Chapter 37 Section 15

Mary Odin was lying on the sofa in the living room.She has a headache and feels tired all over. The investigative court was held yesterday, and after the formal confrontation, it was postponed for a week. Mrs Trixilian's funeral will be held tomorrow.Audrey and Kay drove to Saldingtown to buy some black mourning clothes.Ted Latimer went with them.Neville and Thomas Lloyd were out for a walk, so Mary was, so to speak, alone, apart from the servants. It is also a great relief that Chief Inspector Baduo and Inspector Li Qi are not here today.For Mary, their absence was a shadow removed.They were polite and quite kind, but the endless questions, the quiet and understated probing, were all too much to bear.Now the chief inspector with the wooden carved face should have known every big and small thing that happened here in the past ten days, every word that everyone said, and even every gesture.

Now, once they're gone, everything calms down.Mary let herself relax.She was going to forget everything—everything.Just lay there and rest. "I'm sorry, ma'am—" Hastor stood in the aisle with an apologetic expression on his face. "What's the matter, Hastor?" "There is a man who wants to see you. I invited him to the study." Mary looked at him a little startled and uneasy. "who is it?" "He said he was Mr. Mark White, Miss." "I haven't heard of him." "Yes, miss." "Must be a journalist. You shouldn't have let him in, Hustow."

Hastor coughed lightly. "I don't think he's a reporter, miss. I think he's a friend of Miss Audrey's." "Oh, that's different." Mary fixed her hair and walked wearily down the hall into the little study.She was a little surprised when the tall man standing by the window turned around.He didn't look at all like he'd be Audrey's friend. Yet she said kindly: "Sorry, Mrs. Shi Chunji is out. Do you want to see her?" He looked at her thoughtfully. "You're Miss Odin?" he said. "yes." "Maybe you can help me too. I want to find some rope."

"Rope?" Mary said amusedly. "Yes. Rope. Where might you have put the rope?" Later Mary thought she was half-hypnotized.If the strange man offered any explanation of his own accord, she might reject him.But Andrew Markwhite, unable to think of any reasonable explanation, very wisely decided not to give any explanation.He just said what he wanted fairly simply and bluntly.She found herself in a semi-conscious state, leading Mark White to find the rope. "What kind of rope?" she asked. He replied: "Any rope will do." She said suspiciously: "Maybe there's—"

She leads the way.There was twine and a length of rope, but Mark White shook his head, What he wanted was a whole bundle of rope. "The pantry," said Mary hesitantly. "Ah, maybe there is." They went back into the house and went upstairs.Mary pushed open the pantry door.Mark White stood in the aisle, looking in.He sighed with satisfaction. "Yes," he said. A large bundle of rope was in a wooden box just inside the door, along with old fishing gear and some bug-eaten chair cushions.With one hand on her arm, he nudged her forward until they stood looking down at the bundle of ropes.He touched the rope and said,

"I want you to remember this well, Miss Odin. You can see that everything around here is covered with a layer of dust. Only this bundle of rope is free of dust. You can feel it." she says: "It's a little damp to the touch," the voice sounded surprised. "exactly." He turned to leave. "But the rope? I thought you wanted it?" Mary said in surprise. Mark White smiled slightly. "I just wondered if there was such a bundle of rope, that's all. Maybe you don't mind locking the door, Miss Odin - and take the key with you? Well. If you give the key to Inspector Barteau or Lee Inspector Strange, I'd appreciate it. Best to leave it to them."

Mary did her best to regain consciousness as they descended the stairs. When they reached the hall, she protested: "But, really, I don't understand—" "You don't have to understand," he took her hand and shook it enthusiastically. "I really appreciate your cooperation." After speaking, he walked out the front door directly. Neville and Thomas came in shortly afterwards, and the car came back later, and Mary Odin found herself envious of Kay and Tad being quite pleasant.The two of them talked and laughed together.After all, why not?she thinks.Lady Carmela Tricilian was nothing to Kaye.This tragic event was too much for a young and beautiful person to bear.

They had just finished their lunch when police officers arrived.Hurstow announced in a slightly startled voice that Inspector Barto and Inspector Rich were in the living room. When Chief Inspector Ba Tuo greeted them, he had a very friendly expression on his face. "I hope I don't bother you," he said apologetically, "but I want to know one or two things. For instance, whose glove is it?" He took it out, a small yellow chamois leather glove. He said to Audrey: "Is it yours, Mrs. Schunji?" She shook her head. "No—no, not mine." "Miss Odin?"

"I don't think so. I don't have gloves of that color." "May I see if it's okay?" Kai held out his hand. "not mine." "Maybe you can wear it." Kay tried it on, but the glove was too small. "Miss Odin?" Mary tried it on. "It's too small," Barto said.He turned to Audrey: "I think you'll find it's just right for you. Your hands are smaller than the other two ladies." Audrey took it and put it on her right hand. Neville Springer said suddenly: "She told you it wasn't her glove, Bardo."

"Ah," Barto said, "maybe she misread it, or forgot." Audrey said: "This could be mine - gloves all look alike, don't they?" Bato said: "Anyhow, it was found outside your room window, Mrs. Schunji, stuffed in the ivy—both were there." There was a pause.Audrey opened her mouth to speak for a long time, then closed it again.Her eyes were lowered under the Inspector's direct gaze. Neville leaped forward. "Listen, Inspector—" "Maybe, we can talk to you in private, Mr. Shi Chunji?" Baduo said seriously. "Of course, Inspector. Go to the study."

He took the lead, and the two officers followed him. As soon as the study door closed, Neville said sharply: "What do you mean the glove is outside my wife's window?" Ba Tuo said calmly, "Mr. Shi Chunji, we found some strange things in this room." Neville frowned. "Strange? What do you mean by weird?" "I'll show you." He nodded, and Li Qi left the study. When he came back, he had a very strange instrument in his hand. Bato said: "As you can see, sir, it contained a steel ball from the railing—a heavy steel ball. The head of a tennis racket was sawn off, and the ball was screwed to the Racquet in hand." He paused. "I have no doubt that this is the weapon used to kill Mrs. Trixilian." "Terrible!" Neville trembled. "Where did you find this—this dreadful thing?" "The steel ball was wiped clean and put back on the guard rail. However, the murderer was negligent and missed the screw on the steel ball. We found blood on the screw. Similarly, the tennis racket head and handle were rebuilt with surgical tape. glued together, and thrown in a cupboard under the stairs with so many other tennis rackets that no one would have noticed had we not happened to be looking for them." "You're so clever, Inspector." "It's just a routine thing." "No fingerprints, I suppose?" "The racket, by the weight of it, belonged to Mrs. Kay Schunkie, who took it as well as you, and has your fingerprints on it. But it also shows signs of being worn after you two. The glove touched it, unmistakably. There was only a third person's fingerprint on it--inadvertently this time, I think. It was on the tape used to reglue the racket. I won't say who that was at the moment fingerprints. I have a few more things to mention first." Ba Tuo paused, and then said: "I want you to prepare yourself for a shock, Mr. Schunk. Now I want to ask you a question. Are you sure that this meeting is your own idea and not Mrs. Audrey Schunk. ?” "Audrey didn't do this kind of thing. Audrey—" The door opened and Tomato Lloyd walked in. "Sorry to bother you," he said, "but I thought I'd join in." Neville turned to him, a troubled look on his face. "May I ask you out, old friend? It's a private matter." "Sorry, I can't control that much. You know, I heard you mention a name outside." He paused. "Audrey's name." "What does Audrey's name have to do with you?" Neville asked angrily. "Oh, what about you, what does it have to do with you? I haven't told Audrey explicitly, but I'm here to ask her to marry me, and I think she knows. Besides, I really want to marry her .” Chief Inspector Baduo coughed.Neville turned to him alertly. "Sorry, Inspector General. This interruption—" Bato said: "I don't care, Mr. Chunji. I have another question for you. On the night of the murder, there were blond hairs on the shoulders and collar of the dark blue suit jacket you wore to dinner. Do you know if those hairs were How did you get it?" "I think it's my hair." "Smell, no, not your hair, sir. It's the lady's hair. And there's a red hair on the sleeve." "I think that's my wife's—Kay's. As for the others, you mean Audrey's? Probably. I caught cufflinks in her hair one night out on the balcony, and I Remember. "According to this," Inspector Leech murmured, "the hair should be on the cuff." "What the hell are you implying?" cried Neville. "There's powder on the collar," Barto said. "Natural No. 1—a brand-name powder with an amazing scent and an expensive price—don't tell me you use that, Mr. Schunk, because I won't believe you. And Mrs. Kay Schunk uses a Lan Yang. Audrey Schunji does use Natural No. 1." "What are you implying?" Neville repeated. Ba Tuo leaned forward. "I was implying that Mrs. Audrey Schunkie wore that coat at one point. That's the only reasonable explanation for hair and powder on it. Besides, you've seen what I've just shown you Gloves, right? It's hers. That was just the right hand, and this is the left hand—" He pulled it out of his pocket and put it on the table.The glove was wrinkled and stained with dark brown spots. Neville said in a slightly frightened voice, "What's up there?" "Blood, Mr. Schunk," Barto said firmly, "and you've noticed that it's left-handed. Mrs. Audrey Schunk is left-handed. When I saw her holding a coffee cup with her right hand at the breakfast table, I noticed it when I was holding a cigarette in my left hand. And the pen tray on the desk in her room was moved to the left. The dome ball on the fender of the fireplace in her room, the gloves outside the window in her room, and her hair on that coat And make-up powder, Mrs. Tricilian was hit on the right temple - but the position of the bed makes it impossible for anyone to stand there. That means it is very awkward to attack Mrs. Tricilian with the right hand - but for a left-handed person It’s the most natural thing to say.” Neville laughed disdainfully. "Are you implying that Audrey——Audrey would have made all the preparations to get the old lady's property and killed the old lady?" Ba Tuo shook his head. "I didn't mean that. I'm sorry, Mr. Schunji, but you have to know the facts. This case, from beginning to end. The arrow has been pointing at you. Since you left her, Audrey Schunji has held a grudge and wanted to find A chance for revenge. In the end she became a little unhinged. Maybe she had been mentally unstable. She might have thought of killing you, but that wasn't enough. She finally thought of having you hanged for murder. She chose The night she knew you had a quarrel with Mrs. Tricilian. She took that coat from your bedroom, put it on, and attacked Mrs. Tricilian so that it was stained with blood. She took your iron On the ground she knew we'd find your fingerprints on it while smearing blood and hair on the head of the club. She was the one who made you want to come here with her. And the only one who saved you was her One unforeseen event—that is, Mrs. Tricilian rings the bell to find Barrett, and Barrett sees you going out." Neville covered his face with his hands.He said: "It's not true. It's not true! Audrey never held a grudge against me. You're all mistaken. She's the most upright and honest person—no evil in her heart." Ba Tuo sighed. I don't want to argue with you, Mr. Shi Chunji.I just want you to be prepared.I will tell Mrs. Shi Chunji to pay attention and ask her to come with me.I've got a warrant for my arrest.You'd better find a way to get her a lawyer. " "Ridiculous. It's just ridiculous." "Love turns to hate more easily than you think, Mr. Shi Chunji." "I'm telling you it's all wrong—absurd." Thomas Lloyd interrupted, his voice calm and pleasant. "Stop talking nonsense, Neville. Be sober. Don't you understand that the only thing Xianzheng can do to help Audrey is to give up your medieval knight notions and tell the truth?" "The truth? You mean one by one" I mean the fact of Audrey and Adrian. Rowdy turned to the two officers. "You know, Inspector General, you got the facts wrong."Neville did not leave Audrey.It was she who left him.She ran away with my brother Adrian.Adrian was later killed in a car accident.Neville treated Audrey with the highest chivalry.He arranged for her to divorce him and take the blame himself. " "Don't want her reputation to be tarnished," Neville murmured morosely. "I don't know if anyone knows." "Adrian wrote to me, just before it happened," Thomas explained briefly.He continued: "Look, Chief Inspector, doesn't this take away your so-called motive! Audrey has no reason to hate Neville. On the contrary, she has every reason to be grateful to him. He also tried every means to get her to accept a Divorce alimony she refused. So when he asked her to come here to see Kay, she couldn't say no." "You see," said Neville eagerly, "that takes out her motives. Thomas was right." Batu's wooden face was unmoved. "The motive is just—one thing," he said. "Maybe I'm wrong about that, but the facts are another. All the facts point to her guilt." Neville said deliberately: "All the facts showed me guilty two days ago!" Barto seemed to back off a bit. "That's true, but, listen to me, Mr. Schunji, what you want me to believe is that you want me to believe that there is someone who hates both of you at the same time—someone, even if his plot is on your side." Failing that, you can still turn the arrow to Audrey Schunji, now can you think of anyone who hates you as well as your ex-wife, Mr. Schunji?" Neville's head dropped again, buried in the palm of his hand. "When you put it that way, it seems that this is too pretentious!" "Because it's just speculation. I've got to act on the facts. If Mrs. Schunji has any explanation—" "Did I have any explanation for that?" Neville asked. "It's useless, Mr. Shi Chunji. I have to perform my duties." Batu stood up abruptly.He and Richie left the room first, with Neville and Roydy following them. They crossed the hall, came to the living room, and stopped. Audrey Schunki stood up.She walked over to them.She looked directly at Ba Tuo, her lips were slightly parted, almost smiling. She said very softly: "You're looking for me, aren't you?" Baduo became very official. "Mrs. Schunji, I have here a warrant for arresting you for the murder of Camilla Tricilian last Monday, September 12th. I must remind you that anything you say will be censored." Record it and possibly use it as evidence at your trial." Audrey sighed.Her small, well-defined face was as calm and pure as a cameo shell. "It's been a relief. I'm glad it's — over!" Neville jumped up. "Audrey—don't say anything—don't open your mouth." She smiled at him. "But why not, Neville? It's true—I'm so tired." Li Qi took a deep breath.That's it.Crazy, of course, but saves me a lot of trouble!He wondered what had happened to his uncle.The old guy looked as if he had seen a ghost.He looked straight at the delirious woman, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.Ah, this is an interesting case, Li Qi thought with relief. Then, in a sudden climax, Hurstow opened the living room door and declared: "Mr. Mark White is here." Mark White stepped in with a purpose, and he went straight to Bartuo. "Are you the officer in charge of the Trixilian case?" he asked. "I'm." "Then I have something important to say to you. I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner, but the significance of something I happened to see last Monday night just came to my mind." He took a quick glance at everyone. "May I speak to you in private." Ba Tuo turned to Li Qi. "How are you and Mrs. Schunji here?" Li Qi said solemnly: "Yes, sir." Then he leaned forward and whispered something in the other's ear. Barto turned to Mark White. "follow me." He led the way into the study. "Well, what's the matter? My colleague told me he saw you before—last winter?" "Yes," Mark White said, "suicide attempt. That's part of what I'm saying." "Go on, Mr. Mark White." "Last January I tried to commit suicide by jumping off the head of a cliff. This year, I revisited the old place. I walked there on Monday night. I stood there for a while. I looked down at the sea, I saw East Head Bay, and then I looked to the left . Which means I see the house. I can see it quite well in the moonlight." "yes." "It didn't occur to me until today that that was the night the murder happened." He leans forward. "I'll tell you what I saw."