Mariëtte slapped the arm of the sofa so hard she awakened Plum again. “You don’t think I called them already? It was a waste of time.”

“As a warden, I am not authorized to pursue a murder investigation, ma’am.”

“What about the search then? You can review the failures of Lieutenant Rivard.”

“Marc Rivard is no longer with the Warden Service, as we discussed.”

“But your agency could still be held liable in court.”

I tucked away my notebook and pen. “In that case, I would recommend your next conversation be with an attorney. I’ve heard you out, as I agreed to do. There’s nothing more I can do for you.”

The strapping woman shot to her feet. “There’s something else! An important detail not in the report. Tell him, Bibi.”

The daughter steeled herself with another draw from her vape. “I was supposed to have tagged along on the duck hunt that morning. I never told Rivard or any of the other game wardens about it.”

There had been no mention of this in the file. Of that, I was positive.

“Why didn’t you go?” I said.

“Because I was hungover. You have to remember it was four in the morning and still dark and freezing. I’d been out with friends the night before. But I got dressed because I’d promised Grandfather and even went down to the boat. Bruce made a comment about how green I looked. He took out a pint of Peach Schnapps and asked if I wanted some ‘hair of the dog.’ A minute later, I threw up. Grandfather suggested I return to the house and go to sleep, which I did.”

I quickly scribbled down this information into my notebook.

“Why didn’t you tell Lieutenant Rivard about this?”

“Because I didn’t go, did I? And it wasn’t like I had any idea where they planned on hunting or anything that happened between them after I went to bed. And to be honest, I felt guilty because maybe if I’d gone, I would’ve stayed with Grandfather all day, and he wouldn’t have died.”

“You can be certain that if I had known any of this,” the mother said, “I would’ve spoken out at the time.”

I directed myself to the daughter. “Do you have any idea why Jewett never mentioned it?”

“I assumed it was because I was obviously grieving, and he didn’t want the authorities raking me over the coals. I don’t like the man—God knows I find his beliefs abhorrent—but in my eyes he did me a kindness.”

“The idea that Jewett might’ve had something to do with your grandfather’s death never occurred to you?” I said.

“Bruce had an alibi—and there was a witness.”

“You had no suspicions whatsoever.”

The young woman looked at the carpet.

“Tell him, Bibi. Tell him what you told me.”