The Word is Murder

Anthony recovers and begins to speculate on possible motives for Damian’s murder. Hawthorne agrees that the Godwin tragedy seems less relevant. While Hawthorne investigates the premises, Anthony hears noises coming from the body and yells in fright. Hawthorne assures him this is typical, and Anthony privately reflects, “Not for the first time, I wished that I’d never agreed to write this bloody book” (144).

Hawthorne briefly blames Anthony for his failure to anticipate the danger, claiming that Anthony distracts him, then softens and explains. He noticed Diana kept all her key sets together, with one obviously absent. They were obviously the same set used to murder Damian, since he had mentioned her visiting his apartment when he was away. After the official investigators arrive, Hawthorne takes Anthony out onto Damian’s back terrace and explains what the evidence shows. This was clearly where the killer concealed himself, hoping Damian would be unaccompanied when he fled from the music at the funeral. Hawthorne points out that the terrace was also the only suitable means of escape for a person who had just committed an act of gory violence.

Anthony watches the investigators work, slightly disturbed by their detachment from a dead body.