As Beauvoir listens to Tessie’s briefing for the next drug raid, he struggles to focus through his fear. At the raid, Beauvoir waits in the van, wishing that it had windows so he could see where he was. An hour and a half later, he waits behind a brick wall, staring at a pill bottle in his hand. After already swallowing two OxyContin, he takes more. He is torn, “afraid to take the pill and afraid not to” (97).

At Sûreté headquarters, Gamache meets with Thérèse, who says that she and Jérôme think Gamache is out of control with paranoia. She slides a piece of paper to him which allegedly contains the only evidence they have against Francoeur. Gamache studies it and then urges her not to say anything aloud. She insists that the room is not bugged and demands that he drop the case, threatening to turn him in to Francoeur.

Gamache gets a phone call from Olivier, checking if he wants his room at the bed-and-breakfast. Gamache responds gruffly. When Lacoste asks why they need to “put up” with the other agents. She wants to put her foot down since “the only thing a lion respects is a bigger lion” (93).