A Better Man (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #15)(101)

“In his statement, Tracey says it was Vivienne who didn’t want to see her father,” said Zalmanowitz.

“That’s clearly a lie,” said Beauvoir.

“Obviously, but there’s no one except Homer to contradict him,” said Zalmanowitz. “And unfortunately, any statement by him could be seen as colored by animus.”

“There is Lysette Cloutier,” said Lacoste.

“Who?” asked Zalmanowitz. “Her name sounds familiar.”

“It would. She’s the S?reté agent who posed as NouveauGalerie,” said Lacoste. “She’s an old friend of the Godin family. It’s because of her that we got onto Vivienne being missing. Homer had asked for her help.”

“They’re friends?” asked Zalmanowitz.

“She was best friends with Homer’s late wife,” Lacoste explained. “They stayed in touch.”

“And she’s Vivienne’s godmother,” said Gamache. “There seem to be feelings there, between Agent Cloutier and Monsieur Godin. At least on Cloutier’s part. It’s unclear how Homer feels.”

“Hmmm,” said Zalmanowitz. “Might be worth seeing if she can add anything.”

“I think if she could’ve added something, she would’ve,” said Lacoste. “But I’ll ask.”

Again they all recognized it for what it was. Desperation.

“Any word from the hospital on Godin’s condition?” Zalmanowitz asked.

“There’s no concussion,” said Gamache. “They’re releasing him soon.”

“Good about the concussion thing, but now what? You know he’ll try to—”

“Yes, we know,” said Beauvoir with a sigh. That seemed to be the only thing they did know. “I’ve put an agent on Tracey. To protect him.”

He actually felt his stomach sour as he said it. But he also remembered what Tracey had said in the interview room while looking directly at Gamache.

“There’s a restraining order on Godin, is that right?” asked Beauvoir. “Keeping him away from Tracey.”

“Yes,” said Zalmanowitz. “It was issued after that fracas in the courtroom.”

“I’d like one put on Carl Tracey as well,” said Beauvoir. “Keeping him a distance from Godin and from Three Pines.”

“Three Pines? Your village, Armand?” Zalmanowitz had been taking notes. Now he looked up at the man.

“Oui,” said Gamache. “I doubt he was serious, but he threatened my wife.”

“Really? Jesus, he is stupid. Is it enough to arrest him?”

“Non. It was vague,” said Gamache.

“He said he wouldn’t kill his own wife, but someone else’s…” said Beauvoir, using the same upward inflection Tracey had used. “He was looking at Monsieur Gamache as he spoke.”

“I see. I’ll apply for a restraining order against Tracey.” Zalmanowitz made a note. “But we all know if someone really wants to do harm, a piece of paper won’t stop them.”

But a baseball bat … thought Gamache.

“I take it Godin will be returning home?” said Zalmanowitz.

“I’ve asked the agents to bring him back to Three Pines,” said Gamache. “He can stay with us.”

“And if he doesn’t want to? You can’t force him, Armand,” said Zalmanowitz.

“Since when was it against the law to imprison another human being?” asked Armand. “Oh, wait. I do remember something from my training.”

Lacoste laughed, and Zalmanowitz smiled.

“Okay, I get it. You know what you’re doing. But you can’t keep him there, even with his consent, forever. He’ll want to leave eventually. And I doubt time will blunt his desire to kill the man who killed his daughter.”

“I doubt it, too,” said Gamache. He took a deep breath, then sighed. “I’d hate to have to arrest him for that.”

“And I’d hate to have to prosecute him,” said Zalmanowitz.

“What would he get?” asked Beauvoir. “Out of interest’s sake.”

The prosecutor thought about that. “He’d be charged with murder. His defense would probably say that he was not criminally responsible. Diminished capacity, brought on by extreme grief. If they’re smart, his lawyers will try the case in front of a jury. He’d be convicted, probably of manslaughter, but wouldn’t serve much time. A year, probably less. Maybe time served.”

“That’s not so bad,” said Beauvoir.

Gamache was staring at him. He wasn’t considering taking the protection away from Tracey? Leaving the path clear for Godin to kill the man.

Surely Jean-Guy’s last act as head of homicide would not be as an accessory to a homicide.

They’d have to talk.

Chief Inspector Beauvoir looked at Lacoste, then over to Gamache. And finally back to the prosecutor.

“We don’t have enough evidence, untainted by the poisonous tree or the social-media fiasco, to convict Tracey. Do we.”

“No,” said Zalmanowitz. “Not even close. Unless you can find something else, we’re screwed.”

“And Carl Tracey gets away with murder,” said Lacoste.

Beauvoir got up, and the others rose. “Merci. I’m sorry about this.”