Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

Claudia Rishi Holland was not in the office today, but it was a middle-aged woman who received Poirot.She said Mr. Resderick was waiting for him and led him into the house. "How is it?" Resderick asked without waiting for him to enter the door: "How is it, where is my daughter?" "At the moment—no news yet." "But I'm telling you, boy, there's got to be some news—some clue. A girl can't just disappear without a trace." "Girls have done it before, and they do it now." "Do you understand that I'm willing to pay any price—any price? I—I can't put it off like this."

He seemed completely out of control this time.He lost a lot of weight, and his red eyelids showed that he had not slept for many nights. "I know your anxiety, but I can assure you I've tried everything possible to find her. There's no rush for this kind of thing, my God." "Maybe she lost her memory, or—or maybe—I mean, maybe sick." Poirot thought he knew the meaning of this hesitant sentence.Resderick was going to say, "She may be dead." He sat down across the desk and said. "Believe me, I understand your anxiety, but I have to say it again, if you report it to the police, it will definitely have a faster result."

"No!" The word exploded like gunpowder. "They have better methods and more avenues of inquiry. I can tell you it's not about money. Money doesn't give you the same results as an efficient organization." "It's no use talking to me like that, man. Norma is my daughter, my only daughter, my only kin." "Did you really tell me about your daughter—everything that could be—?" "What else can I tell you?" "That's for you to tell, not me. Like, has anything happened in the past?" "What? What do you mean, man?"

"Any case of insanity." "You think—that she—" "How do I know? How do I know?" "How should I know?" said Resderick, suddenly resentful. "And how much do I know her? After all these years. Grace is a jealous woman, a woman who doesn't forgive or forget easily. Sometimes I feel—I feel like I made the wrong choice for Norma. " He stood up, walked up and down the room for a while, and then sat back down. "Of course I shouldn't abandon my wife, I know that, and I left the child with her, but at the time I thought it made sense for me to do so. Grace was a very conscientious mother to Norma, and it should be the best for her. Is she really doing her job? Some of Grace's letters to me are full of anger and hatred. Of course, this is also a natural thing. But I was away in those years. I should come back , should often come back to see how the child's life.

I think I feel ashamed.Ah, it's no use making excuses now. " He turned his head sharply suddenly. "That's right. When I saw Norma again, I did find her whole demeanor to be neurotic and unrefined. I had hoped that she and Mary would - would get on better after a while, but I can't deny that." I think the girl is a bit out of order. I think it would be better for her if she got a job in London and stayed home at the weekend, so she doesn't have to be with Mary all the time. Ah, but I'll make sure it's all over But where is she, M. Poirot? Where? Do you think she may have lost her memory? We've all heard of such things."

"Yes," said Poirot, "that is also a possibility. In her condition, she may be wandering about without knowing where she is, or something may have happened. But this is unlikely. I can ask you to rest assured that I have inquired about the hospital and other places." "You don't think she's--you don't think she's dead?" "It would be much easier to find her if she were dead, don't worry about that. Be calm, Mr. Resderick. Don't forget, she may have many friends you don't even know. In any part of England." Friends, maybe friends from her mother or aunt living with her, or friends of friends from schoolmates. That kind of thing takes time to find out. Maybe—you should be prepared for this—she was with someone with a boyfriend."

"David Baker? If I thought--" "She's not with David Baker." Poirot said sarcastically: "This, I have already found out." "How do I know what friends she has?" he sighed. "If I ever find her—I should say when I find her—I must take her out." "Where are you taking it?" "Take out of the country. I am miserable, Monsieur Poirot, and I have been miserable since I came back. I have always hated city life, the dullness of offices, endless negotiations with lawyers and the financial world. I have always liked life only One, traveling, wandering from one place to another, going to the wild and places that others can’t find. Only this kind of life suits me, and I shouldn’t come back at all. I should have picked Norma to meet me, so I said Well, I'm going to do it when I find her. I've been approached about a sale, and they can take over the whole establishment for a very good deal. All I want is cash, and I'm back in the country, real, meaningful where."

"Ah! What will your wife say then?" "Mary? She's used to that. It's where she came from." "To a rich woman," said Poirot, "London is no small attraction." "She'll do what I want." The phone on his desk rang.He picked it up to answer. "Yeah? Oh, a call from Manchester? Yes, if it's Claudia? Holland? Please speak." He waited for a while. "Hello, Claudia. Yes. Say it louder—the wiring is bad, I can't hear you well. They agreed? . . . oh, pity . . . . . . then come back by the evening train. We will talk again in the morning."

He put down the receiver. "This lady is really capable," he said. "Ruixi? Miss Helan?" "Yes. Very capable, and has taken a lot of trouble out of me. I've left her to make up her own mind about the Manchester deal. I really don't think I'm out of spirits. She's also been excellent, and in some respects she As shrewd as a man." He glanced at Poirot, and suddenly brought himself back to the topic at hand. "Oh, by the way, Mr. Poirot. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on. Do you still need some expenses?" "No need, sir. I promise you, I will bring your daughter back safe and sound. I have taken every precaution for her safety."

He came out through the outer office.When he got to the street, he looked up at the sky. "For a definite answer to a question," he said, "that's exactly what I need."