Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Inside News

In an instant, the whole situation changed.It was Ellery who was most shocked this time.However, there seems to be a glimmer of life in the confusing case. That strange old man with a brown beard actually lives near Bratt's house.The character closest to Kloshak reappeared in a new crime arena. "According to the above statement, are there other people related to the first case?" Ellery said, "Maybe this case is related to the previous murder case, and even the murderer is the same person! Harakett... ..." "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet!" Adori said with some regret, "The cross you mentioned. From your wonderful ideas, I think you have already reached the same conclusion as me."

"Is there a conclusion already?" Ellery was still at a loss. "What is your so-called conclusion?" Professor Adori said: "It's that man named Harakett. I don't like to criticize people indiscriminately, but... In fact, don't the cross and the letter T appear with that 'gentleman'?" "You forgot Croshak," Ellery pointed out. "Hey, Ellery," the professor retorted sharply, "you should know what I'm talking about...I haven't forgotten anyone, why do you deny the validity of what I pointed out? In short, the crime should be There's an accomplice, another burly accomplice—"

This interesting conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Bonn. "I've ordered my men to monitor Oista Island." Bonn said breathlessly, "Although it's a bit difficult, after the search here, let's take out the files and study them in detail!" The district attorney was a little confused by the sudden new developments in the case: "You said the suspect in the last case was a disciple of Harakett, right? What does that guy look like?" Ellery recounted the Arroyo incident in detail. After listening intently, the prosecutor asked, "It's just a very ordinary appearance. Except for a little limp, there are no characteristics. Oh, no, Mr. Ersham, the problem is not that simple. , as far as I know, except for this man who calls himself Harakett who can recognize this mysterious character Kloshak, no one else will know, if this 'Sun God' refuses to help us..."

"Let's go in!" said Inspector Bonn. "I think we should talk to the family of the deceased first, maybe we can find some clues." When Ellery and his party walked into the lobby of Blatter's home, they saw the victim's family.When they went further, they saw three people standing there, their eyes were red and swollen and their faces were full of tiredness, but their movements seemed tense and felt out of place. Prosecutor Esham first walked towards a woman in her forties with a pale face who seemed to be frightened. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Mrs. Bratt, this is Mr. Ellery who just came from New York to assist in the investigation."

Ellery only said some mournful words, and the two did not shake hands. Mrs. Bratt, who is plump and beautiful, said excitedly, "I am Margaret. Thank you for coming all the way here." "This is Miss Bratt. Herring Bratt—the daughter of Margaret's ex-husband." Esham pointed to a tall girl. Hei Lin smiled silently at Ellery, nodded slightly to Professor Ardori, and then quietly walked to her mother.She was an elegant and demure lady, with an attractive air and a very down-to-earth look. "Anything you guys found?" asked a tall man in his thirties with a New England accent.

"We have already started an investigation. Mr. Ellery, this is Mr. Jonas Lincoln. Although I provided some information an hour ago, I know it is not enough." He pointed to the tall man next to him, "He is the manager of Mr. Thomas Blatt's company. I believe you can get clearer information from him." Everyone nodded heavily, all eyes on Ellery. "Mr. Ellery, what do you want to know?" Lincoln asked pleasantly. "It's okay, I'll ask questions slowly, you just leave me alone." Bonn, who seemed to resent Ellery's incompetence, stood with his arms folded and watched Lincoln from the stove.Elsham stroked his bald head and bent down.

Professor Yadori also sighed at this time, and quietly walked to the French windows, looking at the garden outside.The room seemed to have just finished a banquet or a funeral. It was dead silent, with no crying, no shouting, let alone any hysterical wails.Except for Mrs. Bratt, Miss Blatt, and Mr. Lincoln, no other family members appeared in the house. Esham took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Okay! Then I will start. First, I want to find out about the last night's theater ticket in the deceased's pocket." "Tickets?" Lincoln stared at the wall above Ersham's head like a soldier suffering from shell phobia.

"Yesterday evening, Mr. Bratt called Mrs. Bratt from the company and said that he had bought three tickets for Mrs. Bratt, Haywood and I—the Broadway Theater. So, Mrs. Bratt, Haywood Lin made an appointment to wait for me in Xiding. In other words, Bratt planned to go home. They insisted on my going, so I couldn’t refuse even if I wanted to.” "Why do you want to refuse?" the police officer asked flatly. "Because the company's accounts had not been checked at that time, I was really not in the mood to go to the theater." Mr. Lincoln's blunt expression did not change.

Mrs. Bratt said now in a tone of no emotion: "Then I don't know, he seems to be eager for us to leave." Suddenly, she trembled, and Helin patted her on the shoulder. Lincoln continued his unfinished explanation in his usual tone: "After dinner, I will take them to the theater." "Which theater?" Ersham asked. "Park Theatre. But I didn't go to the play with them. After I sent them to the theater, I went back to the company to do business. I promised them to meet when the play was over and go home together." "So have you been working with the auditors since then? Mr. Lincoln." Inspector Bonn asked very kindly.

Lincoln's eyes suddenly widened: "Well...damn." His head was thrown back, panting like a drowning man.No one spoke.Presently, as if nothing had happened, he went on, "After work is done, it's late, and I'll go back to the theater." "Has the auditor been with you all this time?" Bonn asked, still in a soft, deep voice. Lincoln moved his body: "Why?" He shook his head, "Why do you ask these things? The auditor left the company at about eight o'clock, and I was the only one working after that." Born coughed, eyes sparkling: "When did you pick up the ladies at the theater?"

"About eleven forty-five." Suddenly, Hering spoke calmly, and her mother looked at her sharply. "Officer Bonn, your interrogation tactics are really unsatisfactory. What do you suspect about Lincoln, and Lincoln seems to be lying! Besides——" "I'm sure I won't hurt anyone by interrogating like this," Bonn said coldly. "Please go on, Mr. Lincoln." Lincoln spoke again: "After I saw Mrs. Bratt and Miss Heilin in the hall, I went home together." "Take a car?" Esham asked. "No! Let's take the train to Long Island first, because we didn't wait for Fox, so we took a taxi home instead." "Taxi! Taxi..." Repeating the words in a murmur, Officer Bonn left his seat abruptly and walked out of the living room.The two women of the Bratt family and Lincoln sent Bonn away with horrified eyes. Esham hurriedly asked, "Then what time do you get home?" "Probably a little," Lincoln went on. "It's over a little!" said Blackwood. "You forgot, Lincoln." "Is there anything unusual after returning home?" "No! I didn't notice anything wrong. I went to sleep when I got back," said Lincoln tremblingly. Officer Bonn came back quietly at this time. "Mrs. Blatter, why didn't you know that your husband didn't come back to sleep until dawn?" Elsham continued to ask. "I... for many years, I have been sleeping in the bedroom next door. It was Fox who woke me up this morning, and I didn't know... Wow!" Mrs. Bratt couldn't help crying again when she said this. Officer Bonn stood beside Ersham, mumbling something, but Ersham nodded. "Mr. Lincoln, when did you live here?" Bonn continued the unfinished interrogation. "It's been a long time. Probably several years, Miss Hei Lin?" When the eyes of the two met, a light flashed faintly.Lincoln took a deep breath and answered. Miss Bratt said sincerely: "It's been eight years." For the first time, tears rolled in her eyes. "I was a boy when Lincoln and Hayes came!" "Hass?" Bonn and Ersham asked in unison. "Oh! She is my sister." Lincoln explained, "We are brother and sister, and we have been orphans since childhood." "Where is she now? We don't seem to have seen her yet?" "On the island." Lincoln replied quietly. "Is Oista?" Ellery asked. "That's interesting. She's also a worshiper of the sun god?" "Hey, where do I start? I even quarreled with her about this matter. Unexpectedly, she left Brado Udo in a fit of anger. Those lunatics used that island to develop a new religion. A new religion called Sun Cult, nudism..." "Did you know a man named Harakett?" "Halackett, of course, he's the leader of the lunatics, and he rented the island from Kegam. Kai-Kegam owns the island." Esham turned to Mrs. Bratt again: "You just told us that Heilin is the daughter of your ex-husband, so Bratt is your second husband!" The beautiful Mrs. Bratt pursed her lips: "Yes." "Has Blatter ever been married before?" "Although we have been married for nearly twelve years, he rarely mentioned his ex-wife. Therefore, I don't know much. I only know that they got married in Europe, and his ex-wife passed away very young." Ellery then asked, "Where in Europe did you get married?" "I don't know. Thomas used to be Romanian, maybe he was married in Romania!" Hei Lin couldn't help raising his head when he heard this, and said angrily: "Really, why do you even ask this. Is there any doubt about who was born and who was married in a few years, so that we can find out who killed my father?" murderer?" Ellery replied straightforwardly and docilely: "Miss, please don't misunderstand, because, in the dark, this incident tells me that geographical clues may be the key to solving the case. So, please bear with me." "That's right! Mr. Lincoln, is that Megara who runs the business with Mr. Blatter also a Romanian?" Esham continued to ask. Mrs. Bratt was expressionless, but Lincoln replied naturally, "No, he's Greek." "Really?" Ersham asked unsurely, while Bonn smiled and said, "Are all three of you born in the United States?" The three nodded, but Heilin's eyes were burning with anger, and he looked at Lincoln again, as if expecting him to protest, but Lincoln didn't make a sound, just looked down at the toes of his shoes. Esham then asked, "Where is the Megara man? I remember someone told me that he was sailing. Is it the kind that travels around the world?" "No." Lincoln explained, "Meghalla likes to go around, he can be said to be an amateur explorer. He has his own yacht, and he will not return for at least three or four months." "How long has he been away this time?" asked Inspector Bonn. "Almost a year." "Where is he now?" Lincoln shrugged and said, "I don't know. He always comes and leaves as soon as he says, and never writes. It is difficult for us to track his whereabouts. I don't know why he took so long this time. " Hei Lin frowned and said, "I think I went to Nanyang!" Her lips trembled, and Ellery looked at her in disbelief. "The yacht is called..." "The Hei Lin is a small motorboat." Hei Lin's face flushed immediately. "Steamboat?" Ellery asked. "yes." "Is there any equipment for wireless telegraphy on it?" Bonn asked. "Yes! There are also the crew and the captain. The captain's name is Sweet, and he followed Mr. Megara very early." "I see. By the way, you just said Megara, what is his full name?" Ellery asked suddenly. "Stephen Megara." Esham was a little impatient, and said to himself in a low voice: "I can't bear it, why did you go so far. How long has it been since Blatter and Megara cooperated in the import of carpets?" "Sixteen years," Lincoln replied, "been together since the beginning." "Is business good?" "not bad!" "Are there any money disputes?" Lincoln shook his head: "No. Their careers have been going well. Although the downturn has been a little hit this time, their careers are still quite stable. I don't think this case has anything to do with money." "Well," Elsham asked back, "Then what do you think this matter has to do with it?" Lincoln was speechless with his mouth gaping. Ellery said slowly, "Mr. Lincoln, don't you think this has something to do with religion?" "Religion? No, I don't think there's anything religious about it, it's just the appearance of the cross..." Ellery smiled heartily: "Yes, what religion does Bratt believe in?" Mrs. Bratt replied: "I remember my husband once told me that he was brought up in a Greek Orthodox family, but he didn't believe very religiously. In Wai Mai's eyes, he seemed to be unreligious, so he was often called People are mistaken for an atheist." "And what about Megara?" "That person doesn't believe in anything." Madam said as if the matter was not important at all. Professor Adori said thoughtfully: "Greek Orthodox? Isn't this related to Romania?" Witty students dovetail. Officer Bonn seemed displeased that Ellery was dragging the topic away, so he changed the question: "Mrs. Bratt, do you have any special emblems on your husband?" "Yes, there is a red mole on his right leg." The police officer sighed reassuringly and said: "That's right, it's in line with what the forensic doctor said. Then, it's true that the deceased is indeed Mr. Blatter! Now, please think about it carefully, has Mr. Blatter ever married someone?" Resentment? And after Blatter, will anyone be murdered?" The mother and daughter looked at each other in blank dismay.Lincoln kept looking at the rug, which was a luxurious oriental rug.Ellery, too, was looking at the part of the carpet woven into the image of the Biblical "Tree of Life," which grants eternal life.This is in sharp contrast to the fact that the master of the earth has been killed. "No." Mrs. Bratt's voice broke Ellery's thoughts. "Thomas is a good man. He will have no enemies." "Are there any guests in your family who come with bad intentions?" "No, no, we don't socialize very much, and usually live in peace." Ellery sighed. "Has anyone—guest or not—a lame man been here?" Everyone shook their heads. Mrs. Bratt repeated the same words: "Thomas will have no enemies." She seemed to want to let everyone know what she thought was important, so she repeatedly emphasized it clumsily. "Mrs. Bratt, you forgot one thing," Lincoln said suddenly after a while, "Luomin..." He looked at Mrs. Bratt, and in profile Herring looked at him reproachfully.The other four men were very curious as if they had discovered a new clue, with a feeling of a bright future. "Hey, Luomin!" Mrs. Bratt pursed her lips and said, "I almost forgot that Thomas had a fight with that person." Her power remained unchanged. "Who is Lomin?" Bonn asked. Lincoln said in a low voice, "He is the apprentice who just mentioned that crazy old man who lives on Oista Island." "Ha!" Ellery called out, looking at Professor Ardori.The unassuming scholar deliberately shrugged his shoulders. "The two of them created the nudist village on the island." Lincoln said through gritted teeth. "Halackett is a lunatic, and what he shows is who he is, and Lomin is the most filthy liar. He is just showing off." Own body, the body that encloses the rotting soul." "But," murmured Ellery, "didn't Holmes say--O my soul! Build beautiful houses for you." "Well," Born interrupted Ellery, "what's the quarrel, Mr. Lincoln?" Lincoln's slender face turned into a very sad expression: "Luomin is in charge of entertaining foreign guests on the island, bluffing and deceiving everywhere, a few poor idiots were deceived by him, and those idiots even regarded him as an idol, sometimes they seemed It's because I suppressed my desire too much, and acted naked..." Suddenly, he stopped talking, "I'm sorry, Miss Heilin, I didn't mean to say these things. I know my sister didn't bring you any trouble... …but Mr. Blatter and Dr. Dunpaul felt the same way as I did.” "Well," said Professor Yadoli, "No one came to discuss with me!" "Who is Dr. Paul Dunpale?" "A neighbor on the left, he's seen people on Oista Island naked like goats." "I see," Ellery thought. Lincoln continued: "Thomas owns all the land by the sea, so he thinks it is his responsibility to prevent that kind of thing, and he also quarreled with Luomin and Harlacett about it, probably Mr. Thomas Said to both of them that they would take legal measures to drive them off the island or something." Bonn and Ersham looked at each other, and they both looked at Ellery in unison.The Blatt mother and daughter didn't move at all, while Lincoln let out a sigh of relief, looking a little disturbed and embarrassed. "Anyway, let's investigate that matter later!" Bonn said lightly, "Well, is the Dr. Paul Dun you mentioned the owner of the land to the east?" "No, the land doesn't belong to him. He borrowed it from Thomas." Mrs. Bratt's eyes were a little strange. "It's been a long time. He is a retired military doctor and he and Bratt are good friends." "Then who lives in the land to the west?" "Ah, it's a couple named Lin, Percy and Elizabeth." Mrs. Bratt replied. Helin went on to say—“I met the couple when I was traveling in Rome last fall, and we became good friends. They were eager to come to the United States for a while, so I invited them here.” "When did they move in?" Ellery asked. "It was Thanksgiving this year. They were on the same boat as me, and we broke up when we landed in New York. They visited a lot of places non-stop, and they came here a month later, and they both loved it—" Lincoln made a disapproving sound, and Hei Lin immediately blushed and said, "Hey, Lincoln! It's because they like this place so much that they begged me to let them stay here. Although it's a bit strange, but they insisted on staying here, I had no choice but to stay here." Lend him the house on the west side that my father owns. And they've lived there forever." "I see. I want to meet this couple someday." Esham said, "Dr. Dunpaolo and Mr. Bratt are on good terms?" Mrs. Bratt shook her head: "It's not a very good friend, like I never admired him very much. It's just because he is a nice person with a bright personality, and my husband is the kind of expert who can see through people, so my husband My son often invites him to play chess at home." Professor Yadori sighed.He could not help but feel a little chilled when he heard Mrs. Bratt describe the strengths and weaknesses of his neighbors. How would she describe herself? "Play chess?" Police Officer Bonn yelled as if he had found a fish hooked. "Okay! It seems that things are promising! Mrs. Bratt, besides Dr. Dunpaul, is there anyone else who will talk to Bratt?" Master playing chess?" "Yes, we will all play chess with him." Bonn was a little stunned. Professor Yadori touched his chin and said, "Is Bratt a master?" Mrs. Bratt smiled: "Yes! He plays chess very well and is very patient. Therefore, no one who has been to my house is unwilling to accept my husband's invitation." "The boss wins every time!" Lincoln added. Mrs. Bratt forgot her sadness and said proudly: "Last Christmas, Mr. Lido, who won the national chess championship, came to our house as a guest, and my husband challenged him. Although I am not good at chess, but from that Mr. I learned from my mouth that my husband is very good at chess, and he can't stand it even after several fights!" At this moment, Ellery stood up suddenly and said nervously, "I'm sorry to interrupt everyone's precious time. To make a long story short, I would like to ask a few more questions now, Mrs. Bratt, have you ever heard of Willua Crowe?" Is it Shaq?" Mrs. Bratt looked at Ellery in confusion: "Ruya, who is this? What a strange name." "What about you, Mr. Lincoln?" "I do not recognize." "Miss Lutter?" "Have not heard." "Then, it's even more impossible for you to know Klimt!" Everyone shook their heads in unison. "Andrew Pang?" Still no response. "So, the village of Arroyo in West Virginia?" Lincoln asked in confusion, "Is it a puzzle?" Ellery frowned: "So to speak. I ask everyone to think about it, is it true that no one knows these strange names?" There was another silence. "Okay! Since no one knows, I'll change the question." Ellery paused for a moment, then continued, "Does any of you know when that crazy old man—Harlacett came here?" Lincoln said, "March." "That Luo Min also came at that time?" "Yes." Lincoln looked unhappy. Ellery fixed his glasses, took a step forward and said, "Does the word 'T' have any special meaning to the Bratt family?" "T?" They didn't understand the meaning of Ellery's words, so they just stared at him dumbfounded.Helin said, "What the hell are you talking about?" "Apparently not," Ellery said. Professor Yadori laughed and whispered a few words in his ear. "Mrs. Bratt, how much has your husband told you about Romania?" Ellery asked. "I don't know much. I only know that Blatter and Megara came to the United States together from Romania 18 years ago. Not quite sure." "How do you know these things?" Ellery asked back. "Of course Thomas told me!" Madame replied displeased. Ellery blinked. "I'm just curious! Was he rich before he came here?" Ellery asked. "I don't know. But he was rich when we got married." "I see." After Ellery said this, he said to Lincoln, "I want to see a map of the world." "map?" "Yes, maybe I can find some clues from it." "Okay, I'll go to the study to get it, please wait a moment." So Lincoln walked toward the other room, while Ellery walked up and down the floor, and everyone looked at him inexplicably. "Mrs. Bratt," he continued, stopping, "do you speak Greek or Romanian?" The lady shook her head in surprise. Not long after, Lincoln brought a book with a blue cover and handed it to Ellery. "Does your business spread all over the world, Mr. Lincoln." "Yes, our business is very big, we have customers almost all over the world." "Then you know Greek or Romanian!" "No, I do business abroad, and I don't use foreign languages ​​at all. We have branches in major trading stations all over the world, and all correspondence is in English." "I see." Ellery nodded. "In my opinion, I have asked all the necessary questions!" Ellery greeted everyone politely, thanking them for their full cooperation. Ersham also stood up. "Mrs. Bratt, although the whole case is not yet clear, please believe that we will definitely do our best to investigate. In a short time, please don't leave this place." When Mrs. Bratt walked away with Heylin and Lincoln, Ellery immediately sat down on the sofa, spread out the map, and looked at it carefully. The prosecutor thought, Ellery is really an idiot. Is he going to Romania, where the deceased was born?Officer Bonn also looked disapproving, as if everyone disapproved of Ellery's actions. After five minutes of such detailed study, a smile suddenly appeared on Ellery's face. "As expected!" As expected?The three men who accompanied him were equally surprised. "Look!" Ellery's voice was full of excitement, "Have you noticed that the names of the protagonists of these murders are different?" "name?" "Yes! Blatter is a Romanian, and Megara is a Greek. Don't you discover anything from these names?" The three big men were still at a loss. Ellery said triumphantly: "Forget it! From the trivial details, you can get a glimpse of its roots. I remember a friend of mine, just like Blatter likes to play chess, and some people prefer to play golf, I this Friends like to play geography games..." Professor Yadori was anxious to know the result: "Okay! Don't be tricky, just tell me!" "Thomas Blatter is a Romanian, and there happens to be such a city in Romania; Megara is a Greek, and there happens to be a city of Megara in Greece." Esham was puzzled. "Even so, what can you prove?" "At first glance, this wealthy businessman in his mid-fifties doesn't seem to have anything to do with another victim, Andrew Pang, but that poor primary school principal, who was killed six months ago... ..." "What, don't you..." Bonn was very anxious. "It is recorded in Pang's naturalization book that his home country is Armenia, and there is just such a place as 'Pang' in Armenia." Ellery said with a smile, "Two of these three murders were apparently It is related, and the modus operandi of the third case is the same as one of them. So, there must be something involved in these three cases—” Professor Yaduoli suddenly smiled: "Yes! Why didn't you notice this? The names of the three of them seem to be cut from a map, which is really interesting. But why did they do this? They don't even have their own names. To hide." Ellery continued: "There is more! Now that Andrew Pang, Blatter, and Megara have all changed their names and surnames, the fourth foreigner in this tragedy—the one who has not yet been found Kloshak. I thought his name must be found on the map, but I can't find it anywhere, which is very strange. What do you think about this?" "Three of them are using false names." The professor thought for a while before saying, "And the other person is using his real name. Then... It seems that we are about to grasp the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics!" "So, Master, you too find the whole thing Egyptian?" Adori wrinkled his nose: "No, I didn't say that. Don't talk nonsense, kid!"