Murder Killing
26. Murder in Doncaster I
Inspector Crome is listening to Mr. Very excited leadbetter.
”Trust me, Inspector, my heart is almost dislodged when I think about it. Surely he sat next to me until the movie finished!”
Without a single shred of Mr.'s feelings. Leadbetter, Inspector Crome said,
”Try to tell us clearly. This guy came out at the time that great movie was almost done”
”Not a Sparrow Katherine Royal,” murmured Mr.
Auto leadbetter.
”She passed you and tripped”
”Now I understand, he pretends to stumble. Then he leaned over to the chair in front to pick up his hat. It must have been then that he stabbed that poor fellow.”
”You didn't hear anything? The screams? Or moans?”
Mr. Leadbetter heard nothing but Katherine Royal's loud, raucous voice, but in her delusion, overzealous, she felt as if she had heard a groan.
Inspector Crome stated that the groan was a valuable clue, then asked him to continue his explanation.
”Then he came out”
”Can you describe that person?” ”People are big height. At least six feet. Like a giant.” ”White or black?”
”I hm I'm not so sure. I think he's bald. Spooky face.”
”He's not lame, is he?” ask Inspector Crome.
”Yes, yes, since you've already called it, I think he is indeed lame. Dark skin, could be a peranakan.”
”Is he in his seat when the lights are turned on?”
”No. And he came after the movie started.”
Inspector Crome nodded, giving a statement letter to Mr. Leadbetter to sign and tell him to leave.
”The worst witness we met,” the comment was pessimistic. ”She said anything without a definite direction. Obviously he had no idea at all how that person looked. Now call back the movie theater clerk.”
The cinema attendant came in. Stiffness
like military behavior. He stood up straight and looked at Colonel Anderson attentively.
”Alright, Jameson, we want to hear your caption.”
Jameson saluted.
”Good, Sir. By the time the show was over, sir, I was told there was a sick man, sir. He sat in the 2.4 penny class, in a slumping position. Other people stood around him. I think that person is in very bad shape, sir. One of the men standing there grabbed the sick man's shirt and caught my attention. Blood, Sir. It's clear that the man was stabbed to death, sir. My attention turned to the ABC train guide under the seat, sir. Because I want to do the right thing, I did not touch it, but immediately report to the police the tragedy.”
”That's great, Jameson, you've done everything
something is right.” ”Thank you, Sir.”
”Did you see a guy leave class 2.4 pennies roughly five minutes before that?”
”There are several people, Sir.”
”Can you describe them?”
”I don't think so, sir. One of them Mr. Geofrey Parnell's. Then there was a young man, Sam Baker, with his girl. I don't see anyone else in particular.”
”Sayang. I think it's enough, Jameson.” ”Good, Sir.”
The cinema attendant saluted, then left.
”We have received a medical explanation,” Colonel Anderson said. ”We'd better meet the following person who saw the victim.”
A policeman came and saluted.
”Mr. Hercule Poirot here, sir, with a man.”
Inspector Crome frowned.
”Oh, okay,” he said. ”I think we'd better get them in.”
As I walked slowly behind Poirot, I heard the end of Inspector Crome's sentence.
The two, Crome and the Chief of Police, looked worried and desperate.
Colonel Anderson greeted us with a nod.
”Happy you came, Mr. Poirot,” he said politely. I think he's guessing Crome's comment was heard by our ears. ”We hit again, as you can see.”
”Betul. It is a courageous work. The man leaned forward and stabbed his victim from behind.”
”This time stabbed?”
”Yes, the way is different, right?
Blow on the head, giggle, now dagger. What clever devil? Here's the medical explanation, if you want to check it.”
He shoved a piece of paper at Poirot. ”ABC guide is on the floor, between the legs of the victim,” he added.
”Is the identity of the victim already obtained?” ask Poirot.
”Yes. Once this ABC is mistaken if it satisfies us enough. Victim Earlsfield, George Earlsfield. Barber's profession.”
”Any,” comments Poirot.
”Maybe one letter passed,” the colonel said. My friend shook with doubt.
”How about we call the next witness?”
ask Crome. ”She already wants to go home.”
”Ya, yes just keep going.”
A middle-aged man who looks a lot like a frog coachman in the story of Alice in Wonderland appears. He was very excited and his voice was shrill with emotion.
”The most surprising experience for me,” he said screeched. ”My heart is weak, sir is very weak, could have been my death is targeted.”
”Your name?” said the inspector. ”Downes. Roger Emmanuel Downes.” ”Profession?”
”I am a teacher at Highfield School, special for boys.”
”Now, Mr. Downes, can you tell us the incident in your own words.”
”I can tell you briefly, Fathers. When the show ended, I got up
seating. The seat on my left was empty, but on the seat next to him sat a man, apparently sleeping. I couldn't get past him because his legs were stretched out in front of him. I'm sorry and want to get through it. Since he was silent, I repeated my request with a slightly louder voice. He still didn't answer. I held her shoulder to wake her up. His body was getting degenerate and I became aware, if not fainting he must be very sick. I shouted, ’This guy is sick. Call the cinema clerk.’ The officer came. As I lifted my hand from his shoulder, I saw my hand wet and red...
I realized that the man had been stabbed. At once the officer saw the ABC train guide...
Really, gentlemen, what a great surprise! Anything can happen! It has been years I suffered from weak heart”
Colonel Anderson looked at Mr. Downes with
strange views.
”You're lucky, Mr. Downes.”
”True, Sir. I didn't even have an attack!”
”You don't quite understand my point, Mr. Downes. You said you were sitting at a distance of two seats?”
”Actually I was sitting next to the victim and then I moved to sit behind an empty chair.”
”Your height and posture are almost the same as the victim, and you wear a woolen scarf around your neck, just like the victim, right?”
”I was not aware” said Mr. Downes tense. ”You are really lucky, Sir,” said the Colonel
Andersons. ”Somehow, at the time the killer was trailing you, he was confused. He stabbed the other person in the back. I dare chew on my hat, Mr. Downes, if it turns out it wasn't you who was meant to be the victim of that stabbing!”
How strong Mr.'s heart is. Downes at the time of the incident, this time he could not survive anymore. Mr. Downes slammed into a chair, gasping, and his face turned blue.
”Air,” the word stinged. ”Air..”
A glass of water was given to him. He took a sip and his facial skin gradually returned to normal.
”I?” abugn. ”Why me?”
”It seems to be so,” Crome said. ”In fact, that's the only reasonable description.”
”You mean that person that demon guy that bloodthirsty madman has been trailing me to wait for an opportunity?”
”I think that's what happened.”
”But, for God's sake, why me?” the angry school teacher.
Inspector Crome was tempted to answer, ”Why not?’’ but instead he says, ”I guess there's no point hoping that a madman has a reason to do something.”
”God protect my soul,” murmured Mr. Downes, turn quiet.
