René admitted making the anonymous call. Threatened with severe punishment for playing dangerous games and carrying an illicit substance, they had insisted the information passed along in their call was the truth. They had taken the officer to their gruesome find by the river. Their parents had been informed. The local police might be prepared to leave it at that. The focus had naturally shifted from the boys’ small crimes to this much larger one.

‘Your call, of course,’ added the gendarme as Aliette returned his papers.

The boys were called Hubert Hunspach and René Laprade. Hubert grooved. René was wary.

Inspector Nouvelle put a guiding hand on René’s shoulder and walked him in a slow circle around the music-shielded Hubert. ‘So, is this a good spot to come, René?’

René shrugged.

‘Hubert’s choice then?’

A nod, a quick sidelong glance at his friend. Yes, Hubert’s pot. Hubert’s spot.

The glittery eyes of the boy in question narrowed. A thumb casually moved to his belt and adjusted his sound level. He began turning slowly with a sullen sway, one ear tuned to his friend.

The inspector encouraged René. ‘And you just walked down and found the man?’

‘Pretty much, yeah…I mean, first we sat on a rock and, you know…’

‘Lit up. OK. And then you found the body.’

‘Just floating there.’

‘Were you afraid?’

A shrug.

‘Did you run when you saw it? The body?’

‘Yes.’

‘I have information saying your shoes and socks were still soaking wet when they found you at McDo. Why would that be, René?’

A shrug. ‘Maybe we went into the water to make sure. You know?’

‘Well, that makes sense. But why did you wait so long before calling the police?’

‘It’s like, um…we lost track of time.’

Nice to lose track of time, she thought. Even with a dead body on your hands. Maybe she could learn something from these boys. She asked, ‘Who’s the boss here, René?’

René did not understand the question. Or maybe he did. In any case, Aliette knew the answer. She told him, ‘René, you’re a good boy for calling the police, even if Hubert said you shouldn’t. But you must also tell the truth despite what Hubert told you to say. Do you understand?’

‘Yes.’

‘And so?’

René considered. Hubert removed his earphones and faced her with his outsized adolescent arms folded across his chest, as if challenging her to a fight. ‘He was dead!’

The inspector smiled, inviting him to tell her more.

‘You could see it.