Summary
Highlights
Clara, a police investigator, explains her profession, often starting with the presence of blood at crime scenes. However, in this case, there was no blood, which didn't reassure her. She recalls a past case where a couple was starving an elderly woman to collect her pension, highlighting that barbarity doesn't always involve bloodshed. She remembers finding a dog bowl used to feed her on her knees each night.
36 hours after Kimi Dior's disappearance, Clara realizes the investigation has no immediate leads. Phone analysis yields nothing, and neighborhood inquiries are fruitless. All apartments in the residence have been searched without success. Tom Brandiszy, initially suspected, is cleared, and other children's testimonies corroborate Sami's account, allowing for a precise timeline.
Following her mentor's advice to revisit crime scenes, Clara returns alone to the residence. The moon dimly lights the area, banners still hang, and the parking remains closed. She sits on a bench, observing the lit windows of apartments, reflecting on her childhood in a similar residence. She thinks of her deceased parents, wishing she could share her life and career with them. She feels an unusual sense of emptiness and regret regarding her non-maternal status.
Clara recollects her childhood on a similar bench, observing people's habits. She remembers her mother calling her 'little gossip'. At six, she lost her grandfather, learned a poem, and fell from a second-story balcony while trying to grab a hair elastic. She landed on the grass, her fall cushioned by tree branches. Doctors said she was unharmed, though a slower growth rate was later attributed to the fall.
Bruno Dior, Kimi's father, approaches Clara, asking if he can help. Clara explains her solitary check of the site. Bruno invites her inside to warm up. Sami, Kimi's brother, runs to his father, then gazes at Clara. She introduces herself, and noting his fatigued appearance and desire for information, Sami's mother, Mélanie, comforts him.
Sami invites Clara to Kimi's room, which is filled with myriad toys, dolls, games, and creative supplies, resembling a toy store. A vanilla scent, Kimi's favorite, pervades the room. Clara notices numerous unopened gifts and closets overflowing with perfectly folded, unworn clothes and dozens of new shoes. Sami comments on their abundance, leaving Clara to wonder about the desires of children with such a surfeit of possessions.
Clara asks to see Sami's room, which is equally abundant and organized, filled with masculine toys like trucks, motorcycles, and superheroes. Sami, sitting on his bed, tells Clara he's not in school due to holidays, but they can't go to amusement parks without Kimi. He offers to show her his drawings, explaining he drew because his tablet was being checked by the police. One drawing depicts a family having a snack, with a curled-up, adolescent-like figure underneath the table.
Bruno explains that after reaching 10,000 subscribers, their channel, Apierecre, started receiving numerous free products from toy, clothing, and food brands. With 5 million subscribers, they receive dozens of packages weekly. They sort through the items, keeping some and donating the rest to sick or underprivileged children, a process also filmed for the channel. Clara reflects on the missing toy, Doudousal, currently being analyzed for DNA evidence.
Mélanie explains Doudousal, Kimi's favorite teddy bear, was named by Kimmy because it was always 'doudou sale' ('dirty teddy') and she refused to part with it. Mélanie's voice breaks, expressing her pain that Kimi might have lost her beloved toy. She asks Clara if she has children, and Clara replies no, maintaining firmness in her tone. Mélanie then shares her profound love for her children, feeling a deep sadness that she sometimes thinks the best is behind her.
Bruno tries to comfort Mélanie, suggesting she's exhausted, but she insists he doesn't see the 'malice or lies'. Mélanie asks Clara if she remembers Loana, a public figure who went through many difficult times but survived. She admires Loana's courage but then turns to Clara, desperately asking if they will find her daughter.
Outside, Clara takes a deep breath, fighting off the disturbing image of Kimi's body. She remembers telling Mélanie they were doing everything possible but couldn't make the absolute promise of finding her. Clara leaves the residence, aware that the missing six-year-old girl, who chose a dirty teddy bear over new toys, will occupy her thoughts until the investigation ends.