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“The search of Réunion is ongoing,” said Gamache. “Though someone’s already been through Jeanette Bouchard’s office.”

“I think we know who.” Isabelle glared across at the B&B.

“Perhaps,” said Gamache. “But why would he? What does he know?”

They all knew they’d have to confront Comeau with those questions sooner rather than later.

“So let me get this straight,” said Isabelle. “Our theory now is that Brian Fillmore, in his obsession with the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, came across evidence that the mail room steward and his uncle, the Receiver of Wrecks, brought something up from the ship. The Receiver of Wrecks was a relative of Peter Morrow’s. Fillmore came down in hopes of finding whatever it was they stole.”

“It tracks,” said Jean-Guy. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t on the wrong track.”

“True,” said Isabelle.

Armand watched and listened and marveled yet again that he got to work with such remarkable young people. And that his garden was his office. At least for now.

“But would it still be around?” Jean-Guy asked.

“Brian seemed to think it might be,” said Armand.

“And Charles Fillmore doesn’t know what that was?” Isabelle asked.

“He claims not to.”

“Jesus.” Jean-Guy shook his head, still in utter disbelief. “They left bodies down there—”

Papa! Papa!

“—and brought up mail instead?”

Isabelle looked at him. Jean-Guy had put down his baguette and cheese.

Henri also noticed, as did Armand.

Jean-Guy losing his appetite was almost unheard of.

“There’s hard evidence that the mail became the priority,” said Armand. “But the rest is conjecture, a guess on the part of Brian Fillmore. It’s possible there was nothing criminal at all. It might really have been standard procedure and everything in the mail room was turned over. I have a call in to the current Receiver of Wrecks. There must be records.”

“Do you believe it, patron?” Isabelle asked.

Gamache took another long sip of lemonade. It tasted good. Very good. “That there was something valuable stolen from the wreck? I think it’s possible. What I’m not so sure about is that Charles was simply an observer in his brother’s quest. Nor do I necessarily believe their interest was purely intellectual. I think Brian suspected that whatever was in that mail room was, and perhaps still is, of immense value and they wanted to find it for themselves.”

He tried not to make it sound like some sort of ridiculous pirate’s treasure. And yet that seemed to be what Brian Fillmore had spent years looking for. A treasure of some kind.

“But it wasn’t in the cargo,” said Isabelle. “It was in the mail. So, it couldn’t have been big.”

“A document? A letter? Blackmail maybe?” said Armand. “I visited Stephen today and asked about Réunion. As far as he knows, it’s a legitimate company and there’s no reason to suspect the Fillmores are crooks. But then I asked about the Empress of Ireland.”

“Was he on it?” asked Jean-Guy.

Isabelle laughed. “I dare you to ask him that to his face. Better yet, I’ll give you five dollars to ask Ruth.”

“Ha. For all we know, she was steering the ship that rammed it.” Despite his attempt at levity, it was clear Jean-Guy was not actually lighthearted.

“Everything all right?” Armand asked.

“Yes.” He was about to say “fine” but stopped himself. “Just a little stressed, seeing Comeau again.”

Gamache didn’t pursue it. They were all feeling bruised by the encounter, and uncomfortable about the encounter yet to come.