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"Why?" asked Jean-Guy

"Because I need to be sure They need to be sure"

"No, I mean, let’s assume for a moment this wasn’t an accident He was a kid He wasn’t violated He wasn’t tortured Thank God Why would someone kill him?"

"I don’t know"

Gaes on the table by the back door where they’d sat since he’d dug the there, listening, watching

"Sometimes there’s a clear motive, sometimes it’s just bad luck," he said "The murderer has a plan of his own and the victim is chosen at random"

"You think a serial killer ular lared at the younger man "What do you mean by that?"

His voice, explosive at first, had dropped to a dangerous whisper, and then he recovered hi to help I’ this up I have no idea why anyone wouldis that I’ht have been a hit-and-run But there’s so off"

Gamache reopened the dossier At the list of items found in Laurent’s pocket A sold A chocolate bar Broken There were pine cone shards and dirt and a dog biscuit

Then Gamache looked at the report on the boy’s hands They were scratched, dirty The coroner found pine resin and bits of plant ht If Laurent was murdered, he didn’t have a chance to defend himself Ga boy things in the last hours,for that life, but apparently enjoying it Right up until the end

Gamache raised his brown eyes to Jean-Guy

"Would you look into it?"