It's Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise: An Amateur Female Sleuth Historical Cozy Mystery (Miss Riddell C by P.C. James (easy novels to read txt) 📕

“As I asked for you to come and talk to us,” Pauline said, “I’ll begin. My question is a simple one. Have any of the female crew spoken to you about Jose Garcia?”

“No, no one has,” Suzanne replied, puzzled. “Why?”

“You’ve never heard any of the women talking about him and his behavior?” Somerville asked.

“Never!”

“We thought maybe it could be a motive,” Pauline said.

“He’s the one dead and you’re trying to blame him?” Suzanne cried.

Pauline felt she was either a very good actor or she was genuinely outraged and therefore had not heard anything against Jose.

“We have to consider all possibilities, that’s all,” Somerville said, stepping in to quell the manager’s indignation.

Pauline felt even Somerville seemed embarrassed at having to defend them, his cheeks had flushed pink. It would be particularly galling as he’d been against this interview.

“Thank you, Suzanne,” Pauline said. “You’ve set our minds at rest on this topic. Please don’t share anything said here tonight with the others. These are difficult questions to ask and answer and no good will be served by broadcasting what has been said.”

Suzanne nodded, still too upset to speak, and left the room.

“That went well, I thought,” Somerville said, grinning from ear to ear.

“It had to be done,” Pauline said, her mind weighing the options. Should she believe Maria’s story because she didn’t share it with others or disbelieve it because she hadn’t shared it with others?

‘Can we not distress the female staff any further, Miss Riddell?” Captain Ferguson said. “I understand your desire to be sure in this matter, but we have no reason to implicate any of them in this awful tragedy.”

Pauline nodded. “I think it’s clear we will learn nothing new there,” she said, “so let us move on. Please send Señor Hidalgo a message urging more speed on his inquiries into Arvin Weiss,” Pauline said. “He’s our only remaining known suspect.”

“You’ve ruled out the other Peruvian crew members?” Ferguson asked.

“Not entirely but nothing in the information the police provided so far would indicate a motive for murder,” Pauline said.

“But we haven’t ruled out manslaughter or an accident brought about by a confrontation that wasn’t intended to be fatal,” Somerville reminded her.

“If Señor Hidalgo sends anything new to raise any of those men in the suspect list, we can go further but at this time I’m not considering them as suspects.”

“So, what you’re saying, Miss Riddell, is that if we can show Arvin had nothing to do with Jose’s death, you’ll give up on this obstinate insistence of murder?” Somerville asked.

“If we can find nothing to indicate the likelihood of Arvin having a hand in what happened, I think we will have done enough to make the travel company feel safer, yes.”

“Then let’s do it,” Somerville said. ‘Captain, get your people working night and day on background for us, ‘cos we’re finding nothing here in the foreground.”

“Of course, there’s always the possibility of that other person, someone we haven’t yet identified, being responsible,” Pauline said, with only a hint of mischievousness.

“At this stage, I don’t want to hear it, Miss Riddell,” Somerville said, “and I’m sure Captain Ferguson doesn’t either. The Ecuadorean Police had this nailed on their first day. I’m beginning to suspect you of grandstanding.”

Ferguson held up his hand to draw a close to this exchange. “I just want to be sure we have nothing to fear going forward,” he said. “I, and the company, don’t require anything beyond that. Accident or not. We want to be sure we’re not sailing with someone who is dangerous on board. Ships are confined spaces, even ones as nicely appointed as this one is, and we need to know everyone can cope with that.”

“If there was wrongdoing, I want justice to be done,” Pauline said. “I didn’t know Jose, I have no personal interest here, but his death needs a fuller investigation than was done. I’m sorry a police detective doesn’t share that opinion.”

“Now listen here—” Somerville began but Ferguson intervened before he could finish.

“That’s enough briefing for tonight,” he said, “and squabbling won’t help at this stage. We all want what’s best, however we express our wish. Now, can I top up anyone’s glass?”

The two detectives shook their heads.

“Then, first thing in the morning, I’ll provide you with what information comes in overnight and we’ll meet again tomorrow evening after dinner. Good night, and if we don’t have a reason to meet first thing, enjoy Espanola Island tomorrow.”

The briefing broke up and the two detectives returned to their evening entertainments. Somerville to the bar to talk sports with the men and Pauline joined Freda and Betty to listen to the nightly talk from the park naturalist telling them what to look out for on tomorrow’s island.

15

Espanola Island, Punta Suarez

Morning brought a new island and, for Pauline, a renewed resolve. After the stretch session and sunrise, almost the best part of the day for Pauline, she and Freda went to breakfast.

“What’s your plan today?” Freda asked, as they enjoyed their toast and tea in the sunshine, far away from the others.

“As we’re almost sure Pedro and Rod didn’t do it, I’m going to learn more about the crew and Arvin.”

“We never meet the crew,” Freda said, “and Arvin isn’t a naturally sharing man.”

“Nevertheless, I’ve got to try. That boy was killed and even if it wasn’t murder it wasn’t an innocent accident either. There was intent behind it.”

“And if you don’t find anything?”

“Then I go home having done what I could to right a grave wrong. I can do no more than that,” Pauline said.

“I suppose,” Freda said, doubtfully, “but after leading everyone to think it was murder, it will leave the people on this ship, crew and passengers alike, under a cloud. You said it was murder and there’ll be no resolution. I know it sounds like I’m going back on myself, Polly, but I think you’ve gone too far not to finish with an answer.”

“If I ask the right questions