The Police Station
4 March 1947
Herbie and Albert arrived at the police station. Herbie had the wrapped knife in his hands and he spoke to the doorkeeper.
HERBIE: Good afternoon, Mike. I'm looking for mister Marston. Is he in his laboratory?
DOORKEEPER: He has just finished the analysis of the dead body a few minutes ago. He should be in the canteen right now. You'll probably have to wait a while.
HERBIE: Thank you, Mike.
Herbie and Albert sat down and waited. Herbie started a new conversation.
HERBIE: What do you think about the detective work so far, mister Fringe?
ALBERT: Actually, I don't have a certain opinion yet. What I can say is that some things almost made me throw up.
HERBIE: That's understandable, mister Fringe.
ALBERT: Can I ask you about your beginnings?
Herbie smiled and replied.
HERBIE: I can recall them quite precisely. I was twenty years old and I was just finishing the police academy. My mother was a police officer. I had a job almost immediately after my graduation.
Albert nodded his head and Herbie continued.
HERBIE: I remember my first serious case. It was a murder of a clockmaker. When I solved it, the lieutenant took a fancy of me. When there was an opportunity, he always gave me awards for being the best detective. Thinking about it, it all might have happened because of my poor mother.
Herbie started to look around, stuck in his thoughts. After a little while, Dean Marston appeared. Herbie stopped him and spoke with him.
HERBIE: Mister Marston, are you available right now? We have an important clue that needs to be analyzed.
DEAN: Of course. What clue?
HERBIE: Let's go.
They all walked into the Dean Marston's laboratory and closed the door. Herbie started to gently unwrap the knife from the black bag. A few seconds later, the knife got revealed and Marston took an astonishing glance at it. Herbie stated.
HERBIE: This one.
Marston observed it for a little moment and stated.
DEAN: Interesting. Where did you find it?
HERBIE: Mister Fringe found it in a trash bin.
DEAN: Have you touched the unwrapped parts with your hands?
Albert replied.
ALBERT: No, I haven't. I've strictly touched the black bag only.
Dean claimed with a slight relief.
DEAN: That's great! I can identify the fingerprints without inspecting yours first. Supposing the killer wasn't wearing gloves, of course. I can conduct that he had more courage than intelligence. Murdering someone with a knife and throwing it into the nearest trash bin isn't something that you can get away with, you see.
Herbie started thinking out loud.
HERBIE: I guess that this case might be already solved. The murderer's fingerprints are on the knife. We'll arrest him and there we go!
Dean stated.
DEAN: Not so fast, mister Fox! I don't think he wasn't wearing gloves. Also, there might be fingerprints of more people on that knife.
Herbie argued.
HERBIE: I'm not concluding anything. I don't rely on fingerprints, anyway. I'm creating my own opinions mainly by the interrogations. Fingerprints always help, though. It depends on how successful your analysis will be. Anyway, I've heard that you have finished the analysis of the dead body. What have you got?
Marston came to the white awning. He grabbed his analysis documents. After a little while, he started explaining.
DEAN: I have some rather interesting results. My guess that the victim was under the influence of alcohol was confirmed. There were also particles of nicotine in his body. There are bruises on his chest and several other ones throughout his entire body. Some of those look like they were caused by glass. Probably a bar incident, I might say.
Herbie asked curiously.
HERBIE: Could you describe those bruises in more detail?
DEAN: Quite apparent and deep. You see it looks like someone beat him up, which only adds to my theory of a bar incident. There are also some signs of a black eye. Talking about it, could you please give me that knife? This won't be pretty, though.
As Herbie was giving the knife to Dean, he asked Albert.
HERBIE: Will you be able to handle this, mister Fringe?
Albert replied calmly.
ALBERT: I hope so. I have already seen the body.
Herbie nodded his head softly and stated.
HERBIE: All right, you have been warned then. You can continue, mister Marston.
Dean revealed the body slowly. Albert got terrified and almost threw up again. Herbie remained calm and the sight in front of him didn't cause anything to him. Dean placed the knife on the victim's stomach and concluded.
DEAN: It's obvious. The wound is matching the shape of this knife! I'm almost certain that the blood is the victims. We have our answer. Right here is the murder weapon! I don't think we need analysis anymore, as you might see now.
Herbie replied.
HERBIE: Thank you, mister Marston. If you find out anything new, call and leave a message for Lieutenant More. He'll forward it to me during the next call to the police station.
DEAN: Of course, mister Fox. My services are here for you.
HERBIE: Have a nice day, mister Marston.
DEAN: Have a nice day, too, mister Fox.
Herbie and Albert left the laboratory room. During their walking through the police station, Lieutenant More stopped them.
LIEUTENANT: Mister Fox, we have a witness here!
Herbie replied with a surprise.
HERBIE: Which room?
LIEUTENANT: Interrogation Room two.
HERBIE: Thank you, Lieutenant More. Let's go, mister Fringe!
They entered the room and Albert closed the door. There was an old lady sitting at the table. She had a very calm and quiet voice. Herbie sat down in front of her and started the interrogation. Albert stood by his side and after he had been given an order, he transcribed the whole conversation.
HERBIE: Detective Fox, so what can you tell us about this case, missis...?
ANGIE: Angie, Angie Rothford. I am the neighbor of Frank Lombardo.
Herbie seemed to be joyous about this fact.
HERBIE: I'm very glad that you came here. You can begin your testimony now.
Missis Rothford started explaining.
ANGIE: The incident happened at around three o'clock in the morning. I woke up to the strange noises outside and I looked outside the window. I saw my neighbor, Frank Lombardo.
HERBIE: Can you describe the person's appearance that was with him?
ANGIE: My memory is not in such a good shape, mister. I wonder how I even recognized the face of Lombardo. I remember that they were walking past the street and they were arguing about some diamonds. Unfortunately, that's all my memory can come up with.
HERBIE: All right, missis Rothford. Can you tell me something more about Frank Lombardo?
ANGIE: I didn't know him well. He sometimes came to visit me and he even helped me with groceries, time after time. Anyway, I noticed that he had problems with the caretaker. He didn't have a lot of money and he often had difficulties with paying the mortgage, you know.
HERBIE: We've acknowledged some of these things already. Can you tell us something more, missis Rothford?
ANGIE: I wish I could, but I'm afraid I can't. I'll probably disappoint you with that. I just wanted to tell you what I know. I thought it might help you a little.
Herbie stood up.
HERBIE: Thank you, missis Rothford. You're a prime example of how each citizen of Honolulu should act.
ANGIE: Kind words, Detective. Goodbye.
HERBIE: Goodbye.
Herbie and Albert left the room and headed outside the building towards the car. Soon afterwards, missis Rothford left, too. When Herbie and Albert entered the car, Albert asked.
ALBERT: What now, mister Fox?
HERBIE: I think we're about to visit our victim's company. Oh, I need to get his address. Wait here, mister Fringe.
Herbie got out of the car and accessed the nearest telephone booth.
HERBIE: Operator, Detective Herbie Fox speaking. I need you to connect me with the Social Security Administration of Honolulu.
OPERATOR: Wait, please.
After a few seconds of bleeping, a voice of a woman spoke to the telephone.
ASSISTANT: Social Security Administration of Honolulu. How can I help you?
HERBIE: Detective Herbie Fox at the telephone. I need an address of a man called Daniel Greg.
ASSISTANT: Moment.
After a little while, the voice of the woman spoke again.
ASSISTANT: There are more people under the name Daniel Greg in our database. Do you have some specific information about this person?
HERBIE: Which one of them lives closest to the Harding Avenue?
ASSISTANT: There is one person who lives almost on that street. 3266A Lincoln Avenue; Honolulu, HI 96816
Herbie took a note of the address to his notebook.
HERBIE: Thank you.
He hung up the telephone and returned to the car. Albert asked him.
ALBERT: Do you have it, mister Fox?
HERBIE: Yes, I do. Let's hope that it's Daniel Greg we're looking for.
ALBERT: Are you not sure?
HERBIE: There were more people under that name in the database. I've asked for the address of the one who lives closest to the Lopez Hills Bar.
ALBERT: That was a wise decision, I suppose, mister Fox.
HERBIE: You probably know what to do.