'Who was on watch the hour of the murder?'
Bill shuffled his feet nervously and cleared his throat before answering. 'I was; my father went to bed early.'
'How long have you known Carrie MacTeevor?'
'Nigh onto twenty year.'
'Was she particularly fond of Daniel?'
'Hell, no; there wasn't none o' us particularly fond of no one. We been cooped up along here too long.
Once more Muldoon turned his attention to another member of the sorry company. 'Young man, what is your name?'
'Andy MacTeevor.'
'How old are you, Andy?'
'Eighteen.'
'Is your mother living?'
'Yes.'
'Say, mister,' interrupted Carrie MacTeevor, 'I forgot to tell you somethin'. I heard Andy's grandmother scoldin' Daniel after I turned in.'
'Could you hear what she said?
'No.'
'How old are you, Carrie?'
'Thirty-nine.'
'Esther, did Daniel quarrel with his sister the night of the murder?'
'Daniel's only sister died more 'n forty year ago. I was tellin' my sister it seemed nigh onto a hundred years since Abbie passed on.'
'Have you done anything about notifying Daniel's other relatives?'
'His father an' mother died over forty year ago, just before his sister Abbie went; and he never had no other kin except what's on this ship.'
'But you were related to him.'
'We're all related -- all what was on the ship.'
'How many was that?'
'Five.'
'Was Daniel married?'
'Yes.'
'And his wife is still living?
'Yes.'
'That would be his first wife?'
'He never had but one. They couldn't have been but one woman in the world fool enough to marry Daniel MacTeevor.' She cast a vindictive look at the other woman.
'Andy,' continued the Inspector, 'what other relatives have you beside those on board this ship?'
'Just a great aunt,' replied the youth.
'And now, Esther, just one more question. Do you know who committed this murder?'
'Yes, but I won't tell. You couldn't never drag it out of me.'
'I shan't try to,' Muldoon assured her.
'If Daniel had listed to me it wouldn't never have happened. I been expectin' somethin' like this for a long time.'
'Indeed! Why?
'It was in the blood -- the mother's blood; 'twarn't in my blood nor in the MacTeevor's.'
'Thank you, Esther,' said Muldoon suavely; that explains everything.'
We all looked at Muldoon blankly. Marshal Olson was the first of speak, 'Perhaps it does to you, Inspector,' he said; 'but I don't ever know who's related to whom, much less who did the killing.
'It is quite simple,' said Muldoon. 'If the captain has the authority to leave someone here to tend the light, you can take the guilty party back with you now and the others as material witnesses.'
Who is the guilty party? What were the relationships that existed between the five people aboard the lightship? And why?
