Page 154 of A Better Man

“I have an idea.”

“Hold on, Cameron,” said Beauvoir, and clicked the handset off while Gamache explained.

Beauvoir nodded approval, then clicked the handset back on. “Still there, Cameron?”

“Oui, patron.”

“This is what I want you to do.”

Agent Cameron knocked on the door, then entered.

Lacoste glanced at him with some annoyance. It was unusual to be interrupted in the middle of what was proving a difficult interrogation.

Pauline Vachon was holding unexpectedly firm.

She would not admit that Tracey planned to kill his wife and that that’s what the posts were about.

Cameron bent down and whispered in her ear, then left.

Lacoste smiled and turned back to Vachon, who was watching her with feigned boredom. But after a few seconds of silence, Vachon’s brows lowered.

“What?” she demanded.

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but an arrest warrant has just been issued for Carl Tracey. For the murder of Vivienne Godin. Chief Inspector Beauvoir is bringing him in. He’ll be here in half an hour.”

Lacoste got up and, collecting the papers, closed the file.

“Can I go now?”

“Not quite yet. I want to hear what Monsieur Tracey has to say. Then you can go.”

She walked to the door. And stopped when she heard that one word. That beautiful word.

“Wait.”

The radio crackled, and Jean-Guy reached for it so quickly it bobbled out of his hand.

He juggled it for a moment before finally grasping it.

“Beauvoir.”

“We have him,” said Isabelle Lacoste. “Pauline Vachon just admitted they’d discussed killing Vivienne. That Tracey planned to do it.”

“She’ll sign the statement? Testify against him?”

“Yes.”

They knocked on the door.

By now it was dark. Not even the porch light was on. Though there was still the one light on. Upstairs.

They knocked again. Still no answer.

Beauvoir turned to the two uniformed Sûreté agents and signaled them to go around back. Then he and Gamache exchanged glances.

Beauvoir turned the handle of the front door. It was unlocked. He swung it open.

“Tracey? Carl Tracey?” Beauvoir called. “Sûreté. We have a warrant for your arrest.”