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‘Please say yes’

And she had

She suspected Chief Inspector Gamache knew that at each and every hoone home and the air had closed back in around the place, Isabelle Lacoste was still there

Speaking to the dead Reassuring them Chief Inspector Gaotten

Now, standing in the fresh, gentle light, holding Myrna’s rough hands and looking into Clara’s waruard down

‘I think Madeleine Favreau’s spirit is still there’ She looked over to the desolate house on the hill ‘Waiting for us to free it I want her to knoe’re trying and on’t forget her’

‘It’s a sacred thing you do,’ said Myrna, squeezing her hands ‘Thank you for asking us to help’

Isabelle Lacoste wondered if they’d be thanking her in a few minutes Finally the three women stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the old Hadley house

‘Coet easier’

She plunged down the uneven ay to the front door and tried the knob

‘It’s locked,’ she said, i on s over easy and war in her mind They’d tried, they’d done their best, no one could –

‘I have the key,’ said Lacoste

Damn

At that sa the Cowansville Hospital A few people were lounging outside having cigarettes, one dragging an oxygen tank behind her The two ?’