Page 191 of The Grey Wolf
Manon walked over to a wall in the security office. “Here’s a schematic of the plant. Pump One is here.” She pointed to the lowest level. It was in the center of the huge floor. “The other is two flights up, right over the first. The emergency controls to shut them down are on a board beside the turbine. There’ll be workers there who’ll challenge you.”
“There’ll be more than workers,” said Beauvoir. “And they’ll more than challenge. I can take the lowest level.”
“Non.You need to go with Madame Lagacé and get control of the command center before those alarms go off.”
“Let me go,patron. You get to the control room.”
Gamache actually smiled. “And which of us is most likely to be stopped and challenged?”
While far from happy, Beauvoir knew he was right and that this was the only option.
“Bon,” said Gamache. “When you see that Pump One is offline, give me three minutes, then shut down the plant and call Forrest. Get the tactical unit here. Once I shut down the second pump, we need to make sure the attackers don’t escape. And we need to take them alive.”
Beauvoir nodded. “Right.”
Gamache gripped Jean-Guy’s forearm. “You have to hold that command center. No matter what. You’re the last line. It cannot be crossed.” He held Jean-Guy’s eyes. “No matter what happens.”
Jean-Guy knew what Armand was saying.
Lacoste backed away from Sébastien.
“How in the world could you agree to this? The deaths of thousands, tens of thousands.”
“How in the world?” demanded the monk, almost screaming. “How in the world? Have you seen the state of the world? Something had to be done to shake the leaders out of their complacency. Reason wasn’t doing it. Facts weren’t doing it. If even wildfires weren’t doing it, what would?”
“My God, are you trying to tell me you’re involved in a plot to poison Montréal’s drinking water as a way to save the planet?”
“Yes! Yes. To get people to finally wake up and see the dangers. If it takes an act of ecoterrorism, then so be it.”
“You’re delusional. It’s just plain terrorism.”
“I don’t care what you call it. My conscience is clear.”
“What conscience? You’re willing to kill thousands to get the attention of politicians?”
“Politicians? You’re kidding, right? They’re the ones who’ve allowed it to get this far. No, we’re beyond that. We need one strong leader who can take control. Someone brave enough to do what’s necessary.”
“You’re a fool. You’re being used. They’ve turned your good intentions into something ugly. Can’t you see? Murdering thousands isn’t the answer.”
“Then what is? We’ve tried everything else.” He advanced on her.
That’s as far as he got. Brother Constantine swung the heavy book containing the ancient recipe for Chartreuse and hit Sébastien squarely on the side of the head, knocking him senseless. As Chartreuse had done for centuries.
CHAPTER43
Chief Inspector Gamache passed two maintenance workers and someone who looked like a technician. For a moment Gamache thought he was going to be questioned. Instead of avoiding eye contact, Gamache caught and held the man’s attention, and gave a brusque nod.
The technician hesitated, then nodded back. And walked on. Gamache could feel the perspiration trickling down the middle of his back.
He continued on, giving every appearance of a man with a lot on his mind. It was not an expression that invited chitchat. Or challenge.
Reaching the stairs, he slipped in, grabbed the handrail, and took the concrete steps two at a time.
“I didn’t know you were on duty,” said the man who stopped them in the fourth-floor hallway. He was in shirtsleeves and tie with heavy black-rimmed glasses.
Manon smiled, jerked her head toward Beauvoir, and grimaced. “My brother-in-law. Visiting from Gaspé. He’s leaving first thing tomorrow, thank God. I told him I’d show him where I worked.” She lowered her voice. “He’s a bit of an asshole.”
Beauvoir looked around and said, “Is this it? Not very impressive. I expected more.”
