The Ghost Of Margaret Houg. Elton Varfi
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“ In fact that's all talk. After a while they didn’t speak about the case anymore and Houg declared that he would have sued all the journalists who did similar insinuations. After all, it was clear to everyone he loved his wife.”
“ Even this is really weird.” Ernest said and continued “Why did the newspapers write that a suicide was simulated?”
“ I don’t know this.” Roni replied.
“ But is it possible that a strong nervous breakdown can cause a heart attack?
“ I don’t know Ernest, that is why you have to talk with a doctor, I can’t tell you anything. But why are you so interested in this story?” Roni asked who couldn’t understand where his friend was going with that.
“ Our Mr. Houg is full of enigmas, don’t you think?” Ernest considered.
“ He’s just a rich man, and like all the other rich men he is very envied and much attacked. Naturally he has made some mistakes, but saying that he is a murderer it’s a bit exaggerated.” Roni replied.
“ But why did the newspapers write that a suicide was simulated, how does this make sense? If the cause of death was a heart attack why should've a suicide been simulated?” Ernest asked again, demonstrating he didn’t care about Roni’s words.
The latter was becoming nervous for his friend's obsession. To Roni the story of how Houg’s wife died was the past and now cleared. He wanted to change subject, but he knew that with Ernest this was very difficult. Once he set his mind on something he didn't hear the end of it.
“ But it’s very weird, don't you think? Really weird! Thinking about it, the official version doesn't make sense… I mean… on Mrs. Houg’s death certificate I suppose it’s written that she died after a heart attack, but someone wrote that a suicide was simulated. I keep asking myself why.” Ernest kept talking and it looked like he was waiting a reply from Roni.
“ Please, Ernest, stop repeating the same thing a hundred times! However, that is history, and it doesn’t matter and after all they were all talks and nothing more!” Roni exclaimed and to change subject asked “Anyway, did you see what a beautiful nanny has Mr. Houg?”
“ Yes, she’s a really pretty girl. When I saw her she looked like someone I know; maybe I’ve already seen her somewhere, but I don’t remember where.”
“ She gave me the same impression as well when I saw her for the first time. But this happens because she has a too common face.” Roni said, happy that the conversation was taking another turn.
But he didn’t calculate Ernest's ability to keep anchored to a subject until he didn’t see the light.
“ I guess you know which newspapers wrote about Houg and his wife's death, right?”
“ Pretty much all of them, but now I don’t really remember which ones because it was more than a year ago. Tell me the truth Ernest, why are you asking me all these questions now? Why are you so interested in how Margaret Houg died?” Roni asked to his friend.
“ Because I’ll be the one to face Mrs. Houg’s ghost and I believe I should know how she died, don't you think?” the detective answered, staring at his friend’s eyes.
“ So that means you’ll accept the offer?” Roni asked impatiently.
“ Of course. How could I reuse an offer like this? I won’t even have to work a lot, since Houg already gave me two trails to follow.”
“ What would these two trails be?” Roni asked again.
“ One: there will have to be a logic explanation. Two: his son’s imagination could have caused everything…” Ernest replied, who looked a bit too nervous.
“ You don’t really like Mr. Houg, or am I wrong?”
“ Especially, he doesn't look like a very clean person.” Ernest replied again and continued “I’ve known him for a short while, but I think he’s not saying all the truth and I don’t like his arrogant way of speaking.”
“ Personally I think he’s very kind.” Roni commented.
“ It could be. But I didn’t like him trying to affect me, saying that maybe his son imagined everything.”
“ I don’t think Houg wanted to affect you. He’s just worried about the situation and he tried to give you his opinion about it. I don't see anything bad in this. Anyway when you think you’ll communicate your decision to Houg?”
“ As soon as possible; even though the story Houg is telling doesn't really convince me.”
“ Should you need my help, just ask me and I’ll be glad to give it to you.” Roni said, but Ernest was thinking and it seemed like he wasn't listening to him at all.
“ Okay, I understood, I won't talk anymore.” Roni replied and stayed silent.
At the same moment the phone rang and James Houg picked it up.
“ So?” voice asked from the other side of the line.
“ I think we can do it. I’ll give you an answer very soon.” Houg said.
“ Very good, Mr. Houg, I see you’re starting to understand.” His interlocutor replied and brutally hung up.
Houg was left with the phone in his hand for a few minutes, and then he put it down and gout out of the study.
Chapter 3
Luisa didn't know what made her call Ernest and invite him to dinner. Now it was too late for a do-over, soon he would come to her. She knew that during dinner the conversation would have taken a turn that she definitely wouldn't like. Ernest would ask legitimate questions, but she wasn't ready to answer and he would feel bad once again. She was feeling stupid, but the thing that made her feel worse was that now she couldn't do anything anymore; she could just wait the collateral effects of her brilliant idea. She was thinking about these things when the doorbell rang.
Luisa went to open and she felt terribly guilty when she saw Ernest with a big rose bouquet in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other one.
“ The roses are for you, the wine is for me instead.” Ernest said, feeling the happiest man on Earth.
“ They're beautiful, but you didn't have to do all this.”
“ No trouble! You decided to assume the hard task of feeding me and this is the least I could do in return.” Ernest answered smiling.
Luisa was stunned in front of the door, grabbed the rose in her hands and she didn't know what to say. Ernest didn't look like he had lost his ability to speak and so asked: “We'd better get ourselves inside.”
“ Yes, of course, I’m sorry. Be my guest.” Luisa said, freeing the way.
“ It is nice, here, very delicious.” Ernest said as soon as he got in, but he didn't get a reply “You seem to be settling in all right” he kept talking.
“ Yeah, to be honest I'm doin' real good here,” Luisa replied, placing the flowers in a vase “It's not bad, really. I’m thinking about moving here. What do you say? ...Do you like the idea?”
“ I don't really think it’s a good idea that you…”
“ Hey, what's wrong with you? I’m kidding, Luisa! I haven't gone mad just yet.” Ernest interrupted her “Tell me the truth: you're not happy at all of having invited me, or am I wrong?”
“ No, no. But it makes me weird having dinner with you again after all this time.” Luisa said, trying to smile.
“ It's only been ten months, it's not a long time,” he muttered. “Anyway I really appreciated your invitation and I see nothin' wrong with having dinner together. It’s the most normal thing in the world to me and it doesn’t...”