Chapter 9, A. to J. and Chapter 10, Nick's Secret Summary

As Chapter 9 begins, Poirot is distressed that he's allowed the murder to happen, despite his precautions. Even though Nick is not dead, a girl has been killed, and the murderer will still strike again. Poirot swears to find where his logic was wrong and stop the killer. Meanwhile, Nick is safe at the nursing home, where only Poirot and Hastings will be allowed to see her. Poirot is convinced the murderer is a friend of Nick's, not a homicidal maniac as the police seem to think. Poirot points out how easy it would be for anyone to slip away from the fireworks and commit the crime. The three shots that were fired would fit in well with the sound of the fireworks.

The Mauser pistol was not found, and...