FOR ALL HIS EXHAUSTION, Burke was alert.

“Monsieur Burke, do you remember something?” Fortin asked, leaning closer.

Clearly, Fortin had caught him recalling something important, and he knew the detective well enough to know he wouldn’t be put off.

“Maybe,” Burke said, stalling while trying to consider what to say next. He didn’t want to admit to hacking into the city’s network, and he definitely didn’t want to repay Antoine’s assistance by landing him in jail.

“The faster we act, the better our chance of identifying the person who was driving that car,” Fortin said. “It’s already getting late in the case.”

Burke nodded but said nothing.

“Monsieur, I believe you’re stalling,” Fortin said. “I don’t know why, but you need to answer the question.”

Nurse Peplinski jumped in, saying, “Please, Monsieur Burke is very tired. We must be careful.”

“I understand, Nurse, but this is crucial,” Fortin said. He looked back at Burke with a frown. “What do you remember?”

Burke took a big breath, winced in pain and began.

“I remember the way the license plate was covered up, the style of the car and the car’s color, and I believe I’ve seen that vehicle before.”

“Where did you see it before?” Fortin said.

“I think maybe you’ve seen the same car, too, Inspector,” Burke said, half expecting to surprise Fortin.

But Fortin’s gaze never wavered, and Burke wondered if the flic was somehow ahead of him.

“Where would I have seen it?” Fortin asked quietly.

“I think it might have been the car that ran over Yves Vachon and his minder,” Burke said.

“How do you know about that car?”

“I heard a general description in the news,” said Burke, hoping that would satisfy the detective.

“Your description is more detailed than what was provided to the media,” Fortin said. “So, how do you know about the covered-up license plate and style of car?”

Checkmate. He had nowhere to go—except to the truth, or his version of it anyway.

“I have my sources,” Burke said.

“Not true,” Fortin said. “I think you’ve seen the video of that hit-and-run that killed Vachon and his bodyguard. In fact, I think you know more than you’ve told me.”

Burke was trapped. He also felt ready to slip into sleep. If he did, he could at least escape for a little while.

Nurse Peplinski started to walk over, but Fortin stopped her with a hand held out.

“Tell me,” Fortin told Burke.

“You’re right. I have seen the video,” Burke said. “I won’t tell you how. Call it protecting my source.”

Fortin said nothing. For her part, Côté moved silently to Burke’s bedside.

“When you looked at the footage, did you check the video from the same place on previous nights at about the same time?” Burke asked, his voice sounding weaker by the second.

Fortin nodded.

“Did you notice a small white blotch inside the car on a couple of evenings?”

“We did. Do you know what it was?” Fortin asked.

“I think I do,” Burke said, almost ready to pass out.

“Monsieur…” came Nurse Peplinski’s insistent voice.

“Tell me,” Fortin said.

Eyes shut, Burke nodded once.

“I think it was a dog,” he said.

And then he passed out.