Chapter 7 The Mystery of the Unfinished Canvas
"You're early," said old Dr. Sam Hawthorne, opening the door. "I guess you can't wait to hear about my almost leaving North Hills. Here, get you a brandy, Herald." Han, and then listen to me in detail. I am still a little embarrassed to tell this story, but if I skip it, my rural medical career will not be complete."
The story takes place in the early fall of 1932, at the height of the Great Depression and the intense presidential election.Of course, people were talking about what would happen if Roosevelt won the election.Many people said that whatever the outcome of the election, Prohibition must be on the verge of being repealed.Because both presidential candidates claim to end it.On election day, though, I couldn't think about voting or Prohibition.I was at Saints Memorial Hospital that day, caring for a little boy named Tommy Forester.He contracted malignant polio in late summer.On that day, the boy's condition took a turn for the worse.
"He's having trouble breathing on his own," I said to his parents, Mavis and Mike Forrest.They moved to live in Beishan Town last summer.Her husband teaches at the New Primary School in Beishan Town.
Mavis was young and a lovely woman.It broke my heart when she asked me "will he be paralyzed".
"I'm afraid it will be partially paralyzed," I had to tell her honestly, "but it's hard to say how serious it will be. Now, the first thing to do is to save his life."
"What can I do?" Mike asked painfully.
"Tommy's respiratory nerves were destroyed by polio inflammation, so he had difficulty breathing. Soon, spontaneous breathing will stop completely. Recently, a device that has just had clinical success is the Deklin artificial ventilator, also known as the iron Lungs. Slough Declin invented this thing four years ago. Basically, it's a giant pressure chamber that encloses the entire body except the head. The pressure chamber is equipped with a motor that increases or decreases the air pressure, This moves air in and out of the patient's lungs."
"Does it work for Tommy?"
"As far as I know, this is the only thing that can save him. Stanford has one, but I don't know if it will work. I'll call the hospital over there."
Doctors at Stanford said the motor of the ventilator was under maintenance and temporarily unavailable. "Probably tomorrow will be fine," he said uncertainly, "I'll call you tomorrow morning, before noon."
"Tomorrow will be too late. Do you know where there's another iron lung around here?"
"There's one in Boston." He told me the name of the hospital.After thanking him, I hung up the phone.
It only took me ten minutes to find out that Boston's only iron lung was in use.The patient was a little girl not a few years older than Tommy.I called nurse Aibo and asked her to contact the largest hospital in New York City. "After I find out, how can I find you?" she asked.
"I have to see the doctor first. Mrs. Baker and Major Fox are waiting for me." Last year, the hospital vacated an unoccupied wing for doctors' offices.For me, it is much more convenient to move the clinic to the hospital than to stay in the town.Moreover, more and more patients also need to be hospitalized.Gone are the days when people were born in their own homes and died in their own homes.In Beishan Town, more than half of newborns are born in the hospital every year.And a large number of patients who are not alive are also hospitalized for treatment.
Mrs. Baker and Major Fox are typical representatives of this type of patients.Mrs. Baker had a fat boy just yesterday.The major was an elderly war veteran whose lungs had been damaged by German mustard gas in 1918.No doctor could save him.I poked my head into the sickroom and spoke to Mrs Baker and her proud husband.During this time, I couldn't help but think of the Forrests and their very sick child down the hall.In a few days, the Beckers will be able to return home with their baby and start a new life.But for the Forrests, whatever the outcome, their good days are over.
Major Fox was a strong man and it was hard for me to watch him suffer.He leaned against the head of the bed, looking much older than his actual age in his sixties.He happened to have a visitor when I arrived—Clint Wainwright.Wainwright is the president of the Beishan Town Chamber of Commerce.Major Fox's sporting goods store on Main Street was a good business and popular, especially during hunting season.The major also invented many small things to help other stores increase sales.For example, gadgets that open cans, or gizmos that extend the life of light bulbs.He even came up with a hearing aid that helps the hearing impaired.
"How are you today?" I asked with a smile, looking at the medical card hanging beside his bed.
"Very tired, doctor," he gasped.
"I told him we needed him back on Main Street," Wainwright said as cheerfully as possible.He was in his late forties, an ambitious man, a menswear dealer.His wavy hair was well groomed and he was always teased for looking like a movie star.
"He'll get better soon." I sound confident, but I'm not sure.
Major Fox coughed a few times, moved his body, trying to change to a more comfortable position: "I don't know, doctor. I think the German poison gas will really kill me this time."
I checked his vital signs, felt his pulse, measured his blood pressure, and listened to his heart rate.He was no better than the day before, but he wasn't worse either.It's almost noon after I'm done.The sound of nurses delivering meals to patients can be heard in the corridor. "I have to go." Clint Wainwright said, standing up, "Take care, Major. I'll come see you if you're still in the hospital this weekend."
"Thanks, Clint," replied Major Fox.As soon as the nurse came in, he coughed again.The nurse quickly put down the dinner plate and helped him adjust the position of the pillow.
Wainwright and I walked down the corridor side by side. "Is he still saved?" He asked straight to the point.
I shrugged: "It's impossible for him to fully recover. As for whether he can survive this time, it's hard to say."
"I feel so sorry for him, he has no family to take care of him yet."
"Who will watch the store for him?"
"He's got a clerk, a boy named Bill Blingham. Do you know him?"
I shook my head: "The town is developing too fast, and I don't know many newcomers."
"Haven't seen you at the clothing store lately, doc? We're having a big sale."
"Thanks for the message, Clint. I'll stop by when I have time."
We parted in the lobby.I head to my clinic.Aibo handed me a few notes and said, "I have inquired about the hospital in New York. I found two iron lungs, but they are both in use. Do you want to inquire about further cities?"
I shook my head: "The transportation is too time-consuming, and he can't make it through. We can only hope that he persists until the Stanford one is repaired. This is the only hope."
Aibo went to lunch.After finishing the work at hand, I am ready to make a doctor's visit.I promised to see Mrs. Higgins and see how her gout was doing.However, before he had time to leave the clinic, Sergeant Lan Si called: "Doctor, I need your help."
"I'm on a medical call, Sheriff."
"Tersey Wainwright was killed. I'm at Wainwright's."
"Tersi? I can't believe it. I met her husband in the hospital less than an hour ago."
"You're needed here, doctor. Can you come right here?"
"I can drop by on the way to the Higgins's," I said.
When I arrived, Clint Wainwright was already there.He came straight from the store when he got the news, almost overwhelmed with grief.Before I went to the sheriff, I gave him some comfort.
He was standing in Texi's small studio.The studio overlooks the lush rear garden.The victim was slumped on a chair, facing an easel, apparently painting before his death.Around her neck is a long, paint-stained cloth.There were signs of a fight - an overturned vase with flowers in it.The dead man had a broken nail on one hand—but death seemed to come quickly.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Tersey always likes to paint here," said the sheriff, pointing to the easel.On the easel is a half-finished watercolor painting of chrysanthemums in a vase. "Clint left her just before eleven o'clock. Mrs. Babcock, the cleaner, had just arrived. Mrs. Babcock had been busy in the drawing room. The studio door was closed. The cleaning lady could swear no one had entered the room." room. And, as you can see, the windows are all locked."
I checked the three windows one by one, and each one was locked from inside.Also, there are no other doors in the room. "Of course, there are two obvious explanations," I said. "Either Clint killed his wife before leaving home, or Mrs. Babcock was lying."
"She said she heard Tessie moving around—radio on, telephone—and after her husband left. I believe her. That's why I called you."
I have known Mrs. Babcock for several years, and often run into her in patients' homes.She was in her early fifties, in good health, reliable and known for being hardworking.Widowed for ten years, she relied on helping people clean up every week to earn some money to subsidize her family.She also has a teenage daughter to support.
"Tell me everything that has happened since you arrived," I told her.
Mrs. Babcock had wept, and her eyes were red.She's clearly recovered from the blow, though. "I get there around ten to eleven. It's about that time every Wednesday. Mr. Wainwright said Mrs. was painting in the studio. I started cleaning the living room, right by the door. He went down to the basement to get the car's spare tire. I heard Mrs. turn on the radio. She always had the radio on while she was painting. I continued cleaning. Twenty minutes later, Mr. Wainwright was out. I heard the phone ring, and she answered it as soon as it rang."
"Can you hear who she's talking to on the phone?"
"I don't know. The door is so thick that I can't hear the sound clearly. I only heard a telephone ring. After that, everything was as usual until noon." Mrs. Babcock squeezed her handkerchief tightly. "I knocked on the door and asked her Would you like to have lunch. The radio was still on, so I guess she couldn't hear the knock. I opened the door to ask her again. That's when I saw what was in front of me."
I looked up and looked at Sergeant Lan Si.The sheriff stood just behind Mrs. Babcock. "Sheriff, was the radio on when you arrived?"
"No."
"It was off when I called the sheriff. The radio is next to the phone."
"In other words, you didn't see the living Tessie Wainwright with your own eyes?"
"This does not."
"Didn't you hear the fighting?"
"No, but the radio is very loud."
"Did you touch anything in this room except the telephone and radio?"
"No."
"Dare you swear that no one came in during the whole time you were here?"
"yes."
Sergeant Lan Si sighed: "Mrs. Babcock, do you realize the embarrassing situation that these words put you in?"
"I'm telling the truth."
We left Mrs. Babcock and went to the kitchen to speak to Clint Wainwright.Seeing us approaching, he stood up, his expression more angry than sad: "Who did it?"
"I still want to ask you," said the sheriff.
"Clint," I said, "does Terci have any company this morning?"
"As far as I know, no."
"What time did you leave her?"
"Quarter to eleven. I went down to get the tire to be repaired and took it to the garage. Then I went to the hospital to see Major Fox. It was early eleven when I got to his room."
"You didn't go to the store this morning?"
"No. I've got a young lady to help me, and she'll watch the store while I'm away."
"As far as you know, does Texi have any enemies?"
"Everyone likes her."
"Has there been any trouble between her and Mrs. Babcock? Has she ever been caught stealing, for instance?"
"No. There is no such thing."
Some neighbors noticed Sheriff Lenz's car parked outside and walked in.Bill Bullingham was among them.I remember the name. "You're the lad who works in Major Fox's sporting goods store, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir," he replied politely.The young man is good-looking, with a strong physique, in his twenties, about ten years younger than me.However, he wears thick glasses, which makes him look a bit old.
"You live nearby?"
"It's just across the street, and the past few houses have been my home."
"Are you home near noon?"
"No, sir. I'm in the store. How's the major?"
"Not worse than expected."
Major Fox couldn't be getting better, but I didn't tell him.I asked, "When you were at home, did you notice anyone visiting?"
The sheriff and his men moved the others away so no one could hear us.
He looked at me shyly: "Are you talking about your lover? While her husband is busy in the shop?"
"I don't mean that in particular."
"No, I didn't notice anyone. Except Mrs. Babcock, of course, who comes every Wednesday."
When I returned to the studio, the body had been removed.I look at the phone and the overturned vase, then focus on the unfinished watercolor.The vases and flowers are outlined, and watercolors—chunks of red and green—are applied to the leaves and petals.
Sergeant Lens came to me with another neighbor: "Doctor, you remember Heidi Miller, right?"
She was about Tessie Wainwright's age, and she was a pleasant woman.I saw a doctor for her two children.
"Hello, Heidi. I forgot you lived on this street too."
"I came to see Terci last night. I can't believe this is happening around here." She pushed her hair away from her eyes, looking agitated.
"Did you see her last night?" I asked with interest. "Is her husband home?"
"Clint? Here, he's going over the books in the shop. I say hello to him, and I'm off to see Tercie. We're sitting in this studio, talking about her paintings."
I pointed to the easel: "She was painting this still life?"
"The flowers, yes. I saw her coloring last night."
"Heidi, you are very close to her. Did she hint at threats to her life last night?"
"No."
"What exactly did you talk about?" Sergeant Len Si asked.
"Her paintings, my children. She was always interested in my sons. Maybe because she didn't have children. We walked around a lot. I can't believe she passed away."
"Are you asking Mrs. Babcock to clean it up, too?" I asked in a flash of inspiration.
"Yes. Every Tuesday."
"Is she reliable?"
"Oh, of course."
"Have you ever had a conflict?"
"there has never been."
With nothing more to do, I headed for the car with the sheriff. "Do you know who called her between eleven and twelve?"
The sheriff shrugged. "Maybe we should ask Millie Tucker at the telephone exchange. She might remember who answered."
"I leave it to you. I have patients to see."
"Doctor, it would be great if you could help. Clint Wainwright is a business tycoon in this town. I must solve the case as soon as possible."
I stopped by the car: "I'm a little skeptical about Clint's perfect alibi. If Mrs. Babcock's statement is true, he was in Major Fox's ward when Tersi was killed. I still witnessed it." Witnesses. I'm always a little skeptical of a perfect alibi."
"You think Clint hired someone to strangle his wife?" Sergeant Lens asked, not quite convinced.
"I don't know either. Mrs. Babcock swears no one has been in the room, so we're dealing with an unsolvable case, aren't we?"
The sheriff shook his head: "Can you go to Millie at the telephone office? I have to get them to do an autopsy."
I reluctantly agreed.Mrs. Higgins and I are past our appointment.Fortunately, she is not serious.I can go again tomorrow morning.
Wainwright's men's store was just across the street from the telephone exchange.I decided to go to his shop first.I remember Clint Wainwright saying he had a young lady look in the store.Lettie Gross is a dark-haired beauty who has been popular with boys since high school.
"Dr. Sam," she called. "Mr. Wainwright is out. You must have heard about his wife's misfortune."
"I'm coming from his house. What a miserable misfortune."
"They're very close. I guess that's enough for him."
"Letty, was he in the store this morning?"
"Never. I think he went straight from home to the hospital to see Major Fox. I opened at ten and he got in early twelve. Just before the sheriff called."
"Thank you, Lettie," I said, "see you later."
I walked from the store to the telephone exchange, climbed up the second floor, and found Millie Tucker and another girl, working at the switchboard.Both girls graduated from high school a few years ago.If she had been born a few years earlier, she must have been a new Frampian woman.However, her famous Charleston dance often graces the ball.
"Hi, Millie. How's your day?"
"Dr. Hawthorne! What are you doing here?"
Another operator plugged a wire into the lit jack and said in a stiff voice, "Give me the number, please."
"You heard about the tragedy that happened to Tessie Wainwright this morning."
"She was murdered. Terrible!"
"As far as we can judge, she died between eleven and twelve o'clock in the morning. According to Mrs. Babcock, the cleaner, the telephone rang once during this period. Do you happen to remember who it was that called?" "
"My God, Dr. Hawthorne, how many calls we have to answer in a day. Rose and I hardly pay attention when plugging and unplugging the wires." The switchboard in front of her also lit up, and she quickly connected the wires and turned to me. Say, "I hope I can help, too. Rose, do you remember who called the Wainwrights between eleven and twelve?"
The girl thought for a while: "Someone seems to have called. Maybe Mr. Wainwright called from the shop?"
I shook my head: "He's not in the store."
"I do not know then."
"Thanks, anyway, girls. Remember to call me or the Sheriff if you remember anything."
When I got back to the office, Aibo was in a panic: "I've been calling around for you. Millie Tucker said you just left. The Forrest boy is getting worse."
"I'll go see him right away."
"Stanford Hospital is calling. The ventilator has been repaired. I told them to send it quickly."
"When did this happen?"
"Later. I called the Higgins' to find you, and they said you never went. Where have you been?" There was accusation in her words.
"Mrs. Wainwright was killed. The Sheriff asked me to help."
"What about Mrs. Higgins? She asked when you could see her."
"Call her and tell her I'll be there early tomorrow morning."
I hurried down the corridor to Tommy Forester's room.There was a doctor and a nurse at the hospital, with the Forrests, standing over Tommy's bed.Seeing me come in, the doctor looked up. "I asked Stanford to send a ventilator, and it's on the way," I said.
He shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry, Sam. We couldn't keep him. He died a few minutes ago."
Mavis Forrest turned to me. "Where have you been? Tommy is crying and begging you to save him."
"I'm sure Dr. Cranston did everything he could."
"If the ventilator can be delivered in time—" Mike Forrest burst into tears.
"I'm sorry." I didn't know what to say.
Cranston and I left the room: "Aibo can't find you anywhere."
"I'm helping Sheriff Lansi investigate the case."
He pursed his lips with a serious expression: "Forgive me for being straightforward, Sam, your duty is to save lives and heal the wounded. We are doctors, not police officers."
"It doesn't help that I'm there."
"At least you were there."
Aibo found me in the clinic, and I was putting down the phone. "Tommy Forrest is dead," I told her.
"I know."
"I just called Stanford and told them they don't need to send ventilators."
She walked to the desk: "You look terrible, go home."
"Cranston said I should have been with the patient, not helping Sergeant Lens."
"Ignore him."
"He may be right."
I went back to my apartment, sullen.Sergeant Lan Si called and asked about the case, but I said I don't want to talk about it now.I don't want to think about Tessie Wainwright's death at all.The mind was full of Tommy Forrest and Mrs. Higgins and the other patients.
Am I letting my patient down?
Am I still worthy to stay in Beishan Town as a doctor?
I tossed and turned that night, thinking about my future.Solving the mysteries entrusted to me by Sergeant Lens has become an important part of my life.However, if I want to stay in Beishan Town, I must not continue like this.I am a doctor first.I must face up to my primary responsibility.Even if it means I have to leave North Hills and reopen in other towns.
The next morning, I went around the hospital first, deliberately avoiding Tommy Forester's empty room.Major Fox was feeling better, and I sat with him a little longer, listening to his tales of the war.Sergeant Lan Si found me in Fox's ward: "I've been looking for you everywhere, doctor."
I bid farewell to the major and came to the corridor: "Sheriff, I don't want to continue to solve the case."
"what?"
"Yesterday a little boy died of polio. I couldn't have saved him by being there. But it's always a comfort to him and his family if I'm there."
"You brought the murderer to justice, what about the lives you saved?"
"There are no serial killings in the local area."
"What about Wainwright's case? What if the murderer escapes and strangles others?"
"I think Tessie Wainwright knew the killer. Otherwise he couldn't have walked behind her so easily and strangled her. If it's a burglar, you can't turn your back on him."
"How did he get into the room?"
"Maybe he was there all the time. Maybe Tessie let her lover in after her husband left. She could open the window and close it when he came in."
"Then how did he leave afterwards?"
"He stayed there. He hid behind the door when Mrs. Babcock came in. Then sneak away when she calls you."
"Well, it's possible," said the Inspector uncertainly. "But why did he risk discovery when Mrs. Babcock came in, instead of just hitting her on the head?"
"Tell you what I'm going to do, Sheriff. I've got a medical call. We'll meet up at Wainwright's on the way back. Let's see if my theory works."
"See you in an hour, how about it? It looks like twelve o'clock."
"I will try my best."
I went to see Mrs Baker and the newborn.The baby is doing well.Then, I drove to Higgins' house.They were kind to me.Still Mrs Higgins said: "We thought you'd come yesterday. I baked a cake and you could have had a piece of it."
"Sorry to miss it. It's a little urgent."
"Millie Tucker said you were helping Sheriff Lens investigate the Wainwright murder."
"Yes, but the patient is important, and I don't have more time to help him."
As soon as I left Higgins, I hurried to the Wainwrights.Sergeant Len Si was waiting for me outside.
"An interesting discovery?" I asked.
"Your theory won't work, doctor. Come with me."
I followed him into the house.The room was silent and lifeless. "In the afternoon, everyone went to the funeral home to keep her wake."
We walked through the drawing room and into the studio, and immediately understood what he meant.The door opens to the right, inwards, and the table for the telephone is on the right wall.After discovering the body, Mrs. Babcock had to go over and make a phone call.The fatal blow to my reasoning was the pile of completed paintings behind the door, against the wall.Nobody could hide behind a door, and if they did, Mrs Babcock would see it when she called. "You're right," I said.
"Any other ideas, doctor?"
"No." I flipped through the unframed canvas. "She seems to like painting flowers and still life. Look at the delicate brushstrokes of these petals and leaves. She is really a good painter."
"It's up to you. I like more vibrant paintings."
I walked towards the door: "I have to see the patient."
"Doctor, you know who killed her, don't you?"
"It's a possibility," I admitted. "Let's drive to the funeral home."
I drove after the sheriff and parked the car on the other side of the road.Although it was not time to bid farewell to the remains, a group of people had already gathered outside the funeral home.We greeted everyone while looking for the target.I know the odds of success are slim and it's a bit of a bluff, but it might work. "There she is," I said to Inspector Lens. "Come on."
"Damn it, doctor, she couldn't have done it! This—"
"Letty!" I called out, "Letty Gross! Can I hold you a minute?"
The girl from Wainwright's clothing store came over with a puzzled look on her face. "Could you stay in the car with us for a minute, Lettie? We've got to talk to you."
"About what?" she asked.I opened the door for her and she sat in the back seat.
I sat in the front row and half turned to her: "Letty, Clint told you to call his house yesterday, right? Between eleven and twelve? He told you, heard Hang up when the bell rings."
"I--"
"Sergeant Lens is about to arrest Clint Wainwright for murdering his wife. Unless you cooperate with the sheriff, he will charge you as an accessory."
Lettie Gross burst into tears.The sheriff pulled the car away so no one else could hear us.In her intermittent crying, she could hear her fear that her parents would find out about her affair with Wainwright.To her, it seems that this is more sinful than being Wainwright's accomplice in killing his wife.
"He never told me he was going to kill her," she insisted. "Just asked me to make a call."
Sergeant Lan Si was still at a loss, but he pretended to know everything in his chest, which was quite bluffing.Finally he said to me, "Doctor, can you tell Lettie the whole story from the beginning? That way she will know how serious it is."
"Wainwright strangled his wife shortly before Mrs. Babcock's arrival, a quarter or ten minutes to eleven o'clock. He closed the studio door, knowing that Mrs. Babcock Won't bother Tessie. To give the impression that Tessie is still alive, he does two things. First, he goes to the basement, claiming to get a tire to be repaired, in fact he is going to replace the fuse that he removed earlier The fuse was reinstalled, and the radio in the studio rang immediately. Because he turned on the radio on purpose when he left the studio. To Mrs. Babcock, she must have thought it was Tesh. Later, he went to visit Major Fox, the alibi is solid. He told Lettie to call his house from the store at this time, and hang up after the first ring. This further strengthened the impression that Tessie was still alive and answered the phone."
"How did you know, Doc? How did you know that Tessie was dead?"
"Mrs. Babcock said she turned off the radio when she called you because it was too loud. Then again, do you believe Tersh didn't turn off the radio or turn down the volume before answering the phone?"
"I remember Mrs. Babcock saying she heard Tersh moving about."
"That's just her imagination. If the door is so thick that she can't hear words, she's even less likely to hear people moving around."
Lettie Gross looked up.
"He said he would marry me. I love him."
"You have to testify against him or go to jail," I warned her.
"Doctor," asked the Inspector, "how did you become aware of the truth?"
"I guess it's because of the unfinished painting. The big smudges of red and green are nothing like the fine brushwork in her other paintings. Of course, the artist's style is not constant. But Heidi Miller came the night before." However, when she saw the painting, these strange colorings had not yet appeared. If Terci died earlier than we estimated, and did not have time to paint a few more strokes, then the husband's alibi was useless. That's why it occurred to me that it might all be a murderer's trick. Rose at the telephone exchange thought Clint was calling from the store. She didn't remember exactly. The call did come from the store, I know It can't be Clint who called, so there's only one explanation left, it's Lettie. Clint told her to hang up when she heard the ring."
"There's one thing I still don't understand." Sergeant Lan Si said, "Why did Clint go to the trouble of turning the scene into a secret room, which is not good for him. Why did he lock the windows? At least one can be left unlocked." ?Then the murderer may also have been an intruder."
"The answer is simple. Clint couldn't have known that Mrs. Babcock would stay at the studio door. He expected Mrs. Babcock to wander around the house and clean the other rooms. Mrs. Babcock's actions — or inaction — turned the case into an impossible crime."
"Would you like to sign a statement to the police?" Sergeant Lens asked Lettie.
"I don't want to hurt Clint."
"He killed his wife, Lettie. He deserves to be punished."
"Okay," she finally agreed, "I'll do it."
Clint Wainwright was arrested that afternoon.Two days later, Terhi's funeral took place as scheduled.I didn't go - it was Tommy Forrest's funeral that day, so I went there.
"Then," concluded Dr. Sam, "I kept my word and devoted my energies to saving lives and not being an amateur detective for more than a year. It wasn't until the night Prohibition was repealed that I went out again to investigate the mysteries of North Hills. case. But I shall wait for another time to tell that story."
Notes:
Notes: