Tammy’s Reviews > Murder Must Advertise > Status Update

It came from the manufacturer, Darling’s, or Pym’s. Half a gross were sent out for testing since they have a special propelling mechanism. LPW deduces that DB was the target, not Charlie. The assailant saw him get mail for Box 4 and clocked Charlie. The name on the letter was PD. He wonders if one of the twenty people he talked to about using catapults on the roof at the tea party is the assailant.

LPW narrates an incident from Ginger’s detective book. He tells Parker to suck it up. Parker rules out men who might have done it. The only evidence is a Darling’s pencil which LPW wishes to see. That is when he realizes the letter is gone. One can’t buy these pencils because the stores give them away. Pym manages their ads. The reward system works like Greenbacks. This particular pencil is not in the pipeline.

He goes home to his flats (his bachelor flat and the one on the floor above him which he rented after he married). Before going up, he grabs the evening mail which arrives at 9:30 PM! When LPW assumed his new identity, he started using the mailbox for the upper floor. Parker gave him the key and he put Bredon on the box. In it, was a dainty missive with feminine writing and gilt-edges. The light bulb did not turn on.

Ch. 6 BD’s bil of Scotland Yard had a boring day at the office doing loads of paperwork and taking a call about mysterious boat operations near Essex. He decides to stay at work and wait for the 1 am call rather than be pulled out of bed.

Ginger runs off. DB goes to his office and then dons gentlemanly clothing that the cleaning lady notices when he walks to the lift. Another comment about decent. Change of identity again back to LPW. There’s a coment that as LPW has no idea who put the lesser lights (neon signs) to rule the night sky.

DB lets Ginger reasonito figure out a theory. DB asks who had access to her drawer and who saw her put the catapult in it. Ginger turns pale once he puts the dots together. He asks Ginger to inquire quietly to find out who knew about the catapult (Ginger says he can pretend the elastic is ruined) and who had no alibi for the murder. He’s asked if he’s Scotland yard. No, but he can put in a good word for his brother.

Ginger wants to be a detective (his brother’s in the police). DB asks the boy to keep his mouth zipped. He gives Ginger a ten-bob note to buy grey powder and an insufflator. I wonder if he is going to dust for fingerprints and that’s exactly what he did! Ginger is psyched. There are no prints. Then he has Ginger pretend to use it and this time DB found prints. Clearly, someone had wiped it. Who got into her drawer?

He confirms details that Mrs. Johnson told him. Ginger states he never used it at work; he shows it to friends. The last time he had it was a month ago. Nobody at work has ever brought a catapult or any device like it. One guy keeps a peashooter at home. He’s never heard of anyone else shooting things at work. DB asks about what Ginger was reading and it is called “The Clue of the Crimson Star.” Red like Ginger.

She wears a garnet and he comments on it. He puts his hand in the drawer to get the catapult and cuts his finger. RED. More alchemy? While Mrs. Johnson gets a bandage, he calls Ginger over from reading his penny dreadful detective novel and asks him to meet after work to do a favor. Ginger thinks it’s passing a note to a young woman. LOL Tallboy shows up with work for the boys to do and DB bolts, not being a boy.

He tells her about his catapult and she warns him for she confiscated Ginger’s catapult a month ago. DB convinces her to give it to him and he will pay for any broken windows. After mandatory fun is over, he follows her to her office and makes a comment about the keys. Her drawer has to be locked because of tamp-money and confiscated items. He comments on her ring while she goes through her drawer.