‘Did anything unusual happen at the breakfast?’ Gamache asked.
Peter and Clara thought about it then shook their heads.
‘Peter was curling on Em’s team this year, for the first time, so he left early.’
‘By the time I got outside Em and Mother were already at the lake. It’s just down the road then off to the right. It’s about a five-minute walk from the Legion.’
‘And your team didn’t wait for you?’
‘Well, Georges did. He was the other man on our team. This was his first year curling as well.’
‘Georges who?’
‘Simenon,’ said Peter and smiled at Gamache’s raised brow. ‘I know. His mother was cursed with the pleasure of reading.’
‘And cursed her son,’ said Gamache.
‘Georges and I walked over to Lac Brume and found Em and Mother there. Billy Williams had already cleared the ice surface so we could curl and he’d put up the bleachers a few days before Christmas.’
‘The ice was frozen enough?’
‘Oh, long ago. Besides, it’s close to shore and I think Billy uses his auger to check the ice thickness. He’s a very prudent man is our Billy.’
‘What else did you notice at the lake?’
Peter cast his mind back. He remembered standing at the side of the road looking over the small incline down to the snow-covered lake. Mother and Bea were over by their chairs.
‘Chairs,’ said Peter. ‘Mother, Em and Kaye always bring chairs to sit close to the heat lamp.’
‘How many chairs were there this morning?’ Gamache asked.
‘Three. Two were close to the heat lamp, the other was a little way ahead.’
‘So what happened?’ Gamache leaned forward, cradling the warm mug in his large hands, his eyes lively and alert.
‘Everyone seemed to arrive at once,’ said Peter. ‘Em and Mother had been sitting on their chairs when Georges and I joined them. We talked strategy for a while then the other team arrived and soon it seemed the bleachers were full.’
‘I got there just as the curling started,’ said Clara.
‘Where did you sit?’
‘In the stands, between Myrna and Olivier.’
‘And where was CC?’
‘In one of the chairs by the lamp.’ Clara smiled very slightly.
‘What is it?’ Gamache asked.
Clara blushed a little at being caught in a private moment. ‘I was remembering CC. It was like her to take the best seat. In fact, the one she chose was closest to the lamp. It’s the one Kaye should have had.’
‘You didn’t like her, did you?’ he asked.
‘No. I thought she was cruel and selfish,’ said Clara. ‘Still, she didn’t deserve to be killed.’
‘What did she deserve?’ he asked.
The question staggered Clara. What did CC deserve? She gave it some thought, staring into the fire, watching the flames leap and pop and play. Lemieux shifted his position and almost said something, but Gamache caught his eye and he shut his mouth.
‘She deserved to be left alone. That should have been her punishment for treating people with such disdain, for causing such hurt.’ Clara was trying to keep her voice firm and calm, but she could feel it wavering and quivering and hoped she wasn’t about to cry. ‘CC couldn’t be trusted in the company of others.’
Gamache was silent, wondering what CC could have done to have hurt this fine woman so much she’d visit such a horror on her. Because Gamache knew, as did Clara, that isolation was far worse than death.
He knew then that this case wouldn’t be solved easily. Anyone so damaged as to cause this much harm led a life full of secrets and full of enemies. Gamache moved a little closer to the fire. Outside the sun had set and night had fallen on Three Pines.