DEATH ON PARADISE ISLAND: Fiji Islands Mysteries 1

by B. M. Allsopp

  The sea came into view again now, and a stone sea wall. The gardens thinned, revealing larger areas of thatched roofs.

  McKenzie waved his hand again. ‘Bar, dining room and so on over there. But take a look at the owner’s bure first and tell me what you think.

  A sandy track led to a gap in the tangled screen of hibiscus hiding all but the roof of the bure. Just about anything could go unnoticed here—the ideal setting for the perfect crime. A few metres from the entrance two broad steps led to the paved veranda. Half clamshells filled with water served as footbaths on either side of the steps. Trimmed tree trunks supported a gently sloping fringe of thatch that provided deep shade for the veranda. The building looked like it was wearing a shaggy straw sunhat.

  They followed McKenzie into cool and dimness. He flicked on light switches, illuminating a soaring roof supported by smoothed tree trunk joists and beams, lashed together with dyed sinnet cord in elaborate designs. Horseman gazed up, impressed. The underside of the thatch was beautifully finished off—a work of art in itself, equal in quality to anything he’d seen. The room was set up for casual living with palmwood table and chairs, sofa, lounge chairs and coffee table. A desk stood against one wall. Cupboards faced with woven panels were built into the only internal wall. McKenzie opened them. They concealed a bar and fridge, sink and microwave on one side, and shelves of crockery, toaster and electric jug on the other. Not bad at all. A king-sized bed dominated the bedroom. The en suite bathroom opened onto a tall reed-fenced yard with a retractable drying line.

  ‘Is this the only bedroom?’ he asked.

  ‘There’s another,’ replied McKenzie, who showed him the second bedroom, with twin beds. The second bathroom had its own little palisaded yard, which Horseman now saw connected with the main bathroom by a reed door. There appeared to be no lock. Awkward with his sergeant turning out to be a woman. He’d have to do better for her without sounding ungrateful.

  ‘Thank you, Mr McKenzie. This will be fine for our workspace and to accommodate the constables and me. Sergeant Singh will need something more private.’

  ‘There’s a twin room in the staff quarters free. Bathroom shared with other female domestic staff, of course,’ Adi Litia volunteered.

  Horseman smiled politely. She had to be joking. ‘Vinaka, but our work will go better if the sergeant has something more private.’

  Adi Litia jutted her chin at this, but McKenzie didn’t miss a beat. ‘We do have one bure free, it’s the fourth along the track from here. A single studio, with en suite bathroom of course. Perhaps you’d like to see it?’

  Singh cut in. ‘No need, Mr McKenzie. I’m happy to accept that. Thank you.’

  ‘Do you have a plan of the resort buildings? Perhaps something you give to the guests?’ Horseman asked.

  The manager brightened. ‘Yes, we have a few other things that might help you too. Litia, can you organise a guest info pack for the Inspector, please? Include all the leaflets we have.’

  ‘Yes, Ian. Will you be having lunch, Inspector?’

  ‘When do the guests finish theirs?’ Horseman asked.

  ‘Most are gone by two. A few linger.’ Adi Litia replied.

  ‘Perhaps you could send some leftovers to the owner’s bure around two, then. We’ll eat together there. Please, don’t go to any trouble.’

  Again, the haughty tilt of her chin. ‘Actually, it would be less trouble if you ate in the dining room, Inspector. However, that’s up to you. Chef can certainly prepare some trays for you.’

  Horseman chose to ignore her ever-so-slightly irritated tone. ‘Vinaka, Adi Litia. Mr McKenzie, you mentioned that Akanisi was like everyone’s little sister. Was she much younger than most of the staff?’

  ‘Yes, she was. Paradise resort has a policy of employing more mature women, partly to avoid a so-called ‘party island’ reputation. Our guests are mostly couples, including honeymooners, family groups, diving and fishing enthusiasts. We don’t want to attract young single men who think Fijian women working on resorts are fair game. However, an exception was made for Nisi, because she’s from Delanarua, Adi Litia’s island, and she’s the niece of the head boatman, Jona Vaturua. But it wasn’t only Jona who kept an eye out for her—we all did.’

  ‘I see. Now, could you show me the way to her, Mr McKenzie, and tell me how she was found?’

  ‘I’ll show you, we’ll go in front of the dining room. The first I knew was when Bill Burgermeister raised the alarm, running back to the sea wall over there.’ He pointed out a low stone wall projecting perhaps 50 metres from the beach.

  ‘Bill Burgermeister? I understood Dr Vijay Chakra found the body.’

  ‘Bill’s the Professor of Biology at FIMS in Suva. He’s in charge of the scientific research connected with the Vula marine reserve. Great guy. American. He was playing golf with Vijay before dinner when they came across the poor girl’s body.

  Horseman wondered if he’d heard right. ‘Golf?’

  McKenzie’s face lightened with the hint of a smile. ‘Oh yes, reef golf at low tide. We’ve got nine holes laid out amongst the coral rocks and rubble. Great fun. Well, normally it is. Bill left Vijay trying to revive Nisi. By the time I got there with helpers it was dark. Vijay didn’t want to give up the CPR. He must have been in shock—just couldn’t accept she was dead.’

  ‘What time was this?’

  ‘Eight. We heard the lali drum beat for dinner as we started back. Maika and Sai carried her. We brought her in away from the sea wall, to the beach behind the staff quarters fence. Over there.’ McKenzie pointed beyond a bamboo fence. He paused, brushed his face with his hand, swallowed hard. ‘We wanted to protect her from prying eyes and gossip, for as long as we could. Quite apart from creating anxiety and panic among the guests.’

  ‘Right, you wouldn’t want to spoil their dinner,’ Horseman retorted before he could think better of it.

  The manager gazed at him levelly. ‘No, I wouldn’t. That’s my job.’

  Horseman stared back, disapproving. ‘And was anyone’s dinner spoiled?’

  McKenzie continued in the same cool tone. ‘I hope not. This morning, at breakfast, I announced that Nisi had drowned accidentally and a routine police investigation was underway.’

  Horseman admitted to himself he’d probably have done the same in McKenzie’s position. He’d better bite his tongue and think first in future, he was definitely rusty. Probably Sergeant Singh wondered how he got to be an Inspector, and she would easily guess. General opinion in the force held that his rugby success had always privileged him in his police career. With 99 per cent of police officers rugby diehards, very few grudged him that privilege. But he’d like to believe he’d earned his promotion, so he’d better start demonstrating that.

  4

  PARADISE ISLAND

  ‘We’re ready to see Akanisi now, Mr McKenzie.’ Horseman said.

  The manager’s worried frown returned. ‘Yes, of course. We didn’t know what would be best. Dr Chakra said the cool store, but it didn’t seem right, with all the food around. Only the office is air-conditioned, but that’s hardly a private area, guests are in and out, you know—’ The man was close to babbling.

  Horseman interrupted. ‘Where is she now?’

  McKenzie recovered himself. ‘This way, please. She’s in a small room in the house-keeping block.’

  As they walked Horseman asked, ‘Did you take her straight to the housekeeping block?’

  ‘No, we took her to the recreation room and laid her on a table. We could hardly take her to her own room—she shares with two other maids. Vijay got his medical kit and Maika fetched Jona, Nisi’s uncle.’

  ‘And the rest of the rescue party?’

  ‘Ledua, our housekeeper, took the news to the off-duty staff around the quarters. After that I asked Inoke to find Litia. I went to the bar,
where my wife was working, and broke the news to her. Litia came across and telephoned her father, Ratu Ezekaia—Nisi is from Delanarua, from the chief’s own village actually. She said he would take care of everything with Nisi’s family. Over the next hour there were phone calls back and forth.’

  ‘Who made the calls?’

  ‘Litia. We waited to hear from her father after he’d spoken to the family. In the end he told us he’d send his boat to bring Nisi’s parents over at first light. The dining room sent over a tray for the three of us. We ate in about ten minutes and I went back to the rec room. Vijay was still there.

  ‘Did he give you his opinion?’ Singh asked.

  ‘He said it looked like Nisi had drowned.’

  The path ended at the dining room, an airy thatched structure with full height windows on three sides that overlooked the beach and sea wall. Their little party paused, eyes drawn to the spot McKenzie had pointed out earlier, where lacy waves edged the reef.

  ‘Have you any questions for Mr McKenzie, Sergeant?’ Horseman asked.

  She nodded and turned to face the manager. ‘Yes, I’m wondering how Nisi’s uncle reacted?’

  ‘He was leaving the rec room as I arrived. He was stooped, like an old man.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Jona’s always seemed so strong. I’d never seen him like that before. I told him about the arrangements. He thanked me and left.’

  ‘Was anyone else there?’

  ‘Ledua. She’d organised a roster of volunteers to keep a vigil overnight. I wasn’t sure that was necessary, but I suppose it must be traditional. I thought it best to leave it to her.’

  ‘I understand it was you who rang the police, Mr Mckenzie? Singh asked.

  ‘Yes, Vijay asked if anyone had informed the police yet. Hadn’t occurred to me. We’ve never had the police here since I came. Vijay—Dr Chakra said it’d be best to ring Suva Central station so I did that. The officer said they’d try to send someone straight away. But he rang back around 10.30 and said there were no officers available until the morning. He’d organised two constables and a photographer to be at Navua at five thirty and the detectives would be over later. There was no police boat available so I offered to send our launch to pick you all up. I must say I thought that was a lot of resources to allocate to a drowning.’

  Horseman answered. ‘It’s routine, Mr McKenzie. It’s vital to be thorough, and for that we need a team. I’m sorry no one was available last night. But, thanks to your boat, we’re here now.’

  ‘And I appreciate it. The housekeeping block’s just here.’

  The manager opened the door to a pleasant airy room set up for sociable sewing, ironing and flower arranging. The uniformed constable sat at a large central table drinking tea with a matronly Fijian woman. He jumped to attention.

  ‘Constable Mocelutu? Detective Inspector Horseman, and this is Detective Sergeant Singh. Stand easy, man.’

  The stocky constable looked decidedly uneasy.

  McKenzie took over the introductions. ‘This is Mrs Ledua Marama, the head of housekeeping.’ Mrs Marama was middle-aged, short and plump, so plump that the bodice of her black dress gaped a little between the front buttons and the flesh of her arms bulged out beneath the hem of her short sleeves. She bounded from her chair and pumped Horseman’s hand, appraising him with bright black eyes magnified by round spectacles.

  ‘The circumstances are terrible, Inspector, terrible, but still it’s a pleasure to meet you. My, you’ve given us some excitement over the years! A minute after you arrived, we all heard that Josefa Horseman himself had come to investigate our dear Nisi’s death. We thought you were in the United States! Look at you—they said you’d never walk again! Please, let me pour you all a cup of tea.’ She nodded and smiled at Sergeant Singh.

  Horseman said, ‘Vinaka, Mrs Marama, we’ll have tea in our bure, but I think we’re both in need of a drink of water now. I’d like to talk to you a bit later this afternoon. But first, I’ll ask Mr McKenzie to arrange a staff meeting so I can tell everyone what’s happening.’ He turned to the manager. ‘Would three o’clock be a good time for that? We’ll talk to the guests separately.’

  The manager replied at once. ‘Should be good, there are only a few staff working then—taking guests fishing and keeping an eye on the kayaks and catamarans that are out. Can you organise that in the rec room, Ledua?’

  ‘Right, Ian, I’ll make sure everyone’s there.’ In a moment the tea things disappeared, replaced with sparkling glasses and a jug of water tinkling with ice, and the housekeeper bustled out.

  ‘Please sit down for a moment,’ said McKenzie.

  Horseman extended his aching right leg under the table. They both drained the water gratefully. McKenzie refilled their glasses and nodded towards Mocelutu, who stood by an internal door in the end wall.

  ‘She’s through there. You won’t mind if I don’t come in with you.’ He looked down at the table and continued breathlessly. ‘And what’s been done to her—you’ll soon see—nothing to do with me. If you don’t need anything more, I’ll see you at three in the staff rec room.’

  ‘One thing more, Mr McKenzie,’ said Horseman. ‘I’ll need to speak to the guests who were here yesterday. If you could prepare a list of names and arrival dates and let them know we’ll be talking to them individually, I’ll be grateful. We’ll start that after the staff meeting.’

  ‘Well, a few left yesterday afternoon, and two more this morning.’

  ‘Could you note that on the list, please, with their contact details?’

  The manager frowned, probably hadn’t realised just how much effort the investigation would demand of him. ‘Sure, I’ll send it over to your bure asap. We did have around seventy day guests over for the celebration yesterday, you know.’

  ‘If you could let me have their details, I’d be grateful.’ He pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his face. ‘First of all, I need to speak to Dr Chakra and Professor Burgermeister. Could you let them know we’ll see them at half past two, please? We’ll come to their bures.’

  McKenzie shook his head. ‘Dr Chakra left this morning, Inspector. He went on our boat back to Navua with your photographer. And Bill, that’s Professor Burgermeister, he stayed here last night. But this morning he went back to the camp.’

  Horseman abandoned his hope that the investigation could be neatly contained by the fringing reef of this small island. Should have known better.

  ‘The camp?’ he asked.

  ‘The scientists’ camp. Sorry, I assumed you knew. FIMS has quite an operation on the other side of Paradise. They’ve had people here for months at a time over the last two years, doing the baseline surveys for the reserve, and other projects too. Bill’s in charge and stays over there when he’s on the island, though he does like to escape to the resort now and then. They expect to finish their work and pack up in another week.’

  ‘I see. Does the map you’re giving us include this camp?’

  ‘No, but I can give you a map of the whole island that does. There’s a path to the camp not far behind this building. If we have a small boat free Maika can take you there at high tide, if you need to go. But at low tide it’s quicker to walk.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Horseman said. ‘Can you get word to the camp about the meeting, please? I’d like everyone who was here for the celebration yesterday to attend.’

  ‘Okay. Think they were all here yesterday. It was the culmination of their work. I can’t actually require them to attend this meeting, though.’ There was a hint of challenge in the manager’s voice.

  ‘I don’t expect that. Could you let them know we’ll be interviewing anyone who can’t attend the meeting—either later today or tomorrow morning?’

  ‘No trouble,’ McKenzie answered. He rammed his straw hat on his head and strode out into the blinding glare.

&nbs
p; 5

  PARADISE ISLAND

  Horseman put both hands on the table and pushed himself up. ‘Well, let’s do it, Sergeant Singh.’

  She handed him disposable gloves. He steeled himself for the task that always disturbed him and entered the store room. Someone had covered the store room table in a pandanus mat fine enough to drape over the edges and fringed with bright red, green and blue wool. Someone had wrapped the long bundle lying on it in a similar mat, and stitched it up with sinnet cord. Someone had prepared Akanisi Leletaku for burial.

  ‘How on earth! Who did this, Constable?’ Mocelutu continued to focus on his feet while he answered.

  ‘Sir, the deceased’s parents arrived before we did this morning. They were already wrapping the body when we got here. They intended taking her back to Delanarua with them and argued with us. We couldn’t seize the body by force, sir. Respect, you know. Adi Litia came in then. She told them that they couldn’t take their daughter back home yet. She was quite firm. The parents took more notice of her than of us.’

  ‘Where are they now?’

  ‘They stayed for a few more hours. The boatman, Jona, he’s the mother’s brother. He was with them for quite some time. I heard they went back to Delanarua about nine o’clock.’

  ‘The photographer can’t have been pleased.’

  Mocelutu nodded. ‘Jona took the parents back to the staff quarters after a while. The photographer waited until then to take his pictures. He said they wouldn’t be worth much because the body had been washed and oiled. He went back about half past seven.’

  Horseman rubbed his brow. He felt his weary hand trembling and stuffed it in his pocket. There was no point in laying blame. ‘What’s done is done. Find out from Suva Central when a vehicle can pick up Akanisi at Navua landing, Constable. She’ll need to go to Suva hospital for a post-mortem. In the meantime, we’d better have a look, Sergeant.’