Roger Mystery

Chapter 13 The Neighbor's Occupation (1)
The next morning I hurriedly ended my rounds, feeling very guilty.But no one was seriously ill that day, so that's my excuse.When I got home, Caroline greeted me in the living room.

"Flora Ackroyd is here," she whispered excitedly.

"What?" I tried to hide my surprise.

"She is anxious to see you and has been here for half an hour."

I followed Caroline into the small living room.

Flora sat on the sofa by the window, dressed in black, her hands twisted nervously.I was startled when I saw her face. There was no blood on her pale face, but when she spoke, she managed to maintain a calm and decisive tone.

"Doctor Shepard, I have something to ask of you."

"Of course he'd like to help, my dear," said Caroline hastily.

I don't think Flora actually wanted to talk to Caroline in front of her, she must have wanted to speak to me privately.But she had no time to procrastinate, so she could only hurry up and get straight to the point.

"I would like you to accompany me to 'Larch'."

"'Larch'?" I was rather surprised.

"To meet that funny little man?" Caroline asked in surprise.

"Yes, do you know who he is?"

"We're guessing it might be a retired barber," I said.

Flora's blue eyes widened.

"Hey, he's Hercule Poirot! Do you know who I'm talking about? He's a private detective. People say he's solved a lot of marvelous cases--like the detectives in the novels." A year ago He is retired and lives in seclusion in our village. My uncle knows who he really is, but he promises not to tell anyone, because M. Poirot wants to live a quiet life and doesn't want to be disturbed."

"So that's what he does." I said slowly.

"You must have heard of him before?"

"According to Caroline, I'm an old-fashioned one," I said, "but I've actually heard of this man."

"Unbelievable!" Caroline yelled from the sidelines.

I don't know what she was referring to—probably blaming myself for not digging out the truth earlier.

"You want to visit him?" I asked again slowly. "Why?"

"Of course he was asked to investigate the murder," Caroline shrieked. "Don't be silly, James."

I'm not stupid.Caroline often did not understand my intentions.

"Could it be that you don't trust Inspector Davis?" I went on.

"Nevertheless," said Caroline, "I don't trust him either."

Anyone else might think it was Caroline's uncle who was murdered.

"So how do you know he's willing to take on this case?" I asked. "Don't forget, he's retired."

"That's the point," replied Flora succinctly, "and I'm going to get him to go."

"Are you sure it's wise to do this?" I said sternly.

"Of course she is," said Caroline. "I can accompany her myself if she wishes."

"If you don't mind, Miss Shepard, I would like to ask Dr. Shepard to come with me," said Flora.

She was well aware of the need to be straightforward in certain situations.Any oblique hints were in vain to Caroline.

"You see," and then she took another roundabout tactic, "Dr. Sheppard is a doctor after all, and he is also the discoverer of the body. He can explain all the details to M. Poirot."

"That's right," Caroline said sourly, "I understand that."

I paced back and forth in the room twice.

"Flora," I said gravely, "if you take my advice, don't involve this detective."

Flora rose to her feet, flushing.

"I know why you say that," she cried, "but that's why I'm so anxious to ask him for help. You're afraid! But I'm not. I know Ralph better than you do."

"Ralph!" exclaimed Caroline, "what's this got to do with Ralph?"

Neither of us responded to her.

"Ralph may be a loser," Flora went on, "and he may have done a lot of absurd things in his past--even bad things--but he would never kill."

"No, no," I cried, "I never doubted him."

"Then why did you go to 'The Three Boars' last night?" demanded Flora, "on your way home—after Uncle's body was found?"

I was speechless for a moment.I had hoped that no one would notice my actions.

"How do you know?" I had to ask back.

"I was there this morning, too," said Flora, "and heard the servants talk that Ralph stayed there—"

I interrupted her: "Didn't you know he was in Kings Albert?"

"Yes, I was stunned at the time. I couldn't figure it out, so I ran to him, but they told me - I guess it's what they told you last night - that after he went out about nine o'clock last night... And never came back."

She looked me in the eye confidently for a moment, then, as if to answer some silent question in my gaze, she yelled, "Well, why can't he go? He might have gone—anywhere." , and possibly even back to London."

"You don't even want luggage?" I asked gently.

Flora stamped anxiously: "I don't care, there must be some kind of simple explanation."

"So you want to turn to Hercule Poirot? Wouldn't it be better to let it be? You must remember that at least the police did not suspect Ralph. They were investigating in another direction."

"That's the trouble," exclaimed Flora, "they do suspect him. There's a man from Cranchester this morning—Inspector Raglan, a short, mean-eyed, not very nice fellow. I found out that he had been to the Three Boars this morning before I did. They told me everything about the Inspector's visit and the questions he asked him. He must be sure that the murderer was Ralph."

"So they overturned last night's line of thinking," I said slowly, "so he doesn't accept Davis' Parker murder theory?"

"You actually said it was Parker." My sister snorted twice indignantly.

Flora came and took my arm.

"Oh, Dr. Shepherd, let's go and see this M. Poirot at once, and he will find out the truth."

"Dear Flora," I said softly, taking her hand, "are you sure that what we need is the truth?"

She looked at me and nodded seriously.

"You can't be sure," she said, "but I can. I know Ralph better than you do."

"Of course he wouldn't do that kind of thing," Caroline, who held back her words for a long time, finally couldn't help it, "Ralph may be a bit extravagant, but he's a good boy, and he's so polite. "

I want to warn Caroline that many murderers, who are usually polite, cannot speak because of Flora's presence.Now that the girl had made up her mind, I had no choice but to give in and leave before my sister started a tirade with her catchphrase "Of course".

A woman wearing a huge Breton hat opened the door of the "Larch" for us.M. Poirot seemed to be at home.

We were ushered into a small drawing room, neatly furnished.A few minutes later, my friend from yesterday showed up.

"Mr. Doctor," he greeted with a smile, "Miss."

He bowed slightly to Flora again.

"Maybe you've heard about the tragedy that happened last night." I cut to the chase.

His expression suddenly sank. "Horrible to hear. Please accept my deepest condolences, Miss Flora. I wonder how I can be of help?"

"Miss Ackroyd would like," said I, "to ask you to go...to..."

"Go and find the murderer." Flora said loudly.

"Understood," said the little man, "but isn't that what the police do?"

"They may make mistakes!" said Flora. "I think the direction of their investigations is leading to the wrong conclusions. Please, M. Poirot, help us? If . . . if it is money." question……"

Poirot raised a hand.

"That's not the question. Don't say that, miss. It's not that I don't like money," said a twinkle in his eyes. "Money is very important to me, and always has been. But there is one thing you must do Clear—if I get involved in this case, I'm not going to let it go until it's cleared up. Remember, once I've done it, I'm not half-way! Maybe you'll end up thinking it's better to leave the case to the local police."

"I just want to know the truth." Flora looked directly at him.

"All the truth?"

"All the truth."

"Then I will accept your request," said the little dwarf quietly. "I hope you will not regret what you said today. Then, please tell me the whole story."

"It would be better to ask Dr. Shepard," said Flora, "who knows more details than I do."

Having been entrusted with this task, I have set forth in detail all the facts which have been previously described.Poirot listened attentively, asking a question or two now and then, but mostly he sat silent, staring at the ceiling.

I went on telling it until the Inspector and I left Finlay Park last night.

"Now tell him all about Ralph, too," said Flora, as soon as I had finished speaking.

I was a little hesitant, but under her anxious eyes, I could only do so.

"You visited this little hotel last night on your way home—the place called The Three Boars?" asked Poirot when I had finished my introduction. "Why on earth is that?"

I paused, carefully preparing my words.

"Someone must have informed the lad of his stepfather's death. It occurred to me after I left Finley Park that no one but Mr. Ackroyd and I knew he was hiding in the village."

Poirot nodded. "Makes sense. That's your only motive, huh?"

"That's my only motivation." I didn't budge.

"Could it be—let's say, you also want to reassure yourself of some doubts about this young man?"

"Reassure what doubts?"

"Mr. Doctor, I see that you understand exactly what I mean. You are only pretending to be confused. It seems to me that you can only breathe a sigh of relief if you can confirm that Captain Peyton has not been out all night."

"No such thing." I retorted sharply.

The little detective shook his head seriously at me.

"You don't trust me as much as you trust Flora!" he said, "but that's all right. The thing that needs attention is—Captain Peyton is missing, which in the present circumstances requires an explanation. To tell you the truth , the question seems serious; yet there may be some simple and reasonable answer."

"That's what I said!" cried Flora anxiously.

Poirot did not dwell on the subject, but suggested that he should be rushed to the local police station immediately.He thought it best for Flora to go home first, and I would go with him and introduce him to the police officer in charge of the case.

We act according to this plan.Outside the police station, we met the sombre-faced Inspector Davis, and with him was Colonel Melrose, the police chief; as for the other, according to Flora's description of He was easily recognized as Inspector Raglan from Cranchester.

(End of this chapter)