Neil was annoyed that Eliot's side trip had been such a success but like a true opportunist with no scruples he took charge of the find and was determined to use it to his advantage.
'Hello again Jamie' Neil said menacingly as he and Eliot entered the cell.
'We found your little hiding place and we're very intrigued by what we found' Neil concluded with a menacing flourish.
'Oh god!' Jamie responded and put his hands to his mouth. 'I can explain!' he blurted in desperation.
'Save it Jamie we know all about people like you!' Neil continued and leaned in aggressively toward Jamie. Jamie flinched backwards with real terror and horror on his face.
'Which of the wives are you having an affair with? Were you carrying on with the same wife as Joe? Why were you hiding her clothes and makeup?' Neil concluded with a smug look.
Eliot was annoyed as Neil was leading the witness and putting ideas in his head. Who knew what was really going on, no one but Neil obviously thought he did.
'I...err...having an affair? Joe was seeing a married woman?' Jamie stammered totally perplexed.
Eliot cut Neil off as he felt Neil was spiralling out of control.
'Take your time Jamie and explain. We found the bag you hid and it contained women's clothing and makeup. I'm betting the lipstick in there will match the lipstick found on Joe's neck. If that is the case you know the Canadian Police are going to lock you up as an accomplice for murder, right?' Eliot said with an air of camaraderie trying to foster a bond with Jamie.
Jamie looked desperately between Eliot and Neil and shrugged his shoulders.
'I don't know anything about a bag.' Jamie responded firmly and then lowered his head and refused to say anything else.
*
'Jamie Gregory will be held in the Brig until he starts to answer our questions!' Neil said firmly to Eliot in front of Captain Jones.
'Sir' Eliot said addressing the Captain 'keeping Jamie locked up isn't working; he's been in there two days now and said nothing more. We've not got any other leads. If we release him he's not going to escape.' Eliot responded eagerly.
'All due respect Captain if he murdered Joseph Smith there is a chance he may murder another crew member or realising that he's done for kill himself by throwing himself overboard.' Neil responded sternly.
The Captain looked frustrated and glared at both of them and then spoke 'so you think that Joe and Jamie were involved in a love triangle with one of the wives on board?'
'I strongly believe that Captain' was Neil's immediate response.
'So you don't think it possible they were seeing two different wives?' the Captain asked.
Neil squirmed a little in his seat as he had no firm answer either way and it was clear from the Captains questions that he knew Neil Farmer was guessing.
'I see' the Captain said in response to Neil's silence.
'Have Jamie Gregory brought up here and have the steward bring tea and sandwiches for us. Eliot you will join us, Neil you have command of the Bridge.' Captain Jones said decisively leaving no room for dissent.
Neil looked angrily at Eliot and strode out without being dismissed by the Captain.
*
'Jamie lad, have some tea and a sandwich' the Captain said in a friendly tone to the dishevelled, nervous and frightened Jamie Gregory. Jamie was shaking and struggled to hold the mug of tea without spilling it.
'I see you've had a bit of a fright and I'm sorry about that. It is very important you tell us everything you know' the Captain continued as Jamie took the smallest of bites possible from a dainty sandwich.
Jamie wasn't in a rush to talk but the Captain had expected this. 'I can assure you anything you tell Eliot and me here will stay within these walls' the Captain said in the tone of a grandfather talking to his young grandchild.
Jamie visibly calmed and his shoulders seemed to loosen. 'I don't like that man, Neil Farmer is a bully' Jamie said pitifully.
'Yes I'm sorry about Neil. If we agree that anything you say is just between us will you agree to the same? You won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?' the Captain said feeling he was making real progress.
'I guess so' Jamie responded with a snivel and rub of his wet nose.
'I guess won't do Jamie I need a promise' the Captain said in mild reproach.
'I promise Captain' Jamie said in a stronger voice of a man finding his feet.
'Well I don't much like Neil either, so we have that in common. I'm sure we have a lot in common' the Captain said conversationally.
Jamie shared a little smile with them both and then took a more meaningful bite of the sandwich. Jamie's hands trembled less and the Captain gave a hopeful look at Eliot.
'So tell me about this bag?' the Captain enquired gently.
'Did they tell you what was in the bag?' Jamie asked timidly.
'Yes, one of the wives clothes and makeup. Did you steal it? If that's the case Jamie rest assured no further action will be taken over it.' The Captain said.
'No I didn't steal it!' Jamie snapped back tensely then stopped and held up a feeble hand in apology.
'They're mine.' Jamie said timidly.
'They're yours?' the Captain asked confused, 'what do you mean?'
'I'm a cross dresser' Jamie confessed finally.
The Captain was shocked, he wasn't expecting that. He looked at Eliot with confusion and the Captains first thought that this was a lie in order to distract attention from the truth. Then the Captain thought about it for a bit longer and thought that implausible.
'So you like to wear women's clothes?' the Captain asked uncertainly.
'Yes, yes I do. It is a secret I have kept for many years and the reason I have not been forthcoming under the barrage of questions from Neil Farmer' Jamie responded finding his feet firmly now that the Captain's responded calmly to this major revelation.
'So Joe found out about your secret and you killed him? But you made a mistake because you kissed him first and left lipstick on him?' the Captain asked still trying to get his head around the situation.
'No sir! I'm not a killer. I don't know who killed him, I swear!' Jamie responded and the Captain was about to continue when Eliot put a hand on his arm and shook his head. The Captain was taken aback to have his Chief Officer countermand him. However this was a strange situation and he looked over at Eliot and Eliot motioned the Captain outside, so they both went outside leaving Jamie alone to think.
YOU ARE READING
Floating Lies and Sinking Truth - P1 COMPLETE
Mystery / ThrillerIt's July 1980 and one of the crew go missing on the first day out on a new voyage. Did they jump ship or were they pushed? Were they murdered? If so by who and why? If he is dead and we never find the body we'll probably never know! If his body...
