Chapter 2563 Dear Mr. Detective 14
The next morning.
The carriage stopped next to Holy Grace Church in downtown Book Harbor.
After learning about Vincent's hidden Catholic identity, Alrick and Jinchen decided to come here to investigate, perhaps finding overlooked clues.
It's just that they arrived at an inopportune time. When they entered the church, the priest was presiding over the morning mass.
They didn't want to disturb them, so they could only wait on a bench a little further away.
Several citizens who came to worship recognized the detective who had recently attracted much attention due to the murder of a young nobleman.
A gentleman in a wide-brimmed hat stepped forward. "Good day, Inspector Alrick. Regarding the matter of poor Master Vincent...is there any progress?"
Alric stood up, bowed gracefully, shook hands with the other party, and smiled faintly.
"Good day, sir. The investigation is ongoing and is progressing well."
Out of respect for the detective's identity, the believer did not ask too many questions. He exchanged a few words and left.
After dealing with these groups of people, Alric tried to take out a handkerchief from his pocket, but found nothing.
Jinchen handed over a clean handkerchief.
Alric glanced at Jinchen. Ever since they got up this morning and met, he felt that something was wrong with Cyril, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He seemed to be more silent than usual.
Seeing that he didn't take it, Jinchen took his hand, wiped his fingertips carefully with a handkerchief, and said softly: "Alric, isn't this your habit?"
While wiping, his fingertips seemed to accidentally touch Alric's wrist, which was still covered with red marks from being tied up last night.
Jinchen paused, then gently rubbed the red mark, raised his eyes and looked at Alrick.
Alrick's heart tightened inexplicably, and he quickly pulled his hand back with a guilty conscience, and stuffed the handkerchief back into Jinchen's hand.
"Well, Cyril," he said, changing the subject abruptly, "what's the matter with you this morning? You've been so absent-minded. Are you having trouble with your reasoning about the case? Or is it..."
"Or is it because I questioned you about the orchid you painted?"
It was obviously not the time to discuss the details of the case, so Jinchen refused to follow the excuse he gave her.
He dropped his eyes. "I thought you knew why, Alric...but, it's okay."
As he spoke, he leaned over and gently nuzzled Alric's cheek with the tip of his nose, his expression incredibly innocent.
As if suggesting it, her fingers once again faintly stroked Alric's wrist.
"No matter what happens," Jinchen looked at him, "it won't change my feelings for you."
Alric: "..."
He was really not good at dealing with such a passionate and sticky confession, so he ruffled Jinchen's soft blonde hair, trying to interrupt the awkward atmosphere.
"Okay, Cyril, stop saying things that make you look stupid."
Alric said this with a feigned indifference, then turned around and walked quickly towards the church hall as if he was fleeing.
Jinchen looked at his slightly hasty back and slowly stood up straight.
The melancholy and grievance on his face disappeared without a trace, and a happy smile of success appeared at the corner of his lips. He slowly followed.
After revealing their identities and purpose to the church deacon, they met Goodwin, the newly appointed assistant pastor.
Of course, neither Alric nor Jinchen had any idea about the search here at first, but when they asked, the assistant pastor's evasive eyes were too obvious and they did not dare to look them in the eye.
During simple inquiries, the answers were incoherent.
Alrick suggested that they go to a quiet place to talk alone, which almost made the young assistant pastor faint on the spot. It was only when Jinchen, who looked much friendlier and gentler, stepped forward to persuade and comfort him that Goodwin managed to calm down and invited them into the room.
As soon as he sat down, Goodwin poured himself a glass of wine and took two sips.
Then he put his hands on the table and put his fingers in his hair, "You guys really came to see me..."
"Actually... I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Before the two detectives could respond, he raised his voice again, "What did you find out? I... Oh, God, I mean, am I the murderer?"
Jinchen: “?”
Jinchen leaned forward slightly and looked directly into Goodwin's panicked eyes. "So, is it you?"
Reverend Goodwin was stunned, then immediately covered his face with his hands, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know... I really don't know... This is so sad."
"...Oh my God, I really didn't know that the fight with Vincent that night would actually...actually lead to his death..."
After listening to Goodwin's narration, Jinchen made a brief note in a half-used notebook.
On April 10, the day Vincent died, at around 7 p.m., Goodwin secretly entered Olga's manor and had a heated argument with Vincent in his study.
After finishing writing, Jinchen raised his eyes and said, "Reverend Goodwin, can you tell me the specific reason for the quarrel between you and Mr. Vincent?"
"Lust!" Goodwin stammered angrily, "Vincent... He is a sinner who succumbed to lust and tarnished the glory of the Lord!"
"You are respectable gentlemen, and perhaps you cannot even imagine what Vincent has done... He and Mr. Joshua Crane have been involved in a depraved relationship that is forbidden by God!"
"Even just two weeks ago, when I went to see him on parish business, I saw Vincent and his fiancée hugging each other in the garden pavilion..."
Poor Reverend Goodwin, a devout and even somewhat rigid churchman, was filled with shame and indignation simply by recounting these scandals.
Jinchen let out an "oh" and kept recording.
Vincent is the same. He does bad things without telling anyone. How come everyone knows that he and Joshua are having an affair?
"Okay, half a month ago, that would be around March 25th, right?" he confirmed.
"Yes, yes," said Goodwin, with an effort of memory, "it was March 25th. I remember there was a special evening service in the church that day."
"You accused him of indulging in lust, no wonder..." Alric, who had remained silent and let Jinchen take the stage, suddenly said.
He tapped the table with interest. "No wonder Vincent's corpse was reading The Divine Comedy. So this is what he meant."
It was a strange way of putting it, and Goodwin rubbed his hands in fear.
"But...but I left early! I swear in the name of God! If...if Master Vincent really didn't commit suicide, then the murderer definitely wasn't me! He was fine when I left, although he was very angry..."
Jinchen asked, "What time did you leave the manor?"
Goodwin: "Before the evening service at church, about... oh, seven-thirty, as I was leaving, I saw the coachman from the manor come back."
