Epilogue

Virgile had called Benjamin with his realization. Benjamin had reached out to Inspector Barbaroux from the Bordeaux police, who proceeded to contact the local police, who tracked down Martin’s home and confirmed that he was, indeed, the deceased.

Before the new edition of the Cooker Guide went to press, Benjamin called his publisher, Claude Nithard, and asked him to remove Le Chai de la Vigne-Rhône and add a dedication. The publisher granted his request.

To Arthur Solacroup. For him, wine led to the path of redemption. But the blood of the vine cannot ward off the demons that haunt a man, no matter how hard he tries to cleanse them from his memory.

Arthur Solacroup died in the spring, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Gabriela de la Luz buried him. Only Virgile and she were present when his coffin was lowered into the grave.

Gabriela returned to Lima to care for her grandmother, Lucía, who kept trying to leave the asylum where she had been committed.

Karim lost his regional championship bout against an Asian kickboxer two years his junior.

Julien Thommasseau made his vineyard a cherished fixture in Montmartre, to the great satisfaction of Françoise Lacaze and the patients at Bretonneau Hospital. In three years, Bretonneau’s wine will flow, and Benjamin Cooker will officiate as master of ceremonies when the first glass is poured. But the sponsor of this new wine is no longer able to walk up the Rue Lepic without a heavy heart.