CHAP 3 - A SHIP UNDER SUSPICION
Soon after the morning of the murder—and after Rose's body was put in the cabin indicated—the officers Lightoller and Murdoch decided to start the investigation. For most of the morning, all of the officers on the Titanic questioned stewards, janitors, housekeepers, and other passengers, for they were in search of the culprit. Unfortunately, nobody on the Titanic ship seemed to have reasonable grounds to murder the poor girl.
"Then a maniac appears here on the ship, strangles a girl, and then vanishes without a trace?'' mocked Mr. Duff-Gordon that evening.
"Poor Ruth is devastated by the death of her daughter," said Molly.
"Of course she is. You would be, too, if your daughter was killed," Mrs. Strauss said.
"I know. It happens that I'm without words to describe how much I am horrified. I'll never travel by ship again," apologized Molly.
"We're all terrified," said Madeline Astor.
"Who is the killer?" asked Mrs. McPox.
"I still think it's that blond boy from the third class. He and the victim were seen walking around C deck on the evening of the same day that he came to dinner with us," suggested Mr. Guggenheim.
"Behave, Mr. Guggenheim. I doubt that this man—Mr. Dawson—is a murderer. He is kind, gentle, intelligent... And not boring and judgmental like you." The Countess became angry.
"Who do you think the killer is, then, Countess?" he asked.
"I do not know and I'd rather be silent than to judge someone innocent," she said, when suddenly, they saw Mr. Astor walking toward them, bewildered.
"Dear, what did you tell them?" said Madeline Astor.
"They think I'm to blame," sighed the man.
"This is absurd! You're the richest man on board!" replied Mr. Duff-Gordon.
"And I'm not a murderer! The only thing I can kill is my hunger," he said.
"We're getting paranoid. However, one thing puzzles me. Has anyone else noticed that Mr. Hockley has been acting strange? I mean, his fiancée died and he acts as if nothing had happened," Mr. Strauss said.
"Do not be ridiculous! Mr. Hockley is a respectable member of society. He, like Mr. Astor, is not a murderer," said Mr. Guggenheim.
"Let's make a bet, but only to distract us," suggested Mr. Brown.
"A bet? Are you crazy?" exclaimed Mr. Astor.
"No, my friend, I did not go mad. Let's bet this way. If Mr. Hockley is the culprit, Mr. Guggenheim will have to apologize to Mr. Dawson and invite him to dinner with us again," said Mr. Brown.
"And if Mr. Hockey be innocent?" asked Mrs. Duff-Gordon.
"I'll spend a whole day in steerage," said Mr. Brown.
"I like this bet. But you have to keep your word," Mr. Brown said to Mr. Astor.
"Word of honor, I'm not going back behind," he said.
"You two are ridiculous! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll see if Ruth needs something," said Molly.
"I'm going with you, Mrs. Brown," Mrs. Strauss said, leaving the table.
As the women Brown and Strauss thought, Ruth was sitting silently in the second-class cabin with Rose's body.
"Mr. Andrews, I thought it was forbidden to enter here," said Molly.
"Mrs. DeWitt Bukater insisted on ensuring her daughter's body was safe until the end of the voyage. I could not say no," he explained.
"We can keep her company," Mrs. Strauss said.
"Of course, feel free," said Mr. Andrews, leaving.
Once in the cabin, Molly and Ida were not surprised to see Ruth sitting in a chair beside the bed, with her pale face and red eyes, holding Rose's hand.
Slowly, the two women approached the devastated mother and Molly put her hand on Ruth's shoulder as a sign of comfort.
"She was very beautiful," whispered Mrs. Strauss.
"Who did this to my baby?" cried Ruth.
"No one knows yet, but the Titanic's officers are investigating," Mrs. Strauss said.
"The gentlemen are betting if Cal was the murderer," Molly let out.
"Mr. Hockley was engaged to my daughter," said Ruth, annoyed.
"Well, whoever it is will pay for the crime. Do not doubt it, Ruth," said Molly, when suddenly, without warning, Ruth embraced her and began to cry desperately over death of her daughter.