Page 25 (1/2)

"Nothing so far," Reine-Marie said, then looking around she noticed her husband wasn’t with her He was standing at the spot where Laurent had landed, looking at the ground Then he turned and looked back up the hill

"Find anything?" asked Olivier

"No," said Gabri, getting closer to the woods "Just grass andsound as the ground reluctantly released him

Armand had returned to the road and walked in the opposite direction of the hill Reine-Marie, along with Gabri and Olivier, joined him

"No stick?" Gamache asked

They shook their heads

"Maybe Al and Evie picked it up," said Olivier

But they doubted it It was all Laurent’s parents could do to pick themselves up

"Maybe he lost it," said Gabri

But they knew the only way Laurent would lose it was if he lost his hand It was more than just a stick to Laurent

Al Lepage came out of the barn when he heard their car drive up He was back in his work clothes and iping his large hands

"Arave him a quick embrace

"Is Evie at home? I have a casserole"

Al pointed to the house, and when Reine-Marie left he turned to Gamache

"Is this a social call?"

"No, not really"

They’d dropped Gabri and Olivier back in Three Pines and then driven to the farm And now Are looked like a paper bag that had been cru throay But for the first time, Armand really studied his face and noted not the beard or the leathered skin, but the blue, blue eyes, shaped like alhtly too long for the face Laurent’s nose

"I have a question for you"

Al indicated a trough The two men sat side by side

"Do you have Laurent’s stick?"