A Better Man (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #15)(138)

And now it was gaining ground. Overtaking the fake.

Gamache’s own reputation was not only being restored, it was growing.

And this video, if released, would put the final lie to Toussaint’s doctored effort to show Gamache as a psychotic coward.

“What do you want?” Toussaint asked.

“That”—Lacoste gestured toward the envelope—“is the job I want. The job I will have.”

Toussaint nodded. Knowing, of course, what it said.

While Gamache could not be made Chief Superintendent, Isabelle Lacoste could.

Toussaint picked up the envelope, tore it open, and read. Then she looked across the table at Isabelle Lacoste. Perplexed at first, then realization growing.

“You must be kidding.”





CHAPTER FORTY-THREE


“We need to go,” said Annie. “They’ve almost finished boarding.”

Armand’s S?reté credentials had gotten him and Reine-Marie past security. They stood with Annie and Jean-Guy by the gate at Trudeau International Airport.

Honoré was in Reine-Marie’s arms while Armand and Jean-Guy struggled with the travel stroller.

“Here,” said Reine-Marie. She handed the child to Annie, walked over to them, pressed a button, lifted some nylon, and up it folded.

The two men nodded to each other, Laurel and Hardy style.

Hm, hm, hm.

“Can I leave him here and bring you to Paris, Maman?”

“Oh, don’t ask me twice,” said Reine-Marie, taking Honoré back.

Dropping her face to his hair, she took a deep breath, then handed him to his grandfather.

The Air Canada representative approached. “I’m sorry, but we’re closing the gate.”

“Merci,” said Annie, and looked at her father.

“See you soon, buddy,” Armand whispered to the tired child, almost asleep in his arms. “You’ll love Paris. What an adventure you’ll have. And you’ll see your cousins Florence and Zora.”

He held Honoré in the pocket of his shoulder, resting his cheek on the little head, for a moment. Then he kissed his forehead and whispered, “I love you.”

The boy put his small hand on his grandfather’s large one. Holding it there.

“Dad?” said Annie, putting out her arms.

Armand handed Honoré back to his mother.

“Before I go, I want to give you this,” said Jean-Guy, holding out an envelope.

“Money?” asked Armand, as he took it.

Jean-Guy laughed. “Non. A name. The person I’m recommending as your second-in-command.”

“Hope they’re better than your last one,” said Armand.

“Hard to be worse,” agreed Jean-Guy. “It is, of course, your decision.”

“Does this person know?”

“They applied. And yes, they do know about the recommendation.” He nodded to the envelope. “I used one of the things you taught me, when making my decision about your second-in-command.”

“You mean the four statements that lead to wisdom?” asked Armand.

Jean-Guy shook his head.

“The three questions to ask yourself before speaking?”

Again, Jean-Guy shook his head.

“Then what?”

“Sometimes you just have to do something stupid.”

Armand raised his brows, and Annie turned to her mother.

“Oh, dear God, don’t tell me that’s the lesson he’s taken from Dad?”

“I thought your dad got it from him.”

Armand put the envelope in his pocket. He knew the name it contained. Bob Cameron. A lowly agent. Not even an inspector.

Gamache hadn’t considered him. Cameron had potential, but still, giving him such a promotion would be a hard sell to his superiors, and the rest of the unit. But if someone can drop far, maybe he can also rise fast.

Armand put out his hand to Jean-Guy, who took it and held it. And looked into those familiar eyes. And saw that, after all these years, after all that had happened, after all the pain and hurt, one thing had not changed.

In those eyes he still saw kindness.

And Armand, looking deep into Jean-Guy’s, saw below all the pain, all the hurt, all the ghosts, a gleam. A beam. Of kindness.

“I’ll find a way to be useful,” Jean-Guy whispered. “Patron.”

“And so will I. Patron.”

Then he embraced Annie. “I love you. Take care of yourself. If you need anything, anything at all…”

“I know, Dad. I love you, too.”

The young family disappeared through the door, Honoré holding up his hand to wave goodbye.

It was the secret wave he and his grandfather had worked out after Great-aunt Ruth had shown the boy the one-finger wave. Papa had explained that really, three fingers were even better. For the three pines.

Armand raised his hand and waved back.

Then they were gone.

To start their new life in the City of Light.



* * *



Once home, Reine-Marie poured them each a scotch while Armand walked Henri and Gracie. And Fred. Slowly around the village green.

He looked up as a plane moved overhead. Among the stars.



* * *