DEATH ON PARADISE ISLAND: Fiji Islands Mysteries 1

by B. M. Allsopp

  ‘The upshot was my ancestor became the chief’s horseman, groom and riding instructor. He was given a house and at least one wife, and lived long enough to have several children. Only one son had children himself, and he adopted his father’s title as a surname, which has been passed down in the European way until today.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re not making this up?’ asked Pat McKenzie, suspiciously. Another glare from her husband.

  ‘No, but it might have been made up a long time ago. Who knows now? Six generations have passed since then. But we’re here, and my ancestor’s word for the animal was horse, so I guess he was from Britain, Ireland or America.’

  ‘The first horse in Fiji—a fabulous story.’ McKenzie spoke softly, awed.

  Adi Litia laughed. ‘Fijians believe it. I hope it’s true.’

  ‘There are a lot of us now, and we’re officially classified in Fiji as kailoma, part-European. The leaves on my branch are mostly Fijians, so I look Fijian. I’ve cousins in Australia who look completely European. We’re all Horsemans, though. Or should it be Horsemen? Our clan can never agree on that, especially the women.’

  Horseman dragged his bone-weary body back to the police bure. If he couldn’t lie down soon, he’d drop. He found the team seated round the table, drinking kava. He wouldn’t join them, knowing he’d be asleep in five minutes after just one cup. ‘How did you all enjoy dinner?’ he asked.

  ‘I’m still a bit hungry, sir,’ Constable Mocelutu confessed. ‘I mean, the food was tasty, no doubt of it, but the quantity? The cook here doesn’t know how to pile it on like my wife does, sir.’

  ‘Good, I don’t want you to die of overeating while you’re with me, Mareka. I really enjoyed my dinner.’

  He pulled up a spare chair. ‘Everyone, we’re finally here together at the same table. Before we retire to our well-earned rest, let’s go through what we’ve got so far. We’re here to investigate the death of Akanisi Leletaku, aged eighteen, employed here as a maid. We know how and where her body was found, but not how, when or where she died. With luck, I’ll get the post-mortem report tomorrow afternoon and we’ll know more. Nothing’s been found at the tidal pool where she was discovered, and her parents washed and prepared her for burial before Epeli and Mareka arrived, so her body tells us nothing. There’s nothing unusual in her belongings at first sight, but everything’s going to the forensics team in Suva.

  ‘We’ve heard Akanisi was popular, pretty, lively, a keen worker, perhaps flirtatious, perhaps ambitious to see the world. Many report her well-liked by staff and guests. Mrs McKenzie thinks there was conflict between Nisi and her Uncle Jona, who may even have hit her. Apparently Nisi’s parents expected Jona to keep an eye on Nisi. Adi Litia said she didn’t think Jona and Nisi were close. Jona’s known to oppose the Vula Marine Reserve which his chief, Ratu Ezekaia, supports. There could be more conflict sparked by the reserve.’

  ‘The villagers won’t like the fishing bans,’ Taleca said. The others shook their heads, murmuring agreement.

  Horseman continued. ‘At this point, I’m not satisfied that her death was accidental. Many of the staff statements claim she was a strong swimmer. No one has reported seeing her since lunch yesterday. She had no further duties after that, but even so, it’s odd that she wasn’t seen anywhere.

  ‘I checked the report about her recent sick leave with Mr McKenzie just after dinner—he said Dr Chakra had seen Nisi at his staff clinic and recommended she go home to Delanarua for a week’s sick leave. He didn’t explain why but Mr McKenzie sent her home the same day. Sergeant Singh found what looks like foil pharmaceutical packaging underneath Nisi’s steps—that might be related. The key witness is Dr Chakra, who’s not responding to my calls. If he hasn’t done so by tomorrow morning, my first priority will be to go to Suva to find him.’

  Horseman turned to Singh. ‘How did your interviews with Guy Dawson and Maika Tavua go?’

  ‘To sum up, sir, both Guy Dawson and Maika Tavua seemed genuinely shocked and grieved by Nisi’s death. Maika was in tears. He said Nisi had been tired the last couple of weeks but she didn’t talk about that and he didn’t know the specific reason for her sick leave. He was crewing one boat or another all of yesterday and claims he didn’t see her at all.’

  ‘And Dawson?’

  ‘He’s much older than Maika and more reserved. He met Nisi when he first came here as diving instructor last year. He said they often chatted about his travels and diving experiences. But he insisted he was just a friend. He took guests out yesterday morning, watched the celebrations after lunch, then worked alone in the dive shop cleaning and checking equipment, filling tanks and so on.’

  ‘What did you make of the professor, sir?’ Singh asked.

  Horseman brightened. ‘Man, what fascinating work he does! He promised to show me around his research set-up tomorrow, but unless I get to speak to Dr Chakra before morning, I’ll be off to Suva. Professor Burgermeister confirmed the manager’s report of the discovery of the body and also what Adi Litia said, about Nisi going to the camp. She used to visit quite often.’

  ‘Did he say why?’

  ‘Maika often helped them with boat transport and she tagged along in her free time—he thought they were an item. Then she became really interested in what they were doing—even offered to lend a hand.’

  ‘Maybe she was just bright and curious sir, like Ledua and Essie said. I really hope this was simply a tragic accident,’ Singh said.

  ‘So do I, Sergeant. But how? Any ideas?’

  No one spoke up. Horseman persisted. ‘What about questions, then?’

  The telephone broke the silence. Waqatabu sprang to his feet and answered it.

  ‘Adi Litia for you, sir.’

  Horseman ignored Waqatabu’s smirk. He crossed to the desk and picked up the phone.

  A minute later he was back at the table. ‘Adi Litia has something more to tell us. You can come with me, Sergeant. But let’s sort out tomorrow first. If I go to Suva, then Sergeant Singh will interview Ledua Marama. Kelepi will interview Jona Vaturua. They’re both important. Epeli and Mareka, you’d better come with me on the boat. Your own station will need you back. My super will decide on the investigation team when the pathologist reports.’ The two uniformed officers looked crestfallen.

  ‘After that, sir?’ Singh asked.

  ‘After that, Sergeant, if you haven’t heard otherwise from me, you can scout around the research camp. Talk to—let’s see, who didn’t come to this afternoon’s meeting?’ He checked his notebook. Yes, Anil Gupta and Sitiveni Doka, both postgraduate students. Kelepi, you can talk to all the guests who were here yesterday and get statements from anyone who remembers seeing Nisi. Our goal at this stage, given the scant physical evidence, is to collect and record whatever anyone volunteers to tell us. Unless there’s a contradiction to sort out, there’s no point talking to anyone again until after the post-mortem. Thanks to all of you, that will be achieved tomorrow morning—if only I can track down Dr Chakra.’

  Detective Constable Taleca raised his hand, his face serious. ‘Sir, I’m a light sleeper, you know. Be careful not to wake me when you come in tonight!’

  Horseman grinned. ‘Ah, Keli, thanks for reminding me. I need to introduce you all to my end-of-the-day routine. Here it is— we complete all paperwork generated by each day’s activities before hitting our pillows. So, your investigation diaries and notebooks up to date, and those Fijian statements translated into English. Your sergeant has provided copies of all the forms in these folders.’ He picked up a pile of coloured wallet-files and placed them in the middle of the dining table. ‘Sergeant Singh can translate the one Hindi statement. I’ll look them over and do my own when we get back.’

  Any protests were forestalled by a knock at the door. The smiling barman Sai entered jauntily bearing a cloth-covered tray.

  �
�Still working, Ovisas? Ledua thought you needed some supper.’ He set the tray on the table, whisked off the cloth with a flourish, and watched the men cheer up instantly at the sight of doorstep sandwiches, a platter heaped with boiled dalo wedges and piles of hot raisin toast drenched in butter.

  ‘Vinaka, vinaka!’

  ‘I’ll put the kettle on’, said Taleca.

  ‘We shouldn’t be long, boys.’ Horseman handed his sergeant a resort umbrella and they stepped out into the ginger-scented night air.

  12

  PARADISE ISLAND

  Adi Litia greeted them on her veranda. ‘Good evening, Inspector. Oh, I see you’ve brought your sidekick along too. Good evening to you too, Sergeant Singh. Inspector, you surely don’t need protection here? Or is she a witness in case I take it into my head to accuse you of molesting me, at some future date? I think that’s unlikely, don’t you? No one would believe it of the heroic Josefa Horseman.’ Amused at her own wit, Adi Litia treated them to her rich contralto laugh. Horseman, astounded, tried to summon his relaxed chuckle, but knew he sounded forced and nervous. She must be drunk!

  Singh, however, smiled encouragingly at the other woman. ‘We’re both keen to hear what you’ve remembered, Adi Litia. Your information may well give us the break we need.’ Singh’s warm enthusiasm was convincing, apparently even to Adi Litia, who gazed down at her with interest.

  ‘Come in both of you, come in and sit down.’ They parked their umbrellas beside the door and stepped inside. Adi Litia looked terrific in a loose caftan of fine unbleached cotton, with an oriental-looking design of twin red dragons stretching from the hem to the neckline, their red fiery tongues curled lasciviously round her breasts. This garment suited her much better than the clothes she wore for the office. She looked more relaxed in a regal kind of way, yet still formidable. She ushered them into a small living room, dwarfed by the towering high-pitched roof. Cosy, though. Two sofas either side of a glass-topped cane coffee table were swathed in red and orange fabric embroidered in gold. The louvers were concealed by loose drapes of rich blues and purple that glinted with silver as they billowed under the ceiling fan. Two elaborate brass table lamps with ruby glass shades lit the room softly.

  ‘I couldn’t stand living in Fiji hotel room décor any more, even though we do it more tastefully than most,’ she explained, as her guests stared.

  ‘Saris, wow!’ exclaimed Sergeant Singh. ‘Look what you’ve done with them! It’s fantastic.’

  ‘Do you like it? I guess you’re a Bollywood fan too, like me.’ She spoke pleasantly to his colleague for the first time.

  ‘Well, yes, but I’m selective. I get sick of the same sentimental formula repeated over and over.’ Adi Litia straightened up, as if she’d been criticised. Sergeant Singh hastily added, ‘I’m mad about the dancing and the costumes, though, and the whole crazy atmosphere.’

  The chief’s daughter then opened a reed-panelled cabinet identical to the one in the owners’ bure. Within was a television and shelves crammed with video discs. ‘All Bollywood—I guess they’re my escape.’

  It was time to intervene. ‘Shall we sit here at the coffee table, Litia?’ Horseman asked.

  ‘Yes, please do. Will you join me in a glass of wine?’

  ‘Vinaka but no. Cold water, if you have some please. Sergeant Singh?’

  ‘Water for me too, thank you.’

  When Adi Litia had served the water, Horseman smiled politely. ‘As Sergeant Singh said, we’re looking forward to hearing what you’ve got to tell us, Litia.’

  Adi Litia sat on the opposite sofa, her long legs hidden by the caftan. ‘You know, somehow I couldn’t tell you this afternoon, even though I knew I should. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, I really don’t. But you need the facts.’

  ‘Indeed we do, Litia.’

  ‘I saw Nisi going into Dr Chakra’s bure on Friday night, after dinner.’

  ‘Are you quite certain of that?’

  Adi Litia bridled. ‘Yes, of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t say so.’

  ‘Could you tell us exactly what you saw, please.’

  ‘I’d eaten with the McKenzies in the dining room and we’d gone over every detail of the program for the next day. I suppose I was uptight, so I went for a walk along the beach. When I passed Dr Chakra’s bure, he was sitting on a veranda lounge, drink in hand, gazing out to sea. I continued on, round the point to the jetty and back along the garden path, the left-hand one that leads to each guest bure’s entrance. I saw someone ahead of me, in a sulu, turn into Dr Chakra’s entrance. As you know, the front entrances are just gaps in the hedges. It was quite dark but the front veranda light was on when I passed and I recognised Nisi standing at the door, her back to me. Then Dr Chakra opened the door and she went in.’

  ‘Did either of them see you?’

  ‘Nisi couldn’t have, but it’s possible the doctor did. He didn’t look up, though.’

  ‘What did you do then?’

  ‘I continued on my way home. When I reached the bar terrace I walked back along the beach to the pavilion and straight on here.’

  ‘What do you make of what you saw?’ Horseman asked.

  ‘The same as I did then, of course. The good doctor had lined up another quick lay for himself.’

  ‘You weren’t surprised, then?’

  ‘Not at him, but I was rather surprised at Nisi. She was an incorrigible flirt, and not nearly so naive as when she first came here a year ago, let me tell you. Absolutely loved being the house pet here, and who can blame her? But I thought it was the young men she was after—Maika, and. . .’ Adi Litia hesitated.

  Horseman resisted leaning forward, kept his voice soft. ‘And? Who else, Litia?’

  She looked away at the shimmering purple drapes. When she resumed speaking, her eyes were lowered, her voice sad. ‘I think it was Guy. I imagine she saw life with a peripatetic diving instructor as incredibly glamorous. I thought she would settle down with Maika and be happy, but she raised her sights and settled on Guy as her ticket out.’ She looked up at Horseman, her voice strengthened.

  ‘Guy is actually a fine man: he’s well-read, he’s principled, he’s got depth. For an empty-headed teenager to set out to manipulate him like that. . . and simultaneously let herself be seduced by a middle-aged lecher. . .’

  ‘Yet it’s Nisi who’s dead,’ Horseman said gently.

  Adi Litia looked up, her eyes wet. ‘Yes, she is.’ ‘Litia, are there any regular security patrols here at night?’ Horseman asked.

  ‘No, of course not, there’s no need.’

  ‘You said you weren’t surprised that Dr Chakra might invite Nisi to his bure for sex. Why is that?’

  ‘The man’s a sleaze. He propositioned me twice in the first few months I was here. He didn’t threaten me or assault me, but I’m always uncomfortable dealing with him. He often brings a so-called work-experience student with him—always a pretty young woman, naturally. He gives me the creeps.’

  At last, a chink in her noble armour.

  ‘An obvious question, Litia. Why on earth is he kept on?’

  ‘Well, he was a great mate of the previous manager, who thought Chakra was Mother Theresa, even though he gets his fee, a trip on the lagoon and a damned good lunch. More often than not he cadges a bure for the night, too. One time a guest who sprained her ankle complained to me about Chakra. She said he was feeling her up. Do you know what he told the manager? She was a neurotic racist! It was necessary to palpate and massage the leg right up to the hip for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes! Who’s to say he’s wrong?’

  He persisted. ‘Your father’s on the board isn’t he? Surely he could exert his influence?’

  ‘I’m too embarrassed to tell him. Father has profound respect for doctors. He’s shrewd about most things, but he sometimes won’t see wha
t he doesn’t want to see.’

  Just like the rest of us, he thought. Horseman nodded to Singh to take over. ‘Litia, we know Nisi had only returned from sick leave last Monday. Do you think it’s possible she visited his bure for a check-up, either at his request or on her own initiative?’

  Adi Litia’s mouth quivered. ‘Of course it’s possible! But I don’t believe she did. That’s why I get so exasperated about the man! That’s why I didn’t say anything before, because he can explain anything away. He’ll never arouse suspicion because he’s so confident. No, arrogant’s a better word. Brazen. It’s all just a game to him.’

  ‘We take it seriously, I promise you. Tell me, what do you think Nisi was suffering from, when she was sick?’

  ‘I don’t know, Sergeant. I thought she might be pregnant, if you really want to know, but I have absolutely no basis for thinking that.’

  ‘Have you anything else to tell us, Litia?’ he asked.

  ‘No, that’s it, Inspector.’ Adi Litia, her composure restored, rose and picked up Nisi’s photo album from her coffee table. ‘I’ll return this to you, Inspector. Apart from the school photos, I can identify all the people in here as Nisi’s relatives and other villagers from Delanarua.’

  ‘Vinaka vakalevu, Litia.’

  The two detectives followed her to the door and said polite goodnights.

  Adi Litia nodded graciously. She held the door open for them. ‘Moce mada, good night.’