Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, and addiction.

Armand Gamache, head of homicide for the Sûreté du Quebec, ignores his phone as it rings after seeing the caller ID. Later in the novel, the caller is revealed to be Jeanne Caron, assistant to a corrupt government official. Armand has breakfast with his wife, Reine-Marie, in their yard in Three Pines and tells her that it’s the wrong person when she asks why he doesn’t answer. His neighbor, Ruth, demands that Armand answer the phone. He shows the caller’s information to Reine-Marie, and she agrees with his decision to not answer. After multiple ignored calls, Armand answers, tells Jeanne to “[g]o to hell” (5), and hangs up. He then tells his wife that Jeanne asked to meet him, and she suggests that they go to their local bistro.

At the bistro, Ruth asks Armand about the phone calls. They’re joined by their friends Myrna, who owns the bookstore, and Clara, a painter, as well as the bistro’s owners, Olivier and Gabri. It’s out of character for Armand to rudely swear, but he doesn’t tell them it’s Jeanne. His phone rings again.