It's Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise: An Amateur Female Sleuth Historical Cozy Mystery (Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries Book 2)

by P. C. James

  The doctor did all that was expected and pronounced Jose dead. He looked up. “Must have fallen from up there and broken his neck,” he said.

  “There’s blood under his chin,” Pauline said.

  “Could have caught on a brace or stanchion,” the doctor said, nodding. “We’ll check for that when it’s light.”

  “Can you tell us your names?” the officer asked. “They didn’t tell us who found the body.”

  “I’m Pauline Riddell,” Pauline replied, “and this is my sister, Mrs. Freda Holman. We’re traveling together. Freda has the cabin next door to mine.”

  “I’m Jerome Sanchez, security officer, and this is Ray Parkinson, ship’s doctor. Can you tell us how you came to find the body?”

  “We didn’t exactly find the body,” Pauline said. “We were returning from dinner and I saw him lying in the shadows. I didn’t really know it was a body at that stage.”

  “Is this how you found him?” Sanchez asked.

  “Yes,” Pauline responded. “Just as I found him.”

  “You didn’t move the body?”

  “I checked his pulse at wrist and throat,” Pauline replied. “I discovered some small amount of blood in his beard and lifted his chin. He appears to have a narrow wound there. It’s hard to be certain with the beard.”

  Pauline watched as the doctor continued examining the body, gently raising the man’s chin to observe the wound. She was irritated by the fact the doctor wasn’t wearing gloves. He was damaging the crime scene. Then she remembered she’d done the same and banished the thought from her mind.

  “What will you do?” she asked the security officer, who looked bemused by events.

  “I’ll have to report to the captain. He will then check with the head office,” Sanchez said. “There are procedures for this but I’m not sure they’ve ever been used. A death, possibly murder, on our first cruise! It’s a disaster.”

  “We won’t have to turn back, will we?” Freda asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Sanchez said, “but we will do whatever the procedure says. I haven’t read it yet. To be honest, I couldn’t believe there was a death onboard. I hope it will prove to be an accident or some other understandable occurrence.”

  The doctor stood up, saying “We should move the body to our medical center.”

  “But the police will need to see the undisturbed crime scene,” Pauline reminded him.

  “The police can’t come on board until tomorrow,” Sanchez said, “and we can’t leave the body here all that time.”

  “Then you need to get the ship’s photographers to come and take photos,” Pauline replied sharply.

  “Good idea,” Sanchez said, brightening now that he had some positive course of action to follow. “I’ll get them here immediately.”

  “They have to understand they can’t touch anything,” Pauline said.

  “Of course,” he replied, “of course. This has thrown me completely. I can’t think straight. We need to keep everyone away from here until a photographer has captured the scene and then we can move the body to the medical bay, Doctor.”

  “Someone must stay with the body.”

  “Will you do that, Doctor?” Sanchez asked. “And I’ll get the photographer, plus instructions from the captain and company. As well, Doctor, you may want to consider if Miss Riddell and Mrs. Holman require any medical attention.”

  “We do not,” Pauline snapped. “We are both quite familiar with dead bodies. Freda is a nurse and I’m a consulting detective.”

  “Then I will leave you and send a security officer to stand guard over the body so you, Doctor, can make the arrangements to move it,” Sanchez said. He hurried away, much to Pauline’s relief. She didn’t think highly of either of the two men, though she thought Sanchez at least respectable.

  An officer stepped out onto the deck and came toward them. She was a tall, blonde woman with a stern expression. Eastern European, Pauline thought, and she was right. Her name badge said, ‘Nina, Poland.’ One of those fleeing the Eastern Bloc as the iron grip of its rulers frayed.

  “I have come to relieve you of your guard duties, Doctor,” the woman said.

  “Is a photographer coming?” Pauline asked. Though Sanchez had earlier hinted she should leave, she was determined to stay until she’d seen the body properly photographed. None of those assembled had any idea what crime scene photographs needed to capture.

  “Yes. He just has to get the right equipment. He’ll be here soon,” Nina said. “You should return inside. It is growing cold.”

  “We shall do that as soon as I’ve advised the photographer what needs to be photographed and I’ve seen him do so,” Pauline said. “I have some expertise in these matters, you see.”

  Nina shrugged and turned away to speak to the doctor who was preparing to leave. Before he did, Pauline saw the photographer step out from the lounge farther down the deck and into the darkness. He was carrying lights as well as his camera and for that Pauline was grateful. He, at least, had thought about his job and prepared accordingly.

  Once the area was lit, the photo taking went quickly. The young photographer seemed happy to accept Pauline’s advice as she directed him to the body’s chin, hands, and unusual angle of the neck. She also suggested photos of the railings and decks of the two floors above from where the man must have fallen.

  Sanchez and the captain returned, and Pauline advised the captain he should have the relevant areas on all three decks roped off. Police from the first stop at the Islands would want to see them before deciding if this warranted further investigation.

  The captain wasn’t put out by this at all. “I’d heard you were something of a celebrity in the criminal investigation world, Miss Riddell. I see that is true. You have experience in these matters.”

  “I couldn’t have afforded to be on this trip if I wasn’t a celebrity, to use your word, Captain,” Pauline said. “And, yes, I do have practice. However, I understand there’s a police detective among the passengers as well. Unless your company wishes to hire me, I suggest you approach him as a more official sounding representative. The local police may find my involvement unacceptable. Police often do, I’m afraid.”

  “I will take your advice, Miss Riddell, but I am going to put your name forward to our head office should we have need of an investigator. The incident happened in international waters, on a Bahamian-registered ship, operated by a Canadian travel company. I’m not sure who would be best to look into this if it turns out to be something other than an accident.”

  “I should warn you, and your head office; my fees are high nowadays and I don’t accept anything but the truth. For me, the law must be adhered to. However imperfect it often is, it is our only hope of maintaining civilization in the long run.”

  “We can discuss all this if the need arises, Miss Riddell,” the captain said. “Now, I can see you’re both shivering with cold. Please go inside and get warm. We don’t need you falling ill and adding to our difficulties.”

  As the photographer had taken all the photos Pauline wanted, she agreed this was a sensible thing to do, so she and Freda hurried away.

  5

  Next Morning. At Sea

  “Thank you for joining us, Miss Riddell,” the captain said as Pauline entered the room. “You know detective Jason Somerville from the Toronto Police Force, I think?”

  “We met at dinner last night,” Pauline said coldly but accepted the detective’s outstretched hand and shook it. The detective’s expression suggested he was also not pleased, though his handshake was firm enough.

  The captain continued, “As you know, if you’ve read the literature in your cabin or been listening to me over the ship’s public address system, I’m Bill Ferguson, captain of this fine vessel, MS Orillia. Now, please take a seat both of you while I fill you in on what the company would like of you.”

  When his two guests were comfortable, he continued, “We will be in Puerto Ayora in another hour and I’ve already m
ade the Ecuadorean police aware of what has occurred. With the information that is available from the witnesses and the ship’s doctor, I’ve told the police it was an accident.” He looked at Pauline to see if she was going to object.

  Pauline, though she believed it wasn’t a simple accident, wasn’t prepared to challenge this decision.

  “If the police accept this as an accident, though I’m sure they will also investigate,” the captain said, “we anticipate that the cruise will be allowed to continue without serious interruption. Perhaps we will be a few more hours in Puerto Ayora than we would normally stay, but we can catch the time up overnight.” He paused for comments. When there were none, he continued, “Miss Riddell, however, noticed a cut under the dead man’s chin that might suggest it wasn’t a simple accident.” He paused again.

  Pauline said, “You said cut, Captain. Am I to understand there was only a superficial injury there?”

  “That’s correct, Miss Riddell. Doctor Parkinson examined this wound carefully and assures me it is shallow and had no part in the victim’s death.”

  “Not directly, perhaps,” Pauline said, frowning. She’d been sure it was more serious.

  “Which brings me to the point of this meeting,” the captain said. “We are going to present everything we have to the authorities along with our belief it was an accident. The company, however, would like you both, individually or together, to investigate further during the rest of the cruise, if we’re allowed to proceed.”

  “Why?” the detective asked. “It can only make people unhappy and create trouble. If you believe it’s an accident say so and stick with that.”

  “We appreciate that, Detective, but the company feels it would be better for us to find any anomalies rather than being surprised if the police do. Are either of you, or better yet, both of you, interested in taking on this challenge?”

  “I’m here on vacation, Captain, with my recently widowed sister,” Pauline said. “If Detective Somerville is happy to take it on, that will be good enough for me. I do, however, applaud the company in wanting to get to the bottom of this. That cut under the victim’s chin is unlikely to have been from a fall.”

  “Tell me more about this cut,” Somerville said.

  “Miss Riddell found a cut under the man’s chin, which she feels in some way contributed to his death,” Captain Ferguson said. “It was such a minor cut that hardly seems possible, but it has raised doubts in my mind, which is why I persuaded the company to have you both investigate properly. I hope, Miss Riddell, you will look into this, if only as a favor to me.”

  The detective looked puzzled. “I think Miss Riddell should do as she suggested and enjoy her cruise. You’ll have better acceptance of your case, whatever I find, if it comes from a professional.”

  “Miss Riddell is a professional detective,” the Captain said.

  “Not a qualified one. Not even a qualified private investigator, as I understand it.”

  The captain looked at Pauline for confirmation.

  “Detective Somerville is correct, Captain. As I don’t work for the police or practice as a Private Investigator, I’ve never seen any need to study for the private investigator qualification nor the police qualifications.” Pauline had already heard enough from Detective Somerville to know they couldn’t work together. “All I do is what any other citizen can do at any time, which is think, analyze and provide my conclusions to the police.”

  “Nevertheless, Miss Riddell, you have a considerable reputation in these matters over many years, I implore you to look into this for me.”

  “We could each do our own investigation, Captain,” Somerville said. “We can report to you regularly and when we’re complete, I expect we’ll have found the same result. That will be even further reassurance for your company, I think.”

  Captain Ferguson again looked to Pauline for her assent.

  “As it is you asking, Captain, and not the company’s Board of Directors, I will give the event some of my time but I repeat, I’m here to support my sister at a difficult time for her, not investigate a suspicious death.”

  “Then please, both of you, proceed in your own way,” the captain said. “I shall invite you both to my office each evening after dinner to hear your progress.”

  Somerville practically leapt from his chair and took a hurried leave of them both. “I must see the body and speak to the doctor,” he said, “before the police come aboard.”

  “A very precipitate young man,” Pauline said.

  “Isn’t he just,” Ferguson replied. “Nevertheless, his energy and passion will bring rewards, I’m sure.”

  “And you, Captain,” Pauline asked, “did your energy and passion bring you rewards?”

  “You mean what’s a man of my age and experience doing shuttling tourists from the mainland to the Galapagos Islands, so far from home?”

  “More or less,” Pauline said. “We’re from the same part of the world and one of my brothers is a captain too, so I’m interested.”

  “I know your brother Matt. We’ve sailed together as officers over the years, which is why I know of you, Miss Riddell. He’s very proud of you,” Ferguson added, grinning.

  Pauline flushed pink. “Matt is one of my biggest fans,” she said, “and, I fear, like all fans, he may overrate my abilities and achievements.”

  “And you may underrate them, as is proper, of course. We should none of us brag about ourselves. But to answer your question, I was captain of this ship when it was the MS Ilium and taking tourists around the Eastern Mediterranean. I’ve been with her since the Sixties when it was all happening on the Greek Islands. We took school trips in the spring and autumn season; they were fun too. It was a happy time.”

  “And now?”

  “The Eighties haven’t been kind to any of us, passengers or crew, and the ship was to be scrapped and me with it. With things as they are at home right now, unemployment in double digits and marine unemployment even more than that, the British merchant fleet gone, it looked like the end of my working life. Then a miracle happened.”

  “The tour company bought the ship?”

  “They did and had it refitted for a more upmarket clientele. Where we used to have cabins for three hundred guests, now it’s only ninety. Where we had entertainment for regular folk, now we have lectures for people who love nature and photography. I’m not ashamed to say I practically begged them to take me with the ship. After all, no one, other than our chief engineer, knows her better. They agreed so here I am. In nine more years, I can retire and draw my pension so I’m hoping very much this new venture succeeds.”

  “Which is why you’re keen to have no shadow of wrongdoing to destroy the company’s future?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid my desire for a satisfactory answer here is personal as well as professional.”

  “I will do my best for you, Captain,” Pauline said, “but I’ll report what I find, even if that causes you and the company harm. I’m sorry I can’t do otherwise. My conscience would never let me.”

  “Miss Riddell, I would never ask you to. I’m old-fashioned enough to believe that if someone has been murdered, justice must be done.”

  Pauline rose. “Then I wish you good day, Captain, until I return to report my progress.”

  She left the cabin and returned to the lounge where Freda was in deep discussion with an elderly widow. Pauline sighed. Misery may love company but too much of its company isn’t good for anyone. She caught Freda’s eye and drew her away.

  “You should have joined us,” Freda said, as they walked toward the bar where tea and coffee were being served. “Mrs. Schomberg is nice.”

  “I want to tell you of my meeting with the captain and I can’t do that with people about,” Pauline said.

  “Oh. I’d forgotten about that.”

  They took their tea outside where the sunshine seemed to pin them to the planking. They climbed the steps leading to the first of the decks from where Jose could have fallen and made thei
r way to the spot. Once they were in an area clear enough to see they weren’t observed or likely to be overheard, Pauline told Freda she was investigating the suspicious death of Jose.

  “Polly, are you sure you want to do this?”

  “The Captain knows Matt and has asked for my help,” Pauline said. “Anyway, if this young man was murdered, he deserves that we find out who did it and see that they are punished.”

  “But Polly, you’re sticking your neck out here. Everyone says it’s an accident. If you can’t prove it isn’t, your own standing, your reputation if you like, will be tarnished.”

  “So be it,” Pauline said. “No one other than the people on this ship will know so my reputation, as you call it, won’t suffer any damage.”

  “People always know. Remember, many of the passengers are from Toronto as well. Word will get about. You’ve become quite famous there since that jewel robbery crime you solved.”

  “Maybe it’s time for me to hang up my deerstalker and magnifying glass anyhow. I don’t know how Miss Marple kept it going into her seventies.”

  “Then quit right now and save my holiday.”

  Pauline shook her head. “I can’t,” she said. “That young man had the face of an angel. I must bring his killer to justice. I must.”

  “That’s the end of our holiday together,” Freda said, her expression gloomy.

  “There will be plenty of time together,” Pauline said. “After all, my investigating will be done here on the ship.”

  “That’s true,” Freda said, and added, brightening, “and I can help. I’ve always been a bit jealous of your detective work. We’ll be a detecting team.”

  Pauline smiled. “We’ll be a detective team,” she agreed, “when we’re not photographing iguanas and finches. We’re starting right now by revisiting the possible crime scenes.”

  They found the railing above the place Jose had been lying and looked over.

  “It’s not high enough,” Freda said. “If he fell awkwardly, he could die, of course, but it isn’t more than fifteen feet. If it’s murder, the murderer took an awful chance.”