Charlie Crown
The Police Station
5 March 1947
It was another sunny morning and Herbie met Albert at the police station. They went to the Lieutenant’s office. The lieutenant asked.
LIEUTENANT: How are you doing so far? Is there any progress?
Herbie started talking.
HERBIE: We're working on it. We have several suspects. I think we might solve the case today. We still need to interrogate some people and investigate some places though.
LIEUTENANT: Should I consider it to be good news, mister Fox?
HERBIE: I think you won't regret doing that, lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT: That's good, mister Fox. The journalists arranged a press conference today. They want to hear only positive statements! They are like leeches, but it's understandable that they want to put out something interesting.
HERBIE: Don't worry, lieutenant. We have it under the control.
LIEUTENANT: Good! Have you found out the motive yet?
HERBIE: There are misunderstandings around some diamonds. That's why I think it may be a material motive. Either that or we still don't know something about Frank Lombardo.
LIEUTENANT: And what about that piece of daisy? I bet that those leeches will ask me about that.
HERBIE: It's probably a custom of the murderer. I haven't found out yet. All I have are assumptions and I wouldn't say them out loud if I were you.
LIEUTENANT: All right, so it's his custom. That should be all, mister Fox. I think I might be able to handle it from this point. I'm sure that a detective like you will catch the murderer as soon as he shows up. You can both leave now. Take care.
HERBIE: Goodbye.
Herbie and Albert left. As they were walking through the corridor, officer Blake stopped them.
OFFICER BLAKE: Fox! Haven't you forgot about Charlie Crown yesterday? He was sitting in the interrogation room for hours and you haven't showed up!
HERBIE: Really? I may need help with some things. What did you do with him?
OFFICER BLAKE: We locked him up in the cell after three hours. Poor guy, he was so confused about what was happening.
They all three laughed out loud. Herbie got a little upset about it and said.
HERBIE: That's all right, mister Blake. He can thank you for informing us about that. We're going to interrogate him. In which room is he in?
OFFICER BLAKE: I'm going to tell the guards. He's still in the cell so you need to wait for about ten minutes. We'll put him in the room two. This time, it would be nice of you to show up, mister Fox!
HERBIE: Thank you, mister Blake. I would be lost without you!
OFFICER BLAKE: A pack of Pall Mall should be enough to show your gratitude, mister Fox. I think I deserve it after what I've done for you. Don't worry, I'll share it with you and we'll both have a nice smoke after work.
HERBIE: Of course, mister Blake. I just need to solve this case first.
OFFICER BLAKE: All right, wait here then.
Herbie and Albert sat down and after a moment, Dean Marston appeared and came to them.
DEAN: Mister Fox! Mister Fox! Can I ask you about the investigation?
HERBIE: We're making some progress, mister Marston. We have no clear conclusions yet. What about you? Have you found out something new?
DEAN: No, I haven't. Do you have some new suspects?
HERBIE: I wouldn't say that there is someone as suspicious as Daniel Greg, but yes, we do. Basically, everyone who had something to do with Frank Lombardo is a suspect.
DEAN: That's certain, mister Fox. Anyway, I have a lot of work to do today. I was just curious about the case. I'm going to leave you now. See you around, mister Fox.
HERBIE: See you around, mister Marston.
Marston went away. Herbie started talking with Albert.
HERBIE: Mister Fringe, I haven't heard anything from you for a while. What do you think about the investigation so far?
ALBERT: I don't have much to say, mister Fox. I have mixed feelings about everything that occurred yesterday. I even wonder if I chose the right job.
HERBIE: This is your first homicide case, mister Fringe. You'll get used to the pressure as time passes. You don't even know how much pressure I'm under right now! I can tell you that being a detective’s partner is one of the softest jobs you can have on the squad! Have you got some thoughts about this case to add?
ALBERT: I've thought about the evidence quite intensively yesterday, but I couldn't come up with anything. What about you, mister Fox?
HERBIE: I do have some new information. I've observed the letter from the caretaker. I've also tried to call Malfred Ash but it wasn't successful. Lombardo had his card in his coat pocket. First time when I called, a woman answered the phone. She ignored me almost the entire time. It took a few minutes before I got to talk with Ash himself. Let me tell you. You won't find so easily such a talkative electrician like he is! Thinking about it, we need to visit him today. I'm just wondering whether it would be more effective to come as a civilian. I don't like what was happening during our phone calls.
ALBERT: That won't be necessary, in my opinion. If he really keeps something a secret from us, he will probably try to run away.
HERBIE: That's not what I'm pointing at. He might lie to us the entire time. In a way, you're right. When he does, we'll be able to send him behind the prison bars.
Ten minutes passed and officer Blake came back.
OFFICER BLAKE: He's waiting for you, mister Fox. Be careful, though. He looks angry. You probably have to go tough on him!
HERBIE: Thank you, Officer Blake.
Herbie and Albert stood up and went to the interrogation room number two. Charlie Crown was sitting at the table already. He had a furious look on his face. Herbie sat down and started the interrogation. As usual, Albert was transcribing.
HERBIE: Greetings, mister Crown. We meet again.
Charlie Crown replied with fury.
CHARLIE: Greetings, mister Fox. I'm so grateful that you put me in a cell for no reason! I've enjoyed staying the night here!
HERBIE: I'm glad to hear that, mister Crown. At least I don't need to have any regrets about what happened.
CHARLIE: Do you understand the word irony, detective?
HERBIE: Of course I do, mister Crown. I would have asked you the same question because you probably didn't understand me correctly.
CHARLIE: I'm happy that you even showed up, detective. It was so sad for me to be here alone.
HERBIE: Excuse me. Is this the same Charlie Crown who I met yesterday? Because I observe quite a big change in your behavior, mister Crown! You're being rude to the detective! What happened to the Charlie Crown who ran away from me and then tried to explain me his social phobias with fear? You're a very complicated person!
CHARLIE: You're hilarious, detective! Just try to go against me! I have official documents from my shrink. I'll sue you and I'll be so kind that I won't mention my night spent here does that sound all right to you?
HERBIE: Oh, stop it, mister Crown! Do you want me to go against you? Well, I have something to show you then!
Herbie took Charlie's letter to Frank from his pocket. He unfolded it and he held it firmly in his hands, pointing towards Charlie Crown.
HERBIE: See this, mister Crown? You have a nice handwriting. You deserve a new luxury pen. You also have a lot of courage! Just one thing, I wouldn't expect it from someone who ran away from us yesterday. You literally threatened Frank. You said you'll make him homeless!
Charlie defended himself.
CHARLIE: I had a right to do that! That man was nothing, but trouble! He never paid the rent on time and he caused some other problems, too. I'm glad that scum died! People like him have no place in this world!
HERBIE: Be careful, mister Crown! Nobody deserves to die. It doesn't matter whom we're talking about. Everybody deserves to live! Anyway, you're a new suspect in this case.
CHARLIE: Excuse me? How dare you? Do you know who I am? I studied law! I wanted to work as an advocate!
HERBIE: I don't care, mister Crown! I don't judge people by their education or job! I have no idea who you might be and I'm not even interested, to be honest. Now, tell me. Do you know something about the diamonds?
CHARLIE: I have no idea what you're talking about.
HERBIE: Be honest, mister Crown!
CHARLIE: I seriously don't know.
HERBIE: All right, I believe you then. But what does this mean.
Herbie showed Charlie the small piece of paper with number one written on it.
CHARLIE: What's not to understand, mister Fox? In our apartment, we number the alerts. Not all of them, only serious ones. Alert about the late payment is one of them. Lombardo could be glad that my previous warnings were only informal. Since this was his first formal warning, I needed to put this piece of paper into the envelope. Ridiculous, I know, but that's how it works in our apartment.
HERBIE: That's interesting, mister Crown! Could you explain why the number one was written on the piece of daisy, as well?
CHARLIE: No, I can't.
HERBIE: Well, all right then, mister Crown. One last question. Do you have keys to Lombardo's apartment?
CHARLIE: Of course I do. What kind of a caretaker would I be if I didn't?
HERBIE: Isn't that illegal, mister Crown?
CHARLIE: No, it's not! I respect the privacy of everyone in the apartment. Even if you probably don't think so.
HERBIE: I'm not accusing you of anything, mister Crown. We just need the keys from Lombardo's apartment, that's all. If you give them to us, you are free for now. I'm saying that because if I had to judge purely by this interrogation, I would send you to prison right away!
CHARLIE: How rude! That's unbelievable! You can be glad if I give you the keys!
HERBIE: Either that or you'll spend some more cruel nights here until you're claimed to be innocent!
CHARLIE: Come with me to the apartment.
The guard asked Herbie.
GUARD: Are you leaving, mister Fox?
HERBIE: Yes. You can free him.
GUARD: Goodbye, mister Fox.
HERBIE: Goodbye.
Herbie and Albert stood up and left with Charlie. When they opened the door, Herbie told Charlie.
HERBIE: No need to drive, mister Crown! You're coming with us.
They all three got in the car. During the commute, Herbie talked with Charlie.
CHARLIE: Where is my car, mister Fox?
HERBIE: That's not important right now, mister Crown. I need to have you near me all the time!
CHARLIE: How rude!
HERBIE: I feel the same, mister Crown. You're behaving inappropriately towards us!
CHARLIE: Inappropriately? Should I polish your shoes, detective?
HERBIE: That's a good offer. A better attitude would be a better one though.
CHARLIE: You don't even deserve it, detective!
HERBIE: Do you know what, mister Crown? Just be quiet from now on. I think we'll be both glad when you don't end up in prison for good.