Page 42 of Miss Wolcott’s Ghost

Then it clicked what she meant. He was grateful he hadn’t asked. He also remembered the Botany Bay was a ship in Star Trek.

“Then we went to the right person,” said Armand.

“Finally got something right,” said Ruth.

Agent Ferdinand was shocked that anyone would speak to the head of homicide for the Sûreté in that way. But Chief Inspector Gamache did not seem upset. In fact, he didn’t seem to even notice.

Armand looked at the two sketches Clara had done.

The charcoal man stared back. Brian Fillmore was smiling slightly. There was, Gamache thought, a mildness about him. He looked like a happy fellow. An intellectual. A man at home with books but pleased too to be with people. For a while anyway. A comfortable introvert.

The woman, Jeanette Bouchard, did not look happy.

“No return call from Réunion?” Armand asked Jean-Guy, who double-checked his phone.

“No.”

“Agent Ferdinand, you say the Brian Fillmore who runs Réunion hasn’t been seen in a while.”

“That’s the rumor on social media.”

“And internet rumors are generally true,” said Ruth. She had started a few herself. Including the one that fluoride in the water was put there by unicorns.

She had more than half a million followers.

Jean-Guy checked his phone again, then stood up. “Can I use your printer, Myrna? Something’s just come in.”

“Sure. You know where it is.”

Armand was slowly nodding, as though following a bouncing ball to some as yet unseen conclusion.

“You told us that the Réunion man was known to be a recluse. Eccentric,” he said to Agent Ferdinand before turning to Clara. “Did you see any evidence of that in your cousin?”

“No.”

“Wait,” said Ruth. “Didn’t you notice his clothes?”

“I did,” said Clara. “But I thought he didn’t have much money and got them from a thrift shop. They were old.”

“Not old,” said Ruth. “Vintage. Like I wear. It’s a style choice.”

That raised some brows.

Isabelle and Armand exchanged glances.

“We need to find out more about this Brian Fillmore,” said Armand.

“Which one?” asked Clara. “Mine or the guy on the website?”

“Both.”

“I’ll get our forensic accountants onto Réunion,” said Isabelle. “The founder and CEO will have a footprint for sure.”

“My gallery in Montréal vouched for my Brian,” Clara reminded them. “Sold him one of my paintings.”

“Good. We’ll pay them a visit,” said Armand.

“OK, patron,” said Jean-Guy, joining them again. “I have the information from Fortin.” He placed the Sûreté printout on the table. There was no mistaking the content of the report.