Blue, But as Azure as Pastel.

The Uproar of The Sea

Mr. Ford and Henry Hoffman finished their dinner and returned to their cabin. They were assigned to a single cabin with separate single beds. By now, Ford had understood that Hoffman was not really a criminal but a scapegoat. Ford was lost in his thoughts, trying to untangle the webs of an intricate puzzle. He could neither eliminate any suspect from the list nor he was able to put all his suspicions on one. He suddenly lost track of his train of thoughts by the sound of lightning.

“A storm is brewing, eh?”, exclaimed Hoffman.

- “Seems like it.”, replied Ford.

The sound of thunder and lightning was getting more intense with each passing moment and the sound of heavy rain of heard rumbling over the cabin.

“So, whom do you think is the murderer?”, asked Hoffman.

- “I don’t know yet… A large piece of the puzzle is missing… Let me assemble the facts one more time.”

- “Yeah sure.”

Ford continued, “A marriage that was falling apart and denying the anything about inheritance… Lady Anna should be the main suspect. But Arthur was seen alive by both Margaret and Stevens even after Lady Anna was already present at dining hall. Her alibi is checking out.”

After a brief interlude, Ford spoke again, “Margaret had no possible motive for the murder but she was treated rather badly by Arthur, judging by the remarks made by Arthur on the dinner table. However, Arthur had an addiction. He was very fond of women. Maybe, he had a physical relationship with Margaret, maybe a relation without Margaret’s consent. A forced one. So, to end her sufferings, she ended the life of her master. However, Dr. Stevens had seen Brown putting on a shirt when Margaret was at the dining table.”

Ford spoke, “Mr. Patel is the most highly unlikely suspect. His motives are rather vague… but maybe he was so sick and tired of racial humiliation, he wanted have a final taste of vengeance before he went home. Although the time gap between Steven’s arrival on his door and leaving of Anna from her room is rather short.”

The storm was now making the ship sway violently. The rumbling of the sky was getting louder with each passing second.

Ford spoke, “Dr. Stevens was the last person to see Arthur alive. His motives are quite strong. He loves Lady Anna and hated how Arthur treated her. It is most likely that he had done the deed… but it seems unlikely that he would go knock on the door of Mr. Patel just after murdering a man. An alcoholic person does not possess that kind of nerve.”

Hoffman told, “Yeah, he is an alcoholic but you should not forget that he is a doctor. Doctors generally have a strong nerve and they have knowledge of human anatomy, making it easier for them to kill.”

Ford did not reply.

“Do you hear it?”, asked Hoffman.

“Yes.”, muttered Ford.

In spite of all the loud rumbling of the sky, one could easily hear the heavy footsteps outside their room. Ford got up from his bed and silently went towards the door. The footsteps had passed their room and were advancing towards the room of Anna. Ford opened the door slightly and saw the silhouette of a large man and understood, it was Dr. Stevens.

Stevens knocked on the door of Lady Anna and within a few seconds the door opened and the silhouette of Dr. Stevens disappeared.

“Interesting… interesting indeed!”, muttered Ford.

Ford came back to his bed. Within thirty minutes, footsteps of Dr. Stevens were heard, now returning back to his room.

Hoffman was already asleep but Ford was still busy connecting the dots. Sometimes the storm hindered his thought process. He understood he needed a drink. The storm has calmed down a little. Ford made his way to the dining hall to have a drink. When he entered the dining hall, he saw a person was already sitting on the table. Upon further inspection, Ford understood it was no one but Kristoff.

He asked Kristoff, “What are you doing here boy?”

Kristoff was startled. He did not notice when Mr. Ford had entered the room for the dining hall was very dark.

Kristoff mumbled, “Just having a drink sir… Please do not tell the Captain… I beg you sir.”

Ford laughed and said,” I won’t. Just fetch me some whiskey and put on a lamp. Let us drink together.”

Kristoff did as he was bid.

Both of them made themselves comfortable and they spoke for more than a couple of hours. To Ford’s surprise, drunk Kristoff helped Ford to find the missing piece of the puzzle. The piece he was looking for.