Did people change?

Chief Inspector Gamache pushed himself away from the computer. The time for gathering was over. Now was the time to put it all together.

*   *   *

Agent Isabel Lacoste stared at the screen. Reading and rereading. There was even a photo accompanying the review. Something, Lacoste had come to appreciate, Lillian Dyson reserved for her most vicious attacks. It showed a very young artist standing with a young Lillian on either side of a painting. The artist was smiling. Beaming. Pointing to the work as though to a trophy fish. As though to something extraordinary.

And Lillian?

Lacoste turned the knob and the image leapt closer.

Lillian was also smiling. Smug. Inviting the reader into the joke.

And the review?

Lacoste read it and felt her skin crawl. As though she was watching a snuff film. Watching someone die. For that’s what the review was meant to do. Kill a career. To kill the artist inside the person.

Agent Isabelle Lacoste hit the key and the printer began to growl, as though it had a foul taste in its mouth, before it spat out the copies.

TWENTY-FIVE

“Jean Guy?” Gamache knocked.

There was no answer.

He waited a moment then turned the handle. It was unlocked and he walked in.

Beauvoir lay in the brass bed, covers around him, sleeping soundly. Even snoring slightly.

Gamache stared down at him, then looked into the open door of the bathroom. Keeping an eye on Beauvoir he walked over, and into the bathroom, quickly scanning the washstand. There, beside the deodorant and toothpaste, was a pill bottle.

Glancing into the mirror and seeing Beauvoir still asleep, the Chief picked it up. There was Beauvoir’s name, and the prescription for fifteen OxyContin.

It called for Beauvoir to take a pill each night, as needed. Gamache opened the bottle and dumped the pills into his palm. There were seven left.

But when was the prescription filled? The Chief replaced the pills, put the cap back on and looked at the bottom of the label. The date was typed in very small numerals. Gamache reached into his pocket for his reading glasses, and putting them on he picked up the pill bottle again.

Beauvoir groaned.

Gamache froze, and stared into the mirror. Very slowly he lowered the bottle, and removed his glasses.

Beauvoir, in the mirror, shifted in bed.

Gamache backed out of the bathroom. One pace, two. Then he stopped at the foot of the bed.

“Jean Guy?”

More moaning, clearer, stronger this time.

A chilly, damp breeze was blowing into Beauvoir’s room, fluttering the white cotton curtains. It had begun to drizzle and the Chief could hear the muffled tap of rain on leaves, and smell the familiar scent of wood fires from the village homes.

He closed the window then turned back to the bed. Beauvoir had burrowed into his pillow.

It was just after seven A.M. and Agent Lacoste had called. She was in her car, turning off the autoroute. She’d found something in the archives.

Gamache wanted his Inspector part of the discussion when she arrived.

He himself had returned to the B and B, showered, shaved and changed.

“Jean Guy?” he whispered again, lowering his head so that he was face-to-face with his slightly drooling Inspector.

Beauvoir pried his heavy lids open and looked through slits at Gamache, a goofy smile on Beauvoir’s face. Then his eyes flew open and the smile turned into a gasp as he jerked his head away from the Chief’s.

“Don’t worry,” said Gamache, standing up. “You were a perfect gentleman.”

It took a moment for the bleary Beauvoir to grasp what the Chief meant and then he chuckled.

“Did I at least buy you champagne?” he asked, wiping the crusty sleep from his eyes.

“Well, you made a nice pot of coffee.”

“Last night?” Beauvoir asked, sitting up in bed. “Here?”

“No, at the Incident Room.” Gamache looked at him, searching. “Remember?”

Beauvoir looked blank, then shook his head. “Sorry. I’m still half asleep.”

He rubbed his face, trying to remember.

Gamache dragged a chair up to the side of the bed and sat.

“What time is it?” Beauvoir asked, looking around.

“Just past seven.”

“I’ll get up.” And Jean Guy grabbed at the duvet.

“No. Not yet.” Gamache’s voice was soft, but certain, and Beauvoir’s hand stopped then fell back to the bedding.

“We need to talk about last night,” said the Chief.

Gamache watched Beauvoir, still exhausted. There was a puzzled look on the Inspector’s face.