Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Ke Baisha likes to do her morning exercises on the bed.When she woke up in the morning, she stretched out her arms and legs on the bed, trying to stretch every muscle, and raised her head, hands, and legs in a messy movement.When she decides she's had enough, she'll reach for the cigarette that's always there on the bedside table and relax with her first cigarette of the morning. The alarm clock woke her up at ten past eight, and Betha started her morning exercise. A few minutes later, Baisha put the two pillows together and put them behind her back, and half sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard through the thick pillows, with her legs still under the blanket, enjoying the warmth and relaxation.

Outside the window, Los Angeles was wet and cold, covered with thick fog, and the wind blowing in through the half-opened window was like the tide at sea, and a layer of fog was exhaled on the glass. Baisha knew that luckily she installed gas heating instead of relying on the central air-conditioning in the apartment, otherwise the central system might fail, and she would really suffer from arthritis.What's more, the residents refer to each other. After 8:30 every day, the heating is lowered, and it is only shivering without being cold. After a while, it is completely turned off. Baisha straightened her shoulder muscles, stretched herself, kicked off the blanket, and found that it was much colder outside than she had imagined.She closed the window, turned up the gas heater, and slipped back into bed to enjoy herself again.

The ticking of the bell seemed to be an accusation, much louder than usual. Baisha sat up, took another cigarette, glared at the clock face and said, "You liar, how can it be 8:45 now, seeing how dark it is outside, it should be 7:45."If you keep screaming, let's see if I don't throw you out of the window to catch the cold. Betha struck a match and lit her second cigarette. The phone rang, and Baisha reached for the phone, but stopped after thinking about it.Ring it, ring it dead.I don't get up when it's not warm. The phone rang and stopped for two minutes.Baisha finished her cigarette, tested the temperature of the floor with her bare feet, put her feet into fluffy slippers, opened the door of the apartment, and took in a carton of milk, half a carton of cheese for coffee, and a roll of morning newspaper.She closed the door, took the morning newspaper and went to bed again.

As she read the newspaper, she made a note and said, "Fuck the preacher, you flatterer, you thought we were all her last criticism, interrupted by the constant ringing of the door downstairs." Bai Sha murmured: Who is so ignorant. The ticking clock told her that it was ten past nine. The apartment was already quite warm, and Betha kicked all the covers over to the foot of the bed. The person who rang the bell on the door of the apartment downstairs never stopped.Baisha calmly ignored him.She put on a dressing gown, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower head.She was just in the middle of her shower when there was a loud knock on the door of the apartment above.

Baisha's mood was greatly affected, she grunted out of the shower, dried her legs and feet, wrapped a large towel around her fat body, stuck her head out of the bathroom door and shouted: Who is it? A man's voice said from outside: Ke Baisha? Bai Sha said roughly: Who else do you think? This is Officer Mi Shanlou, let me in. Baisha stood there, blinking at the door angrily, and said: I'm in the shower, I'll see you in the office, just make an appointment with her to quickly check the alarm clock, it's a quarter past ten. Sorry, I need to see you now. Standing outside and waiting, I'll have to at least put on some clothes.

She came back to the room and dried herself off with a towel. Officer Mi is monotonous, knocking on the door outside with a speed. Baisha took it easy on purpose, she put on a burqa.Walk slowly to the door and open it.Even if you represent the law, she growled, you don't necessarily have the right to piss people off whenever you want, so here you go.In the middle of the night, wake me up. It was a quarter past nine.Mi Shanlou didn't follow Baisha's example, walked in and added, besides, you said you were taking a bath. Baisha kicked the door shut, looked at him sourly and said: You don't have to show me your ID, and you don't need to bring your ID when you go out in the future, you can stay at home as much as you want.Everyone knows you are a policeman with this kind of eating, you have to barge in when the lady is putting on her clothes, and you don't take off your hat, smoking a wet cigar, come and stink up the room before I have breakfast .

Officer Mi Shanlou laughed again.You really like me, Betha.Only I know best that your face is evil and kind, your mouth is fierce as hell, but your heart is made of gold.Every time I think about the blind beggar case, I want to come and meet you for a drink. What's the use of that, Bai Sha sneered: "Have you done me any favors?"Sit down, read the paper, I'm going to brush my teeth, but do me a favor, get that stinky broom out of your mouth and throw it out the window, that thing Officer Mi struck a big match, lit the butt of the cigar that was about to go out again, lifted the front of the fedora hat with his hand, and put the hat on the back of his head, taking off his hat.He said: I read the morning paper a long time ago.You don't have to brush your teeth either.What do you know about Mrs. Northford?

What does this have to do with you?Baisha immediately became alert and sober. I see her as a careless housewife.Shanlou said. how do you know? You can't be wrong.Leave the body in the cellar, run away from home by yourself, and forget to go back. what are you talking about? The dead in the cellar of Mrs. North's house. Baisha is more careful now, like a carp watching a fly that is spitting water on the water.Who did she kill?Her own husband? I didn't say who she killed.I said she left the body in the basement. oh!Baisha said: I thought you were saying she killed someone.

No, I haven't said that, at least not yet. That has nothing to do with me. I've always thought you were the one who most enjoyed assisting the police. Why should I assist you police? Because you still want to eat this kind of food! Of course, Baisha stared at Officer Mi's face, and she said: I will help the police solve the murder case, but there is no reason for me to be automatically involved in the case just because there is a careless housekeeper in the case, how many corpses are there? only one. Let her go, there is only one corpse, why insist that she is a careless housewife?I've seen a dozen corpse records before; besides, it wasn't too long, so it's possible she just

Shanlou giggled.You are too, you are not necessarily kidding me. I'm kidding myself.Say it to yourself. Then you go on. You have interrupted me. Then don't waste any more time, let's get down to business. Who is not serious? you. What is wrong with me? I was thinking the same thing, Shanlou said happily: I found this is your habit.When something gets serious, or someone tries to pull you into it, you're like a cherry in a cocktail, round and slippery and hard to hold. You are the one who refuses to talk seriously. You say first, who is dead? The dead person was called Leng Sally, a twenty-six-year-old young woman.

How did you die? We don't know yet. Die a natural death? It could also be an accident. So, what could it be? Or maybe it wasn't an accident. You really explained it very clearly. This is the way of people. Who is this Leng Sally? The maid at that place. How long has the body been there? a day or so. Right in the cellar? Yes. Bai Sha asked very carefully: How does Mrs. Bei explain this matter? nothing. You say she doesn't answer all questions? There was simply no way we could ask her questions.She seems to have run away.This is what involves you. What's the meaning? Of the people we know so far, all we know is that you were the last person to see her. Who told you that. a little bird. The phone rang again, and Ke Baisha was very happy that it interrupted this time. Please wait a moment, she said to Mi Shanlou.As soon as she picked up the phone, she said: Hello. Bei Fude was very emotional. He said: Thank God he finally found you.I've tried every where.I tried your apartment, you are not there, the phone number given by your secretary All right!Baisha said: What's the matter, tell me quickly! Something very terrible happened. I know. No, no, this thing is beyond all bad luck.They found Sally's body in the basement.she is I know, Betha said: I have the police with me. Bei Fude's voice panicked, I just want to tell you before they find you.What did you say to them? nothing. Is it by your side now? yes. You didn't tell them anything? Yes. Can you hold on? I think there is difficulty.Only temporarily.Is your wife at home? No, she didn't see each other for one night.My mother-in-law was dying, which is why a body was found.She insisted on checking every room in the house herself.She said she started in the cellar.I heard her go down the basement, she screamed and passed out.I'll follow right away, and Sally is lying on her back with her arms and legs outstretched. Mi Shanlou interrupted in a friendly manner and said to Baisha: Baisha, I didn't tighten the rope that leads you. Don't try to tie a loose rope into a playful knot, and end up pulling yourself too tight. Is this speaking on behalf of the law?Mr. Bei asked. Yes, Baisha answered briefly.stop there. Northford said: "I told the police that someone had written an anonymous letter to my wife.I told them I couldn't show them because it was in your hands.I didn't tell them specifically why I hired you.It's just an overview of the situation, and the whole thing is just a little mention. very good. I now think we should show these cops the first letter, Mrs Ko, which may have something to do with Sally's death.Perhaps only the first letter is related to this case. As for the second letter, the one we opened yesterday, I don't think it has anything to do with this case. I don't want to let the police know about this letter. Why? Because I don't want to drag Xu Taolan into it. Why? Let me tell you that I don't want to drag Xu Taolan into it.I don't want her to be publicized, this letter will do bad things. Why? Don't you understand?This matter is not simple, there are many angles, the police will embarrass Xu Taolan. Why? God, you can't see it!My wife and we have to protect Taolan no matter what. Why? Damn, can't you say something else besides why? Not currently. Northford studied her reasons. Ke Baisha is ready to accept Mi Shanlou's intervention.She asked: What happened to Sally?how did she dieWas it an accident?was killed, or Mostly an accident. explain.Baisha said.Waiting for Mi Shanlou to stop. Apparently Sally was peeling potatoes, and she went down to the cellar to get some onions, holding a plate with peeled and unpeeled potatoes.In her right hand she held a long potato-peeling knife. She fell down the stairs and the long knife pierced her chest. Bai Sha felt everything he said.She asked: Does anything make one think that this was not an accident? It can be said that there is. What? The color of the corpse. So what's the difference? Police said it was characteristic of carbon monoxide poisoning. go on. From what I've heard, the police think the knife may have been inserted into her body immediately after she died, and it doesn't appear to be the knife that caused her death. understood. I want you to find a way to get this thing straightened out. In what way? My wife must be under suspicion.I want you to tell the police about the anonymous letter and tell them that my wife's disappearance is purely a family matter; she disappeared to leave me, not because she committed a murder. I understand. There is another reason why I don't want the second letter to be brought out.Tao Lan is a big beauty.Had she appeared in the matter, the newspapers would have assumed that the public would be interested in the matter.Her picture, you know they love pictures of beautiful women. thigh?Baisha asked. certainly.I don't like Taolan being promoted like this. Why? That's not appropriate. Why? God, my wife is jealous of Sally, and Sally is dead.Why take another Taolan out for publicity, want to create another victim?Put Tao Lan out of this matter.I tell you, don't drag her in. Mi Shanlou never forbade them from exchanging views. This is a very unusual phenomenon, and Ke Baisha became alert all of a sudden.She peeked over her shoulder and saw Officer Mi holding the tail of the wet cigar in his mouth at an aggressive angle. He had retreated to the side of the table where she put her purse, and the zipper of the purse on the table was closed. Pulling it away, he is now reading with relish the two anonymous letters that were originally placed in Baisha's leather bag. Baisha said angrily: You bastard, you, you, Beiford's voice said from the other end of the phone: What's the matter, Mrs. Ko, I didn't Bai Sha hurriedly said to the phone: I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about that note. Mi Shanlou didn't even raise his head.These two letters fascinated him. What is Tiaozi doing? Baisha said discouragedly: It was too late. When you were talking to me, I didn't pay attention. Without my consent, Officer Mi opened my purse and read both letters. Oh my God!Bei Fude yelled. In the future, don't tell me how to do things.Baisha said as if blaming others. Without waiting for an answer, she slammed the phone into the saddle, nearly breaking it. Mi Shanlou folded the two letters together, put them in his pocket, and zipped up Ke Baisha's purse.He hadn't seen the memo that Betha had stolen from Northford's office, maybe he had, but he didn't think it was a big deal. Do you really think you have the right to steal things from people's rooms, and you can take them out?Ke Baisha accused him with a black face. Shanlou said ambiguously: That's because I know you won't care if I do this, we are old partners. not give a damn about!Bai Sha yelled: How can you be so reasonable, I can blow your head open, if you have brains in your head, I will lose you!You are arrogant, wearing tiger skin to overwhelm people, thinking that everyone will be afraid of you, you Forget it, Baisha.He said: It's useless for you to argue. Ke Baisha gritted her teeth, clenched her hands into fists and stared at him without opening her mouth. Shanlou said: Why, Baisha?You won't hide from me anyway.I asked Bei Fude where the letter he said was in your hand.He said you put the letter in your purse the last time he saw it.So I did it myself. You don't have a mouth, so you can't ask me? Shanlou bared her teeth and said with a smile: Bai Sha, I have an idea that Bei Fude didn't tell the whole truth.He was too eager to tell me about a letter.Every time I asked him, he was quick to say that letter.I've been a policeman for too long. When you see someone like him, he takes the initiative to provide you with information in a hurry because he is afraid that you will ask sensitive questions.So I immediately thought of whether there would be more than one letter. I think you also know that he will call to warn me, so you go to my purse as soon as the phone rings, don't forget, I talk fast, and you will suffer a lot. Of course you can.Shanlou said indifferently: But, I know you, Baisha, would not do such a thing.In this society, the fittest survive. If you lie to me, I will lie to you.You sneak hit me from the waist down, I'm not going to complain to the referee, let's talk about the chick who reached out and hugged him. how is the chick who is she? I have no idea. Shanlou put her tongue on the roof of her mouth and clicked her tongue, saying in disapproval: "Baisha, you will never treat me like a child!" How did you think I knew who she was? According to your character, you will let Bei Fude not force him to tell you who the chick is? No chick at all?Baisha said. What's the meaning? It was just an anonymous letter.Bai Sha said: Can you believe the anonymous letter? How do you know there is no such person? Northford told me. Shanlou sighed: delicious!It seems that it has to be left like this for now. How is Mrs. Bei's mother?Baisha asked. Half collapsed, mother and sister have had enough.The two kept making separate calls to the General Administration to see if they had reported Mrs. Bei's car accident.Finally, Mrs. Gu suddenly thought that Bei Fude might have hit her wife on the head with a stick and hid her somewhere in the house, so she began to check the house one by one.Said to search from the cellar to the attic.She started in the cellar. It was just before eight o'clock this morning.What she saw almost knocked her out.You must know that at first she thought it was Mrs. Bei's body.But when she took a closer look, she was a complete stranger.Northford said it was Sally. Mrs. Gu doesn't know this maid? Obviously do not know.Mrs. Gu lives in San Francisco.After Mabel used this new maid, she never came down. Bai Sha said: I can't see what all this has to do with me. Shanlou rubbed a larger match with the sole of his shoe, trying to light his half-extinguished cigar again. Baisha said: I don't think you care, but the smell of this bastard's cigar really turns me off. Unfortunately, it looks like you haven't had breakfast yet. I was about to make a cup of coffee first. great.Cook some fragrant and thick.I would also like to have a big glass. Betha ran into the bathroom, got dressed quickly, and came out to make the bed, retracting the Murphy bed against the wall to make the room a little bigger.She walked into the small kitchen and put a big coffee pot on the stove. She said to Shanlou: I think you won't refuse if I make eggs. That's right, two. Where's the toast? oh!Sure, but the bacon needs to be plentiful and crispy. Baisha didn't say anything, and was busy in front of the gas stove by herself.Mouth closed in a straight line, angrily did not speak. Officer Mi's hat was on the back of his head, his cigar had just been relit, and blue smoke curled up, and he stood at the door of the small kitchen.I just have breakfast with you.He said: After eating, the first thing to do is you accompany me to see Mr. Bei, the three of us should have a good chat. Why do you have to drag me in?Baisha asked. I think you can help me.Mi Shanlou said: In case Bei Fude lies, you can tell him that he can't get away with it, it's better to tell the truth. oh!It's up to me to tell him, isn't it?Baisha said teasingly that she was holding a frying pan in her hand and was about to put it on the stove. The pan was at an angle of forty-five degrees and stayed in mid-air. Not bad at all, Shanloudao: You have blind spots in your wisdom, but you are not stupid at all. Seeing the change of color on Baisha's face, Shanlou grinned and said kindly: I think I'd better call Bei first and make an appointment so that he doesn't have any excuses. He left the small kitchen door.Baisha heard him dialing the phone in another room, heard him whispering, and he came back to stand in the doorway of the small kitchen. All right, Betha.He will be waiting for us in the office.He didn't want us to go to his house, saying that his sister-in-law was overhearing what we were talking about. Baisha didn't respond. Shanlou deliberately yawned loudly, went out and chose the most comfortable chair to sit down.He straightened his legs, opened today's paper, and turned to the sports section. Betha put the plate, cup, knife and fork on her little breakfast table. Tell me some plainclothes strip habits, please?She asked Officer Mi. Which aspect? Do they take their hats off at breakfast? No, that would lose their social status.They only take off their hats when taking a bath. How hard do you cook your eggs? Say it again in three minutes and fifteen seconds, not the egg, but those eggs, the majority.means two or more. Betha knocked a plate so hard on the table that it nearly scratched it.One difficulty feeding you breakfast, she said: How do you drink your coffee with that stale cigar in your mouth? Mi Shanlou didn't answer.He was perusing a report on a boxing match he had attended last night, and he wanted to compare the reporter's report with his own. Well, Ke Baisha said: Come and eat. Mi Shanlou took off her hat and cigar, combed her hair with the small comb in her pocket, walked to the breakfast table, waited for Baisha to sit down first, and then sat down opposite Baisha herself. Alright, Baisha, enjoy your coffee, and then it's time for your showdown. You have been given so much time, you should have enough time to make a decision! Bai Sha poured a cup of coffee, tasted the hot and fragrant taste, she said: Well, I will tell you everything.I was supposed to follow Mrs. Bei, but I lost track.She was going to see the people who wrote the letters.I'm going to Mr. Bei's office.I first searched for his personal correspondence files, hoping to find some clues that matched my imagination. What are the clues in your imagination? A typing expert with a portable typewriter at home. I don't understand. If you look closely at a letter typed by a typewriter, you can tell many stories.The weight of the typing is consistent, and the intervals are neatly finished. It can be seen that this is a letter typed by a first-class typist.These secretaries are paid well and have the best office equipment.But I used a portable typewriter with an uneven bottom line, so it must have been typed at home. Fortunately, I found the answer. Tell me, what is the answer?Officer Mi said. Peng Yinmeng, with those light gray eyes, was sitting in Mr. Bei's reception room, with a face that looked like a coquettish hoof of an effective female secretary. Officer Mi broke the shell of the boiled egg and slowly peeled the shell with his fingers. Take a look, Baisha said: What do you think?Apparently she was expecting a little word of appreciation from him for her own reasoning abilities. A little too much, Officer Mi said: But whatever, I can eat it.