Appointment With Death, by Agatha Christie. Part 2.

[isabel79]

Characters:
Lady Ellen Hunt:   Injured on a previous trip.
Abdul:   Bedouin servant.
Mohammed:   Bedouin servant.
Aziz:   Bedouin servant.
Aissa:   Bedouin servant.


Summary:
Part 1.

Chapter 4:

Poirot talks with Sarah.  She is unaware of the purpose of the interview / it is a fuss over nothing, re Mrs. Boynton's death.

She says it is natural for Poirot to see crime in things, where she finds it a natural death.

She is therefore confused about Gerard seeing it differently.

Poirot mentions the missing digitoxin.

Gerard said he went into his case arriving at Petra and is almost sure it was intact.

Sarah says there is doubt.[14]

Poirot confronts her on her want to stop an investigation.  She in only on the side of the family, they have suffered enough.

Poirot cannot take into account the benefit of her death.  Murder is murder.

Murder!?!  There is no evidence!

Poirot tells of the puncture mark, the statement heard.

Sarah now agrees to an investigation.

She described the AM of the death.  Unusually happy at lunch.  The release of the children.

She thought it was a cat / mouse order.

She says all but Ginevra left.

They joined around 3:30.  Mrs. Boynton was in a chair by her cave.

At 4, Gerard returns feeling ill.

They then split.  Nadine and Cope in one group, Carol, Lennox, Ray and Sarah in another.

Sarah and Raymond then separate.

Raymond leaves her and not till 5:30 did she make her way back, getting there at 6.

Mrs. Boynton was still sitting there as she did when her group first arrived in Petra.

Dinner, servants get her...  Ill.  Sarah immediately touching her, knew she was dead.

May have died in her sleep.  It happens.

People were asleep in the PM.  No one would have heard her.

Poirot asks what she meant by "some little time".  About an hour?  Maybe longer due to the refraction of the rock, making her warmer.

Poirot brings up Raymond talking to his mother.

Sarah says he must have talked to her earlier if she was alive and well.

Poirot asks how much she had spoken to the family.  She recounts.

Poirot asks if she ever spoke to the mother.  She tells of the exchange in the hotel.

Poirot ends with Sarah is an outsider, an unbiased observer.  Re Mrs. Boynton's mentality, her account is significant.

Before leaving, Sarah suggests an autopsy before more inquiry is made.

Chapter 5:

Poirot talks to Lady Westholme and Miss Pierce.

They both say after the AM excursion they decided to take a siesta, entering their tents.

They both confirm Mrs. Boynton sitting at her cave, assisted there by Nadine.

Miss Pierce describes the location of the cave in re to their tents.

Poirot shows a plan of the camp with everyones' tents.

At 3:45, Lady W sees if Miss Pierce wanted to walk.  They'd leave at 4:30.

Lady W returned to her tent till 4:10.  Miss Pierce was ready, so they left.

Lady Westholme decided to see if Mrs. Boynton needed anything and was rude.

She grunted.  Lady Westholme supposed she drank.

Lady W says Mrs. Boynton was her normal self at lunch.

Miss Pierce said she was rude to a servant as they walked away.

They suppose she had asked him to fetch something, came back with the wrong thing and it angered her.

They were too far to hear what was said.

Miss Pierce adds she made him fetch something from Jinny's tent or was angry he went there.

They were also too far to ID the man.

Walking they meet Dr. Gerard on his way back.  Visibly ill.

They sat on a rock, facing the camp.

Mr. Boynton passed, alone.  Walking as if he had too much on his mind, dizzy.

Miss Pierce says he went to his mother, talked about a min or 2.  Then went to his cave, then the marquee.

15 mins later, Nadine passes, speaking to them.  She then spoke to Mrs. Boynton, sat by her for about 10 mins, returned a chair to her cave, then went to the marquee.

Cope arrived.  Telling them of architecture they must see, so they leave with him.

They returned to the camp, 5:40.  Mrs. Boynton still there, yet hardly noticed.

Lady W went to her tent, then the marquee.  She instructed someone to make her and Miss Pierce some tea.

Dinner / table was being prepared.  Dinner would be in 30 mins.

The Lennoxes were there.  Carol and Mr. Cope entered later.

Raymond and the red headed Boynton enter.

Miss King came last.

A servant was sent to fetch Mrs. B.  He returned with another.  She is ill.  Sarah offered her services.

Returned announcing to death to the Boyntons.

Pierce says Sarah was abrupt about it.  She should have been more gradual.

Lady W and Pierce say the family was quiet about the news.

The family leaves with Sarah.  Lady W and Pierce remained.

The dragoman and Sarah return.  Lady W says to serve dinner to the 4, let the Boyntons dine alone later to avoid the awkwardness.

Miss King, Pierce and Lady W retire to their tents.  Cope remained to assist the Boyntons should they need it.

Poirot asks if all the Boyntons left with Miss King...  No...  Jinny remained.

Lady W says she just sat there.  Pierce says she twiddled her fingers.

Once in deep thought Miss Pierce tore a bank note without realizing.

Before leaving, Poirot asks Lady W, without looking to describe what Miss Pierce is wearing.  Poirot is impressed.

Lady W leaves.

Poirot leans into Miss Pierce.  Did you notice the flowers?  Yes.  Did you notice I sneezed a few times?  Yes...

Miss Pierce leaves.

Poirot says, but he did not sneeze...[15]

Chapter 6:

Lennox Boynton enters.  No longer apathetic.  Alert but nervous.

He is shocked, well no...  They all knew of her heart problem.

He says Mother made her own decisions, it was no good opposing her.

Lennox asks what it is all about.  Poirot mentions unexplained death.

Poirot tells of Carbury's interest in natural death or suicide...  Might as well take advantage of Poirot's expertise.

Lennox says he will contact their consul in Jerusalem.

Poirot asks of the mother, by the cave.  She sat there every afternoon.

The family left camp around 3, returning around 4 or 5.

Poirot asks if he passed anyone.  Not sure...  Deep in thought.

Lennox spoke to his mother, seemed fine.

She said he had returned soon.  He was hot.  Mrs. Boynton's watch had died so he wound and set it for her.

Poirot asks the time.  4:35.

So he knew the time he returned...

Lennox went to the marquee.  Got a drink, read some old Sat Eve Posts.  Nadine soon joined.

Poirot asks if Mrs. Boynton was agitated at all.  No.  Did she mention an arguments with a servant?  No.

Lennox leaves.  Poirot jots, "L.B. 4:35".

Chapter 7:

Nadine enters.  She says she is not sad by Mrs. Boynton's death and will not pretend to be.

She does express remorse.  She caused Mrs. Boynton's death.

She had decided to leave Lennox...  She returned to camp, told Mrs. Boynton.

She became very agitated.  Nadine had nothing more to say and left Mrs. B alone.

She returned the chair to her cave, went to the marquee and informed Lennox.

He didn't say much, he expected it.

Poirot ask if she owns hypodermic needles.  Yes.  No...  They are in a bag they left in Jerusalem.

Nadine wonders about the Q.  Poirot asks of Mrs. Boynton being on digitalis.

Nadine says Mrs. B or herself were always careful in measuring.

Poirot suggests a mistake by the chemist.

Nadine says the bottle was broken when the body was brought into the cave.  It can no longer be analyzed.

Poirot mentions Gerard's missing supply.

Nadine swears she did not kill.  Mrs. B was alive after she left.

She asks for the investigation to stop.  There has been enough suffering.

Nadine references Poirot's Orient Express case.[16]  It's the same.

Poirot says he will not condone murder.[17]

Nadine has nothing more to say.  Poirot thinks she does.

What happened?  What does she think happened?  She will not say.

Chapter 8:

Poirot writes, "4:40 N.B."

Carol Boynton is called.

She answered as if she had rehearsed.

She went on a stroll.  Walked with Ray, Miss King till she wandered off on her own.

She returned at 5:10.

She told her mother she was hot and going to her tent.  Mrs. B said she would remain.

She did not notice at the time, but thinking back, her mother looked redder.

Poirot asks, "shock?"  Perhaps a fight with a servant?  Possibly, but no mention of it.

Carol rested in her tent.  About 30 mins.  Went to the marquee where Lennox and Nadine were.  She did some sewing and read a mag.

Poirot asks her how she felt...  When she learned her step mother was dead.

Shock! Was it?  Poirot mentions the conversation with Ray in the Solomon hotel.

She says they were mad that night.  Traveling made them realize how different they were.

They were worried about Jinny.  Nadine was too....  She knew nursing things...  Jinny was going mad.

Mother wasn't sane and it seemed noble to kill her.

That's how she felt, but they didn't do it.

Carol swears to God she never did it.[18]

Poirot asks of the plan.  3 seconds...  They never got that far.

Before leaving Carol insists she has told the truth.

Chapter 9:

Raymond enters.  Carol told him about Poirot overhearing the conversation.  It let off steam.

He says he spoke to his mother around 6.  Alive and well.  Servants around, he and Carol always in full view of everyone.  The death was natural.

Poirot says the death, according to Sarah occurred an hour thirty to 2 hours before.  (At 4:30 to 5).

Ray says it is impossible.  Poirot sees murder in any unsuspected death.

Poirot mentions the poison.  Was his plan different?

Yes...  He won't say any more.

Raymond leaves.  Poirot jots, "R.B. 5:55".

Poirot writes a time line.

Chapter 10:

Mahmoud is questioned.  He says he is always blamed.

[19]The servants were not around at 5:30.  Lunch at 2, they cleaned up, then naps by 3:30.

At 5 he checks to see if anyone wants tea.  Everyone has gone for a walk.  He naps more.

At 5:45 Lady W wants tea.

Poirot asks if any of his men argued with Mrs. Boynton.  No one admits and they all blame the other.

Poirot reports all he has found to Carbury.

Do they have a case?  No.

Poirot shows his timeline.  Carbury surmised Raymond is innocent, also because the most likely suspect in detective novels are innocent.

Poirot jots a list of significant points.

(Not mentioned by me previously...)  The marquee to Mrs. Boynton's cave was 200 yards.  Gerard / Jinny had tents next to each other.

Carbury adds Gerard's digitals.  Poirot says the absence of the needle is more important.

Carbury asks of the servant calling her to dinner, an arguments with another.  Certainly it wasn't one of them...  That's cheating!

Chapter 11:

Sarah tells Gerard he should have remained silent.

He was sick, he could have missed the needles / digitoxin.

Sarah says they haven't escaped.  Beyond the grave, Mrs. Boynton still has a hold.  She is enjoying it.

Poirot approaches.

They discuss fashion at first.

Poirot wants to know of Mrs. B's psychology.

Cope is mentioned, his misunderstanding of the family.  Gerard tells the story of the pregnant servant.

Petra was opening his eyes.

Gerard mentions the Place of Sacrifice and hints at what Sarah had said.

Poirot asks why did Mrs. B plan a vacay, knowing the dangers...  She was bored.

She had tamed her tigers.  The marriage to Nadine added excitement, but it became stale.

Gerard explains, Lennox is impossible to wound.  Ray / Carol have no signs of rebellion.  Ginevra is the least fun...  Escaping reality into fantasy.

Poirot says it fits.  Mrs. Boynton drove them too far, or 1 turned on her.  Who?

Before anyone could answer, Gerard points.

Poirot sees a young girl wandering...  This is how Ophelia should be played.

Gerard saw that face in a feverish dream.  It was a good dream.  He was sorry to wake.

Gerard says it is Ginevra Boynton.

Chapter 12:

Jinny approaches.  Gerard introduces her to Poirot.

She came back from enchantment and was an ordinary, awkward girl.

Poirot ask to walk with her.

Jinny asks if he's a famous detective.  Yes...  You've come to protect me?

She says they have followed her here.  She is continually on guard.

He is in love with me...  He lay down and said my name...

When asked if she was shocked by her mother's death...  She's not my mother.  They pay her to make sure she didn't escape.

Jinny says she was in her tent that afternoon.  It was hot, but she dare not leave.

Someone came in.  She pretended to be asleep.  He was sent by the Sheikh to kill her.

After some silence, Poirot says the story she makes up are pretty.

She insists they are true.  Soon she runs from him.

Dr. Gerard asks what happened...  She's angry, so she's not completely gone, she does realize it is not true.

She will be cured?  Dr. Gerard has discussed with the Lennoxes about taking Jinny to his clinic in Paris.  

She will then pursue the stage.  She has the same nature as her mother.  She has been suppressed, but both she and her mother demand their personality impress.

Gerard runs after her, leaving Poirot and Sarah alone.

Sarah mentions her convo with Mrs. Boynton, how she never forgets.  She can hear it now...

Sarah asks if he has come to a conclusion.  Yes.

Poirot asks what Sarah fears.

Sarah says Ray was gonna do something...  Perhaps it meant...

Chapter 13:

Nadine and Cope talk.

Cope knows what she is going to say.  Reassures her to do what she feels.

Cope blamed Lennox.  He did not value her happiness.  But now Cope realizes the force of Nadine's mother-in-law.

She cannot leave Lennox.

Nadine leaves to look for Lennox.

She's not leaving him.  She hoped when she said she would go, he'd go after her.

Being told shocked him.  He suddenly realized what he had to do.

Nadine didn't want to hear...

Lennox says he argued with his mother.

Chapter 14:

Poirot leaves to go home.  He bumps into Cope.

Cope says it is over between him and Nadine.

He is still a friend of the family and has offered his services.

For Carbury, Poirot asks of Cope's account of the afternoon of Mrs. Boynton's death.

They set out, he talked to Nadine.  She went off to tell Lennox.

Worked his way back to camp, met up with the 2 ladies.

Returning to camp around 6, just noticing Mrs. Boynton was there, nothing more.

Had tea.

Poirot asks if Mrs. B had money.  Yes.  Equally divided.  Comfortable.

He then bumps into Miss Pierce.  She has spoken to Jinny.  About enemies, etc.

Pierce brings up the Russian Czar's daughter.  Escape to America?  Could be her?

Pierce confesses she did not realize who Poirot was till later.

Mrs. B must have been murdered if he's here.

She says the next AM she saw one of the Boyntons throw something into the stream...  It glittered.  Carol?  Jinny?  Bronze hair.

Later while walking she sees a bright metal box.  Within is a syringe.

Miss King was also walking by the stream.  She says it is hers, she was looking for it.  So Pierce gave it to her.

Poirot say it has completed his case.

Poirot adds, "I never forget..." to his point list.

Chapter 15:

Within a hotel room Poirot is prepared to tell all he has discovered.

His arguments are psychological.

He makes Carbury sit behind a desk in his official position.

He then invited the Boyntons, Gerard, King and Cope within the room.

Poirot begins, but is interrupted by Lennox.  Why did he have to invite Poirot?

Poirot states the facts given by Gerard, re digitoxin, the needle, the puncture.

Poirot says although they have lied, they have also told the truth.

The family knew Mrs. B had been murdered and all acted collectively as the guilty party.

They all had motive, they all gain financially / emotionally from the murder.

But the stories told individually don't mesh well.  No convenientiality ==> one or 2 members arranged it.

He was biased by the evidence he received himself.  Everything strongly pointed to Raymond.

He was close to Carol, they were very similar.  She was mostly likely involved.

He reads his point list.

Poirot says Raymond had fallen in love.  He could soften to the world / his mother or feel courage and defy her.  Maybe commit a crime?

Poirot points out the conflicting statements of Sarah's time of death and Raymond speaking to his mother.

Sarah says she did not lie...  So Raymond returned, sees his mother dead, went to the marquee and said nothing.

Raymond could not be guilty if the only time he talked to her she was dead already.

So why not report it?  Because of his previous statement.  Carried out by his fellow planner.  Carol is guilty.

Evidence against Carol, high strung, sense of heroism.

According to her statement she returns at 5:10.  No one was around.

Poirot mentions the thrown needle.

Gerard says it was returned.  Poirot says it is a second, King's.

Carol confesses it is hers, not Sarah's.  It was hers, but she didn't poison.

Poirot now says what if Carol is innocent?

Carol returns finding her mother is dead, thinking it was Raymond.

Raymond returns and "speaks" to his mother.

Carol tried to conferm her theory.  Goes to Ray's tent and finds a needle?  Takes it, hides it, disposes of it.

Poirot adds Carol swore she was not serious with the plan.

Suppose...  Carol is innocent, but at 5:10 Mrs. B is alive.  Raymond kills her at 5:50.  It was getting dark...

Sarah arrives, 5 mins after, being able to see Raymond with his mother, finding her dead.  She lies.

Sarah once again says she did not lie.

Poirot then says...  If Raymond did find the mother alive, maybe it was Sarah who administered the injection.

She admits to having thought the death of one saving many, but she never harmed her.

Poirot insists one of the 2 is lying.

Raymond confesses.  His mother was dead when he approached.  He was going to tell her he was free from her.

Ray said maybe it was Carol.  He saw the mark on his mother's wrist.

Poirot says they did have a plan...  Having to do with a needle.

He says they took Nadine's.

Chapter 16:

Poirot recounts...  The 2nd needle was taken by Ray from Nadine.  After the death, Carol, finds it and discards it.  Sarah now has it.

Poirot points out Sarah therefore lied about the needle being hers.  Doesn't count.

Poirot recites the time table.

A gap of 20 mins between Nadine's talk and Carol's return.  ==>  Carol is telling the truth.  The mother was killed then?

Who was left?  Jinny.

Jinny mentioned hearing being called.  In his fever Gerard recalls seeing her face.

Gerard does not believe she's the killer.  Nadine says impossible.

Poirot says Nadine is very intelligent.

Outwardly she was nice to Mrs. Boynton.  Inwardly she condemned her.

Poirot says Nadine loves her husband, her decision to leave was not because of a greater love for another.

She appealed to Lennox, which failed.  Threatened to leave him, in the hopes it would move him.  But it could plunge him deeper.

She could go with another man...  Jealousy / possession is deeply rooted in the instinct of man.

If Lennox did not respond he was too far gone, might as well start over.

Poirot says suppose that fails...  One thing left...  If his step mother were to die...

There is no evidence, yes she may be guilty of death by shocking Mrs. Boynton, but that's still natural.

Poirot points out No. 9.  A servant was sent.  They were all so devoted to her, why would a servant go?

Perhaps they all sat paralyzed, wondering why no one volunteered.

Nadine, above all would have accepted mechanically.  Why not that particular evening?  B/c she knew she was dead.

Poirot says there were witnesses to her convo with Mrs. Boynton.  They saw, but could not hear.

She has access to Gerard's tent in the AM during their excursion and with her nursing knowledge, she knew what she needed.

She talks to Lennox.  He is angered but does not stir.  She must then kill...

Nadine has a pleasant convo with the 2 ladies.

She is then being seen bending over Mrs. B as if talking when she grabbed her wrist / pushes the plunger.[20]

She then sits talking to a dead woman.

Nadine goes to the marquee and makes sure she does not leave.

The only flaw was Dr. Gerard being sick and in his tent.  She could not return the syringe which was already noted to be missing.

Lennox jumps up.  It cannot be Nadine.  She was already dead...

Poirot says, so it was you...

Lennox says he took the digitoxin, the syringe in the AM like Poirot stated...

Because Nadine was leaving him...  But then he planned to kill his mother before being told Nadine was leaving him?

Poirot asks for the truth.

Lennox says Nadine leaving made him really mad, drunk.

Poirot mentions Lady W's description...  So Lennox had not been told in the marquee, like Nadine says.

He had realized he was to blame.  He should have defied his stepmother.  He would tell her he was leaving and running away with Nadine that night.  But she was dead.

Lennox was shocked, acted mechanically, picked up her wristwatch from her lap, placed it on her wrist.

He went to the marquee, still in shock and tried to read a paper.

Gerard understands 2 rapid shocks in procession.  Weissenhalter reaction.

Poirot points out the placement of the wrist watch may cover up the deed...[21]

Nadine, a short distance away sees the action, the puncture mark...  Believing her husband committed the murder because of her.

And now what really happened...

Chapter 17:

Poirot brings up his point list.  Inconsistency with 2 statements.  The missing syringe, the digitoxin.  That with all the Boyntons acting guilty...

Mrs. Boynton was on digitalis...  The only sensible thing to do would be to put the poison in her own bottle.

She'd take it, eventually die and it could be blamed on a Chemist error.

Why steal a needle?  Dr. Gerard was mistaken or the murderer didn't have access to the medicine...  It was an outsider.[22]

Poirot starts with Cope.  There is no reason for him to kill Mrs. B.  It has turned out to be unfavorable for him.

Miss King.  Medical knowledge, determined.  But she was gone from 3:30 to 6.

To Dr. Gerard.

By Lennox's statement, Mrs. Boynton was dead by 4:35.  By Lady W and Miss P, she was alive at 4:15.  20 mins unaccounted for.

As they walk away, Gerard is walking toward.

He could fake malaria with his knowledge.  Maybe he wanted to save one by sacrificing another.

But then why was Gerard the one to bring up foul play.[23]

Ginevra was at the camp all afternoon.

There was a gap between Lady W and Miss P's leaving and Gerard's arriving at the camp.  She was completely alone.

Jinny stirs.  Asks Poirot if he thinks she did it, flings herself across the room and begs Gerard for protection.

They are her enemies...  They want to lock her away.[24]

Gerard says it is impossible..  It would have been dramatic, with a dagger.  This was a sane crime.[25]

Chapter 18:

Poirot now examines Mrs. Boynton's psychology.

2 statements.  Mrs. Boynton took pleasure in keeping her family from enjoyment and she let them enjoy the afternoon.  Complete contradiction.

What were her reasons?

He recalls what Sarah said.  Mrs. B was pathetic.  She had realized she was only a tyrant of an isolated family.  As Gerard said, she was bored.

Poirot mentions the last point.  The statement to Miss King.  Why would she say, "never forget a face"?

Someone was standing behind, someone she recognized from her past.

She got rid of her family to clear the way for a new victim.[26]

Lady W and Miss P are sure on 1 fact.  Mrs. B was seen arguing with an Arab servant.

Lady W said he has come from Jinny's tent.  But Gerard is next door...

They both say they could not see the face, but Lady W gave a clear description of untidy breeches and puttees.

Poirot points out both saw the man, but could not see each other, based on the statement by Lady W that she had to go to Miss P's to see if she was awake / wanted to go for a walk.

Seeing the only witness was awake, Lady W returned to her tent, dressed like an Arab and killed Mrs. B...[27]

Lady W returns to Miss P, imposes her version on her and they set off.

Passing Mrs. B as they leave, Lady W comment on Mrs. B's rudeness.

Being highly suggestible, Miss Pierce will swear to her reaction.

Dr. Gerard returning too soon upset her plans.

Sarah asks why?  Poirot mentions her worry of Lady W being near at the hotel...  It was Lady W, Mrs. B was speaking to.

Add the fact Mrs. B was a wardess...  Lady W was a former criminal.  Her career was at stake.[28]

Poirot says he has obtained a fingerprint.  It has been sent to Mrs. Boynton's former prison.

A shot is heard.  They suspect the next room is Lady W's.

Epilogue:

Announcement of Lady W's death in the paper...  Accidental shooting while cleaning her gun.

5 years later Sarah Boynton and her husband sit in a theatre.  Hamlet.

Jinny playing Ophelia.

Mini family reunion afterward at the Savoy.

Jinny and Dr. Gerard are dating (?).

Cope is married to Carol.

Jinny prepares to toast.  For a second Sarah sees her...

Jinny says now Mother is dead she feels sorry for her.

Jinny quotes Cymbeline.

Random Comments:
Part 2:
Chapter 4

14.  Sarah is being painted as too...  Much of the suspect by trying to hide the fact it's murder.  Certainly she could be trying to shield Ray...  He did ask for her help and all.  But I'm doubting it's her, yet she's suspicious.
Chapter 5

15.  What?  I wonder how that plays into it...
Chapter 7

16.  What is this!?!  Poirot's 100th Episode?

17.  But he's not exactly on the side of the law?  I mean, he's fine with murderers killing each other as justice.
Chapter 8

18.  Is she religious at all???
Chapter 10

19.  Good God this is difficult to read!
Chapter 16

20.  One could argue setting a watch...

21.  He did remember the time, so he couldn't be completely out of it like Gerard says.
Chapter 17

22.  Sarah is an outsider...

23.  Plus he kept saying death is the enemy.

24.  Either she is faking crazy...  Cause I don't see how she could kill another, especially re poising with a needle.

25.  Gerard did say she should pursue the stage.
Chapter 18

26.  One of the ladies?

27.  But what if Miss P wanted to walk immediately?  Did Lady W suggest 4:30?

28.  But I'm assuming she's reformed?  So what real fear is there?

Ending comments:  It was an OK book.  The beginning had me a little more interested than usual since 2 main characters were in the medical profession.  I'm not a huge fan of psychology, but it did make it more interesting.  It did seem to be pointing the finger at a certain character, but like one says, in detective novels it means they're not the one.  I disliked how Poirot "pinned" the crime on everyone then was like he's how it really happened.  But I guess you do understand the psychology behind it all.  But then the actual ending was so far out in left field...  Seemed like there was no evidence given till the reveal, so I was kinda disappointed.

Will update as I continue to read.
Last updated:  Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 12:29 A.M.