Chapter 36 Chapter Thirty-Five

Two days before the autopsy, the wedding took place.A judge officiated in his chambers.The thought of marrying Keith Webster gave Eve goosebumps, but she had no other choice.I'd be a fool to think I'm going to live with him.Once the post-mortem is over, she will annul the marriage and this will be over. ※※※ Inspector Nick Pappas has a problem.He was sure he knew who the murderer of George Mellis was, but he could not prove it.A silent alliance had formed around the Blackwells that could not be broken.He discussed the issue with his superior, Captain Harold Cohen.Cohen is a sophisticated cop who has worked his way up from the lowest ranks to his current one.

Cohen listened quietly to Pappas' account and said, "It's all fantasy, Nick, you haven't got the evidence. They're going to laugh us out of the courtroom." "I know," Inspector Pappas sighed, "but I'm right." He sat in his chair, thinking, "Do you mind if I speak to Kate Blackwell?" "God! About what?" "It will be a little probing. She rules the family. She may know things she doesn't know." "You have to proceed with caution." "I will." "Be gentle with her, Nick, and remember, she's an old lady."

"That's what I'm counting on," said Inspector Pappas. The meeting was scheduled for that afternoon, at Kate Blackwell's office.Nick Pappas guessed Kate was in her eighties, but she looked much younger than she really was.The detective knew she must be under a lot of psychological burden, but she kept her face a secret, a reclusive person who now had to watch Blackwell's name become a source of public speculation and shame. "My secretary says you have an urgent matter to see me, Mr Inspector." "Yes, ma'am. The post-mortem of George Mellis is due to-morrow. I have reason to believe that your granddaughter was involved in his murder."

Kate replied very forcefully: "I don't believe it." "Hear me out, Mrs. Blackwell. Every police investigation begins with a motive. George Mellis was a money hunter and a brutal sex-sadist." He saw the look on her face , but continued, "He married your granddaughter and suddenly had a lot of money at his fingertips. I guess he beat Alexandra so much that she asked for a divorce, which he refused. She was able to get out The only way for him is to kill him." Kate stared at him, pale. "I started looking for evidence to back up my thoughts. We know that George Mellis had been to Pine Ridge before his disappearance, and there were only two ways to reach Kharbour from the mainland - plane and ferry. According to the local sheriff's office, Proof, George Mellis didn't use any of them. I don't believe in miracles, I don't think Mellis was the type to walk on water. The only possibility is that he found a boat from somewhere else on the coast, I started checking out the charter marina and I got something in Gilkey Harbor where a woman rented a motorboat at 4pm the day George Mellis was killed and said a friend would pick it up later She pays cash for the boat, but she has to sign the charter ticket. The name she uses is Solang Duna, does that remind you of anything?"

"Oh, she—she was the twins' governess when they were little, and she returned to France a few years ago." Pappas nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face. "At a pier a little farther down the coast, this woman chartered a second boat. She left with it for three hours and returned. Her name was still Solange Duna. I put Alexandra's photo I showed it to the staff of the two docks, and they all agreed that the woman was her, but they were a little bit unsure because the woman who rented the boat had darker hair." "Then what evidence leads you to think—?"

"She wears a wig." Kate said firmly: "I don't believe Alexandra would kill her husband." "Neither do I, Mrs. Blackwell," said Inspector Pappas. "It's her sister, Eve." Kate Blackwell froze, like a rock. "Alexandra couldn't have committed the crime. I checked her activities on the day of the murder. Earlier that day, she was in New York with a friend, and then she flew directly from New York to the island. There is no possibility that she was here. Rent two boats for a while." He leaned forward, "So, the woman who looks exactly like Alexandra and signed Solang Duna can only be Eve. So, I started looking for her The motive of committing the crime, I showed the photos of George Melis to the tenants who lived in the same building as Eve, and found that Melis was a frequent visitor of Eve’s house. The management of the building told me that Melis was in the house one night Eve was almost beaten to death, do you know about this?"

"I don't know." Kate's voice was like a whisper. "Mellis did it. It fits his behavior. So that's Eve's motive—revenge, she tricked him into Duck Harbor and killed him." He looked at Kate, trying to take advantage of the old man. Mrs. came to solve the case and felt a painful sense of guilt. "Eve's excuse of innocence is that she was in Washington that day. She gave the driver who took her to the airport a hundred dollars, so he must remember her, Also she made a fuss about missing her flight to Washington, but I don't think she went to Washington. I believe she put on a black wig and took a commercial jet to Maine, where , she rented two dinghies. After killing Melis, she threw the body into the water, docked the yacht, and towed another motorboat back to the rental dock."

Kate looked at him for a long time, then said slowly, "All this evidence you have is not critical, is it?" "Yes." He was about to get to the point. "I need to give concrete evidence to the coroner's jury. You know your granddaughter better than anyone else in the world, Mrs. Blackwell, and I hope you will give any useful information you know." details." She sat in a chair, was silent for a moment, and made up her mind.Finally she said, "I think I can tell you something." At this point Nick Pappas' heart began to beat faster.He has tried many ways for a long time, and now it is time to pay off.The old lady was about to speak.He bent forward automatically and said, "Yes, Mrs. Blackwell?"

Kate said slowly and clearly: "My granddaughter Eve and I were in Washington on the day George Mellis was killed, and we were together." She saw the look of surprise on his face, you fool, Kate thought, do you really think I'm going to sacrifice a member of the Blackwells to you?Am I going to allow the name Blackwell to be used for newspaper gloating?No, I will use my method to punish Eve. The autopsy jury's verdict: Mehlis died at the hands of one or more unknown assassins. ※※※ To Alexandra's surprise and gratitude, Peter Templeton was present at the court hearing.

"Come here to provide moral support," he told her.Peter believes that Alexandra showed self-control during the hearing, but she could see the nervousness in her face and eyes.During the adjournment, he took her to lunch at The Lobster, a restaurant facing Lincoln Valley Bay. "As soon as this is over," said Peter, "I think you'd better take a trip and get away from here for a while." "Yes, Eve asked me to go out with her." Alexandra's eyes were full of pain, "I still can't believe that George is dead, I know it happened, but it- it still doesn't seem real .”

"It's an instinct to soften the blow until the pain becomes bearable." "How unreasonable! What a fine fellow he is." She looked up at Peter. "You spent some time with him, and he talked to you. Isn't he a fine fellow?" "Yes," said Peter slowly, "yes." ※※※ Eve said, "I want to annul the marriage, Keith." Keith Webster looked at his wife with a blink of surprise: "Why on earth did we end our marriage?" "Oh, Keith, do you really think I'm going to live with you?" "Of course, you are my wife, Eve." "What do you want? The Blackwell property?" "I don't need money, honey, I'm doing very well, and I can give you anything you want." "I already told you, what I want is a divorce." He shook his head apologetically and said, "I'm afraid I can't meet your request." "Then I will formally file for divorce." "I don't think that's advisable. The situation hasn't changed, Eve. The police haven't found out who killed your brother-in-law, so the danger remains. The law is timeless on murder. If you divorce me, I'll Will be forced to..." He raised his hands resignedly. "According to you, it seems that I killed him." "You killed it, Eve." Her voice was contemptuous: "How do you know?" "That's the only reason you're marrying me." She looked at him with disgust, "You bastard! Why are you doing this?" "It's simple, I love you." "I hate you, do you understand? I despise you!" He smiled sadly: "I love you so much." The trip with Alexandra was cancelled. "I'm going to Barbados for my honeymoon," Eve told her. Going to Barbados was Keith's idea. "I'm not going." Eve flatly refused.The thought of going on honeymoon with him disgusted her. "People will be surprised if we don't go on our honeymoon," he said. "We don't want people asking embarrassing questions all the time, do we, honey?" ※※※ Alexandra began having weekly lunches with Peter Templeton.At first, because she wanted to talk about George, and there was no one else with whom she could talk about him but him.But a few months later, Alexandra had to admit that she was more than happy to be with Peter Templeton.He was dependable, which she desperately needed.He was very considerate of her mood, and he was also very smart and funny. "When I was an intern," he said to Alexandra, "I made my first outpatient visit during a freezing winter. The patient was a frail old man lying in bed with a terrible cough, and I prepared to Listen to his lungs, but I'm afraid the stethoscope is too cold to irritate him, so I want to warm it up first. I put the stethoscope on the heater and check his throat and eyes at the same time. Then I take the stethoscope and press it on him on his chest. The old man jumped out of bed like a scalded cat. His cough healed immediately, but the burn took two weeks to heal." Alexandra laughed, for the first time in a long time. "Shall we meet again next week?" Peter asked. "it is good." ※※※ The honeymoon went much better than Eve expected.Keith was afraid to be in the sun because of his pale and sensitive skin, so Eve went to the beach alone every day.She was never alone for long.She is surrounded by amorous lifeguards, beach bums, big businessmen and playboys.It was like a good Swedish buffet, and Eve could choose a different dish every day.Knowing that her husband was waiting for her in the upstairs suite, she doubled her enjoyment of sexual escapades.He could not pay her enough attention.Coming and going before her eyes like a little lap dog, always at her service.If Eve showed any hope, she was instantly gratified.She tried to insult him, to make him angry, to tire him of her so that she would go away, but his love was unshakable.Eve gags at the thought of having sex with Keith, but luckily he doesn't feel that way. ※※※ Time is ticking, Kate Blackwell thought.There have been so many years, so full and rich. Kruger-Brent Ltd needs a strong hand at the helm.It needed someone of Blackwell's blood.But I die without an heir, Kate thought, all the work and planning and fighting for the company.But what is this for?In order for a stranger to take over the reins of the company one day?To hell!I will never allow this to happen. ※※※ A week after returning home from the honeymoon, Keith apologized and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to go to work, darling. I've got a lot of appointments waiting for me. How are you doing without me during the day?" Eve tried to maintain a serious expression and said, "Let me try!" Keith got up early every morning and went out. He walked for a long time before Eve woke up, and when she went into the kitchen, she always found Keith made her coffee and breakfast.He generously opened a bank account for Eve, and kept depositing money in it.She spends his money nonchalantly.As long as she was happy, Keith was content.Eve bought expensive jewelry for Rory, and she and he saw each other almost every afternoon, and Rory rarely worked. "I can't just take roles," he complained to Eve. "It will damage my image." "I understand, dear." "You understand? You know nothing about the film and television industry! You were born with money, and you carry a bunch of money with you." Eve had to buy him another gift to appease him.She pays Rory's rent and buys him an interview suit; pays for his dinners at expensive restaurants so he can meet famous directors.She wanted to be with him twenty-four hours a day, but she had a husband.Eve usually came home around seven or eight o'clock in the evening, when Keith was in the kitchen, wearing the apron that said "Kiss Chef", preparing her dinner.He never asked where she had been. ※※※ In the following year, Alexandra and Peter Templeton saw more and more frequently.Both became an important part of the other's life.Peter accompanied Alexandra when she visited her father in a mental hospital, and this companionship seemed to ease Alexandra's pain. Peter bumps into Kate one night while picking up Alexandra. "So you're a doctor, eh? I've buried a dozen doctors and I'm still alive. Do you know any business?" "Not quite, Mrs Blackwell." "Do you have a business?" Kate asked. "No." She snorted and said, "Damn it. You don't know anything. You need a smart taxman. I'll get mine to talk to you, and the first thing he'll do is help you form your company—" " "Thank you, Mrs. Blackwell. I'm doing well." "My husband is also very stubborn," Kate said.She turned to Alexandra again and said, "Invite him to dinner. Maybe I can give him some common sense." After going out, Peter said, "Your grandma hates me." Alexandra smiled: "She likes you. You should see what grandma does to people she hates." "How would she feel if I told her I wanted to marry you, Alex?" She looked up at him and smiled. "We'll all be very happy, Peter!" ※※※ Kate is following Alexandra's developing romance with Peter Templeton with great interest.She liked the young doctor, and she thought he would make a good husband for Alexandra.But she is a "businessman" after all.Now she sat before the fireplace, facing the two young men. "I have to tell you," Kate lied, "that I was totally taken aback by this. I always expected Alexandra to marry a managing director who would take over the reins of Kruger-Brent. " "But our business is not a matter of business, Mrs Blackwell, and Alexandra and I are to be married." "On the other hand," Kate went on, seemingly never interrupted, "you are a psychiatrist, and you know how to read people's minds and feelings. As a result, you may become a good negotiator. I hope you participate in the company's Business. You can-" "No," said Peter firmly, "I'm a doctor and have no interest in business." "It's not 'doing business,'" Kate retorted. "We're not talking about a grocery store down the street. You'll be part of our family, and I need someone to manage—" "I'm sorry," said Peter's voice with unalterable determination, "I won't get involved with Kruger-Brent. You'd better hire someone else..." Kate turned to Alexandra: "Do you have anything to say about this?" "I just want to make Peter happy, Granny." "Damn ungrateful people," Kate said, glaring at her, "selfish, you're all so selfish." She sighed, "Well, well, who knows? You might change your mind one day." She was naive again He asked, "Do you want children?" Peter smiled. "That's a private matter. I think you're a great planner, Mrs. Blackwell, but Alex and I have our own lives, and our children - if we have children - — and will live their own lives.” Kate smiled sweetly: "I will not ask for another way, Peter, I will never interfere in other people's lives, this has become my lifelong rule." Two months later, when Alexandra and Peter arrived from their honeymoon, Alexandra was pregnant.When Kate heard the news, she thought, well, it must be a boy. ※※※ Eve lay in bed watching Rory come out of the bathroom naked.He was handsome, lean and well-proportioned.Eve was passionate about making love to him, she was never satisfied.She guessed that he might have other bedmates, but she dared not ask for fear that he would be upset.Now, he goes to the bed, puts his fingers under her lower eyelids, and says, "Hey baby, you've got wrinkles. So cute." His every word stabbed at her, making her realize the difference in their ages.She is twenty-five years old.They start making love again, but for the first time Eve feels absent-minded. It was almost nine o'clock when Eve got home.Keith was greasing a roast in the oven. He kissed her on the cheek and said, "Hey honey, I made your favorite dish. We—" "Keith, I want you to remove these wrinkles." He blinked: "What wrinkles?" She pointed around her eyes and said, "These." "That's laugh lines, honey, I like them." "I don't like it! I hate them!" she growled. "Trust me, Eve, they don't—" "For Christ's sake, take them off. That's what you're made for, isn't it?" "Yes, but—well," he said to the narrator, "if that pleases you, dear." "What time?" "In about six weeks, my appointments are full—" "I'm not one of your bloody patients," Eve said quickly, "I'm your wife, and I want you to do it right away—tomorrow." "Closed on Saturdays." "Then make a diagnosis!" How stupid he is!God, she couldn't wait any longer to get rid of him, anyway, just hurry up. "Stay in another room for a while." He led her into the dressing room. She sat in a chair, and under the bright light he examined her face carefully.In an instant, he went from an incompetent and timid man to a superb surgeon, and Eve felt the transformation.She still remembered the miracle he had done on her face.The surgery seemed unnecessary to Keith, but he was wrong, it was vital, and Eve couldn't stand losing Rory. Keith turned off the light. "No problem," he assured her, "I'll operate on you tomorrow morning." ※※※ The next morning, the two arrived at the outpatient department. "I usually need a nurse as an assistant," Keith told her, "but this is such a small operation that a nurse isn't necessary." "You also trim this place during the operation." Eve said, grabbing a small piece of skin on her neck. "If you want, dear. I'll give you an injection to put you to sleep so you don't feel sick. I don't want my wife to suffer any pain." Eve watched as he inhaled the potion with a syringe and then expertly injected her.She doesn't mind if it hurts.She's doing surgery for Rory.dear Rory.She thought of his rock-like body, and his lustful eyes... and she fell into a deep sleep. She woke up on a bed in the back room of the consulting room.Keith sat in a chair by the bed. "How is the operation?" The voice was full of sleepiness. "Pretty." Keith smiled. Eve nodded and fell asleep again. When she woke up again, Keith was still there. "The bandage will be on for a few more days. You will stay here so I can take care of it." "Ok." He checks on her once a day, looking at her face, he nods. "very good." "When can I look in the mirror?" "It will be fully healed by Friday," he promised. She had the head nurse install a personal telephone by her side.The first call was to Rory. "Hey, baby, where have you been?" he asked, "I think you're crazy." "Me too, dear. I hated his medical meeting in Florida, but I'll be back next week." "You'd better come back soon." "Miss me?" "Going crazy." Eve heard someone whispering on the phone: "Who is with you?" "Yeah, we're having a little orgy," Rory liked to joke. "It's time to go." The phone disconnected. Eve called Alexandra again, listening impatiently as she talked excitedly about the pregnancy news on the phone. "I can't wait," Eve told her. "I've always wanted to be an aunt." Eve rarely sees her grandmother.The new indifference was beyond her comprehension.She'll change, Eve thought. Kate never asked Keith, and Eve wasn't surprised.Because he didn't exist in her heart.Maybe one day Eve will conspire with Rory to help get rid of Keith.Then Rory would be bound to her forever.Eve couldn't believe that she cuckolded her husband every day and he didn't suspect or care.Well, thank God, he's kind of a genius at something.The bandages will be removed on Friday. ※※※ Eve woke up early Friday morning, anxiously waiting for Keith. "It's almost noon," she complained, "you're in hell?" "I'm sorry, honey," he said apologetically, "I had surgery all morning and—" "I don't want to listen, take off the bandage, I want to see." "very good." Eve sat upright as Keith deftly removed the bandage from her face.He stood looking at her with a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "great." "Give me a mirror." He walked out of the room at once, and in a moment came in with a hand-mirror.With a proud smile, he handed her the mirror. Eve slowly raised the mirror and saw her image in the mirror. She screamed. end Kate 1982