Page 25 of Miss Wolcott’s Ghost

Enlarged, the seed looked like a tiny demon, with claws and spikes.

“This must be from the plant that’s growing on the grave,” said Isabelle. “Don’t you think?”

“Seems reasonable,” said Armand, though he knew how dangerous a good guess could be at this stage in an investigation.

“You’d need a botanist, not a coroner, to tell you that,” said Dr. Harris.

Gamache turned to Lacoste, but before he opened his mouth, she said, “On it.”

“Anything else we should know, Doctor?”

“Not for now. I wanted to let you know about the weapon and”—she glanced behind her—“what’s growing in his body. I have to say, I’ve never actually seen that before.”

“We’ll need samples of the seeds, both one that’s germinated and one that hasn’t.”

“I’ll have a messenger get them to you right away.”

“Merci.”

“So, it is murder.” Jean-Guy had walked over to the huge blackboard they’d installed next to the corkboard.

Though they all had the same evidence and reports on their computers, it was easier to see everything compiled in one place. So they could examine it together and see connections.

His back to the room and his colleagues, Jean-Guy Beauvoir picked up the blue chalk and made the first marks.

Homicide. Victim, unknown.

Possible victim/suspects: Daniel Bouvier, Léo Ouelette

“I’ve assigned agents to interview them, patron,” said Jean-Guy. “We should have a report soon.”

“Good.”

Place of death: Lost Nation Cemetery

Then, with the white chalk, he wrote down what they knew so far.

Age, sex, body type: Mid-forties, male, five-ten, fit

The weapon: Heavy, curved

Possible date of death: Mid-November

Then he stepped back and brought the chalk to his mouth, inadvertently drawing a Hitler-esque mustache above his lip.

It wasn’t much of a list. But it would fill in.

“The head botanist at the Montréal Botanical Gardens, Dr. Aimée Lagacé, is coming down. I offered to send her photographs, but she said she’d prefer to see samples in person.”

“Good.” Gamache held out his hand and Jean-Guy gave him the red chalk.

Whose grave was the dead man on? Is it significant?

Why that grave? Why Lost Nation?

Lacoste now took the chalk and wrote: Who called the Chief at 3 a.m.?

Beauvoir took the chalk back and wrote: Why did they use Clara Morrow’s name?