Summary

In Chapter 31, Lacoste called Gamache from the bathroom to report that the head of the East Coast cartel was in the bistro. Lacoste said Reine-Marie was there as well, with her family. Beauvoir’s instinct was to make them leave but Gamache had other ideas. He told Lacoste to keep them there and invite Ruth to join them. When Lacoste emerged from the bathroom she apologized to the man waiting outside and said she was having cramps.

The novel goes back in time to the November night when Jacqueline confessed to the murder of Katie. Gamache. Lacoste and Beauvoir had a late night meeting with Matheo, Lea and Patrick at the bed and breakfast. Lacoste told them that Jacqueline had confessed and they needed to tell the real story.

Lea told the investigators that Jacqueline had come to them with the idea of...