into furniture. Old Mundin smoothed one fine hand over a rough board.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know it, but there¡¯s burled wood under there. You have to know what to look for. The tiny imperfections. Funny how imperfections on the outside mean something splendid beneath.¡±


    He looked into Gamache¡¯s eyes. Charles stirred slightly and the Chief Inspector brought a large hand up to the boy¡¯s back, to reassure him.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know much about wood but you seem to have different sorts. Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Different needs. I use maple and cherry and pine for inside work. Cedar for outside. This here¡¯s red cedar. My favorite. Doesn¡¯t look like much now, but carved and polished . . .¡± Mundin made an eloquent gesture.


    Gamache noticed two chairs on a platform. One was upside down. ¡°From the bistro?¡± He walked over to them. Sure enough one had a loose arm and the leg of the other was wobbly.


    ¡°I picked those up Saturday night.¡±


    ¡°Is it all right to talk about what happened at the bistro in front of Charles?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it is. He¡¯ll understand, or not. Either way, it¡¯s okay. He knows it¡¯s not about him.¡±


    Gamache wished more people could make that distinction. ¡°You were there the night of the murder.¡±


    ¡°True. I go every Saturday to pick up the damaged furniture and drop off the stuff I¡¯ve restored. It was the same as always. I got there just after midnight. The last of the customers was leaving and the kids were beginning to clean up.¡±


    Kids, thought Gamache. And yet they weren¡¯t really that much younger than this man. But somehow Old seemed very, well, old.


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t see a body.¡±


    ¡°Too bad, that would¡¯ve helped. Did anything strike you as unusual at all?¡±


    Old Mundin thought. Charles woke up and squirmed. Gamache lowered him to the barn floor where he picked up a piece of wood and turned it around and around.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wish I could help, but it seemed like any other Saturday night.¡±


    Gamache also picked up a chunk of wood and smoothed the sawdust off it.


    ¡°How¡¯d you start repairing Olivier¡¯s furniture?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that was years ago. Gave me a chair to work on. It¡¯d been kept in a barn for years and he¡¯d just moved it into the bistro. Now, you must understand . . .¡±


    What followed was a passionate monologue on old Quebec pine furniture. Milk paint, the horrors of stripping, the dangers of ruining a fine piece by restoring it. That difficult line between making a piece usable and making it valueless.


    Gamache listened, fascinated. He had a passion for Quebec history, and by extension Quebec antiques, the remarkable furniture made by pioneers in the long winter months hundreds of years ago. They¡¯d made the pine furniture both practical and beautiful, pouring themselves into it. Each time Gamache touched an old table or armoire he imagined the habitant shaping and smoothing the wood, going over it and over it with hardened hands. And making something lovely.

 Page 45

    Lovely and lasting, thanks to people like Old Mundin.


    ¡°What brought you to Three Pines? Why not a larger city? There¡¯d be more work, surely, in Montreal or even Sherbrooke.¡±


    ¡°I was born in Quebec City, and you¡¯d think there¡¯d be lots of work there for an antique restorer, but it¡¯s hard for a young guy starting out. I moved to Montreal, to an antique shop on Notre Dame, but I¡¯m afraid I wasn¡¯t cut out for the big city. So I decided to go to Sherbrooke. Got in the car, headed south, and got lost. I drove into Three Pines to ask directions at the bistro, ordered caf¨¦ au lait, sat down and the chair collapsed.¡± He laughed, as did Gamache. ¡°I offered to repair it and that was that.¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯d been here for eleven years. You must¡¯ve been young when you left Quebec City.¡±


    ¡°Sixteen. I left after my father died. Spent three years in Montreal, then down here. Met The Wife, had Charles. Started a small business.¡±


    This young man had done a lot with his eleven years, thought Gamache. ¡°How did Olivier seem on Saturday night?¡±


    ¡°As usual. Labor Day¡¯s always busy but he seemed relaxed. As relaxed as he ever gets, I suppose.¡± Mundin smiled. It was clear there was affection there. ¡°Did I hear you say the man wasn¡¯t murdered at the bistro after all?¡±


    Gamache nodded. ¡°We¡¯re trying to find out where he was killed. In fact, while you were at the fair I had my people searching the whole area, including your place.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± They were at the barn door and Mundin turned to stare into the gloom. ¡°They¡¯re either very good, or they didn¡¯t actually do anything. You can¡¯t tell.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the point.¡± But the Chief noticed that, unlike Peter, Old Mundin didn¡¯t seem at all concerned.


    ¡°Now, why would you kill someone one place, then move them to another?¡± asked Mundin, almost to himself. ¡°I can see wanting to get rid of a body, especially if you killed him in your own home, but why take him to Olivier¡¯s? Seems a strange thing to do, but I guess the bistro¡¯s a fairly central location. Maybe it was just convenient.¡±


    Gamache let that statement be. They both knew it wasn¡¯t true. Indeed, the bistro was a very inconvenient place to drop a body. And it worried Gamache. The murder wasn¡¯t an accident, and the placement of the body wasn¡¯t either.


    There was someone very dangerous walking among them. Someone who looked happy, thoughtful, gentle even. But it was a deceit. A mask. Gamache knew that when he found the murderer and ripped the mask off, the skin would come too. The mask had become the man. The deceit was total.


    THIRTEEN


    ¡°We had a great time at the fair. I got you this.¡± Gabri shut the door and turned on the lights in the bistro. He offered the stuffed lion to Olivier, who took it and held it softly in his lap.


    ¡°Merci.¡±


    ¡°And did you hear the news? Gamache says the dead man wasn¡¯t killed here. And we¡¯ll be getting our pokers back. I¡¯d like to get my poker back, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± he asked, archly. But Olivier didn¡¯t even respond.


    Gabri moved through the gloomy room, turning on lamps, then lit a fire in one of the stone hearths. Olivier continued to sit in the armchair, staring out the window. Gabri sighed, poured them each a beer and joined him. Together they sipped, ate cashews and looked out at the village, quiet now in the last of the day, and the end of the summer.


    ¡°What do you see?¡± asked Gabri at last.


    ¡°What d¡¯you mean? I see what you see.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t be. What I see makes me happy. And you¡¯re not happy.¡±


    Gabri was used to his partner¡¯s moods. Olivier was the quiet one, the contained one. Gabri might appear the more sensitive, but they both knew Olivier was. He felt things deeply, and kept them there. Gabri was covered in the flesh wounds of life, but Olivier¡¯s wounds were in the marrow, deep and hidden and perhaps even mortal.


    But he was also the kindest man Gabri had met, and he¡¯d met, it must be said, quite a few. Before Olivier. That had all changed as soon as he¡¯d clapped eyes on the slim, blond, shy man.


    Gabri had lost his quite considerable heart.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Gabri leaned forward and took Olivier¡¯s slender hands. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just no fun anymore,¡± said Olivier at last. ¡°I mean, why even bother? No one¡¯s going to want to come back here. Who wants to eat in a restaurant where there¡¯s been a body?¡±


    ¡°As Ruth says, we¡¯re all just bodies anyway.¡±

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    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll put that in the ads.¡±


    ¡°Well, at least you don¡¯t discriminate. Dead, predead. They¡¯re all welcome here. That might be a better slogan.¡±


    Gabri saw a quiver at the ends of Olivier¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Voyons, it was great news that the police say the man wasn¡¯t killed here. That makes a difference.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Olivier looked at him hopefully.


    ¡°Do you know what I really think?¡± Now Gabri was dead serious. ¡°I think it wouldn¡¯t matter. Peter, Clara, Myrna? Do you think they¡¯d stop coming even if that poor man had been murdered here? The Parras? Monsieur B¨¦liveau? They¡¯d all come if a mountain of bodies was found here. Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Because they like it?¡±


    ¡°Because they like you. They love you. Listen, Olivier, you have the best bistro, the finest food, the most comfortable place. It¡¯s brilliant. You¡¯re brilliant. Everyone loves you. And you know what?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± asked Olivier, grumpily.


    ¡°You¡¯re the kindest, most handsome man in the world.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just saying that.¡± Olivier felt like a little boy again. While other kids ran around collecting frogs and sticks and grasshoppers, he¡¯d sought reassurance. Affection. He¡¯d gather up the words and actions, even from strangers, and he¡¯d stuff them into the hole that was growing.


    It had worked. For a while. Then he¡¯d needed more than just words.


    ¡°Did Myrna tell you to say that?¡±


    ¡°Right. It¡¯s not true at all, just a big lie cooked up by Myrna and me. What¡¯s wrong with you anyway?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Gabri followed Olivier¡¯s stare out the window. And up the hill. He sighed. They¡¯d been through this before.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do about them. Maybe we should just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± Olivier snapped.


    ¡°Are you looking for an excuse to be miserable? Is that it?¡±


    Even by Olivier¡¯s standards that had been an unreasonable reaction. He¡¯d been reassured about the body, he¡¯d been reassured that everyone still loved him. He¡¯d been reassured that Gabri wasn¡¯t running away. So what was the problem?


    ¡°Listen, maybe we should give them a chance. Who knows? Their inn and spa might even help us.¡±


    This was not what Olivier wanted to hear. He stood abruptly, almost knocking the chair to the floor. He could feel that bloom of anger in his chest. It was like a superpower. It made him invincible. Strong. Courageous. Brutal.


    ¡°If you want to be friends with them, fine. Why don¡¯t you just fuck off?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I meant we can¡¯t do anything about them so we might as well be friends.¡±


    ¡°You make this sound like kindergarten. They¡¯re out to ruin us. Do you understand? When they first came I was nice, but then they decided to steal our customers, even our staff. Do you think anyone¡¯s going to come to your tacky little B and B when they can stay there?¡±


    Olivier¡¯s face was red and blotchy. Gabri could see it spread even under his scalp, through the thinning and struggling blond hair.


    ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? I don¡¯t care if people come, you know that. We don¡¯t need the money. I just do it for fun.¡±


    Olivier struggled to control himself now. To not take that one step too far. The two men glared so that the space between them throbbed.


    ¡°Why?¡± Olivier finally said.


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°If the dead man wasn¡¯t killed here, why was he put here?¡±


    Gabri felt his anger lift, evaporated by the question.


    ¡°I heard from the police today,¡± said Olivier, his voice almost monotone. ¡°They¡¯re going to speak to my father tomorrow.¡±


    Poor Olivier, thought Gabri, he did have something to worry about after all.


    Jean Guy Beauvoir got out of the car and stared across the road at the Poirier home.


    It was ramshackle and in need of way more than just a coat of paint. The porch was sloping, the steps looked unsound, pieces of boarding were missing from the side of the house.


    Beauvoir had been in dozens of places like this in rural Quebec. Lived in by a generation born there too. Clotilde Poirier probably drank coffee from a chipped mug her mother had used. Slept on a mattress she¡¯d been conceived on. The walls would be covered with dried flowers and spoons sent by relatives who¡¯d escaped to exotic places like Rimouski or Chicoutimi or Gasp¨¦. And there¡¯d be a chair, a rocking chair, by the window, near the woodstove. It would have a slightly soiled afghan on it and crumbs. And after clearing up the breakfast dishes Clotilde Poirier would sit there, and watch.

 Page 47

    What would she be watching for? A friend? A familiar car? Another spoon?


    Was she watching him now?


    Armand Gamache¡¯s Volvo appeared over the hill and came to a stop behind Beauvoir. The two men stood and stared for a moment at the house.


    ¡°I found out about the Varathane,¡± said Beauvoir, thinking this place could use a hundred gallons or so of the stuff. ¡°The Gilberts didn¡¯t use it when they did the renovations. I spoke to Dominique Gilbert. She said they want to be as green as possible. After they had the floors sanded they used tung oil.¡±


    ¡°So the Varathane on the dead man¡¯s clothing didn¡¯t come from the old Hadley house,¡± said the Chief, disappointed. It had seemed a promising lead.


    ¡°Why¡¯re we here?¡± Beauvoir asked as they turned back to survey the gently subsiding home and the rusting pickup truck in the yard. He¡¯d received a call from the Chief to meet him here, but he didn¡¯t know why.


    Gamache explained what Old Mundin had said about Olivier, Madame Poirier and her furniture. Specifically the Chippendale chairs.


    ¡°So her kids think Olivier screwed her? And by extension, them?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Seems so.¡± He knocked on the door. After a moment a querulous voice called through it.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Chief Inspector Gamache, madame. Of the S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec.¡±


    ¡°I ain¡¯t done nothing wrong.¡±


    Gamache and Beauvoir exchanged glances.


    ¡°We need to speak to you, Madame Poirier. It¡¯s about the body found in the bistro in Three Pines.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    It was very difficult conducting an interview through an inch of chipping wood.


    ¡°May we come in? We¡¯d like to talk to you about Olivier Brul¨¦.¡±


    An elderly woman, small and slender, opened the door. She glared at them then turned and walked rapidly back into the house. Gamache and Beauvoir followed.


    It was decorated as Beauvoir had imagined. Or, really, not decorated. Things were put up on the walls as they¡¯d arrived, over the generations, so that the walls were a horizontal archaeological dig. The farther into the house they went, the more recent the items. Framed flowers, plasticized place mats, crucifixes, paintings of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, and yes, spoons, all marched across the faded floral wallpaper.


    But the place was clean, spotless and smelled of cookies. Photos of grandchildren, perhaps even great-grandchildren, sat on shelves and tabletops. A faded striped tablecloth, clean and ironed, was on the kitchen table. And in the center of that table was a vase containing late summer flowers.


    ¡°Tea?¡± She lifted a pot from the stove. Beauvoir declined but Gamache accepted. She returned with cups of tea for them all. ¡°Well, go on.¡±


    ¡°We understand Olivier bought some furniture from you,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°Not just some. He bought the lot. Thank God. Gave me more than anyone else would, despite what my kids mighta told you.¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t spoken to them yet,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°Neither have I. Not since selling the stuff.¡± But she didn¡¯t seem upset. ¡°Greedy, all of them. Waiting for me to die so they can inherit.¡±


    ¡°How did you meet Olivier?¡± Beauvoir asked.


    ¡°He knocked on the door one day. Introduced himself. Asked if I had anything I¡¯d like to sell. Sent him running the first few times.¡± She smiled at the memory. ¡°But there was something about him. He kept coming back. So I eventually invited him in, just for tea. He¡¯d come about once a month, have tea, then leave.¡±


    ¡°When did you decide to sell to him?¡± Beauvoir asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming to that,¡± she snapped, and Beauvoir began to appreciate how hard Olivier must have worked for that furniture.


    ¡°One winter was particularly long. Lots of snow. And cold. So I decided to hell with this, I¡¯d sell up and move into Saint-R¨¦my, to that new seniors¡¯ home. So I told Olivier and we walked through the house. I showed him all that crap my parents left me. Old armoires and dressers. Big pine things. And painted all sorts of dull colors. Blues and greens. Tried to scrape it off some of them, but it was no good.¡±


    Beside him Beauvoir heard the Chief inhale, but that was the only sign of pain. Having spent years with Gamache he knew his passion for antiques, and knew that you never, ever strip old paint. It was like skinning something alive.


    ¡°So you showed it all to Olivier? What did he say?¡±


    ¡°Said he¡¯d take the lot, including what was in the barn and attic without even seeing it. Tables and chairs been there since before my grandparents. Was going to send it to the dump, but my lazy sons never showed up to do it. So serves them right. I sold the lot to Olivier.¡±

 Page 48

    ¡°Can you remember how much you got?¡±


    ¡°I remember exactly. It was three thousand two hundred dollars. Enough to pay for all of this. Sears.¡±


    Gamache looked at the legs of the table. Prefabricated wood. There was an upholstered rocker facing the new television, and a dark wood-veneer cabinet, with decorative plates.


    Madame Poirier was also looking at the contents of the room, with pride.


    ¡°He came by a few weeks later and you know what he¡¯d brought? A new bed. Plastic still on the mattress. Set it up for me too. He still comes by sometimes. He¡¯s a nice man.¡±


    Beauvoir nodded. A nice man who¡¯d paid this elderly woman a fraction of what that furniture was worth.


    ¡°But you¡¯re not in the seniors¡¯ home? Why not?¡±


    ¡°After I got the new furniture the place felt different. More mine. I kinda liked it again.¡±


    She showed them to the door and Beauvoir noticed the welcome mat. Worn, but still there. They said good-bye and headed for her eldest son¡¯s place a mile down the road. A large man with a gut and stubble opened the door.


    ¡°Cops,¡± he called into the house. It, and he, smelled of beer and sweat and tobacco.


    ¡°Claude Poirier?¡± Beauvoir asked. It was a formality. Who else would this man be? He was nearing sixty, and looked every moment of it. Beauvoir had taken the time before leaving the Incident Room to look up the Poirier family. To see what they were walking into.


    Petty crimes. Drunk and disorderly. Shoplifting. Benefit fraud.


    They were the type who took advantage, found fault, pointed fingers. Still, it didn¡¯t mean that sometimes they weren¡¯t right. Like about Olivier. He¡¯d screwed them.


    After the introductions Poirier launched into his long, sad litany. It was all Beauvoir could do to keep him focused on Olivier, so long was this man¡¯s list of people who¡¯d done him wrong. Including his own mother.


    Finally the two investigators lurched from the stale house, taking deep breaths of fresh late afternoon air.


    ¡°Do you think he did it?¡± asked Gamache


    ¡°He¡¯s certainly angry enough,¡± said Beauvoir, ¡°but unless he could transport a body to the bistro using the buttons on his remote, I think he¡¯s off the suspect list. Can¡¯t see him getting off that stinking sofa long enough.¡±


    They walked back to their cars. The Chief paused.


    ¡°What¡¯re you thinking?¡± Beauvoir asked.


    ¡°I was remembering what Madame Poirier said. She was about to take all those antiques to the dump. Can you imagine?¡±


    Beauvoir could see that the thought gave Gamache actual pain.


    ¡°But Olivier saved them,¡± said the Chief. ¡°Strange how that works. He might not have given Madame enough money, but he gave her affection and company. What price do you put on that?¡±


    ¡°So, can I buy your car? I¡¯ll give you twenty hours of my company.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be cynical. One day you might be elderly and alone and you¡¯ll see.¡±


    As he followed the Chief¡¯s car back to Three Pines Beauvoir thought about that, and agreed that Olivier had saved the precious antiques, and spent time with the crabby old woman. But he could have done it and still given the old woman a fair price.


    But he hadn¡¯t.


    Marc Gilbert looked at Marc the horse. Marc the horse looked at Marc Gilbert. Neither seemed pleased.


    ¡°Dominique!¡± Marc called from the door of the barn.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she said, cheerily, walking across the yard from the house. She¡¯d hoped it would take Marc a few days to find the horses. Actually, she¡¯d hoped he never would. But that was in the same league as the Mrs. Keith Partridge dream. Unlikely at best.


    And now she found him cross-armed in the dim barn.


    ¡°What are these?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re horses,¡± she said. Though, it must be said, she suspected Macaroni might be a moose.


    ¡°I can see that, but what kind? These aren¡¯t hunters, are they?¡±


    Dominique hesitated. For an instant she wondered what would happen if she said yes. But she guessed that Marc, while not a horse expert, wouldn¡¯t buy that.


    ¡°No, they¡¯re better.¡±


    ¡°How better?¡±


    His sentences were getting shorter, never a good sign.


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re cheaper.¡±


    She could see that actually had a slight mollifying effect. Might as well tell him the full story. ¡°I bought them from the slaughterhouse. They were going to be killed today.¡±


    Marc hesitated. She could see him struggling with his anger. Not trying to let it go, but trying to hold on to it. ¡°Maybe there was a reason they were going to be . . . you know.¡±

 Page 49

    ¡°Killed. No, the vet¡¯s been to see them and he says they¡¯re fine, or will be.¡±


    The barn smelled of disinfectant, soap and medication.


    ¡°Maybe physically, but you can¡¯t tell me he¡¯s okay.¡± Marc waved at Marc the horse, who flared his nostrils and snorted. ¡°He isn¡¯t even clean. Why not?¡±


    Why did her husband have to be so observant? ¡°Well, no one could get close to him.¡± Then she had an idea. ¡°The vet says he needs a very special touch. He¡¯ll only let someone quite exceptional near him.¡±


    ¡°Is that right?¡± Marc looked at the horse again, and walked toward him. Marc, the horse, backed up. Her husband reached out his hand. The horse put his ears back, and Dominique grabbed her husband away just as Marc the horse snapped.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long day and he¡¯s disoriented.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± said her husband, walking with her out of the barn. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±


    ¡°Thunder.¡±


    ¡°Thunder,¡± said Marc, trying the name out. ¡°Thunder,¡± he repeated as though riding the steed and urging him on.


    Carole greeted them at the kitchen door. ¡°So,¡± she said to her son. ¡°How¡¯re the horses? How¡¯s Marc?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± He looked at her quizzically and took the drink she offered. ¡°And how¡¯s Carole?¡±


    Behind him Dominique gestured frantically at her mother-in-law who was laughing and just about to say something when she saw her daughter-in-law¡¯s motions and stopped. ¡°Just fine. Do you like the horses?¡±


    ¡°Like is a strong word, as is ¡®horses,¡¯ I suspect.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take a while for us all to get used to each other,¡± said Dominique. She accepted the Scotch from Carole and took a gulp. Then they walked out the French doors and into the garden.


    As the two women talked, more friends than mother and daughter-in-law, Marc looked at the flowers, the mature trees, the freshly painted white fences and the rolling fields beyond. Soon the horses, or whatever they were, would be out there. Grazing.


    Once again he had that hollow feeling, that slight rip as the chasm widened.


    Leaving Montreal had been a wrench for Dominique, and leaving Quebec City had been difficult for his mother. They left behind friends. But while Marc had pretended to be sorry, had gone to the going-away parties, had claimed he would miss everyone, the truth was, he didn¡¯t.


    They had to be part of his life for him to miss them, and they weren¡¯t. He remembered that Kipling poem his father loved, and taught him. And that one line. If all men count with you, but none too much.


    And they hadn¡¯t. Over forty-five years not a single man had counted too much.


    He had loads of colleagues, acquaintances, buddies. He was an emotional communist. Everyone counted equally, but none too much.


    You¡¯ll be a man, my son. That was how the poem ended.


    But Marc Gilbert, listening to the quiet conversation and looking over the rich, endless fields, was beginning to wonder if that was enough. Or even true.


    The officers gathered round the conference table and Beauvoir uncapped his red Magic Marker. Agent Morin was beginning to appreciate that the small ¡°pop¡± was like a starter¡¯s gun. In the short time he¡¯d been with homicide he¡¯d developed a fondness for the smell of marker, and that distinctive sound.


    He settled into his chair, a little nervous as always, in case he should say something particularly stupid. Agent Lacoste had helped. As they¡¯d gathered up their papers for the meeting she¡¯d seen his trembling hands and whispered that maybe he should just listen this time.


    He¡¯d looked at her, surprised.


    ¡°Won¡¯t they think I¡¯m an idiot? That I have nothing to say?¡±


    ¡°Believe me, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re going to listen yourself out of this job. Or any job. Just relax, let me do the talking today, and we¡¯ll see about tomorrow. Okay?¡±


    He¡¯d looked at her then, trying to figure out what her motives might be. Everyone had them, he knew. Some were driven by kindness, some not. And he¡¯d been at the S?ret¨¦ long enough to know that most in the famous police force weren¡¯t guided by a desire to be nice.


    It was brutally competitive, and nowhere more so than the scramble to get into homicide. The most prestigious posting. And the chance to work with Chief Inspector Gamache.


    He was barely in, and barely hanging on. One wrong move and he¡¯d slide right out the door, and be forgotten in an instant. He wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. And he knew, instinctively, this was a pivotal moment. Was Agent Lacoste sincere?

 Page 50

    ¡°All right, what¡¯ve we got?¡±


    Beauvoir was standing by the paper tacked to the wall next to a map of the village.


    ¡°We know the victim wasn¡¯t murdered at the bistro,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°But we still don¡¯t know where he was killed or who he was.¡±


    ¡°Or why he was moved,¡± said Beauvoir. He reported on their visit to the Poiriers, m¨¨re et fils. Then Lacoste told them what she and Morin had learned about Olivier Brul¨¦.


    ¡°He¡¯s thirty-eight. Only child. Born and raised in Montreal. Father an executive at the railway, mother a homemaker, now dead. An affluent upbringing. Went to Notre Dame de Sion school.¡±


    Gamache raised his brows. It was a leading Catholic private school. Annie had gone there too, years after Olivier, to be taught by the rigorous nuns. His son Daniel had refused, preferring the less rigorous public schools. Annie had learned logic, Latin, problem solving. Daniel had learned to roll a spliff. Both grew into decent, happy adults.


    ¡°Olivier got an MBA from the Universit¨¦ de Montr¨¦al and took a job at the Banque Laurentienne,¡± Agent Lacoste continued, reading from her notes. ¡°He handled high-end corporate clients. Apparently very successfully too. Then he quit.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Not sure. I have a meeting at the bank tomorrow, and I¡¯ve also set up an appointment with Olivier¡¯s father.¡±


    ¡°What about his personal life?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°I talked to Gabri. They started living together fourteen years ago. Gabri¡¯s a year younger. Thirty-seven. He was a fitness instructor at the local YMCA.¡±


    ¡°Gabri?¡± asked Beauvoir, remembering the large, soft man.


    ¡°Happens to the best of us,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°After Olivier quit the bank they gave up their apartment in Old Montreal and moved down here, took over the bistro and lived above it, but it wasn¡¯t a bistro then. It¡¯d been a hardware store.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± asked Beauvoir. He couldn¡¯t imagine the bistro as anything else. He tried to see snow shovels and batteries and lightbulbs hanging from the exposed beams or set up in front of the two stone fireplaces. And failed.


    ¡°But listen to this.¡± Lacoste leaned forward. ¡°I got this by digging into the land registry records. Ten years ago Olivier bought not just his bistro, but the B and B. But he didn¡¯t stop there. He bought it all. The general store, the bakery, his bistro and Myrna¡¯s bookstore.¡±


    ¡°Everything?¡± asked Beauvoir. ¡°He owns the village?¡±


    ¡°Just about. I don¡¯t think anyone else knows. I spoke to Sarah at her boulangerie and to Monsieur B¨¦liveau at the general store. They said they rented from some guy in Montreal. Long-term leases, reasonable rates. They send their checks to a numbered company.¡±


    ¡°Olivier¡¯s a numbered company?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    Gamache was taking all this in, listening closely.


    ¡°How much did he pay?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Seven hundred and twenty thousand dollars for the lot.¡±


    ¡°Good God,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of bread. Where¡¯d he get the money? A mortgage?¡±


    ¡°No. Paid cash.¡±


    ¡°You say his mother¡¯s dead, maybe it was his inheritance.¡±


    ¡°Doubt it,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°She only died five years ago, but I¡¯ll look into it when I¡¯m in Montreal.¡±


    ¡°Follow the money,¡± said Beauvoir. It was a truism in crime investigations, particularly murder. And there was suddenly a great deal of money to follow. Beauvoir finished scribbling on his sheets on the wall, then told them about the coroner¡¯s findings.


    Morin listened, fascinated. So this was how murderers were found. Not by DNA tests and petrie dishes, ultraviolet scans or anything else a lab could produce. They helped, certainly, but this was their real lab. He looked across the table to the other person who was just listening, saying nothing.


    Chief Inspector Gamache took his deep brown eyes off Inspector Beauvoir for a moment and looked at the young agent. And smiled.


    Agent Lacoste headed for Montreal shortly after the meeting broke up. Agent Morin left for home and Beauvoir and Gamache walked slowly back over the stone bridge and into the village. They strolled past the darkened bistro and met Olivier and Gabri on the wide veranda of the B and B.


    ¡°I left a note for you,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Since the bistro¡¯s closed we¡¯re all going out for dinner and you¡¯re invited.¡±


    ¡°Peter and Clara¡¯s again?¡± asked Gamache.

 Page 51

    ¡°No. Ruth,¡± said Gabri and was rewarded with their stunned looks. He¡¯d have thought someone had drawn a gun on the two large S?ret¨¦ officers. Chief Inspector Gamache looked surprised but Beauvoir looked afraid.


    ¡°You might want to put on your athletic protector,¡± Gabri whispered to Beauvoir, as they passed on the veranda steps.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure as hell not going. You?¡± asked Beauvoir when they went inside.


    ¡°Are you kidding? Pass up a chance to see Ruth in her natural habitat? Wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡±


    Twenty minutes later the Chief Inspector had showered, called Reine-Marie and changed into slacks, blue shirt and tie and a camel-hair cardigan. He found Beauvoir in the living room with a beer and potato chips.


    ¡°Sure you won¡¯t change your mind, patron?¡±


    It was tempting, Gamache had to admit. But he shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep a candle in the window,¡± said Beauvoir, watching the Chief leave.


    Ruth¡¯s clapboard home was a couple of houses away and faced the green. It was tiny, with a porch in front and two gables on the second floor. Gamache had been in it before, but always with his notebook out, asking questions. Never as a guest. As he entered all eyes turned and as one they made for him, Myrna reaching him first.


    ¡°For pity¡¯s sake, did you bring your gun?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡±


    ¡°What d¡¯you mean, you don¡¯t have one?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re dangerous. Why do you want it?¡±


    ¡°So you can shoot her. She¡¯s trying to kill us.¡± Myrna grabbed Gamache¡¯s sleeve and pointed to Ruth who was circulating among her guests wearing a frilly apron and carrying a bright orange plastic tray.


    ¡°Actually,¡± said Gabri, ¡°she¡¯s trying to kidnap us and take us back to 1950.¡±


    ¡°Probably the last time she entertained,¡± said Myrna.


    ¡°Hors d¡¯oeuvre, old fruit?¡± Ruth spotted her new guest and bore down upon him.


    Gabri and Olivier turned to each other. ¡°She means you.¡±


    Incredibly, she actually meant Gamache.


    ¡°Lord love a duck,¡± said Ruth, in a very bad British accent. Behind Ruth waddled Rosa.


    ¡°She started speaking like that as soon as we arrived,¡± said Myrna, backing away from the tray and knocking over a stack of Times Literary Supplements. Gamache could see saltine crackers sliding around on the orange tray, smeared with brown stuff he hoped was peanut butter. ¡°I remember reading something about this,¡± Myrna continued. ¡°People speaking in accents after a brain injury.¡±


    ¡°Is being possessed by the devil considered a brain injury?¡± asked Gabri. ¡°She¡¯s speaking in tongues.¡±


    ¡°Cor blimey,¡± said Ruth.


    But the most striking feature of the room wasn¡¯t the hoop lamps, the teak furniture, genteel British Ruth with her dubious offering, nor was it the sofas covered in books and newspapers and magazines, as was the green shag carpet. It was the duck.


    Rosa was wearing a dress.


    ¡°Duck and cover,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Literally.¡±


    ¡°Our Rosa.¡± Ruth had put down the peanut-buttered crackers and was now offering celery sticks stuffed with Velveeta.


    Gamache watched and wondered if he¡¯d have to make a couple of calls. One to the Humane Society, the other to the psych ward. But neither Rosa nor Ruth seemed upset. Unlike their guests.


    ¡°Would you like one?¡± Clara offered him a ball covered with what looked like seeds.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We think it¡¯s suet, for the birds,¡± said Peter.


    ¡°And you¡¯re offering it to me?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°Well, someone should eat it so it doesn¡¯t hurt her feelings.¡± Clara nodded to Ruth, just disappearing into the kitchen. ¡°And we¡¯re too afraid.¡±


    ¡°Non, merci,¡± he smiled and went in search of Olivier. As he passed the kitchen he looked in and saw Ruth opening a can. Rosa was standing on the table watching her.


    ¡°Now, we¡¯ll just open this,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Maybe we should smell it? What do you think?¡±


    The duck didn¡¯t seem to be thinking anything. Ruth smelled the open can anyway. ¡°Good enough.¡±


    The old poet wiped her hands on a towel then reached out and lifted the edge of Rosa¡¯s dress to replace a ruffled feather, smoothing it down.


    ¡°May I help?¡± Gamache asked from the door.


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a love.¡±


    Gamache winced, expecting her to throw a cleaver after that. But she just smiled and handed him a plate of olives, each stuffed with a section of canned mandarin orange. He took it and returned to the party. Not surprisingly he was greeted as though he¡¯d joined the dark side. He was very grateful Beauvoir wasn¡¯t there to see Ruth, nuttier and more Anglo than usual, Rosa wearing a dress and himself offering food that would almost certainly kill or cripple anyone foolish enough to eat it.

 Page 52

    ¡°Olive?¡± he asked Olivier.


    The two men looked down at the plate.


    ¡°Does that make me the mandarin?¡± asked Gabri.


    ¡°You need to get your head out of your own asshole,¡± said Olivier.


    Gabri opened his mouth, but the warning looks on everyone¡¯s faces made him shut it again.


    Peter, standing a little way off from the conversation and nursing the glass of water Ruth had offered him, smiled. It was much the same thing Clara had said when he¡¯d told her he¡¯d felt violated by the police search.


    ¡°Why?¡± she¡¯d asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you? I mean, all those strangers looking at your art.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what we call a show? There were more people looking this afternoon than I¡¯ve had most of my career. Bring on more cops. Hope they brought their checkbooks.¡± She laughed, and clearly didn¡¯t care. But she could see he did. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°The picture isn¡¯t ready to be seen.¡±


    ¡°Look, Peter, you make it sound as though this is something to do with your art.¡±


    ¡°Well, it is.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re trying to find a murderer, not an artist.¡±


    And there it had sat, like most uncomfortable truths. Between them.


    Gamache and Olivier had wandered away from the group, into a quiet corner.


    ¡°I understand you bought your building a few years ago.¡±


    Olivier colored slightly, surprised by the question. He instinctively and furtively scanned the room, making sure they weren¡¯t overheard.


    ¡°I thought it was a good investment. I¡¯d saved some money from my job, and business here was good.¡±


    ¡°Must have been. You paid almost three-quarters of a million dollars.¡±


    ¡°I bet it¡¯s worth a million today.¡±


    ¡°Could be. But you paid cash. Was business all that good?¡±


    Olivier shot a look around but no one could hear them. Still he lowered his voice.


    ¡°The bistro and B and B are doing very well, for now anyway, but it¡¯s the antiques end that¡¯s been the surprise.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Lots of interest in Quebec pine, and lots of great finds.¡±


    Gamache nodded. ¡°We spoke to the Poiriers this afternoon.¡±


    Olivier¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Look, what they say just isn¡¯t true. I didn¡¯t screw their mother. She wanted to sell. Was desperate to sell.¡±


    ¡°I know. We spoke to her too. And the Mundins. The furniture must have been in very bad shape.¡±


    Olivier relaxed a little.


    ¡°It was. Years sitting in damp, freezing barns and the attic. Had to chase the mice out. Some were warped almost beyond repair. Enough to make you weep.¡±


    ¡°Madame Poirier says you came by her home later with a new bed. That was kind.¡±


    Olivier dropped his eyes. ¡°Yeah, well, I wanted to thank her.¡±


    Conscience, thought Gamache. This man had a huge and terrible conscience riding herd on a huge and terrible greed.


    ¡°You said the bistro and B and B were doing well, for now. What did you mean?¡±


    Olivier looked out the window for a moment, then back at Gamache.


    ¡°Hi ho, dinner everyone,¡± sang Ruth.


    ¡°What should we do?¡± Clara whispered to Myrna. ¡°Can we run for it?¡±


    ¡°Too late. Either Ruth or the duck would get us for sure. The only thing to do is hunker down and pray for daylight. If the worst happens, play dead.¡±


    Gamache and Olivier rose, the last in for dinner.


    ¡°I suppose you know what they¡¯re doing up at the old Hadley house?¡± When Gamache didn¡¯t answer Olivier continued. ¡°They¡¯ve almost completely gutted the place and are turning it into an inn and spa. Ten massage rooms, meditation and yoga classes. They¡¯ll do a day spa and corporate retreats. People¡¯ll be crawling all over the place, and us. It¡¯ll ruin Three Pines.¡±


    ¡°Three Pines?¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± snapped Olivier. ¡°The bistro and the B and B.¡±


    They joined the others in the kitchen and sat at Ruth¡¯s white plastic garden table.


    ¡°Incoming,¡± warned Gabri as Ruth put a bowl in front of each of them.


    Gamache looked at the contents of his bowl. He could make out canned peaches, bacon, cheese and Gummi Bears.


    ¡°They¡¯re all the things I love,¡± said Ruth, smiling. Rosa was sitting next to her on a nest of towels, her beak thrust under the sleeve of her dress.


    ¡°Scotch?¡± Ruth asked.


    ¡°Please.¡± Six glasses were thrust forward and Ruth poured each a Scotch, into their dinners.

 Page 53

    About three centuries and many lifetimes later they left, staggering into the quiet, cool night.


    ¡°Toodle-oo,¡± waved Ruth. But Gamache was heartened to hear, just as the door closed: ¡°Fuckers.¡±


    FOURTEEN


    They arrived back at the B and B to find Beauvoir waiting up for them. Sort of. He was fast asleep in his chair. Beside him was a plate with crumbs and a glass of chocolate milk. The fireplace glowed with dying embers.


    ¡°Should we wake him?¡± asked Olivier. ¡°He looks so peaceful.¡±


    Beauvoir¡¯s face was turned to the side and there was a slight glisten of drool. His breathing was heavy and regular. On his chest lay the small stuffed lion Gabri had won for Olivier at the fair, his hand resting on it.


    ¡°Like a little baby cop,¡± said Gabri.


    ¡°That reminds me. Ruth asked me to give him this.¡± Olivier handed Gamache a slip of paper. The Chief took it and when he declined their offer of help watched as the two men trudged wearily up the stairs. It was nine o¡¯clock.


    ¡°Jean Guy,¡± Gamache whispered. ¡°Wake up.¡±


    He knelt and touched the younger man¡¯s shoulder. Beauvoir started awake with a snort, the lion slipping off his chest onto the floor.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Time for bed.¡±


    He watched Beauvoir sit up. ¡°How was it?¡±


    ¡°No one died.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an achievement in Three Pines.¡±


    ¡°Olivier said Ruth wanted you to have this.¡± Gamache handed him the slip of paper. Beauvoir rubbed his eyes, unfolded the paper and read it. Then, shaking his head, he handed it to the Chief.


    Maybe there¡¯s something in all of this


    I missed.


    ¡°What does it mean? Is it a threat?¡±


    Gamache frowned. ¡°Haven¡¯t a clue. Why would she be writing to you?¡±


    ¡°Jealous? Maybe she¡¯s just nuts.¡± But they both knew the ¡°maybe¡± was being generous. ¡°Speaking of nut, your daughter called.¡±


    ¡°Annie?¡± Gamache was suddenly worried, instinctively reaching for his cell phone, which he knew didn¡¯t work in the village in the valley.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. She wanted to talk to you about some upset at work. Nothing major. She just wanted to quit.¡±


    ¡°Damn, that was probably what she wanted to talk about yesterday when we got called down here.¡±


    ¡°Well don¡¯t worry about it. I handled it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think telling her to fuck off can be considered ¡®handling it.¡¯ ¡±


    Beauvoir laughed and bending down he picked up the stuffed lion. ¡°There¡¯s certainly good reason she¡¯s known as ¡®the lion¡¯ in your family. Vicious.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s known as the lion because she¡¯s loving and passionate.¡±


    ¡°And a man-eater?¡±


    ¡°All the qualities you hate in her you admire in men,¡± said Gamache. ¡°She¡¯s smart, she stands up for what she believes in. She speaks her mind and won¡¯t back down to bullies. Why do you goad her? Every time you come for a meal and she¡¯s there it ends in an argument. I for one am growing tired of it.¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll try harder. But she¡¯s very annoying.¡±


    ¡°So are you. You have a lot in common. What was the problem at work?¡± Gamache took the seat next to Jean Guy.


    ¡°Oh, a case she¡¯d wanted was assigned to another lawyer, someone more junior. I talked to her for a while. I¡¯m almost certain she won¡¯t kill everyone at work after all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡±


    ¡°And she¡¯s decided not to quit. I told her she¡¯d regret any hasty decision.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you did, did you?¡± asked Gamache with a smile. This from the king of impulse.


    ¡°Well, someone had to give her good advice,¡± laughed Beauvoir. ¡°Her parents are quite mad, you know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d heard. Thank you.¡±


    It was good advice. And he could tell Beauvoir knew it. He seemed pleased. Gamache looked at his watch. Nine thirty. He reached for Gabri¡¯s phone.


    As Gamache spoke to his daughter Beauvoir absently stroked the lion in his hand.


    Maybe there¡¯s something in all of this


    I missed.


    That was the fear in a murder investigation. Missing something. Chief Inspector Gamache had assembled a brilliant department. Almost two hundred of them in all, hand picked, investigating crime all over the province.


    But this team, Beauvoir knew, was the best.


    He was the bloodhound. The one way out in front, leading.

 Page 54

    Agent Lacoste was the hunter. Determined, methodical.


    And the Chief Inspector? Armand Gamache was their explorer. The one who went where others refused to go, or couldn¡¯t go. Or were too afraid to go. Into the wilderness. Gamache found the chasms, the caves, and the beasts that hid in them.


    Beauvoir had long thought Gamache did it because he was afraid of nothing. But he¡¯d come to realize the Chief Inspector had many fears. That was his strength. He recognized it in others. Fear more than anything was the thrust behind the knife, the fist. The blow to the head.


    And young Agent Morin? What did he bring to the team? Beauvoir had to admit he¡¯d quite warmed to the young man. But that hadn¡¯t blinded him to his inexperience. So far Beauvoir the bloodhound could smell fear quite clearly in this case.


    But it came from Morin.


    Beauvoir left the Chief in the living room speaking to his daughter and walked upstairs. As he climbed he hummed an old Weavers tune and hoped Gamache didn¡¯t notice the stuffed animal clutched in his hand.


    When Monsieur B¨¦liveau arrived to open his general store the next morning he had a customer already waiting. Agent Paul Morin stood up from the bench on the veranda and introduced himself to the elderly grocer.


    ¡°How can I help you?¡± Monsieur B¨¦liveau asked as he unlocked the door. It wasn¡¯t often people in Three Pines were so pressed for his produce they were actually waiting for him. But then, this young man wasn¡¯t a villager.


    ¡°Do you have any paraffin?¡±


    Monsieur B¨¦liveau¡¯s stern face broke into a smile. ¡°I have everything.¡±


    Paul Morin had never been in the store before and now he looked around. The dark wooden shelves were neatly stacked with tins. Sacks of dog food and birdseed leaned against the counter. Above the shelves were old boxes with backgammon games. Checkers, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly. Paint by numbers and jigsaw puzzles were stacked in neat, orderly rows. Dried goods were displayed along one wall, paint, boots, birdfeeders were down another.


    ¡°Over there, by the Mason jars. Are you planning on doing some pickling?¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°Do you sell much?¡± Morin asked.


    ¡°At this time of year? It¡¯s all I can do to keep it in stock.¡±


    ¡°And how about this?¡± He held up a tin. ¡°Sell many of these?¡±


    ¡°A few. But most people go into the Canadian Tire in Cowansville for that sort of thing, or the building supply shops. I just keep some around in case.¡±


    ¡°When was the last time you sold some?¡± the young agent asked as he paid for his goods. He didn¡¯t expect an answer really, but he felt he had to ask.


    ¡°July.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Morin suspected he¡¯d have to work on his ¡°interrogation¡± face. ¡°How¡¯d you remember that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what I do. You get to know the habits of people. And when they buy something unusual, like this,¡± he held up the tin just before placing it in the paper bag, ¡°I notice. Actually, two people bought some. Regular run on the market.¡±


    Agent Paul Morin left Monsieur B¨¦liveau¡¯s shop with his goods, and a whole lot of unexpected information.


    Agent Isabelle Lacoste started her day with the more straightforward of the interviews. She pressed the button and the elevator swished shut and took her to the top of the Banque Laurentienne tower in Montreal. As she waited she looked out at the harbor in one direction and Mont Royal with its huge cross in the other. Splendid glass buildings clustered all around downtown, reflecting the sun, reflecting the aspirations and achievements of this remarkable French city.


    Isabelle Lacoste was always surprised by the amount of pride she felt when looking at downtown Montreal. The architects had managed to make it both impressive and charming. Montrealers never turned their back on the past. The Qu¨¦b¨¦cois were like that, for better or worse.


    ¡°Je vous en prie,¡± the receptionist smiled and indicated a now-opened door.


    ¡°Merci.¡± Agent Lacoste walked into a quite grand office where a slender, athletic-looking middle-aged man was standing at his desk. He came round, extending his hand, and introduced himself as Yves Charpentier.


    ¡°I have some of the information you asked for,¡± he said in cultured French. It delighted Lacoste when she could speak her own language to top executives. Her generation could. But she¡¯d heard her parents and grandparents talk, and knew enough recent history to know had it been thirty years earlier she¡¯d probably be speaking to a unilingual Englishman. Her English was perfect, but that wasn¡¯t the point.


    She accepted the offer of coffee.

 Page 55

    ¡°This is rather delicate,¡± said Monsieur Charpentier, when his secretary had left and the door was closed. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to think Olivier Brul¨¦ was a criminal, and there was never any question of laying charges.¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°We were very happy with him for the first few years. I¡¯m afraid we tend to be impressed by profit and he delivered on that. He moved up quickly. People liked him, especially his clients. A lot of people in this business can be glib, but Olivier was genuine. Quiet, respectful. It was a relief to deal with him.¡±


    ¡°But?¡± Lacoste repeated, with a slight smile she hoped took the edge off her insistence. Monsieur Charpentier smiled back.


    ¡°Some company money went missing. A couple of million.¡± He watched for her response but she simply listened. ¡°A very discreet investigation was launched. In the meantime more money disappeared. Eventually we tracked it down to two people. One of them was Olivier. I didn¡¯t believe it, but after a couple of interviews he admitted it.¡±


    ¡°Could he have been covering for the other employee?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful. Frankly, the other employee, while bright, wasn¡¯t smart enough to do this.¡±


    ¡°Surely it doesn¡¯t take brains to embezzle. I¡¯d have thought you¡¯d have to be quite stupid.¡±


    Monsieur Charpentier laughed. ¡°I agree, but I haven¡¯t made myself clear. The money was gone from the company account, but not stolen. Olivier showed us what he¡¯d done. The trail. Seems he¡¯d been following some activity in Malaysia, saw what he thought were some fantastic investment opportunities and took them to his boss, who didn¡¯t agree. So Olivier did it on his own, without authorization. It was all there. He¡¯d documented it, intending to put it back, with the profits. And he¡¯d been right. Those three million dollars turned into twenty.¡±


    Now Lacoste reacted, not verbally, but her expression made Charpentier nod.


    ¡°Exactly. The kid had a nose for money. Where is he now?¡±


    ¡°You fired him?¡± asked Lacoste, ignoring the question.


    ¡°He quit. We were trying to decide what to do with him. The executives were torn. His boss was apoplectic and wanted him dangled from the top of the building. We explained we don¡¯t do that. Anymore.¡±


    Lacoste laughed. ¡°Some of you wanted to keep him on?¡±


    ¡°He was just so good at what he did.¡±


    ¡°Which was making money. Are you convinced he was going to give it back?¡±


    ¡°Now, you¡¯ve hit on the problem. Half of us believed him, half didn¡¯t. Olivier finally resigned, realizing he¡¯d lost our trust. When you lose that, well . . .¡±


    Well, thought Agent Lacoste. Well, well.


    And now Olivier was in Three Pines. But like everyone who moved, he took himself with him.


    Well, well.


    The three S?ret¨¦ officers gathered round the table in the Incident Room.


    ¡°So where are we?¡± asked Beauvoir, standing once again by the sheets of paper tacked to the walls. Instead of answers to the questions he¡¯d written there, two more had been added.


    WHERE WAS HE MURDERED?


    WHY WAS HE MOVED?


    He shook his head. They seemed to be moving in the wrong direction. Even the few things that seemed possible in this case, like the fire irons being the weapons, turned out to be nothing.


    They had nothing.


    ¡°We actually know a great deal,¡± said Gamache. ¡°We know the man wasn¡¯t killed in the bistro.¡±


    ¡°That leaves the rest of the world to eliminate,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°We know paraffin and Varathane are involved. And we know that somehow Olivier¡¯s involved.¡±


    ¡°But we don¡¯t even know who the victim was.¡± Beauvoir underlined that question on his sheet in frustration. Gamache let that sit for a moment, then spoke.


    ¡°No. But we will. We¡¯ll know it all, eventually. It¡¯s a puzzle, and eventually the whole picture will be clear. We just need to be patient. And persistent. We need more background information on other possible suspects. The Parras for instance.¡±


    ¡°I have that information you asked for,¡± said Agent Morin, squaring his slight shoulders. ¡°Hanna and Roar Parra came here in the mid-80s. Refugees. Applied for status and got it. They¡¯re now Canadian citizens.¡±


    ¡°All legal?¡± asked Beauvoir, with regret.


    ¡°All legal. One child. Havoc. Twenty-one years old. The family¡¯s very involved in the Czech community here. Sponsored a few people.¡±


    ¡°Right, right,¡± waved Beauvoir. ¡°Anything interesting?¡±

 Page 56

    Morin looked down at his copious notes. What would the Inspector consider interesting?


    ¡°Did you find anything from before they came here?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°No, sir. I have calls in to Prague but their record keeping from that time isn¡¯t good.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Beauvoir snapped the top back on the Magic Marker. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Agent Morin placed a paper bag on the conference table.


    ¡°I dropped by the general store this morning, and bought these.¡±


    Out of the bag he brought a brick of paraffin wax. ¡°Monsieur B¨¦liveau says everyone¡¯s been buying paraffin, especially at this time of year.¡±


    ¡°Not much help,¡± said Beauvoir, taking his seat again.


    ¡°No, but this might be.¡± And from the bag he pulled a tin. On it was written Varathane. ¡°He sold two tins like this to two different people in July. One to Gabri and the other to Marc Gilbert.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Beauvoir uncapped the marker.


    Agent Lacoste, like every Montrealer, knew about Habitat, the strange and exotic apartment building created for Expo 67, the great World¡¯s Fair. The buildings had been considered avant garde then, and still were. They sat on ?le des Soeurs, in the St. Lawrence River, a tribute to creativity and vision. Once seen Habitat was never forgotten. Instead of a square or rectangular building to house people the architect had made each room a separate block, an elongated cube. It looked like a jumble of children¡¯s building blocks, piled on top of each other. One interconnected with another, some above, some below, some off to the side, so that daylight shone through the building and the rooms were all bathed in sun. And the views from each room were spectacular, either of the grand river or of the magnificent city.


    Lacoste had never been in a Habitat condo, but she was about to. Jacques Brul¨¦, Olivier¡¯s father, lived there.


    ¡°Come in,¡± he said, unsmiling, as he opened the door. ¡°You said this was about my son?¡±


    Monsieur Brul¨¦ was very unlike his son. He had a full head of dark hair and was robust. Behind him she could see the gleaming wood floors, the slate fireplace and the huge windows looking onto the river. The condo was tasteful and expensive.


    ¡°I wonder if we could sit down?¡±


    ¡°I wonder if you could come to the point?¡±


    He stood at the door, blocking her way. Not allowing her farther into his home.


    ¡°As I mentioned on the phone, I¡¯m with homicide. We¡¯re investigating a murder in Three Pines.¡±


    The man looked blank.


    ¡°Where your son lives.¡± He nodded, once. Lacoste continued. ¡°A body was found in the bistro there.¡±


    She¡¯d intentionally not identified the bistro. Olivier¡¯s father waited, showing absolutely no recognition, no alarm, no concern at all.


    ¡°Olivier¡¯s Bistro,¡± she finally said.


    ¡°And what do you want from me?¡±


    It was far from unusual in a murder case to find fractured families, but she hadn¡¯t expected to find one here.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to know about Olivier, his upbringing, his background, his interests.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve come to the wrong parent. You¡¯d need to ask his mother.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I thought she¡¯d died.¡±


    ¡°She has.¡±


    ¡°You told me on the phone he went to Notre Dame de Sion. Quite a good school, I hear. But it only goes to grade six. How about after that?¡±


    ¡°I think he went to Loyola. Or was it Br¨¦beuf? I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°Pardon? Were you and his mother separated?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯d never divorce.¡± This was the most animated he¡¯d been. Much more upset by the suggestion of divorce than death and certainly than murder. Lacoste waited. And waited. Eventually Jacques Brul¨¦ spoke.


    ¡°I was away a lot, building a career.¡±


    But Agent Lacoste, who hunted killers and still knew what schools her children attended, knew that wasn¡¯t much of an explanation, or excuse.


    ¡°Was he ever in trouble? Did he get into fights? Any problems?¡±


    ¡°With Olivier? None at all. He was a regular boy, mind you. He¡¯d get into scrapes, but nothing serious.¡±


    It was like interviewing a marshmallow, or a salesman about a dining room set. Monsieur Brul¨¦ seemed on the verge of calling his son ¡°it¡± throughout the conversation.


    ¡°When was the last time you spoke to him?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure that was exactly on topic, but she wanted to know.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

 Page 57

    She should have guessed. As she left he called after her, ¡°Tell him I said hello.¡±


    Lacoste stopped at the elevator, pressed the button, and looked back at the large man standing in the door frame, shutting out all the light that she knew was streaming into his apartment.


    ¡°Maybe you can tell him yourself. Visit even. Have you met Gabri?¡±


    ¡°Gabri?¡±


    ¡°Gabriel. His partner.¡±


    ¡°Gabrielle? He hasn¡¯t told me about her.¡±


    The elevator came and she stepped in, wondering if Monsieur Brul¨¦ would ever find Three Pines. She also wondered about this man who kept so much hidden.


    But then, clearly, so did his son.


    It was late morning and Olivier was in his bistro, at the front door. Trying to decide if he should unlock it. Let people in. Maybe the crowd would drown out the voice in his head. The Hermit¡¯s voice. And that terrible story that bound them together. Even unto death.


    The young man appeared at the base of the now barren mountain. Like everyone else in the region he¡¯d heard the stories. Of bad children brought here as a sacrifice to the dreadful Mountain King.


    He looked for tiny bones on the dusty soil, but there was nothing. No life. Not even death.


    As he was about to leave he heard a small sigh. A breeze had blown up where nothing had stirred before. He felt it on the back of his neck, and he felt his skin grow cool and the hairs stand up. He looked down at the lush, green valley, the thick forests and the thatched roofs, and he wondered how he could have been so stupid as to have come up here. Alone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he heard on the wind. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    The young man turned round. ¡°Go,¡± he heard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± said the sigh.


    FIFTEEN


    The three investigators left the Incident Room together, but parted ways at the village green. Beauvoir left the Chief and Agent Morin to interview Olivier and Gabri once again, while he headed to the old Hadley house.


    The Inspector was feeling pretty cocky. They¡¯d caught the Gilberts in a lie. Dominique had told him yesterday they never used Varathane. Was quite pleased to tell him how ¡°green¡± they were. But now there was proof they¡¯d at least bought a demi-liter of the stuff.


    But the extra spring in his step was because he was curious, anxious even, to see what the Gilberts had done to the old Hadley house.


    Gamache tried the door to the bistro and was surprised to find it open. Earlier that morning, over breakfast of pain dor¨¦, sliced strawberries and bananas, maple syrup and back bacon, Gabri had admitted he didn¡¯t know when Olivier might reopen the bistro.


    ¡°Maybe never,¡± he said, ¡°then where would we be? I¡¯d have to start taking in paying guests.¡±


    ¡°Good thing then that you¡¯re a B and B,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°You¡¯d think that would be an advantage, wouldn¡¯t you? But I¡¯m handicapped by extreme laziness.¡±


    And yet, when Gamache and Agent Morin walked into the bistro there was Gabri behind the bar, polishing it. And from the kitchen came the aroma of fine cooking.


    ¡°Olivier,¡± Gabri called, coming around from behind the bar. ¡°Our first customers since the murder are here,¡± he sang out.


    ¡°Oh, for God¡¯s sake, Gabri,¡± they heard from the kitchen and a pot clanked down. A moment later Olivier punched through the swinging door. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°Just us, I¡¯m afraid. We have a few questions. Do you have a moment?¡±


    Olivier looked as though he was about to say no, but changed his mind and indicated a seat by the hearth. Once again a fire was burning there. And the pokers had been returned.


    Gamache looked at Agent Morin. Morin¡¯s eyes widened. Surely the Chief Inspector wasn¡¯t expecting him to conduct the interview? But the moments dragged by and no one else said anything. Morin searched his mind. Don¡¯t be too forceful, though he didn¡¯t think that would be a problem. Get the suspect to drop his guard. Gabri was smiling at him, wiping his hands on an apron and waiting. So far so good, thought Morin. Seems the idiot agent act is working. Now if only it wasn¡¯t an act.


    He smiled back at the two men and racked his brain. Up until now the only questioning he¡¯d done was of speeders along Autoroute 10. It didn¡¯t seem necessary to ask Gabri whether he had a driver¡¯s license.


    ¡°Is it about the murder?¡± asked Gabri, trying to be helpful.


    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± said Morin, finding his voice. ¡°Not really so much about the murder as a small issue that¡¯s come up.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± said Olivier, indicating a chair, ¡°have a seat.¡±

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    ¡°This is really nothing,¡± said Morin, sitting along with everyone else. ¡°Just a loose end. We were wondering why you bought Varathane from Monsieur B¨¦liveau in July.¡±


    ¡°Did we?¡± Olivier looked over at Gabri.


    ¡°Well, I did. We needed to redo the bar, remember?¡±


    ¡°Will you stop with that? I like the bar the way it is,¡± said Olivier. ¡°Distressed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m distressed, it¡¯s a disgrace. Remember when we bought it? It was all gleaming?¡±


    They looked over at the long wooden bar with the till and jars of allsorts, jelly beans and licorice pipes. Behind were liquor bottles on shelves.


    ¡°It¡¯s about atmosphere,¡± said Olivier. ¡°Everything in here should either be old or look old. Don¡¯t say it.¡± He held up his hand to ward off Gabri¡¯s response to that, then turned to the officers. ¡°We always disagree about this. When we moved here this place was a hardware store. All the original features had been ripped out or covered over.¡±


    ¡°The beams were hidden under that sound insulation stuff for ceilings,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Even the fireplaces were ripped out and turned into storage. We had to find a stone mason to rebuild them.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± said Gamache, impressed. The fireplace looked original. ¡°But what about the Varathane?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Gabri. What about the Varathane?¡± Olivier demanded.


    ¡°Well, I was going to strip the bar and resand and coat it, but . . .¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping maybe Old Mundin could do it instead. He knows how. He¡¯d love to do it.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. No one¡¯s going to touch that bar.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the tin you bought from Monsieur B¨¦liveau?¡± Agent Morin asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s in our basement at home.¡±


    ¡°Can I see it?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯d like.¡± Gabri looked at Morin as though he was mad.


    Jean Guy Beauvoir couldn¡¯t quite believe his eyes. But more than that he couldn¡¯t believe something less tangible. He was enjoying this tour of the old Hadley house. So far Marc and Dominique Gilbert had shown him all the magnificent bedrooms, with fireplaces and flat-screen TVs, with spa baths and steam showers. The gleaming mosaic-glass tiles. The espresso maker in each room.


    Waiting for the first guests.


    And now they were in the spa area, the lower floor, with its muted lighting and soothing colors and calming aromas, even now. Products were being unpacked and waiting to be displayed on shelves not yet built. This area, while clearly as spectacular as the rest of the place, was less finished.


    ¡°A month more, we figure,¡± Marc was saying. ¡°We¡¯re hoping to have our first guests on the Thanksgiving long weekend. We¡¯re just discussing putting an ad in the papers.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s too soon, but Marc thinks we can get it done. We¡¯ve hired most of the staff. Four massage therapists, a yoga instructor, a personal trainer and a receptionist. And that¡¯s just for the spa.¡±


    The two prattled on excitedly. Enid would love it here, Beauvoir thought.


    ¡°How much would you charge for a couple?¡±


    ¡°A night at the inn and one healing spa treatment each would start at three hundred and twenty-five dollars,¡± said Marc. ¡°That¡¯s for a standard room midweek, but includes breakfast and dinner.¡±


    None of the rooms seemed standard to Beauvoir. But neither did the price. How much could creams really cost? Still, for their anniversary, maybe. Olivier and Gabri would kill him, but maybe they didn¡¯t need to know. He and Enid could just stay here. At the inn. Not go into Three Pines. Who¡¯d really want to leave?


    ¡°That would be each,¡± said Marc, as he turned off the lights and they walked back up the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    ¡°Three hundred and twenty-five dollars per person. Before tax,¡± said Marc.


    Beauvoir was glad he was behind them and no one saw his face. Seemed only the wealthy got healed.


    So far, though, he hadn¡¯t seen any signs of Varathane. He¡¯d looked at floors, counters, doors, exclaiming over the craftsmanship, to the Gilberts¡¯ delight. But he¡¯d also been looking for the telltale gleam. The unnatural shine.


    Nothing.


    At the front door he debated asking them outright, but he didn¡¯t want to show his hand just yet. He wandered around the yard, noticing the now groomed lawns, the newly planted gardens, the trees staked and sturdy.


    It all appealed to his sense of order. This was what the country should be. Civilized.

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    Roar Parra appeared round the corner of the house pushing a wheelbarrow. He stopped when he saw Beauvoir.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    Beauvoir introduced himself and looked at the horse manure in the barrow. ¡°More work for you, I suppose.¡± He fell into step with Parra.


    ¡°I like horses. Nice to see them back. Old Mrs. Hadley used to keep them. Barns fallen down now and the trails have grown over.¡±


    ¡°I hear the new owners have you cutting them again.¡±


    Parra grunted. ¡°Big job. Still, my son helps when he can, and I like it. Quiet in the woods.¡±


    ¡°Except for the strangers wandering around.¡± Beauvoir saw the wary look on Parra¡¯s face.


    ¡°What d¡¯you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, you told Agent Lacoste you¡¯d seen a stranger disappearing into the woods. But it wasn¡¯t the dead man. Who do you think it was?¡±


    ¡°I musta been wrong.¡±


    ¡°Now, why would you say that? You don¡¯t really believe it, do you?¡±


    For once Beauvoir really looked at the man. He was covered in sweat and dirt, and manure. He was stocky and muscled. But none of that made him stupid. In fact, Beauvoir thought this man was very bright. So why had he just lied?


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of people looking at me like I just said I¡¯d been kidnapped by aliens. The guy was there one moment, gone the next. I looked for him, but nothing. And no, I haven¡¯t seen him since.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    They walked in silence. The air was filled with the musky scents of fresh harvested hay and manure.


    ¡°I heard the new owners here are very environmentally aware.¡± Beauvoir managed to make it sound a reproach, something slightly silly. Some new-fangled city-folk nonsense. ¡°Bet they won¡¯t let you use pesticides or fertilizers.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t use them. Told them so. Had to teach them to compost and even recycle. Not sure they¡¯d ever heard of it. And they still used plastic bags for their groceries, can you believe it?¡±


    Beauvoir, who did too, shook his head. Parra dumped the manure onto a steaming pile and turned back to Beauvoir, chuckling.


    ¡°What?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°They¡¯re now greener than green. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Wish everyone was.¡±


    ¡°So that means with all those renovations they didn¡¯t use any toxic stuff, like Varathane.¡±


    Again the stocky man laughed. ¡°Wanted to, but I stopped them. Told them about tung oil.¡±


    Beauvoir felt his optimism fade. Leaving Roar Parra to turn over the compost heap he went back to the house and rang the doorbell. It was time to ask them directly. The door was answered by Madame Gilbert, Marc¡¯s mother.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to speak to your son again, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Inspector. Would you like to come in?¡±


    She was genteel and gracious. Unlike her son. Beneath his cheerful and friendly manner there peeked every now and then a condescension, an awareness that he had a lot and others had less. And somehow that made them less.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just wait. It¡¯s a small point.¡±


    After she¡¯d disappeared Beauvoir stood in the entrance admiring the fresh white paint, the polished furniture, the flowers in the hall beyond. The sense of order and calm and welcome. In the old Hadley house. He could hardly believe it. For all Marc Gilbert¡¯s flaws, he¡¯d been able to do all this. Light flooded through the window in the foyer and gleamed off the wooden floors.


    Gleamed.


    SIXTEEN


    By the time Madame Gilbert and Marc returned Inspector Beauvoir had the area rug up and was examining the floor of the small entrance hall.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    Beauvoir looked up from where he was kneeling and gestured to them to stay where they were. Then he bent back down.


    The floor had been Varathaned. It was smooth and hard and clear and glossy. Except for one small smudge. He stood up and brushed off his knees.


    ¡°Do you have a cordless phone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± said Marc.


    ¡°Perhaps your mother wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Beauvoir looked at Carole Gilbert who nodded and left.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Marc asked, leaning in and staring at the floor.


    ¡°You know what it is, Monsieur Gilbert. Yesterday your wife said you never used Varathane, that you were trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. But that wasn¡¯t true.¡±


    Marc laughed. ¡°You¡¯re right. We did use Varathane here. But that was before we knew there was something better to use. So we stopped.¡±

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    Beauvoir stared at Marc Gilbert. He could hear Carole returning with the phone, her heels clicking on the wooden floors.


    ¡°I use Varathane,¡± said the Inspector. ¡°I¡¯m not as environmentally aware as you, I guess. I know it takes about a day to set. But it really isn¡¯t completely hard for a week or so. This Varathane isn¡¯t months old. You didn¡¯t start with it, did you? This was just done within the last week.¡±


    Gilbert finally looked flustered. ¡°Look, I Varathaned it one night when everyone else was asleep. It was last Friday. That¡¯s good wood and it¡¯s going to get more wear than any other place in the inn, so I decided to use Varathane. But just there. Nowhere else. I don¡¯t think Dominique or Mama even know.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you use this door all the time? It is the main entrance, after all.¡±


    ¡°We park around the side and use the kitchen door. We never use the front. But our guests will.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s the phone.¡± Carole Gilbert had reappeared. Beauvoir thanked her and called the bistro.


    ¡°Is Chief Inspector Gamache there, s¡¯il vous pla?t?¡± he asked Olivier.


    ¡°Oui?¡± He heard the Chief¡¯s deep voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found something. I think you need to come up. And bring a Scene of Crime kit, please.¡±


    ¡°Scene of Crime? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± asked Marc, getting irritated now.


    But Beauvoir had stopped answering questions.


    Within minutes Gamache and Morin arrived and Beauvoir showed them the polished floor. And the little scuff mark marring the perfect shine.


    Morin took photographs, then, gloves on and tweezers ready, he took samples.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get these to the lab in Sherbrooke right away.¡±


    Morin left and Gamache and Beauvoir turned back to the Gilberts. Dominique had arrived home with groceries and had joined them.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    They were standing in the large hall now, away from the entrance, with its yellow police tape and rolled-up carpet.


    Gamache was stern, all semblance of the affable man gone. ¡°Who was the dead man?¡±


    Three stunned people stared back.


    ¡°We¡¯ve told you,¡± said Carole. ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡±


    Gamache nodded slowly. ¡°You did say that. And you also said you¡¯d never seen anyone fitting his description, but you had. Or at least one of you had. And one of you knows exactly what that lab report will tell us.¡±


    They stared at each other now.


    ¡°The dead man was here, lying in your entrance, on Varathane not quite hardened. He had it stuck to his sweater. And your floor has part of his sweater stuck to it.¡±


    ¡°But this is ridiculous,¡± said Carole, looking from Gamache to Beauvoir. She too could shape-shift, and now the gracious chatelaine became a formidable woman, her eyes angry and hard. ¡°Leave our home immediately.¡±


    Gamache bowed slightly and to Beauvoir¡¯s amazement he turned to go, catching Beauvoir¡¯s eye.


    They walked down the dirt road into Three Pines.


    ¡°Well done, Jean Guy. Twice we searched that house and twice we missed it.¡±


    ¡°So why are we leaving? We should be up there, interviewing them.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. But time is on our side. One of them knows we¡¯ll have proof, probably before the day¡¯s out. Let him stew. Believe me, it¡¯s no favor I¡¯ve done them.¡±


    And Beauvoir, thinking about it, knew that to be true.


    Just before lunch Marc Gilbert arrived at the Incident Room.


    ¡°May I speak to you?¡± he asked Gamache.


    ¡°You can speak to all of us. There¡¯re no secrets anymore, are there, Monsieur Gilbert?¡±


    Marc bristled but sat in the chair indicated. Beauvoir nodded to Morin to join them with his notebook.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come voluntarily, you can see that,¡± said Marc.


    ¡°I can,¡± said Gamache.


    Marc Gilbert had walked down to the old railway station, slowly. Going over and over what he¡¯d tell them. It had sounded good when he¡¯d talked to the trees and stones and the ducks flying south. Now he wasn¡¯t so sure.


    ¡°Look, I know this sounds ridiculous.¡± He started with the one thing he¡¯d promised himself not to say. He tried to concentrate on the Chief Inspector, not that ferret of an assistant, or the idiot boy taking notes. ¡°But I found the body just lying there. I couldn¡¯t sleep so I got up. I was heading to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich when I saw him. Lying there by the front door.¡±


    He stared at Gamache who was watching him with calm, interested brown eyes. Not accusing, not even disbelieving. Just listening.

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    ¡°It was dark, of course, so I turned on a light and went closer. I thought it might be a drunk who¡¯d staggered up the hill from the bistro, saw our place and just made himself comfortable.¡±


    He was right, it did sound ridiculous. Still the Chief said nothing.


    ¡°I was going to call for help but I didn¡¯t want to upset Dominique or my mother, so I crept closer to the guy. Then I saw his head.¡±


    ¡°And you knew he¡¯d been murdered,¡± said Beauvoir, not believing a word of this.


    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Marc turned grateful eyes to the Inspector, until he saw the sneer, then he turned back to Gamache. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°So a murdered man shows up in your house in the middle of the night. Didn¡¯t you lock the door?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°We do, but we¡¯re getting a lot of deliveries and since we never use that door ourselves I guess we forgot.¡±


    ¡°What did you do, Monsieur Gilbert?¡± Gamache asked, his voice soothing, reasonable.


    Marc opened his mouth, shut it and looked down at his hands. He¡¯d promised himself when it got to this part he wouldn¡¯t look away, or down. Wouldn¡¯t flinch. But now he did all three.


    ¡°I thought about it for a while, then I picked the guy up and carried him down into the village. To the bistro.¡±


    There it was.


    ¡°Why?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°I was going to call the police, actually had the phone in my hand,¡± he held out his empty hand to them as though that was proof, ¡°but then I got to thinking. About all the work we¡¯d put into the place. And we¡¯re so close, so close. We¡¯re going to open in just over a month, you know. And I realized it would be all over the papers. Who¡¯d want to relax in an inn and spa where someone had just been killed?¡±


    Beauvoir hated to say it, but he had to agree. Especially at those prices.


    ¡°So you dumped him in the bistro?¡± he asked. ¡°Why?¡±


    Now Gilbert turned to him. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want to put him into someone else¡¯s home to be found. And I knew Olivier kept the key under a planter by the front door.¡± He could see their skepticism, but plowed ahead anyway. ¡°I took the dead guy down, left him on the floor of the bistro and came home. I moved a rug up from the spa area to cover where the guy had been. I knew no one would miss it downstairs. Too much else going on.¡±


    ¡°This is a dangerous time,¡± said Gamache, staring at Marc. ¡°We could charge you with obstruction, with indignities to a body, with hampering the investigation.¡±


    ¡°With murder,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°We need the full truth. Why did you take the body to the bistro? You could have left him in the woods.¡±


    Marc sighed. He didn¡¯t think they¡¯d press this point. ¡°I thought about it, but there were lots of kids in Three Pines for the long weekend and I didn¡¯t want any of them finding him.¡±


    ¡°Noble,¡± said Gamache, with equilibrium. ¡°But that wasn¡¯t likely to happen, was it? How often do kids play in the woods around your place?¡±


    ¡°It happens. Would you run that risk?¡±


    ¡°I would call the police.¡±


    The Chief let that sentence do its job. It stripped Marc Gilbert of any pretension to higher ground. And left him exposed before them. For a man who, at best, did something unconscionable. At worst he murdered a man.


    ¡°The truth,¡± said Gamache, almost in a whisper.


    ¡°I took the body to the bistro so that people would think he¡¯d been killed there. Olivier¡¯s treated us like shit since we arrived.¡±


    ¡°So you paid him back by putting a body there?¡± asked Beauvoir. He could think of a few people he¡¯d like to dump bodies on. But never would. This man did. That spoke of his hatred of Olivier. A rare, and surprising, degree of hatred. And his resolve.


    Marc Gilbert looked at his hands, looked out the window, moved his gaze around the walls of the old railway station. And finally he rested on the large man across from him.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I did. I shouldn¡¯t have done it, I know.¡± He shook his head in wonderment at his own stupidity. Then he looked up suddenly as the silence grew. His eyes were sharp and bright. ¡°Wait a minute. You don¡¯t think I killed the man, do you?¡±


    They said nothing.


    Gilbert looked from one to the other. He even looked at the idiot agent with the poised pen.


    ¡°Why would I do that? I don¡¯t even know who he is.¡±


    Still they said nothing.


    ¡°Really. I¡¯d never seen him before.¡±

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    Finally Beauvoir broke the silence. ¡°And yet there he was in your house. Dead. Why would a strange body be in your house?¡±


    ¡°You see?¡± Gilbert thrust his hand toward Beauvoir. ¡°You see? That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t call the cops. Because I knew that¡¯s what you¡¯d think.¡± He put his head into his hands as though trying to contain his scrambling thoughts. ¡°Dominique¡¯s going to kill me. Oh, Jesus. Oh, God.¡± His shoulders sagged and his head hung, heavy from the weight of what he¡¯d done and what was still to come.


    Just then the phone rang. Agent Morin reached for it. ¡°S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec.¡±


    The voice on the other end spoke hurriedly and was muffled.


    ¡°D¨¦sol¨¦,¡± said Morin, feeling bad because he knew he was interrupting the interrogation. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Everyone was looking at him. He colored and tried to listen closely, but he still couldn¡¯t make out what was being said. Then he heard and the color in his face changed. ¡°Un instant.¡±


    He covered the mouthpiece. ¡°It¡¯s Madame Gilbert. There¡¯s a man on their land. She saw him in the woods at the back.¡± Morin listened again at the phone. ¡°She says he¡¯s approaching the house. What should she do?¡±


    All three men stood up.


    ¡°Oh my God, he must have seen me leave and knows they¡¯re alone,¡± said Marc.


    Gamache took the phone. ¡°Madame Gilbert, is the back door locked? Can you get to it now?¡± He waited. ¡°Good. Where is he now?¡± He listened, then began striding to the door, Inspector Beauvoir and Marc Gilbert running beside him. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in two minutes. Take your mother-in-law and lock yourselves in an upstairs bathroom. That one you took me to. Yes, with the balcony. Lock the doors, close the curtains. Stay there until we come to get you.¡±


    Beauvoir had started the car and Gamache slammed the door and handed the phone back to Morin. ¡°Stay here. You too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± said Gilbert, reaching for the passenger door.


    ¡°You¡¯ll stay here and talk to your wife. Keep her calm. You¡¯re delaying us, monsieur.¡±


    Gamache¡¯s voice was intense, angry.


    Gilbert grabbed the phone from Morin as Beauvoir gunned the car and they took off over the stone bridge, around the common and up du Moulin, to stop short of the old Hadley house. They were there in less than a minute. They got quickly and quietly out of the car.


    ¡°Do you have a gun?¡± Beauvoir whispered as they ran, crouched, to the corner of the house. Gamache shook his head. Really, thought Beauvoir. There were times he just felt like shooting the Chief himself.


    ¡°They¡¯re dangerous,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°Which is why he,¡± Beauvoir jerked his head toward the back of the property, ¡°probably has one.¡±


    Gamache brought his hand up and Beauvoir was silent. The Chief motioned in one direction, then disappeared around the side of the house. Beauvoir ran past the front door and around the far side. Both making for the back, where Dominique had seen the man.


    Hugging the wall and staying low Gamache edged along. There was a need for speed. The stranger had been here for at least five minutes, uninterrupted. He could be in the house by now. A lot can happen in a minute, never mind five.


    He edged around a bush and got to the far end of the large old house. There he saw movement. A man. Large. In a hat and gloves and field coat. He was close to the house, close to the back door. If he got inside their job would be far more difficult. So many places to hide. So much closer to the women.


    As the Chief Inspector watched the man looked around then made for the French doors into the kitchen.


    Gamache stepped out from the wall.


    ¡°Hold it,¡± he commanded. ¡°S?ret¨¦ du Qu¨¦bec.¡±


    The man stopped. His back was to Gamache and he couldn¡¯t see whether Gamache had a gun. But neither could Gamache see if he had one.


    ¡°I want to see your hands,¡± said Gamache.


    There was no movement. That wasn¡¯t good, Gamache knew. He prepared to dive sideways if the man swung around and shot. But both stood their ground. Then the man turned quickly.


    Gamache, trained and experienced, felt time slow down and the world collapse, so that all that existed was the turning man in front of him. His body, his arms. His hands. And as the man¡¯s body swung Gamache saw something gripped in his right hand.


    Gamache ducked.


    Then the man was on the ground, and Beauvoir was on top of him. Gamache raced forward, pinning the man¡¯s hand to the ground.


    ¡°He had something in his hand, do you see it?¡± demanded Gamache.

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    ¡°Got it,¡± said Beauvoir and Gamache hauled the man to his feet.


    Both of them looked at him. The hat had fallen off and the iron-gray hair was disheveled. He was tall and lanky.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± the man demanded.


    ¡°You¡¯re trespassing,¡± said Beauvoir, handing what the man had held to Gamache, who looked at it. It was a bag. Of granola. And on the front was a stamp.


    Manoir Bellechasse.


    Gamache looked more closely at the man. He looked familiar. The man glared back, angry, imperious.


    ¡°How dare you. Do you know who I am?¡±


    ¡°As a matter of fact,¡± said Gamache, ¡°I do.¡±


    After a call to Morin, Marc Gilbert was released and showed up at his home minutes later, out of breath from running. He¡¯d been told his wife and mother were safe but was relieved to see it for himself. He kissed and hugged them both then turned to Gamache.


    ¡°Where is he? I want to see him.¡±


    Clearly ¡°see¡± was a euphemism.


    ¡°Inspector Beauvoir¡¯s with him in the barn.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± said Marc and headed toward the door.


    ¡°Marc, wait.¡± His mother ran after him. ¡°Maybe we should just leave this to the police.¡± Carole Gilbert looked frightened still. And with good reason, thought Gamache as he thought of the man in the barn.


    ¡°Are you kidding? This man¡¯s been spying on us, maybe more.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®maybe more¡¯?¡±


    Gilbert hesitated.


    ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling us?¡± his wife asked.


    He shot a look at Gamache. ¡°I think he might have killed that man and left his body in our house. As a threat. Or maybe he meant to kill one of us. Thought the stranger was one of us. I don¡¯t know. But first the body shows up, then this guy tries to break in. Someone¡¯s trying to hurt us. And I want to find out why.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Wait a minute.¡± Dominique had her hands up to stop her husband. ¡°What are you saying? That body really was here?¡± She looked toward the vestibule. ¡°In our home?¡± She looked at Gamache. ¡°It¡¯s true?¡± She looked back at her husband. ¡°Marc?¡±


    He opened and shut his mouth. Then took a deep breath. ¡°He was here. The police were right. I found him when I got up in the middle of the night. I got scared and did something stupid.¡±


    ¡°You took the body to the bistro?¡± Dominique looked as though she¡¯d been slapped by someone she loved, so great was her shock. His mother was staring at him as though he¡¯d peed in the Chateau Frontenac dining room. He knew that look from when he was a boy and peed in the Chateau Frontenac dining room.


    Gilbert¡¯s lightning mind zipped all over the place, searching dark corners for someone else to blame. Surely it wasn¡¯t his fault. Surely there were factors his wife didn¡¯t appreciate. Surely this couldn¡¯t be the act of complete idiocy her face accused him of.


    But he knew it was.


    Dominique turned to Gamache. ¡°You have my permission to shoot him.¡±


    ¡°Merci, madame, but I¡¯d need more than that to shoot him. A gun for instance.¡±


    ¡°Pity,¡± she said, and looked at her husband. ¡°What were you thinking?¡±


    He told them, as he had the cops, the reasoning that had appeared so obvious, so dazzling, at three in the morning.


    ¡°You did it for the business?¡± said Dominique when he¡¯d finished. ¡°Something¡¯s very wrong when dumping bodies is part of our business plan.¡±


    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly planned,¡± he tried to defend himself. ¡°And yes, I made a terrible mistake, but isn¡¯t there a bigger question?¡± He¡¯d finally found something curled up in one of those dark corners. Something that would take the heat off him. ¡°Yes, I moved the body. But who put it here in the first place?¡±


    They¡¯d obviously been so stunned by his admission they hadn¡¯t even thought of that. But Gamache had. Because he¡¯d noticed something else about the Varathaned floor. The shine, the mar. And the complete lack of blood. So had Beauvoir. Even if Marc Gilbert had scrubbed and scrubbed he¡¯d never have gotten all the blood up. There¡¯d be traces.


    But there was nothing. Just some fluff from the dead man¡¯s cardigan.


    No, Gilbert might have killed the man, but he didn¡¯t do it at his own front door. The man had already been dead when he¡¯d been placed there.


    Gilbert stood up. ¡°That¡¯s one of the reasons I want to see the man who tried to break in. I think he had something to do with it.¡±

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    His mother stood up and touched her son¡¯s arm. ¡°I really think you should leave this to the police. The man¡¯s probably unwell.¡±


    She looked to Gamache, but the Chief Inspector had no intention of stopping Marc Gilbert from confronting the intruder. Just the opposite. He wanted to see what happened.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± he said to Marc, then turned to the women. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to join us, if you like.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going,¡± said Dominique. ¡°Maybe you should stay here,¡± she said to her mother-in-law.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming too.¡±


    As they approached the barn the horses looked up from the field. Beauvoir, who hadn¡¯t seen them before, almost stopped in his tracks. He hadn¡¯t seen that many horses in real life. On film, yes. And these didn¡¯t look like any film horses. But then, most men didn¡¯t look like Sean Connery and most women didn¡¯t look like Julia Roberts. But even allowing for natural selection, these horses seemed, well, odd. One didn¡¯t even look like a horse. They began to mosey over, one walking sideways.


    Paul Morin, who had seen a lot of horses, said, ¡°Nice cows.¡±


    Dominique Gilbert ignored him. But she felt drawn to the horses. As their own lives so suddenly unraveled the horses¡¯ calm attracted her. As did, she thought, their suffering. No, not their suffering, but their forbearance. If they could endure a lifetime of abuse and pain she could take whatever blow that barn had in store. As the others moved past her Dominique stopped and walked back to the paddock, where she stood on a bucket and leaned over the fence. The other horses, still shy, held back. But Buttercup, big, awkward, ugly and scarred, came forward. Buttercup¡¯s broad, flat forehead pushed softly into Dominique¡¯s chest, as though it fit there. As though it was the key. And as she walked away to join the others and confront whatever that shadow was they could see standing in the barn, she smelled horse on her hands. And felt the reassuring pressure between her breasts.


    It took a moment or two for their eyes to adjust as they stepped into the dim barn. Then the shadow became solid, firm. Human. Before them appeared a tall, slender, graceful older man.


    ¡°You¡¯ve kept me waiting,¡± the darkness said.


    Marc, whose vision wasn¡¯t quite as good as he pretended, could only just see the outline of the man. But the words, the voice, told him more than enough. He felt light-headed and reached out. His mother, standing next to him, took his hand and held him steady.


    ¡°Mother?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Marc,¡± the man said.


    But Marc knew it wasn¡¯t all right. He¡¯d heard the rumors about the old Hadley house, the ghouls that lived there. He¡¯d loved the stories because it meant no one else had wanted the house, and they could get it dirt cheap.


    Dirt to dirt. Something filthy had indeed risen. The old Hadley house had produced one more ghost.


    ¡°Dad?¡±


    SEVENTEEN


    ¡°Dad?¡±


    Marc stared from the shadow, darker than the shade, to his mother. The voice was unmistakable, indelible. The deep, calm voice that carried censure with a slight smile, so that the child, the boy, the man, had never really known where he stood. But he¡¯d suspected.


    ¡°Hello, Marc.¡±


    The voice held a hint of humor, as though this was in any way close to funny. As though Marc¡¯s staggering shock was reason for mirth.


    Dr. Vincent Gilbert walked out of the shed and out of the dead, into the light.


    ¡°Mom?¡± Marc turned to the woman beside him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Marc. Come with me.¡± She tugged her only child out into the sun and sat him on a bale of hay. He felt it pricking into his bottom, uncomfortable.


    ¡°Can you get him something to drink?¡± Carole asked her daughter-in-law, but Dominique, hand to her face, seemed almost as stunned as her husband.


    ¡°Marc?¡± Dominique said.


    Beauvoir looked at Gamache. This was going to be a long day if all they said was each other¡¯s names.


    Dominique recovered and walked quickly, breaking into a run, back to the house.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, have I surprised you?¡±


    ¡°Of course you surprised him, Vincent,¡± snapped Carole. ¡°How did you think he¡¯d feel?¡±


    ¡°I thought he¡¯d be happier than this.¡±


    ¡°You never think.¡±


    Marc stared at his father, then he turned to his mother. ¡°You told me he was dead.¡±


    ¡°I might have exaggerated.¡±


    ¡°Dead? You told him I was dead?¡±


    She turned on her husband again. ¡°We agreed that¡¯s what I¡¯d say. Are you senile?¡±

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    ¡°Me? Me? Do you have any idea what I¡¯ve done with my life while you played bridge?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you abandoned your family¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± said Gamache, and raised a hand. With an effort the two broke off and looked at him. ¡°Let me be absolutely clear about this,¡± said Gamache. ¡°Is he your father?¡±


    Marc finally took a long hard look at the man standing beside his mother. He was older, thinner. It¡¯d been almost twenty years, after all. Since he¡¯d gone missing in India. Or at least that¡¯s what his mother had told him. A few years later she said she¡¯d had him declared dead, and did Marc think they should hold a memorial for him?


    Marc had given it absolutely no thought. No. He had better things to do than help plan a memorial for a man missing all his life.


    And so that had ended that. The Great Man, for that was what Marc¡¯s father was, was forgotten. Marc never spoke of him, never thought of him. When he¡¯d met Dominique and she¡¯d asked if his father had been ¡°that¡± Vincent Gilbert he¡¯d agreed that, yes, he had. But he was dead. Fallen into some dark hole in Calcutta or Bombay or Madras.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he a saint?¡± Dominique had asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. St. Vincent. Who raised the dead and buried the living.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t asked any more.


    ¡°Here.¡± Dominique had returned with a tray of glasses and bottles, not sure what the occasion called for. Never, in all the board meetings she¡¯d chaired, all the client dinners she¡¯d hosted, all the arbitrations she¡¯d attended, had anything quite like this arisen. A father. Risen. But obviously not revered.


    She put the drinks tray on a log and brought her hands to her face, softly inhaling the musky scent of horse, and felt herself relax. She dropped her hands, though not her guard. She had an instinct for trouble, and this was it.


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my father,¡± said Marc, then turned to his mother again. ¡°He isn¡¯t dead?¡±


    It was, thought Gamache, an interesting question. Not, He¡¯s alive? but rather, He isn¡¯t dead? There seemed a difference.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m standing right here, you know,¡± said Dr. Gilbert. ¡°I can hear.¡±


    But he didn¡¯t seem put off by any of this, just amused. Gamache knew Dr. Vincent Gilbert would be a formidable opponent. And he hoped this Great Man, for that was what Gamache knew him to be, wasn¡¯t also a wicked man.


    Carole handed Marc a glass of water and took one herself, sitting on the hay beside him. ¡°Your father and I agreed our marriage was over a long time ago. He went off to India as you know.¡±


    ¡°Why did you say he was dead?¡± Marc asked. If he hadn¡¯t Beauvoir would have. He¡¯d always thought his own family more than a little odd. Never a whisper, never a calm conversation. Everything was charged, kinetic. Voices raised, shouting, yelling. Always in each other¡¯s faces, in each other¡¯s lives. It was a mess. He¡¯d yearned for calm, for peace, and had found it in Enid. Their lives were relaxed, soothing, never going too far, or getting too close.


    He really should call her.


    But odd as his family might be, they were nothing compared to this. In fact, that was one of the great comforts of his job. At least his family compared well to people who actually killed each other, rather than just thought about it.


    ¡°It seemed easier,¡± Carole said. ¡°I was happier being a widow than a divorcee.¡±


    ¡°But what about me?¡± Marc asked.


    ¡°I thought it would be easier for you too. Easier to think your father had died.¡±


    ¡°How could you think that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong,¡± said his mother. ¡°But you were twenty-five, and never close to your father. I really thought you wouldn¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°So you killed him?¡±


    Vincent Gilbert, silent until now, laughed. ¡°Well put.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off,¡± said Marc. ¡°I¡¯ll get to you in a minute.¡± He shifted on the prickly hay bale. His father really was a pain in the ass.


    ¡°He agreed, no matter how he¡¯s rewritten it now. I couldn¡¯t have done it without his cooperation. In exchange for his freedom he agreed to be dead.¡±


    Marc turned to his father. ¡°Is that right?¡±


    Now Vincent Gilbert looked less regal, less certain. ¡°I wasn¡¯t myself. I wasn¡¯t well. I¡¯d gone to India to find myself and felt the best way to do that was to shed the old life completely. Become a new man.¡±


    ¡°So I just didn¡¯t exist anymore?¡± Marc asked. ¡°What a fucking great family. Where have you been?¡±

 Page 66

    ¡°The Manoir Bellechasse.¡±


    ¡°For twenty years? You¡¯ve been at a luxury inn for twenty years?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, no. I¡¯ve been there off and on all summer. I brought you that.¡± He gestured to the package sitting on a shelf in the shed. ¡°It¡¯s for you,¡± he said to Dominique. She picked it up.


    ¡°Granola,¡± she said. ¡°From the Bellechasse. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Granola?¡± asked Marc. ¡°You come back from the dead and bring breakfast cereal?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you needed,¡± said his father. ¡°I¡¯d heard from your mother that you¡¯d bought a place down here so I came and watched every now and then.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one Roar Parra spotted in the woods,¡± said Dominique.


    ¡°Roar Parra? Roar? Are you kidding? Is he the troll? The dark, stocky man?¡±


    ¡°The nice man helping your son turn this place around, you mean?¡± asked Carole.


    ¡°I say what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Will you two please stop it.¡± Dominique glared at Marc¡¯s parents. ¡°Behave yourselves.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯re you here?¡± Marc finally asked.


    Vincent Gilbert hesitated than sat on a nearby hay bale. ¡°I¡¯d kept in touch with your mother. She told me about your marriage. Your job. You seemed to be happy. But then she said you¡¯d quit your job and moved to the middle of nowhere. I wanted to make sure you were all right. I¡¯m not a complete fool, you know,¡± said Vincent Gilbert, his handsome, aristocratic face somber. ¡°I know what a shock this is. I¡¯m sorry. I should never have let your mother do it.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± said Carole.


    ¡°Still, I wouldn¡¯t have contacted you, but then that body was found and the police showed up and I thought you might need my help.¡±


    ¡°Yes, what about that body?¡± Marc asked his father, who just stared. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°Well what? Wait a minute.¡± Vincent Gilbert looked from his son to Gamache, watching with interest, then back again. He laughed. ¡°You¡¯re kidding? You think I had something to do with it?¡±


    ¡°Did you?¡± demanded Marc.


    ¡°Do you really expect me to answer that?¡± The genial man in front of them didn¡¯t just bristle, he radiated. It happened so quickly even Gamache was taken aback by the transformation. The cultured, urbane, slightly amused man suddenly overflowed with a rage so great it engulfed him then spilled off him and swallowed everyone. Marc had poked the monster, either forgetting he was in there or wanting to see if he still existed. And he had his answer. Marc stood stock still, his only reaction being a slight, telltale widening of his eyes.


    And what a tale those eyes told Gamache. In them he saw the infant, the boy, the young man, afraid. Never certain what he would find in his father. Would he be loving and kind and warm today? Or would he sizzle the skin off his son? With a look, a word. Leaving the boy naked and ashamed. Knowing himself to be weak and needy, stupid and selfish. So that the boy grew an outer hull to withstand assault. But while those skins saved tender young souls, Gamache knew, they soon stopped protecting and became the problem. Because while the hard outer shell kept the hurt at bay, it also kept out the light. And inside the frightened little soul became something else entirely, nurtured only in darkness.


    Gamache looked at Marc with interest. He¡¯d poked the monster in front of him, and sure enough, it came awake and lashed out. But had he also awakened a monster inside himself? Or had that happened earlier?


    Someone had left a body on their doorstep. Was it father? Or son? Or someone else?


    ¡°I expect you to answer, monsieur,¡± said Gamache, turning back to Vincent Gilbert and holding his hard eyes.


    ¡°Doctor,¡± Gilbert said, his voice cold. ¡°I will not be diminished by you or anyone else.¡± He looked again at his son, then back to the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°D¨¦sol¨¦,¡± said Gamache and bowed slightly, never taking his deep brown eyes off the angry man. The apology seemed to further enrage Gilbert, who realized one of them was strong enough to withstand insult and one of them wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Tell us about the body,¡± Gamache repeated, as though he and Gilbert were having a pleasant conversation. Gilbert looked at him with loathing. Out of the corner of his eye Gamache noticed Marc the horse approaching from the fields. He looked like something a demon might ride, bony, covered with muck and sores. One eye mad, the other eye blind. Attracted, Gamache supposed, by something finally familiar. Rage.


    The two men stared at each other. Finally Gilbert snorted derision and waved, dismissing Gamache and his question as trivial. The monster retreated into his cave.

 Page 67

    But the horse came closer and closer.


    ¡°I know nothing about it. But I thought it looked bad for Marc so I wanted to be here in case he needed me.¡±


    ¡°Needed you to do what?¡± demanded Marc. ¡°Scare everyone half to death? Couldn¡¯t you just ring the doorbell or write a letter?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be so sensitive.¡± The lash, the tiny wound, the monster smiled and retreated. But Marc had had enough. He reached over the fence and bit Vincent Gilbert on the shoulder. Marc the horse, that is.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Gilbert yelped and jumped out of the way, his hand on his slimy shoulder.


    ¡°Are you going to arrest him?¡± Marc asked Gamache.


    ¡°Are you going to press charges?¡±


    Marc stared at his father, then at the wreck of a creature behind him. Black, wretched, probably half mad. And Marc the man smiled.


    ¡°No. Go back to being dead, Dad. Mom was right. It is easier.¡±


    He turned and strode back to his home.


    What a family,¡± said Beauvoir. They were strolling into the village. Agent Morin had gone ahead to the Incident Room, and they¡¯d left the Gilberts to devour each other. ¡°Still, there does seem a sort of equilibrium about this case.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Gamache. Off to their left he noticed Ruth Zardo leaving her home followed by Rosa wearing a sweater. Gamache had written a thank-you note for the dinner the night before and stuck it in her rusty mailbox during his morning stroll. He watched as she collected it, glanced at it, and stuck it into the pocket of her ratty old cardigan.


    ¡°Well, one man¡¯s dead and another comes alive.¡±


    Gamache smiled and wondered if it was a fair exchange. Ruth spotted them just as Beauvoir spotted her.


    ¡°Run,¡± he hissed to the Chief. ¡°I¡¯ll cover you.¡±


    ¡°Too late, old son. The duck¡¯s seen us.¡±


    And indeed, while Ruth seemed happy to ignore them, Rosa was waddling forward at an alarming pace.


    ¡°She appears to like you,¡± said Ruth to Beauvoir, limping behind the duck. ¡°But then she does have a birdbrain.¡±


    ¡°Madame Zardo,¡± Gamache greeted her with a smile while Beauvoir glared.


    ¡°I hear that Gilbert fellow put the body in Olivier¡¯s Bistro. Why haven¡¯t you arrested him?¡±


    ¡°You heard that already?¡± asked Beauvoir. ¡°Who told you?¡±


    ¡°Who hasn¡¯t? It¡¯s all over the village. Well? Are you going to arrest Marc Gilbert?¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Murder for one. Are you nuts?¡±


    ¡°Am I nuts? Who¡¯s the one with a duck in a sweater?¡±


    ¡°And what would you have me do? Let her freeze to death when winter comes? What kind of man are you?¡±


    ¡°Me? Speaking of nuts, what was with that note you had Olivier give me? I can¡¯t even remember what it said, but it sure didn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    ¡°You think not?¡± the wizened old poet snarled.


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something in all of this I missed.¡±


    Gamache quoted the lines and Ruth turned cold eyes on him. ¡°That was a private message. Not meant for you.¡±


    ¡°What does it mean, madame?¡±


    ¡°You figure it out. And this one too.¡± Her hand dived into her other pocket and came out with another slip of paper, neatly folded. She handed it to Beauvoir and walked toward the bistro.


    Beauvoir looked at the perfect white square in his palm, then closed his fingers over it.


    The two men watched Ruth and Rosa walk across the village green. At the far end they saw people entering the bistro.


    ¡°She¡¯s crazy, of course,¡± said Beauvoir as they walked to the Incident Room. ¡°But she did ask a good question. Why didn¡¯t we arrest anyone? Between father and son we could¡¯ve been filling out arrest sheets all afternoon.¡±


    ¡°To what end?¡±


    ¡°Justice.¡±


    Gamache laughed. ¡°I¡¯d forgotten about that. Good point.¡±


    ¡°No, really sir. There was everything from trespassing to murder we could have charged them with.¡±


    ¡°We both know the victim wasn¡¯t murdered in that foyer.¡±


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean Marc Gilbert didn¡¯t kill him somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°And put him in his own house, then picked him up again and took him to the bistro?¡±


    ¡°The father could have done it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Beauvoir thought about that. He couldn¡¯t believe that family wasn¡¯t guilty of something. And murder seemed right up their alley. Though it seemed most likely they¡¯d kill each other.

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    ¡°Maybe he wanted to hurt his son,¡± said Beauvoir. But that didn¡¯t seem right. They paused on the stone bridge over the Rivi¨¨re Bella Bella and the Inspector stared over the side, thinking. The sun bounced off the water and he was momentarily mesmerized by the movement. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just the opposite,¡± he began, feeling his way forward. ¡°Maybe Gilbert wanted back in his son¡¯s life but needed an excuse. For anyone else I would think that was ridiculous but he has an ego and it might not have let him just knock and apologize. He needed an excuse. I could see him killing a vagrant, someone he considered so far beneath him. Someone he could use for his purpose.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡± asked Gamache, also staring into the clear waters beneath them.


    Beauvoir turned to the Chief, noticing the reflected light playing on the man¡¯s face. ¡°To be reunited with his son. But he¡¯d need to be seen as the savior, not just as some deadbeat dad crawling back to the family.¡±


    Gamache turned to him, interested. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°So he killed a vagrant, a man no one would miss, put him in his son¡¯s vestibule and waited for the fireworks, figuring he could sweep in and take command of the family when it needed help.¡±


    ¡°But then Marc moved the body and there was no excuse,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°Until now. The timing is interesting. We discover the body was in the old Hadley house and an hour later dad appears.¡±


    Gamache nodded, his eyes narrowing, and once again he looked into the flowing waters of the river. Beauvoir knew the Chief well enough to know he was walking slowly now through the case, picking his way along the slippery rocks, trying to make out a path obscured by deceit and time.


    Beauvoir unfolded the paper in his hands.


    I just sit where I¡¯m put, composed


    of stone, and wishful thinking:


    ¡°Who¡¯s Vincent Gilbert, sir? You seemed to know him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a saint.¡±


    Beauvoir laughed, but seeing Gamache¡¯s serious face he stopped. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯re some people who believe that.¡±


    ¡°Seemed like an asshole to me.¡±


    ¡°The hardest part of the process. Telling them apart.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe he¡¯s a saint?¡± Beauvoir was almost afraid to ask.


    Gamache smiled suddenly. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you here. What do you say to lunch in the bistro in half an hour?¡±


    Beauvoir looked at his watch. Twelve thirty-five. ¡°Perfect.¡±


    He watched the Chief walk slowly back across the bridge and into Three Pines. Then he looked down again, at the rest of what Ruth had written.


    that the deity who kills for pleasure


    Someone else was watching Gamache. Inside the bistro Olivier was looking out the window while listening to the sweet sounds of laughter and the till. The place was packed. The whole village, the whole countryside, had emptied into his place, for lunch, for news, for gossip. To hear about the latest dramatic developments.


    The old Hadley house had produced another body and spewed it into the bistro. Or at least, its owner had. Any suspicion of Olivier was lifted, the taint gone.


    All round him Olivier heard people talking, speculating, about Marc Gilbert. His mental state, his motives. Was he the murderer? But one thing wasn¡¯t debated, wasn¡¯t in doubt.


    Gilbert was finished.


    ¡°Who¡¯s gonna wanna stay in that place?¡± he heard someone say. ¡°Parra says they dumped a fortune into the Hadley place, and now this.¡±


    There was general agreement. It was a shame. It was inevitable. The new inn and spa was ruined before it even opened. Olivier watched through the window as Gamache walked slowly toward the bistro. Ruth appeared at Olivier¡¯s elbow. ¡°Imagine being chased,¡± she said, watching the Chief Inspector¡¯s steadfast approach, ¡°by that.¡±


    Clara and Gabri squeezed through the crowd to join them.


    ¡°What¡¯re you looking at?¡± Clara asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± said Olivier.


    ¡°Him.¡± Ruth pointed at Gamache, apparently deep in thought, but making progress. Without haste, but also without hesitation.


    ¡°He must be pleased,¡± said Gabri. ¡°I hear Marc Gilbert killed that man and put him here, in the bistro. Case closed.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Gamache arrest him?¡± Clara asked, sipping her beer.


    ¡°Gamache¡¯s an idiot,¡± said Ruth.


    ¡°I hear Gilbert says he found the body in his house,¡± said Clara. ¡°Already dead.¡±


    ¡°Right, like that just happens,¡± said Olivier. His friends decided not to remind Olivier that was exactly what happened to him.

 Page 69

    Clara and Gabri fought their way over to the bar to get more drinks.


    The waiters were being run ragged. He¡¯d give them a bonus, Olivier decided. Something to make up for two days of lost wages. Faith. Gabri was always telling him he had to have faith, trust that things would work out.


    And they had worked out. Beautifully.


    Beside him Ruth was tapping her cane rhythmically on the wooden floor. It was more than annoying. It was somehow threatening. So soft, but so unstoppable. Tap, tap, tap, tap.


    ¡°Scotch?¡±


    That would get her to stop. But she stood ramrod straight, her cane lifting and dropping. Tap, tap, tap. Then he realized what she was tapping out.


    Chief Inspector Gamache was still approaching, slowly, deliberately. And with each footfall came a beat of Ruth¡¯s cane.


    ¡°I wonder if the murderer knows just how terrible a thing is pursuing him?¡± asked Ruth. ¡°I feel almost sorry for him. He must feel trapped.¡±


    ¡°Gilbert did it. Gamache¡¯ll arrest him soon.¡±


    But the thumping of Ruth¡¯s cane matched the thudding in Olivier¡¯s chest. He watched Gamache approach. Then, miraculously, Gamache passed them by. And Olivier heard the little tinkle of Myrna¡¯s bell.


    So, there was some excitement up at the old Hadley house.¡±


    Myrna poured Gamache a coffee and joined him by the bookshelves.


    ¡°There was. Who told you?¡±


    ¡°Who didn¡¯t? Everyone knows. Marc Gilbert was the one who put the body in the bistro. But what people can¡¯t figure out is whether he killed the man.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯re some of the theories?¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± Myrna took a sip of coffee and watched as Gamache moved along the rows of books. ¡°Some think he must have done it, and dumped the body in the bistro to get back at Olivier. Everyone knows they dislike each other. But the rest think if he was really going to do that he¡¯d kill the man in the bistro. Why kill him somewhere else, then move him?¡±


    ¡°You tell me. You¡¯re the psychologist.¡± Gamache gave up his search of the shelves and turned to Myrna.


    ¡°Former.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t retire your knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t crawl back into Paradise?¡± Taking their coffee to the armchairs in the bay window they sat and sipped while Myrna thought. Finally she spoke.


    ¡°Seems unlikely.¡± She didn¡¯t look pleased with her answer.


    ¡°You want the murderer to be Marc Gilbert?¡± he asked.


    ¡°God help me, I do. Hadn¡¯t thought about it before, really, but now that the possibility¡¯s here it would be, well, convenient.¡±


    ¡°Because he¡¯s an outsider?¡±


    ¡°Beyond the pale,¡± said Myrna.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    ¡°Do you know the expression, Chief Inspector?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard it, yes. It means someone¡¯s done something unacceptable. That¡¯s one way of looking at murder, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. Do you know where the expression comes from?¡± When Gamache shook his head she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s the sort of arcane knowledge a bookstore owner collects. It¡¯s from medieval times. A fortress was built with thick stone walls in a circle. We¡¯ve all seen them, right?¡±


    Gamache had visited many old castles and fortresses, almost all in ruins now, but it was the brightly colored illustrations from the books he¡¯d pored over as a child he remembered most vividly. The towers with vigilant archers, the crenellated stone, the massive wooden doors. The moat and drawbridge. And inside the circle of the walls was a courtyard. When attacked the villagers would race inside, the drawbridge would be raised, the massive doors closed. Everyone inside was safe. They hoped.


    Myrna was holding out her palm, and circling it with a finger. ¡°All around are walls, for protection.¡± Then her finger stopped its movement and rested on the soft center of her palm. ¡°This is the pale.¡±


    ¡°So if you¡¯re beyond the pale . . .¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an outsider,¡± said Myrna. ¡°A threat.¡± She slowly closed her hand. As a black woman she knew what it meant to be ¡°beyond the pale.¡± She¡¯d been on the outside all her life, until she¡¯d moved here. Now she was on the inside and it was the Gilberts¡¯ turn.


    But it wasn¡¯t as comfortable as she¡¯d always imagined the ¡°inside¡± to be.


    Gamache sipped his coffee and watched her. It was interesting that everyone seemed to know about Marc Gilbert moving the body, but no one seemed to know about the other Gilbert, risen from the dead.

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    ¡°What were you looking for just now?¡± she asked.


    ¡°A book called Being.¡±


    ¡°Being? That¡¯s the one about Brother Albert and the community he built?¡± She got up and walked toward the bookshelves. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about this before.¡±


    She changed direction and walked to the far end of her bookstore.


    ¡°We did, years ago.¡± Gamache followed her.


    ¡°I remember now. I gave Old Mundin and The Wife a copy when Charles was born. The book¡¯s out of print, I think. Shame. It¡¯s brilliant.¡±


    They were in her used-books section.


    ¡°Ah, here it is. I have one left. A little dog-eared, but the best books are.¡±


    She handed Gamache the slim volume. ¡°Can I leave you here? I told Clara I¡¯d meet her in the bistro for lunch.¡±


    Armand Gamache settled into his armchair and in the sunshine through the window he read. About an asshole. And a saint. And a miracle.


    Jean Guy Beauvoir arrived at the crowded bistro and after ordering a beer from a harried Havoc he squeezed through the crowd. He caught snippets of conversation about the fair, about how horrible the judging was this year, really, the worst so far. About the weather. But mostly he heard about the body.


    Roar Parra and Old Mundin were sitting in a corner with a couple of other men. They looked up and nodded at Beauvoir, but didn¡¯t move from their precious seats.


    Beauvoir scanned the room for Gamache, but knew he wasn¡¯t there. Knew as soon as he¡¯d walked in. After a few minutes he managed to snag a table. A minute later he was joined by the Chief Inspector.


    ¡°Hard at work, sir?¡± Beauvoir brushed cookie crumbs from the Chief¡¯s shirt.


    ¡°Always. You?¡± Gamache ordered a ginger beer and turned his full attention to his Inspector.


    ¡°I Googled Vincent Gilbert.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°This is what I found out.¡± Beauvoir flipped open his notebook. ¡°Vincent Gilbert. Born in Quebec City in 1934 into a prominent francophone family. Father a member of the National Assembly, mother from the francophone elite. Degree in philosophy from Laval University then medical degree from McGill. Specializing in genetics. Made a name for himself by creating a test for Down¡¯s syndrome, in utero. So that they could be found early enough and possibly treated.¡±


    Gamache nodded. ¡°But he stopped his research, went to India, and when he returned instead of going back into the lab immediately and completing his research he joined Brother Albert at LaPorte.¡±


    The Chief Inspector put a book on the table and slid it toward Beauvoir.


    Beauvoir turned it over. There on the back was a scowling, imperious face. Exactly the same look Beauvoir had seen while kneeling on the man¡¯s chest just an hour earlier.


    ¡°Being,¡± he read, then put it down.


    ¡°It¡¯s about his time at LaPorte,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°I read about it,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°For people with Down¡¯s syndrome. Gilbert volunteered there, as medical director, when he got back from India. After that he refused to continue his research. I¡¯d have thought working there he¡¯d want to cure it even more.¡±


    Gamache tapped the book. ¡°You should read it.¡±


    Beauvoir smirked. ¡°You should tell me about it.¡±


    Gamache hesitated, gathering his thoughts. ¡°Being isn¡¯t really about LaPorte. It¡¯s not even about Vincent Gilbert. It¡¯s about arrogance, humility and what it means to be human. It¡¯s a beautiful book, written by a beautiful man.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that about the man we just met? He was a shit.¡±


    Gamache laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t disagree. Most of the saints were. St. Ignatius had a police record, St. Jerome was a horrible, mean-spirited man, St. Augustine slept around. He once prayed, ¡®Lord, give me chastity, but not just yet.¡¯ ¡±


    Beauvoir snorted. ¡°Sounds like lots of people. So why¡¯s one a saint and someone else just an asshole?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t tell you that. It¡¯s one of the mysteries.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit. You don¡¯t even go to church. What do you really think?¡±


    Gamache leaned forward. ¡°I think to be holy is to be human, and Vincent Gilbert is certainly that.¡±


    ¡°You think more than that, though, don¡¯t you? I can see it. You admire him.¡±


    Gamache picked up the worn copy of Being. He looked over and saw Old Mundin drinking a Coke and eating cheese and pat¨¦ on a baguette. Gamache remembered Charles Mundin¡¯s tiny hand grasping his finger. Full of trust, full of grace.


    And he tried to imagine a world without that. Dr. Vincent Gilbert, the Great Man, would almost certainly have earned a Nobel Prize, had he continued his research. But he¡¯d stopped his research and earned the scorn of his colleagues and much of the world instead.

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    And yet Being wasn¡¯t an apology. It wasn¡¯t even an explanation. It just was. Like Charles Mundin.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Gabri appeared. They ordered and just as Gabri was about to leave Agent Morin showed up.


    ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± said Gamache. Gabri took his order, and just as he was about to leave again Agent Lacoste arrived. Gabri ran his hand through his hair.


    ¡°Jeez,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°They¡¯ll be coming out of the closet next.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised,¡± said Gabri, and took Lacoste¡¯s order. ¡°Is that it? Are you expecting the Musical Ride?¡±


    ¡°C¡¯est tout, patron,¡± Gamache assured him. ¡°Merci. I wasn¡¯t expecting you,¡± he said to Lacoste when Gabri was out of earshot.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to come, but I wanted to talk in person. I spoke to both Olivier¡¯s boss at the bank and his father.¡±


    She lowered her voice and told them what the executive at the Banque Laurentienne had said. When she finished her salad had arrived. Shrimp, mango and cilantro, on baby spinach. But she looked with envy at the steaming plate of Portobello mushrooms, garlic, basil and Parmesan on top of homemade pasta in front of the Chief.


    ¡°So it wasn¡¯t clear whether Olivier was going to steal the money or give it back,¡± said Beauvoir, eyeing his charcoal steak and biting into his seasoned thin fries.


    ¡°The man I talked to believed Olivier was making the money for the bank. Still, he¡¯d probably have been fired, if he hadn¡¯t quit.¡±


    ¡°Are they sure all the money he made in the Malaysian deal was given to the bank?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°They think it was, and so far we can¡¯t find any other account for Olivier.¡±


    ¡°So we still don¡¯t know where the money came from to buy all that property,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°What did Olivier¡¯s father have to say?¡±


    She told them about her visit to Habitat. By the time she finished their plates had been cleared away and dessert menus were placed in front of them.


    ¡°Not for me.¡± Lacoste smiled at Havoc Parra. He smiled back, motioned to another waiter to clear and set a nearby table.


    ¡°Who¡¯ll share a profiterole with me?¡± asked Beauvoir. They¡¯d have to solve this case soon or he¡¯d need a whole new wardrobe.


    ¡°I will,¡± said Lacoste.


    The choux pastries filled with ice cream and covered in warm chocolate sauce arrived. Gamache regretted not ordering some himself. He watched, mesmerized, as Beauvoir and Lacoste took spoonfuls of the now melting ice cream mixed with pastry and the warm, dark chocolate.


    ¡°So Olivier¡¯s father¡¯s never been here,¡± said Beauvoir, wiping his face with his napkin. ¡°He has no idea where Olivier lives or what he¡¯s doing. He doesn¡¯t even know his son¡¯s gay?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t be the only son afraid to tell his father,¡± said Lacoste.


    ¡°Secrets,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°More secrets.¡±


    Gamache noticed Morin¡¯s face change as he looked out the window. Then the murmur of conversation in the bistro died away. The Chief followed his agent¡¯s gaze.


    A moose was galumphing down rue du Moulin, into the village. As it got closer Gamache rose. Someone was on its back, clinging to the massive neck.


    ¡°You, stay here. Guard the door,¡± he said to Agent Morin. ¡°You come with me,¡± he said to the others. Before anyone else could react Gamache and his team were out the door. By the time anyone else wanted to follow Agent Morin was standing at the door. Short, weedy, but determined. No one was getting by him.


    Through the glass panes they watched as the creature bore down, its long legs pumping, awkward and frantic. Gamache walked foward but it didn¡¯t slow, its rider no longer in control. The Chief spread his arms to corral him and as it got closer they recognized it as one of the Gilbert animals. A horse, supposedly. Its eyes wild and white, and its hooves spastic and plunging. Beauvoir and Lacoste stood on either side of the Chief, their arms also out.


    At his station by the door young Agent Morin couldn¡¯t see what was happening outside. All he could see were the faces of the patrons as they watched. He¡¯d been at enough accident scenes to know that at really bad ones people screamed. At the worst, there was silence.


    The bistro was silent.


    The three officers stood their ground and the horse came straight for them, then veered, shrieking like a creature possessed. The rider fell off onto the grass of the green and Agent Lacoste managed to grab the reins as the horse skidded and twisted. Beside her Gamache also grabbed the reins and between them they fought the horse to a halt.

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    Inspector Beauvoir was on his knees on the grass, bending over the fallen rider.


    ¡°Are you all right? Don¡¯t move, just lie still.¡±


    But like most people given that advice, the rider sat up and yanked off her riding helmet. It was Dominique Gilbert. Like the horse¡¯s, her eyes were wild and wide. Leaving Lacoste to calm the skittish animal Gamache quickly joined Beauvoir, kneeling beside him.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°In the woods,¡± Dominique Gilbert gasped. ¡°A cabin. I looked inside. There was blood. Lots of it.¡±


    EIGHTEEN


    The young man, not much more than a boy, heard the wind. Heard the moan, and heeded it. He stayed. After a day his family, afraid of what they might find, came looking and found him on the side of the terrible mountain. Alive. Alone. They pleaded with him to leave, but, unbelievably, he refused.


    ¡°He¡¯s been drugged,¡± said his mother.


    ¡°He¡¯s been cursed,¡± said his sister.


    ¡°He¡¯s been mesmerized,¡± said his father, backing away.


    But they were wrong. He had, in fact, been seduced. By the desolate mountain. And his loneliness. And by the tiny green shoots under his feet.


    He¡¯d done this. He¡¯d brought the great mountain alive again. He was needed.


    And so the boy stayed, and slowly warmth returned to the mountain. Grass and trees and fragrant flowers returned. Foxes and rabbits and bees came back. Where the boy walked fresh springs appeared and where he sat ponds were created.


    The boy was life for the mountain. And the mountain loved him for it. And the boy loved the mountain for it too.


    Over the years the terrible mountain became beautiful and word spread. That something dreadful had become something peaceful. And kind. And safe. Slowly the people returned, including the boy¡¯s family.


    A village sprang up and the Mountain King, so lonely for so long, protected them all. And every night, while the others rested, the boy, now a young man, walked to the very top of the mountain, and lying down on the soft green moss he listened to the voice deep inside.


    Then one night while he lay there the young man heard something unexpected. The Mountain King told him a secret.


    Olivier watched the wild horse and the fallen rider along with the rest of the bistro crowd. His skin crawled and he longed to break out, to scream and push his way out of the crowd. And to run away. Run, run, run. Until he dropped.


    Because, unlike them, he knew what it meant.


    Instead he stood and watched as though he was still one of them. But Olivier knew now he never would be again.


    Armand Gamache walked into the bistro and scanned the faces.


    ¡°Is Roar Parra still here?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± said a voice at the back of the bistro. The bodies parted and the stocky man appeared.


    ¡°Madame Gilbert¡¯s found a cabin deep in the forest. Does that sound familiar?¡±


    Parra, along with everyone else, thought. Then he, and everyone else, shook their heads. ¡°Never knew there was one there.¡±


    Gamache thought for a moment then looked outside where Dominique was just catching her breath. ¡°A glass of water, please,¡± he said, and Gabri appeared with one. ¡°Come with me,¡± the Chief Inspector said to Parra.


    ¡°How far was the cabin?¡± he asked Dominique after she¡¯d swallowed the water. ¡°Can we get there on ATVs?¡±


    Dominique shook her head. ¡°No, the forest¡¯s too thick.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you get there?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Macaroni took me.¡± She stroked the sweating horse¡¯s neck. ¡°After what happened this morning I needed time alone, so I saddled up and decided to try to find the old bridle paths.¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t very smart,¡± said Parra. ¡°You could¡¯ve been lost.¡±


    ¡°I did get lost. That¡¯s how I found the cabin. I was on one of the trails you cut, then it ended, but I could just make out the old path so I kept on. And that¡¯s when I saw it.¡±


    Dominique¡¯s mind was filled with images. Of the dark cabin, of the dark stains on the floor. Of jumping on the horse and trying to find the path back, and holding down the panic. The warnings every Canadian hears since childhood. Never, ever go into the woods alone.


    ¡°Can you find your way back there?¡± asked Gamache.


    Could she? She thought about it, then nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good. Would you like to rest?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to get this over with.¡±


    Gamache nodded, then turned to Roar Parra. ¡°Come with us, please.¡±


    As they walked up the hill, Dominique leading Macaroni with Parra beside her and the S?ret¨¦ officers behind, Beauvoir whispered to the Chief.

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    ¡°If we can¡¯t get in with ATVs, how¡¯re we going to go?¡±


    ¡°Can you say giddyup?¡±


    ¡°I can say whoa.¡± Beauvoir looked as though Gamache had suggested something obscene.


    ¡°Well, I suggest you practice.¡±


    Within half an hour Roar had saddled Buttercup and Chester. Marc the horse was nowhere to be seen but Marc the husband emerged from the barn, a riding helmet on his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Monsieur Gilbert,¡± said Gamache. ¡°It¡¯s simple math. There are three horses. Your wife needs to be on one, and Inspector Beauvoir and I need to be with her.¡±


    Beauvoir eyed Chester, who shuffled from one hoof to another as though listening to a Dixieland band in his head. The Inspector had never ridden a horse before and was pretty certain he wasn¡¯t about to now.


    They set out, Dominique leading, Gamache behind her with a roll of bright pink ribbon to mark their path and Beauvoir bringing up the rear, though Gamache chose not to describe it as that to him. The Chief had ridden many times before. When he¡¯d started dating Reine-Marie they¡¯d go on the bridle paths on Mont Royal. They¡¯d pack a picnic and take the trails through the forest right in the center of Montreal, stopping at a clearing where they could tie up the horses and look over the city, sipping chilled wine and eating sandwiches. The stables on Mont Royal were now closed, but every now and then he and Reine-Marie would head out on a Sunday afternoon and find a place to go trail riding.


    Riding Buttercup, however, was a whole other experience. More like being in a small boat on the high seas. He felt slightly nauseous as Buttercup swayed back and forth. Every ten paces or so he reached out and tied another pink ribbon to a tree. Ahead Dominique was way off the ground on Macaroni, and Gamache didn¡¯t dare look behind him, but he knew Beauvoir was still there by the constant stream of swear words.


    ¡°Merde. Tabarnac. Duck.¡±


    Branches snapped back so that it felt as though they were being spanked by nature.


    Beauvoir, instructed to keep his heels down and his hands steady, quickly lost both stirrups and clung to the gray mane. Regaining the stirrups he straightened up in time to catch another branch in the face. After that it was an inelegant, inglorious exercise in holding on.


    ¡°Tabarnac, Merde. Duck.¡±


    The path narrowed and the forest darkened, and their pace slowed. Gamache was far from convinced they were still on the path, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Agents Lacoste and Morin were gathering the Crime Scene kit and would join them on ATVs as soon as Parra had opened the path. But that would take a while.


    How long would it take Lacoste to realize they were lost? An hour? Three? When would night fall? How lost could they get? The forest grew darker and cooler. It felt as though they¡¯d been riding for hours. Gamache checked his watch but couldn¡¯t see the dial in the dimness.


    Dominique stopped and the following horses crowded together.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± said Beauvoir.


    Gamache reached out and took the reins, settling the Inspector¡¯s horse.


    ¡°There it is,¡± Dominique whispered.


    Gamache swayed this way and that, trying to see around the trees. Finally he dismounted and tying his horse to a tree walked in front of Dominique. And still he couldn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°There,¡± Dominique whispered. ¡°Right beside that patch of sunlight.¡±


    One thick column of sun beamed through the trees. Gamache looked beside it, and there it was. A cabin.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± he said to her, then motioned to Beauvoir who looked around, trying to figure out how to get off. Eventually he leaned over, hugged a tree and hauled himself sideways. Any other horse might have been upset but Chester had seen worse. He seemed quite fond of Beauvoir by the time the Inspector slid off his back. Not once had Beauvoir kicked him, whipped him, or punched him. In Chester¡¯s lifetime, Beauvoir was by far the gentlest and kindest of riders.


    The two men stared at the cabin. It was made of logs. A single rocking chair with a large cushion sat on the front porch. There were windows on either side of the closed door, each with boxes in full bloom. A stone chimney rose at the side of the cabin, but no smoke came out.


    Behind them they could hear the soft rumble of the horses, and the swish of their tails. They could hear small creatures scurrying for cover. The forest smelt of moss and sweet pine needles and decaying leaves.


    They crept forward. Onto the porch. Gamache scanned the floorboards. A few dry leaves but no blood. He nodded to Beauvoir and indicated one of the windows. Beauvoir quietly positioned himself beside it, his back against the wall. Gamache took the other window then gave a small signal. Together they looked in.

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    They saw a table, chairs, a bed at the far end. No lights, no movement.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± said Beauvoir. Gamache nodded agreement. He reached out for the door handle. The door swung open an inch with a slight creak. The Chief put his foot forward and pushed it open all the way. Then looked in.


    The cabin was a single room and Gamache saw at once there was no one there. He walked in. But Beauvoir kept his hand on his gun. In case. Beauvoir was a cautious man. Being raised in chaos had made him so.


    Dust swirled in the little light that struggled through the window. Beauvoir, by habit, felt for a light switch then realized he wouldn¡¯t find one. But he did find some lamps and lit those. What came to light was a bed, a dresser, some bookcases, a couple of chairs and a table.


    The room was empty. Except for what the dead man had left behind. His belongings and his blood. There was a large, dark stain on the wooden floor.


    There was no doubt they¡¯d finally found the crime scene.


    An hour later Roar Parra had followed the Chief¡¯s pink ribbons and used his chainsaw to widen the path. The ATVs arrived and with them the Crime Scene investigators. Inspector Beauvoir took photographs while Agents Lacoste, Morin and the others combed the room for evidence.


    Roar Parra and Dominique Gilbert had mounted the horses and gone home, leading Chester behind them. Chester looked back, hoping to catch a peek at the funny man who had forgotten to beat him.


    As the clip-clop of the hooves receded the quiet closed in.


    With his team inside working, and the space cramped, Gamache decided to explore outside the cabin. Finely carved window boxes bloomed with cheery nasturtiums and greenery. He rubbed his fingers first on one plant then the others. They smelled of cilantro, rosemary, basil and tarragon. He walked over to the column of sunlight breaking through the trees beside the cabin.


    A fence, made of twisted branches, formed a large rectangle about twenty feet wide by forty feet long. Vines grew through the fence, and as he got closer Gamache noticed they were heavy with peas. He opened the wooden gate and walked into the garden. Neat rows of vegetables had been planted and tended, intended for a harvest that would not now come. Up and down the long, protected garden the victim had planted tomatoes and potatoes, peas and beans, and broccoli and carrots. Gamache broke off a bean and ate it. A wheelbarrow with some dirt and a shovel stood halfway along the path and at the far end there sat a chair of bent branches, with comfortable and faded cushions. It was inviting and Gamache had an image of the man working in the garden, then resting. Sitting quietly in the chair.


    The Chief Inspector looked down and saw the impression of the man in the cushions. He¡¯d sat there. Perhaps for hours. In the column of light.


    Alone.


    Not many people, Gamache knew, could do that. Even if they wanted to, even if they chose to, most people couldn¡¯t take the quiet. They grew fidgety and bored. But not this man, Gamache suspected. He imagined him there, staring at his garden. Thinking.


    What did he think about?


    ¡°Chief?¡±


    Turning around Gamache saw Beauvoir walking toward him.


    ¡°We¡¯ve done the preliminary search.¡±


    ¡°Weapon?¡±


    Beauvoir shook his head. ¡°But we did find Mason jars of preserves and paraffin. Quite a bit of it. I guess we know why.¡± The Inspector looked around the garden, and seemed impressed. Order always impressed him.


    Gamache nodded. ¡°Who was he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Now the Chief Inspector turned fully to his second in command. ¡°What do you mean? Did this cabin belong to our victim?¡±


    ¡°We think so. It¡¯s almost certainly where he died. But we haven¡¯t found any ID. Nothing. No photographs, no birth certificate, passport, driver¡¯s license.¡±


    ¡°Letters?¡±


    Beauvoir shook his head. ¡°There¡¯re clothes in the dressers. Old clothing, worn. But mended and clean. In fact, the whole place is clean and tidy. A lot of books, we¡¯re just going through them now. Some have names in them, but all different names. He must have picked them up at used-book stores. We found woodworking tools and sawdust by one of the chairs. And an old violin. Guess we know what he did at night.¡±


    Gamache had a vision of the dead man, alive. Healthy even. Coming in after working the garden. Making a simple dinner, sitting by the fire and whittling. Then, as the night drew in, he¡¯d pick up the violin and play. Just for himself.


    Who was this man who loved solitude so much?


    ¡°The place is pretty primitive,¡± Beauvoir continued. ¡°He had to pump water into the sink in his kitchen. Haven¡¯t seen that in years. And there¡¯s no toilet or shower.¡±

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    Gamache and Beauvoir looked around. Down a winding well-worn path they found an outhouse. The thought almost made Beauvoir gag. The Chief opened the door and looked in. He scanned the tiny one-holer, then closed the door. It too was clean, though spider¡¯s webs were beginning to form and soon, Gamache knew, more and more creatures and plants would invade until the outhouse disappeared, eaten by the forest.


    ¡°How did he wash?¡± asked Beauvoir as they walked back to the cabin. They knew he had, and regularly, according to the coroner.


    ¡°There¡¯s a river,¡± said Gamache, pausing. Ahead sat the cabin, a tiny perfect gem in the middle of the forest. ¡°You can hear it. Probably the Bella Bella, as it heads into the village.¡±


    Sure enough Beauvoir heard what sounded strangely like traffic. It was comforting. There was also a cistern beside the cabin, designed to catch rainfall.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found fingerprints.¡± Beauvoir held the door open for the Chief as they entered the cabin. ¡°We think they belong to two different people.¡±


    Gamache¡¯s brows rose. The place looked and felt as though only one person lived here. But judging by events, someone else had found the cabin, and the man.


    Could this be their break? Could the murderer have left his prints?


    The cabin was growing dimmer. Morin found a couple more lamps and some candles. Gamache watched the team at work. There was a grace to it, one perhaps only appreciated by another homicide officer. The fluid motions, stepping aside, leaning in and out and down, bowing and lifting and kneeling. It was almost beautiful.


    He stood in the middle of the cabin and took it in. The walls were made of large, round logs. Strangely enough there were curtains at the windows. And in the kitchen a panel of amber glass leaned against the window.


    A hand pump at the sink was attached to the wooden kitchen counter, and dishes and glasses were neatly placed on the exposed shelves. Gamache noticed food on the kitchen counter. He walked over and looked, without picking anything up. Bread, butter, cheese. Nibbled, and not by anything human. Some Orange Pekoe tea in an open box. A jar of honey. A quart of milk sat opened. He sniffed. Rancid.


    He motioned Beauvoir over.


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°The man did his shopping.¡±


    ¡°How? He sure didn¡¯t walk into Monsieur B¨¦liveau¡¯s general store, and I¡¯m pretty sure he didn¡¯t walk to Saint-R¨¦my. Someone brought this food to him.¡±


    ¡°And killed him? Had a cup of tea then bashed his head in?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, maybe,¡± murmured the Chief Inspector as he looked around. The oil lamps threw light very unlike anything an electric bulb produced. This light was gentle. The edges of the world seemed softer.


    A woodstove separated the rustic kitchen and the living area. A small table, covered in cloth, seemed to be his dining table. A riverstone fireplace was on the opposite wall with a wing chair on either side. At the far end of the cabin was a large brass bed and a chest of drawers.


    The bed was made, the pillows fluffed and ready. Fabric hung on the walls, presumably to keep out the cold drafts, as you¡¯d find in medieval castles. There were rugs scattered about the floor, a floor marred only, but deeply, by a dark stain of blood.


    A bookcase lining an entire wall was filled with old volumes. Approaching it Gamache noticed something protruding from between the logs. He picked at it and looked at what he held.


    A dollar bill.


    It¡¯d been years, decades, since Canada used dollar bills. Examining the wall more closely he noticed other paper protruding. More dollar bills. Some two-dollar bills. In a couple of cases there were twenties.


    Was this the man¡¯s banking system? Like an old miser, instead of stuffing his mattress had he stuffed his walls? After a tour of the walls Gamache concluded the money was there to keep the cold out. The cabin was made of wood and Canadian currency. It was insulation.


    Next he walked over to the riverstone fireplace, pausing at one of the wing chairs. The one with the deepest impressions in the seat and back. He touched the worn fabric. Looking down at the table beside the chair he saw the whittling tools Beauvoir had mentioned, and leaning against the table was a fiddle and bow. A book, closed but with a bookmark, sat beside the tools. Had the man been reading when he was interrupted?


    He picked it up and smiled.


    ¡°I had three chairs in my house,¡± Gamache read quietly. ¡°One for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± said Lacoste, from where she was crouching, looking under the table.


    ¡°Thoreau. From Walden.¡± Gamache held up the book. ¡°He lived in a cabin, you know. Not unlike this, perhaps.¡±

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    ¡°But he had three chairs,¡± smiled Lacoste. ¡°Our man had only two.¡±


    Only two, thought Gamache. But that was enough, and that was significant. Two for friendship. Did he have a friend?


    ¡°I think he might have been Russian,¡± she said, straightening up.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯re a few icons on the shelf here, by the books.¡± Lacoste waved behind her, and sure enough, in front of the leather-bound volumes were Russian icons.


    The Chief frowned and gazed around the small cabin. After a minute he grew very quiet, very still. Except for his eyes, which darted here and there.


    Beauvoir approached. ¡°What is it?¡±


    The Chief didn¡¯t answer. The room grew hushed. He moved his eyes around the cabin again, not really believing what he saw. So great was his surprise he closed his eyes then opened them again.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Beauvoir repeated.


    ¡°Be very careful with that,¡± he said to Agent Morin, who was holding a glass from the kitchen.


    ¡°I will,¡± he said, wondering why the Chief would suddenly say that.


    ¡°May I have it, please?¡±


    Morin gave it to Gamache who took it to an oil lamp. There, in the soft light, he saw what he expected to see, but never expected to hold in his own hands. Leaded glass, expertly cut. Hand cut. He couldn¡¯t make out the mark on the bottom of the glass, and even if he could it would be meaningless to him. He was no expert. But he was knowledgeable enough to know what he held was priceless.


    It was an extremely old, even ancient, piece of glass. Made in a method not seen in hundreds of years. Gamache gently put the glass down and looked into the kitchen. On the open rustic shelves there stood at least ten glasses, all different sizes. All equally ancient. As his team watched, Armand Gamache moved along the shelves, picking up plates and cups and cutlery, then over to the walls to examine the hangings. He looked at the rugs, picking up the corners, and finally, like a man almost afraid of what he¡¯d find, he approached the bookcases.


    ¡°What is it, patron?¡± asked Beauvoir, joining him.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just any cabin, Jean Guy. This is a museum. Each piece is an antiquity, priceless.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± said Morin, putting down the horse figurine jug.


    Who was this man? Gamache wondered. Who chose to live this far from other people? Three for society.


    This man wanted no part of society. What was he afraid of? Only fear could propel a man so far from company. Was he a survivalist, as they¡¯d theorized? Gamache thought not. The contents of the cabin argued against that. No guns, no weapons at all. No how-to magazines, no publications warning of dire plots.


    Instead, this man had brought delicate leaded crystal with him into the woods.


    Gamache scanned the books, not daring to touch them. ¡°Have these been dusted?¡±


    ¡°They have,¡± said Morin. ¡°And I looked inside for a name, but they¡¯re no help. Different names written in most of them. Obviously secondhand.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± whispered Gamache to himself. He looked at the one still in his hand. Opening it to the bookmark he read, I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and to see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.


    Gamache turned to the front page and inhaled softly.


    It was a first edition.


    NINETEEN


    ¡°Peter?¡± Clara knocked lightly on the door to his studio.


    He opened it, trying not to look secretive but giving up. Clara knew him too well, and knew he was always secretive about his art.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, longing to close the door and get back to it. All day he¡¯d been picking up his brush, approaching his painting then lowering the brush again. Surely the painting wasn¡¯t finished? It was so embarrassing. What would Clara think? What would his gallery think? The critics? It was unlike anything else he¡¯d ever done. Well, not ever. But certainly since childhood.


    He could never let anyone see this.


    It was ridiculous.


    What it needed, clearly, was more definition, more detail. More depth. The sorts of things his clients and supporters had come to expect. And buy.


    He¡¯d picked up and lowered his brush a dozen times that day. This had never happened to him before. He¡¯d watched, mystified, as Clara had been racked by self-doubt, had struggled and had finally produced some marginal piece of work. Her March of the Happy Ears, her series inspired by dragonfly wings, and, of course, her masterpiece, the Warrior Uteruses.

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    That¡¯s what came of inspiration.


    No, Peter was much more clear. More disciplined. He planned each piece, drew and drafted each work, knew months in advance what he¡¯d be working on. He didn¡¯t rely on airy-fairy inspiration.


    Until now. This time he¡¯d come into the studio with a fireplace log, cut cleanly so that the rings of age were visible. He¡¯d taken his magnifying glass and approached it, with a view to enlarging a tiny part of it beyond recognition. It was, he liked to tell art critics at his many sold-out vernissages, an allegory for life. How we blow things out of all proportion, until a simple truth was no longer recognizable.


    They ate it up. But this time it hadn¡¯t worked. He¡¯d been unable to see the simple truth. Instead, he¡¯d painted this.


    When Clara left Peter plopped down in his chair and stared at the bewildering piece of work on his easel and repeated silently to himself, I¡¯m brilliant, I¡¯m brilliant. Then he whispered, so quietly he barely heard it himself, ¡°I¡¯m better than Clara.¡±


    Olivier stood on the terrasse outside the bistro and looked into the dark forest on the hill. In fact, Three Pines was surrounded by forest, something he¡¯d never noticed, until now.


    The cabin had been found. He¡¯d prayed this wouldn¡¯t happen, but it had. And for the first time since he¡¯d arrived in Three Pines he felt the dark forest closing in.


    But if all these things,¡± Beauvoir nodded to the interior of the single room, ¡°are priceless why didn¡¯t the murderer take them?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering that myself,¡± said Gamache from the comfort of the large wing chair by the empty fireplace. ¡°What was the murder about, Jean Guy? Why kill this man who seems to have lived a quiet, secret life in the woods for years, maybe decades?¡±


    ¡°And then once he¡¯s dead, why take the body but leave the valuables?¡± Beauvoir sat in the chair opposite the Chief.


    ¡°Unless the body was more valuable than the rest?¡±


    ¡°Then why leave it at the old Hadley house?¡±


    ¡°If the murderer had just left the body here we¡¯d never have found it,¡± reasoned Gamache, perplexed. ¡°Never known there¡¯d been a murder.¡±


    ¡°Why kill the man, if not for his treasure?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Treasure?¡±


    ¡°What else is it? Priceless stuff in the middle of nowhere? It¡¯s buried treasure, only instead of being buried in the ground it¡¯s buried in the forest.¡±


    But the murderer had left it there. And instead, had taken the only thing he wanted from that cabin. He¡¯d taken a life.


    ¡°Did you notice this?¡± Beauvoir got up and walked to the door. Opening it he pointed upward, with a look of amusement.


    There on the lintel above the door was a number.


    16


    ¡°Now, you can¡¯t tell me he got mail,¡± said Beauvoir as Gamache stared, puzzled. The numbers were brass and tarnished green. Almost invisible against the dark wooden door frame. Gamache shook his head then looked at his watch. It was almost six.


    After a bit of discussion it was decided Agent Morin would stay at the cabin overnight, to guard the possessions.


    ¡°Come with me,¡± Gamache said to Morin. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you in while the others finish the job. You can pack an overnight bag and arrange for a satellite phone.¡±


    Morin got on the ATV behind the Chief Inspector and searched for something to grip, settling on the bottom of the seat. Gamache started up the machine. His investigations had taken him into tiny fishing out-ports and remote settlements. He¡¯d driven snowmobiles, power boats, motorcycles and ATVs. While appreciating their convenience, and necessity, he disliked them all. They shattered the calm with their banshee screams, polluting the wilderness with noise and fumes.


    If anything could wake the dead, these could.


    As they bounced along Morin realized he was in trouble, and letting go of the seat he flung his small arms around the large man in front of him and held on tight, feeling the Chief¡¯s wax coat against his cheek and the strong body underneath. And he smelled sandalwood and rosewater.


    The young man sat up, one hand on the Mountain, the other to his face. He couldn¡¯t quite believe what the Mountain had told him. Then he started to giggle.


    Hearing this, the Mountain was puzzled. It wasn¡¯t the shriek of terror he normally heard from creatures who came near him.


    As he listened the Mountain King realized this was a happy sound. An infectious sound. He too started to rumble and only stopped when the people in the village grew frightened. And he didn¡¯t want that. Never again did he want to scare anything away.

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    He slept well that night.


    The boy, however, did not. He tossed and turned and finally left his cabin to stare up at the peak.


    Every night from then on the boy was burdened by the Mountain¡¯s secret. He grew weary and weak. His parents and friends commented on this. Even the Mountain noticed.


    Finally, one night well before the sun rose the boy nudged his parents awake.


    ¡°We need to leave.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± his bleary mother asked.


    ¡°Why?¡± his father and sister asked.


    ¡°The Mountain King has told me of a wonderful land where people never die, never grow sick or old. It¡¯s a place only he knows about. But he says we need to leave now. Tonight. While it¡¯s still dark. And we need to go quickly.¡±


    They woke up the rest of the village and well before dawn they¡¯d packed up. The boy was the last to leave. He took a few steps into the forest and kneeling down he touched the surface of the sleeping Mountain King.


    ¡°Good-bye,¡± he whispered.


    Then he tucked the package under his arm, and disappeared into the night.


    Jean Guy Beauvoir stood outside the cabin. It was almost dark and he was starving. They¡¯d finished their work and he was just waiting for Agent Lacoste to pack up.


    ¡°I have to pee,¡± she said, joining him on the porch. ¡°Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s an outhouse over there.¡± He pointed away from the cabin.


    ¡°Great,¡± she said and grabbed a flashlight. ¡°Isn¡¯t this how horror movies start?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, we¡¯re well into the second reel by now,¡± said Beauvoir with a smirk. He watched Lacoste pick her way along the path to the outhouse.


    His stomach growled. At least, he hoped it was his stomach. The sooner they got back to civilization, the better. How could anyone live out here? He didn¡¯t envy Morin spending the night.


    A bobbing flashlight told him Lacoste was returning.


    ¡°Have you been into the outhouse?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Are you kidding? The Chief looked in, but I didn¡¯t.¡± Even thinking about it made him gag.


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t see what was in there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, the toilet paper was money too.¡±


    ¡°Actually it was. One- and two-dollar bills.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. And I found this.¡± She held a book in her hand. ¡°A first edition. Signed by E. B. White. It¡¯s Charlotte¡¯s Web.¡±


    Beauvoir stared at it. He had no idea what she was talking about.


    ¡°It was my favorite book as a child. Charlotte the spider?¡± she asked. ¡°Wilbur the pig?¡±


    ¡°If they didn¡¯t get blown up I didn¡¯t read it.¡±


    ¡°Who leaves a signed first edition in an outhouse?¡±


    ¡°Who leaves money there?¡± Beauvoir suddenly felt an urge to go.


    Salut, patron,¡± waved Gabri from the living room. He was folding tiny outfits and putting them into a box. ¡°So, the cabin in the woods. Was it where the guy lived? The dead man?¡±


    ¡°We think so.¡± Gamache joined him. He watched Gabri fold the small sweaters.


    ¡°For Rosa. We¡¯re collecting them from everyone to give to Ruth. Is this too big for Rosa?¡± He held up a boy¡¯s blazer. ¡°It¡¯s Olivier¡¯s. He says he made it himself but I can¡¯t believe that, though he¡¯s very good with his hands.¡± Gamache ignored that.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little big. And masculine, for Rosa, don¡¯t you think?¡± he said.


    ¡°True.¡± Gabri put it in the reject pile. ¡°In a few years it might fit Ruth though.¡±


    ¡°Did no one ever mention a cabin before? Not old Mrs. Hadley?¡±


    Gabri shook his head but continued working. ¡°No one.¡± Then he stopped folding and put his hands in his lap. ¡°I wonder how he survived? Did he walk all the way to Cowansville or Saint-R¨¦my for food?¡±


    One more thing we don¡¯t know, thought Gamache as he went up the stairs. He showered and shaved and called his wife. It was getting dark and in the distance he could hear the shriek from the forest. The ATVs returning. To the village and to the cabin.


    In the living room of the B and B, Gabri had been replaced by someone else. Sitting in the comfortable chair by the fire was Vincent Gilbert.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been over to the bistro but people kept bothering me, so I came here to bother you. I¡¯ve been trying to get out of my son¡¯s way. Funny how coming back from the dead isn¡¯t as popular as it once was.¡±


    ¡°Did you expect him to be happy?¡±

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    ¡°You know, I actually did. Amazing, isn¡¯t it, our capacity for self-deceit.¡±


    Gamache looked at him quizzically.


    ¡°All right, my capacity for it,¡± snapped Gilbert. He studied Gamache. Tall, powerfully built. Probably ten pounds overweight, maybe more. Go to fat if he¡¯s not careful. Die of a heart attack.


    He imagined Gamache suddenly clutching his chest, his eyes widening then closing in pain. Staggering against the wall and gasping. And Dr. Vincent Gilbert, the celebrated physician, folding his arms, doing nothing, as this head of homicide slipped to the ground. It comforted him to know he had that power, of life and death.


    Gamache looked at this rigid man. In front of him was the face he¡¯d seen staring, glaring, from the back of that lovely book, Being. Arrogant, challenging, confident.


    But Gamache had read the book, and knew what lay behind that face.


    ¡°Are you staying here?¡± They¡¯d told Gilbert not to leave the area and the B and B was the only guesthouse.


    ¡°Actually, no. I¡¯m the first guest at Marc¡¯s inn and spa. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ask for a treatment, though.¡± He had the grace to smile. Like most stern people, he looked very different when he smiled.


    Gamache¡¯s surprise was obvious.


    ¡°I know,¡± agreed Gilbert. ¡°It was actually Dominique who invited me to stay, though she did suggest I might want to be . . .¡±


    ¡°Discreet?¡±


    ¡°Invisible. So I came into town.¡±


    Gamache sat in an armchair. ¡°Why did you come looking for your son now?¡±


    It had escaped no one that both Gilbert and the body had shown up at the same time. Again Gamache saw the cabin, with its two comfortable chairs by the fire. Had two older men sat there on a summer¡¯s night? Talking, discussing? Arguing? Murdering?


    Vincent Gilbert looked down at his hands. Hands that had been inside people. Hands that had held hearts. Repaired hearts. Got them beating again, and restored life. They trembled, unsteady. And he felt a pain in his chest.


    Was he having a heart attack?


    He looked up and saw this large, steady man watching him. And he thought if he was having a heart attack this man would probably help.


    How to explain his time at LaPorte, living with men and women with Down¡¯s syndrome? At first he¡¯d thought his job was to simply look after their bodies.


    Help others.


    That¡¯s what the guru had told him to do. Years he¡¯d been at the ashram in India and the guru had finally acknowleged his presence. Almost a decade he¡¯d spent there, in exchange for two words.


    Help others.


    So that¡¯s what he did. He returned to Quebec and joined Brother Albert at LaPorte. To help others. It never, ever occurred to him that they¡¯d help him. After all, how could people that damaged have anything to offer the great healer and philosopher?


    It had taken years, but he¡¯d woken up one morning in his cottage in the grounds of LaPorte and something had changed. He¡¯d gone down to breakfast and realized he knew everyone¡¯s name. And everyone spoke to him, or smiled. Or came up and showed him something they¡¯d found. A snail, a stick, a blade of grass.


    Mundane. Nothing. And yet the whole world had changed, as he slept. He¡¯d gone to bed helping others, and woken up healed himself.


    That afternoon, in the shade of a maple tree, he¡¯d started writing Being.


    ¡°I¡¯d kept an eye on Marc. Watched his successes in Montreal. When they sold their home and bought down here I knew the signs.¡±


    ¡°Signs of what?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°Burnout. I wanted to help.¡±


    Help others.


    He was just beginning to appreciate the power of those two simple words. And that help came in different forms.


    ¡°By doing what?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°By making sure he was all right,¡± Gilbert snapped. ¡°Look, they¡¯re all upset up there about the body. Marc did a stupid thing moving it, but I know him. He¡¯s not a murderer.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Gilbert glared at him. His rage back in full force. But Armand Gamache knew what was behind that rage. What was behind all rage.


    Fear.


    What was Vincent Gilbert so afraid of?


    The answer was easy. He was afraid his son would be arrested for murder. Either because he knew his son had done it, or because he knew he hadn¡¯t.


    A few minutes later a voice cut across the crowded bistro, aimed at the Chief Inspector, who¡¯d arrived seeking a glass of red wine and quiet to read his book.


    ¡°You bugger.¡±


    More than one person looked up. Myrna sailed across the room and stood next to Gamache¡¯s table, glaring down at him. He got up and bowed slightly, indicating a chair.

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    Myrna sat so suddenly the chair gave a little crack.


    ¡°Wine?¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me why you wanted that?¡± She gestured toward Being in his hand. Gamache grinned.


    ¡°Secrets.¡±


    ¡°And how long did you think it¡¯d remain a secret?¡±


    ¡°Long enough. I hear he was over here having a drink. Did you meet him?¡±


    ¡°Vincent Gilbert? If you can call ogling and sputtering and fawning ¡®meeting,¡¯ then yes. I met him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll have forgotten it was you.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m so easily mistaken for someone else? Is he really Marc¡¯s father?¡±


    ¡°He is.¡±


    ¡°Do you know, he ignored me when I tried to introduce myself? Looked at me like I was a crumb.¡± The wine and a fresh bowl of cashews had arrived. ¡°Thank God I told him I was Clara Morrow.¡±


    ¡°So did I,¡± said Gamache. ¡°He might be growing suspicious.¡±


    Myrna laughed and felt her annoyance slip away. ¡°Old Mundin says it was Vincent Gilbert in the forest, spying on his own son. Was it?¡±


    Gamache wondered how much to say, but it was clear this was not much of a secret anymore. He nodded.


    ¡°Why spy on his own son?¡±


    ¡°They were estranged.¡±


    ¡°First good thing I¡¯ve heard about Marc Gilbert,¡± said Myrna. ¡°Still, it¡¯s ironic. The famous Dr. Gilbert helps so many kids, but is estranged from his own.¡±


    Gamache thought again about Annie. Was he doing the same thing to her? Was he listening to the troubles of others, but deaf to his own daughter? He¡¯d spoken to her the night before and reassured himself she was fine. But fine and flourishing were two different things. It had clearly gotten bad when she was willing to listen to Beauvoir.


    ¡°Patron,¡± said Olivier, handing Gamache and Myrna menus.


    ¡°I¡¯m not staying,¡± said Myrna.


    Olivier hovered. ¡°I hear you found out where the dead man lived. He was in the forest all along?¡±


    Lacoste and Beauvoir arrived just then and ordered drinks. With one last gulp of wine, and taking a large handful of cashews, Myrna got up to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be paying a lot more attention to the books you buy,¡± she said.


    ¡°Do you happen to have Walden?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you found Thoreau back there too? Anyone else hiding in our woods? Jimmy Hoffa perhaps? Amelia Earhart? Come by after dinner and I¡¯ll give you my copy of Walden.¡±


    She left and Olivier took their orders then brought warm rolls smothered in melting monarda butter and spread with pat¨¦. Beauvoir produced a sheaf of photographs of the cabin from his satchel and handed them to the Chief.


    ¡°Printed these out as soon as we got back.¡± Beauvoir took a bite of his warm roll. He was starving. Agent Lacoste took one as well and sipping on her wine she looked out the window. But all she could see was the reflection of the bistro. Villagers eating dinner, some sitting at the bar with beer or whiskey. Some relaxing by the fire. No one paying attention to them. But then she met a pair of eyes in the reflection. More specter than person. She turned just as Olivier disappeared into the kitchen.


    A few minutes later a plate of escargots bathed in garlic butter was placed in front of Beauvoir with a bowl of minted sweetpea soup for Lacoste and cauliflower and stilton soup with pear and date relish for Gamache.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± said Lacoste, taking a spoonful. ¡°Fresh from the garden. Yours too, probably.¡± She nodded to Beauvoir¡¯s snails. He smirked but ate them anyway, dipping the crusty bread into the liquid garlic butter.


    Gamache was looking at the photographs. Slowly he lowered the pictures. It was like stumbling across King Tut¡¯s tomb.


    ¡°I have a call in to Superintendent Brunel,¡± he said.


    ¡°The head of property crime?¡± asked Lacoste. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel was an expert in art theft and a personal friend of Gamache.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to die when she sees that cabin,¡± Beauvoir laughed. Olivier removed their dishes.


    ¡°How could the dead man have collected all these things?¡± Gamache wondered. ¡°And gotten them in there?¡±


    ¡°And why?¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°But there were no personal items,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°Not a single photograph, no letters, bank books. ID. Nothing.¡±


    ¡°And no obvious murder weapon,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°We sent the fireplace poker and a couple of garden tools to be tested, but it doesn¡¯t look promising.¡±

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    ¡°But I did find something after you left.¡± Lacoste put a bag onto the table and opened it. ¡°It was way under the bed, against the wall. I missed it the first time I looked,¡± she explained. ¡°I fingerprinted it and took samples. They¡¯re on the way to the lab.¡±


    On the table was a carved piece of wood, stained with what looked like blood.


    Someone had whittled a word in the wood.


    Woe.


    TWENTY


    Agent Morin wandered round inside the cabin, humming. In one hand he gripped the satellite phone, in the other he gripped a piece of firewood. Not for the woodstove, which was lit and throwing good heat. Nor the fireplace, also lit and light. But in case anything came at him out of the shadows, out of the corners.


    He¡¯d lit all the oil lamps and all the candles. The dead man seemed to have made them himself, from paraffin left over after the preserves had been sealed.


    Morin missed his television. His cell phone. His girlfriend. His mother. He brought the phone up to his mouth again, then lowered it for what felt like the hundredth time.


    You can¡¯t call the Chief Inspector. What¡¯ll you say? You¡¯re scared? To be alone in a cabin in the woods? Where a man was murdered?


    And he sure couldn¡¯t call his mother. She¡¯d find a way to reach the cabin, and the team would find him next morning, with his mother. Ironing his shirts and frying bacon and eggs.


    No, he¡¯d rather die.


    He wandered around some more, poking things here and there, but being very, very careful. Elmer Fudd¨Clike he crept round, picking up glass and peering at odds and ends. A pane of amber at the kitchen window, an engraved silver candlestick. Eventually he took a sandwich from the brown paper bag and unfolded the waxed paper. Ham and Brie on baguette. Not bad. He took the Coca-Cola, snapped it open, then he sat by the fire. The chair was exceptionally comfortable. As he ate he relaxed and by the time he got to the pastry he was feeling himself again. He reached for the fiddle by his side, but thought better of it. Instead he took a book at random from the shelves and opened it.


    It was by an author he¡¯d never heard of. Some guy named Currer Bell. He started to read about a girl named Jane growing up in England. After a while his eyes, strained from reading by the weak light, grew tired. He thought it was probably time for bed. It must be after midnight.


    He looked at his watch. Eight thirty.


    Reaching over, he hesitated, then picked up the violin. Its wood was deep and seemed warm to the touch. He smoothed his young hand over it, softly, caressing and turning it round in practiced hands. He put it down quickly. He shouldn¡¯t be touching it. He went back to the book, but after a minute or so he found the fiddle in his hands again. Knowing he shouldn¡¯t, begging himself not to, he reached for the horse-hair bow. Knowing there was no going back now, he stood up.


    Agent Morin tucked the violin under his chin and drew the bow across the strings. The sound was deep and rich and seductive. It was more than the young agent could resist. Soon the comforting strains of ¡°Colm Quigley¡± filled the cabin. Almost to the corners.


    Their main courses had arrived. A fruit-stuffed Rock Cornish game hen, done on the spit, for Gamache; melted Brie, fresh tomato and basil fettuccine for Lacoste; and a lamb and prune tagine for Beauvoir. A platter of freshly harvested grilled vegetables was also brought to the table.


    Gamache¡¯s chicken was tender and tasty, delicately flavored with Pommery-style mustard and vermouth.


    ¡°What does that piece of wood mean?¡± Gamache asked his team as they ate.


    ¡°Well, it was just about the only thing in the cabin that wasn¡¯t an antique,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°And what with the whittling tools I¡¯m guessing he made it himself.¡±


    Gamache nodded. It was his guess as well. ¡°But why woe?¡±


    ¡°Could that be his name?¡± Beauvoir asked, but without enthusiasm.


    ¡°Monsieur Woe?¡± asked Lacoste. ¡°That might also explain why he lived alone in a cabin.¡±


    ¡°Why would someone carve that for himself?¡± Gamache put down his knife and fork. ¡°And you found nothing else in the cabin that looked as though it had been whittled?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°We found axes and hammers and saws. All well used. I think he must have made that cabin himself. But he sure didn¡¯t whittle it.¡±


    Woe, thought Gamache, picking up his knife and fork again. Was the Hermit that sad?


    ¡°Did you notice our photographs of the stream, sir?¡± Lacoste asked.


    ¡°I did. At least now we know how the dead man kept his groceries cool.¡±


    Agent Lacoste, on investigating the stream, had found a bag anchored there. And in it were jars of perishable foods. Dangling in the cold water.

 Page 82

    ¡°But he obviously didn¡¯t make his own milk and cheese, and no one remembers seeing him in the local shops,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°So that leaves us with one conclusion.¡±


    ¡°Someone was taking him supplies,¡± said Lacoste.


    ¡°Everything all right?¡± asked Olivier.


    ¡°Fine, patron, merci,¡± said Gamache with a smile.


    ¡°Do you need more mayonnaise or butter?¡± Olivier smiled back, trying not to look like a maniac. Trying to tell himself that no matter how many condiments or warm buns or glasses of wine he brought it would make no difference. He could never ingratiate himself.


    ¡°Non, merci,¡± said Lacoste, and reluctantly Olivier left.


    ¡°We at least have prints from the cabin. We should find out something tomorrow,¡± said Beauvoir.


    ¡°I think we know why he was killed just now,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°The paths,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°Roar Parra was cutting riding paths for Dominique. One path was almost at the cabin. Close enough to see it.¡±


    ¡°Which Madame Gilbert did,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°But we have only her word that she didn¡¯t find the cabin on an earlier ride.¡±


    ¡°Except that they didn¡¯t have the horses then,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°They didn¡¯t arrive until the day after the murder.¡±


    ¡°But she might have walked the old paths,¡± suggested Gamache, ¡°in preparation for the horses, and to tell Roar which ones he should open.¡±


    ¡°Roar might have walked them too,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°Or that son of his. Havoc. Parra said he was going to help him.¡±


    The other two thought. Still, there seemed no very good reason why either Parra would walk the old riding paths before clearing them.


    ¡°But why kill the recluse?¡± Lacoste said. ¡°Even supposing one of the Parras or Dominique Gilbert found him. It makes no sense. Killing for the treasure, maybe. But why leave it all there?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it wasn¡¯t,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°We know what we found. But maybe there was more.¡±


    It struck Gamache like a ton of bricks. Why hadn¡¯t he thought of that? He¡¯d been so overwhelmed by what was there, he¡¯d never even considered what might be missing.


    Agent Morin lay in the bed and tried to get comfortable. It felt strange to be sleeping in a bed made by a dead man.


    He closed his eyes. Turned over. Turned back. Opening his eyes he stared at the firelight flickering in the hearth. The cabin was less frightening. In fact, it was almost cozy.


    He punched the pillow a few times to fluff it up, but something resisted.


    Sitting up he took the pillow and scrunched it around. Sure enough, there was something besides feathers inside. He got up and lighting an oil lamp he took the pillow out of its case. A deep pocket had been sewn inside. Carefully, feeling like a vet with a pregnant horse, he slipped his arm in up to the elbow. His hand closed over something hard and knobby.


    Withdrawing it he held an object to the oil lamp. It was an intricate carving. Of men and women on a ship. They were all facing the bow. Morin marveled at the workmanship. Whoever carved this had captured the excitement of a journey. The same excitement Morin and his sister had felt as kids when they took family car trips to the Abitibi or the Gasp¨¦.


    He recognized the happy anticipation on the shipboard faces. Looking closer he saw most had bags and sacks and there was a variety of ages, from newborns to the very old and infirm. Some were ecstatic, some expectant, some calm and content.


    All were happy. It was a ship full of hope.


    The sails of the ship were, incredibly, carved of wood shaved thin. He turned it over. Something was scratched into the bottom. He took it right up to the lamp.


    OWSVI


    Was it Russian? Agent Lacoste thought the dead man might be Russian because of the icons. Was this his name? Written in that strange alphabet they use?


    Then he had an idea. He went back to the bed and tried the other pillow, which had been below the first. There was something hard in there too. Pulling it out he held another sculpture, also of wood, equally detailed. This one showed men and women gathered at a body of water, looking out at it. Some seemed perplexed, but most appeared content to just be there. He found letters scratched on the bottom of that one too.


    MRKBVYDDO


    Righting it again he placed it on the table beside the other one. There was a sense of joy, of hope, about these works. He stared at them with more fascination than he ever got from TV.


    But the more he looked the more uneasy he became until it felt as though something was watching him. He looked into the kitchen then quickly scanned the room. Turning back to the carvings he was surprised to find the sense of foreboding was coming from them.

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    He felt a creeping up and down his back and turned quickly into the dark room, instantly regretting not putting on more lamps. A glittering caught his attention. Up high. In the farthest corner of the cabin. Was it eyes?


    Picking up his piece of wood he crept closer, crouching down. As he approached the corner the glitter began to form a pattern. It was a spider¡¯s web, just catching the soft glow of the lamp. But there was something different about it. As his eyes adjusted the hair on the back of his neck rose.


    A word had been woven into the web.


    Woe.


    TWENTY-ONE


    Everyone was already around the table next morning when Morin arrived, more than a little disheveled. They glanced at him, and Agent Lacoste indicated the seat next to her, where, miraculously for the hungry young agent, there waited a bowl of strong caf¨¦ au lait along with a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and thick-cut toast with jams.


    Morin wolfed down the food and listened to the reports, and then it was his turn.


    He placed the two carvings on the table and moved them slowly to the center. So lively were the sculptures it looked as though the ship had taken sail and was moving on its own. And it looked as though the people on the shore were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the ship.


    ¡°What are those?¡± asked Gamache, rising from his chair and moving round the table for a closer look.


    ¡°I found them last night. They were hidden in the pillows on the bed.¡±


    The three officers looked stunned.


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± said Lacoste. ¡°In the pillows?¡±


    ¡°Sewn into the pillows on the bed. Well hidden, though I¡¯m not sure whether he was hiding them or protecting them.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call?¡± demanded Beauvoir, tearing his eyes from the carvings to look at Morin.


    ¡°Should I have?¡± He looked stricken, his eyes bouncing among the officers. ¡°I just thought there was nothing we could do until now anyway.¡±


    He¡¯d longed to call; only a mighty effort had stopped him from dialing the B and B and waking them all up. But he didn¡¯t want to give in to his fear. But he could see by their faces he¡¯d made a mistake.


    All his life he¡¯d been afraid, and all his life it had marred his judgment. He¡¯d hoped that had stopped, but apparently not.


    ¡°Next time,¡± the Chief said, looking at him sternly, ¡°call. We¡¯re a team, we need to know everything.¡±


    ¡°Oui, patron.¡±


    ¡°Have these been dusted?¡± Beauvoir asked.


    Morin nodded and held up an envelope. ¡°The prints.¡±


    Beauvoir grabbed it out of his hand and took it to his computer to scan in. But even from there his eyes kept going back to the two carvings.


    Gamache was leaning over the table, peering at them through his half-moon glasses


    ¡°They¡¯re remarkable.¡±


    The joy of the little wooden travelers was palpable. Gamache knelt down so that he was at eye level with the carvings, and they were sailing toward him. It seemed the carvings were two halves of a whole. A ship full of people sailing toward a shore. And more happy people waiting.


    So why did he feel uneasy? Why did he want to warn the ship to go back?


    ¡°There¡¯s something written on the bottom of each,¡± Morin offered. He picked one up and showed it to the Chief who looked then handed it to Lacoste. Beauvoir picked up the other and saw a series of letters. It was nonsense, but of course it wasn¡¯t really. It meant something. They just had to figure it out.


    ¡°Is it Russian?¡± Morin asked.


    ¡°No. The Russian alphabet is Cyrillic. This is the Roman alphabet,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°What does it mean?¡±


    The three more seasoned officers looked at each other.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± admitted the Chief Inspector. ¡°Most artisans mark their works, sign them in some way. Perhaps this is how the carver signed his works.¡±


    ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t the lettering under each carving be the same?¡± asked Morin.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. I¡¯m at a loss. Perhaps Superintendent Brunel can tell us. She¡¯ll be here this morning.¡±


    ¡°I found something else last night,¡± said Morin. ¡°I took a picture of it. It¡¯s still in my camera. You can¡¯t see it too well, but . . .¡±


    He turned on his digital camera and handed it to Beauvoir, who looked briefly at the image.


    ¡°Too small. I can¡¯t make it out. I¡¯ll throw it up onto the computer.¡±


    They continued to discuss the case while Beauvoir sat at his computer, downloading the image.


    ¡°Tabarnac,¡± they heard him whisper.

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    ¡°What is it?¡± Gamache walked to the desk. Lacoste joined him and they huddled round the flat screen.


    There was the web, and the word.


    Woe.


    ¡°What does it mean?¡± Beauvoir asked, almost to himself.


    Gamache shook his head. How could a spider have woven a word? And why that one? The same word they¡¯d found carved in wood and tossed under the bed.


    ¡°Some pig.¡±


    They looked at Lacoste.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°When I was in the outhouse yesterday I found a signed first edition.¡±


    ¡°About a girl named Jane?¡± Morin asked, then wished he hadn¡¯t. They all looked at him as though he¡¯d said ¡°some pig.¡± ¡°I found a book in the cabin,¡± he explained. ¡°By a guy named Currer Bell.¡±


    Lacoste looked blank, Gamache looked perplexed, and Morin didn¡¯t even want to think what look Beauvoir was giving him.


    ¡°Never mind. Go on.¡±


    ¡°It was Charlotte¡¯s Web, by E. B. White,¡± said Agent Lacoste. ¡°One of my favorites as a child.¡±


    ¡°My daughter¡¯s too,¡± said Gamache. He remembered reading the book over and over to the little girl who pretended she wasn¡¯t afraid of the dark. Afraid of the closed closet, afraid of the creaks and groans of the house. He¡¯d read to her every night until finally she¡¯d fall asleep.


    The book that gave her the most comfort, and that he¡¯d practically memorized, was Charlotte¡¯s Web.


    ¡°Some pig,¡± he repeated, and gave a low, rumbling laugh. ¡°The book¡¯s about a lonely piglet destined for the slaughterhouse. A spider named Charlotte befriends him and tries to save his life.¡±


    ¡°By weaving things about him into her web,¡± explained Lacoste. ¡°Things like ¡®Some pig¡¯ so the farmer would think Wilbur was special. The book in the outhouse is signed by the author.¡±


    Gamache shook his head. Incredible.


    ¡°Did it work?¡± asked Morin. ¡°Was the pig saved?¡±


    Beauvoir looked at him with disdain. And yet, he had to admit, he wanted to know as well.


    ¡°He was,¡± said Gamache. Then his brows drew together. Obviously in real life spiders don¡¯t weave messages into their webs. So who had put it there? And why? And why ¡°woe?¡±


    He was itching to get back up there.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else.¡±


    All eyes once again turned to the simple-looking agent.


    ¡°It¡¯s about the outhouse.¡± He turned to Lacoste. ¡°Did you notice anything?¡±


    ¡°You mean besides the signed first edition and the stacks of money as toilet paper?¡±


    ¡°Not inside. Outside.¡±


    She thought then shook her head.


    ¡°It was probably too dark,¡± said Agent Morin. ¡°I used it last night and didn¡¯t notice then either. It wasn¡¯t until this morning.¡±


    ¡°What, for God¡¯s sake?¡± Beauvoir snapped.


    ¡°There¡¯s a trail. It runs to the outhouse, but doesn¡¯t stop there. It goes on. I followed it this morning and it came out here.¡±


    ¡°At the Incident Room?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    ¡°Well, not exactly. It wound through the woods and came out up there.¡±


    He waved toward the hill overlooking the village.


    ¡°I marked the place it comes out. I think I can find it again.¡±


    ¡°That was foolish of you,¡± said Gamache. He looked stern and his voice was without warmth. Morin instantly reddened. ¡°Never, ever wander on your own into the woods, do you understand? You might have been lost.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯d find me, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    They all knew he would. Gamache had found them once, he¡¯d find them again.


    ¡°It was an unnecessary risk. Don¡¯t ever let your guard down.¡± Gamache¡¯s deep brown eyes were intense. ¡°A mistake could cost you your life. Or the life of someone else. Never relax. There are threats all around, from the woods, and from the killer we¡¯re hunting. Neither will forgive a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± said Gamache. He got up and the rest jumped to their feet. ¡°You need to show us where the path comes out.¡±


    Down in the village, Olivier stood at the window of the bistro, oblivious of the conversation and laughter of breakfasters behind him. He saw Gamache and the others walk along the ridge of the hill. They paused, then walked back and forth a bit. Even from there he could see Beauvoir gesture angrily at the young agent who always looked so clueless.


    It¡¯ll be fine, he repeated to himself. It¡¯ll be fine. Just smile.

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    Their pacing stopped. They stared at the forest, as he stared at them.


    And a wave crashed over Olivier, knocking the breath he¡¯d been holding for so long out of him. Knocking the fixed smile off his face.


    It was almost a relief. Almost.


    There it is,¡± said Morin.


    He¡¯d tied his belt around a branch. It had seemed a clever solution when he¡¯d done it, but now searching for a thin brown belt on the edge of a forest didn¡¯t seem such a brilliant idea.


    But they found it.


    Gamache looked at the path. Once you knew it was there it was obvious. It almost screamed. Like those optical illusions deliberately placed in paintings that once found you couldn¡¯t stop seeing. The tiger in the crockery, the spaceship in the garden.


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you at the cabin when I can,¡± said Gamache and watched with Lacoste as Beauvoir and Morin headed into the woods. Like nuns, he felt they were safe if not alone. It was, he supposed, a conceit. But it comforted him. He watched until he couldn¡¯t see them anymore. But still he waited, until he could no longer hear them. And only then did he descend into Three Pines.


    Peter and Clara Morrow were both in their studios when the doorbell rang. It was an odd, almost startling sound. No one they knew ever rang the bell, they just came in and made themselves at home. How often had Clara and Peter found Ruth in their living room? Feet up on the sofa reading a book and drinking a martini at ten in the morning, Rosa nestled on the worn carpet beside her. They thought they¡¯d have to call a priest to get rid of them.


    More than once they¡¯d found Gabri in their bath.


    ¡°Anybody home?¡± sang a man¡¯s deep voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Clara called.


    Peter didn¡¯t bother to answer. He was wandering around his studio, circling the work on the easel, getting close, then heading away. His mind might be on his art, as it always was, but his heart was elsewhere. Since word of Marc Gilbert¡¯s treachery had hit the village Peter had thought of little else.


    He¡¯d genuinely liked Marc. Was drawn to him in a way he felt drawn to cadmium yellow and marian blue, and Clara. He¡¯d felt excited, almost giddy, at the thought of visiting Marc. Having a quiet drink together. Talking. Going for walks.


    Marc Gilbert had ruined that as well. Trying to ruin Olivier was one thing, a terrible thing. But secretly Peter couldn¡¯t help but feel this was just as bad. Like taking a rusty nail to something lovely. And rare. At least for Peter.


    He hated Marc Gilbert now.


    Outside his studio he heard Clara talking, and a familiar voice replying.


    Armand Gamache.


    Peter decided to join them.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Clara offered the Chief Inspector, after he and Peter had greeted each other.


    ¡°Non, merci. I can¡¯t stay long. I¡¯ve come on business.¡±


    Clara thought that was a funny way of putting it. Murder business.


    ¡°You had a busy day yesterday,¡± said Clara, as the three of them sat at the kitchen table. ¡°It¡¯s all Three Pines can talk about. It¡¯s hard to know what¡¯s the most shocking. That Marc Gilbert was the one who moved the body, that Vincent Gilbert¡¯s here or that the dead man seemed to be living in the forest all along. Did he really live there?¡±


    ¡°We think so, but we¡¯re just waiting for confirmation. We still don¡¯t know who he was.¡±


    Gamache watched them closely. They seemed as puzzled as he was.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe no one knew he was there,¡± said Clara.


    ¡°We think someone knew. Someone was taking him food. We found it on the counter.¡±


    They looked at each other in amazement.


    ¡°One of us? Who?¡±


    One of us, thought Gamache. Three short words, but potent. They more than anything had launched a thousand ships, a thousand attacks. One of us. A circle drawn. And closed. A boundary marked. Those inside and those not.


    Families, clubs, gangs, cities, states, countries. A village.


    What had Myrna called it? Beyond the pale.


    But it went beyond simple belonging. The reason ¡°belonging¡± was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty. If you were ¡°one of us¡± you were protected.


    Was that what he was up against, Gamache wondered. Not just the struggle to find the killer, but the efforts of those on the inside to protect him? Was the drawbridge up? The pale closed? Was Three Pines protecting a killer? One of them?


    ¡°Why would someone take him food then kill him?¡± asked Clara.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± agreed Peter.


    ¡°Unless the murderer didn¡¯t show up intending to kill,¡± said Gamache. ¡°Maybe something happened to provoke him.¡±

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    ¡°Okay, but then if he lashed out and murdered the man, wouldn¡¯t he have just run away? Why take the body all the way through the woods to the Gilbert place?¡± asked Clara.


    ¡°Why indeed,¡± asked Gamache. ¡°Any theories?¡±


    ¡°Because he wanted the body found,¡± said Peter. ¡°And the Gilberts¡¯ is the nearest place.¡±


    The murderer wanted the body found. Why? Most murderers went to huge lengths to hide the crime. Why had this man advertised it?


    ¡°Either the body found,¡± Peter continued, ¡°or the cabin.¡±


    ¡°We think it would have been found in a few days anyway,¡± Gamache said. ¡°Roar Parra was cutting riding paths in that area.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not being much help,¡± said Clara.


    Gamache reached into his satchel. ¡°I actually came by to show you something we found in the cabin. I¡¯d like your opinions.¡±


    He brought out two towels and placed them carefully on the table. They looked like newborns, protected against a chilly world. He slowly unwrapped them.


    Clara leaned in.


    ¡°Look at their faces.¡± She looked up directly into Gamache¡¯s. ¡°So beautiful.¡±


    He nodded. They were. Not just their features. It was their joy, their vitality, that made them beautiful.


    ¡°May I?¡± Peter reached out and Gamache nodded. He picked up one of the sculptures and turned it over.


    ¡°There¡¯s writing, but I can¡¯t make it out. A signature?¡±


    ¡°Of sorts, perhaps,¡± said Gamache. ¡°We haven¡¯t figured out what the letters mean.¡±


    Peter studied the two works, the ship and the shore. ¡°Did the dead man carve them?¡±


    ¡°We think so.¡±


    Though, given what else was in the cabin, it wouldn¡¯t have surprised Gamache to discover they were carved by Michelangelo. The difference was every other piece was in plain sight, but the dead man had kept these hidden. Somehow these were different.


    As he watched he saw first Clara¡¯s then Peter¡¯s smile fade until they both looked almost unhappy. Certainly uncomfortable. Clara fidgeted in her chair. It had taken the Morrows less time than it took the S?ret¨¦ officers that morning to sense something wrong. Not surprising, thought Gamache. The Morrows were artists and presumably more in tune with their feelings.


    The carvings emanated delight, joy. But beneath that was something else. A minor key, a dark note.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with them,¡± said Clara. ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me what?¡±


    Peter and Clara continued to stare at the pieces, then looked at each other. Finally they looked at Gamache.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± said Peter. ¡°Sometimes with art it can be subliminal, unintended by the artist even. A proportion slightly off. A color that jars.¡±


    ¡°I can tell you though,¡± said Clara, ¡°they¡¯re great works of art.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± asked Gamache.


    ¡°Because they provoke a strong emotion. All great art does.¡±


    Clara considered the carvings again. Was there too much joy? Was that the problem? Was too much beauty and delight and hope disquieting?


    She thought not, hoped not. No, it was something else about these works.


    ¡°That reminds me,¡± said Peter. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a meeting with Denis Fortin in a few minutes?¡±


    ¡°Oh, damn, damn, damn,¡± said Clara, springing up from the table.


    ¡°I won¡¯t keep you,¡± said Gamache, rewrapping the sculptures.


    ¡°I have a thought,¡± she said, joining Gamache at the door. ¡°Monsieur Fortin might know more about sculpture than us. Hard to know less, really. Can I show one to him?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a good idea,¡± said Gamache. ¡°A very good idea. Where¡¯re you meeting him?¡±


    ¡°In the bistro in five minutes.¡±


    Gamache took one of the towels out of his satchel and handed it to Clara.


    ¡°This is great,¡± she said as they walked down the path to the road. ¡°I¡¯ll just tell him I made it.¡±


    ¡°Would you have liked to?¡±


    Clara remembered the blossoming horror in her chest as she¡¯d looked at the carvings.


    ¡°No,¡± she said.


    TWENTY-TWO


    Gamache arrived back at the Incident Room to find Superintendent Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel sitting at the conference table, surrounded by photographs. As he entered she rose, smiling.


    ¡°Chief Inspector.¡± She advanced, her hand out. ¡°Agent Lacoste has made me so comfortable I feel I could move right in.¡±

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    Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel was of retirement age, though no one in the S?ret¨¦ would ever point that out. Not out of fear of the charming woman, or delicacy. But because she, more than any of them, was irreplaceable.


    She¡¯d presented herself at the S?ret¨¦ recruitment office two decades earlier. The young officer on duty thought it was a joke. Here was a sophisticated woman in her mid-forties, dressed in Chanel and wanting an application form. He¡¯d given it to her, thinking it was almost certainly a threat for a disappointing son or daughter, then watched with increasing bafflement as she¡¯d sat, legs crossed at the ankles, delicate perfume just a hint in the air, and filled it out herself.


    Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel had been the chief of acquisitions at the world famous Mus¨¦e des Beaux Arts in Montreal, but had nursed a secret passion for puzzles. Puzzles of all sorts. And once her children had gone off to college she¡¯d marched right over to the S?ret¨¦ and signed up. What greater puzzle could there be than unravelling a crime? Then, taking classes at the police college from Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, she¡¯d discovered another puzzle and passion. The human mind.


    She now out-ranked her mentor and was the head of the property crime division. She was in her mid-sixties and as vibrant as ever.


    Gamache shook her hand warmly. ¡°Superintendent Brunel.¡±


    Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel and her husband J¨¦r?me had often been to the Gamaches¡¯ for dinner, and had them back to their own apartment on rue Laurier. But at work they were ¡°Chief Inspector¡± and ¡°Superintendent.¡±


    He then walked over to Agent Lacoste, who¡¯d also stood as he entered.


    ¡°Anything yet?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°But I just called and they expect the lab results any moment.¡±


    ¡°Bon. Merci.¡± He nodded to Agent Lacoste and she sat once more at her computer. Then he turned his attention to Superintendent Brunel.


    ¡°We¡¯re expecting fingerprint results. I really am most grateful to you for coming at such short notice.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯est un plaisir. Besides, what could be more exciting?¡± She led him back to the conference table and leaning close she whispered, ¡°Voyons, Armand, is this for real?¡±


    She pointed to the photographs scattered across the table.


    ¡°It is,¡± he whispered back. ¡°And we might need J¨¦r?me¡¯s help as well.¡±


    J¨¦r?me Brunel, now retired from medicine, had long shared his wife¡¯s love of puzzles, but while hers veered toward the human mind, his settled firmly on ciphers. Codes. From his comfortable and disheveled study in their Montreal home he entertained desperate diplomats and security people. Sometimes cracking cryptic codes and sometimes creating them.


    He was a jolly and cultured man.


    Gamache took the carving from his bag, unwrapped it and placed it on the table. Once again the blissful passengers were sailing across the conference table.


    ¡°Very nice,¡± she said, putting on her glasses and leaning closer. ¡°Very nice indeed,¡± she mumbled to herself as she studied the piece, not touching it. ¡°Beautifully made. Whoever the artist is, he knows wood, feels it. And knows art.¡±


    She stepped back now and stared. Gamache waited for it, and sure enough her smile faded and she even leaned a little away from the work.


    This was the third time he¡¯d seen it that morning. And he had felt it himself. The carvings seemed to burrow to the core, to the part most deeply hidden and the part most commonly shared. They found people¡¯s humanity. Then, like a dentist, they began to drill. Until that joy turned to dread.


    After a moment her face cleared, and the professional mask descended. The problem-solver replaced the person. She leaned in to the work, moving herself round the table, not touching the carving. Finally, when she¡¯d seen it from all angles, she picked it up, and like everyone else looked underneath.


    ¡°OWSVI,¡± she read. ¡°Upper case. Scratched into the wood, not painted.¡± She sounded like a coroner, dissecting and dictating. ¡°It¡¯s a heavy wood, a hardwood. Cherry?¡± She looked closer and even sniffed. ¡°No, the grain isn¡¯t right. Cedar? No, the color is off, unless . . .¡± She took it to the window and placed it in a stream of sunshine. Then lowering it she smiled at Gamache over her glasses. ¡°Cedar. Redwood. From British Columbia almost certainly. It¡¯s a good choice of wood, you know. Cedar lasts forever, especially the redwood. It¡¯s a very hard wood too. And yet it¡¯s surprisingly easy to sculpt. The Haida on the west coast used it for centuries to make totem poles.¡±

 Page 88

    ¡°And they¡¯re still standing.¡±


    ¡°They would be, if most of them hadn¡¯t been destroyed in the late 1800s by the government or the church. But you can still see a fine one in the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.¡±


    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on either of them.


    ¡°So what are you doing here?¡± she said to the sculpture. ¡°And what are you so afraid of?¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    Over at her desk Agent Lacoste looked up, wanting to know the answer too.


    ¡°Surely you felt it too, Armand?¡± She¡¯d used his first name, a sign that while she appeared composed she was in fact nonplussed. ¡°There¡¯s something cold about this work. I hesitate to say evil . . .¡±


    Gamache cocked his head in surprise. Evil wasn¡¯t a word he heard often outside a sermon. Brutal, malevolent, cruel, yes. Horror, even; investigators sometimes talked about the horror of a crime.


    But never evil. But that was what made Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel a brilliant investigator, a solver of puzzles and crimes. And his friend. She placed conviction above convention.


    ¡°Evil?¡± asked Lacoste from her desk.


    Superintendent Brunel looked at Agent Lacoste. ¡°I said I hesitated to call it that.¡±


    ¡°And do you still hesitate?¡± Gamache asked.


    Brunel picked up the work once again and bringing it up to eye level she peered at the Lilliputian passengers. All dressed for a long voyage, the babies in blankets, the women with bags of bread and cheese, the men strong and resolute. And all looking ahead, looking forward to something wonderful. The detail was exquisite.


    She turned it round then jerked it away from her as though it had bitten her nose.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found the worm,¡± she said.


    Neither Carole Gilbert nor her son had slept well the night before, and she suspected Dominique hadn¡¯t either. To Vincent, sleeping in the small room off the landing, she gave no thought. Or rather every time he emerged into her conscious mind she shoved him back into his little room, and tried to lock the door.


    It had been a lovely, soft dawn. She¡¯d shuffled around the kitchen making a pot of strong French Press¨¦ coffee, then putting a mohair throw round her shoulders she¡¯d picked up the tray and taken it outside, installing herself on the quiet patio overlooking the garden and the mist-covered fields.


    The day before had felt like one endless emergency, with claxtons sounding in her head for hours on end. They¡¯d pulled together as a family and presented a united front through revelation after revelation.


    That Marc¡¯s father was still alive.


    That Vincent was in fact standing right there.


    That the murdered man had been found in their new home.


    And that Marc had moved him. To the bistro. In a deliberate attempt to hurt, perhaps even ruin, Olivier.


    By the time Chief Inspector Gamache had left they all felt punch-drunk. Too dazed and tired to go at each other. Marc had made his feelings clear, then gone into the spa area to plaster and paint and hammer. Vincent had had the sense to leave, only returning late that night. And Dominique had found the cabin while out riding on the least damaged of the horses.


    ¡¯Twould ring the bells of Heaven, Carole thought to herself as she stared at the horses, now in the misty field. Grazing. Leery of one another. Even from there she could see their sores.


    The wildest peal for years,


    If Parson lost his senses


    And people came to theirs,


    And he and they together


    knelt down with fervent prayers


    For tamed and shabby tigers,


    And dancing dogs and bears.


    ¡°Mother.¡±


    Carole jumped, lost in her own thoughts and now found by her son. She got to her feet. He looked bleary, but showered and shaved. His voice was cold, distant. They stared at each other. Would they blink, sit down, pour coffee and talk about the weather? The headlines? The horses. Would they try to pretend the storm wasn¡¯t all around them? And wasn¡¯t of their own making.


    Who had done worse? Carole by lying to her son for years, and telling him his father was dead? Or Marc by moving a dead man down to the bistro, and in one gesture ruining their chances of being accepted in the small community.


    She¡¯d marred his past, and he¡¯d marred their future.


    They were quite a team.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Carole, and opened her arms. Silently Marc moved across the stones and almost fell into them. He was tall and she wasn¡¯t, but still she held him and rubbed his back and whispered, ¡°There, there.¡±


    Then they sat, the tray with croissants and fresh strawberry jam between them. The world looked very green that morning, very fresh, from the tall maples and oaks to the meadow. Marc poured coffee while Carole pulled the mohair throw round her shoulders and watched as the horses ate grass in the field and occasionally looked up into a day they should not have seen, into a world they should have left two days ago. Even now, standing in the mist, they seemed to straddle the two worlds.

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    ¡°They almost look like horses,¡± said Marc, ¡°if you squint.¡±


    Carole looked over at her son and laughed. He was making a face, trying to morph the creatures in the field into the magnificent hunters he¡¯d been expecting.


    ¡°Seriously, is that really a horse?¡± He pointed to Chester, who in the uncertain light looked like a camel.


    Carole was suddenly very sad that they might have to leave this house, cast out by their own actions. The garden had never looked lovelier, and with time it would only get better as it matured and the various plants mingled and grew together.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about that one.¡± Marc pointed to the darkest horse, off on his own. ¡°Thunder.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well.¡± Carole shifted uncomfortably to look at him. ¡°About him . . .¡±


    ¡°Suppose he decides to bite one of the guests? Not that I don¡¯t appreciate what he did to Dad.¡±


    Carole suppressed a smile. Seeing the Great Man with horse slime on his shoulder was the only good thing about a very bad day.


    ¡°What do you suggest?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Carole was silent. They both knew what Marc was suggesting. If the horse didn¡¯t learn manners in a month, by Thanksgiving he¡¯d have to be put down.


    ¡°For wretched, blind pit ponies,¡± she murmured. ¡°And little hunted hares.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± asked Marc.


    ¡°His, ah, his name isn¡¯t really Thunder. It¡¯s Marc.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± But neither was laughing. Marc looked out into the field at the malevolent, mad animal keeping his distance from the others. A black blotch in the misty meadow. Like a mistake. A mar.


    A Marc.


    Later, when Marc headed off with Dominique to get groceries and building supplies, Carole found four carrots in the kitchen and fed them to the horses, who at first were reluctant to trust. But first Buttercup, then Macaroni and finally Chester tiptoed forward and seemed to kiss the carrot off her palm.


    But one remained.


    She whispered to Marc the horse, cooing at him. Enticing him. Begging him. Standing at the fence she leaned forward, quietly holding the carrot out as far as she could. ¡°Please,¡± she coaxed. ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    But he didn¡¯t believe her.


    She went inside, climbed the stairs and knocked on the door to the small bedroom.


    Armand Gamache took the carving and stared into the crowd on deck.


    It was easy to miss, but still he could have kicked himself. It now appeared so obvious. The small figure at the very back of the boat, crouching just in front of the matronly woman and her large sack.


    He felt his skin crawl as he examined the face of the tiny wooden man, barely more than a boy, looking over his shoulder. Past the matronly woman. Looking behind the boat. While everyone else was gazing ahead, he was slumped down and staring back. To where they¡¯d been.


    And the look on his face turned Gamache¡¯s blood cold. Cold to the bone, cold to the marrow. Cold to the core.


    This was what terror looked like. Felt like. The small, wooden face was a transmitter. And its message was horrific. Gamache suddenly had the nearly uncontrollable urge to look behind himself, see what might be lurking there. Instead, he put his glasses on and leaned closer.


    In his arms the young man was gripping a package.


    Finally Gamache put it down and removed his glasses. ¡°I see what you mean.¡±


    Superintendent Brunel sighed. ¡°Evil. There¡¯s evil on that voyage.¡±


    Gamache didn¡¯t disagree. ¡°Does it look familiar? Could the carving be on your active list of stolen art?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯re thousands of items on that list,¡± she smiled. ¡°Everything from Rembrands to engraved toothpicks.¡±


    ¡°And I bet you have them all memorized.¡±


    Her smile broadened and she inclined her head slightly. He knew her well.


    ¡°But nothing like this. It would stand out.¡±


    ¡°Is it art?¡±


    ¡°If you mean is it valuable, I¡¯d say it¡¯s almost priceless. If one of these had come on the market while I was at the Mus¨¦e des Beaux Arts I¡¯d have jumped at it. And paid a small fortune.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    She looked at the large, calm man in front of her. So like an academic. She could see him in cap and gown moving like a ship of state through the halls of an ancient university, eager students in his wake. When she¡¯d first met him, lecturing at the police college, he¡¯d been twenty years younger but still a commanding figure. Now he carried that authority with even greater ease. His wavy dark hair was receding, his temples were graying as was his trim mustache, his body was expanding. As was, she knew, his influence.

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    He¡¯d taught her many things. But one of the most valuable was not to just see, but to listen. As he listened to her now.


    ¡°What makes a work of art unique isn¡¯t its color or composition or subject. It has nothing whatsoever to do with what we see. Why are some paintings masterpieces while others, perhaps even more competent, are forgotten? Why are some symphonies still beloved hundreds of years after the composer has died?¡±


    Gamache thought about it. And what came to mind was the painting placed so causally on an easel after dinner a few nights ago. Badly lit, unframed.


    And yet he could have stared at it forever.


    It was the painting of the elderly woman, her body headed forward, but her face turned back.


    He¡¯d known her longing. That same root which spasmed when gazing at the carving had ached when he¡¯d looked at that woman. Clara hadn¡¯t simply painted a woman, hadn¡¯t even painted a feeling. She¡¯d created a world. In that one image.


    That was a masterpiece.


    He suddenly felt very badly for Peter, and hoped deeply that Peter was no longer trying to compete with his wife. She was nowhere to be found on that battlefield.


    ¡°That,¡± Superintendent Brunel pointed with one manicured finger at the carving, ¡°will be remembered long after you and I are dead. Long after this charming village has fallen to dust.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s another one, you know,¡± he said and had the rare pleasure of seeing Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel surprised. ¡°But before we see it I think we should head to the cabin.¡±


    He looked at her feet. She wore elegant new shoes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve brought boots with me, Chief Inspector,¡± she said, her voice holding a faint and mocking reproach as she walked briskly ahead of him to the door. ¡°When have you ever taken me anywhere that didn¡¯t have mud?¡±


    ¡°I believe they hosed down Place des Arts before the last symphony we were at,¡± he said, smiling over his shoulder at Agent Lacoste as they left.


    ¡°Professionally, I meant. Always mud and always a body.¡±


    ¡°Well this time there is certainly mud, but no body.¡±


    ¡°Sir.¡± Lacoste jogged over to the car, holding a printout. ¡°I thought you¡¯d like to see this.¡±


    She handed the paper to him and pointed. It was a lab report. The results were beginning to come in, and would continue all day. And this one brought a satisfied smile to his face. He turned to Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel.


    ¡°They found woodchips, sawdust really, beside a chair in the cabin. They also found traces on his clothes. The lab says it was red cedar. From British Columbia.¡±


    ¡°I guess we found the artist,¡± she said. ¡°Now if we only knew why he carved so much terror.¡±


    Why indeed, thought Gamache as he got into the car and drove up du Moulin. ATVs were waiting for them and they headed deep into the Quebec forest. A professor and an elegant expert on art. Neither was as they appeared, and they were heading for a rustic cabin that certainly wasn¡¯t.


    Gamache stopped the ATV just before the final turn in the path. He and Superintendent Brunel dismounted and walked the rest of the way. It was another world inside the forest, and he wanted to give her a feeling for where the victim had chosen to live. A world of cool shadows and diffuse light, of rich dark scents of things decaying. Of creatures unseen but heard, scampering and scurrying.


    Gamache and Brunel were very aware of being the outsiders here.


    And yet it wasn¡¯t threatening. Not now. In twelve hours, when the sun was down, it would feel different again.


    ¡°I see what you mean.¡± Brunel looked around. ¡°A man could easily live here without being found. It¡¯s very peaceful, isn¡¯t it?¡± She sounded almost wistful.


    ¡°Could you live here?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°I think I could, you know. Does that surprise you?¡±


    Gamache was silent but smiled as he walked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need much,¡± she continued. ¡°I used to. When I was younger. Trips to Paris, a nice apartment, good clothes. I have all that now. And I¡¯m happy.¡±


    ¡°But not because you have those thing,¡± suggested Gamache.


    ¡°As I get older I need less and less. I really believe I could live here. Between us, Armand? Part of me yearns for it. Could you?¡±


    He nodded and saw again the simple little cabin. One room.


    ¡°One chair for solitude, two for friendship and three for society,¡± he said.


    ¡°Walden. And how many chairs would you need?¡±


    Gamache thought about it. ¡°Two. I don¡¯t mind society, but I need one other person.¡±

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    ¡°Reine-Marie,¡± said Th¨¦r¨¨se. ¡°And I only need J¨¦r?me.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a first edition of Walden in the cabin, you know.¡±


    Th¨¦r¨¨se sighed. ¡°Incroyable. Who was this man, Armand? Do you have any idea?¡±


    ¡°None.¡±


    He stopped and beside him she stopped too, following his gaze.


    At first it was difficult to see, but then, slowly, she made out the simple log cabin, as though it had materialized just for them. And was inviting them in.


    Come in,¡± he said.


    Carole Gilbert breathed deeply then stepped forward, past the solid ground she¡¯d cultivated for decades. Past the quiet lunches with lifelong friends, past the bridge nights and volunteer shifts, past the enjoyable rainy afternoons reading by the window watching the container ships move slowly up and down the St. Lawrence river. She plunged past this gentle widow¡¯s life within the fortified old walls of Quebec City, constructed to keep anything unpleasant out.


    ¡°Hello, Carole.¡±


    The tall, slender man stood in the center of the room, contained. Looking as though he¡¯d been expecting her. Her heart pounded and her hands and feet had gone cold, numb. She was a little afraid she¡¯d fall down. Not faint, but lose all ability to stand up for herself.


    ¡°Vincent.¡± Her voice was firm.


    His body had changed. That body she knew better than most. It had shrunk, shriveled. His hair, once thick and shiny, had thinned and grown almost white. His eyes were still brown, but where they¡¯d been sharp and sure now they were questioning.


    He held out one hand. It all seemed to happen excruciatingly slowly. The hand had spots on it she didn¡¯t recognize. How often had she held that hand in the first years, then later longed for it to hold her? How often had she stared at it as it held Le Devoir up to his face? Her only contact with the man she¡¯d given her heart to, those long, sensitive fingers holding the daily news that was clearly more important than her news. Those fingers were evidence of another human in the room, but barely. Barely there and barely human.


    And then one day he¡¯d lowered the paper, stared at her with laser eyes and said he wasn¡¯t happy.


    She¡¯d laughed.


    It was, she remembered, a genuinely mirthful laugh. Not that she thought it was a joke. It was because he was serious. This brilliant man actually seemed to think if he wasn¡¯t happy it was a catastrophe.


    It was, in many ways, perfect. Like so many men his age he was having an affair. She¡¯d known it for years. But this affair he was having was with himself. He adored himself. In fact, that was just about the only thing they had in common. They both loved Vincent Gilbert.


    But suddenly that wasn¡¯t enough. He needed more. And like the great man he knew he was, the answer could never be found close to home. It would have to be hiding in some mountain cave in India.


    Because he was so extraordinary, his salvation would have to be too.


    They¡¯d spent the rest of the breakfast plotting his death. It appealed to Vincent¡¯s sense of drama, and her sense of relief. It was, ironically, the best talk they¡¯d had in years.


    Of course, they¡¯d made one very big mistake. They should have told Marc. But who¡¯d have thought he¡¯d care?


    Too late she¡¯d realized¡ªwas it less than a day ago?¡ªthat Marc had been deeply damaged by his father¡¯s death. Not the actual death, mind. That he¡¯d accepted easily. No, it was his father¡¯s resurrection that had created the scars, as though Vincent, in rising, had clawed his way past Marc¡¯s heart.


    And now the man stood, shriveled, dotted and maybe even dotty, with one unwavering hand out. Inviting her in.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± she said.


    He lowered his hand and nodded. She waited for him to point out her faults and flaws, all the mistakes she¡¯d made, the immeasurable hurt she¡¯d caused him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Vincent. She nodded.


    ¡°I know you are. So am I.¡± She sat on the side of the bed and patted it. He sat next to her. This close she could see worry lines crawling over his face. It struck her as interesting that worry lines only appeared on the head.


    ¡°You look well. Are you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I wish none of this had happened.¡±


    ¡°Including my coming back?¡± He smiled and took her hand.


    But instead of setting her heart racing, it turned her heart to stone. And she realized she didn¡¯t trust this man, who¡¯d blown in from the past and was suddenly eating their food and sleeping in their bed.


    He was like Pinocchio. A man made of wood, mimicking humanity. Shiny and smiling and fake. And if you cut into him you¡¯d see rings. Circles of deceit and scheming and justification. It¡¯s what he was made of. That hadn¡¯t changed.

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    Lies within lies within lies lay within this man. And now he was here, inside their home. And suddenly their lives were unravelling.


    TWENTY-THREE


    ¡°Bon Dieu.¡±


    It was all Superintendent Brunel could say, and she said it over and over as she walked round the log cabin. Every now and then she stopped and picked up an object. Her eyes widened as she stared at it, then replaced it. Carefully. And went on to the next.


    ¡°Mais, ce n¡¯est pas possible. This¡¯s from the Amber Room, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± She approached the glowing orange panel leaning against the kitchen window. ¡°Bon Dieu, it is,¡± she whispered and all but crossed herself.


    The Chief Inspector watched for a while. He knew she hadn¡¯t really been prepared for what she¡¯d find. He¡¯d tried to warn her, though he knew the photographs didn¡¯t do the place justice. He¡¯d told her about the fine china.


    The leaded crystal.


    The signed first editions.


    The tapestries.


    The icons.


    ¡°Is that a violin?¡± She pointed to the instrument by the easy chair, its wood deep and warm.


    ¡°It¡¯s moved,¡± said Beauvoir, then stared at the young agent. ¡°Did you touch it last night?¡±


    Morin blushed and looked frightened. ¡°A little. I just picked it up. And . . .¡±


    Superintendent Brunel held it now up to the light at the window, tipping it this way and that. ¡°Chief Inspector, can you read this?¡± She handed him the violin and pointed to a label. As Gamache tried to read she picked up the bow and examined it.


    ¡°A Tourte bow,¡± she almost snorted and looked at their blank faces. ¡°Worth a couple of hundred thousand.¡± She batted it in their direction then turned to Gamache. ¡°Does it say Stradivari?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. It seems to say Anno 1738,¡± he strained, ¡°Carlos something. Fece in Cremona.¡± He took off his glasses and looked at Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel. ¡°Mean anything to you?¡±


    She was smiling and still holding the bow. ¡°Carlos Bergonzi. He was a luthier. Stradivari¡¯s best pupil.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s not the finest violin?¡± asked Beauvoir, who¡¯d at least heard of Stradivarius violins, but never this other guy.


    ¡°Perhaps not quite as fine as his master, but a Bergonzi is still worth a million.¡±


    ¡°A Bergonzi?¡± said Morin.


    ¡°Yes. Do you know about them?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but we found some original sheet music for violin with a note attached. It mentions a Bergonzi.¡± Morin went over to the bookcase and rummaged for a moment, emerging with a sheaf of music and a card. He handed it to the Superintendent who glanced at it and passed it on to Gamache.


    ¡°Any idea what language it¡¯s in?¡± she asked. ¡°Not Russian, not Greek.¡±


    Gamache read. It seemed addressed to a B, it mentioned a Bergonzi and was signed C. The rest was unintelligible, though it seemed to include terms of endearment. It was dated December 8, 1950.


    ¡°Could B be the victim?¡± Brunel asked.


    Gamache shook his head. ¡°The dates don¡¯t match. He wouldn¡¯t have been born yet. And I presume B couldn¡¯t be Bergonzi?¡±


    ¡°No, too late. He was long dead. So who were B and C and why did our man collect the music and the card?¡± Brunel asked herself. She glanced at the sheet music and smiled. Handing the sheaf to Gamache she pointed to the top line. The music was composed by a BM.


    ¡°So,¡± said Gamache, lowering the pages. ¡°This original score was composed by a BM. The note attached was addressed to a B and mentions a Bergonzi violin. Seems logical to assume B played the violin and composed and someone, C, gave him this gift.¡± He nodded to the violin. ¡°So who was BM and why did our victim have his music and his violin?¡±


    ¡°Is it any good?¡± Brunel asked Morin. Gamache handed him the score. The young agent, mouth slightly open, thick lips glistening, was looking particularly stupid. He stared at the music and hummed. Then looked up.


    ¡°Seems okay.¡±


    ¡°Play it.¡± Gamache handed him the million-dollar violin. Morin took it, reluctantly. ¡°You played it last night, didn¡¯t you?¡± the Chief asked.


    ¡°You what?¡± demanded Beauvoir.


    Morin turned to him. ¡°It¡¯d been dusted and photographed and I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d matter.¡±


    ¡°Did you also juggle the china or have batting practice with the glasses? You don¡¯t mess around with evidence.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Play the music, please,¡± said Gamache. Superintendent Brunel gave him the near-priceless bow.

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    ¡°I didn¡¯t play this last night. I only really know fiddle music.¡±


    ¡°Just do your best,¡± said the Chief.


    Agent Morin hesitated then placed the violin under his chin and curving his body he brought the bow up. And down. Across the gut strings.


    The slow, full notes of a tune left the instrument. So rich was the sound the notes were almost visible as they filled the air. The tune they heard was slower than intended by BM, Gamache suspected, since Agent Morin was stuggling to follow the music. But it was still beautiful, complex and accomplished. Obviously BM knew what he was doing. Gamache closed his eyes and imagined the dead man there, alone. On a winter¡¯s night. Snow piling up outside. A simple vegetable soup on the stove, the fireplace lit and throwing heat. And the small cabin filled with music. This music.


    Why this music and no other?


    ¡°Do you know it?¡± Gamache looked at Superintendent Brunel, who was listening with her eyes closed. She shook her head and opened her eyes.


    ¡°Non, but it¡¯s lovely. I wonder who BM was.¡±


    Morin lowered the violin, relieved to stop.


    ¡°Was the violin in tune when you played yesterday or did you have to adjust it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It was in tune. He must have played it recently.¡± He went to put it down but the Chief Inspector stopped him.


    ¡°What did you play last night, if not that?¡± He pointed to the sheet music.


    ¡°Just some fiddle music my father taught me. Nothing much. I know I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡±


    Gamache put up his hand to silence the apologies. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Just play for us now what you played last night.¡±


    When Morin looked surprised Gamache explained, ¡°What you just did wasn¡¯t really a fair test for the violin, was it? You were picking out the tune. I¡¯d like to hear the violin as the victim heard it. As it was meant to be played.¡±


    ¡°But, sir, I only play fiddle, not violin.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Gamache asked.


    Morin hesitated. ¡°No real difference, at least not in the instrument. But the sound of course is different. My dad always said a violin sings and a fiddle dances.¡±


    ¡°Dance, then.¡±


    Morin, blushing in the most unbecoming way, put the fiddle, n¨¦ violin, up to his chin once again. Paused. Then drew the bow across the strings.


    What came out surprised them all. A Celtic lament left the bow, left the violin, left the agent. It filled the cabin, filled the rafters. Almost into the corners. The simple tune swirled around them like colors and delicious meals and conversation. And it lodged in their chests. Not their ears, not their heads. But their hearts. Slow, dignified, but buoyant. It was played with confidence. With poise.


    Agent Morin had changed. His loose-limbed awkward body contorted perfectly for the violin, as though created and designed for this purpose. To play. To produce this music. His eyes were closed and he looked the way Gamache felt. Filled with joy. Rapture even. Such was the power of this music. This instrument.


    And watching his agent the Chief Inspector suddenly realized what Morin reminded him of.


    A musical note. The large head and the thin body. He was a walking note, awaiting an instrument. And this was it. The violin might be a masterpiece, but Agent Paul Morin certainly was.


    After a minute he stopped and the music faded, absorbed by the logs, the books, the tapestries. The people.


    ¡°That was beautiful,¡± said Superintendent Brunel.


    He handed the violin to her. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®Colm Quigley.¡¯ My favorite.¡±


    As soon as the violin left his hand he went back to being the gangly, awkward young man. Though never again totally that for the people who had heard him play.


    ¡°Merci,¡± said Gamache.


    Superintendent Brunel put the violin down.


    ¡°Let me know what you find out about these.¡± Gamache handed Morin the note and sheet music.


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    Th¨¦r¨¨se Brunel returned to the rest of the room, walking up to the treasures, mumbling ¡°Bon Dieu¡± every now and then. Each seemed more astonishing than the last.


    But nothing was more surprising than what awaited Chief Inspector Gamache. In the farthest corner of the cabin, near the rafters. If the search team the day before had seen it they¡¯d have dismissed it as the only normal thing in the whole place. What could be more natural than a spider¡¯s web in a cabin?


    But it turned out to be the least normal, the least natural.


    ¡°Bon Dieu,¡± they heard from the Superintendent as she held up a plate with frogs on it. ¡°From the collection of Catherine the Great. Lost hundreds of years ago. Unbelievable.¡±

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    But if she wanted ¡°unbelievable,¡± thought Gamache, she needed to look over here. Beauvoir had turned on his flashlight.


    Until he¡¯d seen it Gamache hadn¡¯t quite believed it. But there it was, twinkling almost merrily in the harsh artificial light, as though mocking them.


    Woe, said the web.


    ¡°Woe,¡± whispered Gamache.


    Superintendent Brunel found Armand Gamache an hour later in the bent branch chair in the corner of the vegetable garden.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finished looking round.¡±


    Gamache stood and she sat wearily in the chair, exhaling deeply.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it, Armand. We¡¯ve broken art theft rings and found the most amazing collections. Remember the Charbonneau case last year in L¨¦vis?¡±


    ¡°The van Eycks.¡±


    She nodded, then shook her head as though trying to clear it. ¡°Fantastic finds. All sorts of original sketches and even an oil no one knew existed.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a Titian too?¡±


    ¡°Oui.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re saying this place is even more amazing?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to lecture, but I¡¯m not sure you or your people appreciate the scope of the find.¡±


    ¡°Lecture away,¡± Gamache reassured her. ¡°That¡¯s why I invited you.¡±


    He smiled and not for the first time she thought the rarest thing she¡¯d ever found was Chief Inspector Gamache.


    ¡°You might want to grab a seat,¡± she said. He found a sawn log and turned it on its end and sat on it. ¡°The Charbonneau case was spectacular,¡± Superintendent Brunel went on. ¡°But in many ways mundane. Most art theft rings, and most black market collectors, have one maybe two specialties. Because the market¡¯s so specialized and there¡¯s so much money involved, the thieves become experts, but only in one or two tiny areas. Italian sculpture from the 1600s. Dutch masters. Greek antiquities. But never all of those fields. They specialize. How else would they know they weren¡¯t stealing forgeries, or replicas? That¡¯s why with Charbonneau we found some astonishing things, but all in the same ¡®family.¡¯ Vous comprenez?¡±


    ¡°Oui. They were all Renaissance paintings, mostly by the same artist.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯est ?a. That¡¯s how specialized most thieves are. But here,¡± she waved at the cabin, ¡°there¡¯re handmade silk tapestries, ancient leaded glass. Under that embroidered tablecloth do you know what we found? Our victim ate off the most exquisite inlaid table I¡¯ve ever seen. It must be five hundred years old and made by a master. Even the table cloth was a masterpiece. Most museums would keep it under glass. The Victoria and Albert in London would pay a fortune for it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they did.¡±


    ¡°You mean it might have been stolen from there? Could be. I have a lot of work to do.¡±


    She looked as though she could hardly wait. And yet, she also looked as though she was in no hurry to leave this cabin, this garden.


    ¡°I wonder who he was.¡± She reached out and pulled a couple of runner beans from a vine, handing one to her companion. ¡°Most unhappiness comes from not being able to sit quietly in a room.¡±


    ¡°Pascal,¡± said Gamache, recognizing the quote, and the appropriateness of it. ¡°This man could. But he surrounded himself with objects that had a lot to say. That had stories.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting way of putting it.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the Amber Room?¡±


    ¡°How do you know about that?¡± She turned a searching eye on him.


    ¡°When you were looking around you mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°Did I? You can see it from here. That orange thing in the kitchen window.¡± He looked and sure enough, there it was, glowing warm in what little light it caught. It looked like a large, thick piece of stained glass. She continued to stare, mesmerized, then finally came out of it. ¡°Sorry. I just never expected to be the one to find it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The Amber Room was created in the early 1700s in Prussia by Friedrich the First. It was a huge room made of amber and gold. Took artists and artisans years to construct and when it was completed it was one of the wonders of the world.¡± He could tell she was imagining what it looked like, her eyes taking on a faraway look. ¡°He had it made for his wife, Sophia Charlotte. But a few years later it was given to the Russian Emperor and stayed in St. Petersburg until the war.¡±


    ¡°Which war?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Good point. The Second World War. The Soviets apparently dismantled it once they realized the Nazis would take the city, but they didn¡¯t manage to hide it. The Germans found it.¡±

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    She stopped.


    ¡°Go on,¡± said Gamache.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. That¡¯s all we know. The Amber Room disappeared. Historians, treasure hunters, antiquarians have been searching for it ever since. We know the Germans, under Albert Speer, took the Amber Room away. Hid it. Presumably for safe keeping. But it was never seen again.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯re the theories?¡± the Chief Inspector asked.


    ¡°Well, the most accepted is that it was destroyed in the Allied bombing. But there¡¯s another theory. Albert Speer was very bright, and many argue he wasn¡¯t a true Nazi. He was loyal to Hitler, but not to most of his ideals. Speer was an internationalist, a cultured man whose priority became saving the world¡¯s treasures from destruction, by either side.¡±


    ¡°Albert Speer may have been cultured,¡± said Gamache, ¡°but he was a Nazi. He knew of the death camps, knew of the slaughter, approved it. He simply looked good while doing it.¡±


    The Chief Inspector¡¯s voice was cold and his eyes hard.


    ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with you, Armand. Just the opposite. I¡¯m simply telling you what the theories are. The one involving Speer had him hiding the Amber Room far from both the German and the Allied armies. In the Ore Mountains.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°A mountain range between Germany and what¡¯s now the Czech Republic.¡±


    They both thought about that, and finally Gamache spoke. ¡°So how did a piece of the Amber Room get here?¡±


    ¡°And where¡¯s the rest of it?¡±


    Denis Fortin sat across from Clara Morrow. He was younger than he had any right to be. Early forties probably. A failed artist who¡¯d discovered another, greater, talent. He recognized talent in others.


    It was enlightened self-interest. The best kind, as far as Clara could see. No one was the martyr, no one was owed or owing. She was under no illusion that the reason Denis Fortin held a St. Amboise beer in Olivier¡¯s Bistro in Three Pines was not because he thought there was something in it for him.


    And the only reason Clara was there, besides unbridled ego, was to get something from Fortin. Namely fame and fortune.


    At the very least a free beer.


    But there was something she needed to do before she got caught up in the unparalleled glory that was Clara Morrow. Reaching into her bag she brought out the balled-up towel. ¡°I was asked to show you this. A man was found dead here a couple of days ago. Murdered.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s unusual, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Not as unusual as you might think. What was unusual is that no one knew him. But the police just found a cabin in the woods, and this was inside it. The head of the investigation asked me to show it to you, in case you could tell us anything about it.¡±


    ¡°A clue?¡± He looked keen and watched closely as she unwrapped the bundle. Soon the little men and women were standing on the shore, looking across the expanse of wood to the micro-brew in front of Fortin.


    Clara watched him. His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer to the work, pursing his lips in concentration.


    ¡°Very nice. Good technique, I¡¯d say. Detailed, each face quite different, with character. Yes, all in all I¡¯d say a competent piece of carving. Slightly primitive, but what you¡¯d expect from a backwoods whittler.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± said Clara. ¡°I thought it was very good. Excellent even.¡±


    He leaned back and smiled at her. Not patronizing, but as one friend smiles at another, a kinder, friend.


    ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m being too harsh, but I¡¯ve seen so many of these in my career.¡±


    ¡°These? Exactly the same?¡±


    ¡°No, but close enough. Carved images of people fishing or smoking a pipe or riding a horse. They¡¯re the most valuable. You can always find a buyer for a good horse or dog. Or pig. Pigs are popular.¡±


    ¡°Good to know. There¡¯s something written underneath.¡± Clara turned it over and handed it to Fortin.


    He squinted then putting on his glasses he read, frowned and handed it back. ¡°I wonder what it means.¡±


    ¡°Any guesses?¡± Clara wasn¡¯t about to give up. She wanted to take something back to Gamache.


    ¡°Almost certainly a signature, or a lot number. Something to identify it. Was this the only one?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯re two. How much would this be worth?¡±


    ¡°Hard to say.¡± He picked it up again. ¡°It¡¯s quite good, for what it is. It¡¯s no pig, though.¡±


    ¡°Pity.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Fortin considered for a moment. ¡°I¡¯d say two hundred, maybe two hundred and fifty dollars.¡±

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    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°I might be wrong.¡±


    Clara could tell he was being polite, but getting bored. She rewrapped the carving and put it in her bag.


    ¡°Now.¡± Denis Fortin leaned forward, an eager look on his handsome face. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about really great art. How would you like your work to be hung?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve done a few sketches.¡± Clara handed him her notebook and after a few minutes Fortin lifted his head, his eyes intelligent and bright.


    ¡°This is wonderful. I like the way you¡¯ve clustered the paintings then left a space. It¡¯s like a breath, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Clara nodded. It was such a relief talking to someone who didn¡¯t need everything explained.


    ¡°I particularly like that you haven¡¯t placed the three old women together. That would be the obvious choice, but you¡¯ve spread them around, each anchoring her own wall.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to surround them with other works,¡± said Clara excitedly.


    ¡°Like acolytes, or friends, or critics,¡± said Fortin, excited himself. ¡°It¡¯s not clear what their intentions are.¡±


    ¡°And how they might change,¡± said Clara, leaning forward. She¡¯d shown Peter her ideas, and he¡¯d been polite and encouraging, but she could tell he really didn¡¯t understand what she was getting at. At first glance her design for the exhibition might seem unbalanced. And it was. Intentionally. Clara wanted people to walk in, see the works that appeared quite traditional and slowly appreciate that they weren¡¯t.


    There was a depth, a meaning, a challenge to them.


    For an hour or more Clara and Fortin talked, exchanging ideas about the show, about the direction of contemporary art, about exciting new artists, of which, Fortin was quick to assure Clara, she was in the forefront.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to tell you because it might not happen, but I sent your portfolio to FitzPatrick at MoMA. He¡¯s an old friend and says he¡¯ll come to the vernissage¡ª¡±


    Clara exclaimed and almost knocked her beer over. Fortin laughed and held up his hand.


    ¡°But wait, that wasn¡¯t what I wanted to tell you. I suggested he spread the word and it looks as though Allyne from the New York Times will be there . . .¡±


    He hesitated because it looked as though Clara was having a stroke. When she closed her mouth he continued. ¡°And, as luck would have it, Destin Browne will be in New York that month setting up a show with MoMA and she¡¯s shown interest.¡±


    ¡°Destin Browne? Vanessa Destin Browne? The chief curator at the Tate Modern in London?¡±


    Fortin nodded and held tightly to his beer. But now, far from being in danger of knocking anything over, Clara appeared to have ground to a complete halt. She sat in the cheery little bistro, late summer light teeming through the mullioned windows. Beyond Fortin she saw the old homes, warming in the sun. The perennial beds with roses and clematis and hollyhocks. She saw the villagers, whose names she knew and whose habits she was familiar with. And she saw the three tall pines, like beacons. Impossible to miss, even surrounded by forest. If you knew what to look for, and needed a beacon.


    Life was about to take her away from here. From the place where she¡¯d become herself. This solid little village that never changed but helped its inhabitants to change. She¡¯d arrived straight from art college full of avant-garde ideas, wearing shades of gray and seeing the world in black and white. So sure of herself. But here, in the middle of nowhere, she¡¯d discovered color. And nuance. She¡¯d learned this from the villagers, who¡¯d been generous enough to lend her their souls to paint. Not as perfect human beings, but as flawed, struggling men and women. Filled with fear and uncertainty and, in at least one case, martinis.


    But who remained standing. In the wilderness. Her graces, her stand of pines.


    She was suddenly overcome with gratitude to her neighbors, and to whatever inspiration had allowed her to do them justice.


    She closed her eyes and tilted her face into the sun.


    ¡°You all right?¡± he asked.


    Clara opened her eyes. He seemed bathed in light, his blond hair glowing and a warm, patient smile on his face.


    ¡°You know, I probably shouldn¡¯t tell you this, but a few years ago no one wanted my works. Everyone just laughed. It was brutal. I almost gave up.¡±


    ¡°Most great artists have the same story,¡± he said, gently.


    ¡°I almost flunked out of art school, you know. I don¡¯t tell many people that.¡±


    ¡°Another drink?¡± asked Gabri, taking Fortin¡¯s empty glass.


    ¡°Not for me, merci,¡± he said, then turned back to Clara. ¡°Between us? Most of the best people did flunk out. How can you test an artist?¡±

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    ¡°I was always good at tests,¡± said Gabri, picking up Clara¡¯s glass. ¡°No, wait. That was testes.¡±


    He gave Clara an arch look and swept away.


    ¡°Fucking queers,¡± said Fortin, taking a handful of cashews. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it make you want to vomit?¡±


    Clara froze. She looked at Fortin to see if he was kidding. He wasn¡¯t. But what he said was true. She suddenly wanted to throw up.


    TWENTY-FOUR


    Chief Inspector Gamache and Superintendent Brunel walked back to the cabin, each lost in thought.


    ¡°I told you what I found,¡± said the Superintendent, once back on the porch. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn. What were you and Inspector Beauvoir whispering about in the corner, like naughty schoolboys?¡±


    Not many people would consider calling Chief Inspector Gamache a naughty schoolboy. He smiled. Then he remembered the thing that had gleamed and mocked and clung to the corner of the cabin.


    ¡°Would you like to see?¡±


    ¡°No, I think I¡¯ll go back to the garden and pick turnips. Of course I¡¯d like to see,¡± she laughed and he took her over to the corner of the room, her eyes darting here and there, stealing glances at the masterpieces she was passing. Until they stopped in the darkest corner.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Beauvoir joined them and switched on his flashlight. She followed it. Up the wall to the rafters.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t see.¡±


    ¡°But you do,¡± said Gamache. As they waited Beauvoir thought about other words, left up to be found. Tacked to the door of his bedroom at the B and B that morning.


    He¡¯d asked Gabri if he knew anything about the piece of paper stuck into the wood with a thumbtack, but Gabri had looked perplexed and shaken his head.


    Beauvoir had stuffed it into his pocket and only after the first caf¨¦ au lait of the day did he have the guts to read.


    and the soft body of a woman


    and lick you clean of fever,


    What upset Beauvoir most wasn¡¯t the thought that the mad old poet had invaded the B and B and put that on his door. Nor was it that he didn¡¯t understand a word of it. What upset him the most was the comma.


    It meant there was more.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really don¡¯t see anything.¡± Superintendent Brunel¡¯s voice brought Beauvoir back to the cabin.


    ¡°Do you see a spider¡¯s web?¡± Gamache asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then you see it. Look more closely.¡±


    It took a moment but finally her face changed. Her eyes widened and her brows lifted. She tilted her head slightly as though she wasn¡¯t seeing quite straight.


    ¡°But there¡¯s a word up there, written in the web. What does it say? Woe? How is that possible? What kind of spider does that?¡± she asked, clearly not expecting an answer, and not getting one.


    Just then the satellite phone rang and after answering it Agent Morin handed it to the Chief Inspector. ¡°Agent Lacoste for you, sir.¡±


    ¡°Oui, all??¡± he said, and listened for a few moments. ¡°Really?¡± He listened some more, glancing around the room then up again at the web. ¡°D¡¯accord. Merci.¡±


    Gamache hung up, thought a moment, then reached for the nearby stepladder.


    ¡°Would you like me . . .¡± Beauvoir gestured to it.


    ¡°Ce n¡¯est pas necessaire.¡± Taking a breath Gamache started up the Annapurna ladder. Two steps up he put out an unsteady hand and Beauvoir moved forward until the large trembling fingers found his shoulder. Steadied, Gamache reached up and poked the web with a pen. Slowly, unseen by the people craning their necks below, he moved a single strand of the web.


    ¡°C¡¯est ?a,¡± he murmured.


    Backing down the ladder and onto terra firma he nodded toward the corner. Beauvoir¡¯s light shone on the web.


    ¡°How did you do that?¡± asked Beauvoir.


    The web had changed its message. It no longer said Woe. Now it said Woo.


    ¡°A strand had come loose.¡±


    ¡°But how did you know it had?¡± Beauvoir persisted. They¡¯d all taken a close look at the web. Clearly a spider hadn¡¯t spun it. It appeared to be made from thread, perhaps nylon fishing line, made to look like a spider¡¯s web. They¡¯d take it down soon and have it properly analyzed. It had a great deal to tell them, though changing the word from Woe to Woo didn¡¯t seem a move toward clarity.


    ¡°More results are coming into the Incident Room. Fingerprint results, which I¡¯ll tell you about in a minute, but remember that piece of wood that was found under the bed?¡±


    ¡°The one that also said Woe?¡± asked Morin, who had joined them.

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    Gamache nodded. ¡°It had blood on it. The victim¡¯s blood, according to the lab. But when they removed it they discovered something else. The block of wood wasn¡¯t carved to say Woe. The smear of blood made a mess of the lettering. When the blood was lifted it said¡ª¡±


    ¡°Woo,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°So you thought if one said it maybe the other did too.¡±


    ¡°Worth a try.¡±


    ¡°I think I prefer Woe.¡± Beauvoir looked at the web again. ¡°At least it¡¯s a word. What does Woo mean?¡±


    They thought. Had someone been wandering by the cabin and chanced to look in they would have seen a group of adults standing quite still, staring into space and muttering ¡°Woo¡± every now and then.


    ¡°Woo,¡± Brunel said. ¡°Don¡¯t people pitch woo?¡±


    ¡°Woohoo? No, that¡¯s boo,¡± said Beauvoir. ¡°Boohoo, not woo.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it what they call kangaroos?¡± asked Morin.


    ¡°Kangawoos? That¡¯s roo,¡± snapped Beauvoir.


    ¡°Chalice,¡± swore Brunel.


    ¡°Woo, woo,¡± said Morin under his breath, begging himself to come up with something that didn¡¯t sound like a choo-choo train. But the more he said it the more it sounded like nonsense. ¡°Woo,¡± he whispered.


    Only Gamache said nothing. He listened to them but his mind kept going to the other piece of news. His face grew stern as he thought about what else had been revealed when the bloody fingerprints were lifted from the carving.


    He can¡¯t stay here.¡±


    Marc swished his arms under the tap at the kitchen sink.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want him here either, but at least here we can watch him,¡± his mother said.


    All three looked out the kitchen window to the old man sitting cross-legged on the grass, meditating.


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®watch him¡¯?¡± asked Dominique. She was fascinated by her father-in-law. He had a sort of broken-down magnetism about him. She could see he once had had a powerful personality, and a powerful hold over people. And he behaved as though that was still true. There was a shabby dignity about him, but also a cunning.


    Marc grabbed the bar of soap and rubbed it over his forearms, looking like a surgeon scrubbing up. In fact, he was scrubbing away dust and plaster after dry-walling.


    It was hard work, and work he was almost certainly doing for someone else. The next owner of the inn and spa. Which was just as well, since he was doing it very badly.


    ¡°I mean that things happen around Vincent,¡± said Carole. ¡°Always have. He¡¯s sailed through life, this glorious ship of state. Oblivious of the wreckage in his wake.¡±


    It might not have sounded like it, but she was being charitable. For the sake of Marc. The truth was, she wasn¡¯t at all convinced Vincent had been oblivious of the damage he caused. She¡¯d come to believe he actually deliberately sailed right over people. Destroyed them. Gone out of his way to do it.


    She¡¯d been his nurse, his assistant, his dogsbody. His witness and, finally, his conscience. Which was probably why he¡¯d grown to hate her. And her him.


    Once again they looked at the cross-legged man, sitting calmly in their garden.


    ¡°I can¡¯t cope with him right now,¡± said Marc, drying his hands.


    ¡°We have to let him stay,¡± said Dominique. ¡°He¡¯s your father.¡±


    Marc looked at her with a mixture of amusement and sadness. ¡°He¡¯s done it to you, now, hasn¡¯t he? Charmed you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not some na?ve schoolgirl, you know.¡±


    And this brought Marc up short. He realized she¡¯d faced down some of the wealthiest, most manipulative bullies in Canadian finance. But Dr. Vincent Gilbert was different. There was something bewitching about him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. So much is happening.¡±


    He¡¯d thought moving to the country would be a breeze compared to the greed and fear and manipulation of the financial district. But so far here he¡¯d found a dead body, moved it, ruined their reputation in the village, and been accused of murder; now he was about to kick a saint out of their home, and had almost certainly messed up the dry-walling.


    And the leaves hadn¡¯t even changed yet.


    But by then they¡¯d be gone. To find another home somewhere else and hope they did better. He longed for the relative ease of the business world, where cut-throats lurked in every cubicle. Here everything looked so pleasant and peaceful, but wasn¡¯t.


    He looked out the window again. In the foreground was his father, sitting cross-legged in the garden, and behind him in the field two broken-down old horses, what might or might not be a moose, and in the distance a muck-encrusted horse that by all rights should have been dog food by now. This wasn¡¯t what he had in mind when he¡¯d moved to the country.

 Page 99

    ¡°Marc¡¯s right, you know,¡± said Carole to her daughter-in-law. ¡°Vincent either bullies, charms, or guilts his way in. But he always gets what he wants.¡±


    ¡°And what does he want?¡± Dominique asked. It seemed a sensible question. Then why was it so difficult to answer?


    The doorbell rang. They looked at each other. They¡¯d come, in the last twenty-four hours, to dread that sound.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± said Dominique and walked briskly out of the kitchen, reappearing a minute later followed by a little boy and Old Mundin.


    ¡°I think you know my son,¡± said Old, after greeting everyone with a smile. ¡°Now, Charlie, what did The Mother tell you to say to these nice people?¡±


    They waited while Charlie considered, then he gave them the finger.


    ¡°He learned that from Ruth, actually,¡± Old explained.


    ¡°Quite a role model. Would he like a Scotch?¡± asked Carole. Old Mundin¡¯s handsome tanned face broke into a smile.


    ¡°No, Ruth just gave him a martini and we¡¯re trying not to mix drinks.¡± Now the young man looked uncomfortable and putting his hands down on his son¡¯s shoulders he hugged Charlie to him. ¡°I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s here. Would you mind?¡±


    Marc, Dominique, and Carole looked confused.


    ¡°Mind?¡± Dominique asked.


    ¡°Dr. Gilbert. I¡¯d seen him in the forest, you know. I knew who he was but didn¡¯t know he was your father.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡± Dominique asked.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my business. He didn¡¯t seem to want to be seen.¡±


    And Marc thought maybe it was simpler here after all, and he was the one who complicated things. The business world had somehow made him think everything was his business, when it wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to disturb him,¡± Mundin continued, ¡°but I just wondered if maybe we could see him. Maybe introduce Charlie to him.¡± The dignified young father looked as though this effort was hurting him. ¡°I¡¯ve read and reread his book, Being. Your father¡¯s a great man. I envy you.¡±


    And Marc envied him. His touching his son, holding him. Protecting him and loving him. Being willing to humble himself, for his son.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the garden,¡± said Marc.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± At the door Old Mundin stopped. ¡°I have tools. Maybe I can come back tomorrow and help. A man can always use help.¡±


    You¡¯ll be a man, my son. Why hadn¡¯t his own father told him a man could always use help?


    Marc nodded, not unaware of the significance of what had just happened. Old Mundin was offering to help the Gilberts build their home, not leave it. Because his father was Vincent Gilbert. His fucking father had saved them.


    Mundin turned to Dominique. ¡°The Wife says hello, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Please say hello back,¡± said Dominique, then hesitated a breath. ¡°To The Wife.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± He and Charlie went into the garden leaving the other three to watch.


    Dr. Vincent Gilbert, late of the forest, had somehow become the center of attention.


    As the young man and his son approached, Vincent Gilbert opened one eye and through the slit in his long lashes he watched. Not the two walking quietly toward him, but the three in the window.


    Help others, he¡¯d been told. And he intended to. But first he had to help himself.


    It was quiet in the bistro. A few villagers sat at tables outside in the sunshine, relishing their caf¨¦ and Camparis and calm. Inside Olivier stood at the window.


    ¡°Good God, man, you¡¯d think you¡¯d never seen the village before,¡± Gabri said from behind the bar where he was polishing the wood and replenishing the candy jars, most of which he¡¯d helped empty.


    For the last few days, every time Gabri looked for Olivier he¡¯d find him standing in the same spot, in the bay window, looking out.


    ¡°Pipe?¡± Gabri walked over to his partner and offered him a licorice pipe, but Olivier seemed under a spell. Gabri bit into the licorice himself, eating the candied end first, as per the rules.


    ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Gabri followed the other man¡¯s gaze and saw only what he¡¯d expect to see. Certainly nothing riveting. Just the customers on the terrasse, then the village green with Ruth and Rosa. The duck was now wearing a knitted sweater.


    Olivier¡¯s eyes narrowed as he too focused on the duck. Then he turned to Gabri.


    ¡°Does that sweater look familiar to you?¡±


    ¡°Which?¡±


    ¡°The duck¡¯s, of course.¡± Olivier studied Gabri closely. The large man never could lie. Now he ate the rest of the pipe and put on his most perplexed face.

 Page 100

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my sweater, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Come off it, Olivier. Do you really think you and the duck wear the same size?¡±


    ¡°Not now, but when I was a kid. Where¡¯re my baby clothes?¡±


    Now Gabri was silent, damning Ruth for parading Rosa in her new wardrobe. Well, maybe not so new.


    ¡°I thought it was time to get rid of them,¡± said Gabri. ¡°Ruth needed sweaters and things for Rosa to keep her warm in the fall and winter and I thought of your baby clothes. What were you saving them for anyway? They were just taking up space in the basement.¡±


    ¡°How much space could they take up?¡± Olivier demanded, feeling himself breaking apart inside, his reserve crumbling. ¡°How could you?¡± he snarled at Gabri, who leaned away, shocked.


    ¡°But you¡¯d talked about getting rid of them yourself.¡±


    ¡°Me, me. Me getting rid of them. Not you. You had no right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I had no idea they meant that much to you.¡±


    ¡°Well they do. Now what am I going to do?¡±


    Olivier watched as Rosa waddled behind Ruth, who muttered away to the duck, saying God knew what. And Olivier felt tears sting his eyes, and a swell of emotion erupt from his throat. He couldn¡¯t very well take the clothes back. Not now. They were gone. Gone forever.


    ¡°Do you want me to get them back?¡± asked Gabri, taking Olivier¡¯s hand.


    Olivier shook his head. Not even sure why he felt so strongly. He had so much else to worry about. And it was true, he¡¯d thought about getting rid of the box of old baby clothes. The only reasons he hadn¡¯t were laziness, and not being sure who to give them to.


    Why not Rosa? A distant honking was heard in the sky and both Rosa and Ruth lifted their heads. Overhead a formation of ducks headed south.


    Sadness washed over Olivier. Gone. It was all gone. Everything.


    For weeks and weeks the villagers journeyed through the forests. At first the young man hurried them along looking behind him now and then. He regretted telling his family and friends to leave with him. He could have been much farther away without the old men and women, and the children. But as the weeks went by and peaceful day followed peaceful day, he began to worry less and was even grateful for the company.


    He¡¯d almost forgotten to look over his shoulder when the first sign appeared.


    It was twilight, only the twilight never died. Night never fell completely. He wasn¡¯t sure if any of the others noticed. It was, after all, just a small glow in the distance. At the horizon. The next day the sun rose, but not completely. There was a darkness to the sky. But again, just at the horizon. As though a shadow had spilled over from the other side.


    The young man knew then.


    He clutched his parcel tighter and hurried everyone along, rushing forward. Driving them onward. They were willing to hurry. After all, immortality, youth, happiness awaited. They were almost giddy with joy. And in that joy he hid.


    At night the light grew in the sky. And during the day the shadow stretched toward them.


    ¡°Is that it?¡± his elderly aunt asked eagerly, as they crested a hill. ¡°Are we there?¡±


    In front of them was water. Nothing but water.


    And behind them the shadow lengthened.


    TWENTY-FIVE


    ¡°Olivier?¡±


    The blond head was bowed, studying the receipts of the day so far. It was getting on for lunch and the bistro was filled with the aroma of garlic and herbs and roast chicken.


    Olivier had seen them coming, had heard them even. That shriek as though the forest itself was crying out. They¡¯d emerged from the woods on their ATVs and parked at the old Hadley house. Much of the village stopped what it was doing to watch as Chief Inspector Gamache and Inspector Beauvoir walked into the village. They were deep in conversation and no one disturbed them. Olivier had turned away then, walking further into his bistro and behind the bar. Around him the young waiters set tables while Havoc Parra wrote specials on the board.


    The door opened and Olivier turned his back. Claiming every last moment.


    ¡°Olivier?¡± said the Chief Inspector. ¡°We need to talk. In private, please.¡±


    Olivier turned and smiled, as though if he ingratiated himself enough they might not do this thing. The Chief Inspector smiled back, but it never reached his thoughtful eyes. Leading them into the back room that overlooked the Rivi¨¨re Bella Bella Olivier indicated the chairs at the dining table and sat himself.


    ¡°How can I help?¡±


    His heart thudded in his chest and his hands were cold and numb. He could no longer feel his extremities, and dots danced before his eyes. He struggled for breath and felt light-headed.