                ,,*APT] #C

       ,,! ,,TRAGETY ,,( ,,BIRL/"O


  ,N[ =A MO;T ,I W ASK L1VE 6REMOVE MY [N
9SIGNIFICANT P]SONAL;Y & 6DESCRIBE EV5TS :
O3URR$ 2F WE >RIV$ ^U ! SC5E 0! LI<T ( K :
CAME 6U AFWS4 ,ONLY 9 ? WAY C ,I MAKE !
R1D] APPRECIATE ! P 3C]N$ &! /RANGE SETT+
9 : _! FATE 0 CA/4

  ,! VILLAGE ( ,BIRL/"O IS A SMALL & V
ANCI5T CLU/] ( HALF-TIMB]$ COTTAGES ON !
NOR !M BORD] (! C.TY ( ,SUSSEX4 ,=
C5TURIES X _H REMA9$ UN*ANG$2 B )9 ! LA/
FEW YE>S XS PICTURESQUE APPE>.E & SITU,N H
ATTRACT$ A NUMB] ( WELL-TO-D RESID5TS1 ^:
VILLAS PEEP \ F ! WOODS >.D4 ,^! WOODS >E
LOC,Y SUPPOS$ 6BE ! EXTREME FR+E (!    
GRT ,W1LD =E/1 : ?9S AWAY UNTIL X R1*ES !
NOR!RN *ALK D[NS4 ,A NUMB] ( SMALL %OPS H
-E 962+ 6MEET ! WANTS (! 9CR1S$ POPUL,N2 S
"! SEEMS "S PROSPECT T ,BIRL/"O MAY SOON
GR[ F AN ANCI5T VILLAGE 96A MOD]N T[N4 ,X
IS ! C5TRE =A 3SID]A# >EA ( C.TRY1 S9CE
,TUNBRIDGE ,WELLS1 ! NE>E/ PLACE (
IMPORT.E1 IS T5 OR TWELVE MILES 6! EA/W>D1
OV] ! BORD]S ( ,K5T4

  ,AB HALF A MILE F ! T[N1 /&+ 9 AN OLD
P>K FAM\S = XS HUGE BEE* TREES1 IS !
ANCI5T ,MANOR ,H\SE ( ,BIRL/"O4 ,"P ( ?
V5]A# BUILD+ DATES BACK 6! "T (! F/
CRUSADE1 :5 ,HUGO DE ,CAPUS BUILT A
=TALICE 9 ! C5TRE (! E/ATE1 : _H BE5
GRANT$ 6HM 0! ,R$ ,K+4 ,? 0 DE/ROY$ 0FIRE
9 #AEDC1 & "S ( XS SMOKE-BLACK5$ CORN]
/"OS 7 US$ :51 9 ,JACOB1N "TS1 A BRICK
C.TRY H\SE ROSE ^U ! RU9S (! FEUDAL CA/LE4

  ,! ,MANOR ,H\SE1 ) XS _M GA#S & XS SMALL
DIAMOND-PAN$ W9D[S1 0 / M* Z ! BUILD] _H
LEFT X 9 ! E>LY SEV5TE5? C5TURY4 ,(! D\#
MOATS : _H GU>D$ XS M W>LIKE PR$ECESSOR1 !
\T] _H BE5 ALL[$ 6DRY UP1 & S]V$ ! HUM#
FUNC;N (A KIT*5 G>D54 ,! 9N] "O 0 /    
"!1 & LAY =TY FEET 9 BR1D?1 ?\< N[ ONLY A
FEW FEET 9 DEP?1 R.D ! :OLE H\SE4 ,A SMALL
/R1M F$ X & 3T9U$ 2Y X1 S T ! %EET ( WAT]1
?\< TURBID1 0 N"E DIT*LIKE OR UNH1L?Y4 ,!
GR.D FLOOR W9D[S 7 )9 A FOOT (! SURFACE (!
WAT]4

  ,! ONLY APPROA* 6! H\SE 0 OV] A
DRAWBRIDGE1 ! *A9S & W9DLASS ( : _H L;G
BE5 RU/$ & BROK54 ,! LATE/ T5ANTS (!
,MANOR ,H\SE _H1 H["E1 ) "*I/IC 5]GY1 SET
? "R1 &! DRAWBRIDGE 0 N ONLY CAPA# ( 2+
RAIS$1 B ACTU,Y 0 RAIS$ E EV5+ & L[]$ E
MORN+4 ,0?US RENEW+ ! CU/OM (! OLD FEUDAL
"DS ! ,MANOR ,H\SE 0 3V]T$ 96AN ISL& DUR+
! NI<T- A FACT : _H A V DIRECT BE>+ ^U !
MY/]Y : 0 SOON 65GAGE ! ATT5;N ( ALL
,5GL&4

  ,! H\SE _H BE5 UNT5ANT$ = "S YE>S & 0
?R1T5+ 6M\LD] 96A PICTURESQUE DECAY :5 !
,D\GLASES TOOK POSSES.N ( X4 ,? FAMILY
3SI/$ ( ONLY TWO 9DIVIDUALS- ,JOHN ,D\GLAS
& 8 WIFE4 ,D\GLAS 0 A REM>KA# MAN1 BO? 9
"* & 9 P]SON4 ,9 AGE HE MAY H BE5 AB
FIFTY1 )A /R;G-JAW$1 RU7$ FACE1 A GRIZZL+
M\/A*E1 PECULI>LY KE5 GRAY EYES1 &A    
WIRY1 VIGOR\S FIGURE : _H LO/ NO?+ (!
/R5G? & ACTIV;Y ( Y\?4 ,HE 0 *E]Y & G5IAL
6ALL1 B "S:AT (FH& 9 8 MANN]S1 GIV+ !
IMPRES.N T HE _H SE5 LIFE 9 SOCIAL /RATA
ON "S F> L[] HORIZON ?AN ! C.TY SOCIETY (
,SUSSEX4

  ,YET1 ?\< LOOK$ AT ) "S CURIOS;Y &
RES]VE 0HIS M CULTIVAT$ NEI<B\RS1 HE SOON
ACQUIR$ A GRT POPUL>;Y AM;G ! VILLAG]S1
SUBSCRIB+ H&"SLY 6ALL LOCAL OBJECTS1 &
ATT5D+ _! SMOK+ 3C]TS & O!R FUNC;NS1 ":1
HAV+ A REM>KABLY RI* T5OR VOICE1 HE 0 ALW
R1DY 6OBLIGE ) AN EXCELL5T S;G4 ,HE APPE>$
6H PL5TY ( M"OY1 : 0 SD 6H BE5 GA9$ 9 !
,CALI=NIA GOLD FIELDS1 & X 0 CLE> F 8 [N
TALK & T ( 8 WIFE T HE _H SP5T A "P ( 8
LIFE 9 ,AM]ICA4

  ,! GD IMPRES.N : _H BE5 PRODUC$ 0HIS
G5]OS;Y & 0HIS DEMOCRATIC MANN]S 0 9CR1S$
0A REPUT,N GA9$ = UTT] 9DI6];E 6DANG]4
,?\< A WRET*$ RID]1 HE TURN$ \ AT E MEET &
TOOK ! MO/ AMAZ+ FALLS 9 8 DET]M9,N 6HOLD
8 [N )! BE/4 ,:5 ! VIC>AGE CAU<T FIRE HE
4T+UI%$ HMF AL 0! FE>.S;S ) : HE RE5T]$ !
BUILD+ 6SAVE PROP]TY1 AF ! LOCAL       
FIRE BRIGADE _H GIV5 X UP Z IMPOSSI#4 ,?US
X CAME AB T ,JOHN ,D\GLAS (! ,MANOR ,H\SE
_H )9 FIVE YE>S WON HMF Q A REPUT,N 9
,BIRL/"O4

  ,8 WIFE1 TOO1 0 POPUL> ) ^? :O _H MADE
H] ACQUA9T.E2 ?\<1 AF ! ,5GLI% FA%ION1 !
CALL]S ^U A /RANG] :O SETTL$ 9 ! C.TY )\T
9TRODUC;NS 7 FEW & F> 2T4 ,? MATT]$ ! LESS
6H]1 Z %E 0 RETIR+ 04POSI;N1 & V M*
ABSORB$1 6ALL APPE>.E1 9 H] HUSB& & H]
DOME/IC DUTIES4 ,X 0 "KN T %E 0 AN ,5GLI%
LADY :O _H MET ,MR4 ,D\GLAS 9 ,LONDON1 HE
2+ AT T "T A WID[]4 ,%E 0 A B1UTI;L WOMAN1
TALL1 D>K1 & SL5D]1 "S TW5TY YE>S "Y] ?AN
H] HUSB&2 A 4P>;Y : SEEM$ 9 NO WISE 6M> !
3T5T;T ( _! FAMILY LIFE4

  ,X 0 REM>K$ "S"TS1 H["E1 0^? :O KNEW !M
BE/1 T ! 3FID;E 2T ! TWO DID N APPE> 6BE
-PLETE1 S9CE ! WIFE 0 EI V RETIC5T AB H]
HUSB&'S PA/ LIFE1 OR ELSE1 Z SEEM$ M
LIKELY1 0 IMP]FECTLY 9=M$ AB X4 ,X _H AL
BE5 NOT$ & -;T$ ^U 0A FEW OBS]VANT P T "!
7 SIGNS "S"TS ( "S N]VE-/RA9 ^U ! "P (
,MRS4 ,D\GLAS1 & T %E WD 4PLAY ACUTE
UNEASI;S IF H] ABS5T HUSB& %D "E 2     
"PICUL>LY LATE 9 8 RETURN4 ,ON A QUIET
C.TRYSIDE1 ": ALL GOSSIP IS WELCOME1 ?
W1K;S (! LADY (! ,MANOR ,H\SE DID N PASS
)\T REM>K1 & X BULK$ L>G] ^U P'S MEMORY :5
! EV5TS >OSE : GAVE X A V SPECIAL
SIGNIFIC.E4

  ,"! 0 YET ANO!R 9DIVIDUAL ^: RESID;E "U
T RO( WAS1 X IS TRUE1 ONLY AN 9T]MITT5T
"O1 B ^: PRES;E AT ! "T (! /RANGE HAPP5+S
: W N[ 2 N>RAT$ BR"\ 8 "N PROM95TLY 2F !
PUBLIC4 ,? 0 ,CECIL ,JAMES ,B>K]1 ( ,HALES
,LODGE1 ,HAMP/1D4

  ,CECIL ,B>K]'S TALL1 LOOSE-JO9T$ FIGURE
0 A FAMILI> "O 9 ! MA9 /REET ( ,BIRL/"O
VILLAGE2 = HE 0 A FREQU5T & WELCOME
VISITOR AT ! ,MANOR ,H\SE4 ,HE 0 ! M
NOTIC$ Z 2+ ! ONLY FR (! PA/ UN"KN LIFE (
,MR4 ,D\GLAS :O 0 "E SE5 9 8 NEW ,5GLI%
SURR.D+S4 ,B>K] 0 HMF AN UND\BT$
,5GLI%MAN2 B 0HIS REM>KS X 0 CLE> T HE _H
F/ "KN ,D\GLAS 9 ,AM]ICA & _H "! LIV$ ON
9TIMATE T]MS ) HM4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE A MAN (
3SID]A# W1L?1 & 0 REPUT$ 6BE A BA*ELOR4

  ,9 AGE HE 0 R "Y] ?AN ,D\GLAS- =TY-FIVE
AT ! MO/- A TALL1 /RAI<T1 BROAD-*E/$   
FELL[ )A CL1N-%AV$1 PRIZE-FI<T] FACE1
?ICK1 /R;G1 BLACK EYEBR[S1 &A PAIR (
MA/];L BLACK EYES : MI<T1 EV5 )\T ! AID (
8 V CAPA# B&S1 CLE> A WAY = HM "? A HO/ILE
CR[D4 ,HE NEI RODE NOR %OT1 B SP5T 8 "DS 9
W&]+ R.D ! OLD VILLAGE ) 8 PIPE 9 8 M\?1
OR 9 DRIV+ ) 8 HO/1 OR 9 8 ABS;E ) 8
HO/ESS1 OV] ! B1UTI;L C.TRYSIDE4 8,AN
EASY-GO+1 FREE-H&$ G5TLEMAN10 SD ,AMES1 !
BUTL]4 8,B1 MY ^W6 ,I _H R N 2 ! MAN T
CROSS$ HM60 ,HE 0 CORDIAL & 9TIMATE )
,D\GLAS1 & HE 0 NO LESS FRLY ) 8 WIFE- A
FR%IP : M ?AN ONCE SEEM$ 6CAUSE "S IRRIT,N
6! HUSB&1 S T EV5 ! S]VANTS 7 A# 6P]CV 8
ANNOY.E4 ,S* 0 ! ?IRD P]SON :O 0 "O (!
FAMILY :5 ! CATA/ROPHE O3URR$4

  ,Z 6! O!R D5IZ5S (! OLD BUILD+1 X W
SU6ICE \ (A L>GE H\SEHOLD 6M5;N ! PRIM1
RESPECTA#1 & CAPA# ,AMES1 & ,MRS4 ,ALL51 A
BUXOM & *E];L P]SON1 :O RELIEV$ ! LADY (
"S ( H] H\SEHOLD C>ES4 ,! O!R SIX S]VANTS
9 ! H\SE BE> NO REL,N 6! EV5TS (! NI<T (
,JANU>Y #F?4

  ,X 0 AT ELEV5 =TY-FIVE T ! F/ AL>M R1*$
! SMALL LOCAL POLICE /,N1 9 *>GE (     
,S]G1NT ,WILSON (! ,SUSSEX ,3/ABUL>Y4
,CECIL ,B>K]1 M* EXCIT$1 _H RU%$ UP 6!
DOOR & P1L$ FURI\SLY ^U ! BELL4 ,A T]RI#
TRAG$Y _H O3URR$ AT ! ,MANOR ,H\SE1 &
,JOHN ,D\GLAS _H BE5 MURD]$4 ,T 0 ! BR1?.S
BURD5 ( 8 MESSAGE4 ,HE _H HURRI$ BACK 6!
H\SE1 FOLL[$ )9 A FEW M9UTES 0! POLICE
S]G1NT1 :O >RIV$ AT ! SC5E (! CRIME A LL
AF TWELVE O'C1 AF TAK+ PROMPT /EPS 6W>N !
C.TY AU?ORITIES T "S?+ S]I\S 0 AFOOT4

  ,ON R1*+ ! ,MANOR ,H\SE1 ! S]G1NT _H F.D
! DRAWBRIDGE D[N1 ! W9D[S LI<T$ UP1 &!
:OLE H\SEHOLD 9 A /ATE ( WILD 3FU.N &
AL>M4 ,! :ITE-FAC$ S]VANTS 7 HU4L+ TGR 9 !
HALL1 )! F"R5$ BUTL] WR++ 8 H&S 9 !
DOORWAY4 ,ONLY ,CECIL ,B>K] SEEM$ 6BE MA/]
( HMF & 8 EMO;NS2 HE _H OP5$ ! DOOR : 0
NE>E/ 6! 5TR.E & HE _H BECKON$ 6! S]G1NT
6FOLL[ HM4 ,AT T MO;T "! >RIV$ ,DR4 ,WOOD1
A BRISK & CAPA# G5]AL PRACTI;N] F !
VILLAGE4 ,! ?REE M5 5T]$ ! FATAL ROOM TGR1
:ILE ! HORROR-/RICK5 BUTL] FOLL[$ AT _!
HEELS1 CLOS+ ! DOOR 2H HM 6%UT \ ! T]RI#
SC5E F ! MAID S]VANTS4

  ,! D1D MAN LAY ON 8 BACK1 SPRAWL+    
) \T/RET*$ LIMBS 9 ! C5TRE (! ROOM4 ,HE 0
CLAD ONLY 9 A P9K DRESS+ G[N1 : COV]$ 8
NI<T CLO!S4 ,"! 7 C>PET SLIPP]S ON 8 B>E
FEET4 ,! DOCTOR KNELT 2S HM & HELD D[N !
B& LAMP : _H /OOD ON ! TA#4 ,"O GL.E AT !
VICTIM 0 5 6%[ ! H1L] T 8 PRES;E CD 2
4P5S$ )4 ,! MAN _H BE5 HORRIBLY 9JUR$4
,LY+ ACR 8 *E/ 0 A CURI\S W1PON1 A %OTGUN
)! B>REL SAW$ (F A FOOT 9 FRONT (! TRI7]S4
,X 0 CLE> T ? _H BE5 FIR$ AT CLOSE RANGE &
T HE _H RCVD ! :OLE *>GE 9 ! FACE1 BL[+ 8
H1D ALM 6PIECES4 ,! TRI7]S _H BE5 WIR$
TGR1 S Z 6MAKE ! SIMULTANE\S 4*>GE M
DE/RUCTIVE4

  ,! C.TRY POLICEMAN 0 UNN]V$ & TR\#D 0!
TREM5D\S RESPONSIBIL;Y : _H -E S SU45LY ^U
HM4 8,WE W T\* NO?+ UNTIL MY SUP]IORS
>RIVE10 HE SD 9 A HU%$ VOICE1 />+ 9 HORROR
AT ! DR1D;L H1D4

  8,NO?+ HAS BE5 T\*$ UP 6N[10 SD ,CECIL
,B>K]4 8,I'LL ANSW] = T4 ,Y SEE X ALL
EXACTLY Z ,I F.D X40

  8,:5 0 T80 ,! S]G1NT _H DRAWN \ 8
NOTEBOOK4

  8,X 0 J HALF-PA/ ELEV54 ,I _H N      
2GUN 6UNDRESS1 & ,I 0 SITT+ 0! FIRE 9 MY
B$ROOM :5 ,I HE>D ! REPORT4 ,X 0 N V L\D-
X SEEM$ 6BE MU6L$4 ,I RU%$ D[N- ,I DON'T
SUPPOSE X 0 ?IRTY SECONDS 2F ,I 0 9 !
ROOM40

  8,WAS ! DOOR OP580

  8,YES1 X 0 OP54 ,POOR ,D\GLAS 0 LY+ Z Y
SEE HM4 ,8 B$ROOM C&LE 0 BURN+ ON ! TA#4
,X 0 ,I :O LIT ! LAMP "S M9UTES AFW40

  8,DID Y SEE NO "O80

  8,NO4 ,I HE>D ,MRS4 ,D\GLAS -+ D[N !
/AIR 2H ME1 & ,I RU%$ \ 6PREV5T H] F SEE+
? DR1D;L SI<T4 ,MRS4 ,ALL51 ! H\SEKEEP]1
CAME & TOOK H] AWAY4 ,AMES _H >RIV$1 & WE
RAN BACK 96! ROOM ONCE M40

  8,B SURELY ,I H HE>D T ! DRAWBRIDGE IS
KEPT UP ALL NI<T40

  8,YES1 X 0 UP UNTIL ,I L[]$ X40

  8,!N H[ CD ANY MURD]] H GOT AWAY8 ,X IS
\ (! "Q6 ,MR4 ,D\GLAS M/ H %OT HMF40

  8,T 0 \R F/ IDEA4 ,B SEE60 ,B>K] DREW
ASIDE ! CURTA91 & %[$ T ! L;G1 DIAMOND-
PAN$ W9D[ 0 OP5 6XS FULL EXT5T4 8,& LOOK
AT ?60 ,HE HELD ! LAMP D[N & ILLUM9AT$ A
SMUDGE ( BLOOD L ! M>K (A BOOT-SOLE    
^U ! WOOD5 SILL4 8,"S"O HAS /OOD "! 9
GETT+ \40

  8,Y M1N T "S"O WAD$ ACR ! MOAT80

  8,EXACTLY60

  8,!N IF Y 7 9 ! ROOM )9 HALF A M9UTE (!
CRIME1 HE M/ H BE5 9 ! WAT] AT T V MO;T40

  8,I H N A D\BT ( X4 ,I WI% 6H1V5 T ,I _H
RU%$ 6! W9D[6 ,B ! CURTA9 SCRE5$ X1 Z Y C
SEE1 & S X N"E O3URR$ 6ME4 ,!N ,I HE>D !
/EP ( ,MRS4 ,D\GLAS1 & ,I CD N LET H] 5T]
! ROOM4 ,X WD H BE5 TOO HORRI#40

  8,HORRI# 5\<60 SD ! DOCTOR1 LOOK+ AT !
%ATT]$ H1D &! T]RI# M>KS : SURR.D$ X4
8,I'VE N"E SE5 S* 9JURIES S9CE ! ,BIRL/"O
RAILWAY SMA%40

  8,B1 ,I SAY10 REM>K$ ! POLICE S]G1NT1 ^:
SL[1 BUCOLIC -MON S5SE 0 / POND]+ ! OP5
W9D[4 8,X'S ALL V WELL YR SAY+ T A MAN
ESCAP$ 0WAD+ ? MOAT1 B :AT ,I ASK Y IS1 H[
DID HE "E GET 96! H\SE AT ALL IF ! BRIDGE
0 UP80

  8,AH1 T'S ! "Q10 SD ,B>K]4

  8,AT :AT O'C 0 X RAIS$80

  8,X 0 NE>LY SIX O'C10 SD ,AMES1 ! BUTL]4

  8,I'VE HE>D10 SD ! S]G1NT1 8T X 0    
USU,Y RAIS$ AT SUNSET4 ,T WD 2 NE>] HALF-
PA/ F\R ?AN SIX AT ? "T ( YE>40

  8,MRS4 ,D\GLAS _H VISITORS 6TEA10 SD
,AMES4 8,I CDN'T RAISE X UNTIL !Y W5T4 ,!N
,I W.D X UP MYF40

  8,!N X -ES 6?10 SD ! S]G1NT3 8,IF ANY"O
CAME F \TSIDE- IF !Y DID- !Y M/ H GOT 9
ACR ! BRIDGE 2F SIX & BE5 9 HID+ "E S9CE1
UNTIL ,MR4 ,D\GLAS CAME 96! ROOM AF
ELEV540

  8,T IS S6 ,MR4 ,D\GLAS W5T R.D ! H\SE E
NI<T ! LA/ ?+ 2F HE TURN$ 9 6SEE T ! LI<TS
7 "R4 ,T BR"\ HM 9 "H4 ,! MAN 0 WAIT+ &
%OT HM4 ,!N HE GOT AWAY "? ! W9D[ & LEFT 8
GUN 2H HM4 ,T'S H[ ,I R1D X2 = NO?+ ELSE W
FIT ! FACTS40

  ,! S]G1NT PICK$ UP A C>D : LAY 2S ! D1D
MAN ON ! FLOOR4 ,! 9ITIALS ,V4,V4 & "U !M
! NUMB] #CDA 7 RUDELY SCRAWL$ 9 9K ^U X4

  8,:AT'S ?80 HE ASK$1 HOLD+ X UP4

  ,B>K] LOOK$ AT X ) CURIOS;Y4 8,I N"E
NOTIC$ X 2F10 HE SD4 8,! MURD]] M/ H LEFT
X 2H HM40

  8,V4,V4-#CDA4 ,I C MAKE NO S5SE ( T40

  ,! S]G1NT KEPT TURN+ X OV] 9 8 BIG   
F+]S4 8,:AT'S ,V4,V48 ,"SBODY'S 9ITIALS1
MAYBE4 ,:AT H Y GOT "!1 ,DR4 ,WOOD80

  ,X 0 A GD-SIZ$ HAMM] : _H BE5 LY+ ON !
RUG 9 FRONT (! FIREPLACE- A SUB/ANTIAL1
"WMANLIKE HAMM]4 ,CECIL ,B>K] PO9T$ 6A BOX
( BRASS-H1D$ NAILS ^U ! MANTELPIECE4

  8,MR4 ,D\GLAS 0 ALT]+ ! PICTURES
YE/]"D10 HE SD4 8,I SAW HM MYF1 /&+ ^U T
*AIR & FIX+ ! BIG PICTURE ABV X4 ,T A3.TS
=! HAMM]40

  8,WE'D BE/ PUT X BACK ON ! RUG ": WE F.D
X10 SD ! S]G1NT1 SCRAT*+ 8 PUZZL$ H1D 9 8
P]PLEX;Y4 8,X W WANT ! BE/ BRA9S 9 ! =CE
6GET 6! BOTTOM ( ? ?+4 ,X W 2 A ,LONDON
JOB 2F X IS F9I%$40 ,HE RAIS$ ! H& LAMP &
WALK$ SL[LY R.D ! ROOM4 8,HULLO60 HE CRI$1
EXCIT$LY1 DRAW+ ! W9D[ CURTA9 6"O SIDE4
8,:AT O'C 7 ^? CURTA9S DRAWN80

  8,:5 ! LAMPS 7 LIT10 SD ! BUTL]4 8,X WD
2 %ORTLY AF F\R40

  8,"S"O _H BE5 HID+ "H1 SURE 5\<40 ,HE
HELD D[N ! LI<T1 &! M>KS ( MU4Y BOOTS 7 V
VISI# 9 ! CORN]4 8,I'M B.D 6SAY ? BE>S \
YR !ORY1 ,MR4 ,B>K]4 ,X LOOKS Z IF ! MAN
GOT 96! H\SE AF F\R :5 ! CURTA9S 7     
DRAWN1 & 2F SIX :5 ! BRIDGE 0 RAIS$4 ,HE
SLIPP$ 96? ROOM1 2C X 0 ! F/ T HE SAW4 ,"!
0 NO O!R PLACE ": HE CD HIDE1 S HE POPP$ 9
2H ? CURTA94 ,T ALL SEEMS CLE> 5\<4 ,X IS
LIKELY T 8 MA9 IDEA 0 6BURGLE ! H\SE2 B
,MR4 ,D\GLAS *.ED 6-E ^U HM1 S HE MURD]$
HM & ESCAP$40

  8,T'S H[ ,I R1D X10 SD ,B>K]4 8,B ,I
SAY1 >5'T WE WA/+ PRECI\S "T8 ,CDN'T WE
/>T \ & SC\R ! C.TRY 2F ! FELL[ GETS
AWAY80

  ,! S]G1NT 3SID]$ =A MO;T4

  8,"! >E NO TRA9S 2F SIX 9 ! MORN+2 S HE
C'T GET AWAY 0RAIL4 ,IF HE GOES 0ROAD ) 8
LEGS ALL DRIPP+1 X'S O4S T "S"O W NOTICE
HM1 ,ANYH[1 ,I C'T L1VE "H MYF UNTIL ,I AM
RELIEV$4 ,B ,I ?9K N"O ( Y %D G UNTIL WE
SEE M CLE>LY H[ WE ALL /&40

  ,! DOCTOR _H TAK5 ! LAMP & 0 N>R[LY
SCRUT9IZ+ ! BODY4 8,:AT'S ? M>K80 HE ASK$4
8,CD ? H ANY 3NEC;N )! CRIME80

  ,! D1D MAN'S "R >M 0 ?RU/ \ F 8 DRESS+
G[N1 & EXPOS$ Z HI< Z ! ELB[4 ,AB HALFWAY
UP ! =E>M 0 A CURI\S BR[N DESIGN1 A
TRIANGLE 9SIDE A CIRCLE1 /&+ \ 9       
VIVID RELIEF ^U ! L>D-COL\R$ SK94

  8,X'S N TATTOO$10 SD ! DOCTOR1 PE]+ "? 8
GLASSES4 8,I N"E SAW ANY?+ L X4 ,! MAN HAS
BE5 BR&$ AT "S "T Z !Y BR& CATTLE4 ,:AT IS
! M1N+ ( ?80

  8,I DON'T PROFESS 6"K ! M1N+ ( X10 SD
,CECIL ,B>K]1 8B ,I H SE5 ! M>K ON ,D\GLAS
_M "TS ? LA/ T5 YE>S40

  8,& S H ,I10 SD ! BUTL]4 8,_M A "T :5 !
MA/] HAS ROLL$ UP 8 SLEEVES ,I H NOTIC$ T
V M>K4 ,I'VE (T5 WOND]$ :AT X CD BE40

  8,!N X HAS NO?+ 6D )! CRIME1 ANYH[10 SD
! S]G1NT4 8,B X'S A RUM ?+ ALL ! SAME4
,"EY?+ AB ? CASE IS RUM4 ,WELL1 :AT IS X
N[80

  ,! BUTL] _H GIV5 AN EXCLAM,N ( A/ONI%;T
& 0 PO9T+ AT ! D1D MAN'S \T/RET*$ H&4

  8,!Y'VE TAK5 8 W$D+ R+60 HE GASP$4

  8,:AT60

  8,YES1 9DE$4 ,MA/] ALW WORE 8 PLA9 GOLD
W$D+ R+ ON ! LL F+] ( 8 LEFT H&4 ,T R+ )!
R\< NU7ET ON X 0 ABV X1 &! TWI/$ SNAKE R+
ON ! ?IRD F+]4 ,"!'S ! NU7ET & "!'S !
SNAKE1 B ! W$D+ R+ IS G"O40

  8,HE'S "R10 SD ,B>K]4                

  8,D Y TELL ME10 SD ! S]G1NT1 8T ! W$D+
R+ 0 2L ! O!R80

  8,ALW60

  8,!N ! MURD]]1 OR :O"E X WAS1 F/ TOOK (F
? R+ Y CALL ! NU7ET !N ! W$D+ R+1 & AFWS
PUT ! NU7ET R+ BACK AG40

  8,T IS S60

  ,! WOR?Y C.TRY POLICEMAN %OOK 8 H1D4
8,SEEMS 6ME ! SOON] WE GET ,LONDON ON 6?
CASE ! BETT]10 SD HE4 8,:ITE ,MASON IS A
SM>T MAN4 ,NO LOCAL JOB HAS "E BE5 TOO M*
= ,:ITE ,MASON4 ,X WON'T 2 L;G N[ 2F HE IS
"H 6HELP U4 ,B ,I EXPECT WELL H 6LOOK
6,LONDON 2F WE >E "?4 ,ANYH[1 ,I'M N A%AM$
6SAY T X IS A D1L TOO ?ICK =! LIKES ( ME40




