"Everyone in the Public Security Bureau was sent out to search for vampires all over the city." Agatha complained, "I just finished lunch and didn't even have time to rest. What did he do last night?"
"Everyone is busy resolving disputes among believers. Father Fielding's death has a greater impact."
"Yes, but he left the case to me. I guess he was already exhausted from dealing with the questions from various superiors and sponsors last night. The Public Security Bureau has been short of manpower for a long time, and I hope this tower trial can help him share the burden. Put some pressure on me. At least let the Secretariat of Affairs notice the cash flow problem in the Public Security Bureau. Our old boss doesn’t have much left to live with.”
Agatha felt that she should be quite critical of McCann Johnny's behavior. But she really couldn't ignore the reason why Chief Vegetables responded to all kinds of requests - the Sheriff's Department needed their support. If anyone thinks that his contribution to the security environment in Blumnot is greater than that of this senior patrol officer, he will probably not get support from anyone.
"The priest's case." Biller looked even more sad than Agatha herself. "We only have three days, and it's already half over."
"Why, you also want to persuade me to identify the murderer as the bride's lover?"
"Of course not. But we don't have time to investigate. I'm afraid three days will not be enough for the church's case."
"So you're blaming me for making a pledge in front of the church?"
"Sir." Biller's expression was extremely miserable. "You know that's not what I meant. I believe in you the most. You are the greatest detective. I'm afraid even the great astrologer in the tower is not as famous as you. But - That’s why – there are bound to be people who are jealous of you. They will try to discredit your efforts and tarnish your reputation, and then they will enjoy it.”
"Let me guess, is one of these 'them' named Minerva Benfin? What stupid thing did this woman do again?"
"She sent someone to the Sheriff's Department to cause trouble, saying her necklace was missing."
"What a precious necklace, it is more valuable than two lives combined." But is this kind of thing rare in Blumnot? "Tell me, what priceless jewels are inlaid on it?"
"Twenty sea pearls of perfect quality," Biller replied. "I heard they are golden and very rare. Miss Benfin plans to donate them to the church."
The detective touched his carefully painted eyebrows and said, "It seems she is not stupid enough." At this time, two cases related to the Church of Gaia were involved. The angry believers and the irritable patrol officers would undoubtedly make this unscrupulous woman nice. Unless, she takes one side. "Didn't the people from the insurance company expose her lies?"
"She can't be that stupid," Biller replied. "Miss Minerva may have hidden the necklace."
"Maybe she's smarter. How did our commander handle it?"
"Miss Minerva specifically asked you to solve the case."
I retract my preamble. Agatha turned her head in surprise, as if she had heard a dry joke. "After dealing with the priest?" She turned back and quickly walked into the vampire's house. The horrible smell of incense inside didn't disgust her as much as the news. Biller hurried to follow her. Gardner poked his head around for a while and planned to follow, but Agatha closed the door in time. What else the vampire wanted to say, she couldn't hear clearly.
"Father Fielding is dead... Yes, that's what she asked for." The patrolman told her, "But Chief Johnny asked her to wait, saying that he did not have the authority to order special advisers. They were appointed by the Secretariat. If If Miss Benfin insists, he can ask your opinion on her behalf."
There was nothing negotiable. McCann Johnny's excuse was so clever that Agatha could have refused. She didn't care about Minerva's sarcasm. This woman's desire to be in the daily newspapers was really eye-catching. Suddenly, she saw Hand walking over holding a wooden box.
The detective swallowed his words in response to Beale. "What is that? The murder weapon?" For a moment, her heart was filled with astonishment.
After all, she didn't think Gardner was responsible for this arrogant murder. He has no reason to provoke the Church of Gaia. Moreover, in fact, the permission certificate for Mr. Vampire to stay in Blumnot was issued jointly by the Secretary of Affairs and the church. He put his name into the contract with great effort, and it was not easy to violate the oath within the limitations of Gaia's magical power.
"It's tobacco leaves, miss, a lot of weird-tasting tobacco. There's also an IOU, the deadline is seven days ago."
Agatha grabbed a handful of tobacco leaves and smelled them. They had a sweet smell. She motioned for Biller to open the door. "This is your cargo, right?"
The vampire immediately replied: "They are all qualified, sir. I never sell contraband."
"Bowman, the deceased. The church's magician found the tobacco component in his lungs." The female consultant said frankly, "This is why we came to you."
"He is an old friend of mine, and it is normal for him to buy things from me." The guy admitted that the deceased was his friend again.
Agatha didn't care about that. "Anyway, sir, you are suspected. I think the Knights of the Church will be happy to talk to you." In Brumnot, it is difficult to say that there are any human rights protections for the unlucky people who are suspected of being guilty. Their safety depends on the inquisitor's interests and mood.
It doesn't matter if you give in and win, because magic can detect lies and astrology can see the past clearly. Of course, the impact of mystery on ordinary people is not as small as imagined. She had heard that few people in the tower dared to approach the White Envoy. The commander's attitude was on the one hand, but more importantly, approaching him meant risking his life - even if the messenger accidentally froze the faucet, the guy who used it later would probably lose a piece of skin or even a finger. Although these are just rumors, no one is willing to confirm them.
The vampire's face suddenly twisted: "Gaia, I am also a believer!"
As the most popular god in Knox, it is not impossible for Gaia to have a vampire believer. His domain is biased towards justice and virtue, with almost no power on the material level. This naturally relaxes the requirements for believers. "In that case, you don't have to be afraid." Agatha said firmly.
"No! I confess. Great Detective Queen, your wisdom is enough to abandon any violent torture. No matter how sharp the razor is, it is not as good as your words. I will tell you everything! Merciful Sir... please do not let me suffer torture." he begged.
"Very good. Answer me, did you kill Bowman?"
"Only this is not the case. My lord, I swear on my fire and character."
"Then let's change the question." Agatha didn't show her belief, "Did he buy tobacco from you before he died?"
"He's always given me credit."
Old slippery man. "Does Bowman share your belief in Gaia?"
"No," Gardner replied, "He is a believer. If I must say it, maybe he believes in chaos and evil. What a villain."
"You're no better than him." This profiteer actually dared to call himself a Gaia believer. "His current belief in Suvillier has nothing to do with you, the big mosquito." She ordered, "Answer my questions and don't say anything unnecessary."
"It's my honor to answer your question." Apparently Mr. Vampire has no memory or moral integrity at all.
"Do you sell non-smoking? How much do you sell? Where do you get the goods? San Carlos or Hocolin?" Agatha Poirot changed the subject.
"San Carlos, about two hundred pounds a month..."
This amount is not small, and Agatha suspects that she has encountered the source of new illegal tobacco leaves in the entire dead end alley. This is surprising enough, but not really a surprise. But compared to the threat, now she finally caught the vampire. "Did Bowman ask you to buy tobacco leaves the night before yesterday? Tell me the truth, and I won't ask you where the warehouse is."
"He came and asked me for information about a gambler." Gardner vowed, "I remember it very clearly. He had no intention of repaying the debt. He had issued two high-value IOUs to me in Hobson's name before. . The night before yesterday, he wanted to play back the one he put here with me... Of course I refused, this bastard deliberately wanted to force him to death."
"Who is Hobson?"
"He is Mrs. Bertha Verner's brother. You know Verner, don't you?"
The Tower's Maintenance Master, Andrew Furner. Agatha never expected that Bowman could be related to such a big shot. She felt her heart beat faster, as if she had caught the key. "Did he buy cigarettes from you?"
"Ah, miss, all the smokers in Brumnot have bought cigarettes from me! I sell the best cigarettes in Dead End Alley... Of course Hobson has been here."
Agatha paused, remembering the briar pipe of her informant James. "go on."
"Hobson is a gambler, but he has not lost so much that he has no money for cigarettes. It is all because he has a sister who loves him. Mrs. Furner is a good person, but she rarely goes out. I know Bloomnotrie She doesn’t have many people.”
"That's true," Buehler said.
"No one lets you evaluate." The Detective Queen glared at him. "continue."
Gardner was overwhelmed. "No more, my lord. I have never met the lady, and I have no knowledge of the feud between Bowman and Hobson. You know, it is not surprising for a man like him to do anything... …”
"You mean, the last person the deceased saw was you?"
"No, no! Of course not!" The vampire began to rack his brains: "It's Hobson! It must be him. Bowman must have taken the IOU to find him. Hobson was the last person to see Bowman. I just provided them with some convenience..."
"You said he wrote two," Agatha pointed out, her gaze not threatening, but Gardner winced. "You have the other one, right?"
The tobacco merchant seemed to have just remembered this matter. He suddenly jumped up and ran up the stairs very quickly. Not long after, this guy came down with a bag of paper. He flipped through it in a serious manner, "Here, my lord, is this evil and hypocritical thing." Judging from the wrinkles of the paper handed to Agatha, this thing has probably been hidden by him. Pocket.
The reason is obvious. Bertha Verner was very rich. After Bowman died, he might have the opportunity to extort a sum of money from her... Agatha took the note and the file bag, put away the note, and put a bunch of strange things into it. The IOU was thrown into the fireplace. Hand and Beale diligently lit the firewood. The moment the flames ignited, the expression on the face of this veritable vampire businessman was truly heart-wrenching.
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