Вячеслав Яцко: The Professor's Murder

Timkin didn't answer anything but flexed his muscles.

I nodded and asked: "Haven't we met before?"

"I am sure, we have not".

I took my leave and went downstairs. As I was approaching the entrance doors I cast another glance at Smirnov's portrait and stopped in my tracks. The solution of the crime dawned upon me. Separate facts (scenes at Ruchko's flat, Zilberman's statement, Smirnov's portrait) pieced together. I immediately phoned Rogov and asked him to make several inquiries.

"Judging by your questions you have found the murderer", said he.

"Yes, I have, if you get positive responses".

"And if they are positive what shall we do?"

"How much time will you need to get the information?"

"I think I'll get it by the end of the day".

"If the result is positive you should invite all of them to your office tomorrow at 10 a.m., before the funeral".

"No problem".

"Hope to see you tomorrow", said I and disconnected.

Now it was necessary to speak to Olga and I went to my place where she decided to stay until her flat is done after the robbery. Besides, as she said, she was afraid of staying there alone.

When I arrived Olga was cooking lunch. She was fond of housework and was always in need of taking care of a man.

"How are things, my super-puper-sleuth?" greeted she me ironically. She was in good mood; all troubles of the previous day vanished into thin air.

"I'd like you to answer some questions".

"Fie! Another interrogation. How trivial!" she curled her lip. "And I thought you had already found the murderer".

"Not yet. Everything depends on your answers".

"If so I'll answer all you questions. But first sit at table and help yourself to my risotto".

That was her favorite dish and it always tasted delicious. I suppressed desire to taste not only the dish but the cook as well since Olga looked very attractive in a dressing gown and without a bra.

"The first question", said I sitting at table and eating risotto. "What was stolen from your flat?"

"Jewelry and money. Fortunately, the sum was small, because Smirnov used to keep the money on his bank account. And I put on the most expensive jewelry before leaving for our rendezvous".

"And what about papers, documents?"

"Hard to say. In the flat everything was turned upside down, and on the floor were scattered with numerous papers. But passports, diplomas were not taken".

"Now, get concentrated and try to remember all about motives for Smirnov's divorce".

Olga became thoughtful. "The divorce was scandalous, and Nick never dilated upon it. Once he told that his ex was afraid of him. She was sure he had a paramour and they planned to get rid of her. She even brought a complaint to police about him stating he wanted to poison her. Smirnov had to go to police to justify himself".

"Very interesting. And what do you think, could he commit the crime?"

"I think the woman was cranky. Nick was involved in his scientific work and never paid attention to women and simply didn't know how to lure a woman. By the way about two weeks ago he said a girl attempted to entice him".

"That's very important. Who was the girl?"

"He didn't mention her name but seemed rather worried".

My smartphone played a melody signaling the arrival of an SMS. I opened it to read a message from Rogov informing me that he had at his disposal all the information necessary to unmask the murderer.

7. The Murderer Unmasked

"Ladies and Gentlemen!", began Rogov. It was 10 a.m. and we were sitting in his office at Police Headquarters.

"I am Major Michail Rogov, and I was charged to investigate the murder of Nikolas Smirnov". He made a short pause. He looked impressive in the police uniform with major's straps, the breast decorated with medal ribbons.

"I must inform you at once that the investigation is over and the murderer was found. This person is sitting here. I ask this person to make a voluntary confession, which, according to the law, will extenuate this person's guilt". He stopped and cast at the audience a peering look.

"Gee!" exclaimed Ruchko and gave a short whistle. The others remained silent exchanging nervous glanced.

"OK", went on Rogov. "Then I must inform you about the results of investigation that completely unmask the murderer". Не cleared his throat.

"From the very start there were four main suspects: Mrs. Olga Smirnova who inherited Smirnov's fortune," – at this word everybody looked at Olga who wore her best black evening dress that matched perfectly her blond hair. Ruchko hemmed; Zilberman brought out a handkerchief to mop his bald patch, "Mr. Alexei Larin who was on intimate terms with Mrs. Smirnova", continued Rogov, " Vladimir Timkin, who had a conflict with Smirnov, and Elza Goldberg, whom he insulted in public. Besides Smirnov had a daughter by his first wife who lived in Novoyarsk and who could also profit from Smirnov's death".

"The case was complex because nobody had an alibi and everybody could commit a crime. Smirnova and Larin stated they were together at Larin's flat; Timkin told he was at his laboratory but his colleagues witnessed he left the laboratory several times; Dr. Goldberg said she was at her office but her secretary asserts she also went away.

"To solve the crime I decided to employ a police technique that we call 'catching on a bait'. "I asked Mr. Larin, whom I know well, to contact each of the suspects", Rogov lied without a twinge of conscience, in his usual manner.

Everybody stared at me and I failed to see friendliness in their eyes. "Now I know your real name, Mister Bait", Olga said to me in a loud whisper so that all could hear.

"I must say the technique proved its value. Mr. Larin's actions caused the criminal to act and make mistakes. Let us listen to Mr. Larin".

"The first thing that arrested my attention was your words, Mr. Zilberman", began I. Zilberman looked at me doubtfully and uttered: "But I didn't tell you anything".

"No, you told me about a very important fact. You said that four people sat at the table broken during the incident at your restaurant".

"No wonder, the table was for four persons and all seats were occupied".

"That's the point! And in the police records, as Major Rogov kindly informed me, only two persons were registered: Oleg Ruchko and Marina Sotova. It was strange. In such situations people usually take efforts to be compensated for the damage they suffered. It means that the other two, for some reasons, didn't want their names to be mentioned".

"That fact prompted two more questions: Who were those two people? What were their motives? And it was you, Oleg, who helped me to find the answers."

"I don't remember anything. I was in bad condition", quickly responded Ruchko.

"You said that at the restaurant your celebrated 'Vovan's birthday'. So the first name of one of the two unknown persons must be Vladimir because 'Vovan' is its diminutive. You, Oleg, were in the company with the girl, Marina Sotova. It was logical to suppose that that Vladimir also was with a girl. But who was she? Here you helped me again, Oleg".

"I never help coppers' sleuths!" contemptuously declared Ruchko.

"Nevertheless you did it. Involuntary, of course. You said: 'zany woman, professor's wife'. You knew who the woman that shoved the singer was. And how could you know? Smirnov worked at Computer Science Department and you study at Law Department. He never taught you, and you never met. There could be only one answer: that Vladimir or/and his girl must be from Computer Science Department and they told you about Smirnov's wife".

Ruchko didn't say anything, his eyes twinkled spitefully.

"I found that mysterious Vladimir when I visited the University and met Vladimir Timkin. When he flexed his muscles to demonstrate that Smirnov was not able to beat him I remembered the man I saw in Ruchko's drawing room. He had the same figure and body".