愛情與金錢

你是一名不錯的偵探，是嗎?如果是的話，那你得比沃爾什探長先找出兇手。沃爾什探長是名警探，他工作雖說慢了點，可十分細心。你是位“快手”嗎?偵探是干什么的呢?偵探就是尋找線索的人。而線索就是告訴你誰是兇手的重要但又細小的事物。發現線索不容易，但本故事中有許多線索。有些線索有用——它們能幫助你，可有些線索卻不利——它們妨礙你找到兇手。你得仔細點讀，否則你會錯過線索。

但請記住：你不必相信人們說的每件事。兇手顯然會撒謊，可能其他人因不同的理由也會撒謊。也許他們希望某人死去。但是誰希望呢?誰殺的?你能找出兇手嗎?

羅伊納·阿金耶米英國人，但在非洲度過了許多年。《愛情與金錢》是她為英語學生寫的第一部故事。

1 Chapter

The Clarkson family lived in the country near Cambridge，about half a mile from the nearest village and about a mile from the river.They had a big，old house with a beautiful garden，a lot of flowers and many old.trees.

One Thursday morning in July，Jackie came in from the garden.She was a tall，fat woman，thirty years old.It was the hottest day of the year，but she wore a warm brown skirt and yellow shirt.She went into the kitchen to get a drink of water.Just then the phone rang.

’Cambridge 1379，’Jackie said.

’Hello.This is Diane.I want to talk to Mother.’

’Mother isn’t here，’Jackie said.’She’s at the doctor’s.’

’Why?What’s Wrong?’

’Nothing’s wrong，’Jackie said.’Why are you telephoning? You are going to come this weekend? Mother wants everyone to be here.’

’Yes，I want to come，’Diane said.’I’m phoning because I have no money for the train ticket.’

’No money!Mother is always giving you money!’

’This phone call is very expensive，’Diane said coldly.’Tell Mother please.I need the money.’

Jackie put the phone down.She took a cigarette from her bag and began to smoke.She felt angry because her sister al-ways asked for money.Diane was twenty years old， the youngest in the family.She lived in London，in one room of a big house.She wanted to be a singer.She sang very well but she could never get work.

Jackie went back into the kitchen and began to make some sandwiches.Just then the back door opened，and her mother came in.

’It’s very hot!’Molly said.She took off her hat and put it down on the table.She was a tall，dark woman with beautiful eyes.

Two big，black dogs came into the kitchen after her and ran across to her.She sat down and put her hands on their heads.

Jackie put the sandwiches on the table.’Mother，’she said，’Diane phoned.She wants money for her train ticket.’

Molly closed her eyes for a minute.Then she stood up.’This afternoon I want you to get the house ready for the weekend，’she said.’Oh，and please go to the village later and get my tablets.’

’Yes，Mother，’Jackie said.

Molly went to the door.

’Mother，please wait a minute，’Jackie said.’Peter Hobbs came here this morning.He’s very angry with you about that letter.He lost his job，you know.Why did you write to his office?He wants to talk to you about it.’

’Well，I don’t want to talk to him，’Molly said.She opened the door.

’But Mother，you don’t understand.He’s seventeen，and it was his first job.He’s very，very angry.He says… he says he’s going to kill you!’

Molly did not answer.She went out of the room and closed the door.