Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

Calgary and Hu Xu looked at each other.Calgary saw what he considered the most depressing and gloomy man he had ever seen.He seemed so hopeless that Calgary felt that Inspector Hush's career was probably a long list of failures. Later, he was surprised to find that Inspector Hu Xu was extremely successful in his career.Hu Xu saw a thin, early-haired man with a slightly hunched back, a sensitive face and a particularly attractive smile. "I'm afraid you don't know who I am," began Calgary. "Oh, we know all about you, Dr. Calgary," Hush said. "You're Cheng Yaojin who came out halfway to make Argyle's case weird." A rather unexpected smile now floated on the corner of his distressed mouth.

"Then you can't take a liking to me," said Calgary. "It's not unusual," Inspector Hu Xu said. "It seemed like a clear case at the time, and no one could blame it. But these things happen," he continued. "It's God who tests us, my old mother used to say. We don't hold grudges, Dr. Calgary. After all, we stand for justice, don't we?" "I've always believed that and I continue to believe that," Calgary said. "We deny justice to no one," he murmured softly. "Magna Carta," Inspector Hush said. "Yes," said Calgary, "I was quoted by Miss Tina Argyle."

Chief Inspector Hu Xu raised his eyebrows. "Really. You surprised me. That lady, I don't think, is all that keen on helping to move the wheel of justice." "Why do you say that?" asked Calgary. "Frankly," Hush said, "in order to keep the news. There's no doubt about it." "Why?" asked Calgary. "Oh, it's a family matter," Hu Xu said. "The family sticks together. But what do you want to see me for?" he continued. "I need information," said Calgary. "About the Argyle case?" "Yes, I know it must seem to you that I'm nosy—"

"Oh, it's your business in that respect, isn't it?" "Ah, sure you understand. Yes. I feel responsible. Responsible for causing trouble." "You can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs, as the French say." Hu Xu said. "There's something I want to know," Calgary said. "for example?" "I'd like to know a little more about Jack Argyle." "About Jack Argyle. Well, I didn't expect you to say that." "He has a bad record, I know that," Calgary said. "I want some details on the record."

"Oh, that's easy enough," Hush said. "Twice he was on probation. Another time, for misappropriation of public funds, and if he hadn't paid it back on time, he would have been doomed." "Young offenders of the new school, in fact?" asked Calgary. "Exactly, sir," Hush said. "Not a murderer, as you've made us understand, but a lot of other things. No big deal, remember. He didn't have the brains or guts to do a big crime. Just a petty crime. Stealing money from the counter, defrauding Defrauding women of their money." "And he's good at that," Calgary said. "I mean, cheating women's money."

"And the road is safe," said Chief Inspector Hush. "Women are easy prey for him. He usually targets middle-aged or older women. You'd be surprised how many women there are." Easy to deceive. He makes up a beautiful lie to make them believe that he loves them, and if women want to believe there's nothing they can't believe." "And then?" asked Calgary. Hu Xu shrugged. "Well, they get disillusioned sooner or later. But they don't sue, you know. They don't want to tell the world they've been cheated. Yes, it's a pretty safe road."

"Any record of blackmail?" Calgary asked. "What we know is no," Hush said. "Remember, I don't think he can't. Not big blackmail, I suppose. Just a hint, maybe. Letters, stupid letters. Things their husbands wouldn't like to know. He could make that Women dare not speak." "I understand," said Calgary. "You just want to know this?" Hu Xu asked. "There's another Argyle family I haven't seen," said Calgary, "the eldest daughter." "Ah, Mrs. Durant." "I've been to her house, but the door was closed. They told me she and her husband were out."

"They're in Sunny Point." "Still there?" "Yes. He wants to stay. Mr. Durant," Hush added, "is doing a little detective work, as far as I understand." "He's a lame man, isn't he?" "Yes, polio, sad. He's got nothing to kill, poor guy. That's why he's so eager to investigate this murder. And thinks he has a clue." "Have you?" asked Calgary. Hu Xu shrugged. "Maybe," he said. "He's got a better chance than us, you know. He knows the family, and he's a very intelligent, intuitive guy."

"Do you think he'll find out anything?" "Maybe," Hu Xu said, "but if he finds out, he won't tell us. They will just let their family know." "Do you yourself know who is guilty, Inspector?" "You shouldn't be asking me that, Dr. Calgary." "It means you do know?" "I always think I know something," Hu Xu said slowly, "but if you can't find evidence, there's nothing you can do, right?" "And it's impossible for you to find the evidence you want?" "Oh! We are very patient," Hu Xu said. "We'll keep trying."

"What will happen to them if you don't succeed?" Calgary said, leaning forward. "Have you ever thought about that?" "That's what worries you, isn't it, sir?" "They had to know," Calgary said. "Anyway, they must know." "You don't think they do know?" Calgary shook his head. "No," he said slowly, "that's where the tragedy lies." "Oh," said Maureen Craig, "it's you again!" "I'm very sorry to bother you again," said Calgary. "Oh, but you're not bothering me at all. Come in, I'm off today."

This Calgary had found out, and that was why he was here. "I think Joey will be right back," Maureen said. "I haven't seen anything about Jack in the papers. I mean since saying he's been pardoned, asked some questions in Parliament, and said it's pretty obvious he didn't do it. But no more reports to the police What's going on and who actually did it. Can't they find out?" "You yourself still don't know?" "Uh, I really don't know," Maureen said. "Though, I wouldn't be surprised if it was another bro. Very weird and grumpy, he. Joey saw him driving people around in his car sometimes. He worked for Bance Group, you know. He Pretty good-looking, but very bad-tempered, I think. Joey got a rumor that he was going to the Persian Gulf or something, and that looked bad, I thought, don't you think?" "I don't see any harm in that, Mrs. Craig." "Oh, that's one of the places the police can't find you, isn't it?" "You think he's trying to escape?" "He probably felt compelled to escape." "I suppose that's what people say," said Arthur Calgary. "There were a lot of rumors flying around," Maureen said. "They say there's a problem between the husband and the secretary. But if it's the husband I think he's more likely to poison her. That's what they usually do, don't they?" "Well, you've seen more movies than I have, Mrs. Craig." "I didn't really watch the screen," Maureen said. "If you worked there, you'd be sick of the movies. Ah, Joey's back." Joey Craig was also surprised and probably not too happy to see Calgary.They talked for a while and then Calgary talked about the purpose of the trip. "I don't know," he said, "would you mind giving me a name and an address?" He writes carefully in a notebook. She was about fifty, he thought, a heavy woman who had never been pretty.She had nice eyes, though, brown, benevolent eyes. "Oh, really, Dr. Calgary—" She was suspicious, uneasy. "Oh, really; I'm sure I don't know..." He leaned forward and, as best as he could, dispelled her reluctance, reassured her, and made her feel his deep sympathy. "It was so long ago," she said. "I—I really don't want to think about—those things." "I really know that," Calgary said, "and it's not about going public. I really assure you of that." "You said you wanted to write a book about it?" "It's just a book about a certain type of personality," Calgary said. "Interesting, you know, from a medical or psychological point of view. No names, just Mr. A and Mrs. B and the like." "You've been to the South Pole, haven't you?" she said suddenly. He was surprised by her sudden change of subject. "Yes," he said, "yes, I'm going with the Hayes Bentley expedition." Blood came to her face.She looked younger, and for a moment he saw what a young girl she might have been. "I read a lot... I've always been fascinated by anything to do with the poles, you know. The Norwegian, didn't he, Amundsen, he went there first? Or man-made satellites, or going to the moon or something like that is much more exciting." He took the cue and started talking to her about the expedition.Strange that her romantic interest should fall on polar exploration, she sighed at last: "It's great to hear it all from someone who's actually been there," she continued. "You want to know—everything about Jack?" "yes." "You won't use my name or something?" "Of course not. I told you. You know how this kind of book is written. Mrs. C and Miss Ding. Something like that." "Yes. Yes, I read that kind of book--and I think it's like you said, sick--sick--" "Sick," he said. "Yeah, Jack is a really sick example. He can be so sweet, you know," she said. "It's wonderful, him. He'll say things and you'll believe every word." "He might be real," said Calgary. "I'm old enough to be your mother, I've always said to him, and he'd say he doesn't like young girls, rough, he's always said them, he's always said experienced and mature women are what attracts him." "Does he love you very much?" said Calgary. "He said yes, he looked as if..." Her lips quivered. "And I think all he's ever wanted is money." "Not necessarily," said Calgary, trying to hide the fact as best he could. "He might actually be attracted, you know. It's just—he just can't help it." The sad face of the middle-aged woman became brighter. "Yes," she said, "it feels better to think that way. Oh, that's all. We used to make plans; we'd go to France together, or Italy, if one of his plans worked out. Just a little money, he Say." Ordinary tricks, thought Calgary, and wondered how many poor women had been duped. "I don't know what possessed me," she said. "I'd do anything for him - anything." "I'm sure you will," said Calgary. "Maybe," she said bitterly, "I'm not the only one." Calgary stood up. "It's very kind of you to tell me all this," he said. "Now he's dead...but I'll never forget him. His monkey face! He looks so sad and then smiles. Oh, he has a way. He's not all bad, I believe him Not all badass." She looked at him expectantly. But Calgary did not answer this point.