The Crime Scene
4 March 1947
After a few minutes, Albert and Herbie arrived at the Lopez Hills Bar. Journalists and police officers had surrounded the area. Albert and Herbie came close to the police line.
OFFICER BLAKE: Detectives?
Asked one of the police officers who stood near the line. Herbie showed him his badge. The police officer looked at it and said.
OFFICER BLAKE: Oh, I see. We've been expecting you, mister Fox! You can cross the line.
Herbie said jokingly.
HERBIE: I wonder why you haven't recognized me, officer Blake.
Officer Blake got a little upset. Then, Herbie and Albert crossed the line. When they made a few steps, there was the dead body of Frank Lombardo lying next to them, with an analytic, Dean Marston, who was bent down and observing it. He was an old man with dyed brown hair, round glasses, wearing a white braid. He had rough wrinkles on his face and a fit figure. Even though he had a tough job, he was always calm by nature. He suffered from a mild level of lisp. Albert got scared stiff and nervous when he saw the body. Herbie grabbed his shoulder and whispered into his ears.
HERBIE: This is how it feels like to be a detective. Welcome to my world! Keep in mind; the worst things in your life are still yet to come, my friend.
Afterwards, Herbie started talking with Dean.
HERBIE: What have you got so far, mister Marston?
DEAN: Hello, mister Fox. The victim has quite a lot of wounds. Three of them are in the area of his stomach. It's apparent that a knife stabbed him. He simply fell down to the ground and bled out. The daisy placed next to the body is artificial.
HERBIE: Does he have wounds anywhere else on his body?
DEAN: There are some red spots on his neck. What that means is: it's possible that the victim has been strangled before being stabbed to death. I'll need to analyze the whole body in my laboratory for more detailed assumptions. It also looks like the victim has been under the influence of alcohol.
HERBIE: Thank you, mister Marston.
Dean stood up and observed the crime scene a little further. Herbie bent down to the body and started looking for some clues. He looked into the pockets of a coat, which Frank wore that night. He could feel some papers in them, so he pulled them out of there. The first one was a card of a man called Malfred Ash with his telephone number and an address written on it. Herbie immediately took a note of both, the telephone number and the address, into his notebook. The next paper in Frank's coat pockets was a letter from a caretaker, which informed Frank about a late mortgage payment. Herbie took a note of the caretaker's name: Charlie Crown. Besides the papers, there were three bonbons, apartment keys, and a wallet in his pockets. The wallet had a total of thirty dollars in it. Herbie stood up and observed the crime scene with Albert walking by his side. Albert asked.
ALBERT: Have you found out anything?
HERBIE: Not really. There are not a lot of clues here. The most interesting thing may be the car key inserted in his car.
ALBERT: Why do you think so? It only has Frank’s fingerprints and maybe fingerprints of some of his relatives. I don't see anything special about them.
HERBIE: Don't be so narrow-minded, mister Fringe! They might help us in some situations, maybe tell us something more.
ALBERT: I'm not so sure about that but, so be it, mister Fox.
Herbie put a white glove on his hand and took the car keys. Afterwards, he carefully placed them in a small plastic bag. Later, Herbie decided to visit the Lopez Hills Bar. There was an obese man with short black hair behind the bar counter. Herbie and Albert came close to him and Herbie started talking.
HERBIE: Detective Herbie Fox, I would like to ask you a few questions.
The barkeeper replied with more of a rude manner.
BARKEEPER: All right, go on. What do you want?
Herbie sat on a barstool. Albert was just standing and watching. Herbie started talking.
HERBIE: We are investigating a murder, which happened near your bar. Could you describe me precisely what happened last night? Does the name Frank Lombard ring any bell to you?
BARKEEPER: Lombardo? Yes, I know that guy. He’s one of my regulars. What about him?
HERBIE: I'm unfortunate to say this… He was murdered yesterday. Did he have problems with alcohol?
BARKEEPER: Gee! What a cruel world! It depends. Sometimes he came and drank one glass of vodka; sometimes he came and nearly poisoned himself with almost everything liquid we had here. I don't think he actually had drinking problems, though. He wasn't drinking alcohol each and every time he came here, you know.
HERBIE: That sounds interesting. Was he alone or did he have a company?
BARKEEPER: He was here with a friend. I think his name was Daniel Greg. They were arguing a lot, though. At one point, they nearly got into a fistfight and at the other one; they were drinking Martini with laughter together.
Herbie took a note of this information. He started thinking.
HERBIE: Do you know what might have been the cause of their argument?
BARKEEPER: I was hearing things about some woman called Marge, but I also heard something about diamonds.
HERBIE: What diamonds?
BARKEEPER: I don't know. My memory is kind of shaky about that.
HERBIE: Try to remember! It can help the investigation by a mile in some situation.
BARKEEPER: I can recall some argument about who shall possess them. I can't remember anything more right now. Maybe it was only a drunk talk.
Herbie continued taking notes. Albert started asking questions, too.
ALBERT: Can you tell us when did they leave?
BARKEEPER: It could be about three o'clock in the morning.
ALBERT: Did you hear any noise?
BARKEEPER: No, I didn't hear anything.
Albert got suspicious.
ALBERT: How come? It happened not even a mile away from your bar!
The barkeeper got nervous and started looking to sides. He stated with anger.
BARKEEPER: All right, I did. I heard shouting and then a strange weeping noise.
ALBERT: Why did you not do anything?
BARKEEPER: I'm just an ordinary barkeeper! I hear shouting men every night, for crying out loud!
Herbie started to ask questions again.
HERBIE: Why didn't you call the police?”
BARKEEPER: I didn't find it necessary.
Herbie stood up from his chair and let his temper show out.
HERBIE: Go and take a look outside! There's a dead man who didn't deserve to die! You might have helped him to his grave with your ignorance!
BARKEEPER: Stop shouting at me! Otherwise, I'll make a complaint about you two assholes!
HERBIE: You must have such a fugitive mind, mister barkeeper.
The barkeeper raised his voice furiously.
BARKEEPER: That's enough! Get the hell out of my bar and leave me alone!
Herbie replied with sarcasm.
HERBIE: It was a pleasure being here, mister barkeeper. I hope I'll be able to come here again sometime.
The barkeeper shouted.
BARKEEPER: Screw you, chump!
Even though it looked like Herbie and Albert were about to leave the bar, the argument between Herbie and the barkeeper continued for several minutes. It came to the point when Albert simply couldn't take it anymore and he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. Afterwards, he announced.
ALBERT: I'm going to have a cigarette outside, if you don't mind.
Albert went outside and lit up his cigarette. When he finished smoking, he wanted to throw the stub into a trash bin as he didn't want to simply throw it on the ground. He found one at the backside of the bar. When he reached the trash bin, he noticed something sharp beneath the garbage. He gently grabbed and picked out an object. It was wrapped in a black bag. While he was softly unwrapping the object in his hands, he got terrified. He could see drops of blood. When he unwrapped the object completely, it was obvious. It was a bloody knife! He wrapped the knife back into the black bag with terror and ran to Herbie. The argument was still going on when he entered the bar. Albert shouted.
ALBERT: Mister Fox, I found something very questionable outside! I want to show it to you in private, though.
Herbie replied with a light smile.
HERBIE: What is it? A golden coin or what?
Albert remained nervous and replied seriously.
ALBERT: No, it's something serious! I really need you to see it.
HERBIE: All right then. I'll just say goodbye to my friend here.
Herbie smiled at the barkeeper who had a very angry look on his face.
HERBIE: Goodbye, my friend. I hope we can have a chat sometime soon again.
Herbie stated to the barkeeper. As they both came to the entrance, he added.
HERBIE: Mister barkeeper, before I leave, I would like to give you a riddle.
The barkeeper hesitated but agreed. Herbie continued.
HERBIE: A drink spilling out makes one person annoying and desperate at the same time. Who is that person?
The barkeeper thought about it for a while but remained silent. After a while, Herbie stated.
HERBIE: It's a beloved barkeeper, my friend!
The barkeeper got surprised and Albert laughed. Herbie and Albert left the bar. As they were going to the car, Albert said.
ALBERT: I wouldn't say that you have such a good sense of humor, mister Fox!
Herbie replied with confidence.
HERBIE: Extraordinary problems require extraordinary solutions, mister Fringe! What do you want to show me?
Albert showed the knife to Herbie.
ALBERT: I found this at the backside of the bar. Take a look at it.
Herbie got surprised and stated with joy.
HERBIE: Well, well, well! This must be the knife that killed the victim. This is outstanding! You have found a major clue! I'm starting to be glad that they assigned you to me. I wouldn't find this one myself!
Albert smiled.
ALBERT: It was nothing, mister Fox. I've noticed it by a pure coincidence when I wanted to throw a cigarette stub to the trash bin.
HERBIE: We need to deliver this object to the analysis!