Guidebook for the Dark Duke Chapter 44 - GDD Chapter 44

Chapter 44 - GDD Chapter 44

Since the end of the mediation, Ford has finally quieted down but Sheriff Chandler has become more active than before. He looks for opportunities to see Evan from time to time but most of the time, he will be directly stopped by Duke Wilson and only the rare times when Duke Wilson is away can the sheriff be lucky enough to be allowed in. Like today for example.
Evan held his forehead helplessly as he looked at the bitter expression on Sheriff
Chandler’s face in front of him. He felt really speechless.
“Mr Sheriff, what’s the purpose of your presence here this time?”
Sheriff Chandler rubbed his hands and looked embarrassed. After a while, he spoke, “Reverend, please help me in the investigation of this case.”
Evan was stunned, he didn’t expect that Sheriff Chandler still hadn’t given up on the idea.
“Sheriff, what can I do? You think too highly of me.” Evan said with a smile.
Sheriff Chandler sighed, “Reverend, you’re being too modest. Thanks to your help in the last case, I was able to solve it. Till now, I’ve had no proper clues in this case and I would like to ask you to help me.”
Evan is actually a little curious about this matter. The rumours indicated that Mr Johnson committed suicide. Did Sheriff Chandler change his judgment because of Mr Johnson’s personal ethics?
“Sheriff Chandler.” Evan considered for a moment before speaking, “Was Mr Johnson really murdered? I have heard before that he committed suicide, why did you suddenly change your conclusion now?”
Hearing Evan take the initiative to talk about the case, Sheriff Chandler was overjoyed and he hurriedly said, “To tell you the truth, this matter was also discovered by Mrs Johnson.”
Mrs Johnson? Evan frowned, this woman is definitely not simple.
“I had thought that Mr Johnson committed suicide by taking poison, but I didn’t expect that Mrs Johnson found out that the poison Mr Johnson took was very strange. The local pharmacy does not have this poison at all. After a forensic investigation, it was discovered that it was a special kind of poison from India. Mr Johnson has never been to India but his secretary, Rael, served in India. He served a general who was stationed there. So, I detained Rael.” Sheriff Chandler spoke with a heavy expression.
Evan was still puzzled after hearing this, “If that’s the case, then what’s the problem?”
Sheriff Chandler smiled bitterly, “Although this matter is so obvious, it is a pity that I don’t have any evidence that Rael is involved in this matter. At present, it is impossible to convict him at all, because among the suspects in this matter, it’s not only Rael that is related to India. Mrs Johnson, who found out that the poison was wrong, has also been to India, which makes this very complicated.”
Evan’s heart moved, So Mrs Johnson has also been to India.
“In that case, does that mean that Mrs Johnson is also a suspect?” Evan asked tentatively.
Sheriff Chandler shook his head, “Impossible. Mrs Johnson had been helping out at the Women’s Association to donate wool hats that afternoon. She has no chance to commit the crime.”
Evan let out a small laugh when he heard this, “The Women’s Association is only two blocks away from the Johnson house. And under normal circumstances, the activities of the Women’s Association are very messy and people are always coming and going. Did anyone keep an eye on Mrs Johnson at all times?”
Sheriff Chandler’s expression became stiff and he pondered for a moment before speaking, “This… This is also very possible.”
Evan looked at Sheriff Chandler, who looked like he was unwilling to believe, and he smiled, “Sheriff, you are a gentleman and you don’t want to believe that Mrs Johnson might be the murderer, but please look at this matter with an objective eye.”
Sheriff Chandler was embarrassed by what Evan said as he laughed, “I was being subjective. I will investigate this matter carefully.”
Evan nodded but he muttered in his heart, I didn’t want to care about this matter but I really couldn’t curb my curiosity in the end.
Sheriff Chandler finally received a little breakthrough in the case with Evan’s help and he was relieved. He hurriedly said, “Reverend, that Rael is really difficult, I can’t find a breakthrough in his confession at all and the proof of his absence from the scene is also very vague. He said that he went to the opera house to watch the opera and the opera house also has records of his purchase of the ticket, his admission. But unfortunately, during the time of Mr Johnson’s death, there was a break in the middle of the opera show. No one knows Rael’s trace at that time.”
Evan frowned when he heard this. So, it seemed that neither of them had a perfect alibi, and this matter might be complicated.
“Since Mr Rael’s alibi has a conflict with Mr Johnson’s time of death, have you gained anything from the opera house?” Evan asked again.
Sheriff Chandler frowned, “We have not gained anything from the opera house either. The management of the opera house was very chaotic, especially during the intermission. No one will pay attention to a nameless boy they don’t know.”
Evan sighed when he heard this, “This matter is so complicated. I suggest that you publish a report in the newspapers to find witnesses, otherwise this matter will be difficult to solve.”
Sheriff Chandler has always disagreed with publishing cases in the newspaper like this. However, there was no other way at this point. Sheriff Chandler could only nod his head, “I hope we can get a good result.”
The two exchanged a few words after that, mainly talking about Evan’s injury. Evan’s injury is actually much better, but because of Evan’s plan, it is naturally impossible for him to tell the truth.
“The wound hasn’t fully recovered yet. Thank you for your concern.” Evan said very politely, with a hint of alienation.
Sheriff Chandler’s taut nerves did not sense Evan’s alienation, he still smiled as he patted Evan’s shoulder and said cheerfully, “I hope your body will get better soon. The mass led by the assistant priest these days is too unbearable.”
Sheriff Chandler has always been one to say what he thinks, so Evan did not question the truth of his words. He frowned, is he really doing this badly?
Evan resisted the urge to ask for details. It would be better to ask Mrs Sanders about it. If the mass is not being officiated well and Ford knows, this would give him something to hold against him again.
Evan sent Sheriff Chandler away before lunch. It’s not that Evan was unwilling to have him stay, but Sheriff Chandler was afraid that Duke Wilson would come back and meet him there.
Sheriff Chandler left Cornwall Manor on the front foot and Duke Wilson came back on the back foot. When Duke Wilson came back, the expression on his face was not a happy one. He came to the garden where Evan was reading with a sullen look on his face, followed by a man Evan had never seen before.
The man looked mediocre but the look in his eyes as he looked at Evan was like he was looking at something intriguing, and Evan couldn’t stop himself from frowning.
“Lord Duke.” Evan stood up from his seat, nodding slightly, “You’re back.”
As the Duke watched him stand up, he hurried forward to meet him and helped Evan sit back down. .
“Reverend, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so you don’t need to be so polite in the future.”
Looking at Duke Wilson’s anxious face, Evan smiled and finally sat down according to the Duke’s wish. He said, “Your face is so sullen, is there something wrong?”
Duke Wilson frowned and waved his hand, “It’s okay, it’s just that something went wrong in the capital.”
The capital? Evan’s heart jumped. He didn’t want to hear the word ‘Royal Capital’ right now. As long as he hears it, he would think of the commotion in the book. From the capital to Delanlier, the people were caught in the turmoil of the mob. In the end, the duke washed Delanlier with blood. If the duke had waited till the last moment to transfer his army, the duke’s face would not have been spared.
But even though Evan was so worried in his heart, he couldn’t show any special interest in the capital at this time. He suppressed the many worries in his heart and said, “That’s okay.” Having said that, he turned to look at the man again. He glanced at the man who was looking at him with a very strange expression and said, “Then… I don’t know who this gentleman is? I haven’t seen him before.”
Evan has been in Delanlier for such a long time. Although, he can’t say that he has seen all the town’s people in Delanlier, but he at least has an impression. But he has no impression of this man at all.
Duke Wilson watched Evan pay attention to Ederson and he couldn’t stop the nervous feeling. He moved his feet to block Evan’s view of Ederson and said stiffly, “This is just one of my staff members, you don’t need to care about it.”
After that, he gave Ederson a wink and Ederson could only back away reluctantly and leave.
The duke’s strange actions surprised Evan. Why is the duke so nervous? Is there something wrong with this man?
Evan’s heart was filled with doubts but he didn’t show it on his face. He turned to look at Duke Wilson and smiled as he said softly, “You are really working hard. Please sit down and have a cup of tea.”
As soon as the duke came in, a maid had brought tea.
Duke Wilson saw that Evan was not pursuing the matter and he was relieved. He sat down and took a sip from the teacup.
“Reverend, how are you feeling these days?” Duke Wilson asked routinely.
Evan moved slightly after hearing this question and smiled, “Sir Duke, forgive me for my offense, but in my heart you’re already my friend. If you don’t mind, you can call me Evan.”
Duke Wilson seemed to be startled by Evan’s words as he stared at Evan, his mouth half opened looking a little ridiculous.
Evan smiled inwardly when he saw him like this, but he had a worried look on his face, “Sir, are you okay?”
“Eh?” The duke trembled as if shocked by something and the teacup in his hand almost fell to the ground.
“Oh, oh, I’m fine, I’m fine.” The duke quickly placed the teacup on the table. He sat upright, not looking directly at Evan, but at the rose bush in front of him, “Your friendship has really touched me very much so of course I wouldn’t mind. On the contrary, I am very honored to have your friendship. But since you recognise our friendship, please don’t call me Lord Duke in the future, you can just call me Charles.”
The Duke said very quickly and loudly, as if afraid of Evan’s rejection and he did not dare to look at Evan’s expression.
Evan looked at the handsome profile of the duke, a meaningful smile flashed in his eyes but the words he spoke were extremely gentle, “You’re too kind, it is my honor to have your friendship.” Evan’s lips hooked up and his voice was very soft, “Charles.”