Chapter 9 9

9. "It sounds like his wife did it," said the deputy chief, who was listening intently to Inspector Neal's report. The summary of the case is excellent, short but without missing any relevant detail. The Deputy Commissioner said, "Yes, it appears his wife did it. What do you think, Neil?" Inspector Neal said he too felt as though the wife had done it.Often, he thought cynically, the murderer was the wife—and vice versa the husband. "She has a chance. What's the motive?" The deputy director hesitated, "Is there a motive?" "Oh, sir, I think so. For this Mr. Dubose, you know."

"You think he took part, too?" Inspector Neil weighed its possibilities. "No, sir, I don't think so. He cherishes life too much to participate.He may have guessed what she was thinking, but I don't think he instigated it. " "No, he's careful not to do that." "Be extremely careful." "Oh, we can't jump to conclusions, but it makes sense. What about the other two who have a chance?" "It's the dead man's daughter and daughter-in-law. The daughter was with a young man, and the father objected to her marrying him. If she had no money, he would never have married her. This gave her a motive. As for the daughter-in-law, I Don't want to say anything. Not clear enough about her.

But all three of them might poison him to death, but I don't think it's possible for others.The waitresses, butlers and cooks handle the breakfast and bring it in, but I don't think they can be sure that the 'tassine' was taken by Mr. Because of' words. " The deputy director said, "It's 'Tasiin' that's right. I just received a preliminary report." Inspector Neil said, "Then sure, we can proceed." "Is the servant okay?" "Both the head waiter and the maid seemed nervous. It was nothing special, it happens quite often. The cook was aggressive, the housemaid seemed content... all quite natural and normal in fact."

"Anyone else you don't think is suspicious?" "No, I don't think so, sir." Inspector Neal unconsciously thought of Mary Douf and that enigmatic smile.There was indeed a slight hostility on her face.He said: "Since we know it's 'Tacine', we should be able to find evidence that the murderer obtained or prepared this toxin." "Good. Well, go ahead, Neil. By the way, Mr. Percival Fortescue is here now. I spoke to him a word or two, and he's waiting to see you. We also have the whereabouts of the other son.He is at the Hotel Bristol in Paris, leaving today.I guess you'll send someone to pick him up at the airport? "

"Yes, sir, I have plans to..." The Deputy Commissioner giggled. "Okay, let's see Percival Fortescue now. His alias is 'Percy Percy.'" Mr. Percival Fortescu was about thirty years old. He was a well-groomed fair-haired man with light hair and eyelashes, and his speech was a little pedantic. "Inspector Neil, as you can easily imagine, this was a terrible blow to me." Inspector Neal said, "Mr. Fortescue, of course." "All I can say is that when I left home the day before yesterday, my father was in good health. This food poisoning or something must have come suddenly?"

"Suddenly, yes. Not food poisoning, Mr. Fortescue." Percival frowned. "Isn't it? No wonder—" He stopped suddenly. Inspector Neil said: "My father was poisoned with 'taciine'." "Tasiin? I've never heard of it." "I don't think many people have heard of it. It's a toxin with sudden and severe effects." He frowned even more. "Inspector, are you going to tell me that my father was deliberately poisoned?" "It seems so, yes, sir." "Terrible!" "Indeed, Mr. Fortescue." Percival murmured, "Now I understand their attitude at the hospital—they called me here to inquire." He stopped short, and after a while said:

"What about the funeral?" He spoke in a questioning tone. "The investigative court will be held after the autopsy tomorrow. The investigative procedure will be very formal, and then the meeting will be adjourned and reopened at a later date." "I see. Usually?" "Yes, sir, all the time." "May I ask if you have any idea, if you suspect anyone—really, I—" He stopped abruptly again. "It's too early to tell, Mr. Fortescue," Neal murmured. "Yes, I think so." "But Mr. Fortescue, it would be helpful if you could tell us a little about your father's will, or you might as well put me in touch with his lawyer."

"His solicitors are 'Billingsley, Heatthorpe & Waters,' of Bedford Square. As to the will, I can report the main points." "Mr. Fortescue, please tell us. I'm afraid this routine must go on." Percival made it very clear: "When my father remarried two years ago, he made a new will. My father unconditionally bequeathed £100,000 to his wife, and £50,000 to my sister Ellen. The remainder will be inherited by me.Of course, I am already a shareholder of the company. " "Leaving nothing to your brother Lance Fortescu?" "No, my father and my brother have been at odds for a long time."

Neal shot him a quick look—Persival seemed sure of his words. Inspector Neal said: "The beneficiaries, according to the will, are Mrs. Fortescue, Miss Allan, and yourself?" Percival sighed. "I don't think I've benefited much. There's an inheritance tax, you know, Inspector. And lately my father—well, I can only say that some of his financial practices have been unwise." "Recently, your father and son have different views on business operations?" Inspector Neil asked this question in a friendly manner. "I made my point to him, unfortunately—" Percival shrugged.

Neil demanded, "You're tough, aren't you? To put it another way, you had a big fight over this, didn't you?" "Inspector, I don't think so." A blush appeared on Percival's forehead. "Mr. Fortescue, perhaps you are quarreling about something else." "We didn't quarrel, Inspector." "Are you sure, Mr. Fortescue? Well, it's all right. You say your father and your brother are still not seeing each other?" "yes." "Then can you tell me what that means?" Neil handed over the telegram written by Mary Douf.

Percival looked over and exclaimed in surprise and annoyance.He doesn't seem to believe it, and is angry. "I don't understand, I really don't understand. I just can't believe it." "Mr. Fortescue, it seems to be true. Your brother is coming from Paris today." "It's unusual, very unusual. No, I really can't figure it out." "Did your father not mention this to you?" "Not really. It's absurd for him to call Lance back behind my back." "I suppose you don't know why he does that?" "Of course not. It's in line with his latest behavior—crazy! Inexplicable. Must stop him—I—" Percival stopped abruptly.The pale face gradually lost its color. He said: "I forgot—I forgot for a moment that my father was dead—" Neal shook his head in sympathy. Percival Fortescu was about to go--he took his hat and said: "If there's anything I can do to help, just ask me. But I think—" He paused for a moment—"Are you coming to Yew Shan Xiaozhu?" "Yes, Mr. Fortescue—I've put a man in charge there at the moment." Percy shuddered. "It's not pleasant. To think of this happening to us—" He sighed and walked to the door. "I'm mostly in the office during the day. There are a lot of things to take care of there. But I will go to Yew House in the evening." "Yes, sir." Percival Fortescu went out. Neal grumbled, "Percy Percy." Sergeant Haiyi, who was sitting modestly by the wall, raised his head and asked in a questioning tone, "Sir?" Neil didn't answer.He asked, "Sir, what do you think?" "I don't know," Neal said, before carefully quoting: "They're all very unlikable characters." Sergeant Hay seemed a little confused. Neil said, "Alice in Wonderland. Hay, don't you know your Alice?" Hay said, "That's a masterpiece, isn't it, sir? Radio Three, I don't listen to Radio Three."