CHAPTER 2
At least ten people rounded the cabin, when the Murdochs approached with Mr. Astor; inside the room, lying on the floor, the young woman they saw running just an hour ago, was lying on the floor, with a pillow over her face. As usual William crossed himself as Julia approach the body to examine it.
''Mr. Astor, you are the one who found the body?'' William asked to the man beside him.
''No, it was her mother I presume, or the maid,'' he said. ''I just heard the scream and went to call you… the girl´s name is Lydia by the way.'' Astor finished and William frowned.
''You know the victim well, Mr. Astor?'' asked the detective and the man blushed.
''My wife like to read gossips and the victim, was on the newspaper last month, she was from Philadelphia and she was going to marry the son of a tycoon… Frank Morrison, I believe it's the name.''
''I see…'' William nodded when Julia called him. ''What have you, doctor?'' he asked.
''She was struck on the head with something heavy, you see this wound? The killer then make sure she was unconscious and smooth her with a pillow… she died less than an hour ago.'' Julia replied professionally.
''Thank you, Doctor,'' William smiled at her and then walk toward a woman crying, the same woman, who earlier that day, called him indecent, for kissing his wife. ''I assure you are Lydia´s mother?'' he asked seriously.
''Lady Fausta Stevens, You are the man I saw today, kissing another woman in public.'' She eyed William from up to down.
''My name is detective William Murdoch,'' William started without hesitation. ''Lady Stevens, you know if someone wished your daughter harm?''
''No, I don´t, Detective, Lydia was a fine girl, all women of our society wanted to be like her, she had a good home, came from a good family and was going to marry Frank Morrison, the richest man from Philadelphia… He insist that Lydia and I accompany him on this cruise…''
''I see…'' William nodded ''And where on this ship I can find him?'' he asked when the captain appear.
Once learning about the murder on his ship, Capt. Bryant got furious and knowing detective Murdoch from other cases on newspaper, he demanded that the detective find the killer soon.
''I´m assure you, I bring the one who did this to justice, don´t worry.'' He said ''But captain, if you don´t mind, could you find Mr. Frank Morrison and bring him here?'' he aske and the captain nodded, eager to help.
''William!'' Julia exclaimed calling her husband.
''Julia, what is it?'' he asked before give her a light kiss.
''I though you may like to know, I found signs of struggle on the victims hand, she probably knew her killer and tried to defend herself… por girl, that's why she passed so quickly from us.''
''She was running from her attacker. And Mr. Astor?''
''William, the man seemed quite eager to find the killer, I was observing him while I examine the body… he found the murder weapon…''
''Julia, It makes him a high suspect, he had probably hide the weapon.''
''On contrary William, it was a bedside lamp and he said he was going to show this to the master at arms.'' she replied.
''Oh…'' William raised an eyebrow as the captain arrived with Mr. Morrison in tow. ''Mr. Morrison, is you after all, what a surprise.'' William smiled.
''Sir?'' the young man, nodded.
''When that poor girl bumped into me and my wife earlier, you said you didn´t knew Miss Stevens and now you are the fiancé, how you explain that?'' William asked as they both get a bit distant from the crowd to talk.
''When I saw Lydia almost knocking your wife to the ground, I got embarrassed and decide to pretend not knowing her.''
''I see… and what you did after you talk to us?''
''I went to talk to her, but she didn´t let me in. so I got back downstairs.''
''You didn´t talk to her?'' William asked. ''What's that small scratch on your hand, Mr. Morrison?''
''Sir, are you suggesting I killed my fiancé?''
''I´m not suggesting anything, Mr. Morrison, just asking.'' Murdoch explain and in response, Frank just scratch his head.
''Look, Sir, Lydia was seeing someone else, right? If your wife start to walk with another man you wouldn´t be jealous?'' he asked and William give him a hard look. ''I got jealous and we fought, that's why she was crying when she ran over to you, but I didn´t killed her.''
''Right… who is the person she was seeing, Mr. Morrison, he´s on this ship?''
''Yes, I don´t know his name, but I saw them kissing earlier today… I don´t know how that bastard managed to go aboard The Montagné, he seems penniless…'' Mr. Morrison growled. ''But I can describe him to you.''
_/_
Once the interrogation finished William return to the cabin, a few sailors had taken the body elsewhere, the crowd was dismissed and Julia was talking to Madeleine Astor about the murder and a few gossips, when they saw the man approaching.
''William, how was the interview?'' Julia asked taking his hand.
''Following the inspector´s advice Julia, I would say its Frank Morrison our killer, but… this time, I think we are dealing with a love triangle.'' He said.
''A love triangle, seems remarkable.'' Julia teased.
''Julia…''
''I was joking, William,'' the wife smiled.
''Well, now I have to go to the steerage, asking for the man Miss Lydia was talking and…''
''William, its past midnight, almost the whole ship is sleeping, I think we should go to sleep too and tomorrow resume the investigation.''
''I agree… and I'm sure John will be delight to help you, detective.'' Madelaine said and with a nod, they all left for bad.
_/_
Next morning, as Julia predicted, most people had already learned about the murder and the whole saloon was filled with gossips and comments during breakfast.
''Oh my…'' William exclaimed when the captain approach again, asking if they had already found the culprit.
''William, lets have our breakfast, then we continue the case.'' Julia warned him.
''You seem calm about this case, darling.''
''Well dear, we are aboard a ship, I suppose it will be easier to discover the killer rather than a whole town. And anyway, I had permission to examine the body, so, it will give you more information.'' She said and he smile.
''Thanks Julia.''
''You are welcome old man.'' She teased him.
_/_
When the breakfast finished and Julia left to examine the body, William joined a very much excited Mr. Astor to go to the steerage, in order to search for the man Mr. Frank Morrison described.
''How we are going to do this, Detective?'' asked the rich man.
''Lets start asking around if someone saw a man with this description talking with a rich woman last evening.'' William suggested.
''Good idea, Detective… you go left, and I will go right.'' Mr. Astor point out.
For half an hour, both men keep searching for this third man, with no success, however, when they were about to give up, a young man, also around his 20s, approach them with a confused look.
''Sirs…'' he started, my name is Ernest Foster, someone told me I was looked for.'' He said shyly.
''Mr. Foster, I'm Detective William Murdoch, from Toronto Constabulary, may we have a word?'' William asked and Ernest paled.
''Its there any problem, Sir?''
''Boy, you know a Lydia Stevens?'' Mr. Astor who asked and Ernest widened his eyes in surprise.
''Something happened to her?'' he asked.
''Miss Stevens was found dead last nigh in her cabin, Mr. Foster.'' William said and the boy paled.
''No… it can´t be… Lydia can´t be dead…'' he sobbed.
''We need to talk about it, Mr. Foster,'' the detective asked. ''How you know Miss Stevens, witness had said they saw you talking with her, prior her death.
''Lydia and I were lovers…'' Ernest sniffed. '' We met an year ago, I was a stable boy on her boarding school and we fall in love… I knew she was engaged, but she told me didn´t loved this Morrison, so when she told me her mother and fiancé were going to cruise on The Montagné, she payed for my passage and we were going to get away on Halifax's port… oh God… who did this, Sir?''
''We hoped you could tell us, Mr. Foster,'' William said. ''You can go now and we are sorry for your loss.'' He said and a distraught Ernest left.
''Your interview was brilliant, Detective.'' Mr. Astor point out.
''Thank you, Mr. Astor, but now I don´t believe it was Mr. Foster neither.''
''You believe there´s a third suspect, Detective?''
''Lets go find Julia and see what she found first.'' William suggested and Mr. Astor just agreed.