Chapter 81 neighbor with killer

Mary opened the envelope listlessly. There was no sender's address on the envelope. It might just be an advertising letter. However, when she read the contents of the letter, her eyes widened. "My God," she said. "I don't believe it." Her husband, Jimmy, looked up from the morning paper, frowned and asked, "What happened?" "This—this one in the letter, is about our neighbor Heven. Or, it has something to do with Heven. It says—oh, forget it, see for yourself." She handed the letter over.Mary had been a slender, attractive woman, but she had become very fat because of gluttony, and she looked much older at forty.

Jimmy is fifty years old, well maintained, and still fit and slender, like a sports star. He put down the paper, his mind still befuddled by the heavy drink he had had at the country club last night.He took the letter from her and tried to figure out what it meant. On the top of the letter paper was a line of big handwritten characters: "Do you want this bastard to live among you?" Below is a photocopied clipping from a Chicago newspaper dated three years ago. (Newspaper) The police arrested a man named Harry today. He is 49 years old and runs a business related to the underworld. He is accused of being an introducer for a professional killer. , he can act as an intermediary.

Harry, who lives in a lakeside apartment with a young woman, was taken to police headquarters and has been linked to nine homicides in the past four years.Some victims were killed in gangland fashion, but other deaths were intentionally accidental.The young woman, who identified herself as Jenny, has been released after interrogation. Police have not formally commented on the details of the case, but the reporter has heard from senior police figures that Harry was a broker in the homicide. Harry has been the target of police investigations for years, but this time he has been charged with a crime for the first time.

Next to the report was a photo of a well-dressed white-haired man holding a brunette in a miniskirt on his arm. The two were getting out of the elevator, and the police rushed past from both sides. The photocopies were a little fuzzy, but the man was definitely Heving, and the woman was of course Mrs Heving. There is also a photocopied newspaper clipping below, dated a few weeks later.The headline reads: "Suspected Murder Case, Suspected of Insufficient Evidence". (Xinhua News Agency) Harry, suspected of being an intermediary in a string of murders of businessmen, was unexpectedly released today.The Chief Prosecutor would not comment on the case, which is said to be a key witness missing...Jimmy dropped the newspaper in horror, feeling his stomach sink.He Wen, a good old man, could he be a member of the underworld?If that's true... "I've had a feeling for a long time that there's something weird about the Hevins," said Mary, almost gleefully. "His wife—young enough to be his daughter, and the mysterious business he's running outside..." "I can't believe it,"

Jimmy said, "Although I like Heven as a person, I always have a feeling that he is a bit of a hooligan. I believe he can do anything if you let him.Still, matchmaking for murder?No, I don't believe that. " "It's all you, bragging that you know people," she frowned, lighting a cigarette. "I haven't liked Hevin since they moved in, you introduced him to everybody, hey, you introduced him to the country club, and—" The phone rang. Mary walked over waddlingly. "Locke? You also received a copy? Henry's also arrived? Smith's too? Yes, I agree, horrible, I know.Yes, he's here, wait a minute. "

She turned around, handed the microphone to her husband and said: "It's Locke calling." Locke is a former mayor of the village, an officer at the bank, and the current chairman of the country club committee. "Good morning, Jimmy," Locke said slowly, but Jimmy could hear the force in his voice. "It seems like everyone who lives here has received the clippings, and I thought, we'd better take action." "I think it's too early to take any action," Jimmy replied cautiously. "Unless we get more information. It could be a fabrication, or some unscrupulous joker. Heven has a radical view on politics, and some people here—" "I know," interrupted Locke. , "So, we're going to have a meeting with some people tonight, the ladies will also attend, some cocktails first, then dinner at the club, see you at six.

Locke hung up abruptly, telling Jimmy that if he and Mary didn't attend, Jimmy's future social life in the village would be over. Of course, the future is still very important, because as a manager who specializes in securities business, his work needs the help of these wealthy people in the suburbs. When Jimmy and Mary arrived at the Locke mansion, a dozen other couples, the social elite of the village, had arrived first. Jimmy took a glass of wine and slipped into a corner.He wanted to avoid this matter as much as possible, how could he wade into this muddy water? That claim about Heven is not credible.

He got along well with the Hevins from the beginning. In Jimmy's opinion, Hevin is a person who doesn't care about anything. He used to aspire to be an actor, but at the insistence of his wife, he lived a dull life. As for Mrs. Heving, she was a pleasant woman. She was not like ordinary women. She was young, beautiful, and often talked about investing in stocks and bonds.Hevin and his wife had opened an account in Jimmy's securities firm, and Hevin's investment decisions seemed to be made by his wife.No, they must be law-abiding citizens... Locke told everyone to be quiet."Obviously, we have to convene a committee to protect ourselves. People like this — we can't live with them," he said.

"We can't stand this kind of thing," said the village chief. "If the news gets out, the village's reputation will be ruined, and the impact on our real estate here will be huge." "Not to mention the effect on the kids," said one woman. "The kind of nasty people live with us, hey, they might—" "Now, listen to me," said Jimmy, who had drunk and couldn't help himself, and the words he said he regretted .However, he couldn't stop talking, so he took a breath and continued talking. "If the Hull family is really what the clippings say, then no one is more eager to take action than me, but we have to be careful, the clippings may be fake."

"However," Locke said. "I don't think it's very likely. Why would the sender bother to fake it if Heven could prove it so easily? Anyway, let's face it, he's kind of weird. He never mentions it. In the past, even if it was mentioned, it was very vague, and no one knew what he did for a living." "He's different from the average person," someone said. "Once he said that what our village needs is a good yellow bookstore, what a strange idea!" "And his wife," interjected a woman. "Look at her in a bikini by the pool, it's like—" "Okay, guys," Locke interrupted. "I think we can all agree that we should send someone to ask Hevin face to face, and if he denies it, we'll come forward and ask the police here to investigate with the Chicago Police Department."

"If he admits it's true," said a man grimly, "he must move at once." "In such a short period of time, no one can move away," the village chief said impartially. "For such an expensive home, even if you're lucky, it will take weeks or months to find a buyer. It's probably even more difficult now." "I'll arrange it," Locke said. "We're going to buy that house, those of us who are at the meeting tonight, all of us are going to buy it. We're going to pay the bank and we're not going to get much of a difference. We could turn the house over to a lawyer and wait until we have the right buyer before closing the house, and that way, in a week or so, we'd be able to evict them. " "I think it can be done that way," the mayor conceded. "But who is going to talk to him?" "It's Jimmy, of course," said Locke. "Well, Jimmy? You know him better, you introduced him to us, remember? You were the one who introduced him to the club. If it's true, no one will blame you. If he is really involved with the underworld , we will also understand." Locke said so, but his tone still implied that it was Jimmy who was to blame. "To him tomorrow," said Locke. "Tell him frankly and let him know that if it's true, then we'd better sell us the house and move out. Tell him that if he doesn't move..." Jimmy stepped across the next morning. Street, came to the gate of Hull's house. He was in a bad mood.He and Mary argued about it half the night.At the beginning, Jimmy complained that Locke forced him to see Hewen, and Mary said that whoever made him so gullible was his retribution.Before the quarrel was over, they started arguing about other things, such as whether they were in love or not, and finally they both cursed and blamed each other. Now, in the cold sunshine, Jimmy was so worried that his stomach ached. He had just approached the door of the Heving house when it opened and Mrs. Heving came out.Although Jimmy was in a bad mood, when he saw the gorgeous Mrs. Hewen, he couldn't help but feel jealous of Hewen. He was so old and had such a beautiful young wife. She was in her late thirties, with black hair and a slender figure, wearing a short attractive suit and carrying a leather bag. As he approached, she smiled and asked: "Hey, so early on Sunday" "Yes," he said kindly. "I just wanted to talk to Heven." "He's sunning himself on the back porch and I'm driving into town and my brother just flew over and we haven't seen each other in years. Will you and Mary come over for a potluck tonight? It's been a while since we've been together." "Thank you, but we have other things to do." He watched Mrs. Heving walk down the drive and into the car, her graceful gait. so exciting... He clenched his fists and walked into Hewen's house, wanting to have a good talk with old Hewen. "He found Heven watching TV with a wine glass by his side. Hewen raised his head, grinned and said, "How about a drink together? Judging from your expression, you might need a drink." "no thanks." Jimmy sat uncomfortably in the chair. "Yeah, something's bothering me, and I was hoping you could clear things up for me, and who might send this to me. See—" He pulled a photocopy of the newspaper clipping from his pocket and tossed it to Heven. Hewen frowned, turned off the TV, and started looking at the photocopy. After he finished reading, he sat motionless for a long time. "Damn it," he said, his voice tired and not as cheerful as it had been. "So they found out." "them?" "Some cops in Chicago, they kept staring at me, and it happened when we lived in Florida. Before that, it happened in California. They couldn't bring me down in court, they just Fuck me that way. As soon as we settled down somewhere, they—" "You mean the reports are true? Your real name is Harry? You're a mob fringe?" "Oh, I know, from the clippings, it's scary--" Jimmy was furious. "Damn, it's really terrible. At least you should know that you killed me and asked me to introduce you to the club. Also, I defended you yesterday, saying that someone else falsely accused-but never mind. Hewen , you and your wife must sell this house and move out immediately." "Is this what you mean personally?" "No, Locke convened a committee, and they sent me to see you, and if what the clippings say is true, then give you an ultimatum, and if you don't move, we'll make you unable to live." "I don't want to move," Heven said slowly, "not this time. I let them kick me out of California, out of Florida. But this time, I'm going to stay the course and refuse to be kicked out. Walk." "Don't be a fool! You don't know what kind of trouble you can get yourself into." "What kind of dilemma? Tell me!" He Wen sat up straight and stared at Jimmy. "You're going to throw me out of the club, which I've always disliked, frankly. When you see me in the street, you ignore me. Maybe, I'll get an anonymous call or two in the evening, but after After a while—" "Not after a while," interrupted Jimmy. "You underestimate us, Locke made it very clear, this involves real estate prices, so we will try to get rid of you, there will be constant phone calls and malicious vandalism, etc. Plus official pressure. When you ask for police protection, They'll ignore it, and they'll stalk you and the couple, drive a minor violation, issue a ticket immediately, city people will come to you and find out the stamped shed or something, and your taxes will increase. The cleaners will not collect your garbage.And if that doesn't work—well, there's going to be a night when we set fire to you, level the place, and we'll just stand by.Of course, firefighters will only arrive when there is nothing to save.Not that I approve of such an approach, but—” Hewen considered. "Good," he said. "I can't let my wife be the target of public criticism, but it's not easy to sell this house. My place is not small, and real estate has been falling recently—" "The committee will buy your house, and the price is not low." "That would be great. Would you like to find us a new place? Nobody knows where we are?" "Well," Jimmy had no choice but to reply, "you should have considered this kind of thing before connecting with the underworld murderer." Then he stood up. "I'm sorry, but—" "Wait a minute," said Hevin's voice suddenly commanding. "When you go back to your self-righteous committee, I want you to convey what I mean. My first wife was alive when that started, and she was a cripple who was in constant need of treatment. Her medicine Fees broke me down and left me destitute. When the banks wouldn't lend me any more, I had to turn to the underworld who were willing to borrow money. When I couldn't pay back, they suggested to me that if I worked for them, I owed The bill was wiped out. I agreed because I needed money for my wife's medical treatment. By the time she died, I was in a deep hole and I couldn't extricate myself." "I can understand that," Jimmy said. "But acting as intermediary for the murderer—" "I have no choice, and by the time I understand the meaning of 'service', it will be too late. If I don't do as agreed, I will lose my life. Besides, those who ask The killer has no other choice." "Are you defending yourself?" "I'm just telling you that when a businessman is desperate enough to hire a killer, he always has a good reason. By the way, the news in the newspaper clipping is not true, and the police want to put all the unsolved cases on me. ...however, in every case I've been involved in, the people who were killed deserved to die, and the way they conducted their business was so cruel that no one could survive until they were killed. There was only one exception." Heven paused, then continued: "This one, I hope you don't tell the committee people, let's say privately, it was a man's wife. She was like a tigress, and her husband couldn't stand it, so he came to me and I told my agent .” "broker?" "That's what I call the guy, I've never met him. I just have one phone number and I call that number, give him the customer's name and hang up. Brokers start there.He will contact customers, negotiate prices, collect payments, and arrange for people to do it. Under normal circumstances, the price is between 15,000 and 20,000 yuan. If you want to make it look like an accidental death, an additional fee of about 5,000 yuan will be added.Of course, the current inflation rate may be higher. " Behind Hevin was a table with a very tempting picture of Mrs. Hevin standing by the pool in a bikini. Behind the picture, through the window, across the way to his own home, Jimmy saw Mary lumbering out, her corpulent body wrapped in a corset, very ugly. "I wonder," Jimmy asked slowly, "do you still have that number with you?" That night, Mrs. Heving put down her purse on the kitchen table, sat down and said: "So Locke called a committee? No wonder Jimmy looked weird this morning," she said, shaking her head. "It's like Florida and California." "certainly." Heven poured his wife a glass of wine, and they clinked glasses. "These fake clippings," he said, "work out really well. One, we terrified neighbors, offering top dollar for our house. Two, gullible fools, sending me money for I arrange murder for them. They never even think about it, and I've never met, let alone known, a single gangster in my life." "How many are there so far?" "Five, including Locke and Jimmy. Jimmy's gonna get rid of his wife, and Locke's gonna get rid of his boss so he can get to the top. By the time we move out of here, I think we'll make twenty or thirty Wan. Is your brother willing to act as a broker, to negotiate prices with them, to collect money for murders that will never be carried out?" "Yes," said Mrs. Heving thoughtfully, taking a sip of her wine. "That's great. When those fools realize they've been duped, they can't say anything. If the report is successful, they will have to admit to abetting the murder. Of course, by then, we will have changed our appearance and gone thousands of miles away. Frankly Say, I'm not surprised that Locke and the others pay people to kill, but Jimmy's a good old man—" "I'm just saying," Heven replied. "I arranged to get rid of a shrew before, and he took the bait immediately. I knew he would. Didn't I keep telling you that I'm a good judge of human nature?"