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For a moment even Inspector Beauvoir was speechless

‘The tape wasn’t just torn, it was shredded’ He hated the way his body felt All nu had detached itself and was floating above him He wanted it back, and he clenched his fists harder and harder until his short nails were biting into his palms

It worked

‘What’s that,’ said Nichol ‘Looks like soent Nichol,’ said Gamache ‘We need constructive, not childish, co at Lemieux and Lacoste, eren’t about to help her even if they agreed And Beauvoir for one did Sitting on the floor in the center of the chairs was a small dark mound It looked like a small pile of shit Was it bear poop? Was that what had shredded the tape? Had a brooding bear found shelter in the old Hadley house?

It made sense

‘It’s a bird,’ said Lacoste ‘A baby robin’

Beauvoir was glad he’d kept his mouth shut Bear Baby bird Whatever

‘Poor thing,’ said Le look from Nichol and a so, sir’ A technician signaled from one of the computers The tech sat down and held out his hand Lacoste handed hierprint kit Within moments the prints had been sent to Montreal and the photos were up on the screen Soon, one by one, each co scene, like a ghoulish screen saver From the hallway a picture of the shredded police tape in the foreground and the tiny bird, dead in the middle of the circle of chairs

What does that house want? Ga that went in alive came out either dead or different

‘Alors,’ said Beauvoir when they were back around the conference table ‘As you all know, this is now ayou up to speed’ He reached forward and took one of the large cups, expertly pinning back the plastic lip to sip frohnuts

Succinctly Inspector Beauvoir related what they knew of the victim and the murder As Beauvoir described the séance the noise level in the room dropped until there was silence Ga had forravitated to the account as cahost story