Chapter 10 Eighth scene

On Saturday morning, although the internal tide was surging, the exterior was quite calm.When Inspector Sam strode into the offices of the DeWitt-Lonstraee branch, the staff and customers there were startled by his sudden appearance, but then calmed down and went about their work.A group of Sam's men also arrived at the scene. They were very careful not to interfere with the normal work of the company, but just walked around quietly. In the special office marked "John DeWitt" the whole gang had been assembled the previous night and waited, supervised by the vigilant deputy Peabody.In the next office next door, the glass on the door was marked with the words "Harry Lonstreet", and Duffy's huge dark blue back was seen through the glass.

Sam looked at the crowd without emotion, gave a rude nod, and led Jonas to Longstreet's office.Inside, Sam saw a moody young woman sitting nervously upright at the front of a chair—a tall, stylishly dressed brunette, pretty, but a bit gaudy. Sam sank into the swivel chair at the large desk, and Jonas sat in the corner, getting his pencil and notebook ready. "I think you are Lonstra's private secretary!" "Yes, my name is Preet, Anna Preet, and I have been Mr. Longstreet's private secretary for four full years." The tip of Anna's straight nose is red, which is a bit funny, and her eyes are also wet. She gently pressed the corners of her eyes with a soft handkerchief, "It's so scary!"

"Of course, of course," the inspector grinned sullenly, "don't be so busy crying now, miss, let's finish the serious business first, and then you can cry well. I think you are the kind of boss who cares about everything from the boss's normal affairs to his private life. Smart girl who knows everything, tell me—do Lonstra and DeWitt get on?" "No, they often quarrel." "Well, who usually wins?" "Oh! Mr. Longstreet, of course. Every time Mr. DeWitt felt that Mr. Longstreet's actions were inappropriate, he would raise objections, but in the end, it was always Mr. DeWitt who gave in."

"How on earth did Lonstra treat DeWitt?" Anna Platt bit her finger and said: "I think, you want to know the real situation... He always rides on Mr. DeWitt's head. He knows that Mr. DeWitt is better than him in the business field." , but he hates it. So he puts Mr. DeWitt on the line, and does it his way, regardless of whether there is a problem with it or whether the company loses money." Inspector Sam's eyes lingered on the female secretary: "You are such a smart and lovely girl! Miss Platt, let's continue. Do you think DeWitt hates Lonstra?"

She lowered her eyelids: "Yes, I think he hates it, and I think I know why, and it's an open secret, Mr. Lonstree, he—" Her voice hardened, "He and DeWitt Mrs. is a bit involved, it's a serious situation... I'm pretty sure Mr. DeWitt knows about it too, though I've never heard him make inquiries about it with Mr. Longstreet or anyone else." "Does Lonstra love Mrs. DeWitt? Then why does Lonstra love that Miss Brown again?" "Mr. Longstreet doesn't fall in love with any woman. He only loves himself. He's been messing around with a lot of women, and I think Mrs. DeWitt is just one of them, and she, I guess, is like Mr. Lontress, like all the other women, must think he loves her very much, and only her. I can tell you one more thing," she said, turning into a weather forecaster's tone, "I think You'd be interested to know, wouldn't you? One time, Mr. Longstreet tried to get his hands on Jane DeWitt, right here in this office, and there was a big fight, because Jane's boyfriend, Rod, came rushing in at the sound. When I saw this scene, I knocked Mr. Longstreet to the ground with one punch. Mr. DeWitt also came running quickly, and they sent me away. I don’t know what happened afterwards. Huawu, this happened about two months ago."

The inspector looked at the female secretary calmly, and he had his own plan in his mind: "Very good, Miss Preet, really very good. Do you think that DeWitt has something to fall into Longstreet's hands? " The female secretary hesitated a little: "I don't know, but I know that Mr. Longstreet will take a large sum of money from Mr. DeWitt every once in a while, 'private loan', Mr. Longstreet smiled maliciously Saying that, and getting money every time, in fact, only a week ago, he asked Mr. DeWitt for another twenty-five thousand dollars, and Mr. DeWitt was so mad that I was afraid he would have a stroke on the spot... "

"I believe so," murmured Sam. "They had a big row in this room, but Mr. DeWitt gave in, as is customary." "Is there any harsh words?" "Yeah, Mr. DeWitt said, 'It must never go on like this.' And he said they both had to clean it up, or we'd all die together." "Twenty-five thousand dollars," said the inspector, "for God's sake, what would Lonstray do with such a sum of money? He's supposed to be getting a good income from this company, isn't he?" Anna blinked her brown eyes. "You'll never find a man who spends as much money as Mr. Lone Street," she said maliciously. The normal income of the company is lost in two or three strokes. When there is no money, I ask Mr. DeWitt for a 'private loan'. God, that is called a loan. He never paid back a penny. I know too well Well, how should I put it, I often call the bank on his behalf, asking them for accommodation and asking them to overdraft. Moreover, the public debts and real estate in his hand have been converted into cash and spent. There was no money left either."

Sam looked at the glass plate on the desk thoughtfully: "You said that the money DeWitt lent him never came back, and Lonstra kept asking like a daddy, good , very good!" He suddenly stared at Anna, and Anna lowered her eyelids with some unease, "Miss Platt," he continued relaxedly, "we are all grown-ups, and we don't believe that the white stork will come The sweet story of a child, what is the relationship between you and Lonstra? You remind me of the 'cheap and generous' type of boss lady secretary." Anna was very angry, and Huo Di stood up: "What do you mean!"

"Sit down, miss." Sam grinned, and Anna sat back in the chair. "I'm sure so. Now tell me, how long have you been living together?" "I didn't live with him!" she said through gritted teeth. "We were just playing with each other. It's been almost two years. Is it necessary for me to sit here and be humiliated by others? Can you be like this just because you are a policeman? Let me tell you, I She's not the messy girl you think!" "Of course," the inspector reassured, "do you live with your parents?" "My parents live up north."

"I guess that's the way it is. Lonstray promised to marry you, right? Of course, this is just a typical good girl who doesn't like her. Then, Lonstray hooked up with Mrs. DeWitt and dumped you right?" "This..." Anna hesitated, and suddenly stared at the tiles on the floor, "This—yes." "But no matter what, you are still a smart girl." Sam once again admired Anna from head to toe, "Yes miss! You have had a relationship with a boss like Lonstra. After doing your work, you can still sit back in the female secretary's position without incident—it's really a trick, baby."

This time Anna chooses to fight with silence, she wants the goddamn Inspector Sam to know that she is smart enough to throw some bait to lure her into the bait, there is no way.Sam, on the other hand, hummed a tune with ease, and looked at her short, neatly combed hair carefully without saying a word. It took a while before Sam spoke again, in a completely different serious tone, and asked some completely different questions.She knew from her mouth that on Friday afternoon, when Longstreet was about to go to the Grant Hotel to find Qiao Li Brown, Mike Collins, his face purple, rushed into the office angrily, pointed at Longstreet's nose and cursed him as Liar, DeWitt wasn't around then.Anna Platt said that the reason for Collis' anger was that Lonstra had told Collins that international metal stocks were bullish and asked him to buy a large amount, which caused him to lose 50,000 yuan in vain, so Collins gritted his teeth and wanted to Stry compensated for the loss.Longstreet seemed a little bit embarrassed on the spot, but he still comforted the furious Irishman: "Don't worry, Mike, leave the matter to me, and I will let DeWitt handle it properly." Collins asked him to find him immediately. DeWitt came forward to deal with it, but DeWitt was not there, and Lonstra asked Collins to come to his engagement dinner later, promising that the three of them would meet and deal with the matter immediately. As much as Anna could say, Sam asked her to leave and then called DeWitt. DeWitt was pale, but calm.Sam cut to the chase: "I'll ask the same question I asked last night, why do you hate your partner so much?" "Inspector Sam, it's no use threatening me." "You mean you're not going to answer that question?" DeWitt pursed his lips. "Very well, DeWitt," said Sam, "you're making the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life... I'll ask you again how Mrs. A good friend who doesn't talk about it, right?" "certainly." "And your daughter and Lonstra—there's nothing unpleasant between them, is there?" "You are going too far!" "So the relationship between your family and Longstree is really in perfect harmony, very happy, right?" "What the hell!" DeWitt yelled, jumping up, "what the hell do you mean!" Sam smiled kindly, stretched his feet and kicked DeWitt's chair: "Don't get excited, sit down first... Do you and Lonstra have equal status in the company?" DeWitt calmed down, his eyes still bloodshot, "Yes." He replied in a very calm tone. "How long have you been together?" "Twelve years." "How did you start working together?" "Before World War II, we mined in South America and made a lot of money, so we went back to the United States to jointly start a securities company." "How is it?" "not bad." "That's weird," Sam said, still smiling. "Since the company is also making money, and you are also rich, why does Lonstra keep borrowing money from you?" DeWitt sat impassive: "Who told you this?" "DeWitt, I'm asking you." "That's such a boring question," DeWitt bit his mouth to photograph his thick beard. "I occasionally lend him some money. It's purely a matter of money between friends—a small amount..." "A little twenty-five thousand dollars?" The thin DeWitt felt like sitting on pins and needles: "That--that was originally a loan, and it was personal." "DeWitt," Sam said, "stop talking around here, you give Lonstra a lot of money and he never pays it back, and you probably don't expect it back at all. I want to know Why, and if—” DeWitt couldn't sit still anymore, jumped up from the chair like his butt was on fire, his face was distorted and livid: "You are already abusing the power of the police! Let me tell you, this has nothing to do with the killing of Lonstra. Nothing to do with-" "Okay, stop acting, you go outside and wait!" DeWitt's mouth was still open, gasping for air, and it shrank like a deflated balloon.The violent mood also faded away, but he still walked out with his chest puffed out, a little shaky.Sam watched him leave, a little troubled, this DeWitt's behavior is weird, it doesn't make sense... The next person Sam called was Mrs. DeWitt Foan. The conversation ended quickly and unproductively, and the late, ill-tempered and often violent woman was as weird as her husband.She seemed to be hiding deep and distorted emotions and secrets, but she said she didn't know, she didn't know anything. When asked about the relationship with Longstreet, she calmly denied everything except that they knew each other and their friendship was as light as water; She scoffed at Lonstreet's attempt to hook up with her daughter Jane: "As far as I know, he's interested in older women." Mrs. Tate did not know anything except that she was "a clever little actress" who charmed Longstreet by her pretty face; The reaction is, neuropathy, how could that happen... Sam was speechless, but his heart was turned upside down. This is really a standard shrew, with vinegar flowing in his veins.Sam further intimidated and sweetened, but apart from the nonsensical fact that she and DeWitt had been married six years now, and that Jen was the child of DeWitt's ex-wife, Sam could do nothing but announce that give up. Mrs. DeWitt got up, took out the small powder compact from her handbag, and continued to apply powder on the face that was already heavily powdered. Her hands trembled, the compact dropped to the ground with a clang, the mirror shattered, her domineering posture suddenly broke, and her face under the rouge completely lost its color.She hurriedly made the sign of the cross on her chest, and said in Spanish with terrified eyes: "God bless!" But at that moment, she suddenly regained her composure, glanced at Sam angrily, and then looked at the ground with restraint. The mirror shards, walked away quickly, Sam laughed, picked up the mirror shards, and placed them on the table. He went to the door and called Franklin Ahan to come. Aham was a big man who looked younger than his age.He stalks with his head held high, with a relaxed smile on his lips, and his eyes are very soft and cheerful. "Sit down, please. How long have you and DeWitt known each other, Mr. Aham?" "Let's think about it... it's been six years since I moved to West Gerwood." "Lonstra knows you well, doesn't he?" "Honestly, I don't really know each other very well, we live very close, but I'm personally a retired engineer at home, and I don't do business with anyone. DeWitt introduced me to Longstreet- sorry I To put it bluntly, I don't like Longstreet at all. He is a person who can't be trusted. He is the kind of guy who can bluff people when he plays cards. You know the kind. I don't know who killed him, but I can assure you that Lonstra definitely asked for it." "Another thing," continued Sam, "what do you think of Joey Brown accusing DeWitt of murder last night?" "Nonsense," said Ahan, rolling his eyes to look at Sam's. "It's total nonsense. Only a hysterical woman can bite like that. I've known DeWitt for six years. There's not a single evil bone in this man. He's incredibly kind, a standard gentleman. I bet no one in the world knows him better than I do, except for his own family. We play three or four times a week together. chess." "Oh, playing chess?" Sam became interested. "How is your chess skill?" Ahan smiled triumphantly: "My lord inspector, you really don't know Taishan, don't you read the newspaper? The person who is talking to you now is the number one ace player in this area. Three weeks ago, I just won the Atlantic coast. Open title." "You really don't know Taishan!" Sam exclaimed, "It's an honor to recognize you, a champion chess player. I also shook hands with Jack Dempsey before. How about DeWitt's chess skills?" Ahan leaned forward and said with great interest: "As far as an amateur chess player is concerned, his chess skills are quite amazing. I have been encouraging him a few years ago. He should concentrate on developing on this and participate in the competition. But he is too shy. , so shy - he's very sensitive. His mind is sharp and he plays chess like lightning. You know, real chess players are incredibly fast and don't hesitate in a game. Oh, me and DeWitt But I played a lot of good games.” "Is he neurotic?" "Very neurotic, nervous about everything, he really needs to rest himself. Seriously, I think Lonstra is a heavy burden in his life, although DeWitt would never tell me His business, now that Lone Streeter is dead, I believe DeWitt can take the burden off his shoulders and live a new life." "I suppose so," said Sam. "That's all right, Mr. Aham." Ahan stood up energetically, and he took out the big silver watch in his arms: "Oh my God, it's time to take stomach medicine," he smiled at Sam, "My stomach has always been against me—so I'm a vegetarian now, you You know, I was an engineer when I was young, and I was spoiled by living on canned meat every day. Then, I will excuse you first." He swaggered away again.Sam said to Jonas angrily: "If that is considered a stomach problem, then I can also be the President of the United States. I obviously came up with it out of thin air." Sam went to the door again, and this time it was Joey Brown's turn. A moment later, sitting across the table looking at Sam, was another actress, quite different from the night before, who seemed to have regained her bright, cheerful demeanor, carefully made up, with blue eyeshadow, and a fashionable Dressed in black, he answered questions clearly.Five months ago, she met Lonstra at a banquet. She said that Lonstra pursued her desperately for several months before they finally decided to get engaged, and Lonstra once promised her that once the engagement was over, they would "change Make a will"—she emphasized this matter very much, and it seemed that she really believed that Longstreet was a cash cow returning from overseas with a lot of money in his hands. She accidentally caught a glimpse of the shards of the mirror on the table, and turned her head away uncomfortably. She admitted that she accused DeWitt of being a murderer last night out of sheer emotion.No, she didn't see anything on the tram, she just guessed from "female intuition" that DeWitt did it.Sam was dumbfounded on the spot. "But Harry keeps telling me that DeWitt hates him." She insisted, her voice artificial.Why hate him?She shrugged, charmingly. She still gave Jonas a wink as she left the room. Next came Christopher Rhodes. Sam stood to greet him like a demonstrator. The two just looked at each other, staring at each other.That's right, Rhodes admitted frankly that he had repaired Longstreet, and he didn't regret it at all-this guy was extremely bad, and he dared to provoke him.Afterwards, he submitted his resignation to DeWitt, his direct supervisor, but DeWitt retained him.Rhodes also said that he agreed to stay, on the one hand, because he sincerely respects DeWitt, and because, if Lonstra dares to harass Jane maliciously again, he can protect her nearby. "The guy who thinks he is a hero to save the beauty," Sam murmured, "well, let's change the subject. According to my feeling, DeWitt is not a temperless person. Why would he make it so big when someone raped his daughter?" Little things disappear?" Rhodes put his hands in his pockets: "Inspector," he said with the gesture of opening the skylight, "I know, hell, it's not like him at all. Aside from his relationship with Lonstra, he has always been a sharp, Smart and self-confident, he is also one of the shrewdest businessmen on Wall Street. DeWitt usually cares about his daughter and keeps an eye on her reputation outside. It stands to reason that someone would dare to violate his daughter like this , he must fight back on the spot and tear the pervert into pieces, but——he did nothing, compromised, why did he do this, you ask me, who am I to ask!" "According to you, the way DeWitt treats Lonstra is completely out of his normal personality?" "Of course." Lord also said that DeWitt and Longstreet often argued with each other behind the closed office door, God knows what. When asked about Mrs. DeWitt's relationship with Longstreet, the blond boy carefully avoided the important ones; What about Mike Collins?Rhodes said that he directly belongs to DeWitt, and he doesn't know the situation of Longstreet's clients; as for whether Longstreet will completely ignore DeWitt and directly advise Collins to buy stocks?Rod's answer was that, if you know Lone Street, it's not surprising at all. Sam sat down on the corner of the table: "Young man, did Lonstra harass Jane again?" "Yes," Rhode became angry again, "I wasn't there, it was Anna Platt who told me about it afterward, she refused sternly, and ran out of the office." "What did you do when you found out?" "What do you think will happen to me? Of course I will settle with Lonstra right away." "Hit him?" "No... we had a big fight." "Okay, that's all right," Sam said abruptly, "let Miss DeWitt come in." Jane, of course, sided completely with her father, saying what Jonas had already written down in his notebook, nothing new, and Sam, listless, sent her hastily into the next room. "Mr. Impoli!" The tall, burly Swiss seemed to fill the whole door, and he was meticulously dressed.His short, pointed beard was neat and glossy, and Jonas seemed a little taken aback, watching him in awe. Impoli's bright eyes fixed on the mirror shards on the table for a moment, he frowned slightly in disgust, turned to Lonstra, and bowed politely.He said that he and DeWitt are good friends and have known each other for four years. The two met when DeWitt went to the Swiss Alps to play, and they hit it off right away. "Mr. DeWitt is a very kind person," he showed his white teeth. "I have made four business trips to the United States, and I stayed at his home every time." "What is your company name?" "Swiss Precision Machinery Company, my position is the general manager of the branch." "Oh, so... Mr. Impoli, can you give us some perspective on this murder?" Impoli spread his well-kept hands and said, "I have no idea, Mr. Inspector. I don't know Mr. Longstreet well." Sam asked Impoli to leave, and Impoli went out. Sam pulled his face and shouted: "Collins!" The tall Irishman came in reluctantly, with an unhappy mouth, and whatever questions Sam asked he answered them impatiently and viciously.Sam walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar like he was going to rip him off. "Listen to me, you politicians, you bum," Sam said, "I wanna tell you the fuck I’ve been waiting for these words for a long time, I know too well, you fucked me up last night, thinking that you can avoid today’s inquiry, but you can’t escape after all, right! You public food Guizi, yesterday you said that you came here to find Longstreet's theory and asked him to give you an explanation. You said that you didn't quarrel. I didn't plan to go into it yesterday, but I have to make it clear this morning. You're telling me the truth now, the complete truth." Collins was shaking with anger. He pushed Sam's hand away. "You're a smart cop, aren't you!" Collins growled, "What do you think I'll do to him—kiss him? Yes, Of course I’m going to scold him—I hope his dirty son-in-law goes to hell, and damn it makes me go bankrupt!” Sam smiled at Jonas. "Remember? Jonas," Sam turned to Collins again, "a good reason to kill him, isn't it?" Collins also laughed maliciously: "It's so smart, it's so smart, I think, I must have prepared the cork with the needle a long time ago, and I will throw it in his pocket when I find a chance, right? Go back and eat shit, Sarah Tom, what the hell do you have for an inspector?" Sam blinked, but continued, "Why would DeWitt know nothing about Lonstra's suggestion that you buy stocks?" "Why? I want to know why more than you do," Collins said reluctantly. "He's running some shitty company, but I can tell you something, Sam," and he leaned forward, his neck on his neck. Veined, "This DeWitt will be responsible for paying for the shabby advice Lonstra gave me, and you'll soon see why." "Mark that too, Jonas," Sam said, "this guy really put a rope around his neck... Friend Collins, you threw fifty thousand dollars at International Metal, where the hell did you get that? How much? With your modest salary, it’s impossible to bet fifty thousand in cash.” "It's none of your business, Sam, I'll break your neck..." Sam's big hand grabbed Collins' collar, and the two faces were only an inch apart. Sam put down his words severely: "I warn you, if your dirty mouth dares to spit out any more nasty words, I will It's gonna break your neck right there, like you said," Sam said louder, "now get the hell out of here, you bastard." Sam pushed him away, and Collins, who was so angry that he couldn't say a word, rushed out of the door.Sam shook himself, cursed a few words, and called in Pluck with the short beard. The mind-reading artist had a thin, wolf-like Italian face and a tense look, and Sam pinned him there with arrow-like eyes. "Listen to me," Sam poked Plack's collar with his strong fingers, "I tell you the truth, I don't have the time to talk to you about what you know about Lonstra's murder. " Pluck squinted at the shards of mirror on the table and began yelling in Italian.In fact, he was terribly afraid of Sam, but he refused to cooperate honestly. He said in a very hypocritical tone: "I don't know anything. You can't ask anything from me and Qiao Li." "Pure as a blank sheet of paper, isn't it? Like a suckling baby?" "Listen, Mr. Inspector, a ruffian like Lonstray should have ended up like this. He almost ruined Qiao Li's life. This man is a well-known vampire on Broadway. Anyone with a little brain can guess His retribution." "Are you familiar with Qiaoli?" "Who? Are you talking about me? Of course, we have always been good partners." "Do everything for her, don't you?" "What do you mean by that?" "That's what you mean, go away?" Plaque left angrily without saying a word.Jonas rose to his feet, imitating Pluck's walk perfectly. Sam snorted, walked to the door and yelled, "DeWitt, come in again, just a minute or two." DeWitt calmed down, as if nothing had happened just now, as soon as he entered the door, he saw the shards of the mirror on the table. "Whose mirror is broken?" he asked subconsciously. "Noticing everything, great talent isn't it? Your wife's." DeWitt sat down and sighed: "This is terrible. My wife must have blamed this and that for weeks because of the broken mirror, and everyone followed suit. I think it will be endless." "So superstitious, your wife?" "Extremely superstitious. As you know, she is half Spanish. Her mother is a standard Spanish old-fashioned Castilian, and her father is a Protestant. Her mother raised her in the old-fashioned Castilian way since she was a child." She, however, does not include the Catholicism of the Madrid Church, Foan is sometimes very troublesome." Sam flicked the shards of glass on the table: "I think you don't believe in this, right? DeWitt, I heard that you are a very shrewd and sophisticated businessman." DeWitt looked directly at Sam without hostility: "I know, my friend made some comments," he said mildly, "No, Inspector Sam, I certainly don't believe in that nonsense. .” Sam suddenly changed the subject: "DeWitt, the reason I called you here again is to get your assurance that my subordinates and the investigators from the local prosecutor's office will investigate the case in the future. I hope you can fully cooperate." "You can rest assured." "You know, we have to go through all of Lonstra's business and personal correspondence. His bank account, and all the transaction-related information. When my people come here, you promise to help them as much as possible?" "Inspector, I absolutely guarantee that." "great." Sam then ordered the lambs to be slaughtered in the next office to leave freely, and gave some instructions to the deputy team leader Peabody and Bruno's young prosecutor, who looked quite capable, before walking out of DeWitt-Long The gate of Stry Company. Sam's face was very, very gloomy.