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“It is not.” Gamache leaned toward her.

“The only thing that changed after the war was his location,” Fontaine said, leaning toward him. “Horowitz was, and is still, interested in only one thing. Himself. A snake sheds its skin, but nothing else changes. It’s still exactly the same creature.”

“Stephen Horowitz fought against the Nazis in his youth. And in his career he’s fought against corruption, against wrongdoing. He never betrayed anyone. They betrayed themselves, by cheating and stealing from investors, many of them small. Many in danger of losing life savings. He was, is, ruthless. Yes. But he’s on the side of the angels.”

Beauvoir couldn’t believe Gamache had just brought angels into the argument, but the Chief Inspector did not look at all embarrassed. And for her part, Commander Fontaine didn’t laugh.

In fact, what she said next surprised him.

“Angels? Are you so sure? Is it possible that Hell is empty, and all the devils”—she brought her index finger down again on the grainy photograph, this time on top of Stephen’s face—“are here?”

Gamache leaned back, slowly, almost casually, and continued to regard her. When he spoke, his voice was calm, reasonable. Thoughtful.

“Dussault told you about Stephen’s favorite saying?”

“He did.”

“Did he also tell you that he called Stephen an avenging angel?”

“Non.”

“But I think now he was wrong, and you’re right,” said Gamache, to everyone’s surprise. “Stephen’s actions during the war were a prelude to what he did all his life. He tracked down the devils among us. He’s not an avenging angel. He’s an exorcist. I’m going to join the others in the park, unless there’s another member of my family you’d like to attack.”

He got up.

“No, I think that does it,” said Fontaine.

They all rose. Gamache gave a curt nod and left.

Beauvoir waited until the door closed, then turned to Fontaine. “Give me the dossier. I’ll pass it along to him.”

“I don’t have it on me. I only brought the photograph. But we can get it to you.”

“Do. And by the way, just so you know, you’re wrong. About Stephen, for sure. But you’ve made another mistake.”

They’d walked to the door, and now he paused. “Monsieur Gamache might look old to you. Did you call him a hundred? Over a hundred?”

“It was a joke.”

Beauvoir nodded. And smiled. Then leaned closer to her. “Just a word of warning. You don’t want to fuck with him.”

“Oh, really? And what’s he going to do?”

“Not him. Me.”

CHAPTER 19

Armand stood in the bright sunshine of the small park. He knew he should read his emails, make some phone calls.

But he needed this more. This moment watching his grandchildren play. Watching his own children be parents. Turning his back on life as it was, he watched life as it should be.

Walking over to Daniel, who was pushing Zora on a swing, he said, “Can we grab a beer later? Just us.”

“Why?”

“Because I like your company. Because it would be nice to catch up. Hear more about your new job, your new home.”

“Continue the interrogation?”