Page 183 - Musings 2022

dilated, the body is drenched in sweat. Unusually numb fingers, seems like they have been

without blood for even before the time of murder.
Toomes: The victim has been dead for some hours, Sir. Pupil dilation suggests about 5 hours

now. (Toomes continues to take out a camera from his backpack and takes a few pictures of
the crime scene).

Marple: Oh God, What a gruesome site. Why did it have to be in my apartment? This would

be all over the news by tomorrow.
Moriarty: Would be quite a publicity madam. Now how long did you say our victim has rented

your apartment for?
Marple: About fifteen months now. Well ten if you count the number of months he has paid

his rent.

Toomes: HAD. Had paid madam. Do you know of anyone who could have done this? Any
enemies or anyone with a grudge against him?

Marple: Yeah, how does it matter anyway. He’s gone, with my money and cursing this place,
now nobody would buy this house.

Moriarty: Anybody you know of would work madam. Any names?
Marple: He did not have any guests. The only one who ever visited him was Dianne, Dianne

Peterson, his fiancee. But she stopped visiting after some time. She used to be here every week

earlier, but I haven’t seen her for months now. She’s on the way by the way. I called her right
after I dialled for you.

Toomes: You had her number?
Marple: She called on the reception once or twice for Frank. I keep a track of all the calls I get

and are made for each of my apartments. I need to add the amount in the rent. You know how

difficult things have been since the crash of ‘29.
Moriarty: Can you show me the record? It would be nice to have a list of friends.

Marple: The man was pretty lonely as I told you. The only other call I ever got for him was by
a man last week. Oh yes that man. How rude people have become. (Suddenly Mrs Marple

remembers something and her face gets flushed with blood). That man, officer. It’s that man.

He said “I’ll kill you, Frank”, he did not know I was the one on the other side, did not even
give a name, he just threatened me and hung up.

Moriarty: We have our first suspect it seems, Toomes would you go and check on this unnamed
enemy please? I have a feeling he might be able to tell us something.

Toomes: After you madam. (Toomes gestures for Mrs Marple to show him the way out of the
door)

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