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The Scene of Criot to work Jean-Guy directed them while Chief Inspector Lacoste walked around the rest of the house Looking into roole-story home with a basement Even that had been ripped apart It ot into the house the more convinced Lacoste became this was not a siet

Carpets had been ripped up, floorboards lifted Paneling hung from the walls A chair stood in theLacoste got on it and shone her light into the attic She heard scao up, but that was one of the perks of being Chief Inspector She could assign someone else to do that now

"The forensics tea their job," said Beauvoir, joining her "Time to talk to Brian"

Jean-Guy had spoken with him briefly on his way to find Lacoste

"How does he seem?" Lacoste asked

"Stunned Numb"

But neither was under any illusion As they walked back down the hallway, both seasoned hoators knew they were about to speak to their ot to his feet when they entered He was about to say sootten how to speak

"I’m so sorry, Brian," said Isabelle Lacoste "This is terrible"

He nodded His eyes darted fro back down on his chair at the Forent fro bored by the doorway

"Can you ent looked put out, but agreed

The kitchen had also been ransacked, though the daar and cornflakes spilled out onto the counter, and drawers opened and eh the robber-turned-killer had run out of stea out of time Or conviction

Brian looked at them, all eyes, wide and red

"What time did you find her, Brian?" Lacoste asked

"I left Montréal about seven thirty this ot here about nine"

"You were in Montréal last night?" asked Lacoste

"Yes, at aI stayed over I wish I hadn’t" He had that haunted look people got when alternate endings began to appear Endings in which they did soht have been, if only …