On Christmas Eve of 1930, the Gascoigne Apartments in Shanghai’s Frenchtown prepared for its annual festive gathering, not knowing that this year would be markedly different. Nestled on Avenue Joffre, Gascoigne, though not the grandest, always stood out during the holidays with its colorful lights and Chinese lanterns in every window. Its residents, each with their unique backgrounds, added to the building’s cosmopolitan charm.
The first-floor residents included the Carmichaels, a Scottish couple who decorated their apartment in a traditional Dickensian style, and the Bakers from America. Both families, though only cordial throughout the year, would unite for the annual Christmas Eve party hosted by the Carmichaels. This year, a black-ribbon-draped photograph of a young couple on the Carmichaels’ mantelpiece hinted at a deep-seated sorrow that pervaded their festive spirit.
Directly above, the Russian émigrés, the Lobchenkos, filled their home with tsarist-era artifacts, their own joy dimmed by the loss of their daughter Anastasia. Across the hall, the Dumonts from France adorned their door with a “Joyeux Noel” sign, embracing the holiday spirit despite a nostalgic longing for their past life as jewelers.
In stark contrast, the elusive Mr. Milton resided in the penthouse, his lifestyle shrouded in mystery and marked by late-night rendezvous. Despite his annual invitation to the Carmichaels’ party, he had never attended until this particular Christmas Eve.
Overseeing the lobby was the Chinese concierge, Mr. Shu, and his wife, who diligently maintained the communal spaces. The basement boiler room was the domain of Atma Singh, a Sikh from Patiala, responsible for the warmth of the Gascoigne. Though not a resident, Singh’s presence was integral to the building’s comfort during winter.
As Christmas Eve unfolded, the residents busied themselves with preparations. The Carmichaels paid their respects to their late son at the Bubbling Well Cemetery, while the Lobchenkos visited their daughter’s gravesite. The Dumonts strolled down memory lane on Nanking Road, and the Bakers reminisced over sherry in the safety of their home. Amidst the festive bustle, Singh stepped outside for a smoke, unexpectedly encountering Detective Chief Inspector John Creighton.
The two old acquaintances shared memories and cigarettes, reflecting on a past case that had left a profound impact on both. Six years earlier, a brutal robbery at a Nanking Road jeweler resulted in the murder of two young assistants, David Carmichael and Anastasia Lobchenko, marking a tragic Christmas Eve. Despite efforts, the case had gone cold, leaving a lingering sense of injustice.
Singh, burdened by his perceived failure to prevent the tragedy, had watched as the victims’ grieving families moved into the Gascoigne, biding their time for the perpetrator’s return. Milton, unaware of his neighbors’ true identities, had unwittingly accepted their invitation this year, stepping into the Carmichaels’ living room for a confrontation years in the making.
The festive atmosphere was shattered by a gunshot, drawing Creighton to the scene. Inside, he found Milton’s lifeless body and a shaken Singh. The room was filled with the familiar faces of the Gascoigne’s residents, all connected by the tragedy of that fateful Christmas Eve six years ago.
Creighton, realizing the depth of their collective grief and the motive behind their actions, faced a moral dilemma. Bringing them to justice would only prolong their suffering, yet ignoring the crime challenged his principles as a law enforcer. In a moment of compassion, he chose to leave the scene, understanding that the residents sought closure in their own way.
As Creighton departed, the residents set about disposing of Milton’s body, rolling it in the Carmichaels’ rug and taking it to Singh’s boiler room – a final act to bring warmth to the Gascoigne on Christmas Day. The detective knew the case would likely remain unsolved, and the penthouse would soon be up for sale, but for the residents of Gascoigne Apartments, this Christmas Eve brought an end to years of waiting and a sense of justice, however unconventional.
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