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But Madame Lambert seemed to freeze, unable to say it aloud.
The doctor’s hazel eyes were full of pity. ‘I have some awful news, son. It seems there was an incident at the restaurant last night.’
‘An incident,’ breathed Gilbert, his heart beginning to pound.
His first thought was for his brother.
‘Henri – he wasn’t – he—’ He didn’t seem to have the words.
‘He was found there, along with the others. It seems he was poisoned last night, along with five others.’
Gilbert looked at him in shock, finding his words in his anxiety somehow. ‘Poisoned? But that can’t be right, he wasn’t working last night.’
Doctor Cordeau shook his head. ‘Nevertheless, he was there.’
The world felt like it was falling away from Gilbert’s feet.
‘Is he – is he all right?’
Doctor Cordeau closed his eyes for just a second, like he didn’t want to face him. Then he shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, he passed away.’
Gilbert’s knees gave out. On the fall down, he heard, like through a tunnel, Doctor Cordeau say, ‘No one survived.’
Gilbert’s lips began to wobble, he saw stars. This was all just some horrid nightmare. He looked up though a haze of tears, the words ‘no one survived’ echoing in his skull.
‘And… Marianne?’
‘She’s disappeared.’
It took a moment for Gilbert – in the midst of all the horror and grief – to comprehend.
‘She fled after she poisoned them all,’ spat Fleur Lambert, finally able to speak. Her hands balled at her sides, her eyes glassy, her face twisted with loathing.
