A Great Reckoning (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #12) - Louise Penny Page 0,30

time since he’d drunk that much. And a long time since he’d dredged up all those memories.

Pushing off from the door, he turned off the lights and carefully made his way to the bedroom, wondering which hangover would be worse in the morning. The one from the alcohol or the emotions.

* * *

Over the following weeks the Sûreté Academy fell into a comfortable rhythm of classes, hockey practice, and meals. Of rigorous exercise and volunteering in the community.

Mind, body, and spirit, the cadets were told. Over and over.

It was a structured life, with just enough free time to get the troublemakers into trouble.

After a while the cadets, new and old, came to know what was expected.

The freshmen settled in more quickly than the older students, who found it difficult to adapt to the new set of rules and expectations that were at once more firm and more forgiving than those of the old regime.

It was made clear by the new commander that there were no harsh punishments, but there were consequences. Over and over, the cadets were made aware that actions had effects. Swift and decisive and in proportion to the act. Something that seemed to come as an unpleasant surprise to many of the older cadets, who were used to currying favor.

The new reality won Commander Gamache many supporters, and many more detractors.

Once a week, Reine-Marie would drive in with Armand and that night they’d host a gathering of cadets. It was a chance to air, in confidence, grievances. To ask questions.

They discussed, around the fireplace, old cases, difficult cases. Moral uncertainties, the place of policing in a free society. About when to take a stand, and when to step away.

Issues most of these young people had never considered, but now must.

As the days and weeks progressed, friendships were made. Groups were formed. Allegiances solidified. Rivalries flared. Enemies were made. Lovers attached, and detached.

And Amelia Choquet remained alone. By choice. A class by herself.

Except for the gatherings in the Gamaches’ quarters. It had not been her idea to go. She’d been invited, and she took the invitation as not really optional.

“What is it?” asked Huifen one evening.

She stood beside the Goth Girl, who’d been staring at a small framed picture by the door.

“What does it look like?” asked Amelia.

The Commander could command her to be there, but not to like it, or the other cadets.

“A map,” said Huifen. “Hey, Jacques, look at this.”

Jacques Laurin walked over. He was the head cadet, chosen the year before by Leduc and kept in place by Gamache.

Amelia had never spoken to him, though she’d seen him drilling his squad. Jogging around the frozen quad. He was tall and attractive, with an air about him someone charitable might call assurance. Amelia saw it as arrogance.

And yet, she noticed, he deferred to the small Asian girl.

“So?” he asked.

“It’s kinda neat,” said Huifen.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said Jacques. “There’s a snowman and a rose? The two don’t go together.”

Another cadet had joined them, standing slightly off to the side. The gay kid with the red hair from class, Amelia knew. Nathaniel Something.

“I like it,” he said, and the other three looked at him, and Jacques gave a small, dismissive snort, then turned away from the freshman. The gay Anglo freshman.

But Amelia continued to look at Nathaniel. Who had either the courage, or the stupidity, to contradict the head cadet.

Amelia returned her gaze to the map.

She had no idea why it had such a hold on her. When she’d seen it, that first evening, she’d thought, like Jacques, that it was ridiculous. But every week, during these gatherings, she found herself in front of it.

Was it the cow? The snowman? Those trees that looked like children?

It was silly, but it was also sad. It was, she thought, strange. Maybe that’s why she liked it.

Gamache noticed the group and, walking over, he took the map off the wall. He stared at it, then looked into their expectant faces.

“There’s a mystery about this,” he said. “Any idea what it is?”

He handed it to Huifen, who looked at it more closely and passed it around.

“Why do you have it on the wall?” said Jacques. “I don’t see anything great about it.”

“Then why are you looking at it?” Gamache asked.

The head cadet was as tall as the Commander, but not yet filled out. Not yet substantial.

“There’s no shame in showing curiosity,” said Gamache. “In fact, it’s sort of a prerequisite in an investigator. The more interested you are in things, in