Chapter 12 trap

"You have a house to rent," Dick said to Brian, his black eyes tense, "but houses aren't my main interest, if you know what I mean." "Yes, I understand." Bryan En said in a kind but firm businessman's tone. "A friend of mine introduced you to me." The arched glass door behind Dick read "Brian, REALTOR" written upside down, and the words circled over his head like a halo, and it was funny. "Your friend has called me, Mr. Dick, and I believe you are very trustworthy and genuinely in need of my services. But one thing must be remembered" Brian told Dick that it was true and trusted his decision .Otherwise, I will not let it dictate, not to mention, I am still a careful person.

Dick forced an uncomfortable smile, the subject still made him uncomfortable. "I think the best thing we're going to talk about is open and honest," Brian said with a relaxed smile. "You've come here begging me to murder your wife. You've come to the right place because that's where I'm going." The line. It has been a profitable — and safe — sideline for many years.” Dick sighed deeply, a decision in his mind had unraveled. "Okay, Mr. Brian... It's great that you can bring this up in the open, and I can tell you that just being able to say out loud that I hate my wife and knowing that someone understands makes me feel better. "

"May I ask, Mr. Dick, is this hatred two-sided?" "Oh, my wife hates me too, but she doesn't hide it, she always vents on small things, even though things..." "It's an absolute torment," Brian continued in his place. "A woman full of hatred, whose methods of torment are endless. I suppose in your case, you're against divorce?" "Yes," said Dick, sitting down in a chair at the desk, "never think about it. I'd give up half my fortune against an ill-informed judge." "What does your wife think of divorce?"

Dick looked at me oddly. "I can assure you she doesn't want to give up half her fortune either. She was an emancipated woman long before the women's movement." Brian asked, "How does your wife feel about the move?" "Don't worry about it," Dick assured Brian. "She's worried about changing houses. It's been more than a year. The neighbors are noisy, and some children with motorcycles have damaged the nearby roads. She just can't take the noise." Brian stood up and walked over to a small bar in the corner. "A drink?" Brian asked. "Well, thanks, and a whiskey, if you have one."

Brian poured two knuckle-high glasses, added ice, and returned to his desk, where he sat casually on the corner of the desk, looking down at Dick. "Before we talk about the details, I think we should talk about the terms," ​​Bryan said. "My friend says the cost is three thousand dollars." Dick said, taking a sip of his wine. "It's four thousand dollars now," Brian said, smiling, "two thousand up front and two thousand afterward. Everything's been going up since your friend commissioned it—rent, groceries..." "Four thousand is reasonable to get rid of her," said Dick, "and if you see her you'll know what I mean. "

"The house I have in mind for your couple is in Bidderton Lane," Brian said. "I'm sure your wife will like it, and you should be more sure when you tell her the rent." "When can I show her the house?" "If you like, I will accompany you tomorrow. Now that everything is settled, I will arrange it until you and your wife live in. Then, I need more than just time." "Then, we can start to act before the end of the month..." "Take it easy," said Brian, looking at Dick's face, which was not attractive now, for he was smiling gloomily, imagining the end of his life with his wife.

"One thing I don't understand," he said, his tanned forehead drawn down in displeasure, "is how I'm going to avoid accidents where? As far as I know, no one knows where the traps are." "Don't worry, you'll get it right," said Brian, gulping down his whiskey. "I'm an expert in this business, Mr. Dick, and I'm sure you know that too, or you wouldn't have come to me." Dick didn't answer. . Brian's bold words embarrassed him a little; but Brian believed it would also give him confidence, which he deserved. "Mr. Dick, on Wednesday afternoon, I'll take you and your lovely lady to see the house. But when everything is decided, I'll give you the details on how to avoid different 'accidents'."

Dick nodded and finished his drink.Brian took his empty glass and shook his hand. "The number of the house is '432 Bidderton Lane,'" said Brian. "I'll be there at four o'clock sharp, if you can." "Don't worry," Dick said, "we'll take the first and last month's rent." "Also, an advance payment of two thousand yuan." Brian reminded him with a friendly smile. He also smiled back, "Of course." He said, as if he had forgotten. After Dick left, Brian went to the wine cabinet and poured himself another glass, thinking: It would be nice to have another client in a real professional.

Brian was slightly surprised by Mrs Dick when he saw them at the house on Bedderton Lane on Wednesday. She's petite, charming, and not the sly one her husband portrays in his office.But the destructive undercurrents in marriage, like the dangerous undercurrents in a river, are invisible but powerful beneath the calm surface.That's why undercurrents can be dangerous.The partners in marriage may have been washed away when they really realized the danger of the undercurrent.Mrs. Dick, however, Brian had a feeling that she seemed to be an intelligent and reasonable woman. The house in Bidderton Lane is a peaceful, well-landscaped residence set in the middle of a large piece of land surrounded by many trees.There are two bedrooms downstairs and a rec room upstairs.Small and exquisite, it is just right for the middle-aged Dick and his wife without children. When we entered the house, Mrs. Dick went straight into the kitchen.

She said, "It's quite modern. It's hard to have such a kitchen in such an ancient house." "Oh, there's a lot of convenience in old houses," said Brian. "It's true that houses aren't built these days like they used to be." "Does the house have a basement?" asked Dick, earnestly and naturally. "Yes, there is a large basement with a fruit storage basement, which used to be used for fuel storage. It can also be used as a wine cellar." Brian led them downstairs and showed them the spacious, dry basement, Then the three went back upstairs to check the other rooms.

Mrs. Dick looked carefully, and though she had a favorable impression of the bathroom lighting and wallpaper, she was critical and critical.Dick gave Brian a knowing look as she checked the closet. "How much rent do you want?" Mrs. Dick asked as they walked back to the shady front porch. "One hundred and seventy-five dollars a month for the first year," Brian told her in a hopeful voice, and both he and Dick knew the house could be rented for fifty dollars more. Brian saw her wink at Dick and said, "Let's rent it!" "Sounds reasonable," said Dick. "Do you like the house, my dear?" "I think that's what we need." "Okay," Brian put on a smiley face, "we can go back to my office and sign the contract." As they walked toward Brian's car, Mrs. Dick glanced back quickly, as if to assure herself that she had a good rent. But Dick didn't look back, but secretly put an envelope containing two thousand yuan in cash into Brian's hand. Dick had come to see Brian in the office that weekend, coming in with a conspiratorial smile, seemingly delighted with his little secret. "Is the house ready?" he asked, sitting down in a chair by the table. "Are you... sure you will succeed?" "As sure as pulling the trigger of a pistol, Mr. Dick, just to be on the safe side and take more patience. If one step goes wrong, or if the first one doesn't go well, there's a second, or a tenth, Even twenty. Still, it will work." Dick writhed in his chair. "Do you think I'm patient? After ten years of living with her, I'm still counting the days, eager to be free." "I know exactly how you feel, Mr. Dick," Brian said, reaching into a drawer and pulling out a note. "Now, this is the danger zone laid out for you, the instructions that you must study carefully and obey even more carefully. After you have learned this list, you must burn it. To you, this note is as valuable as a wad of gold. " "And she doesn't have this picture." "Exactly," Brian was taken aback by the savagery in his voice. "Now, you must memorize it here, and I won't allow it to be taken out of the office." For the next hour, the two revisited the instructions on the note: Do not step on the second floor of the basement ladder. It has been tampered with and it is easy to break. Anyone who steps on it will fall below the stairs. Do not use the stove on the left back of the stove. It has a special device. When it is ignited, 50% of it will explode. Once it explodes, its power will destroy everything within five feet. Third, avoid walking on the right side of the back porch, otherwise, anyone stepping on it will be as dangerous as the basement stairs. When turning on the light switch in the guest room, only touch the switch, and do not touch the metal socket cover, otherwise there will be a risk of electrocution. Do not use an automatic washing machine attached to the house, it is not properly installed and it will leak electricity. When Dick could memorize it by heart, he folded the slips and put them on the table to be burned later. "One more question. Are you sure that none of the traps you've set up will be detected?" Dick asked uneasily. "Not before or after," Brian said confidently. "I believe I am an expert in this unique field, Mr. Dick, and the skills I have arranged for Mrs.'s accident are unmatched in the world." "Are you sure they'll all look like 'accidents'?" "Absolutely sure." There was no compromise in Brian's voice. Dick nodded firmly with an ugly smile on his lips, and stood up. "You can mail me the two thousand yuan afterwards." Brian said. He stood by the door and nodded again, his smile even uglier.When he opened the door and left, he said, "Afterwards." Brian waited five minutes, then picked up the phone and called Mrs. Dick. Brian and Mrs. Dick meet at a restaurant and Brian explains everything to her. At first she didn't believe it, then she was shocked and angry.Very angry! "I can't believe that something as spineless as Dick dared to try this kind of thing." She murmured as she drank her coffee, "I didn't expect him to hate me so much." "It's only worth five thousand dollars," Brian said. "That's really nothing." As she sat there, Brian could see: she was getting angrier, more enlightened, more irritable. "And, without any conditions," Brian said, "he doesn't care if it hurts or if it's fast." "Why, that rascal!" She gritted her teeth, "I'll kill him!" "I think you will." Mrs. Dick looked at Brian slyly: "Now, I know why you told me." "I don't think you'll spend much time." "You misread me, Mr. Brian. I'm not a murderer like my husband." "When it comes to your husband, how do you plan to deal with him?" "What should I do? Call the police!" Brian casually poured more milk into his coffee. "You know, you can't prove anything, even if he confesses, they will never believe it, or take any action, you know, I absolutely do not support either of you." Mrs. Dick looked at the table, considering what Brian had said. "Actually, Mrs. Dick, there's nothing you can do but wait for the next time." Next time? " Brian raised both eyebrows. "Of course, you didn't expect Mr. Dick to fail this time, so let's stop? There are ways to kill a person and pretend to be an accident. I believe you know." Mrs. Dick had beautiful blue eyes that stared straight at Brian. "You mean the only way I'm smart is to hire you to arrange the accidental death of that heartless man, don't you?" "Yes. Either that, or a divorce. But even then, I fear for your safety." "I've said it countless times, Mr. Brian, I have no intention of divorcing Dick, nor will I be scared by you to divorce." Brian smiled at her and took her hand. "The thing is, Mrs. Dick, if I don't tell you, your husband may well have murdered you by my skill. If the police knew the truth after the fact, they would punish him, but if he did it before the fact If you are punished, you can avoid legal sanctions." "What is the price?" "Dick paid me five thousand dollars, half before and half after. Of course I won't get the second half." "You mean, it's up to me to hire you." "Well, I'm sure you'll hire me, Mrs. Dick." She gave the same smile Dick gave in Brian's office. "I believe you are right, Mr. Brian." So Brian smiled at her.Then he warned her to be very careful about the third rung of the basement ladder, the stove right in front of the stove, the second porch step, the light opening in the passage, etc. Time passed quickly.It was nearly two months before Brian saw the news of the Bidderton Lane murder. According to reports, when a man was leaning on the window to look into the distance, he fell out of the window because the waxed floor was slippery.The report said that the dead man was named as Dick. He broke his neck when he fell to the ground and died at the scene. Brian put down the paper and tapped his fingers on the editorial page.Poor Brian, what a poor fool! A week after the burial, Brian received twenty-five hundred dollars in a large, tightly sealed envelope.Brian believed Mrs. Dick was thinking twice about the remittance, but she still didn't want to take the risk. Shortly after the money was received, Mrs. Dick sent another letter to Brian, saying that because of her husband's death, she had decided to move back to Florida to live with her family; in this case, she believed that Brian Eun doesn't care about ruining her husband's contract and canceling the lease.She had moved out when Brian got the letter. Brian guessed Mrs. Dick wanted me to hurry up to 432 Bedderton Lane and clear all the traps. But he thought again: I will not go; I would not be so foolish as to actually deploy those "traps", no matter how careful they are, they will leave traces, and may leave evidence against me. You know, Mr. Brian has always been a cautious person.There was no doubt that Dick had been pushed down from the upstairs window, and it took a lot of strength and courage, and they lived there as a couple. In fact, there were no pitfalls in the house in Bidderton Lane, and there was no need for them—hatred and fear made everything.