Murder can occur ANYWHERE.

The Identity of the Victim

By next morning everyone knew there was a murder on the train and that I was in charge of investigating. I was granted permission to interview all the passengers which could do the trick quite easily. Once the conversation was casual people let slip important clues without thinking. 

Though not expecting much, Mr. West was observing the behavior of the passengers of the 4th compartment and the nearby fifth compartment very closely though not seeming to do so. The 3rd compartment was beyond the food carriage and so ruled out. 

The sixth compartment was also ruled out as he himself had been sitting there reading and all of his co-passengers had not left the room for one of them had given everyone a treat because his daughter had passed matriculation exam and the food was brought here. He was positive no one had left the room. 

George's POV

A Dr. Michael Sancaster got in at King City. He had doubtless been sent to examine the body. Both of us were sitting at a completely enclosed room where there was no chance of any hidden eavesdropper and were still whispering. The doctor had examined the body. 

He was positive death had occurred between half past three and five in the evening when Aunt Jane had seen her stabbed. The doctor also remarked that one wound had been a somewhat feeble one while another had been the blow which had really killed her.  That made me doubly sure two people were involved. Then he handed to me a sheet, which had all known details about the victim. The doctor also remarked that the lady was pitifully young. Maybe only in her twenties or early thirties.

The sheet said:

Mr. Wetherby, husband of the victim died 4 years ago due to Tuberculosis. The jewelry store he managed was then handed over with all his money to Mrs Hannah Wetherby. They were quite well to do. To overcome her emotion she changed her name to Miss Wetherby. She had no kith or kin. She had had 3 attendants at her shop:

Mr. James Mannering, a bachelor, who looked after the administrative matters, a very straightforward man

Mr Jack Abbot, a married man whose wife too worked with Miss Wetherby, he was in charge of marketing or was the salesperson.

Miss Marlene Arden, a middle aged spinster who was Mr. Abbot's assistant.

Apart from them, she had three personal assistants who worked at her home:

Mrs. Rose Abbot and  Mr. and Mrs. Martin.

Suddenly her business went bankrupt and she suffered heavy losses. She had to discharge all her servants though she still had the money her husband had left her and his life insurance amount which she had kept for a difficult time. She didn't want to waste that money though it was quite a prompt amount of $1500 which she could use to start a new business.

But she had liked her assistants immensely as all of them had been working with them for 10 years and she gave them her jewelry saying that if her business prospered, she would surely have them back. All of her assistants were not well to do people. Their mistress had liked them a lot.

It was time for the interview. George had the list of passengers and all workers in the food carriage with him. No name whatsoever same as that of the assistants which was quite obvious.

4th Compartment 

Gladys McKinon (was in the food carriage from quarter to four to half past five chatting with her friend. Sworn by her friend and the waiter.)

Thomas McKay

Evelyn Hope (was Gladys's friend, with her till half past five sworn by Gladys and the waiter.) 

Mr. and Mrs. Debenham (Retired colonel and wife)

5th Compartment

Susanne Bouc

Joanna Clithering

Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their daughter Miss Janet Brown

Officers (All of them have been faithfully serving for 2 years or more)

Mr. Henry Armstrong (cook)

Mr. Xi Zang (assistant cook)

Mr. Colin Bantry (waiter)

Mr. Peter Stephenson( Head cook)

George's POV

''So let's meet, Gladys McKinon'', I said

"You suspect her? But he has a good alibi.", said the doctor.

Gladys came in. A rather charming young english woman she was.

"Please take your seat, Madam."

"Yeah, surely, anyway, Mr. West, I expect you wanted to ask me if I knew who did it?"

"No, certainly not" She was taken aback.

"I just wanted to ask you if you have seen anything suspicious, of course I know you were at the food carriage all the while, so, you couldn't have seen anything.... but just... anything which could arouse a person's curiosity or suspicions."

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, yes. I found a note actually on, you know the no.2 where Miss Wetherby was sitting, of course now Mr. McKay sits there."

In the note was written that she (Miss Wetherby) needed security. She could be killed anytime by her enemy, Susan.

 The doctor jumped.'' I know the murderer. It is Susanne Bouc.''

"We must surely meet Miss Bouc next. Anyway doctor Sancaster, do you know how to make the deep dish pizza? My mum makes it. It tastes lovely. I've always wondered how to make it." 

"Oh! Honestly you're right, it tastes lovely!! I know how to make it" And then she told them a long complicated recipe."

Doctor Sancaster's POV   

"I just don't understand what he has to wait for!! Susanne is the murderer!!", I said to myself

And then I noticed something. As Gladys was telling us the recipe which I couldn't understand a word of, George was grinning widely.  He liked that deep dish pizza a lot I think. Maybe he is a fan of Chicago style dishes. Well, I'm not.