Chapter 15: The Titanic Murders (Part 1)

In the year 1936, as soon as "Gone with the Wind" was published, it shattered all the existing publication records of the time. In the first six months alone, its distribution reached a staggering 10 million copies, with daily sales peaking at 50,000 copies. Despite being priced at $3, it was speculated up to $60, while a decent hotel room in the United States only cost around $30 a month. Such a remarkable and well-received achievement led to its recognition in 1937 when it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the American Publishers Association Award.

The film adaptation of this book, titled "Gone with the Wind," premiered in Atlanta on December 15, 1939. The film caused a sensation and rapidly gained popularity worldwide. The actors who portrayed the main characters, Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, became deeply ingrained in the hearts of many fans.

It can be said that there are many authors who have achieved fame and a lasting position in the literary world. However, very few have achieved this feat with just a single work, and one such person is the author of "Gone with the Wind," Margaret Mitchell. Remarkably, she only wrote this one book in her lifetime, despite numerous lucrative offers from various publishing houses. Her unshaken attitude towards fame and accolades was a rarity, as only a handful of individuals possess such resilience. In contrast, Monet, who could be thrilled by just two thousand dollars, felt a sense of shame in comparison.

While Monet was lost in contemplation, little Margaret tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Uncle, what's wrong with you?"

"Oh, Uncle is fine. Um, Margaret, did you enjoy today's play?" Monet changed the subject.

"It was alright, but I think the stories my grandmother tells me are more interesting!" Margaret earnestly replied.

"Oh? What stories does your grandmother tell you?" Monet asked curiously.

Initially, Monet assumed that Margaret's grandmother would be telling her fairy tales. However, after listening for a while, he couldn't help but silently critique the situation. What kind of old lady tells a young girl stories about the Civil War, especially from the age of three or four? Nevertheless, it might be due to these early impactful memories that Mitchell later conceived the idea of creating a novel set against the backdrop of the Civil War in her adulthood.

While the two were engrossed in conversation, a worried male voice suddenly came from behind, "Margaret, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing the voice, Margaret immediately ran over and tearfully responded, "Daddy, I thought I had lost you!"

"It's Daddy's fault. I was careless a moment ago and didn't look after little Margaret properly!" Mr. Mitchell consoled. Then, he turned his attention to Monet and asked Margaret, "And who is this gentleman?"

"Uncle Monet saw me crying alone in the corner just now. He came over to keep me company and waited with me, saying you would definitely come to find me!" Margaret explained.

"Mr. Monet, I presume. I am so grateful to you. Without your help, I can hardly imagine what might have happened after losing track of Margaret!" Mr. Mitchell expressed his gratitude.

"Don't mention it, it's what I should do," Monet waved his hand in response. Then, after a brief pause, he took out a notebook from his pocket and handed it to Margaret, saying, "Little Margaret, can you give Uncle your autograph? Uncle believes you will become a great writer in the future!"

"But I can't even write properly now," young Margaret muttered while carefully writing her name in the notebook and adding, "To dear Uncle Monet."

After parting ways with young Margaret and Mr. Mitchell, Monet boarded a carriage and headed to "The New York Post." Though he had visited "The New York Post" many times before, this time he felt a palpable shift in the atmosphere upon entering. Everyone seemed excitedly engaged in discussions.

Especially when Monet entered, Evan, an editor with whom he had a close relationship, hurried over and said, "Mr. Monet, you really need to be cautious lately!"

"Why, what should I be cautious about? What's happening?" Monet asked, looking puzzled.

"Someone might be after you recently!" Evan leaned in and whispered.

Startled by these words, Monet exclaimed, "What?! Someone wants to kill me? Why, I haven't offended anyone!"

"It's true you haven't offended anyone, but the problem is, this person is a lunatic. If you don't believe me, look at this." Evan took out a newspaper and pointed to a section, explaining, "This is a letter we received from a reader yesterday. They claim responsibility for two recent murders, both committed by them. Their goal is to eliminate all the survivors of the Titanic because their own family members perished, reportedly being denied a spot on a lifeboat. They've redirected their anger toward all the survivors, aiming to kill you all."

"At first, we thought they were just talking nonsense. Thankfully, Rock is cautious, so he informed the police about this. Just now, the police informed us of their investigation results: both victims were indeed survivors of the Titanic. But since there are over seven hundred survivors, the police can't provide individual protection. Therefore, they agreed to let our newspaper publish this letter from the killer to remind everyone to stay vigilant about their safety."

Upon hearing this, Monet quickly grabbed the newspaper and read it. It confirmed Evan's account, and at that moment, a terrifying image flashed through his mind. He involuntarily blurted out, "Jack the Ripper?"

Evan nodded, saying, "Exactly, it's Jack the Ripper. This demon is like the American version of Jack the Ripper. By the way, isn't it true that the British police haven't caught the real Jack the Ripper even now?"

While Monet knew the true identity of Jack the Ripper, all he could do was shake his head and reply, "Not yet."

"Ah, and now there's an American version of it. It's truly frightening. Mr. Monet, you really need to be careful lately. It's better not to go out unnecessarily. Even though there are hundreds of survivors, your fame is among the highest. Oh, and don't eat out recently, because these two victims were poisoned." Evan cautioned.

Monet understood Evan's concern. Due to the immense popularity of the "Titanic" novel and the upcoming opera, his visibility was undoubtedly prominent among the Titanic survivors. If the killer had intentions to strike, he would be a prime target due to his fame and lack of bodyguards like Karl. However, for some reason, Monet felt that this matter wasn't as simple as it seemed. Therefore, he started paying closer attention to this series of cases, and shortly after the fourth murder, he began to detect some inconsistencies.