Chapter Nine
Stopping only to put the lamp in their cabin for safekeeping, they headed for the Bridge and requested a word with Hollister. The captain was impressed with the progress they had made, but the existence of a murderer on board his ship was not something he could take lightly.
"Mrs Duval will have to be told."
"Don't worry, Captain – we will do that. Now that it's definitely a murder investigation, I think we have to move a little more quickly. When does the ship dock in Aden?"
"The day after tomorrow," he replied.
"We can't risk having the murderer escape when we dock, so we'll have to get our skates on," Phryne remarked. "Jack, let's see if Mrs Duval knows what time her husband went to the pool last night. Then we can ask Bennett what his movements were. And Angie, come to think of it."
Together, they descended to Mrs Duval's cabin. Angie opened the door to their knock.
"Mr and Mrs Robinson?" she was clearly puzzled by their presence.
"Miss Duval, may we come in? We have some more information about your father's death.
As she spoke, Phryne was already walking into the cabin. Mrs Duval was up and dressed, and turned to speak to them from her seat at the dressing table.
"Is there more news?"
Phryne crossed to stand beside her.
"Yes, and I'm afraid I have to tell you that we are now certain that your husband was killed deliberately."
At this, Mrs Duval went white. Her daughter rushed to her side.
"Killed? You mean he was murdered? How do you know?"
Jack replied, "We believe he was electrocuted. The condition of his body led us to suspect that it was so, and we have since discovered what we believe to be the weapon used."
Angie swallowed hard.
"You've …. been very busy, Mr Robinson. I must ask whether you also have any idea who might have done this thing?"
"Not yet, Miss Duvall, no, but with my … research … background, the Captain has asked me to see if I can find out more." He looked back at her mother. "To start with, Mrs Duvall, it would be helpful to know when your husband went to the pool. Dr Carstairs has done his best, but in this heat, it's hard to be very precise."
Mrs Duvall glanced at her daughter, and drew a deep breath.
"I'm afraid I can't help you there, Mr Robinson. Vernon would quite often get up in the night and go to the pool to cool down – I became so accustomed to it that I'm afraid he didn't wake me."
Phryne looked at her. "So he'd done this before?"
"Oh yes," she replied. "Ever since we reached Suez, he'd been struggling to sleep. He would go and swim to cool down, or just float on a surfboard. I think he even fell asleep like that once."
"Did he ever meet anyone on these nocturnal swims, do you know?" asked Jack.
"I have no idea. He never mentioned meeting anyone."
Phryne glanced over at Angie. "Miss Duval, would you come for a walk with me?"
Faintly surprised, but not quite knowing how to refuse, Angie acquiesced and the two of them left the cabin. Jack followed on behind, but turned away immediately – Phryne guessed he was off in search of David Bennett.
Phryne strolled along the promenade deck, and asked calmly, "So tell me – Angie – what is it between you and Mr Bennett?"
For a moment, she could tell that Angie was going to deny any relationship. Then she caught her eye, and raised a single eyebrow. Angie's shoulders fell in defeat.
"Oh, all right, if you must know – we're engaged to be married."
Utterly unsurprised, Phryne followed up. "And your father's view of this engagement?"
"He didn't know. He would never have countenanced it. He hated David." The words were heated.
"But surely, you didn't need his consent?" Phryne asked. "You're of age?"
"He had it in his power to utterly ruin David. David owns a woollen mill. Wonderful cloth, very high quality. Father was his largest customer for many years, and then they fell out a few months ago. All over a faulty batch, which lost Father a huge order from one of the department stores. Father lost money on it, but David stands to lose everything – he's so much smaller, and relied on Father's business." She shrugged her shoulders hopelessly. "There was nothing to be done – marrying me would have rendered David bankrupt, without question."
Angie looked up at Phryne, and said in a clear, calm voice.
"That's why I killed Father."
