‘Look.’ Lacoste pointed to a picture. ‘You can just see the blue of the anti-freeze by the chair.’

‘Her mittens are off,’ said Lemieux, pointing to another. They were getting close. Gamache opened the next envelope. All eyes were fixed, all bodies leaning forward across the table as though trying to see the pictures a millisecond sooner. Gamache spread them across the table in a move that spoke of poker nights.

CC was on the ground. Ruth was gesturing. Olivier was bending over the body and Gabri was looking behind him, his eyes sharp and focused.

The next series of pictures showed the heroic and frantic efforts to save this woman no one liked. Clara walking away with Crie, trying to keep the girl from the grisly scene. Gabri beside Richard, holding his arm. Peter and Billy Williams running with CC toward the truck. The last one showed Billy’s truck disappearing round a bend.

The pictures were eloquent, though abbreviated.

‘Some are missing,’ said Gamache, stern-faced. As he headed to the door, Beauvoir and Lemieux in tow, Agent Lacoste ran after him.

‘Mrs Morrow’s been trying to get you. And I’ve done a background search on the women who might have been CC’s mother. Kaye Thompson’s too old. Émilie Longpré had a child, but he died in an accident. Still, she could have had another. Given her up for adoption. But the most interesting thing I found is Beatrice Mayer. Beatrice Louise Mayer.’

With that information newly arrived in his head Gamache walked determinedly to the car, Beauvoir hurrying to catch up, in a reversal of roles Beauvoir found disconcerting.

Saul Petrov sipped coffee and sat in the easy chair by the window in his living room. Two days ago he’d have described the chair, in fact the entire chalet, as tacky. The fabric was dull and threadbare, the carpets worn, the décor dated. A collection of spoons from various Canadian destinations hung on the wall next to a washed-out photo of Niagara Falls.

But when he’d awoken today and wandered relaxed down the scuffed stairs, he’d thought he quite liked the house. And as the sun rose and the fireplace had been lit and the coffee perked Saul realized he really liked the place.

And now he sat in the sun as it streamed through the window and looked at the stunning view of the perfect, unblemished field in front of his rented chalet, the forest beyond and beyond that the mountains, all gray and craggy.

He’d never felt such peace.

Beside him on the table sat a Banff coaster and a roll of undeveloped film.

‘Hello, Clara.’ Gamache spoke loudly into his cell phone. It was so tiny it felt like something found in a Christmas cracker. ‘It’s Gamache. I’m on a cell and it’s coming in and out. You were looking for me?’

‘I…video…Peter.’

‘Pardon?’