How the Light Gets In

Clara and Myrna have just finished dinner. Clara insists on washing the dishes to keep her mind occupied. Myrna’s simple home hasn’t changed since she arrived in Three Pines years ago, after closing her psychologist’s practice. Clara first met Myrna when she dropped into the bookstore and heard her “sweeping and swearing” (58). Gamache arrives and tells them about Constance’s death. Since her sister died in October, Constance was completely alone. Myrna hasn’t told anyone but Clara who Constance really was. Gamache wonders if the killer knew who Constance was and that he was killing “the last of the Ouellet quintuplets” (62). 

Gamache leaves Myrna’s home and realizes he never made reservations at the bed-and-breakfast. As he walks, he sees the lights go on in the bed-and-breakfast, and Gabri, the owner and friend of Gamache, steps outside, calling for him and Henri to hurry inside. Myrna just called Gabri and told him Gamache might need a place to stay. As Gamache follows Gabri to the “uncluttered and comforting” (64) room that he always stays in, he explains that Constance is dead. Gamache takes Henri outside to do his business. As Gamache cleans it up, he realizes that Henri is gone. Gamache sees paw prints in the snow across the road and sees Henri waiting at the front door of the house he first lived in. As a rescued puppy, Henri was raised by Emilie Longpré. The Gamaches adopted Henri when Emilie died. Henri remembering the home gives Gamache an idea.

Back in Montréal, the Brunels struggle to fall asleep. Their work with Gamache concerns Thérèse. She realizes if Jérôme did attract a watcher, someone “high up in the Sûreté had gone to a great deal of trouble to cover up what they were doing” (67). Thérèse knows there is more at stake than a leaked video and wonders if the “creature” they are hunting has been plotting for years. Jérôme holds her hand and assures her that it will be okay.

Also in Montréal, Beauvoir watches Annie’s house from inside his parked car. More than anything, he wants to believe that all will be well.

The next morning, Gamache is welcomed by a home-cooked breakfast and the company of Gabri and his partner, Olivier. Olivier and Gabri both ask the question that Gamache keeps wondering—“why” (70). The motive for killing Constance, an old woman, is illusive. Gamache asks Olivier to walk outside with him so that he can ask a favor, which is not revealed to the reader. Olivier agrees to the mysterious favor, and to keep it secret. Back in the bed-and-breakfast, Gamache asks what Gabri thought of Constance. Gabri explains that Constance was reserved at first, but that many people are who “haven’t met many queers” (71). After a few days, she became motherly to all of them. Gabri explains that even Ruth warmed to Constance. This baffles Gamache since Ruth doesn’t really warm to anyone. When Gabri asks if Beauvoir will join later, Gamache wonders when people will stop expecting to them together.

Gamache walks to Olivier’s bistro, where the villagers recognize Henri and welcome him like “a returning son” (73). Gamache finds Myrna, Clara, and Ruth and joins them. He sits next to Ruth, who asks where Beauvoir is. When Gamache repeats that Beauvoir is on another assignment, Ruth can tell that something is wrong and asks if Beauvoir “made a balls-up” (73) of his relationship with Annie. Gamache changes the subject and says that he’s glad that Rosa, Ruth’s pet duck, is back. As Gamache recaps the case, Gabri asks what he means by who Constance “really was.” Just as Myrna prepares to share the secret, Ruth answers.

Myrna is shocked that Ruth knew who Constance was. Ruth retorts that at first, she thought she was just “some boring old fart. Like you” (75). Constance told Ruth who she was, and Ruth didn’t ask questions. Gabri says that he thought all of the Ouellet Quints were dead. Myrna explains that Constance went by Pinault, her mother’s maiden name. Gamache goes to the bar to make a call, remembering that his cell phone doesn’t work in Three Pines—and suspecting that this is why he and Constance both felt at ease in the village. He realizes that Constance wasn’t murdered upon leaving Three Pines, but right before returning. He calls Inspector Lacoste, and they agree to meet at Constance’s home. In the window of the bar, Gamache sees the patrons engaged in conversation, excited to realize that they had met a Quint—and shocked that she had been murdered.

While Gamache drives to the crime scene, Clara watches Henri. She talks to her canvas as though she was chatting with her husband, whom she separated from several months ago because she “outpainted him” (82). This made Peter’s “demons” catch up with him, and Clara wonders how much this must hurt.

At the crime scene, Gamache and Lacoste sit at the kitchen table and pour over the case files. Constance’s door was unlocked, meaning she either let in the killer, or that she left her door unlocked. Constance’s sisters, Marguerite and Josephine, had once lived with her and the three of them were kind neighbors, even though they were private. There are no personal items or memorabilia. Constance’s suitcase contains Christmas gifts for Clara, Olivier, and Gabri. They find a photograph of four of the Quints. Gamache wants to find out what happened to the fifth sister.