Chapter 20 Chapter Nineteen

I stared at McBride intently, and he stared back at me expressionlessly.I seemed to hear the chirping of birds outside the house, and I thought that it was probably the black cat perched on the branches outside the house when I arrived.Time seems to have passed for a long time, like the world seen through a telescope, everything has become so far away.I can't help but think to myself; whenever you look back, the ordinary little things in life often become bits and pieces of happy memories.It's just that you don't know it when you are in it. Me and Leah.Peterson relationship.I repeat, but it's not like my voice.Leah.Peterson; that sounds so prim and strange.

Frank, don't ask questions here, Kamsky said, don't do it. McBride shrugged.All right. Kamsky put one hand on my elbow and pulled me up; I swayed slightly.let's go.He said. What?Where are you going? go to the police station. I want to go home.I said duplicity.If going home means going back to the crumbling ruins of Maitland Road, then I don't really want to go home.For a split second, I saw Miles' face, so clear it was as if he was standing right in front of me, his smooth, veined scalp and his brown eyes.I gasped and put my hands on my chest. What's wrong?Kamsky asked abruptly.

Did they know? who are they? myles.all of them. You don't have to think so much now.Blashaw's soothing tone made me want to punch him. But, I Estelle, Kamsky interrupted me, his tone made me shudder, do you understand your situation? my situation?I know Leah is dead. Yes, he said, Margaret.Farrell, Ingrid.De.Soto and Leah.Peterson.All dead. You are? And you were the last to see the dead. The car was waiting, McBride said, get down to business.Hal, come with us if you can. They lead me down the corridor, out the gate, and out into the warm outdoors with a clear sky.Outside there was an ambulance, three police cars and a crowd that had begun to gather.Everything that happened in front of me was so unreal, I felt like I was standing on a stage, I was wearing a costume, the passers-by who were watching enthusiastically were extras, and the corpse lying in the house was a fake.I looked down at the sidewalk, trying to avoid the bright, curious gaze of the woman closest to the car.In the car, Kamsky sat next to me and McBride sat in the passenger seat.I stared at the scruff of the driver's neck: his hair was cropped so short that he could see pink spots on his scalp.

My bicycle, I opened the chatter, well, the bicycle is not mine.It was Campbell who lent it to me, and I stopped short suddenly.never mind.I said, turning my head to the window so I wouldn't have to see Kamsky's serious face.The world blurred before my eyes: cars, houses, people on the road whirled by.I try not to think of Leah's slashed face, her empty, glazed eyes. arrive.Kamsky said.The driving policeman opened the door for me.When I stepped out of the car and walked into the familiar police station, he avoided my eyes; McBride and Kamsky stood on either side of me, as if they were afraid that I would slip away.A middle-aged woman in a long dress kneels in the foyer, sobbing and frantically picking up items that tumbled from her bag; with Kamsky leading the way, we use her as a road divider As if walking around her, and then directly into an unfurnished room, I saw a table in the center surrounded by a few plastic chairs.please sit down.So he said, and I sat down.McBride closed the door, pulled up a chair across from me, and folded his arms.

Why don't you help me prepare tea to calm my shock?I asked Kamsky, didn't you serve tea as soon as I entered the police station? Estelle, listen up, do you want a lawyer here? What? Do you want it? I am not deaf.I mean, why would I need a lawyer? This is your right.McBride said. A young woman enters with a tape recorder and places it on the table.Kamsky leaned forward and turned on the tape recorder. Why do I need a lawyer?I didn't do anything wrong.I called the police as soon as I found out that Leah was dead, and then I stayed where I was and waited for you to come.I shuddered.I keep company with her dead body.The corpse has also changed in such a short period of time, becoming more lifeless, you know what I mean.Get colder, haggard, stiffer.

You mean, you don't need a lawyer? That's right.I don't need it, and I don't know why you think I need it; anyway, what I want to ask you is Miss Belle, McBride said in his soft Scottish voice, we have a question for you. A few weeks ago, I said that I had never seen a dead person at all.I have never even seen the body of a car accident lying on the side of the road. I want to repeat the question I asked you at the murder scene earlier.You and Leah.What's the deal with Peterson? She's Miles' girlfriend, and Miles is my landlord. So you know her? It is acquaintance.

Would you call her a friend? Won't. Are you on good terms with her? I glanced at Kamsky, who was unmoved.Not harmonious. So you guys can't get along? That's not quite right. Have you ever had a fight with her? You can say that.She gets into arguments easily with others.She would go out of her way to provoke disputes and confront us.Just ask him.I nodded in the direction of Kamsky, alas, the whole family Wait until we discuss the whole family.Answer this question first.Have you ever had a fight with her personally? Yes, I took a deep breath, more than once. Why are you arguing?

She was going to kick us out of the house, I paused, no.It was Miles who kicked us out because he was the landlord.But the instigator was Leah, and her methods of driving people away were not flattering.Miles always hides behind her and makes her play blackface.I looked at Kamsky.You have seen her power before.I did hang out with Miles.But this fact only adds insult to injury.Then I hesitated and coughed a few times before continuing, and then she wanted to sow discord, tell me what happened between Pipa and Owen ?sexual relationship.Yes, what's even more exaggerated is that I was speechless for a while, anyway, that's about it.I say sadly.

Let me be clear, McBride said in a softer voice, all of you will be killed by Leah.Peterson away? She is behind the scenes. She is also the landlord's current girlfriend, and you used to have close contacts with the landlord. right. She pissed you off by gossiping about your current boyfriend and another female resident. He is not my boyfriend.I paused and rubbed my face with the hand that was no longer stained with blood.But he does mean something to me, I added softly, and Leah knows it.Or noticed it. You two had a big fight last night? right. Are you mad at her? right.I also feel humiliated.

Now she is dead. right. and you found out I have changed my mind. What are you talking about? I need a lawyer to be here. There was silence.They both stared at me. very good.Do you have your own lawyer?Or do you want us to find it for you? I have no idea.I've never had this happen to me before but no no no I can call and get help. Kamsky leaned back in his chair, reached for the wireless phone from the rack behind him, and handed it to me. Can I call privately?No, there is no need to answer this question. Dial nine for the outside line. With my back to the two men, I pressed the phone number.My unruly fingers seemed too big for the keys, and I had to redial several times before I was able to.The dark clouds outside blocked out the sun, and the house suddenly became dark.I heard the call, and then a high-pitched voice said: Rathbone & Hearst.

Hey, I said, you can transfer me to Philippa.Walface?Tell her I'm Estelle.Belle. Please wait.I will transfer you. There was a moment of silence.At this time, the clouds opened to see the sun, and the house was bright again.It's just that my hand holding the microphone is slippery. Thank goodness you're calling, Estelle.I've been calling your cell phone for hours and I just wanted to tell you, I'm sorry.I'm a stupid, careless rotten person, but I want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you if I had thought twice I seemed to have to go through a lot of effort to interrupt her and tell her that I didn't call because of that, but to ask her for help. Well, anything is fine, she said eagerly, just tell me, and I'll do it. I'm at the police station in Hackney.I need a lawyer. I'll be right there.I'm running out the door now.Just tell me what happened. I stared at the microphone, then opened my mouth.Although I heard the words with my own ears, I still feel that everything is very illusory and blurred.Leah is dead.murdered. Totally silent.Even with my ear pressed against the microphone, I couldn't hear her breathing.I regret.I add this sadly. died?Pipa finally managed to spit out these two characters. right. Leah? right. I don't understand this.How did you show up at the police station? It was I who discovered her, Pipa.I was the one who found the body. My God, I heard her exclaim softly, my God.This is how the same thing? can you come and help meI am really scared. I can't help it, she said, I'm also a person involved in the case. Oh, I said listlessly, so what should I do? Just don't act rashly.I'm going to find someone to help.His name is Seth.Langley is my friend.Don't say anything until he passes by. What if he can't come? don’t worry.I canceled my lunch date with him, so he will definitely come over to see you. Seth.Langley? That's right. lute? What's wrong? It all became a nightmare. Seth.Here comes Langley.He was dark, tall, and very calm.He asked Kamsky if he could be alone with me.Despite frowning, Kamsky agreed. how are youasked Seth. Kind of intimidated.I said. Do you have anything to say to me?He said. The only thing I will tell you is this: I have nothing to do with these crimes. That's not the whole picture, Seth said, I talked to Pipa before I came. I mean I'm not involved in the case. So is there anything else you want to tell me? For example, what is the matter? If I'm going to be your surrogate, you'd better let me know about those nasty surprises first. As I said, I had nothing to do with the murder. I don't mean that, said Seth, Is there anything that you're too embarrassed to keep secret? Embarrassed enough now, I said, Leah and I had a big fight.Even Detective Kamsky was there to see it. If anything is going to break, I promise you, it's better to tell me the truth now than to be caught by reporters or police next week. Nothing more, I said.I have nothing to hide. Not many people dare say that, Seth said, so I'll ask them to come back now. He called me his client and sat next to me, speaking slowly and clearly, as if he were hard of hearing.Sometimes he let me speak, sometimes told me not to answer.They asked me the same questions over and over again, time, place, name, behavior, and when they caught slips of the tongue, confusion, or contradictions, they clung to them.I have a hunch that words will become a trap to suppress me without warning. They seemed particularly interested in my past relationship with Miles.How long have you been dating?How close are they?How did you break up?Am I jealous of Leah?Is Leah jealous of me?Am I hostile to Leah? right.Before Seth could stop me, I blurted out. You wish her well?McBride asked, leaning forward. Of course I wish her well.I want her to suffer and feel guilty.Sometimes I hate her more than I can remember hating anyone.I really want to wipe the smug look off her face. Estelle.Seth reminded me to be careful with my words and actions. No, listen to me.So what?There are plenty of people I don't like, and there are plenty of people I hate, but that doesn't mean I curse them to death.Even if I curse them to death, it doesn't mean I will kill them.This is so ridiculous. Then, the topic changed: When I found out that the occasional lover was right, I tragically confessed that I had not only had a one-time relationship with Owen, but even slept with a friend, how did I feel?And not only that: if he sleeps with Pipa, is it possible that he sleeps with Leah too?Did I discover this amazing inside story last night? it's not like that.I said. Let's see, McBride flips through his scribbled notebook, you and Miles.Thornton had an affair, he was your landlord and Miss Peterson's boyfriend.Now there is another resident, Owen.Sullivan, had sex with you, and he was having sex with another tenant, Philippa.Hua Feixi is ambiguous. That's not ambiguous.Let me interrupt. Well, it sounds interesting anyway. I wouldn't use the word funny to describe it. What I want to ask is, if Miss Peterson and your boyfriend He is not my boyfriend. If they had sex. This is too much. How do you see it? First of all, Owen hates her. McBride looked up from his notebook. Hate it enough to kill her? Any kind of answer I can think of will only add insult to injury and simply ask for a break.The coffee I drank was over-steeped and made me nauseous; I smoked a cigarette and it only made my nausea worse.Seth made a few phone calls.I was looking out at the clear sky and catching a glimpse of the clock on the interrogation room wall.It's half past two in the afternoon.The Maitland Road home is now somehow gone?Did they know Leah was dead?I rub my sore eyes with my fists: there seems to be grit in them and a dull ennui. The inquest has reopened and McBride's claim is starting all over again.This time Hal.Blashaw was there with his pitiful countenance.But I'd rather face Kamsky's inscrutability, or McBride's hostility, than Hal.Blashaw looked at me with the way he thought he could read my thoughts.How could he figure it out?I can't figure it out myself.He asked me how I felt about Leah, how I was doing, like he was my doctor, my friend.I try to keep my answer as short as possible without providing any useful information.After all, he was on the same side as them.He looked helplessly at Kamsky after he found that all his tactics of tricking me, of making free associations, of waiting for me to show off had failed. You're walking around in circles, said Seth, wasting Miss Belle's time. waste time?Kamsky said angrily, there have been three murders here, all related to your client. She is happy to answer your questions.If you need to know anything, just ask.Otherwise, I think the interrogation should end here. I thought Kamsky was going to freak out and growl, but he just looked tired.He turned to McBride.Can we have a few words alone? McBride gave me and Seth a contemptuous look, then slammed the door and left.Kamsky was in no hurry to speak.He seems to be picking out the dregs stuck in his mouth, running his nails across the gap between his teeth. I hope your lawyer gave you the right advice.He said.He pronounced the word lawyer with a slight sarcasm, as if Seth was just an impostor and I was asking him to come here under false pretenses.You saw the victim horribly disfigured, she looked like Ingrid.De.Soto's death is exactly the same? right. But we haven't found the murder knife yet.Who did you mention Ingrid to?De.Soto's death? I never mentioned it to anyone. Are you sure? Sure. I try to speak clearly and clearly so that everyone can have a comprehensive understanding of the current situation.First, you bump into Margaret.Farrell's car door, and we assume she was murdered a few minutes later.But one small detail: Her body seemed to disappear for hours before finally reappearing at the dump site.Second, you were sent to Ingrid.De.Pick up the package at Soto's house, and when you arrive, you find that she's been murdered and disfigured minutes before.There was no sign of forced entry, no murder weapon was found at the scene, and the package to be collected was also missing.Then, you were sent to pick up the package again. When you arrived, you found that Leah.Peterson is also similar to Ingrid.De.Soto was murdered and disfigured in the manner in which he was killed.Likewise, no murder weapon or package was found at the scene.Under these circumstances, you can't blame us for having to interrogate you. I know.I say wearily. In extreme situations, people behave unexpectedly.Kamsky said; his tone turned soft.They will remember the weirdest things, forget the weirdest things, and even act weirdly.It's like an accident that almost made them a different person, not who they were. Listen, I said, you don't have to try and talk me out of it.And I don't have to coax me into agreeing with a plot.I can't believe I have to say these things, but I'm giving it a shot; I didn't kill Leah, I had nothing to do with her death.Ingrid.De.I didn't kill Soto, and I had nothing to do with her death.Also, Peggy wasn't killed by me.However, I am willing to cooperate as long as you want me to stay here.Whatever you ask, I am willing to answer. There was no sound at the scene, only to see Kamsky crossing his fingers and supporting the back of his head, leaning back in his chair and yawning big. You remember, he said, until the third homicide happened, we wondered if the first two were connected.Because of you, what should I say?Appear?people around?So there's a good chance they're related.The two cases are not otherwise connected.The only connection is you. Do you have a question?Seth said. And now Leah.Peterson's murder.It's as if God sees through the clouds and sees the sun for me, and bows his head and shouts to me; are you looking for correlation?Well, there's a damn correlation here that you just can't miss. what are you talking about.Seth said. I guess I'd better be careful, Kamsky said, I don't want to mess with you. How to say? The evidence is right in front of you.Margaret.farrell hurt you She didn't hurt me. Ingrid.De.Soto pissed you off. She didn't piss me off.I don't know her at all. And you got into an argument with Leah. Leah would have an argument with anyone. I think there are two possibilities, Kamsky said, either you killed all three women, which seems very unlikely, or someone wanted you to find the bodies.You don't mind letting us search your room, do you? Seth gestured to Kamsky to back away first, then leaned over to me and whispered.You better think twice before saying yes to him, He said there was no need for them to search for evidence that could be used against you.But they may also obtain a search warrant. I do not mind.I said. Are you sure your things are all right? I shook my head and spoke directly to Kamsky.Once you're done searching, return it to its original location.I said.