"Johannie?" "Johannie, don't be afraid of me." "You're safe here." "You know something serious happened to your family?" "Want to talk?" "His name is Fernand." "He stubborn, but he's great at hide-and-seek." "You sure found a good hiding place." "No one knew where you were." "Youth Protection will assign a social worker." "As soon as Fortier gets something out of the girl, we can focus our investigation." "Which means?" "It means if Johannie saw the murderer..." " Just that?" " Yes." "If she saw the murderer, even if the details are vague, we'll be able to narrow down our suspects." "The fact that the girl was hiding, suggests she saw something." "Johannie, turn over." "I'd like to talk to you." "Maybe you didn't see what happened." "But you must have heard something." "What's that?" "Got an itch?" "Something tickling your ear?" "I think... while the music was on, you didn't hear anything." "But maybe you saw something?" "Like you saw me and Fernand?" "Maybe that's when you got scared." "The person who came to your house..." "Maybe that person saw you too?" "The person didn't see you before you hid." "Didn't know where you were." "What did she say?" "She isn't talking much." "Fortier's with her." "She isn't talking much or not at all?" "She talks." "But put yourself in her shoes." "I don't get it." "What don't you get?" "It's obvious." "You don't grill a child like you would a mafioso." "If Johannie told you the story, she could say who it was." "She'll tell us." "Give her time." "Yeah." "A 6-year-old in shock is hardly a reliable witness." "We'll build our own case, in case we can't count on her." "We both know what happened makes you sad." "Very sad." "That might be why you can't tell me anything." "I think you want to, but you can't." "It's stuck inside." "Here..." "You don't want me to touch you." "Know what?" "I think you feel good with me, but then again, you don't." "It's all mixed up, isn't it?" "Let's not talk about what happened." "Let's think about last week." "What did you do?" "Did you go to school?" "Yes..." "You went to school." "Out." "Get out of here." "Get out." "Jean-Marie, come here." "Looks like soil." "Smell it." "Smells like smoke." " What is it?" " Ashes, plain and simple." "Ashes from the stove, not much of a find." "Any incinerator around?" "For the garden, maybe?" "Ashes work wonders on Rita's African violets." " Better than nothing." " lt's not worth shit." "If it were manure, we'd be talking." "Because manure is good shit." "The best there is." "We'll transfer the bodies once the techies are done." "The girl's really upset." "Okay." "Knowing if the mother was raped could eliminate one possibility." "The forensic expert will know." "I'll ask her." "What do you think?" "It still looks to me like a killing spree triggered by humiliation or rejection." "If so, she wasn't raped." "It would be unusual." "Some guy who'd fallen for the mother?" "A secret admirer, maybe." "This kind of urge would've built up quietly." "A man who can't accept his wife leaving him." "But that's out, as he was murdered too." "Johannie's in shock." "She won't say a word." "She needs someone to stay by her side." "Preferably a woman." "Why a woman?" "You saw her reaction when he came in to the sacristy." "You could have knocked at least." "My apology's in the mail." "Too proud to give it in person." "Leave my pride out of it." "Don't know when they'll be back?" "You..." "You know I can't keep a secret." "I'll forgive you." "SAS." "It's you." " What are you doing here?" " Weekly rounds." "You?" "I'm on standby, awaiting orders." "The murdered family case." "What family?" "Here." "That's it." "Thanks." "Johnson said keep it quiet." "I work for Social Services, not Johnson." " You get the psycho killer?" " He's still at large." "Social Services are involved." "In what way?" "The youngest survived." "She was there when it happened." "As it's out of town, two branches are handling it." " The family has a lawyer?" " They're dead." "The child is terrified." " She won't talk." " Not ever?" "Not here." "Too close to home." "It stops her." "That should help her to talk." "You're thinking like a rational adult, but silence saved her life, that's why she clings to it." "What do you suggest?" "That we put it on hold?" "No, take her away from here." "To the SAS." "Hopefully there, she'll let down her defenses." "Taking her out could be dangerous." "There's always a risk." "On the other hand, it would send a message to the killer." "We're transferring her." " l'll carry her." " l will." "I'm taking no chances." "He's trained." "It'll be okay." "All set?" "One good job done." "Maybe it's better this way." "Don't worry." "Fortier will help her." "She'll be back on her feet soon." " What are you up to?" " Canvassing the neighborhood." "See if anyone remembers anything new." "I'll go to the house, then to the school." "I'll head for the hotel." "Do you need me?" "I don't." "You?" "Not right now." "I've got reports to write." "Should be one hour." "You have my number." "Call me when you get back." "We'll fill each other in." "The real story." " Where are you going?" " To see where he lives." "Don't you smell a rat?" " Hi." " Hi." "Hello." "I'm Kathleen." "What's your name?" "Don't feel like talking?" "That's okay." "I'll be looking after you." "Tell me if you want anything." "We'll use the conference room." "Can I see you for a minute?" "In my office?" "Did Parent really file a complaint?" "I'm right behind you." "Looks like a case of estrangement to me." "It stinks." "It's enough to drive you crazy." "I can't stop you." "It's a free country." "I didn't ask permission." "Don't waste your time." "There's no case there." "How do you know?" "Let me find the murderer." "I'll call you." "You'd prevent me from doing my job?" "I just don't want a circus." "It's crawling with reporters." "I'm a lawyer, not a reporter." "I can go for a drive." "You're a free person." "That's not what I asked." "I'm asking if we can work together there." "You want me to give away the best fishing spots?" "Remember Daoust?" "High heels on corpses." "He didn't complain." "Fair's fair?" "Draw anything you like." "You like drawing?" "It can be anything at all." "It doesn't have to mean anything." "Kathleen, can I talk to you?" " What's your problem?" " What?" "You're jealous of Johannie?" "What?" "You are jealous." "I'm looking after her." "You just treat her." "You get to analyze her, I have to bond with her." "I'll draw something for you." "Okay." "Sorry." "You're not very good." "I know, I'm not very good." "I bet Johannie draws better than you." "For sure." "I'm better than you?" "Yes." "Prove it." "Draw a house, a tree and a person, in any order." "Your person has no face." "How come?" "I don't feel like it." "Who is it?" "Nobody." "Someone in your family?" "We don't care about that." "But you didn't draw a house." "So draw it now." "The house brings back bad memories." "If you don't feel like drawing a person or a house either," "would you do a tree?" "That's a swing." "A tire-swing?" "Your dad made it?" " Hello." " Hello." "Detective Mayrand." "Hello." "Can I talk to you for a minute?" "Wouldn't you rather Gilles be here?" "Your husband?" "Yes." "I'll talk to you now, and him later." "Come in." "Ask her." "She's talking now." "I'm just as eager to ask her about the murders, but if I go too fast, she could clam up again." "A tree and a tire." "What's that supposed to mean?" "I don't know." "At least it's something." "How can you tell if she's ready to identify a suspect?" "By her eyes, and by my instinct." "Finished?" "Yes." "That's your family?" "The ones that are crossed out..." "They're in heaven?" "Can I see it?" "This is the adults-only section." "Folks must get bored around here." "You have no idea." " Your husband..." " Let's not talk about him." "I've got a job to do, you know?" "Can't it wait?" "Any good fishing here?" " Why are you here?" " Heard there might be a case." "You're outta luck." "On your own?" "Mayrand's doing his bit, I'm doing mine." " Get in for a minute." " No, thanks." "Ashamed to practice in the city now?" "Look, Savaria." "I'm no twit." "The media will be all over this." "You just want your face on TV." "Know where the local lawyer's office is?" "Sure. 100 miles that way." "That way?" " 100 miles, that way." " Not the other way?" "Thanks." "Catch you later." "Suzanne, did Johnson say when he'd be back?" "Here you are." "Where were you?" "What were you doing?" "I have you to answer to now?" "That's a strange twist." "Just kidding, so Griffin thinks I'm willing to replace you." "That's still going on?" "It'll never end." "I shouldn't have admitted I knew." "It was fine when he alone knew your story." "The fact that I know scares him." "Griffin's a politician, not a cop." "The girl talked." "When?" "Who was it?" "She said a few words and drew some pictures." " Did you question her?" " Not yet." "I'm working it out." "We'll get there." "is Kathleen taking her to a foster home?" "They'll sleep at my place." "Having someone sleep over?" "For work, yes." "Child Protection could handle it." "You could join us and help find the bastard." "She needs me." "Johannie is the key." "is it so important that it come from her?" "Not just important, but vital." "Caroline?" "What's wrong?" "What do you mean?" "Look at yourself." "I took a nap. I was tired." "Have a seat in the living room." "This way." "I'll be with you in a minute." "Nicer than your last place." "And closer to downtown." "Just as messy, though." "Quit complaining." " Feel free to clean up." " Sure." "Want a cookie?" "That's it." "Want a cookie, Fernand?" "Good." "Think you might decorate some day?" "One day." "Johannie, would you answer one question?" "It's the last one." "Hungry, aren't you?" "Eat." "This little girl eats like a horse." "She just ate, and she's hungry again." "Could you walk Fernand?" "Come here, doggie." "Come!" "Mommy's taking you for a walk." "One question." "Just one." "Remember the drawing with the people in heaven?" "There were two who weren't in heaven." "You... and another person." "Right." "Was it a grown-up?" " Yes." " Yes?" "Can you tell me if it was a lady or a man?" "Don't you need a permit for that?" "Only in the city." "I enjoy it." "Your father's the silent type?" "He's always been like that." "Not always, but for some time." "Not too talkative." "Since when has he been like that?" "He never accepted that my mom ran off with a man." "Long time ago?" "I was a kid." "Why do you ask?" "Just getting to know you." "Must've been tough." "As a kid, you don't understand anything." "You play with your toys." "You just want your parents to stop fighting." "Your mother?" "She died long ago. I was 1 1 ." "She didn't get to enjoy her new boyfriend long." "Not really." "Don't get your back up." "Your dad's a cop, but..." "Where were you?" "When?" "Night of the murders." "Do I have an alibi?" "No, I don't." "I was here alone, as usual." "Look, man..." "Stick around in case we need you." "Oh, yeah... I saw the mayor's daughter." "She likes you." "Yeah." "We were good friends with Jacques and Sylvie." "Right." "She mentioned that." "Don't burn the place down." "I won't." "There." "We have a basement." "Good." "Choose six." "Whichever you like." "Can't decide?" "Want me to help?" "I won't choose for you, but I'll give you a hint." "Remember the drawing you did?" "You drew six people, didn't you?" "What if we take the same people to play in the house?" "Go ahead." "Yes." "A cat?" "That's only four." "You drew six." "That makes five." "With the cat, there's six." "A cat's not a person." "Yes it is." "It's a cat-person." "No problem." "Let's put them inside." "Let's do it." "Good." "You guys are like glue." "Know what, Savaria?" "Having you in our hair all the time, we're actually starting to enjoy hating you." "What's he doing here?" "We're paying for curing the shoe nut." "Peace?" " We're on opposite sides." " Listen..." "How about some mutual respect?" "If I get in the way, let me know." "I'll buy you a beer." "Sir..." "Over here, please." "I just saw Legris' son." "He had a fire going." "They like fires around here." " How so?" " Ashes at the crime scene." "Sylvie, you cheap slut!" "Rodrigue." "Have you no heart?" "You don't know what a great guy I am." "Shut up, for Christ's sake." "Got a problem?" "He doesn't know what he's saying." "Who's the slut?" "Sylvie Desmarais?" "He's cuckold again." "Gimme a beer." "You were at my place this afternoon." "People saw you." "It's a drag that you weren't there." "It's you I went to see." "Maryrand, I hope... you didn't screw with our evidence." "Where'll you put him?" "Johannie, where does he go?" "You want me to place him?" "Tell me if I'm right." "Like this..." "Then, here..." "Then we go upstairs." "Back downstairs..." "Then he goes down in the basement" "He didn't see the cat in the basement." "Dullest place on earth." "Could be worse." "We could be in the same hotel as Savaria." "True." "Not bad." "So..." "Was she hot?" "Hot?" "Don't play dumb." "I don't blame you." "She's pretty." "She looks like Rita." "Yeah, right." "Just go to sleep... ls it hunting season?" "Not yet." "And I didn't even call." "We almost ended up as trophies on top of a car." "Yep." " They probably used a 12-gauge." " Right." "And we were sitting ducks." "Where the hell were you?" "At my son's place." "If you'd been here, you would have seen it all." "I'm a cop, like you. I don't shoot people, I protect them." "Anyhow..." "You know your guns." "I went into your room by mistake this afternoon." "I'll make my report." "Sort it out with my boss." "If you have something to hide, lock your door." "I can't stand depressed people." "It's too early for me." "Johannie woke up." "What's your plan?" "I'm taking her to the SAS to see Johnson." " What for?" " She's opening up." " lt could be traumatic." " Let me worry about that." "Fine." "We have... chocolate, honey," "croissants..." "Glass of milk?" "Am I a pain in the neck?" "Let's just say I could use a chiropractor." "is Johnson the man who scratches his neck?" "Yes, sweetie." "Johnson's the man who scratches his neck." "Excuse me." "is Mayrand around?" "They slept at the motel." "What... I fell down the stairs." "Who did that to you?" "My men got shot at." "Sure I'm in a bad mood." "There's more to it than that." "You've been putting me down ever since I saw Griffin." "It means I like you." "When I stop liking you, you'll be transferred." "Spare the rod and spoil the child?" "You got it." "Spoil me a bit." "We'll have a meeting with the guys." " About Fortier." " When?" "When it dies down." "It's all I wanted." "You'll get it." "Finished the background checks?" "Nothing there, except drunk driving." " Boss!" " What?" "Anne's here with the girl." "She has news." " Thanks, Francine." " Thanks." "You're a defense lawyer?" "Yes." "You can talk to me." "I won't say a word." "I'm under no obligation." "It's..." "You know my mom's the mayor?" "I didn't know." "We came here after my father died." "This place is a hole." "I'm bored to death." "Who says you have to stay?" "I find it nice, but if you don't like it... I can't leave." "Because of Gilles." " Your husband?" " Yes." "He'd kill me if I left." "You're not scared anymore?" "Mr. Johnson looks mean, but he's not." "It's just an act." "Can you tell him what you said this morning?" "Would you?" "You said you saw a man." "Anything else to tell Mr. Johnson?" "It's your decision." "Mommy had a friend."