Chapter 14 Chapter 13 Rainier Cherry

In order not to destroy possible fingerprints, Wenzel opened the door leading to the garden quite carefully.The bartender went out first with a flashlight, followed by Taphne.Our detective fetched the trash can and put it in place to prevent the door from closing automatically—so that there was no need to touch the outside doorknob: also to protect the lead. On a typical July night, the sky is almost just dark, the temperature is similar to that of the house, and there is almost no wind.Several dense tall cherry trees surround this door: you know, those older Rainier cherry trees have a huge canopy, and the leaves and fruits are like a natural roof, which can bring a lot of light to the garden. Come a lot of leisure in the comfort of the shade.

Taphni counted them, and there were about seven or eight trees around them—planted on both sides of the garden road. Although the crowns of the trees looked a bit untended, they didn't look too messy. "It seems to be planted here just for the convenience of the kitchen?", Wenzel said. "It's a pity that bayberries and oranges are not suitable for growing here," Nicholas said with a smile, "otherwise, Mr. John will develop a fruit orchard here-he likes fresh things best." "It seems that he is a person who likes the new and dislikes the old?" Taphne picked up a cherry from the garden path - she found it difficult to walk on the garden path: where the light of Nicholas' flashlight swept, there were ripe purple everywhere Cherry, just walk a few steps and you will step on the shoes.Not wanting to get her new heels dirty, Taphne stopped.

Wenzel had already stepped on a cherry, and at the same time, there was a unique sound of berries being crushed under his feet.Nicholas carefully shone the flashlight on the ground and picked out a place where he could land: "It's the same as what I saw," said the bartender, "if anyone intends to walk in this door from the outside, they will definitely step on these cherries." He swept the ground around with his flashlight, "but these cherries are very It’s perfect.” He picked up a cherry and threw it into his mouth, “So no one will ever pass by here.” With the light of the flashlight, Wenzel observed around the garden road: the garden road is paved with tiles, and diamond-shaped bricks of different sizes are combined to form an exquisite pattern.There are lawns on the left and right sides of the road, and there are more cherries falling on the grass:

No matter how stupid the prisoner is, he would not choose to walk on the grass. In addition to getting cherry juice everywhere, he would also leave footprints. "Indeed, the cherries on the garden path should not have been stepped on.", our detective said, "except for this poor fellow under my feet." He turned to Nicholas, "But, has no one walked around here all this time?" ? When you pick cherries in the afternoon, it’s impossible not to step on any cherries.” "The housekeeper Geiger first asked someone to sweep all the cherries on the garden road and sweep them to the grass on both sides, intending to use them as fertilizer?" The bartender explained, "Therefore, there are more cherries on the two sides than on the road. Much more - after picking in the afternoon, the roads were clear. So much falling now? What a pity for such good cherries. Late Rainier, you know, is one of the best varieties: big fruit, small pit , prolific and resistant to cracking? If not eaten fresh, it is also a good choice for making kirsch."

"Thanks to these trees?" Taphne said to our detective, "this clue saved us a lot of detours! If the killer hadn't walked down the Garden Lane, he'd have to go through the hall if he wanted to kill Sears in the bathroom—and with so many guests in the hall," said the detective's assistant triumphantly, "there's always going to be one by two witnesses.If Inspector Roth's subordinates inquire carefully, they will probably be able to locate the murderer soon. " "Turning out the window of the smoking room will also step on the cherry: when I smoke there in the afternoon, can I see the cherry tree outside the window?" Nicholas added, "The bathroom is closed, although there are floor-to-ceiling windows in the hall-but if When someone goes in and out, they must be seen." The bartender seemed quite satisfied with his discovery.

"A lot of people know that there are cherry trees here, don't they?" Wenzel asked. "Shouldn't it? John's cherry trees are quite famous. If you are a regular visitor to the villa, no one does not know-these are one of the show-off capitals of the receptionist. Besides, there are those amazing collections of agaves. ?” Wenzel also picked up a cherry.He borrowed a flashlight from Nicholas, examined the cherry carefully, and then scanned around with the flashlight.He paid attention to the part of the roof directly above the garden gate: it was also designed in an elegant neo-gothic style, with a roof slope of nearly seventy degrees, and there was no place to climb around (the small spire was not even set up around the rainwater). road).In addition, the tall cherry tree near the side of the villa also set up a natural barrier for the airspace of this door with densely crossed branches - it is almost impossible to get down from above without leaving any clues.

"Where can we wait until daytime to check?" Wenzel pointed to the roof above the garden gate with the light of the flashlight, "I would rather believe that our murderer will not take the risk of falling from the sky-because we have already found other The way?" He threw the cherry in his hand into his mouth, "What a hasty plan!"