Chapter 16 Chapter fifteen

There were many people participating in the interrogation this time.It is no wonder that the people of Crowding are very excited when such a terrible murder happened between them.However, the interrogation process was not as vivid as expected.Sheila Wilbur needn't be frightened by that painful experience, because the interrogation was over in just ten minutes. The Cavendish Agency received a call directing her to 19 Wilbraham Lane.She went, and entered the living room as directed.She found the body and ran out of the house screaming for help.This section is surprisingly light, there is no doubt about it.Martindale's team testified in court and was questioned for even less time.She had received a call from a purported Miss Pebmarsh, wishing to send a shorthand typist, preferably Miss Sheila Webb, to 19 Wilbraham Lane, with some orders.She had written down in her notepad that the time of the call was one forty-nine.The matter was handled by Miss Martindale.

Miss Pebmarsh was next to be questioned, and she categorically denied that she had called the Cavendish Society that day.Tell them to send a typist.Hardcastle made a short, professional statement.After receiving the call, she rushed to No. 19 Wilbraham Lane and found a body there. The coroner said to him: "Do you know who this man is?" "It hasn't been found yet. For this reason, I hope that the interrogation meeting can be postponed." "Well, yes." Then there is the medical certificate.Dr. Rigg, the surgeon representing the police, first stated himself and his qualifications.Then he explains his arrival at Ten Wilbraham Lane and his examination of the dead.

"Doctor, can you tell us the approximate time of death?" "I examined the dead man at half-past three. According to my opinion, he died between half-past one and half-past two." "Can you be more precise?" "If it were me, I would not dare to do so. But according to my guess, the most likely time is two o'clock or earlier, but there are still many factors to be taken into account, such as age, health and so on." "Have you done an autopsy?" "Yes" "What was the cause of death?" "The man was stabbed to death by a thin, sharp knife. The murder weapon was an everyday item, perhaps a French paring knife with a tapering blade, and the point of the knife pierced into..." The doctor described it very specifically The point of the knife pokes the correct part of the heart.

"Did the man die immediately?" "It's just a matter of a minute or two before and after." "The man didn't yell or struggle?" "Judging by the circumstances of his stabbing, no." "Doctor, can you explain what you said?" "I have done tests on some of his organs and I dare say he was killed in a medically controlled coma." "Can you tell me what medicine it is?" "Yes, that's chloral hydrate." "Can you tell us how it was administered?" "I can only guess, probably mixed with alcohol or something. Chloral hydrate works very quickly."

"Some places call it 'Ecstasy,' I think," murmured the coroner. "You're right," said Dr. Rigg. "He must have drunk that drink without a doubt, and passed out a moment later." "In your opinion, he was stabbed unconscious?" "I believe so. There was no sign of struggle, and the peaceful appearance of his face, can be used as an explanation." "How long after he lost consciousness was he killed?" "I can't say for sure, it depends on the individual's physique, but it will never be less than half an hour, and I'm afraid it will be much more than half an hour."

"Thank you, Dr. Rigg. Do you have evidence of when the deceased last ate?" "He hasn't had lunch, if that's what you mean. He hasn't had solid food for at least four hours." "Thank you, Mr. Rigg. That's the question, I think." Then the coroner looked around and said: "The inquest will be postponed for two weeks, to September 28th." The inquest was over and the crowd began to leave the courtroom.Most of the young ladies from the Cavendish Society came to participate, and Ina Brant hesitated a little when she was about to go out through the side door.The Cavendish Society was not required to work this morning, and Maureen West, another lady who was with her, said to her:

"What's the matter, Ina? Shall we go to Bluebird for lunch? There's a lot of time. You must have plenty of time." "I don't have as much time as you," Yi Na said in a slightly aggrieved voice, "'Red Cat' asked me to take the first shift to eat. It's mean. I thought I would have more time to go shopping." "Like a real cat," Maureen said. "It's mean, isn't it? Work starts at two o'clock in the afternoon and everybody's going to be there. Are you looking for someone?" "I was looking for Shera, but I didn't see her come out."

"She left earlier," Maureen said. "She got her certificate and left, with a young man—I didn't see him pushing. Are you coming?" Yi Na still hesitated and said, "You go first—I have to go shopping anyway." Maureen left with the other girls.Ina lingered for a while, finally mustered up the courage, and nervously asked a young policeman standing at the entrance. "Can I go in again?" she said timidly. "I want to speak to—and the man who came to our office—inspector who is called." "Inspector Hardcastle?" "Yes, the one who testified in court."

"This—" The young policeman poked his head into the courtroom and saw the inspector discussing matters with the coroner and the county police chief. "Miss, he seems to be very busy now," he said, "will you come back to the bureau later? Or do you want to leave a message...is there something urgent?" "Oh, it's not really important," Ina said, "it's—ah—it's just that I don't think her words are true, because I mean..." She frowned puzzled and turned away. open. She left the Valley Market in a daze, and walked along the "High Street", her brows still furrowed, trying to think hard.Yi Na has never been a person who is good at thinking. The more she tries to think clearly, the more confused she becomes.

She suddenly said loudly, "It can't be like that...things can't be like what she said..." Suddenly, as if determined, she turned off "High Street" and walked along Albany Road in the direction of Wilbraham Lane. Ever since the newspaper reported the homicide at No. 19, Wilbraham Lane, many people gathered in front of the house every day, wanting to see what happened.On the first day, the police sent someone to stand guard there to guide the crowd. As a result, the number of people decreased a lot, but they still haven't disappeared completely.The cars passing by would always slow down, and the woman pushing the baby carriage would stop for four or five minutes on the opposite sidewalk, with wide eyes, as if watching Miss Pebmarsh's tidy house.Housewives shopping, baskets in hand, greedy eyes, stopped to exchange delighted gossip.

"That house—once someone was . . . " "The body is in the living room... no, I think the living room is in the front, the step to the left..." "The grocer told me it was the one on the right." "Well, maybe it is. I have been to the house at No. 19. I remember it very clearly. The dining room is on the right and the living room is on the left..." "It doesn't look like there was a murder at all...is it?" "I believe that the girl ran out of the house. She screamed all the way, and her soul must have been frightened..." "It is said that she was a little bit mentally..." "Everyone said that the man entered through the broken window at the back. He was busy putting the silver into the bag when the girl bumped in and found him..." "The poor owner is blind, poor. So, of course she doesn't know what's going on." "Hey, she wasn't at home then..." "Oh, I thought she was. I thought she was upstairs, and I heard voices, ah, no, I've got to go to the street." Conversations such as these are constantly available to be heard at any time.As if attracted by a magnet, all kinds of people came to Wilbraham Lane, stopped, stared, and walked away.There must be some kind of satisfaction in the human heart. Yi Na's heart was still full of emotions——walking, walking, she found herself in the middle of five or six people, who were enjoying the pleasure of watching the district house. Yi Na has always been used to following others, and she also looks after her. This is the house where the murder happened!The neat curtains hung down in front of the window, looking so beautiful, but a man was killed inside.Killed with a kitchen knife.An ordinary knife.Kitchen knives that almost every household has... Ina was fascinated by the behavior of the people around her, she also stared and stopped thinking... She has almost forgotten why she came here... Suddenly, a voice rang in her ear, which made her jump. She turned her head and looked, her face full of astonishment.