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But a look from his father stopped him.

The message was from Xavier Loiselle. He’d managed to get into Carole Gossette’s files and find the water sample results.

“So he is on our side,” said Reine-Marie.

Though it looked like it, Armand wasn’t totally convinced. He’d used agents to infiltrate organizations, and part of the technique of a spy was to hand over legitimate information as proof they could be trusted.

What he did think was that this information, at least, was correct.

GHS Engineering had discovered neodymium in the abandoned mine.

“What’s it used for?” he asked Madame Arbour.

“Magnets.”

“Magnets?” repeated Jean-Guy. “Fridge magnets?”

The engineer stared at him.

“Yes,” said Madame Arbour. “People are being murdered in an epic battle for control of the fridge magnet empire. Look, magnets are used in all sorts of things, not just to stick hockey logos on your fridge.”

“A simple ‘no’ …,” said Beauvoir.

Though it was true. He had several Montréal Canadiens up there.

“What else are they used for?” he asked.

“Computers, I think,” she said. “But there must be a lot of other things. I’m no expert.”

“We need to find out more about this neodymium,” said Armand.

“Shouldn’t be hard.” Séverine pulled out her phone.

“Non,” he said. “We need someplace more private.”

“Then I can go to the archives.”

Jean-Guy glanced at her. This was the second time she’d suggested that.

Why was she so determined to go there, and why was Gamache so determined she should not?

He thought he knew why.

If Madame Arbour was an infiltrator, she must not be there when they found out which board member sold their spot to Stephen.

They were close. So close. They couldn’t take any chances.

“No,” Gamache said to Madame Arbour. “I need you with me at the Lutetia, if you don’t mind.”

There was, as always, courtesy in his words, but their meaning was clear.

Allida Lenoir hung up the phone and turned to her wife. “Back to the mines.”

Far from a derogatory way to describe her work, the head archivist considered the miles and miles of files a gold mine. Filled with treasures, with adventure. The unknown waiting to be unearthed.

“I’m coming with you,” said Judith de la Granger.

As the Chief Librarian for France, Judith de la Granger knew, better than most, that the documents contained in the glorious old buildings were both fascinating and dangerous.