Read Online The Human Flies (K2 and Patricia series) by Hans Olav Lahlum - Free Book Online
Authors: Hans Olav Lahlum
Ads: Link
bookmarks. The one on top was a French book, the title of which I could not understand, the one in the middle appeared to be a university textbook on sociology, and the one on the bottom was a collection of short stories in English by Stanley Ellin, of whom I had never heard. There was a large jug of water in the middle of the table, as well as a pot of coffee and a pot of tea.
‘Welcome. I am extremely grateful that you can give me a few minutes of your time. Do you have any particular preference when it comes to refreshment?’
I swiftly declined.
‘In that case, that is all for now, Benedikte. I will ring should there be anything else.’
The maid bobbed a silent curtsy and quickly retired. Patricia Louise I. E. Borchmann was a lady of principles and discretion. She did not say a word until we were alone in the room. Then, like her father, she got straight to the point.
‘I don’t want to waste any more of your undoubtedly precious time than necessary. The picture given in the papers of the residents of the building is somewhat incomplete, so if I am to say anything of any value, I may need to be updated. The newspapers all mention the unsolved mystery of how the murderer could escape the flat undetected. The windows were closed and locked from the inside, and there were no broken panes to indicate that the shot came from outside. The door has a snib lock, which means that the murderer could have left the flat and locked the door behind him. But the other residents were at the door so soon after the shot that no one could have escaped that way unnoticed. Is that, in brief, a fair description of the mystery as to how the murder was committed? And is it still an unsolved problem for you and the investigation?’
I nodded quickly – twice. The Borchmann family obviously had a talent for giving simple, brief synopses and clarifying critical issues.
Young Patricia seemed to grow in her wheelchair. She chewed thoughtfully on the inside of her cheek for a moment before continuing.
‘This is a variant of the closed-room mystery, but not of the most difficult kind, as the security chain was not on. As Sherlock Holmes says, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable , must be the truth.” The murderer obviously left through the door, so in reality, there are only two possible ways in which that could have happened.’
I listened in fascination to her determined, self-assured voice. She was clearly excited and took the opportunity to take a couple of sips of cold water before continuing.
‘The first solution is very much like one of Agatha Christie’s best-known novels, in which all the characters have, for various reasons, conspired to kill the victim. In which case, you shouldn’t place too much emphasis on the other residents’ statements.’
I had hoped for something more realistic, which must have been obvious. She hurried on, without stopping for a drink.
‘But that kind of plot definitely works better in English novels than in daily life in Norway, and does not seem very likely in this case. There would also be a considerable risk with so many people involved, and the residents seem to be a very mixed bunch. If we let go of our paranoia and shelve the theory of a major conspiracy among the residents, there’s really only one possibility left.’
I stared at her with renewed interest, my thoughts racing as she poured and drank another half-glass of water. And yet her question was completely unexpected.
‘Have many of the other residents complained about being disturbed by the baby on the first floor?’
Patricia smiled briefly and a touch condescendingly when she saw the confusion on my face, before continuing swiftly.
‘Or, more to the point, does sound travel exceptionally well in 25 Krebs’ Street? Does the building have unusually thin walls and good acoustics?’
I started to get a vague idea of where she was going, but I still did not see how it would
‘Welcome. I am extremely grateful that you can give me a few minutes of your time. Do you have any particular preference when it comes to refreshment?’
I swiftly declined.
‘In that case, that is all for now, Benedikte. I will ring should there be anything else.’
The maid bobbed a silent curtsy and quickly retired. Patricia Louise I. E. Borchmann was a lady of principles and discretion. She did not say a word until we were alone in the room. Then, like her father, she got straight to the point.
‘I don’t want to waste any more of your undoubtedly precious time than necessary. The picture given in the papers of the residents of the building is somewhat incomplete, so if I am to say anything of any value, I may need to be updated. The newspapers all mention the unsolved mystery of how the murderer could escape the flat undetected. The windows were closed and locked from the inside, and there were no broken panes to indicate that the shot came from outside. The door has a snib lock, which means that the murderer could have left the flat and locked the door behind him. But the other residents were at the door so soon after the shot that no one could have escaped that way unnoticed. Is that, in brief, a fair description of the mystery as to how the murder was committed? And is it still an unsolved problem for you and the investigation?’
I nodded quickly – twice. The Borchmann family obviously had a talent for giving simple, brief synopses and clarifying critical issues.
Young Patricia seemed to grow in her wheelchair. She chewed thoughtfully on the inside of her cheek for a moment before continuing.
‘This is a variant of the closed-room mystery, but not of the most difficult kind, as the security chain was not on. As Sherlock Holmes says, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable , must be the truth.” The murderer obviously left through the door, so in reality, there are only two possible ways in which that could have happened.’
I listened in fascination to her determined, self-assured voice. She was clearly excited and took the opportunity to take a couple of sips of cold water before continuing.
‘The first solution is very much like one of Agatha Christie’s best-known novels, in which all the characters have, for various reasons, conspired to kill the victim. In which case, you shouldn’t place too much emphasis on the other residents’ statements.’
I had hoped for something more realistic, which must have been obvious. She hurried on, without stopping for a drink.
‘But that kind of plot definitely works better in English novels than in daily life in Norway, and does not seem very likely in this case. There would also be a considerable risk with so many people involved, and the residents seem to be a very mixed bunch. If we let go of our paranoia and shelve the theory of a major conspiracy among the residents, there’s really only one possibility left.’
I stared at her with renewed interest, my thoughts racing as she poured and drank another half-glass of water. And yet her question was completely unexpected.
‘Have many of the other residents complained about being disturbed by the baby on the first floor?’
Patricia smiled briefly and a touch condescendingly when she saw the confusion on my face, before continuing swiftly.
‘Or, more to the point, does sound travel exceptionally well in 25 Krebs’ Street? Does the building have unusually thin walls and good acoustics?’
I started to get a vague idea of where she was going, but I still did not see how it would
Similar Books
