Chapter 28 Chapter Twenty Eight

I hurried down the village streets.It was already eleven o'clock at night.At eleven o'clock on a Sunday night, the whole village of St. Mary Mead was dead silent.However, I saw a light on the first floor of a building on the way, and knowing that Howes was still awake, I stopped and rang the doorbell. After what seemed a long time, Howes's landlady, Mrs. Sadler, with difficulty undid two latches, a door chain, turned the key, and peered at me suspiciously. "Oh, it's the priest!" she cried. "Good evening," I said, "I want to see Mr. Howes. I see a light in the window, and I guess he's still up."

"Maybe that's the case. I haven't seen him since I brought him supper. He had a quiet night when no one came to see him and he didn't go out." I nodded, walked past her, and walked quickly up the stairs again.On the second floor, Howes has a bedroom and living room. I go into the living room.Howes was sleeping on a bench.I went in without waking him.Beside him, there was an empty cardboard box and half a glass of water. On the floor, next to his left foot, was a crumpled piece of paper with some words on it. I picked it up and unfolded it. It read: "Dear Claremont—"

I read it once and couldn't help but let out an exclamation.Then I leaned over to Howes and studied him carefully. Then I reached for the phone at his elbow and asked for the parsonage number.Melchett must have been trying to track down the call, because the telephone company told me the number was busy.After I asked them to call me back, I put down the phone. I reached into my pocket and took out the note I had just picked up.Then, I took out the letter I found in the mailbox, which was still unopened. The letter looks very familiar.It was written in the same handwriting as the anonymous letter sent that afternoon.

I tore open the letter. I read it once, twice, but I still can't figure out what the letter is about. I was reading the third chapter when the phone rang.I picked up the microphone with a dazed expression and spoke: "Hey?" "Hey." "Melchett, is that you?" "Yes, where are you? I've tracked down the phone. The number is . . . I know the number." "Oh, well, are you talking there?" "yes." "What about the confession?" "no problem." "You mean, have you found the murderer?" At this time, I was under the strongest temptation of my life.I looked at the scribbled strokes of the anonymous letter.I looked at the empty cardboard box with the word "Angel" on it.I recall a casual conversation.

I tried to calm down. "I—don't know," I said, "you'd better come here." I gave him the address. Then, sitting in the chair facing Howes, I thought. I have a full two minutes to do this. In two minutes, Melchett will be there. I took out the anonymous letter and read it for the third time. Then, I closed my eyes and thought about it...