Free Death in the Middle Watch by Leo Bruce

was my wife who was in danger?”
    â€œNothing. Had there been you would have been told at once.”
    â€œIn that case I should never have let her come out here alone, whatever the cost to my business.”
    â€œWhat is your business. Mr Darwin?” asked Carolus.
    Darwin answered with a single word which seemed to say all that was necessary.
    â€œProperty.”
    â€œWhat the Americans call Real Estate?”
    â€œExactly. I had to be in London yesterday for a most important meeting. But of course if I had been given the smallest indication that my wife was threatened, I should not have let her come.”
    â€œYou did not receive any letters of a type similar to those Mr Porteous had?” Carolus asked.
    â€œNone.”
    â€œTell me, Mr Darwin. Have you ever heard the name Alexander Carlisle?”
    Darwin hesitated.
    â€œIn what connection?”
    â€œIn any connection. Property, perhaps? Or just something personal?”
    â€œThere is a familiar ring about the name,” said Mr Darwin. “Does he appear on television?”
    â€œI have no idea. But he’s on this ship. A Jamaican.”
    â€œI see.”
    Did he? Carolus wondered.
    But Darwin was talking again.
    â€œI suppose you have done right not to inform the Portugese authorities. I certainly don’t want my poor wife’s body taken away to some morgue. But aren’t you taking a certain risk in not informing them of a thing of this kind?”
    Both Porteous and Scorer nodded solemnly.
    â€œUndoubtedly,” Porteous said. “But it seemed to us that the decision should be left to you.”
    â€œI appreciate that. The decision, if you like, but not the responsibility. I can’t relieve you of that. I can only say that I would prefer that my wife’s body should be taken to England for burial. A cremation. You must decide whether you can carry out my wishes.”
    â€œDo you plan to accompany us?” asked Porteous.
    â€œYou mean on a pleasure cruise?” asked Darwin impatiently.
    â€œI realize. of course. that it can be no such thing for you. But I thought perhaps you might wish to remain with your wife’s body.”
    â€œThat was thoughtful of you. I am, as you must all understand, too shocked at the moment to decide. If I had not been met this morning at the airport and warned of what to expect when I came on board, I should have had no inkling.”
    â€œWho met you?” asked Porteous rather sharply.
    â€œA Señor Costa Neves.”
    The Purser intervened. “I arranged that. I felt that it should not be broken suddenly to Mr Darwin.”
    â€œThank you,” said Darwin. He looked pale and wretched. “But as Mr Deene says, no purpose is served by concealingthe truth from me. Have you any suspicions about it yet? I mean, suspicions of anyone connected with it?”
    â€œNone worth formulating,” said Carolus. “But I mean to know who murdered your wife, Mr Darwin. Also exactly how and why. I shall report first to you when I have anything more than remote guesswork.”
    â€œHow—please don’t try to spare any feelings—how was it done?”
    â€œYour wife, according to the ship’s doctor, was probably strangled,” said Carolus.
    â€œProbably? Doesn’t he
know
?”
    â€œAgain,” said Porteous, “we have awaited your arrival to make a detailed examination.”
    â€œThen please wait no longer,” said Darwin curtly. “We must have the maximum information and as soon as possible.”
    Carolus found this cool, though evidently troubled, man surprising but in the circumstances welcome. He had imagined a husband more outraged than grief-stricken, abusing everyone connected with the ship and her ill-fated cruise. He began to understand what Ratchett had meant when he spoke of a charming fellow.
    â€œDo you wish to go down to your wife’s cabin?” asked the Purser in the tones of an