Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
6. A Woman?
”
Poirotpressedthepoint.
“Youmusthaveformedsometheory,M.MacQueen.”
“Well,yes,Idid.Foronething,Idon’tbelieveRatchettwashisrealname.IthinkheleftAmericadefinitelyinordertoescapesomeoneorsomething.Ithinkhewassuccessful—untilafewweeksago.”
“Andthen?”
“Hebegantogetletters—threateningletters.”
“Didyouseethem?”
“Yes.Itwasmybusinesstoattendtohiscorrespondence.Thefirstlettercameafortnightago.”
“Weretheselettersdestroyed?”
“No,IthinkI’vegotacouplestillinmyfiles—oneIknowRatchetttoreupinarage.ShallIgetthemforyou?”
“Ifyouwouldbesogood.”
MacQueenleftthecompartment.HereturnedafewminuteslaterandlaiddowntwosheetsofratherdirtynotepaperbeforePoirot.
Thefirstletterranasfollows:
“Thoughtyou’ddoublecrossusandgetawaywithit,didyou?Notonyourlife.We’reouttoGETyou,Ratchett,andweWILLgetyou!”
Therewasnosignature.
Withnocommentbeyondraisedeyebrows,Poirotpickedupthesecondletter.
“We’regoingtotakeyouforaride,Ratchett.Sometimesoon.We’regoingtoGETyou,see?”
Poirotlaidtheletterdown.
“Thestyleismonotonous!”hesaid.“Moresothanthehandwriting.”
MacQueenstaredathim.
“Youwouldnotobserve,”saidPoirotpleasantly.“Itrequirestheeyeofoneusedtosuchthings.Thisletterwasnotwrittenbyoneperson,M.MacQueen.Twoormorepersonswroteit—eachwritingaletterofawordatatime.Also,thelettersareprinted.Thatmakesthetaskofidentifyingthehandwritingmuchmoredifficult.
