All the Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16) - Louise Penny Page 0,90
they know there’s a good reason. A higher purpose.”
Beauvoir’s grip on the man’s jacket remained tight, but the pistol dropped a little. Allowing Loiselle to meet his eyes.
“I used to believe that, too,” Loiselle said. “That what I did was important. That it mattered. But I don’t anymore. That’s why the video is watched over and over by ex–special forces. It reminds us of what we once were. What we once had.”
“And what’s that?”
“Self-respect.”
Beauvoir pushed himself away from Loiselle, the better to judge the man.
“I don’t want to do this shit anymore,” said Loiselle. “When I left the GIGN, I was burned out. I just didn’t care. I’d hire myself out to whoever would pay. But seeing you at the office the other day, it was like a slap in the face. I woke up.”
“Bullshit.”
“I let you catch me. I could’ve gotten away. Easily. I could’ve killed you. Easily. But I wanted to warn you.”
“About what?”
“They killed that Plessner man and tried to kill Horowitz. It was a shit show. And now they’re scared. They see you as a threat. They told me to scare you off.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
“They’ll come after you. And maybe even your family. You moved them to the George V. That was unexpected. I think my bosses will take time to consider what that means and what to do next. They’re ruthless, but they’re not stupid. Killing you and your family in the George V would create far more problems than it would solve, but they’ll still do it, if cornered. You’ve bought a little time. But not much.”
“Who are they? Who’s giving the orders?”
“My orders come from the top of SecurForte, but I don’t know who’s giving them to the company.”
“Are the cops involved?”
Loiselle looked at him, shocked. “Everyone’s involved. You really have no idea how powerful SecurForte is, do you? The information it holds over politicians, cops, judges, the media. I could blow up the Tour Eiffel in full view, and if it was on the orders of SecurForte, I’d walk. Man, you better get up to speed fast, before you get run over.”
“How do I know this isn’t part of their plan? How do I know this isn’t a trap?”
“I guess you don’t. But what choice do you have?”
“You must know what this’s about,” insisted Beauvoir.
“All I know is that whatever they were looking for, whatever they killed that old man for, they didn’t find it. And they’re scared shitless that you will. But they have options. Kill you before you can find it, or stand back and let you find it. Then kill you. Either way …”
“Were those your orders? To follow me, try to scare me off, but if that didn’t work, and I found the evidence, you were to kill me and take it?”
Loiselle smiled. “You’re catching on.”
“You’re following me,” said Beauvoir. “Is someone following Gamache?”
“I think so. But I don’t know who, and I don’t know what their orders are.”
“You mean to just follow, or to do harm?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck,” said Beauvoir. He stared at Loiselle. He couldn’t hold the gun on the man and text Gamache at the same time.
Loiselle understood what he was thinking, and said, “I won’t move.”
Getting as far from Loiselle as he could in the tight office, Jean-Guy put the gun down and took out his phone. Keeping his eyes on Loiselle, he sent off the quick text, then picked the gun back up.
“What’s in Luxembourg? What’s so important about that project?”
“I have no idea, but I can try to find out.”
“Is Séverine Arbour involved?”
“Madame Arbour? In your department at GHS? Not that I know.”
“Is Carole Gossette?”
“I think so. I heard them talking about her. But I don’t know for sure.”
Jean-Guy stared at the man across from him. He had a decision to make that would affect the rest of his life, and the lives of those he loved.
Taking a deep breath, he gave the gun back to Loiselle.
CHAPTER 29
Gamache read the text from Jean-Guy. Then, replacing his phone in his pocket, he scanned the road.
Pedestrians walked by, some on their way from a service at the nearby Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux. None looked in his direction.
“Monsieur Gamache?”
He turned just as the front gate to the archives building was unlocked. “Madame Lenoir. Merci.”
She shepherded him past security and down what looked like a dark alley, to the less-than-grand entrance to the archives.
The Musée des archives nationales, next door, was spectacular. In an old château, it was approached through a quadrangle of manicured lawn and garden.