"Anne..." "Come here." "I have several girlfriends." "The medical examiner wants me to invite her..." "She can wait her turn." "Hold on. lt's because..." "There's only 1 1 hours before the kid starts shooting." " Do you have..." " lt's not what you think." "Of course not." "Like the sex sites?" "Doing research?" "I don't mind, but if Johnson..." "He wants the report on the letter by 3:00 p.m." "is Dufour back yet?" "Like you really care if Dufour is back yet?" "He's not back yet." "You wanted to talk to me?" "You should go to Sylvie's." "No, thanks." "What for?" "Serge and Alex aren't getting along." "Serge is the remedial teacher?" "Alex doesn't accept that Serge sees Sylvie." "Serge is aggressive." "Fortier was right." " What?" " Nothing." "This just suddenly occurred to you?" " ls that a problem?" " Not really." "How's the kid?" "What do you mean?" "You didn't call me for family counseling." "Do you suspect something?" "He's not popular at school." "Would you say he's a victim?" "Yes." "A major victim, or just a regular victim?" "We often have to protect him from his peers." "Girls laugh at him." "The tough kids can't stand him." "Got his mother's address?" "Just a second." "I keep thinking about what you said this morning." "Your words were..." "Maybe we made a mistake." "To be honest, you may have been wrong on purpose." "By "l was never sure," you meant, it was beyond your control." "You couldn't let Rouleau get away." "You wanted him to die." "Even if you knew he wasn't the murderer." "Now, do you see why I'm obsessed, feel dizzy, and need another me?" "Everyone makes mistakes." "Not like this." "That means we were all wrong." "You were no worse than the rest of us." "You don't get it." "I knew!" " Did you suspect anyone else?" " No." "Fine." "Another theory:" "Rouleau affects you so much, it means he won." ""Identification with the aggressor"?" "You wanted to confront him and regain control of your life by dominating the guy who raped you." "But he got you." "He became your victim." "You became his aggressor." "The bad guy." "I don't believe that." "He's the killer." "You want to play the shrink?" "I'll be the cop." "It takes three things to lay a charge:" "A motive, the weapon and a victim." "We had three bodies." "He always sincerely denied it." "Linda, the fourth victim, wasn't found." " Who sent you?" " The school principal." "I've seen you before." "You look familiar." "I used to coach hockey at the rec center." "I don't go anymore." "No time." "Me too." "As we sort of know each other, we can trust each other." "For... ls your son here?" "He did something?" "Not yet, anyway." "Not yet?" "We got a threatening letter." "Tomorrow at 1 :00 p.m. some kid will start shooting." "Alex wouldn't hurt a fly." "It's not him." " Can I see him?" " He's asleep." "Whoever wrote it feels a lot of resentment." "Alex doesn't fit in at school." "True or false?" "It may not be him, but we can't risk it." "Understand?" "I won't rest until I know the answer." "I told you the answer:" "You can't accept that it's over." "You lived with it for years." "Of course..." "We have 50 kids who are outcasts or aggressive even if they fit in." "Names and addresses, three schools." "Any news from Dufour?" "Still with the principal." " Do I call?" " We have a lead." "A lead. I can't wait." "I didn't wake you just for fun." "Talk to me and you can go back to sleep." "He's shy, especially with strangers." "I know that feeling." "I was exactly the same." "Goes to show you can be scared of your own shadow and end up a cop." "Sure, take a look." "In case it's not really me." "You got that playing soccer?" "Hope you won." "I'm tired. I want to sleep." "Sure..." "You lose, this time." "Tomorrow, you have an exam?" "Yeah." "What do I do?" "Will you talk to me, or do I search your room?" "What are you searching for?" "A soccer game is one thing, but the exam... I don't want him to flunk." "The text is like building blocks." "The structure or the handwriting?" "Various words come from different periods." "Sometimes mature, sometimes not." "It was written at various times." " The structure..." " l figured it out." "After Louise put her finger on it." "Similar words combined produce a different message." "Her finger on what?" "Based on the characters, it's a combination of messages." "Some parts were written at one time." "Others, at a different time." "Some are out of the blue." "I don't get it." "For example:" " "l'm tired of cleaning."" " That all goes together." "It was written all at once." "But not "l'm fed up with people around me."" "The words "people" and "around"" "were written at different times." ""l'm tired of cleaning."" "Any repeated words?" "Absolutely." "So it could read:" ""l'm fed up" ""because girls don't like me."" " Something like that?" " Structure." "A forger trying to frame someone could borrow words from someone's letters to create a composite message with a new meaning." "The composite theory means the pieces could come from anywhere." "So could the words." "The "big guns"." "Sounds odd." "The forger needed an adjective for "gun"." "It was all he could find in the other handwriting." "A police officer." "He's the one who sent him." "I didn't mention us." "Marcel did." "I'll call you back." "Now you're going to explain yourself." "Get some rest." "I'll call you if I need you." "He used that adjective to emphasize the emotion." "Adjectives are used to qualify." "is it that important?" "It is if the letter was forged." "We couldn't have understood the message." "The style doesn't match the meaning." "The author intended a meaning." "But if the meaning was altered..." "Words were borrowed to forge a new message." "The adjective matters." "The "big guns."" "It sounds awkward." "I don't know who wrote it, or why, but the guns are big and dangerous." "The reprisals will be as big as the guns are." "It's a forger." "He's serious." "He used someone else's words to forge his letter." "But we don't know why." "Whoever wrote the words isn't dangerous, but whoever forged the message is." "Don't bring him here." "We're on our way." " To clean it?" " Yeah." "I doubt the boss would let you take it for that." "Even if he did, why hide it under your bed?" " Mom doesn't like guns." " She's right." " lt's not a toy." " l know." "Where's the store?" "3146 Tucker Street." "A hunting and fishing store in the East End." "3146 Tucker." "He hires minors?" "Only for cleaning." "The owner's a good guy." "But he doesn't watch his stock." " What'll happen?" " He'll talk." " He's afraid of you." " Not to me." "You'll talk to someone you know." " Are you all right?" " l'm fine." "Sorry." "It's getting to me." " lt's 4:45 a.m." " Eight hours left." "A pistol." " That's what Jean-Marie said." " A sport pistol." "That's the "big guns"?" "We'll check out the kids anyway." "I'm still worried." " You could've told me." " Go to bed!" "I was in bed." "Sylvie called me." "The police is there." "I'm talking to you!" "Let me go!" "Leave her alone." "Leave her the hell alone!" "That's it?" " Not very big." " To a child, it is." " How old is he?" " Going on 16." "Says he doesn't know you." "You mean the article?" "Legally, he's not really a child." "Let Anne talk to him first." "I was expecting rifles, not this." "It's a lethal weapon, just cleaner." "Kills all the same." " Father?" " Just two boyfriends." "There's tension between the principal and the teacher." " l'd like to go with her." " Fine." "I'll be with the Kid." "Get the principal." " He's sleeping." " He'll catch up this summer." "Aren't you going to ask me anything?" "Do you want me to?" "So, why would I?" " lt's a drag." " Silence?" "I'll say this:" "It's more of a drag for me." "I'm working." "My job is to get information." "We're off to a bad start." "They'll fire me." "Smiling is like talking." "Maybe you like me?" "Yeah." "You can pick the topic." "Where do we start?" "Not the gun." "We know where it's from." "Something else." "School?" "What about cleaning?" "Talk to me about cleaning." "Did you ever write that you don't like cleaning?" "We'll notify Child Services." " Will they call Serge?" " Yes." "Not too talkative, for a teacher." "We asked him for the records of the problem students." " He gave them to you?" " Yeah..." "But not Alex's." "He seems to be in conflict of interest." "Was that him leaving your place last night?" "I saw him." "So?" "They've met about 20 so far." " Anything significant?" " Not really." "He'll talk to Anne." "She's good with kids." "If he read about Fortier in the magazine, he's got her help now." "Jean-Marie said he didn't." "Here's my theory:" "He was bullied at school, stole a notebook, and copied it." "I bet it's his message, but not his writing." "I work with Detective Dufour." "Oh, him." "What do you want?" "You gave him a lead?" "We're probably onto something." "Can I come in?" "I was getting ready for school." "It's year end." "Can I come in?" "Try to remember." "It's important." "What does cleaning mean to you?" "What do you do at the store?" "The cleaning." " l don't mind it." " At the store..." "Maybe here you don't like it when your mom tells you to clean your room?" "is this your writing?" "Take it." "Looks like it." "Your notebook?" "Go get it." "So?" "If it wasn't him, we'll run out of time." "Fall down?" "I went for a coffee last night, after meeting your colleague." "I was tired. I tripped." " On the stairs?" " Yeah." "Right." "First time I see someone get a black eye on stairs." "I bumped into the rail." "Yeah, sure." "You didn't come for that." "We'll talk about anything that could help us." " Alex?" " He's in good hands." " Did he talk to you?" " Not yet." "You sent my colleague to see Sylvie Lemay?" "How did you know Lebel was there?" "Jealous?" "We don't really get along." "He's a bad influence on Alex." "He's aggressive." "He hunts and does karate." "Sylvie's wrong." "He's not the man of her life." "Feel like pressing charges?" "It's similar, but you didn't write it." "It's not your letter." "You didn't put it together." "Either someone's framing you, or warning us of your plan." "Any idea who it could be?" "You're sad." "You'd change schools, but your marks are too low." "Your mom has no money." "You're stuck in a cage." "You can't get out." "People hurt your feelings." "They're mean to you." "The girls laugh at you." "The guys are rough." "They hurt you." "Ever think about dying?" "You think about it all the time." "Your mom's no help." "You have no dad." "The teacher and the principal are in love with her." "No one's looking after you." "You're all alone." "You're not alone, Alex." "We're here." " lt's true." " You don't have to say that." "It could be held against you." "Want a lawyer?" "It didn't even hurt him." "That's not for you to decide." "Want a lawyer?" "I don't need a lawyer." "May I?" " What for?" " To look around." "Where's your search warrant?" "I was up all night." "I'm short of patience." "I haven't slept, either." "You want a warrant, but not a lawyer... I can come back." "No, it's okay." "What's that?" "It's okay. I'm fine." "No problem." "It's a bit much for me." "This kind of thing really gets to me." "I can't see you as a victim at school." "Me, yes." "But you?" "Looks can be deceiving." "Which teacher?" "Lebel?" "What are you doing there?" "Call the boys in blue." "Take him to the SAS." "The gun, too." "A lot of guns at that school." "Mathieu who?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "His name?" "Desrochers." "Mathieu attacked you yesterday." "You got scared." "The gun was for protection." "I believe you." "As for the letter, could Mathieu have written it?" "Could someone be making fun of you?" "I don't know." "Someone who's scared of you?" "A girl, maybe?" "You won't work there anymore." "How long have you been working there?" "A year." "Serge is the one who got him the job." "It's going slow." "They've talked to 40 kids." "Want to see the reports?" "All negative." "Then I don't need to see them." "Three hours left." "Looks like Alex is the one." "Fortier will tell us if it is." "What's taking her?" "Come on, Gabriel... lt's a kid." "Do I evacuate the three schools?" "Exams end at noon." "That gives us an hour." "Call in the swat team." "Finally." "So?" "lnconclusive." "They're coming with us." "Parent." "SAS." "I need three tactical teams." "You'll miss Alex." "Get beaten up?" "An accident." "You won't be able to bully him all summer long." "You're my witnesses." "I'm going to report him." "Wait there." "He'll bring you in." "Conference room." "This way." "Jean-Marie..." "Go with her." " l'm going to bed." " You're going to the store." "What?" "Question the owner of the hunting store." "Just in case." "Tired?" "What do you think?" "You okay?" "I'm all right." "Here's what we'll do:" "I'll project the letter on the screen... I trust you." "You didn't know me." "You didn't send me the letter." "I know you don't want to kill anybody." "But these... are your words." "We'll look at them together." "Try to remember where they come from." "It's important." "Assault charge." "File SL-020625-S090." "lnterrogation:" "Serge Lebel." "Okay, Mr. Lebel... I have a few questions about your activities at school." "There's no grounds." "The charges will stick." "Lucky you didn't kill him." "He's harassing me." " He's harassing you?" " Me and Sylvie." "She loves me." "He won't accept it." "It's a problem at school." "What about Alex?" "It's not the best." "What do you mean?" "I love her, but I don't want kids." "The kid annoys me." "I think he senses it." "Maybe he wrote a letter to express his feelings." "Ever feel like shooting him?" "Or framing him as a killer?" " What?" " Why buy a gun, now?" "Hunting season isn't until September." "Are you trying to blame me?" "You think it was me?" "We know you're heartless." "Just how heartless..." "Sit down." "Are you the boss?" "The customer's the boss." "That's good." "If the customer's always right, you'll want to help." "You're missing stock." "Alex Lemieux had this hidden at home." "Mr. Lebel bought this rifle yesterday." "Correct?" "Yes." "We hunt together." "You hunt together?" "Every year." "is Mr. Lebel aggressive?" "Serge?" "Come on..." "But that little brat... I saw him aim at a gang that was following him." "Maybe he was scared." "Scared?" "Did he..." "You hunt every year with Lebel?" "Me, Lebel, Frisi..." "A bunch of friends." "The same ones?" "Yes." "Except two years ago." "Lebel brought the new principal." "I got a sale out of it." "There's something else." "Marcel Fournier is really nice to him." "Loves him like a son." "Maybe too much." "How so?" "When Alex is bullied, it seems to hurt Marcel more than it does Alex." "Projective identification." "I've got it." "I know what it is." "It's from my exams." "The Kid called." "The principal has weapons." "He's been harassing her for two years." "Call him." "I swear this one won't kill himself." " There's no answer." " Let it ring." "The lines are busy." "Police!" "Let it ring!" "Get out of the yard!" "Move it!" "Marcel?" "It's Anne Fortier." "I know you can hear me." "I know you're not all right." "You know me." "We met in your office." "Marcel..." "Sylvie's here with me." "I know things have been hard for a long time." "principal" "You never told anyone." "Nooneunderstoodyou ." "But we're here." "Do you hear me?" "Sylvie's here with Alex." "Alex is Alex." "You are you." "His problems aren't your problems." "It's all mixed up in your head." "Sylvie doesn't love you back, and you're living through Alex." "You know what Alex told me?" "He said..." "He doesn't want you to die." "He'll get through it, and you'll help him." "I don't want you to die, either." "If I don't want you to, you won't die." "Drop your weapon." "Suspectapprehended." "Nocasualties."