As the investigation continues, Gamache decides to leverage his close bond with Amelia Choquet. Before entering police academy, Amelia had a history of addiction and being unhoused. When she first applied to become a police officer, Gamache was wary of admitting her for these reasons, and for another that remains unnamed. However, he eventually relented, and she went on to become an extremely talented and loyal investigator. Now, Gamache asks Amelia to pose as a person with an addiction and try to get close to Sam; he encourages her to say bad things about him (Gamache) in order to win Sam’s trust.

Telling Amelia the backstory of Sam and Fiona, Gamache conveys his belief that while both were victims of abuse, Sam was irredeemable by the time they found them and has been lying and manipulating everyone since. Even though others don’t necessarily agree, Gamache can “still see, clearly enough to know that Sam Arsenault [i]s unbalanced. Unwell. Malevolent” (198).

Jean-Guy, Amelia, and Ruth come to dinner at the Gamache household, and Reine-Marie shares more about the story of Anne Lamarque: She was initially arrested on accusations of running a brothel, but when the church learned about the rumors of the grimoire, they added witchcraft charges.