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Beauvoir nodded

"Good" Ga ahead and overhead, then looked back down "Medics are on their way Lacoste’s co not meant to be seen by anyone else, and now seen byBeauvoir’s hair, he left

Beauvoir watched the screen through his fingers clutched to his face, his eyes wide He’d expected the video to have captured, imperfectly, the events It hadn’t occurred to him it would also capture how it felt

The fear and confusion The shock, the pain The searing pain as he clutched at his abdomen And the loneliness

On the screen he saw his own face watching, pleading, as Gaony, at having to do it

The view changed and they followed the tea fire A Sûreté officer wounded A gun the stairs two at a ti hi hand to hand Froasps, as they fought Finally the Chief grabbed for the weapon that had been knocked out of his hand Swinging it at the terrorist he caught him with a terrible crunch to the head The man dropped

As the cameras watched, Gamache collapsed to his knees beside the ed hiered a bit, catching hiht, Gaainst the wall across the rooun in the other

There was a rasping, gasping

"Ihaveone," Ga to catch his breath

Éan He’d only twice in his career had to fire his gun Both times he’d killed soht his officers well It was an absolute, you never, ever take out your gun unless you mean to use it And when you use it, aim for the body, aim to stop Dead, if need be

And noatched Arht, sway a bit, then step forward Frounman was unconscious at his feet Shots continued all round É above hiun and took shots in quick succession A target was hit The shooting stopped

For a moment Then there was a rapid fire

Gamache’s arms lifted His whole body lifted And twisted And he fell to the ground

Beauvoir held his breath It hat he’d seen that day The Chief lying, un, on the floor