Gamache and Lacoste arrive in Three Pines and visit Myrna’s bookstore, which has the “feel of a well-used library in an old country home” (25). Myrna is surprised that they have come in-person to respond to her message. When she asks where Inspector Beauvoir is, she seems to know that there is more to the story than Gamache’s response that “he’s on another assignment” (27). Myrna, who was a suspect in one of Gamache’s previous cases, has become a friend.

Constance was supposed to arrive the day. She called Myrna to say that she was getting ready to leave for Three Pines and Myrna hasn’t heard from her since. While it is too early to open an official dossier, Gamache reassures Myrna that she did the right thing to go looking for her. While Myrna quickly describes her friend, she is hesitant to reveal Constance’s full name: Constance Pineault (though her real name is Constance Ouellet). After racking his brain, Gamache remembers an image of a famous young girl by this name. Lacoste calls traffic control but cannot find any accident reports. Remembering the car accident from that morning, Gamache calls the Montréal police.