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Twenty minutes later, Gamache and Comeau arrived at the Eagle pub, a favorite of Armand’s from university days. He’d arranged to meet Mustafa Agrawal, a professor from Christ’s College, for dinner. The professor was the head of botany at Cambridge and a senior member of the Royal Society of Botanists.

Armand saw his guest was already seated with a pint in front of him.

“I need to make a call, Professor. I’m sorry. Do you mind waiting for a few more minutes?”

“Not at all. I’m very happy.” Dr. Agrawal had the Times crossword in front of him.

Comeau was standing in the entrance to the pub, looking lost.

“You told the cop that I was a colleague.”

“Yes. The better part of valor. I need to find a quiet corner to make a call.”

“To Jeanette’s mother.”

“Yes.” Gaston had taken in more than Armand realized.

The younger man swallowed. Armand guessed by his expression that it was vomit.

“Do you need a bathroom?”

“Non.” He looked like someone who’d decided to jump off a cliff and was working up the courage to do it. “Let me.”

“Let you what?”

“Call Madame Bouchard. Janice. I know her. She knows me. It might be just a little easier coming from me.”

Armand cocked his head and studied this man. Then nodded. “I’ll stay with you.”

Comeau made the call. Needing to sit down partway through. Armand could hear howls coming through the phone. The rending as the earth opened and swallowed Madame Bouchard.

Tears were running down Gaston’s face, but he kept his voice soft, calm, gentle.

Then, while Comeau gathered himself after hanging up, Armand sent off a quick message.

“Fucking hell,” said Jean-Guy. “Comeau’s there.”

They were standing outside Dr. Lagacé’s office.

“What? Where?”

“Check your texts. Comeau’s with the Chief. He was at the Wolcott estate.”

Isabelle opened her phone. “Damn.”

Jean-Guy tried calling, but it went to voicemail.

Gaston Comeau sat with them in the pub, only because Armand insisted.

He’d arranged for rooms at a nearby inn but didn’t want Comeau going there alone. Not because he was afraid Comeau might harm himself. It was because he did not trust the man.

Armand doubted Comeau had anything to do with Jeanette’s death. That almost certainly had been an accident. But there was still the murder of Brian Fillmore.

Comeau had found the body. Comeau had called him.

Comeau had run away when he saw them at Réunion.

Comeau had lied. Then lied again.