Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Accident

Rhoda said, "Annie." "Ok?" "No, Anne, don't play crossword puzzles and answer me casually. I want you to pay attention." "I'm very attentive." Annie straightened up and put down the paper. Ruda hesitated and said, "That makes sense. Listen, Anne, I'm going to talk about a visitor." "Inspector Bart?" "Yes, Anne, I want you to tell him—you were at the Bensons." Annie's tone became cold. "Bullshit, why should I tell him?" "Because—not to say it's like you're trying to hide something. I believe it's better to say it."

Annie said coldly, "I can't tell now." "I wish you'd said so in the first place." "Forget it, it's too late to worry about that now." "Yes." Luda didn't seem convinced. Anne said irritably, "I don't see why anyway. That has nothing to do with any of these things." "No, of course not." "I've only been there for two months. What he wants is -- reference -- material. Two months doesn't count." "I know it doesn't count. I guess I'm being stupid, but I'm definitely worried. I think you should speak up. You know, it's not good if people know about the dinner party - I mean it's not good to hide it ."

"I don't think anyone else will find out. Nobody knows about it but you." "No -- no one?" Annie heard Luda's hesitant tone, and attacked suddenly: "Oh, who knows?" Luda was silent for a while before saying, "Hey, everyone in Combieike City knows about it." Annie shrugged. "Oh, that! It's impossible for the Inspector to meet someone from yonder. If he did, it would be a coincidence." "Coincidents happen too." "Rhoda, that's what you love to bring up. Make a fuss, make a fuss, make a fuss." "Honey, I'm so sorry. You know, if the police think you're—covering something, it could be serious."

"They won't know. Who's going to tell them? Nobody knows that but you." It's the second time she's said it.The tone changed a little the second time—strange, contemplative reasoning. Luda sighed sadly: "Oh, I wish you had said that." She looked at Annie with apologetic eyes, but Annie didn't look at her.Annie sat frowning, as if conceiving a plan. "It's funny that Major Desper showed up," said Rhoda. "What? Oh, yes." "Annie, he's charming. If you don't like him, please, please, please let me!" "Don't bullshit, Rhoda. He doesn't care about me at all."

"Then why should he show up so often? He's taken a fancy to you. You're just the kind of wretched woman he likes to save. You look so helpless, Anne, and so beautiful." "He's as jovial as he is to us both." "That's his natural kindness. But if you don't want him, I can play the role of a sympathetic friend—comfort his broken heart, and you might get him in the end, who knows?" Rhoda said vulgarly. Anne laughed: "I believe you are quite popular with him." Ruda sighed, "He has a lovely nape, brick red and muscular." "Honey, do you have to be this disgusting?"

"Annie, do you like him?" "Well, I like it very much." "Aren't we serious and quiet? I think he likes me a little bit—not as much as you, but a little bit." "Oh, he really likes you," said Anne. Her tone was a little unusual again, but Rhoda didn't catch it. "When is our big detective coming?" she asked. "Eleven o'clock," said Anne, and she was silent for a minute or two before she said, "It's only ten-thirty. Let's go down to the river." "Did Despar say a lot that he was coming around eleven o'clock?"

"Why should we wait for him in the house? We could leave a message to Mrs. Estwell that we go that way, and he'll follow along the tugboat lane." Luda smiled and said: "Yes, Mother often said: Don't belittle yourself! Then let's go." She walked out of the room, through the garden door.Anne followed. About ten minutes later, Major Despar paid a visit to Vinton House.Knowing that he had come early, he was a little surprised to find that the two girls had gone out.He walked through the garden, across the moor, and turned right onto Tugboat Lane. Mrs. Estaway ignored the morning chores and stood watching him for a moment.

She said to herself: "He's taken a fancy to one of the girls. Miss Anne, I think, but I can't be sure. His expression doesn't give anything away. It's the same for both. I can't say whether they both like him." If so, their friendship would not be so close. A gentleman really shouldn't be caught between two ladies." Excited at the thought of helping a budding romance take shape, Mrs. Estaway turned back into the house to wash up the breakfast things when the doorbell rang again. Mrs. Estwell said, "Damn bell. They rang on purpose. I guess it was a package, or a telegram." She walked slowly towards the front door.

Two gentlemen stood at the door, a small foreign gentleman and a large Englishman.She remembered seeing the latter before. "Is Miss Meredith home?" asked the big man. Mrs. Estwell shook her head. "Just went out." "Really? Which way? We missed her." Mrs. Estaway, secretly eyeing another gentleman's startling mustache, thought the two friends really unsuitable, but she volunteered further information. "To the river," she explained. Another gentleman interrupted suddenly. "Where's the other lady? Miss Davis?" "They both went."

Bart said, "Oh, thank you. Let me see, which way leads to the river?" Mrs. Estwell immediately replied, "Turn left and walk down the alley. When you get to Tugboat Lane, go right." Adding kindly, "I heard them say this way. I can't get there." A quarter of an hour. You'll catch up to them in no time." She stared after them curiously, closed the door reluctantly, and said to herself, "I don't know who you two are, I can't remember." Mrs. Estevile went back to the kitchen sink, Bart and Poirot turned left first--take a winding alley, and after the alley, turn to the tugboat lane.

Poirot hurried forward, and Bart eyed him curiously. "Mr. Poirot, what's the matter? You seem to be in a hurry." "That's the truth. My friend, I feel uneasy." "Any sign in particular?" Poirot shook his head. "No, but there is a possibility. Who knows?" Bart said, "You've got something on your mind. You couldn't waste a minute this morning trying to get us here--seriously, you got Sergeant Turner on full throttle! What the hell are you afraid of? That girl has attacked pass." Poirot was silent. "What are you afraid of?" Bart asked again. "What are we usually afraid of in this situation?" Bart nodded. "You're right. Don't know—" "Don't know what, friend?" Bart said slowly, "I don't know if Miss Meredith knows that her friend has told Mrs. Oliver something." Poirot nodded his approval. "Quick, my friend," he said. They hurried along the river.There were no boats in sight from the water, and when they rounded a bend, Poirot stopped abruptly.Bart's sharp eyes saw it too.He said, "Major Despar." Major Despar was about two thousand yards from them, striding along the river.Not far away, two girls were sitting on a flat-bottomed boat on the water.Rhoda punted, and Anne lay laughing at her.Neither of them glanced toward the shore. And then -- it happened!Annie held out her hand, and Rhoda staggered overboard—clung to Annie's sleeve in desperation—the boat shook—and capsized, with both girls struggling in the water. Bart yelled as he ran, "See? Little Meredith grabbed her by the ankles and held her in the water. Jesus, it's her fourth murder!" The two of them ran desperately, but there was another person in front of them.Neither girl could swim obviously, and Despar darted down the path to the nearest spot, jumped into the water, and swam to them. "My God, that's interesting," Poirot exclaimed, grabbing Bart's arm. "Which one will he save first?" The two girls were not in the same place, but separated by about twelve yards. Desper swam towards them vigorously; there was no resistance.He swam directly to Luda. Bart also arrived at the nearest shore and went into the water to save people.Despar has rescued Rhoda to the shore.He dragged her ashore, let her down, jumped into the water himself, and swam to where Anne had sunk. Bart yelled, "Look out, there's weeds." He and Bart arrived at the place at the same time, but Annie sank before they could swim.Finally they picked her up and dragged her ashore together. Poirot is taking care of Rhoda.She was sitting up now, breathing unevenly. Desper and Bart drop Anne Meredith. Bart said, "Crystal respiration. That's the only way. But I'm afraid it's over for her." He saves people methodically.Poirot stood by to take over.Desper fell beside Rhoda. "Are you okay?" he asked in a creak. She said slowly: "You save me. You save me—" She stretched out her hands to him, and he took them and held them, and she burst into tears.He said, "Rhoda—" The two held hands tightly. He suddenly imagined a picture - in the African jungle, Luda laughed and accompanied him, full of adventurous spirit.