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“I guess she’s not ready to see you yet,” said Clara.

She glanced over at Ruth, who was staring into the fire.

“Well, they’re not starving,” said Gabri. “Chicken thighs for him, roasted cauliflower and grilled salmon for her.”

“That’s not right,” said Myrna. “Must be the other way around. Harriet hates fish.”

“Guess so,” said Gabri. “I must’ve heard wrong.”

“You need to eat,” said Armand.

He’d warmed up some broth and cut a slice of fresh bread for Robert, placing a slab of aged cheddar on the side of the dish. All bland, but nourishing.

Robert picked up the mug of soup, then put it down again, as though it were too heavy.

“I’d like to get some sleep if that’s all right with you, Armand.”

He helped Robert upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms, the minister leaning heavily on his arm. After getting him showered, Armand put Robert into fresh pajamas, then tucked him into bed. The meds had kicked in, and the minister had become groggy.

Armand had read the doctor’s instructions. He was to waken Robert every couple of hours, to make sure he was all right.

Armand checked the windows. Where normally he’d have opened one for fresh air, now he made sure they were closed and locked.

He then went through the rest of the house, checking and double-checking. Turning on all the lights. He was not sure if it was for strategic purposes or because he knew, from childhood, that monsters hate the light.

He suspected the latter. He also found himself singing softly as he went.

“Hooray for Captain Spaulding…”

Jean-Guy had texted. He was on his way back. While the early June sun was still just over the horizon in the village, it had gotten too dark in the forest to continue. The searches for Godin and Boisfranc would have to pick up at first light.

Once every room had been searched, every closet opened, the underside of every bed inspected, every window locked, every light turned on, Armand returned to the living room.

Reine-Marie and Amelia’s flight would be landing soon.

He wrote both to say an agent would meet them at the airport and drive them straight to the lake house in the Laurentians where the rest of the family was staying.

He then wrote separately to Agent Choquet.

Do not leave Madame Gamache. You are to guard her and the family. Confirm.

Twenty minutes later Jean-Guy returned. They did not eat dinner. Neither was especially hungry, but there was another reason. Both knew if there were injuries, if surgery was needed, it was best to have an empty stomach.

Messages came through twenty minutes later, from both Reine-Marie and Amelia. They were on their way to the cabin.

Armand’s shoulders dropped a little. One less worry.

He and Jean-Guy spent the early evening going over and over the evidence. They discussed, but mostly they waited.

For Fleming.

And then, at almost nine p.m., there was a knock on the door.

CHAPTER 35

Chief Inspector Gamache stared at Agent Choquet in disbelief.

“What’re you doing here?”