Blue, But as Azure as Pastel.

The Interrogation

The air of distress was wavering all through the cabins and deck of The Neptunus. A murder has been committed onboard and the murderer is still at large. Mr. Ford understood the graveness of the matter and after the corpse of Arthur Brown was tossed into the Atlantic (with approval from Lady Anna), Mr. Ford gathered the fellow passengers and the Captain of the ship in the dining hall.

Mr. Ford addressed the Captain,” Sir, with your permission I would like to interrogate the fellow passengers about the grisly murder that happened yesterday. You are the in-charge of the ship, so without your permission I will be unable to uncover the truth.”

The Captain agreed. He gave his approval of interrogating the passengers with all his heart. The Captain was himself so shocked by the event, the idea of sailing with a murderer plagued him. He told Mr. Ford to use the Captain’s cabin as the place for the interrogation.

Ford, along with Hoffman made their way to the Captain’s cabin. Hoffman, a criminal who was sentenced to twenty years in prison was now acting as the assistant of Ford! Hoffman first asked Kristoff to enter the room.

Kristoff entered.

Ford without wasting anytime asked him,” Tell me who came first to the dining hall yesterday during breakfast…? Just answer me this and you are free to go.”

Kristoff thought for a few seconds and said, “At first it was Lady Anna, then Margaret… then the Doctor and the Lawyer, they entered together.”

“Thank You Boy, now you may leave.”, said Ford.

Hoffman called Lady Anna to the interrogation room.

Lady Anna entered. Her face was pale and her cheeks had lost the crimson tinge of sweetness. Her eyes still swollen from crying.

Mr. Ford said in an assuring voice, “Take a seat, Madame.”

Anna seated herself over a large sofa which was actually meant for the huge body of the Captain.

“First of all, I would like say that I am sorry for your loss and I know it will be very hard to bear but I will not ask you many questions or trouble you without reasons.”, said Mr. Ford.

Anna nodded.

“When you came to breakfast yesterday, was your husband still sleeping?”, asked Ford.

- “No. He was awake. He was still pretty hungover from last night so he was just lying on the bed. He told me to go the dining room and he will be joining us shortly.”

- “Did you have a happy marriage with your husband?”

Anna kept quiet for a few seconds and replied, “On the surface everything was fine… but deep down we both knew our marriage was falling apart just and…”

“And what Mrs. Brown?”, asked Ford.

“And he craved more physical affection… I was unable to provide him what he wanted.”, Anna replied, her face turning red.

“Did you inherit anything after the death of your husband?”, asked Ford.

Anna understood the officer was trying to find a motive and shouted in a fit of rage, “I have not murdered my husband. You should stop asking us questions officer when you are harbouring a criminal yourself. When there is criminal on board, why are you harassing others?”

Ford understood Anna was agitated but his suspicions were raised. He told Anna to leave and asked Hoffman to call in Ms. Margaret.

Margaret entered the interrogation room and sat on the big sofa.

“How long have you been working for the Browns?”, asked Ford.

- “Six years, Sir.”

- “How would you describe Arthur as a person?”

- “Master was a good man, Sir. He could be a little rash sometimes but I do not hold the position to judge my superiors.”

- “Why were you late for the breakfast Margaret?”

- “I was cleaning my bed Sir.”

Ford asked, “When you walked by the door of Lady Anna? Did you see Arthur?”

Margaret replied, “Yes Sir. He was laying on the bed with his eyes opened.”

“I see… You may leave now.”, said Ford.

Henry Hoffman called in Mr. Patel.

Mr. Patel came in and sat on the large sofa that made his tiny body look more fragile and smaller.

- “Good Morning! Mr. Patel.”

- “Good Morning!”

- “So Mr. Patel tell me this. Did Dr. Stevens go to your room and you both made your way to the dining hall or Did you two just happen to bump each other at the corridor?”

Mr. Patel smiled and said, “Dr. Stevens made me drink a lot the previous night. So, I was still asleep when Kristoff asked me to go to Breakfast. I was awakened by the knocking of Dr. Stevens on my door. When I opened my door he smiled and said, “Rough Night?”. I changed my clothes and accompanied him to the dining hall after that.”

Ford asked, “Did you happen to see Mr. Brown on your way to the dining hall?”

Anand Patel replied, “No. Maybe he was still in his room. My cabin is the last cabin the hallway. So, I did not happen to pass by Arthur’s room on my way to the dining hall.”

“Do you still hold grudges against Arthur?”, asked Ford.

“Why would I hold grudges against the dead.”, said Patel.

“You may leave now… and tell Dr. Stevens to come in as you enter.”

Dr. Stevens entered the room within a few moments with a beer bottle in his hand.

- “Sit down, Dr. Stevens.”

Stevens sat on the humongous sofa.

Ford asked, “Tell me… Do you feel happy that your love rival is dead?”

Stevens laughed hysterically and said, “It is true I did not like that fool but his death was not something I desired to happen. Yes, Anna’s husband may be dead but it doesn’t open any doorways for me. Arthur’s death does not mean I will find a new life with Anna.”

- “Why not?”

- “Because Anna doesn’t love me back. It is true I love her with all my spirit and soul but her feelings for me are rather ambiguous.”

- “When you were walking towards the dining hall, did you see Arthur Brown.”, asked Ford.

- “Yes Indeed! He was getting up from his bed and trying to wear a shirt. I can reckon he was still pretty sore from last night’s fight.”, said the doctor with a smirk.

- “Then you went and knocked on the door of Mr. Patel, is that right?”, asked Ford.

- “Yes. The night before we finished one bottle of brandy and half a bottle rum all by ourselves, so I went to check up on Anand. I understood he was light drinker.”

- “Okay. You may leave now Doctor.”

- “Alright Detective!”

- “Again, not a detective, just a cop.”

Mr. Ford hoped that the interrogation would shed some light over the matter but the session of question and answers had darkened the situation even more. Ford understood he needed two things now. A drink and some time to think.