A Great Reckoning

A week later, Gamache talks on the phone with Reine-Marie early one morning. He has spent the night at the academy, but she is in Three Pines. Gamache is cut off by the sound of shouting and goes to investigate. Just outside of Leduc’s room, Nathaniel has dropped the breakfast tray he was carrying into the room and started screaming, reacting to what he saw inside the room. Gamache immediately takes control, sending Nathaniel to his rooms and ordering someone to call Inspector Isabelle Lacoste (the head homicide investigator). He also orders the academy to be sealed up and for all cadets to be taken into the cafeteria, while all staff and professors also need to be accounted for.

Once all these matters are handled, Gamache and Jean-Guy enter the room where Leduc is lying dead. He has been shot in the head, and the gun is lying next to him. Jean-Guy begins a preliminary search of the room, but Gamache tells him to stop and wait for Inspector Lacoste. Nonetheless, Gamache has already noticed something unusual in the bedside table drawer. Gamache and Jean-Guy also notice the death doesn’t seem to have been a suicide since the gun is on the wrong side of the body; it is unusual for the murder weapon to have been left there.

Inspector Lacoste arrives and is quickly briefed by Jean-Guy. It seems almost certain that, given that no one has been seen arriving at or leaving the academy, Leduc was killed by someone affiliated with the academy and presumably still there. As Lacoste begins her assessment of the crime scene, she catches sight of Brébeuf and thinks of how much she dislikes and mistrusts the disgraced former Chief Superintendent. To her, “a dead body was preferable to a living Brébeuf” (99).

Lacoste begins the investigation, asking Gamache and Jean-Guy some questions. Both men confirm that Leduc was last seen alive at dinner the previous night; he seems to have gone back to his rooms afterward and not had any visitors. They explain that while Leduc wielded much power, he was also widely feared and distrusted. Gamache elaborates on why he kept Leduc at the school; he suspected Leduc of corruption related to contracts associated with the academy but wanted time to gather more evidence. Gamache admits that he made sure Leduc knew he was gathering evidence. Gamache also suspects, based on the behavior of many cadets who have recently graduated, that Leduc has been misusing his power and brutalizing students. He wanted to figure out what had been going on to fully reform the academy.

Lacoste also notices that the murder weapon is a revolver, with five bullets remaining in the chamber. It has been fitted with a silencer, explaining why no one heard a gunshot. She points out that it is unusual that Gamache stayed alone in the room with the body while everyone else went off; Gamache brushes off the question and explains that while he respects Lacoste’s jurisdiction over the crime investigation, he will also need to be involved, noting “I’m the commander here, and everyone and everything under this roof is my responsibility” (106).

Lacoste and Gamache question Nathaniel, who first found the body. Nathaniel explains that he was bringing Leduc his breakfast, and when no one answered his knock at the door, he opened it, revealing the body. Nathaniel immediately called for help and confirms that he never entered the room. While it had been a tradition for cadets to be selected to bring breakfast to professors in their rooms, Gamache had ordered the practice stopped. He is surprised to learn that it was still happening and that Nathaniel and Amelia had been singled out to serve Leduc.

When Gamache is alone with Nathaniel, he asks some additional questions. Gamache wants to know if Nathaniel was ever in Leduc’s bedroom; this is a particularly pertinent question because everyone knows Nathaniel is gay. Nathaniel insists that he only ever brought Leduc his breakfast. Gamache wants to know what happened with the map he assigned the cadets to work on and where Nathaniel’s copy is. Nathaniel seems confused, explaining that the cadets got busy and lost interest in the assignment; he doesn’t know where his copy of the map is. Gamache sternly tells Nathaniel to find his copy and report back. Gamache is concerned with its whereabouts because he caught sight of one of the map copies in Leduc’s bedside table drawer.

The coroner examines Leduc’s body and confirms that he likely died around midnight; there are no signs of a struggle before the shooting. Examination of the room has also revealed that Leduc has a box for the revolver; they can deduce that he was killed with his own weapon, and either Leduc had the weapon out when the killer arrived, or the killer already knew that Leduc had the gun in his possession. Gamache also explains the context for the map in the drawer: he has the framed original, and there are five copies (one for each of the cadets, and one for Gamache himself, which he has in Three Pines). Finding out who gave Leduc a copy of the map and for what reason and why Leduc kept it is now an integral question within the murder investigation; the investigators also note that “there’s something intimate about a bedside table” (118).

Gamache shares his belief that at least one of the cadets must have had a close relationship with Leduc and, therefore, might know something about the murder. He asks permission to take the four cadets to Three Pines with him to try and learn more and keep them safe in case whoever killed Leduc also targets them. Lacoste agrees to this plan. She does insist on interviewing all the cadets first.

Due to his leadership role, Gamache holds an assembly with all the students and staff to formally announce Leduc’s death and the ongoing investigation. He explains that all rooms will be searched, and some cadets may be questioned. One of the students yells insults at Gamache as he speaks. Lacoste is shocked by the open defiance, and Jean-Guy explains that despite Gamache’s efforts, many students were poisoned against him by Leduc.

Lacoste questions Huifen, asking about her whereabouts at the time of the murder and her relationship with Leduc. Huifen says that the investigation should focus on Gamache since everyone knows that Gamache detested Leduc. Lacoste tells Huifen that she will be going to Three Pines and should start to get ready. Between Jean-Guy and Lacoste, they have now confirmed that Nathaniel, Jacques, and Huifen still have their maps. All the students have also insisted that they only ever met with Leduc in groups, respected the professor, and felt lucky to have been chosen to be mentored by him.

When Jean-Guy asks Amelia to produce her copy of the map, she cannot do so. She claims she never gave it to Leduc and doesn’t know where it went, but its absence implies that “either she gave it to the dead man, or someone took it and planted it there. Either way, attention was focusing on her” (129). Lacoste expresses concern to Gamache about the toxic atmosphere at the academy and questions his decision to retain Leduc and bring Brébeuf to the school. Gamache admits that he never anticipated that a murder would take place but that he still thinks he is on track to reform the academy. He also suggests that Lacoste should ask for an outside investigator to join her to ensure integrity and transparency in the investigation. Jean-Guy tells Gamache that Amelia’s map is the one that is missing.

In Three Pines, Gamache meets with the four cadets, who are confused as to why they have been brought there. They aren’t aware that “they were suspected. Of being the killer. Or being the next victim” (136). Other than Inspector Lacoste, no one else knows that they are here. Gamache tells them about the copy of the map having been found in Leduc’s bedside table. He tells them that they need to continue their investigation of who made the map, why, and whether there is any reason Leduc would have wanted to possess it. Gamache does not address her directly, but he is particularly observant of Amelia. When Gamache steps out to meet with Lacoste and another police officer, Amelia realizes with shock that Lacoste is the woman she once saw on television, who first inspired her to consider becoming a police officer.

Lacoste introduces Gamache to Deputy Commissioner Gélinas, a high-ranking officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As Gamache suggested, she has brought in someone from outside the Sûreté to oversee the investigation. Gamache brings both back to his home, where he is surprised to find that Reine-Marie has adopted a new puppy, an ugly runt she has named Gracie. Gamache does not tell Gélinas about the cadets being in Three Pines. Gamache and Gélinas have a carefully guarded conversation, in which Gélinas implies that Gamache would have had ample motive to kill Leduc out of a desire to protect the academy from his influence. Gamache insists that he had nothing to do with the murder: “I detested Leduc, but I did not kill him” (147). Gamache also reveals that he specifically requested Gélinas be the one to oversee the case since he is considering recommending Gélinas for a more senior position in the Mounted Police but wants to work with him first.

Gamache phones Olivier and asks him to keep the cadets at the bistro until Gamache and Gélinas have left town. Frustrated, the cadets complain about Gamache, and Myrna rushes in to defend him. Olivier also relays Gamache’s instructions about where each cadet will be staying: Huifen at the bistro with Olivier and Gabri, Amelia with Clara, Nathaniel with Ruth, and Jacques with Myrna. The last arrangement is particularly awkward because Jacques clearly does not like or respect Myrna, who is a Black woman.

Gamache and Gélinas drive back to the academy together. Gamache explains that Leduc was quite isolated, without friends or close family. Gélinas wonders if Leduc could have been having affairs with any of the students. Gamache admits that it is possible and explains that in his mind, the culture at the academy has been contributing to the more widespread corruption of the Sûreté by breeding agents who would either ignore or contribute to unethical practices; as Gamache explains, “the academy had become a nursery, a factory, a training ground and a conduit for brutality” (155). Gélinas reflects that given the incentive Leduc would have had to conceal what was happening at the academy, it would have made more sense that Gamache would have been the one to end up dead. Gélinas is also increasingly suspicious and confused about why Gamache brought Brébeuf and Leduc together and why Gamache immediately left the academy after the murder to rush to Three Pines.

Back at the academy, Gamache watches as Leduc’s body is taken away. Brébeuf also watches and hints that this event must be a relief for Gamache. Gamache cautions Brébeuf that if he had anything to do with the murder, Gamache will find out. Meanwhile, the cadets begin to discuss their investigation into the map. Amelia admits that she no longer has her copy, and while some believe her claim that she doesn’t know where it went, others are more suspicious. As Jacques explains, “we have to assume the worst […]. Every person, every situation, is a potential threat” (162). Nathaniel also suggests that if any of the others had lost or given away their map copy, they would have had a motive to steal Amelia’s and cover up the absence.

At the academy, Gamache, Gélinas, and Lacoste continue their investigation; they meet with a professor named Godbut, who is known to also have been very cruel and abusive towards the students. They share their theory that Leduc was heavily involved in bribery, corruption, and contract fixing and their hunch that Godbut may have also been involved. Godbut denies this but suggests that whoever killed Leduc was likely from outside the academy and located in the community. After Godbut leaves, Gélinas, Gamache, and Jean-Guy discuss this theory; Gamache explains that when the new building (where the academy is currently located) was built a few years, it was on the site that the community of St. Alphonse wanted to use for a community recreation center, and there has been very bad blood between the town and the academy ever since. Jean-Guy has learned that the alarm system was turned off the previous night and that it is flawed, with multiple codes and frequent false alarms. This means someone might have entered the academy without being detected.

Gamache also reflects on something that has been bothering him about the crime: the professors and the students are all very capable of pulling off a murder since “you might be teaching them how to catch a criminal, but in a roundabout way, you’re also teaching them how to be one, and not get caught” (169). Leduc’s murder could easily have been staged to look like a suicide, especially since he was killed with his own gun and would have had ample reason to kill himself. However, by blatantly leaving the gun on the wrong side of the body, the killer was making it clear that the death was a murder and that there had been no attempt to cover it up. Other details are also confusing: Leduc seems to have simply been standing still when he was shot. No one knows why he owned an old-fashioned revolver with a custom silencer; Jean-Guy has reached out to the gun manufacturer.

Each of the cadets settles into the home where they will be lodging. Nathaniel can’t find Ruth, and he and Amelia finally locate Ruth in the small church, where Jacques is also sitting, avoiding Myrna. The church has several stained-glass windows, including one depicting a group of soldiers. The group observes that this window “wasn’t simply an image. There was a feeling about it. Whoever had made this had done it with great care” (178). Looking closely, Amelia notices that one of the soldiers is depicted with a piece of paper sticking out of his bag and that the paper depicted in the window is the same map of Three Pines.

Amelia goes to get Reine-Marie, Myrna, and Clara and brings them back to the chapel, where they all look at the stained-glass window. The window is a commemoration of boys and men from the village who died in World War I; the names of the lost soldiers are listed under the image. The soldier depicted with the map in his bag is quite young and has a revolver, rather than the rifle that the other soldiers are shown with.

At the academy, Gamache, along with Jean-Guy, Lacoste, and Gélinas, is interviewing a professor of tactics named Charpentier when he gets the phone call sharing the news about what the cadets found in the stained-glass window. While Charpentier was extremely nervous during the interview, his attention is immediately caught by the mention of the map: “Talk of maps had opened the verbal floodgates” (183). Gamache will only provide information about the map found in the bistro and now in the stained-glass window; he tries to avoid revealing the presence of copies and does not mention the map found in Leduc’s bedside table. Charpentier suggests that whoever killed Leduc is likely someone from within the school.