Chapter 16 Chapter fifteen

I'm just learning to be a detective, you can't sit at home or in an office and wait for someone to come in and give you information; That's what I did, and not only did I take my pay (plus extras), but I really loved Demarie and wanted to solve the case.Besides, someone was fooling me - making me sign a receipt for an empty display box - and getting revenge on me for being so obsessed with it! On Monday morning I fearlessly called Mrs. Hemaping and asked to see her immediately.If she was surprised or upset, it didn't show in her voice.She said she was meeting with me at 2:00 p.m.—the tone seemed to be that the queen approved the meeting of her subordinates. I thanked her timidly. This is the spirit of fearlessness!

When the letters arrived in the afternoon, my bravery suffered another setback. There were three catalogues, electricity and telephone bills, and an ordinary white envelope with my name and address on it, without the name of the sender. Inside was just a blank sheet of paper with the words "STOP—Otherwise" typed in large letters in the center. No signature. It was very dramatic and frightening. My first reaction was to buy a plane ticket to go back to De Moine's hometown and play basketball for the rest of my life. Second reaction: anger.This bitch is trying to scare me off the case?How bold!The third reaction: call the police, which I did, and it took me half an hour to find Interpol Qiao Jian, who I told him the anonymous threatening letter.

"Damn it," he said, "regular blank paper?" "yes." "Typed?" "yes." "You took it apart?" "Of course, otherwise how would I read the letter? I tore the envelope and pulled out the letter paper, opened it to read, what if I don't open it?" "Okay, okay," he comforted her, "don't yell loudly, I'll take it for a fingerprint test, but it's impossible to get any results. I think it's the same as the letter from Feichen Company. It's ordinary letter paper without fingerprints. I use Olympy typewriter, um, let's see...you know what that means? You're close."

"Close to what?" I asked. "I haven't found a trace, Chian." "What did you do? Who did you talk to?" Because I have already told John Ma, so I can't be biased towards him. I explained to him what Wan Osen and Hai Qibao said about my ring issue, and his reaction was the same as that of John. "Jesus Christ!" he scolded himself, "I'm an idiot, I should have thought of this earlier, well done Jin, both of them said the whole family can get the ring?" "yes." "It's hard to believe that you received a black letter because of the ring. It may be for other reasons."

He paused for a moment. I wanted to tell him about the licentious party at the Ming's, but I don't think it has anything to do with the new Demarie robbery, and Gian doesn't need to know. "What are you doing today?" "Talked to Mrs Hay for about an hour, and I wanted to talk to everyone who was at the apartment that morning." "It makes sense, and it's safe." "After I talked with her, Huang Runbi was left. I will look for her next time." He was silent for a while and said: "A Jin, be careful behind your back, don't push people too aggressively, the letter you received worries me."

"Well, I was scared to death too." "Want to move into a hotel? Change phone number? I can't provide round-the-clock protection, you know." "No, I'll do mine anyway. Maybe I'll find out something about the villain—and I don't know it myself. Did you have a good time with your daughter today?" "Very well," he said, "very glad I told her about you, and she said she wanted to see you." "Very well, I want to see her too, next time you see her—ok?" "Sure, Ah Jin, be careful." "I will." "You have my home phone number, you know where I am during the day, don't be shy, call anytime."

"Thank you, Qi'an," I said gratefully, "I hope I'm not so dangerous, and I know you're in Nali if anything happens." "Okay." Qi An said. Beautiful June day!It was a clear day, sunny and breezy, and I was out striding across Central Park to the East Side, and I didn't look back, nothing scares me about such a beautiful day. Except maybe the great mother of the Hai family.She is straight and spirited, I don't know how long it has been since her back touched the back of the chair, she is determined and fearless. Huang Runbi took me in, she smiled at me meaningfully, she may have regarded me as a family, in the middle of the corridor, Wan Osen waved her away and took me in.

"Oh, girl." He smiled obscenely, and he touched my face too, making my hair stand on end. "Ma'am is waiting for you," he pointed to the living room, "want to talk?" I nod. "What are we talking about?" "New burglary at De Marie," I said, looking him squarely. "Oh, that old thing," he said, as if he didn't want to. "It's just rubbish in my opinion. Look, the insurance company will pay for it." He leaned over to me again and whispered, "When are we going to have another scene?" "scene?"

"You understand—entertainment games." I ignored him and walked into the living room. Her Majesty was sitting upright on the brown sofa. She gracefully gestured for me to sit next to her. She smelled of jasmine. "I don't like your hair," she said, looking at me, "you should do it." "I know," I said, "I want to get ironed." "Okay," she said, "I'll introduce you to a good one. Well, what do you want to say to me?" I first explained to her what I had talked to the Hai family, hoping to know how everyone was doing that morning.

"I have told George Ann of my actions that morning, and you were there, and I answered all his questions." "That's his problem, ma'am, mine is more personal." She looked at me coldly, "For example?" "Officer Joe and investigator John Ma of the insurance company believe that your family is involved in the theft. Both of them are experienced personnel and will never speak nonsense. Can you guess who it would be if it was an inside thief?" She waved her hand in displeasure. "I don't want to name anyone a suspect. None of my relatives would."

"You are welcome, Mrs. Hai. But you hired me to investigate the truth, and your refusal to cooperate, regardless of your good intentions, has doubled my difficulties. Well, leaving aside family, who did you hire? Huang Runbi works for you how long?" "Almost ten years." "You trust her?" "absolute." "I heard her brother is in jail." "It has nothing to do with Rubi, I trust her completely." "She works six days a week?" "Five days, plus half a day on Saturday." "She cooks and cleans?" "It's mainly cooking, but also some light housework. Someone comes to clean up twice a week, wash the windows and mop the floor every month." "Did those cleaners ever come in the days of De Marie's new burglary?" "No." "But they know your husband collects coins?" "I believe they know that they are on public display in the study. I have told him several times to put them in the safe, but he will not listen." "A numismatist is the same, ma'am," I said softly. "They want his collection to be seen and admired. Who wants to sell coins?" "It is him, but I agree. We plan to dispose of the estate, and instead of distributing the coin to all the heirs, the easiest way is to sell it and add it to the estate." "So your husband is no longer a collector?" "Yes, the last time he bought was five years ago, and he has been selling some since then. He once owned more than six hundred old coins." "Oh," I said in surprise, "I don't know." "I don't see how my husband's coin collection has anything to do with DeMarie's new theft." "Maybe it doesn't matter," I admitted, "but I want to know as much as I can. Maybe some small things will lead to big things, bigger things, so that the truth can be understood. Mrs. Hay, I respect your decision not to raise any family members. and the theft, but I hope you will reconsider it, it can speed up the investigation - if you will give me a little hint, I promise you that it will not be used as incriminating evidence, only for thorough and effective investigation information. Would you like to raise possible involvement in the case people?" I watched her, her huge body seemed to be paralyzed as I asked her. "No," she whispered. "I'm not proposing anyone." That's how it ended. I went out on the porch to wait for the elevator, and here it came, and when the door opened, Henretti jumped out, as wild as ever.She was dressed as if she was going to a masquerade ball, and what I remember most is her dirty white canvas man's coat with some military epaulets pinned to it. "Hey, Jin!" she said, "what's the progress?" She hugged me and actually kissed me on the lips—I didn't know what to do. "What are you doing in the morgue?" she asked, and I laughed, and she was right. "Talk to your mother, Natie." "Dear Mummy? She's been very troubled recently. Something is gnawing at her heart, but it can't be a man. Hey, honey, how about going to a party tonight?" "Party?" I said, "what?" "A meeting within a meeting. Boisterous, naked meeting. In the East Village, nine hundred people, lots of booze and marijuana, and cocaine if you get it right?" "Is your boyfriend going?" "Akaba? His own name. His real name is Jane Sam. You've heard of him, haven't you? Sure, he'll go. If you don't like it, you can run away. Okay?" I agreed.She opened the protruding shoulder bag and took out a gold ballpoint pen and a pigskin notebook. She wrote a few words and tore them off and stuffed them into my pocket. "Try to come," she said, "you'll have a good time." "when it start?" "It starts at nine, but the show doesn't start until midnight. Put on your chastity belt." "Thanks," I said, "that's very nice of you to say." "No," she said with a smile, "you don't have to put on airs unless you want to. Jin, can you lend me a few bucks?" I thought quickly, "I can only lend you five dollars." "Five is fine," she said, "twenty is better! Pay it back in a few days. Remind me." I gave her a five-dollar bill, thinking I could report the special expense to her father.She rushed into the apartment while I waited for the second elevator. What kind of clothes should I wear for such a lively meeting in the East Village, a naked meeting?You can't wear black clothes and pearls. In fact, I don't have these clothes.I put on jeans, a long-sleeved white "matador shirt".It has a ruffled low neckline in the front that would show cleavage—if I had it.Outside is a soft leather jacket. I didn't know how to take the bus or subway, so I took a taxi.It's one of my jobs, investigating Natie's boyfriend.So it's official expenses too -- right? The driver took me there unhappily. "You have life insurance?" he asked. I got out of the car and looked around, the streets were not scary.Although it is not as clean as West 83rd Street, there are no dead bodies in the ditch, and there are even two ginkgo trees struggling to survive. The venue is not hard to find.It was only past ten o'clock when I got there, but the music was already loud.It was a Frautt tape—like “Dark Side of the Moon”—so loud it would knock out dentures.The top floor of the apartment—half attic, half dovecote—was quite crowded, with about thirty or forty people, three skin colors, five nationalities, and four genders, like a concrete and tiny United Nations. Natie is not exaggerating about the abundance of booze and marijuana.Add trays of chocolate bonbons.I'm afraid it's laced with marijuana or something stronger, so thank you for your insensitivity.No one was paying attention to me, and I was feeling right at home.I poured some vodka out of a plastic cup -- no ice -- and turned the volume on the tape recorder down.No objection.In fact probably no one noticed, maybe they were deaf to the music. I couldn't find Nati in the crowd.I saw a tall, thin black man standing against the wall, watching the scene with contempt.He wore a little hat and a gold earring, and must have been Jane Sam, who called himself Akaba.handsome man.I walked over to him. "We have someone we know in common," I said. "Allah," he said lazily.Then he stood up straight and looked at me, "Hey, how tall are you, from the Harlem basketball team?" "Not yet," I said, "the Celtics." He snapped his fingers. "By the way," he said, "you're Jin--Isn't it? Narva told me. She said you were a crafty lady. Nice to meet you, Sweet Mama." "You stole Demarie?" I asked. If he feels shocked or insulted, it doesn't show on his face. "Who? When? Where?" he said. "You mean the old coin that Nava's father lost? No, I didn't take it. If I wanted to commit a crime, it would never be for such an iron plate. I want Bills, valuable and convenient, coins are too heavy. You know us niggers—we're lazy, sweet mama." "Coins are valuable." "Really?" said he. "You know how much money you can hold in a bag? We've just met, haven't we? Well, what do you want me for? Who are you—Sherlock Holmes?" "I'm sorry," I said, "I apologize to you. I was commissioned to investigate the burglary and I needed to ask everyone." "Say no more. Look at me; I'm pure as snow—isn't I?" His smile was irresistible, and he offered me another shot of vodka and offered me to smoke his cigarette - which I declined - and began to comment on the people around him. "Look at them," he said, "they're going to be first in everything, new styles, new restaurants, new music. I call them pioneers. They don't come second, find one, try it, throw it away, Find something else. They run around to see what's new? What's trendy? There's no routine." "Where did you graduate?" I asked. He stared at me for a long time. "Walton's M.A.," he said, "doesn't sound right to you?" "No, why don't you use it?" "I'd rather be happy, mother," he said. He was slender, flabby, and his joints disintegrated when he moved.He was like two people; a Harlem punk, an observant intellectual.I don't know how to deal with him.He talks like a veil of despair, a complex figure. Then Henna came running over and grabbed his arm like a proprietor. "Hi Jin," she said. "Glad you're here. This guy is talking bullshit to you? M.M. or something. Shit! He's just a laborer, loading and unloading barges. Porters." He grinned and grabbed her with one hand. "Na, I love you," he said, "no nonsense. Ah Jin asked me if I stole your father's ancient coins, and I admitted that I did it, and you and I cooperated." "Don't listen to him," said Natie, "he's flying off tonight." He's fluttering?I'm flying!The heavy smell of the air was unbearable.My mind is dancing—and not just because of the smell of marijuana smoke.I don't know if Akaba is playing tricks on me.Although he has an arrogant attitude, he has a sharp mind.Natie said his blacks were acting to cover up the sin.I really don't know. As Natie had predicted, by midnight the party was lively and newcomers were arriving.Someone turned up the loudspeaker volume, which made my eardrums unbearable.There was dancing, but most of the guests stood like zombies smoking and drinking, laughing at each other. I've talked to a few people.One on primitive cries, one on Icelandic poetry, one on colonialism.Fortunately, I never met them again. It doesn't suit me here, some of the guests are so young.When I was their age, the game we played was hide and seek and throwing the handkerchief.I decided to leave.I haven't met the hostess and hostess yet, and I know it will be difficult to find him in the crowd to say goodbye. I finally found Nati.She clings to Akaba in the corner and grabs his collar.She seemed very angry, she yelled at him, but he still smiled languidly. It took a long time to find a taxi, and it was not a pleasant experience in the middle of the night on a deserted street.I finally got home safely, tipped the driver a little more, and the driver said, "Good day." It's two o'clock in the morning! I opened the door and the phone was ringing and I rushed over. "Hi?" I said impatiently. "Ah Jin?" George said, "Jesus, where have you been? I'm going to report to the Marine Corps. After you received that letter..." "Thank you for your concern," I said, "I'm fine, Gian. I'm going to the East Village for a party and meeting Henretti's boyfriend." "The big guy? Have fun?" "otherwise." "What did you hear?" "He said he had nothing to do with the new DeMarie case, and he said he and Natie did it together. I don't know how to believe it." "Well, that guy is a big liar." "They were making a scene when I left. Don't know why, maybe it's okay." "Maybe." "Qi'an, do you know the cleaning company hired by Haijia? They come to vacuum once every two weeks and once a month for a big cleaning." "Yes, I know." "Have you checked?" "Of course, I'll do it the next day. Why, do you think I'm idle every day? I've checked and there's an alibi." "Just asking." I said modestly. "Okay, Ah Jin, just ask if you have anything to say. Let me sleep for a while." "Qian, thank you for your concern." "You're welcome," he murmured. I take a shower to get the smell of cigarettes out of my hair, then dry and comb my hair.I took a good look in the mirror, and Mrs. Hay was right: the hair should be done. I threw myself on the bed thinking I would fall asleep right away, but no, I kept tossing and turning.I think I got some pretty important and interesting news today, but I can't remember it.Finally fell asleep in a daze.Maybe I snore--I've been told I do--but no one's around to punch me.