Chapter 31 Section 9

"I have a question for you, Doctor," Barto said. They had a brief conversation at the doctor's house with Jane Barrett, who had just returned from the nursing home. Barrett was weak and tired, but her words were quite clear. When Mrs. Trixilian rang the bell, she had just finished her juice and was about to go to bed.She glanced at the clock—twenty-five past ten. She put on her nightgown and went downstairs. She heard voices in the hall downstairs and looked from under the banister. "It's Mr. Neville going out. He's taking his raincoat off the coat rack."

"What kind of clothes is he wearing?" "His gray pinstripe suit. He looked very worried and sullen. He threw on the raincoat casually and went out and slammed the front door behind him. I went on to the lady's room. She looked very dull, And don't remember why she rang for me--she often doesn't, poor lady. But I made her pillow, and got her a glass of water, and made her comfortable." "She doesn't seem disturbed or afraid of anything?" "Just tired. I was tired myself. I kept yawning. I went upstairs and fell asleep right away." Such were the words of Barrett, and it seemed impossible to doubt the sincerity of her grief and terror upon learning of her mistress' death.

They go back to Larenbi's house, and Bhatto declares that he has a question to ask. "Ask," Larenby said. "When do you think Mrs. Trixilian died?" "I told you. Between ten and midnight." "I know that. But it's not my question. I'm asking your opinion?" "Not on the record, eh?" "yes." "Good. About eleven o'clock, I guess." "That's exactly what I want you to say," Barto said. "Happy to oblige. Why?" "I never thought she was killed before ten-twenty. Think of the anesthesia Barrett was given - it hadn't taken effect then. That means the murder took place much later - I personally think it was midnight."

"Possibly. Eleven is just a guess." "But it can't be past midnight at the latest, right?" "impossible." "It can't be after two-thirty?" "God, it's impossible." "Oh, it seems that Shi Chunji has been cleared of the suspicion. But I still need to check his whereabouts after he left the house. If he is telling the truth, then his charges will be cleared, and we can continue to track down others." "Other inheritors?" Li Qi asked. "Maybe," Bardo said, "I don't think so, though. I'm looking for someone with a quirk."

"Eccentricity?" "Bad eccentricity." After they left the doctor's they came to the ferry, which was oarsed by two brothers, Will and George Baths.The Bathers brothers knew everyone in Yanpu and most of the faces from Dongtouwan.When George was asked, he immediately replied that Mr. Shi Chunji from "Gull Cape" boarded the boat at 10:30 last night.He did not drive Mr. Shi Chunji back again.The last one came from Dongtouwan at 1:30, and Mr. Shi Chunji was not on board. Barto asked him if he knew Mr. Latimer. "Latimer? Latimer? Tall, handsome young man? Coming over to Gull Point from that hotel over there? Yes, I know him. Didn't see him last night, though. He was here this morning." Come here. Go back on the next boat."

They got on the ferry and went to the Dongtouwan Hotel on the opposite bank. They found Mr. Latimer, who had just returned from the opposite bank.He came back on the ferry that was one flight ahead of them. Mr. Latimer was eager to help in any way he could. "Yes, Neville came over here last night. Looked melancholy. Tell me he had a quarrel with the old lady. I heard he had a quarrel with Kay too, but of course he didn't tell me that." .Anyway, he was a little discouraged, and seemed suddenly quite happy to be with me." "As far as I know, didn't he find you as soon as he came?"

Latimer sternly said: "I don't know why. I just sat in the lounge. Shi Chunji said he looked there but didn't see me, but he wasn't concentrating. Or maybe I went out for a walk in the garden. I always try to stay outside as much as possible. This hotel smells really bad. Noticed it in the bar room last night. I think it's a drain problem! Shi Chunji also mentioned it! We all smell it, a terrible rancid smell, probably the pool room floor There's a dead mouse down there." "You play pool, and then what?" "Oh, we talked a little bit, had a drink or two. Then Neville said: 'Ah, I missed the ferry.' So I said I'll drive him back and we'll be there about two-thirty."

"So Mr. Shi Chunji was with you all night?" "Oh yes. Ask anyone and they'll tell you." "Thank you, Mr. Latimer, we must be careful." When they parted from the smiling, composed young man, Leech said: "What is the purpose of such careful investigation of Neville Springer's whereabouts?" Batu smiled slightly.Li Qi suddenly understood. "My God, you're looking for another one. So that's what you thought." "It's too early," said Bartow, "I just need to know exactly where Mr. Ted Latimer was last night. We know it's been from fifteen past eleven--let's say midnight-- He was with Neville Springer. But where was he before—when Springer came here and couldn't find him?"

They continued to investigate persistently—asking the bartender, the younger brother, the elevator attendant, and so on.Latimer was in the drawing room between nine and ten.Ten fifteen in the bar.But thereafter until eleven twenty, he seemed to disappear without a trace.A waitress said afterwards that Mr. Latimer was "in a little office with Mrs. Beddoes, a stout lady from the North." When I asked her the time, she said she thought it was about eleven o'clock. "This is fucked up," Barto said gloomily. "He's right here. He just doesn't want to be noticed that he's with his fat lady friend (definitely a rich rich lady). Now we It had to start with the others—the servants, Kay Schunk, Audrey Schunk, Mary Odin, and Thomas Lloyd. One of them killed the old lady, but, who One? If we can find the actual murder weapon—”

He stopped, then slapped his thigh hard. "There, James, my good nephew! Now I know what reminds me of Hercule Poirot. Let's have some lunch, and then go back to Gull's Point, and I'll show you something. "