Page 50 of The Grey Wolf
Removing a pile of neatly folded white T-shirts from the chair, he sat. “What happened to Monsieur Gagnon?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Try me. Let’s see if I can grasp it.”
“The fucker took off during the pandemic. Never came back.”
“Got it.” Gagnon wasn’t the only administrator to abandon vulnerable people during the lockdown. “You took over?”
“Someone had to. The board wanted to replace me when they realized the inmates were running the asylum, but then they couldn’t find anyone crazy enough to want the job.”
Gamache shot Beauvoir a warning look before turning back to Claudine.
“And Gagnon?”
“Given a nice pension, I heard.” She didn’t seem angry. “That’s life. Worse things happen. Like being mowed down and dying in the middle of the road just when you’ve gotten your life together. I saw what you did.”
Gamache thought she, like the vlogger, was about to accuse him of saving himself.
“You held his hand.” Claudine held his eyes. “We all want that, don’t we? At the end.”
Gamache didn’t turn to look at Lacoste, but he felt again her hand holding his, and knew Claudine was right. He also suspected that when her time came, she’d be surrounded by people who cared for her, as she cared for them.
“How can I help?” she asked.
“We don’t have a warrant—”
“Now you’re just being insulting,” she snapped. “You think we’d only help if we had no choice?”
“I’m sorry,” said Gamache. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Are you so sure?”
“We think Charles might’ve hidden something here.”
“Étoile!” she shouted so suddenly even Gamache jumped. “I know you’re listening, you little shit. Get in here.”
A young man, or woman, appeared at the door. They were clearly in transition.
“Show these cops whatever they want to see. Let them search anywhere they want.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
Lacoste and Beauvoir followed them out of the office while Gamache, not given permission to leave, stayed glued to his chair.
“They call me Auntie, for some reason.”
“What’s your full name?”
“Just Claudine will do.”
“I’m afraid it won’t.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
“McGregor.”
“Merci.”
