Summary

In Chapter Thirty-one, Gamache learns from the forensic report on the tuque that it belonged to a man. He wonders if there was some sort of abuse going on between the quints and their father. Lacoste emails Gamache to let him know she’s found the quints uncle, Andre Pineault, to whom Gamache believes it is vital that he speak. Gamache looks out over the city for a minute then makes a split second decision to go to Jean-Guy’s office. Gamache begs the man to let him get him help. Jean-Guy takes Gamache’s gun but instead of shooting him, hits him across the face with it. He refuses to go with Gamache.

Gamache washes his face at Andre Pineault’s home. Pineault tells Gamache he didn’t know the girls that well, but he did sometimes play hockey with them. He says...