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“Are you arresting me?” she asked, half laughing.
“Not yet.”
Like Paul Robinson before him, he’d chosen his words carefully. To be both clear, and ambiguous.
Chapter 45
It was just after half past six when Jean-Guy Beauvoir went over to the Sûreté agent in the vehicle outside the Auberge.
“Has anyone gone in or out?”
“Non, patron. Only the staff. Day shift starts at six thirty.”
“If anyone comes out, stop them. It might not be from the front door. They could come around the side. Your partner?”
“Patrolling the outside, like you ordered. We’re taking turns.”
“Bon.”
Once in the lobby Isabelle had the front desk clerk call Haniya, Abigail, and Vincent in their rooms. And invite them down for breakfast.
The receptionist got through to Haniya, but there was no answer from the other two.
“Probably in the dining room,” said Isabelle. But she returned a minute later. “Not there.”
“Did anyone come down?” Gamache asked the receptionist.
“No.”
“Can we have the keys to their rooms, please.”
Beauvoir took the stairs two at a time while Lacoste asked, “Is there a staff entrance?”
“Yes, around the side.”
She went off quickly to check it and returned at the same time as Beauvoir.
“Not in their rooms,” he reported.
“There’re back stairs, for the staff,” said Lacoste. “And an exit. Gilbert would know about both.”
“Search the place,” commanded Gamache.
While they did, he made some calls. His first was to the bistro, to make sure neither Vincent Gilbert nor Abigail Robinson was there. Olivier answered and said they were not.
Next, Gamache called Gilbert’s son, Marc, who had a home a couple of kilometers away.
As he listened to the phone ring Armand saw Haniya descend the sweeping stairway into the lobby, wearing a royal blue abaya and embroidered hijab.
“Marc? It’s Armand Gamache. I’m wondering if your father’s with you.”
“No, he should be at the Inn. He said he’d be leaving this morning but not until later.”
“Leaving for where?”
“His cabin. Why? Is there a problem?”
“Did you speak to him last night?”
