The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang Read Online Free PDF

uniformed policemen blocked his way. Mercier turned to face Inspector Zhang. “This is ridiculous,” he said.
    â€œNow, Mr. Mercier, I am going to make two predictions, based on what I think happened,” said Inspector Zhang. He nodded at Mercier’s jacket. “I am certain that you are carrying the murder weapon. You have had no chance to dispose of it so it must still be on your person. And because I do not believe that you planned to kill Mr. Wilkinson, I think that the weapon is actually something quite innocuous. A pen, maybe.” He registered the look of surprise on Mercier’s face and he smiled. “Yes, a pen. But I also think that you have a camera, perhaps even a small video camera. Am I right?”
    Mercier didn’t answer but he slowly reached into his inside pocket and took out a black Mont Blanc pen. He held it out and Inspector Zhang could see that there was blood on one end. Sergeant Lee stepped forward and held out a clear plastic evidence bag and Mercier dropped the pen into it. Mercier then reached into the left hand pocket of his trousers and took out a slim white video camera, smaller than a pack of cigarettes.
    Inspector Zhang took the camera from him. “And Miss Lulu, she is in this with you?”
    Mercier looked away but didn’t answer.
    â€œShe is not involved in the murder of course. She doesn’t know that Mr. Wilkinson is dead because he was still alive when she left the room.”
    Mercier nodded. “She doesn’t know.”
    â€œBecause you never planned to kill Mr. Wilkinson, did you?” said Inspector Zhang.
    Mercier rubbed his hands together and shook his head.
    â€œYou were there to blackmail Mr. Wilkinson?”
    â€œBlackmail?” said Miss Berghuis.
    â€œIt is the only explanation,” said Inspector Zhang. “He was in the room when Mr. Wilkinson arrived with Miss Lulu. I am assuming that he wanted to video them in a compromising position with a view to blackmailing him. He was a married man, after all. And divorce in America can be a costly business. The only question is whether Miss Lulu was party to the blackmail, or not.”
    Mercier nodded. “It was her idea,” he said.
    â€œYou were her client?”
    â€œSometimes. Yes. Then she said that she had this rich customer who treated her badly and that she wanted to get back at him. She wanted to hurt him and get money from him. She said she’d split the money with me.”
    â€œSo she suggested that you hide in the closet and video them together?”
    â€œShe had been in his room before and she knew I could easily hide in the closet. She called me when she was on the way back to the hotel and I was in position when they arrived. She made sure that he could never see me. It was easy. But then she was supposed to get him into the shower so that I could slip out, but he wouldn’t have it. He said that his wife was due to phone him so he practically threw her out of the room. Then he phoned room service from the sitting room so I couldn’t get out, and then his wife called. I was stuck there while he took the call.” He ran a hand over his face. He was dripping with sweat. “Then it all went wrong.”
    â€œHe opened the closet? He found you?”
    Mercier nodded. “He shouldn’t have, but he did. All his clothes were in the suitcase and his robe was in the bathroom. I don’t know why he opened the closet, but he did and he saw me.”
    â€œSo you killed him?”
    Mercier shook his head. “It was an accident.”
    â€œYou stabbed him in the throat with your pen,” said Inspector Zhang.
    â€œHe attacked me,” said Mercier. “He opened the closet door and saw me and attacked me. We struggled. I had to stop him.”
    â€œBy driving your pen into his throat?”
    Mercier looked at the floor.
    â€œI think not,” said Inspector Zhang. “If you stabbed him at the closet, there