Page 55 of The Grey Wolf
“What does this mean, Armand?”
He sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Will you meet her now? Ask her?”
“Not before I have more information. I can’t walk in there unprepared.”
As he had the last time, the only time, he’d met with Caron. Both he and Reine-Marie knew what had happened then. To Armand, yes, but mostly to Daniel.
Reine-Marie’s mind was whirring, racing. “Is she still the Chief of Staff to That Politician?”
Reine-Marie knew his name, would never forget it. But she could not bring herself to say it. He was simply That Politician. The one who’d gone after her husband and teenage son years ago, when Armand had refused to drop vehicular homicide charges against The Daughter.
Of course That Politician had stayed out of it and made Jeanne Caron do the dirty work. Something she was only too happy to do. And did well. But there was no doubt who was directing it. Directing her.
That Politician had been a lowly backbencher at the time, but a clever and ambitious one. Armand had managed to fight off most of the attacks, but not all. Daniel still bore the scars. And still blamed his father.
And rightly so, Armand knew.
Reine-Marie had followed That Politician’s career over the years. Always hoping that fate or karma or any higher power floating around would intervene. But it had not. At least not in any way she recognized or approved of.
Instead of losing the next election and sinking back into his cesspool, That Politician had flourished, always being reelected and goingfrom strength to strength within the party. Until he’d landed a federal cabinet post. And even then, his star had continued to rise.
“Jeanne Caron is still his Chief of Staff,” said Armand. “And he’s the Deputy Prime Minister.”
“Dear God.” Reine-Marie sighed. “I knew he was the Environment minister, but Deputy Prime Minister? How stupid is the PM to have elevated that vile man?”
Armand had wondered the same thing.
“It gets worse. He’s just been handed another portfolio. He’s now in charge of the Global Affairs Canada.”
“I don’t understand how that can be bad.”
“GAC is the federal department that looks after foreign affairs and international trade, but it’s also in charge of investigating domestic and international terrorism.”
Had Reine-Marie been standing, she’d have sat down. As it was, she just stared at her husband.
“The Prime Minister did that? He handed both Environment and Terrorism to that man? Is he crazy? Has he lost his mind?” She continued to stare at her husband, then her mouth dropped open and she whispered, “My God, Armand. You think the PM is involved.”
“Non.I don’t. But I am worried.”
“Why would any politician want to poison tens of thousands of their own citizens?” She shook her head. “I voted for the Prime Minister. Twice.”
That was only, Armand knew, because the other candidate was even worse. A far-right lunatic. But now their centrist leader, a man elected on a platform of sober second thought and sanity, looked like the madman.
“If Jeanne Caron was at The Mission talking with Langlois,” said Reine-Marie, “that must mean she was sent there by That Politician.”
“Probably.”
“Do you think he was the boss that Charles mentioned?”
“Could be.”
“So whose side was Charles on?”
“That’s a good question. I think he was being used, and when he realized what was going on, he started his own investigation.”
“Then contacted you. But why break into our home? Why take your jacket?”
