by C. A. Larmer
“What about Australia? You could afford to fly to Cairns and see a good doctor there.”
“How was I going to get away? When exactly? Davara has us all imprisoned here and there’s so much to do now that mother has died. I just wanted this... thing out of me. I thought all it would take was a little extra quinine, I’d bleed through and be done with it. If I knew it was quinine that almost killed my mother of course I would have stayed clear of it. Oh, so stupid...” She beat one fist against her forehead. “If only I hadn’t seen that blasted website.”
Yes indeed, thought Roxy, it all comes back to that website. She had assumed from the start that Helen was the one who first looked up the Indian tonic water website that then linked into the site on quinine and its ability to induce abortion. Now, knowing that it was Joshua, everything was different. Joshua had admitted to using the computer that afternoon, during his break, but he’d said he was playing computer games. Roxy hadn’t thought anything of it but, thinking back now, she didn’t recall seeing any listings of computer games when she went through the web browser’s history for Tuesday. Joshua had clearly been lying about what he was doing on the computer that day.
But why?
“I think we need to get Chief Davara back here and quickly,” she said. “And we need to tell him everything.”
Helen looked at her worried, but eventually nodded.
“Yes,” she said wearily, “enough secrets for now. Let’s finish it.”
“Before we do, though I just have one favour to ask you...”
Ten minutes later, Roxy was positioned behind the front desk of the hotel lobby, the phone at her ear, deep in conversation with Chief Davara. Thanks to Helen, Joshua had been sent on a fake errand to fetch her more of Tara’s magical broth so Roxy could be left to have this conversation alone.
Davara had listened carefully to everything she had to say and promised to check a few things before he and his men made their return to the island.
“You have been very, very busy,” he said and she could sense his smile from across the crackling line.
“Well, it’s kind of like a jigsaw isn’t it? The more pieces you get right, the clearer everything becomes. Of course, you’d know that.”
“Yes, yes, I do indeed. Okey dokey, Miss Parker, I will check these things out and be back at Dormay before sunset.”
“Great. Listen, there’s just one final thing I need to ask you.”
“Yes?”
“You mentioned yesterday that your sister, Theresa, was working as a haus girl when she fell pregnant with Joshua.”
“That is correct.”
“Can I ask: Do you know who the father was?”
He sighed. “No, not really. Theresa was very stubborn, she would not tell anybody, but of course, we had our suspicions...”
Abi must have had her suspicions, too, Roxy realised now, so she asked one more question of Chief Davara: Who was Theresa working for at the time she fell pregnant? When Chief Davara gave her the answer, the final piece of the jigsaw clicked into place.
Chapter 19
The sun was edging its way towards the horizon, taking some of its mighty heat along with it and leaving a flash of vivid orange and red in its wake. It was a startling sunset, even by Dormay standards, but nobody noticed it that night. They were all seated, stiffly, on the main veranda, drinks in hand, waiting for Chief Davara to speak.
It was just past 6pm and he had called an official meeting with all the hotel guests and expatriates. The local staff had been given the night off and several of Davara’s men were posted at the door while his deputy Sikani was standing to attention near the bar.
Roxy, who had dressed carefully tonight, in a Thai silk jacket with a diamante broach, and a matching skirt, glanced around the veranda. Wade and Maya were sitting together on one lounge, both also dressed impeccably, but no part of their bodies were touching and Maya was sucking on a cigarette as if her life depended on it.
The Zimmermans were together on another lounge, Ingrid twirling her faux tortoiseshell necklace nervously, Bernard as still as a hawk. Luc and Doc were on stools at the bar, and Joshua was behind it, pouring drinks.
Helen, who was sitting in a plush armchair right at the front beside Roxy, gave Davara the nod and he stepped forward.
“Thank you, people, for all your patience and for coming here tonight,” he said softly. “This has been a most intriguing case, it has tested us all, yes, yes?”
There were a few murmurs around the room but nobody was speaking up.
“Now, I have to tell you, I have spent the past hour in a meeting with Roxanne Parker and she has uncovered some very interesting things. I think it would be only right for her to explain. It was her hard work, so I will hand it over to her first.”
Wade sat upright, looking confused. “Roxy? What’s she got to do with any of this? She’s just a blow-in!”
Davara held one hand up to silence him. “Ah yes, but a very smart blow-in, Mr Thomas. Plis, give her your full attention. Miss Parker?”
Roxy stood up and turned to face them. They all stared hard at her, every single one of them, and she felt suddenly nervous as their eyes bore into hers, some looking worried, some confused, some just sad. But she was determined to have it out, and so she began.
“I know it seems a bit weird me standing up here like Hercule Poirot.” She flashed Maya a quick smile. “So I thought, first, I’d better explain. The day Abi was killed, Helen came to my room and asked me to help her investigate her mother’s death—”
“So that’s why you’ve been poking about!?” said Maya, looking suddenly offended.
“Yes, Maya, but I should add that I have had some experience back at home helping the police with murder enquiries, and I’ve done quite a bit of investigative reporting in my time.”
Wade muttered something beneath his breath and Roxy tried to ignore him. “Anyway, as I was saying, Helen was determined to find out what happened to her mother and wanted as much help as possible.”
She glanced across at the police Chief. “Chief Davara was kind enough to let me do a little ‘poking’ as you say, so I did. And, with a lot of help from the police department this afternoon, I believe we now know who killed Abi.”
Luc sat forward then. “Really? So who would do this ‘orrendous thing?!”
“Well, Luc, if truth be told, I suspected each of you at various points.”
Bernard stood up looking outraged. “Each of us? This is nonsense! How could you suspect Ingrid and myself? We are just tourists, here, diving.”
“Sit down Mr Zimmerman,” said Davara firmly and he did as instructed, still glaring.
“Since you mention it, Bernard, I’ll start with you.” Roxy waved one hand out towards the ocean. “You’re right, you and your wife have been very busy diving. A little too busy if you ask me. From the moment you got here, you’ve been out exploring that reef on the other side of the island and we all just assumed you were fanatical divers. What we didn’t realise is that you’re actually poachers.”
There was a gasp from somewhere in the room and Bernard went to stand up again but inspector Sikani was now beside him, one hand pushing him back into his seat. The Chief indicated for Roxy to continue.
“I thought it was odd, that night, Ingrid, when you told me you were wearing fake tortoiseshell. I didn’t think that was your style and you said as much a few days later when you showed off your enormous genuine ruby ring. That’s when you told me you only wear the best. I started to think, why would you be wearing cheap plastic tortoise shell when the real deal is out there—” she waved her hand again—“for the taking? Same with the black coral which you couldn’t help admiring that night on Maya. It got me thinking. What if you weren’t just diving quietly on the reef, but helping yourself to its many treasures? I mean, you’re a jeweller, how could you resist? Just a few turtles here, a bit of coral there. It’s such a secluded part of the island, there would be no one to see you do it. Plus, who could blame you? There’s s
o much out there, so much for the taking.”
“There is more than enough,” agreed Ingrid but Bernard barked something in German and she gulped her lips shut. Roxy continued.
“So, you enlisted the help of one of the boatsmen, Willie, to catch the turtles. Abi had already mentioned that some of the crayfish spears were missing. Perhaps he was using them to spear the poor creatures? In any case, Willie was able to store the goods very easily in the old boat shed on the other side of the island, near the airstrip. Nobody ever goes near that anymore. He has it locked up. It’s the perfect hiding place. That’s probably the reason you went to that side for your picnic the night Abi died. You were working in the shed, preparing the goods for export.”
“This is ridiculous!” Bernard tried again but Chief Davara spoke up this time.
“No, Mr Zimmerman, it is quite true. We have already searched the old boatshed, we have found the remains of some recently killed turtles, black coral fragments and a range of other protected species. Most of it, we now know, was taken away by Zodiac very early on the morning of Abi’s murder.”
“That’s right,” said Roxy. “Willie obviously loaded it into the Zodiac at the old boatshed which is why the village kid heard the engine out near the airstrip that morning. He then drove the dingy around the island to the main jetty to rendezvous with another boat—the one Maurice saw—to take the goods to the mainland.”
Bernard looked ready to burst. “You can not prove we have anything to do with any of this!”
“Yes, yes, we can Mr Zimmerman,” said Davara. “We have Willie in our custody now.”
The Swiss man’s look of indignation faltered and he sat back in his chair. Roxy stepped across to Ingrid.
“There is another way to prove what you’ve been doing,” she said, taking her broach off. She stepped across to one of the side tables where a candle was burning, and waved the broach pin across the flame, then pointed it towards Ingrid’s neck.
“May I?”
The woman looked appalled, clutched onto her necklace and shook her head no, so Roxy turned back to the wide-eyed congregation.
“Ingrid is wearing the same tortoiseshell necklace she was wearing that first night I arrived, the one she assured Abi was a fake. I’m not convinced, I think it’s the real-deal, but there is one way to prove it. If it really is imitation, one made of celluloid, this hot pin should penetrate the plastic surface quite easily. Mind if I try?”
Ingrid continued shaking her head, refusing to let go of her necklace. Bernard was now steaming.
“Really! What has any of this to do with Abigail’s murder? That is what I would like to know!”
“That’s a very good question, Bernard,” Roxy said, pinning her broach back onto her jacket and returning to her post.
“I knew that Abi was onto Willie, and I suspect you did too. You were there that first evening when Abi mentioned the missing crayfish spears. She was determined to find out who took them. Perhaps you feared that once she spoke with Willie the game would be up, so you had to stop her.”
“No!” yelled Ingrid now. “This is not true. Yes, yes, we take the shells and coral, and why not?!”
Bernard barked something at her but she ignored him this time. “What use is it under the water for a small handful of spoiled celebrities to see? We take it to turn it into masterpieces for people to enjoy. What we design at Zimmerman—these are classics that will last forever. I will admit to this, but we did not hurt Abigail! We are not murderers!”
Roxy nodded. “I agree with you, Ingrid, I don’t think you killed anyone. Well, except for a few poor turtles of course.”
She looked relieved but Bernard was fuming beside her, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Then who the hell did this?” demanded Wade impatiently. “Can we just forget about this silly poaching business and get to the important bit, please.”
“Good idea,” said Roxy, “which brings us to you.”
His face flushed red and his eyes looked ready to pop. “Me?! What the blazes have I got to do with Abi’s death?”
“Oh I don’t think you had anything to do with Abi’s death,” said Roxy and he relaxed considerably. “But I do think you had something to do with the poaching.”
It was his turn to stand in outrage and the Chief shot him a warning glare so he sat back down again. Maya looked at him aghast.
“What does she mean, Wade? Tell her she’s being silly.”
He looked away, crossed his legs, didn’t say a thing, so Roxy continued.
“I couldn’t work out how the Zimmermans got their stash of illegal goodies out of the country. Abi had already mentioned that first night at cocktails that customs were very strict in this country, so I started to think, who would have the clout to pass it through customs no questions asked?”
Everyone knew the answer to this question and they all turned to stare at Wade.
“I figured the man who approved and built the international airport, boasted about it constantly, has to have at least a little power when it comes to the customs department.”
Chief Davara said, “We have also detained your man at Customs, Mr Thomas. He will open up like one of your precious clams. They always do. He will tell us how much you pay him to look the other way. We have already learned that the Swiss customs are less concerned about such matters, especially when they have a signed letter from the regional Governor approving the export.”
“Maya also told me you were coming into some money soon,” added Roxy. “I wondered if that had anything to do with Abi’s death. But no, it was probably your juicy payment from Bernard and Ingrid. Am I right?”
Wade looked defeated then, didn’t even bother to dispute the issue and Maya stared at him anxiously.
“Sweetie, tell them they’re just being horrid! That it’s all complete nonsense!”
“We know it was your boat, Mr Thomas,” said Davara. “It was your boat that rendezvoused with the Zodiac at the main jetty the morning Abi died—to take a shipment of coral and shells over to the mainland for export to Switzerland.”
“No, no, see, that’s where you’re wrong,” squealed Maya. “Wade was here to spy on me. I could smell him outside my window.”
At some point over the past 24 hours she had clearly decided that confessing to adultery was better than having her husband accused of murder.
“No, Maya,” said Roxy, “that was just Wade waiting on the jetty for the Zodiac to arrive. The exchange was very quick, from one boat to the next, and he was off. You probably woke up to hear him leaving. What Wade didn’t realise was that his strong aftershave would leave a lingering reminder of his presence.”
Maya wasn’t having any of it. She turned back to her husband.
“This is all so nonsensical. You tell them, darling, it had nothing to do with that. It was all about me!”
He looked at her pitifully. “No my lovely. It had nothing to do with you. Nothing at all.” An edge came into his voice. “You really think I would waste my time and sneak over on my boat to catch you and that French bastard in the act? What for? Every man and his bloody dog knows what you two have been up to. Couldn’ta been more obvious if you tried.” He snorted. “Frankly, sweetheart, I couldn’t give a shit what you and that ponce got up to.”
“Excuse me!” began Luc but Wade roared at him.
“Shut it Frenchy!” He turned to Maya. “Actually, I should thank you, Maya. You gave me plenty of good cause to come over here as often as I liked. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to be sneaky about it. I could meet with the Zimmermans at Dormay whenever it pleased me because you never left the bloody place.”
She looked at him horrified and then away, tears streaming down her face. She picked up her drink and buried her face into it.
“Yet you were very sneaky the morning of Abi’s death, Wade,” said Roxy, “and that’s what roused my suspicions. I agree, you aren’t the kind of man who’d lower himself to spy on his wife. But if you weren’t here spying, wh
y come over in the cover of darkness? And then deny it? I figured you were up to something. It didn’t take long for Chief Davara to confirm my suspicions.” She shrugged at him. “You know, it would have been better if you had pretended to be spying on Maya. I might not have gone down that path.”
He growled and looked away again.
Helen coughed. “I’m sorry, Roxy, but I’m still very confused. You’ve obviously uncovered a nasty racket going on here right underneath my nose, and I have to say I am so grateful to you for that. I know my mother would be, too. But what has any of this to do with her? You don’t think they killed her to shut her up?”
“No,” said Roxy. “I honestly don’t think your mum had quite worked it out yet. She probably would have eventually, but I don’t think it was the reason she was killed.”
“What then?” asked Doc. “My dear this is all so confounding.”
“Well, as I’ve told you before, Doc, I did suspect you for some time, too.”
“Yes, yes, all because of the blasted quinine.”
He didn’t have the same look of outrage as the others, simply a touch of sadness and a touch of fear, too, and she knew why. She chose her words carefully, not wanting to give too much away.
“I wasn’t sure whether your stash really got stolen from underneath your nose, or whether you used it on poor Abi. You certainly had opportunity—you were sitting next to her at dinner, next to that glass of gin and tonic. And you were the last to see her alive that night. Josh wanted to help her back to her room but you were quite insistent that you go.”
Maya was nodding her head furiously, wiping away her tears.
“That’s right! He was, too, all very determined to accompany Abi to her room. He could have drugged her in there.”
“And you had no alibi for the morning, Doc.”
He was shaking his head sadly. “Can I just say, in my defence, that if I was going to drug poor Abigail I’d do it properly. I’m a doctor, after all. I wouldn’t fudge it up so badly that I had to follow her to the track and hit her over the head the following morning. Honestly, that’s very amateur. Cruel, too. I would have done it properly.”