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“They want her alive?”

“They need her alive.”

“Oh, shit. You think she’s involved,” said Shona.

He turned and looked at her full-on. “I’m trying not to jump to conclusions. That’s the worst thing we can do now. That’s how we miss things. These people traffic in untruths and misdirection. We can’t afford to be taken in.”

“In other words, you have absolutely no idea,” said Shona.

“Would not be the first time.”

Armand turned to their fellow detainees. Unfortunately, they’d been placed in a room with junior cabinet ministers and low-level functionaries. And a few elderly senators. No one with the clout to get out.

“What the fuck is this?”

Ruth had turned away from the television coverage in the bistro and been checking her messages. Now she showed the others what had appeared.

Clara stared at the phone, its face cracked, not unlike its owner’s. Scrolling down, her brows drew together in concern. “We need to show Reine-Marie.”

Jean-Guy returned to the interview room.

“What was that about?” Marcus Lauzon asked. “Something happened?”

While his expression was bland, with that slight smugness that was like a caul over his face, the former Deputy PM’s tone betrayed his anxiety.

There was little to be gained by not telling him, so Beauvoir did. When he finished, Lauzon heaved an uncharacteristic sigh.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve met General Whitehead on more than one occasion. This is a loss. But it means you’re getting close.”

“To what?”

“Well, you obviously already know. You don’t need me for that.”

“We think we know, but need evidence. You have that evidence. You need to give it to us, before—”

“Before I’m killed too?”

“Yes,” he snapped. No use mincing words. “If they could get into the Oval Office, they can get to you here. The only reason you’re still alive is that Gamache is protecting you.”

“Non. The only reason is that I’ve placed myself in here.”

Beauvoir cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Why do you think I never talked? Never effectively defended myself?”

Beauvoir was silent, not wanting to get sucked into Lauzon’s games, though he knew the answer. It was because there was no effective defense for a guilty man.

“It’s because I needed to be found guilty. I needed to be put in here. I wanted Gamache to put me into solitary. I knew if I was let go, I wouldn’t get off the courtroom steps.”

“Are you trying to tell me that you’re innocent and intentionally put yourself in prison?”

“I’m not ‘trying’ to tell you that, I just did. Can’t be clearer. Out there I’d be killed.”

“We need to know which heads of multinational corporations bribed you to get control of our resources. Names.”

“I’m not the one they bribed.”

“Of course you are. We have the trail through Action Québec Bleu into your accounts.”