Murder Killing
10. Megan Barnard
Like I said, Megan Barnard's words, in a short but pungent tone, surprised me.
But Poirot just looked down grimly. ”A la bonne heure nice,” she said. ”You are very intelligent, Mademoiselle.”
Megan Barnard said, still in the same tone and attitude, ”I love Betty very much, very much, but this feeling did not make me blind and did not see that she was a stupid girl even often I said that to her! That's how it's usually fellow sisters.”
”Does he follow your advice?” ”Maybe not,” says Megan cynical.
”Mademoiselle, can you explain it in more detail?”
The girl hesitated for a moment.
With a small smile Poirot said, ”I'll help you. I heard what you said to Hastings. That your sister is a
smart and happy girl, no boy friend. It's a bit opposite to reality, isn't it?”
Megan said slowly, ”Nothing bad in Betty. I'd like you to understand this. He just never thinks long. He's not the kind to end the week. It's not like that. But she likes to be invited on dates and dances and well, cheap seduction. He also likes to be adored-puja or things like that.”
”She's beautiful, isn't she?”
It was the third time I had heard this question, and this time it got a practical answer.
Megan got off the table, headed for her suitcase, opened it, and took something she had directly extended to Poirot.
In the frame of the skin is seen a picture of a blonde girl limited to the shoulder. It was obvious that her hair had just been permed. His smile was seductive and contrived. Actually her face can not be said to be beautiful, even it gives off a cheap impression.
Poirot held it back, and said, ”You and he don't look like each other, Mademoiselle.”
”Oh! I am the least attractive in my family. I've always been aware of this.” He seemed to put that reality aside as unimportant. ”In what ways do you think your sister is being stupid? Maybe you mean something to do with Mr. Donald Fraser?”
”Betul. Don is a very quiet guy but he's well, of course he doesn't like a few things then”
”Then what, Mademoiselle?” His eyes kept staring at the girl.
Maybe this was just my guess, but it seemed that the girl was worried for a moment before answering.
”I'm afraid he'll leave my sister. Honey when that happens. He's a steady guy and likes to work hard and will be a good husband for my sister.”
Poirot just kept looking at him. The girl did not cry out with Poirot's gaze, even looking straight back at him and something reminded me of his defiant and dismissive attitude earlier.
”So so apparently,” said Poirot finally. ”We no longer speak honestly.”
He shrugged his shoulders and turned towards the door.
”Yah,” said, ”I'm just trying to help you.”
Poirot's voice stopped his steps.
”Wait, Mademoiselle. There's something I want to tell you. Come back here.”
I guess a little hesitant he's back.
To my astonishment, Poirot revealed the whole story of the ABC letters, the Andover murders, and the train manuals found near the bodies of the victims.
There was no reason for Poirot to reprimand the girl
that's because I didn't notice it. His lips gaped, his eyes lit up, he listened intently to every word Poirot said.
”Thank you all this, Mr. Poirot?” ”Ya, right.”
”You really think that my sister was killed by a terrible maniac killer?”
”True.”
He took a deep breath.
”Oh, Betty, Betty, really, really terrible!” ”You see, Mademoiselle, the information I got
from you can help, and we don't have to worry about anyone getting offended.”
”So, let's continue our conversation now. I suspect, maybe Donald Fraser is a man who likes to use violence and jealousy, is that right?”
Megan Barnard said slowly,
”Now I trust you, Mr. Poirot's. I will tell you the real thing. As I said, Don is very quiet, a reclusive man, if you know what I mean. He can't always express his feelings in words. But basically there were many things hidden in his heart. She's jealous. She was always jealous of Betty. She is very loyal to Betty and of course Betty is also very dear to her, but her name is not Betty if she only loves one person, and does not pay attention to the other as well.
His nature is so. He was always trying to attract the attention of the handsome men he happened to see. And of course, by working at Ginger Cat, he always met a lot of men, especially during the summer holidays. His words were always soft wooing and when they teased him, he served him. Then maybe he wants to go on a date, watch a movie, and so on. Never seriously never really did he just like a prank. She used to say, someday she would marry Don, so now she would have fun first, while still being able to.”
Megan was silent for a moment and Poirot said, ”I understand. Continue.”
”Don could not understand his thoughts. When it's really serious with her, why would Betty still want to go with someone else. And once or twice they had a great fight about it.”
”Mr. Don, he's no longer silent?”
”Like all people are quiet, once angry always followed violence. And so great that it scared Betty.”
”When did it happen?”
”Almost a year ago and a more severe quarrel occurred about more than a month ago. I went home for the weekend and I reconcile them back. It was at that time that I tried to advise Betty to think a little and I told her she was stupid. He just said, there's no harm in doing that. Well, that's it
yes, but he is seeking destruction. You know, after the bickering years ago he had a habit of lying with a principle that if the brain does not know, the heart will not grieve. The final ruckus occurs because Betty tells Don that she is going to Hastings to meet her friend, a girl, and Don finds her going to Eastbourne with a man. The man had a family, so they were always hiding and it made matters worse. Their fights were great. Betty said that she was not married to Don, and she had the right to go with anyone she liked. Don was pale and trembling, threatening that one day one day
”Ya?”
”He will kill” Megan said in a low voice.
He stopped talking and looked at Poirot.
Poirot nodded several times with a grim face.
”Dan, of course you are worried..”
”I never thought he would actually do it, not for a second! But I'm afraid it will be a fight, and everything he says some people know.”
Again Poirot nodded, moody.
”So so. In my opinion, Mademoiselle, if it were not for the egoism and arrogance of a murderer, it would not have happened. When Donald
Fraser is not suspected as a suspect, he can thank the ABC.” guy
Poirot was silent for a minute or two, then he said, ”Do you know your sister is still seeing the family man or another man lately?”
Megan shakes.
”I don't know. As you know, I do not live here.”
”But how are you guessing?”
”Maybe he did not meet the man who was married. Maybe Don didn't mention it on purpose to avoid a fight, but I'm not surprised that Betty lied to Don again. You know, she loves to dance and watch movies, and of course Don can't take her any time.”
”If so, could he tell someone his secret? The girl in the cafeteria for example?”
”I don't think so. Betty doesn't fit in with that girl named Higley. According to Betty, the girl was too ’low’. And another new officer. Betty is not a person who likes to tell her personal secrets.”
An electric bell rang loudly above the girl's head.
He went to the window and looked outside. Then he quickly pulled his head back inside.
”There Don..”
”Take him here,” said Poirot quickly. ”I want to
talk to him before our inspector holds him.”
As fast as lightning Megan Barnard came out of the kitchen, and two seconds later she returned while guiding Donald Fraser in.
