A Better Man (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #15) - Louise Penny Page 0,53
slanting over the trees as Clara and Myrna stood on the edge of the village green and watched.
Ruth joined them, limping out of her home, clutching Rosa to her chest.
“What’s going on?”
“I think they found Vivienne,” said Clara, pointing to the coroner’s car and then down the path along the river.
Ruth and Rosa shook their heads. “It’s tragic. So young.” Then Ruth’s eyes and voice sharpened. “What’s he doing?”
“Looks like he’s arresting Homer,” said Myrna as they watched Armand walk with Homer to the Sûreté car.
“He can’t think—” Clara began.
“Jesus, even Clouseau can’t be that stupid,” said Ruth.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” muttered the duck.
Just then Homer stopped and turned. As did Gamache. As did everyone else on the village green.
Vivienne Godin was being brought out of the woods. In a body bag.
The bistro door opened, and Carl Tracey stepped out. Into the fresh air. And sunshine.
He saw the stretcher, took a deep breath, and said, “I wonder.”
“What?” demanded Olivier, coming out behind him.
“I wonder if she was insured.”
Staring silently at the long black bag as it was slid into the coroner’s vehicle, Homer Godin crossed himself. As did Gabri and Olivier. Even Ruth, unseen by the others, made the familiar gesture.
After the coroner’s vehicle drove away, Vivienne’s father closed his eyes and tilted his head as far back as it would go. Exposing his throat to the Universe.
“Chief Inspector?” said Beauvoir as he came around the corner from the path along the river.
He indicated Homer, clearly in custody, by the car.
“I’ll explain,” said Gamache, then instructed Cameron to take Godin into the local detachment. “Don’t book him. I’ll be in to do the paperwork later. Make him comfortable, but don’t let him out of your sight.”
Cameron turned to Homer. “I’m sorry, sir. Would you mind?”
Homer got into the backseat without complaint.
As Cameron went to walk to the driver’s side, Gamache stopped him.
“One moment, please. I have a question for you.” He led Cameron a few feet from the car. “Was the child yours?”
Cameron’s eyes widened. “No, of course not. I told you, nothing happened between Vivienne and me.”
“You knew she was pregnant before we said anything. She told you. Is the child yours? Tell me the truth.”
“I am. It’s not mine. Couldn’t be.”
“I think you’re lying. I think there’s a lot you aren’t telling us. I understand you’re worried about your family. Your job. But you know it’ll come out. Best if you tell us yourself.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
Gamache pressed his lips together and gave a single curt nod. “You’re helping a murderer.”
“How?”
“By muddying the waters. By leaving questions unanswered. Questions we have to now take precious time investigating.”
“I have answered them.”
“But not truthfully.”
Gamache made a mental note to call the Alouettes organization and ask why they’d let Bob Cameron go. And why no other football team picked him up.
* * *
“May I go with him, sir?” Lysette Cloutier asked Chief Inspector Beauvoir.
He looked at her a moment. “Why?”
“Why? Because he’s my friend. He’s just lost his daughter.”
Beauvoir nodded. “Is it possible, Agent Cloutier, that you’re more than friends?”
“More…? Non. I care about him, but his wife was the one who was my friend. My best friend. I was maid of honor at their wedding.”
“When did she die?”
“Five years ago. Ovarian cancer.”
“I’m sorry.” He paused. “You’ve kept up a relationship with Monsieur Godin?”
“There is no relationship. Not in the way I think you mean. We’re old friends, that’s all.” On seeing Beauvoir’s skepticism, she pressed her lips together before nodding. “All right, you’re right. But my relationship isn’t with Homer, it’s with Vivienne. She was my goddaughter.”
She dropped her gaze and studied her muddy boots before lifting her head and looking him straight in the eyes. Perhaps, he thought, a little too straight.
“I should’ve told you sooner, but I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That you’d think I was too close. That you’d take me off the case.”
“You’re right. I probably would’ve.”
Cloutier shook her head. “I’ve screwed up everything. I promised Katherine I’d look after her daughter. Keep her safe. I made that promise at the baptism, and I made it again at her deathbed. I didn’t do a good job of it, did I? But what I can do now is help catch her killer. That’s all I want.”
“And Homer Godin?”
“What about him?”
“More than professional interest?”
“Of course not.”
“You took his hand.”
“I was trying to comfort him. Haven’t you ever held the hand of the mother, or father, of a murder victim? To console them?”