From the age of 13, radio host Louise George has been “coughing up blood during her periods” (81). No doctor has been able to solve the mystery. Aged 55, she still has not gone through menopause and—knowing people’s proclivity for blaming mysteries on the spirit world—tries to keep these troubles to herself. The only person to ask her about the issue is Max Ardin Senior, who “occasionally slept with her [and would sometimes] invite her to read to the students at his school” (81). She has been writing a book and has been asked to teach an adult literacy class. She still remembers the murder of Laurent Lavaud; she followed the now-mothballed investigation closely.

Louise worries before class begins. The first parent to arrive is Nozias; Louise has met his daughter, who reminds her of “herself when she was young” (83). The other parent is Odile Désir, a “strapping, scowling woman” (83) who seems to consider Louise “her sworn enemy” (83) and is the parent of Henri, the worst-behaved student Louise has ever encountered. Louise completes the lesson quickly, and the two adult students go to complain to Max Senior. That night, as Louise and Max lay in bed together, he recounts these complaints to her.