Chapter 20 Chapter Nineteen

Professor Purdy stopped dictating and picked up the receiver. "Who? What's the matter? You say someone else's here? Well, ask him if he can to-morrow?—oh, well—well—teach him up." "There's always something," he said displeasedly. "How do you teach a man to be good." He said to Sheila Webb, "Where are we, my dear?" Just as Sheila was about to answer, there was a knock on the door.Professor Purdy struggled to bring himself back to reality from more than thirty years ago. "Who is it?" he asked petulantly. "Oh, come in, what's the matter? I told them not to be disturbed this afternoon."

"I am very sorry, sir, but it is absolutely necessary. Good night, Miss Wilbur." Sheila Webb stood up and put down the blotter.Hardcastle wondered if he was imagining it, and he saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. "Hey, what's the matter?" said the professor coldly. "I am Inspector Hardcastle." "Ok." "Hope to have a few words with Miss Wilbur." "Could you wait a minute? It's such an unlucky time that we're getting to something important, and we'll be done in about fifteen minutes—oh, maybe half an hour. That's about it, oh shit, it's been six Do you want to pull?"

"I'm very sorry, Professor Purdy." Hardcastle's voice was hard. "Well, all right, all right. What's the matter?—Is it a traffic violation? These traffic cops are a little too attentive. The other day, one insisted that I hadn't put in a coin for four and a half hours. I'm sure that It's impossible." "Sir, this is more serious than illegal parking." "Oh, yes. Oh, yes. You don't have a car, do you? Honey." He looked at Sheila dubiously.Wilbur said, "Yeah, I remember, you came by bus. Well, Inspector. What's the matter?"

"It's about a girl named Ina Brant," he said, turning to Sheila Webb. "I think you've heard." She glared at him.Beautiful eyes, orange-blue pupils.reminds him of someone. "You mean Ina Brant?" she raised her eyebrows. "Oh, of course I know her. What's the matter with her?" "I don't think you know. Where did you dine at noon, Miss Wilbur?" A blush flew up her cheeks. "You didn't go back to the office after dinner, did you?" "You mean back to the Cavendish Society? I called back, and they told me that Professor Purdy was busy and asked me to come directly at half past two."

"That's right," said the professor, nodding. "At two-thirty, we've been working since then. My God, we've been working until now. I should have called tea, Miss Wilbur. I'm so sorry you missed your afternoon tea." , you should remind me." "Oh, it's okay, please don't mind." "What a fool," said the professor, "what a fool! Oh, I shouldn't have interrupted your conversation, the Inspector has some questions for you." "So you don't know what happened to Ina Brant?" "Did she have an accident?" Sheila couldn't help raising her voice. "She had an accident? What do you mean? She had an accident, or—was run over by a car?"

"It's really dangerous, the car is driving so fast." The professor stepped in. "Yes," said Hardcastle, "something happened to her." He paused, and then said flatly, "She was hanged in the telephone box about half-past twelve." "In the phone booth?" The professor showed interest. Sheila Webb said nothing, just stared at him.The mouth was slightly opened, and the eyes were wide open. "Are you really never heard of this, or are you good at acting?" Hardcastle thought in his heart. "My God," said the professor, "to be hanged in a telephone box is horrible, grotesque! If it were me, I would not choose such a place. Absolutely not, oh, poor girl. Too Unfortunately."

"Ina—killed! Why?" "Did you know? Miss Wilbur, Ina Brant was anxious to see you the day before yesterday, so she ran to your aunt's house and waited for you for a while." "It was my fault again," said the professor apologetically. "I kept Miss Wilbur too late that night. Too late indeed. I am so sorry. You must remind me often, my dear. must." "My aunt told me that," Sheila said, "but I don't know she's coming to me for something important. Is there something wrong with Ina?" "We don't know," said the inspector. "I'm afraid we'll never know unless you tell us?"

"I tell you? How would I know?" "You may know a little why Ina Brant wants to see you." She shook her head and said, "I don't know anything—none at all." "She didn't mention anything to you, didn't she give you any hints in the office?" "No. She didn't—no—I was out of the office all day yesterday, and I was at a client in Landys Bay." "Don't you know that she has troubles in her heart recently?" "Oh, Ina's all about worrying, she's very—how should I put it?—lack of self-confidence, she's always wandering off. I mean, she's never quite sure if what she's thinking or doing is right or wrong. Once, she typed out two full pages of Le Wen's book. She didn't remember until after the book was mailed out, which made her worry so much that she didn't know what to do."

"I see. So she asked you what to do?" "Yes, I told her she'd better let him know, because people don't go to school so soon. She could write to him and tell him what happened, and ask him not to complain to Miss Martindale. But she didn't, She doesn't like doing that." "Usually she comes to you with a question, 'Isn't she?" "Oh. Yes, but the problem is that she doesn't take my advice every time, so she gets confused again." "Because it's natural for her to come to you whenever she has a problem? Does it happen often?"

"Yes, often." "Do you think this meeting is a serious matter?" "I don't think so. What's the serious problem with her?" The Inspector wondered if Sheila Webb was as innocent as she appeared to be. "I don't know what she's going to talk to me about," she went on, faster than before.And gasped: "I don't know, and I don't understand why she came to my aunt's house to talk to me" "I think, maybe it's because she doesn't want to talk to you in society? Could it be because there were other girls there? Or, did she think it was a secret between you and her? It might have something to do with the case?"

"I don't think that's likely. I'm sure it can't be." She panted faster. "So you can't help me, Miss Wilbur?" "I can't help it, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Yi Na, but what I know can't help you?" "Perhaps it has something to do with what happened on September 9th?" "You mean—the man—the man in Wilbraham Lane" "That's exactly what I mean." "How? What does Ina know about that?" "Maybe not a big deal," the Inspector said, "but it's always relevant and helpful. Anything, no matter how small." Albham Lane. Do you understand, Miss Wilbur?" "I don't understand anything," "Did you go to Wilbraham Lane today?" "No, I didn't," she said vehemently, "I didn't go. It's getting more and more terrifying to me, I wish I'd never been there, I wish I hadn't been involved with all this. Why did they specifically call Me? Why was Yi Na killed near there? You must find out, Inspector, you must. Must!" "We must find the murderer, Miss Wilbur," said the Inspector, every word. "I assure you." "My dear, you're shaking," said Professor Purdy. "I see, I see you really need a glass of sherry."