This is the final post, concluding the Murder on the Orient Express. So far, the mystery has been a baffling jumble of clues that don't seem to add up. When the last part left off, Poirot said there were two possible solutions. This should be interesting...
Everyone gathers in the restaurant car, Greta Ohlsson is crying, and Mrs. Hubbard is comforting her as Poirot stands up. Poirot states that there are two possible solutions to the crime, and M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine will judge which solution is correct.
Poirot states the facts about the case: Ratchett was alive at 12:37 when he talked to the conductor, and he was found stabbed in the morning.A watch in his pocket read 1:15. Dr. Constantine believes the death was between 12 and 2 a.m. At 12:30 a.m. the train ran into a snowdrift, after that time no one could possible leave the train. The evidence of Mr. Hardman, whom Poirot reveals to be a New York detective, was that no one could have passed his compartment on the end without his notice. This means that the possible murderers are all present.
"That, I will say, was our theory." Poirot says, startling M. Bouc. Poirot continues, saying Ratchett gave Hardman a description of a man that would attempt to kill him. The enemy slipped in at one of the train stops, disguised himself as a conductor, used the pass key, murdered Ratchett, left through the communicating door into Mrs. Hubbard's room, put the weapon in her bag, unintentionally lost a button, put the uniform in a suitcase in an empty compartment, and left before the train started moving. M. Bouc thinks this explanation absurd, asking about details such as the watch and the voices heard inside the compartment. The suspects ask a few questions, too, but seem appeased with the theory. Dr. Constantine refuses to believe the story. Poirot reminds everyone there is a second explanation, but to M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine he reminds to keep the first solution in mind.
Poirot says the second solution was thought up by M. Bouc wondering why such a diverse group would be in the same train car. Poirot thought it was odd, the group could only be found in America. Each of the suspects had a role in the Armstrong family and household. Poirot was able to "cast each person for a certain part in the Armstrong drama."
While interviewing Hector MacQueen for a second time, Poirot described a note mentioning the Armstrong case. Hector replied saying "But surely-" and pasued awkwardly, finishing "I mean- that was rather careless of the old man." Poirot suspects that Hector was about to say "But surely that was burnt!" This would mean MacQueen knew about the burned note, thus he would be the murderer or an accomplice. Poirot doesn't think Ratchett would intentionally take his usual sleeping draught, as he expected a murder attempt. and he had a gun under his pilow. MacQueen or the valet could have given him it. Poirot believes that Hardman is a detective, but thinks that Hardman didn't do much to protect Ratchett. He only proved that no one came from another car to murder him. Poirot noticed that the Colonel and Ms. Debenham didn't act like strangers to each other, though they said they were. Mrs. Hubbard's bag was supposedly covering her view of the bolt on the communicating door, but it didn't. Poirot believes that the story was made up. The watch was placed in Ratchett's shirt pocket, an unlikely place for him to put it. So, the crime was not committed at 1:15. Ratchett supposedly cried out in the night, and answered the conductor in french. Ratchett was drugged at the time and didn't speak any language. Poirot's opinion is that Ratchett was killed around 2:00. Poirot thought it was an interesting coincidence that suspects that would probably not know each other from before the train provided alibis for each other. One example is the English valet and the Italian.
Then, Poirot says, he saw the light. It was impossible for so many people connected to the Armstrong case to be in the same train car by coincidence. The Colonel had made a remark about a trial by jury. That is what the murder was. There are twelve people in a jury, twelve passengers in the train car, and twelve stab wounds on the body. The threatening letters MacQueen showed were fake, Hardman wasn't asked to be a bodyguard, and the small, dark man never existed. The twelve people had carefully planned the whole thing, which included false clues. The conductor Pierre was one of the murderers, as the Count took his wife's place so he would be telling the truth when saying she never left her compartment.
Pierre was related to the French maid who killed herself. Hildegarde was a cook for the Armstrong family. Hardman was in love with the maid. Mrs. Hubbard is really Linda Arden, and actress, and Sonia Armstrong's mother. The Colonel was best friends with Colonel Armstrong. She explains how everyone got together and planned the murder. After planning how to murder Ratchett, MacQueen influenced Ratchett to ride the Orient Express at a time when Pierre michel was on duty.
Mrs. Hubbard asks for the blame to be put only on her. She says the murder was to prevent further kidnappings and to avenge all the deaths Cassetti caused. Poirot asks M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine what they think. They both agree that the solution was the first one.
"Then" Poirot says, "having placed my solution before you , I have honor to retire from the case..."
THE END.
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