"Gentlemen. I mean gentleman. And lady," mrxak said. Eugene Chin looked around the room confused, then looked slowly back at mrxak with suspicion.
"Who exactly is this lady you keep talking about?" Eugene Chin asked, pointing a finger at mrxak.
"The director has many eyes," mrxak said, his eyes narrowing. "So, Eugene Chin, there was another incidence of vandalism last night. The zucchini were all used as some kind of rudimentary crayons on the cement walls, posting horrible untrue things about the director. One might even say it was a manifesto."
"Is that so?" Eugene Chin asked.
"It was signed by Techerakh," mrxak said, still glaring at the last remaining member of the committee.
"Oh! Was he the vandal? Is that why he hasn't joined us?" Eugene Chin asked, innocently. "I'm sure the director wasn't pleased to find out."
"He's not here because you YOU killed him!" mrxak said, pointing and shouting. "He was poisoned in the night! Right after you wrote your message in the community garden!"
"Perhaps," Eugene Chin said, his hand thoughtfully on his chin. "He could not live with himself after such vile treason? Surely, if he had poison to kill Mackilroy with, he'd have some leftover to kill himself?"
"I know it was you!" mrxak shouted.
"Prove it," Eugene Chin said, smiling thinly. "Anyway, you'll have to do it somewhere else. The garden committee needs the room."
"What are you talking about?" mrxak asked, angry.
"Well, after so many nights of terror in the gardens, it seems you aren't so above reproach after all. The remaining garden committee membership has voted to expel another member. You. I'm afraid it was quite unanimous," Eugene Chin said, looking around at the empty chairs. "I expect our first piece of business will be electing a new chairman. I suppose I ought to run for it."
"You won't get away with this!' mrxak yelled.
"Just tell me one thing, mrxak, before you go," Eugene Chin said. "Where is the director?"
"You'll never see her," mrxak said, standing up defiantly.
"Well, now that the vandal–sorry, traitor–has been found. I expect the vandalism will be ended. I'm sure the new chairman of the garden committee will have enough popular support to get, well, anything he wants," Eugene Chin said. He stood up and came around the table to mrxak, and whispered in his ear. "Perhaps even enough support to become the new director?"
mrxak swung his fist, but Eugene Chin easily dodged.
"Do go quietly, mrxak," Eugene Chin said, coldly. "I'm sure the guards will have some questions about you giving Techerakh the combination to the community garden. It would be a shame if they had to get rough."
mrxak, furious, grabbed his briefcase and moved to the door.
"Careful what you eat, mrxak," Eugene Chin called after him. "Somebody might still be poisoning people's tomatoes!"
Did nobody notice the hidden messages?