Mystery Demystified

As Reed, Jerry, and Kate continue to attempt to gather information in favor of Emanuel with hopes of finding the murderer, Kate adds an “academic aspect” to the novel by attending a party with others teacher. She goes to the party to meet Frederick Sparks, a patient of Emanuel’s, in order to find out more about him and establish his alibi and whether or not he seems the type to commit murder. Unfortunately, she doesn’t learn much from the encounter—except that he most likely didn’t commit the murder. Instead, from conversations during this party scene, the reader is introduced to lives of the faculty at college. At some colleges, the faculty members feel they are treated lower than the students, and even lower than the new technology (like Sparks). Also, they are annoyed with having to attend so many committee meetings and with reading excessive amounts of mimeographed communications when they have classes to teach and papers to grade. Although this presents an interesting discussion/argument that I rarely considered before—the viewpoint and hectic life of a teacher—I am confused as to how this relates to the story. What is the purpose of this conversation? Surely it is not only included for the academic aspect…

Aside from this, the man who Janet was seen with (by student Anne Dribble), is finally identified. He is described as looking like Cary Grant, referring to Michael Barrister, the gynecologist who works in the same building as Emanuel. It’s also discovered that the young man in the photo found in Janet’s purse is also Mike Barrister. Messenger, person who Janet leaves money to in her will, identifies Mike as his college roommate (which explains why Barrister is young in the picture). This can’t possibly be coincidence—Janet and Barrister must know each other. Finally he admits that they did, but he is able to concoct such a convincing story that even Reed believes him and thus he becomes a free man again.

Because she believes it’s suspicious for Mike to be the man in the picture, have gone out with Janet, and personally know Janet’s beneficiary, Kate continues to analyze evidence and on a hunch sends Jerry to Canada and the Michigan area to discover more about Mike’s past. There Jerry learns that Mike supported an old lady (who is dead now), but that there was a time when the payments to her caretakers stopped. Jetty also learned of Mike’s romance with Janet Harrison. Given this, and other, information, somehow Kate arrived at the conclusion that the Michael Barrister she met was an imposter. It is never revealed to the reader how she arrives at this decision, but she does. Perhaps it’s just a hunch or the fact that from Jerry’s interview with Messenger, she learned that Mike read D.H. Lawrence novels. Either way, Kate surmised that imposter Mike (that resembled real Mike) killed the real Mike and stole his identity.

Finally, after some thought, Messenger was able to bring solid evidence into the case: the Mike he knew wore a heel in his shoe because one of his legs was longer than the other. Messenger also knew that Mike had an operation for it as well—an operation that leaves a scar. This was indeed the piece of evidence needed to clear Emanuel’s, and Kate’s, name. After compromising police work, Reed and his detectives were able to get Barrister to undress so they may see the scar on his spine—of which there was none.

End of story. Imposter Mike murdered Janet because she was beginning to realize that he wasn’t Mike. Janet and the real Mike had to part ways for a while, but she knew their romance wouldn’t die and when she returned to New York to find him, he was changed (as Messenger noticed as well).

Currently, I am confused about the story. How is this academic mystery? It must be due to the great depth with which the case was analyzed, that gives it reason to be considered academic mystery—not to mention the fact that Kate was a teacher and Janet was the student. Still, is there something more? I am also stumped as to what the title signifies…why is the word ’last’ used?