Soon she heard a familiar voicespeaking over the PA system.
“This is your captain speaking.Would Audrey Bolton kindly come to my stateroom? It’s rather urgent. Thank you.”
London realized she should haveexpected this announcement. Apparently Detektiv Erlich had just told CaptainHays that one of the “other people” he wanted to talk to was Audrey.
I just hope Audrey shows up, London thought.
Meanwhile, more and more customerswere showing up, and many of them looked pretty haggard. Bob was still slouchedalone at his table.
When she finished eating, she andReggie walked over to where Bob was sitting. Because of his sunglasses, Londoncouldn’t tell for sure if he was awake. He certainly didn’t seem to be aware ofher presence.
Maybe I should just leave himalone, she thought.
But Sir Reggie apparently haddifferent ideas. The dog barked, and Bob jerked sharply in his chair.
“London!” he said with surprise. “I’msorry … I didn’t quite catch what you said.”
Sir Reggie barked again.
“Oh, it’s you, eh?” he saidto Sir Reggie. “I’m glad to see you, little partner.”
Tossing Sir Reggie yet anothertreat, he said to the dog, “I hope you’re ready to tackle a new murder case,partner. I’ve got a feeling this new one is going to be a doozy.”
Looking at his watch, Bob said toLondon, “Have you seen Stanley Tedrow? I was expecting him for breakfast bynow.”
“I’m afraid not,” London said.
“He’s probably hard at work on hisbook,” Bob said. “He’s a sharp guy, that Stanley—a real quick learner. A greatlistener, too. It’s a good thing he came to me for advice, though. He reallyhad a lot of goofy ideas about criminal investigation. Fortunately I’ve beenable to clear him about a few things.”
London couldn’t imagine what sortof tips Bob might be giving Mr. Tedrow.
Bob continued, “Well, maybe it’sjust as well that he didn’t show for breakfast. I’ve got a lot of mental workto do today, with a new murder to solve.”
London thought back to thosemoments when she’d discovered the body. Looking out over the crowd, she’drecognized several passengers and crewmembers. But she hadn’t seen Bob amongthem. She was sure he hadn’t even been there.
Did he even have any real ideawhat had happened?
She asked cautiously, “Uh … do youhave any theories?”
“Nope,” Bob said. “But thesethings can’t be rushed.”
London suspected that the policetook a less leisurely attitude.
“What kind of investigating do youplan to do?” she asked.
Bob’s lips twitched a little.
“From what I know so far, this isa rather different sort of case than the one I solved back in Salzburg. It’llmake different demands on my crime-solving faculties. Normally I’ve got to getout in the field, interrogate lots of people, scrounge around for physicalevidence. But this time …”
Suddenly he couldn’t hold back ayawn.
He said, “I think this case callsfor a more cerebral approach. It wouldn’t be wise to go ashore andmeander around and get overstimulated with a lot of needless detail. I’ve gotto sit still and focus my mind, apply abstract reasoning to the problem, usepure logic and nothing else …”
His voice faded away.
After a moment, his mouth droppedopen and he let out a snore.
London tried not to laugh.
Obviously, Bob was too hungover todo any serious investigating today.
And that’s probably just aswell, she thought.
His efforts tended to result insome pretty crazy theories that did little except distract from any realinvestigation others might be doing. It did concern her a little, though, thatMr. Lapham was expecting so much from him. She kind of liked Bob and didn’twant to see him fail at his job.
She just hoped that the policewould wrap up this case as soon as possible.
Thinking of the police remindedher that Detektiv Erlich was probably in the captain’s quarters rightnow waiting to talk to her. She and Sir Reggie left the restaurant and headedback down to the Allegro deck.
The door to the captain’sstateroom opened as London and Sir Reggie approached. To London’s surprise,Bryce stepped into the passageway.
“Bryce!” London said.
Before she could ask what he wasdoing here, he was followed by Detektiv Erlich himself. London again rememberedthe captain mentioning that Erlich wanted to talk to “one or two other people.”
One of them was obviously Audrey.
I guess the other one wasBryce, London figured.
Erlich said to Bryce, “Thank youfor your cooperation, sir. I will be in touch if I have any more questions.”
“Of course,” Bryce said.
As Bryce continued on his way, heand London exchanged sheepish glances. London found herself wondering whatBryce and the detective had discussed.
“Come on inside,” Detektiv Erlichsaid.
London and Sir Reggie walked intothe captain’s stateroom, and Erlich shut the door behind them. The captain satat his desk looking quite concerned. Although London didn’t quite know why, shesuddenly felt a lot more nervous and worried than she’d already been.
CHAPTER TWENTY
When London stepped into Captain Hays’s office, she wasn’tencouraged by the atmosphere. Detektiv Erlich was frowning darkly, and theusually amiable captain also appeared annoyed. London guessed that the captainhadn’t liked some of the questions the detective had asked Bryce just now.
And where was Audrey? Surely she must be one of the people theywanted to question. Had she already come in and answered Detektiv Erlich’squestions and left? Had she been cleared of all suspicion?
London took a seat to wait for whatever was taking place. SirReggie crouched on the floor beside her, tucking his head between his paws andlooking as uneasy as she felt.
Erlich paced silently in front of her for a moment, thumbingthrough his notepad.
The captain remained seated at his desk and spoke first.
“Detektiv Erlich, you seem to be quite convinced that HerrForstmann’s death was a murder, and neither an accident nor a prank gone wrong.But so far, you’ve said nothing to convince me of that fact. Since you insiston questioning my staff and keeping my ship from leaving Bamberg, I think youowe me more of an explanation.”
The edges of Erlich’s lips turned into a slight smile.
“You are correct, Captain,” he said. “I am glad you asked.”
He took out his cell phone and brought up an image and showed itto the captain, and then to London.
He explained, “This is a forensic drawing made by the gerichtsmediziner—ourmedical examiner—of the wound to Herr Forstmann’s head. This is the wound heapparently suffered before he
