The Captains Table - Part 2

continued..

 

The Captains Table

by Paul McCann 

Part 2

 

 

Policeman –“Thank you Doc. Could you look after things for a brief moment I need to inform the Captains wife what has happened and establish a crime scene here. I have to make some calls and notify my superiors of this situation and get some back up here by helicopter.  I’d appreciate your help  .”

 

Doctor –“Ok, leave it with me. I’ll watch the Fort until you get back.”

Policeman -“Thanks Doc, much appreciated, just keep people away from the

Captains body until I get back. Could you do that Doc?’

Doctor –“Sure thing. Just a word of warning sir, it may be that you will have to remove the Captains clothes because if he has been poisoned there is a good chance that some left over poison could be on left on his clothing and making contact with that would be fatal to anyone who might try move him or touch him.  .”

 

The dining room was now  filled with chatter. The Doctor made his way to the Captains table and asked people to move away from the body. He asked for people to remain calm and kept his suspicions to himself. The Policeman went to find what room the Captains wife was in to give her the tragic news about her husband’s death. The Doctor cleared the area around the table and waited for the policeman to return. The journalist who was at the table was busy talking to people in the room and making some notes. Some of the ships staff where mingling and talking to the passengers. The Policeman returned with Nick, the carer of Captains wife who stood quietly there beside him.   

 

The Carer –“Is it ok if I just have a look and say a prayer over the body?”

Policeman –“You may but please do not touch anything”.

The Carer –“No problem. “

The journalist who was at the Captains table approached the policeman   .

 

Journalist –“Hello officer my name is Dave, I work with mainstream media. Would it be true to say that the Captain has been murdered?”

Policeman - “I’m not asking Dave, I’m telling you. Put away your camera and do not go spreading any stories or make anything public until a formal investigation has been carried out. There will be a media conference once we have established what has occurred.” 

Journalist –“Ok no problem so let’s get this show on the road. Wow, what a story. The Cruise Ship Killer. “

Policeman –“Don’t let me tell you again Dave. Nothing is to be released at this point in time. Do you get my drift?”

Journalist ‘” Hey Chill Bill, I get the message. “

 Policeman –“Ok now back off and no questions. “

Policeman – “(Shouting) Ladies and Gentlemen. May I have your attention please.  My name is Detective Bill Williams. Everybody must remain here in the dining room, no one is to leave.  A helicopter is on its way with a forensic team and other police officers .I ask you to cooperate with us in our investigations.  This area is now a crime scene until further notice. “

 

When the carer made his way from the dining room the Policeman noticed he was carrying a gun. He called the journalist over and hinted to follow him. Both of them followed the carer back to the cabin where the Captains wife was staying.

 

“The Policeman. “ Listen up Dave. I want you to record and write down anything you hear “

 

Both of them stood at the door and listened to the conversation inside the room.

 

The Captains wife - : Well, tell me. Is he dead?” 

The Carer –“He is, but it was someone else who did it. “

The Captains Wife -“What do you mean, I hired you to get rid of him and you’re saying it was someone else?”

The Carer-“That’s right, someone beat me to it. I never got the chance.”

Policeman –“Dave, did you get all that? “

The Journalist -: I sure did ‘“

Policeman –“Good give it to me. It’s not for publication, its evidence. Got it?

The Journalist –“Got it “

Policeman –“Good “

The Journalist – “Now what?”

 

Policeman – “Just watch and say nothing   . “

Bill knocked on the cabin door, the two dogs inside began barking. The carer opened up the door and Bill walked inside followed by the Journalist. There was a weird silence as Bill pointed to the mobile phone in hand.

 

Policeman –“Everything you just said has been recorded and I have a witness to it all. Nick you are under arrest for suspicion of murder and intent to murder the Captain. “   

The Captains Wife – “No, No! This can’t be happening. There must be a mistake, he is my carer. “

Policeman: - “Well Madam you seem to have taken a speedy recovery and make no mistake it is happening and we are going to find out what has happened. You are also under arrest as an accessory to murder. I need you both to accompany me now to my office and your place of temporary internment, the cool room of the kitchen where you will be held until we dock tomorrow. “

The Carer –“I don’t believe this.  It’s not possible. I am innocent, what’s going on. Help me, can somebody please help me? “

 

The policeman reached over and took the handgun from its holster inside the jacket.

The Policeman -: So what do you use this for? Taking blood pressure?.

The Carer – “Hey that’s my personal property.  “

The Policeman –“Now its Police property. Now both of you come with me. ”

 

They were taken to the kitchen and placed in the cool room. When the policeman went back to the dining room he saw the Doctor giving some tablets to Faith.

Doctor –“Here, these will help “.

She reached out and took the tablets and swallowed them with the water provided. The two newlyweds approached.

The Husband –“You know we take medication every day. It does help.”

The Wife - “He always forgets to take his, so I take them for him. “

 

(Faith started laughing. The policeman called everyone’s attention)

 

Policeman – “We now have company. The helicopter has arrived and we have things to get sorted .So would everyone please be seated.

 

The investigations begun.

One by one the police from the helicopter made their way to the dining room and minutes after a brief consultation they went into action, The Captains clothes were removed. His mobile phone was checked. Photos of Faith were found. The Captains room turned up other interesting items. Some letters were gathered, a number of love letters from Faith surfaced as did some very disturbing letters, issuing death threats if the Captain continued to his relationship with Faith. The police started questioning Faith about those letters while Bill read through the letters looking for a connection and suspecting they were from the Captains wife. Meanwhile a search of the Captains wife’s cabin produced some photos and documents that confirmed she had hired a private detective and that she was aware her husband was having an affair with Faith. Further enquiries were made about Nick, the carer and records were found. He had been convicted of murder ten years previous and had a list of other convictions to his name. He also had no accreditation for the work that he was doing as a carer. Things seemed to fall into place. Bill knew Nick had a motive and a premeditated plan to kill the Captain and as far as he was concerned that was as good as guilty. That evening Bill arranged for the dogs to be kept by the staff on the ship while the two suspects were taken and locked up in an old cool room in the kitchen. Later that night Bill went to check on his prisoners and found the Chef was still working in the kitchen .As he went in the Chef was singing away. Bill checked the whiteboard with the breakfast orders and menus for the morning. A cold shiver ran through Bill as he noticed that the handwriting on the noticeboard was similar to that on the death threats. For a while he just looked at the handwriting on the board before speaking. He knew he was on to something.

 

Policeman –“You’re quite a talented singer. Why cook when you can be a singer?”

The Chef- “Well I learned that I can do both and still get paid.”

The Policeman –“(Reaching out his hand) I never formally introduced myself. My name is Bill and I’m pleased to meet you Chef “

The Chef –“My name is Dario. “

The Policeman -: Would you mind if I took a selfie photo of us. It’s just a  shot of my holiday cruise Dario.

The Chef –“No problem.”

Bill took out his mobile phone and took a few photos of himself and Dario.

The Policeman- “Tell me Dario, how long have you been a Chef?”

The Chef –“Ever since I can remember. How long have you been a policeman?”

The Policeman-“As long as I can remember and that’s a long time. “

The Chef –“How are the prisoners in the old cool room?”

The Policeman-“They’re doing much better now that the cooling is turning off. “

The Chef – We never use that old room. It’s  a back- up , just in case. “

The Policeman “Well it’s come in handy. Thanks. I appreciate it. “   

 

The Chef-“Always glad to help the police. So, those two in the cool-room there is it true they murdered the Captain? “

The Policeman –“We’re still investigating, so tell me Dario do you have to write down all this stuff on the whiteboard or does someone else make those notes.”

The Chef –“You must be kidding. I wouldn’t trust anyone to make my kitchen notes. I do all of that myself. “

The Policeman –“Well I admire that Dario, now that’s what I call dedication

Dario. You’ll have to excuse me I left something in my office. I’ll be back shortly.”

The Chef –“Well Bill, I’ve almost finished the Prep for breakfast in the morning Do you have the spare keys to the kitchen and cool room.”

The Policeman –“Yes, I do. Thanks Dario. Catch you later“

 

Bill walked away and the Chef continued singing and finishing off the breakfast prep. Just before turning off the lights in the kitchen Bill walked in the door.

The Chef “Back so soon Bill?”

The Policeman -:” Yeah leave the lights on I have some work to do. “

The Chef-“Ok, See you in the morning “

 

The Chef left the kitchen and Bill took out the death threat letters from his pocket and confirmed that the handwriting on the whiteboard was identical to that on the letters. Now he had a new suspect and started making enquiries about Dario the Chef. One of the other police officers on the ship contacted Bill about Faith. She knew about the death threat letters. Apparently they were made by her old boyfriend who was jealous that Faith was in a relationship with the Captain. Her old boyfriend was a singer in a band and he had been jealous of her relationship with the Captain since they broke up . Faith had not seen or had any contact with him until the death threats began . Bill asked the police officer if he could bring her to the kitchen as he needed to question her further. While he was waiting Bill went into the cool-room and spoke briefly with his prisoners.  A short time after that Faith was brought in to the kitchen . 

The Policeman – ‘Well hello Faith. Take a seat would you:”

Faith-“Hello Bill. I’m sorry about all the secrecy before . “

The Policeman –“The thing I’ve learned in life Faith is that the truth always comes out in the end. “

Faith-“It’s a woman’s privilege to protect her dignity. “

The Policeman – “Faith, I’m going to show you some photos of two people. One of them is myself and I want you to tell me if you have ever seen the other man in the photo before ?”

He showed Faith the photos he took previously on his mobile phone of the Chef and himself.

Faith – (Screaming) Oh my God, it’s Dario. Where did you get that photo?”

The Policeman – “I took them earlier this evening .  So you were unaware that Dario is the Chef on board the ship?”

Faith. “No I wasn’t aware of that “

The Policeman: Faith, I think I may have found the murderer. I can’t be certain until the autopsy tomorrow determines the cause of death. Meanwhile you must tell no one about this. For your own safety I will place you under police protection until we make an arrest. “

Faith “I can’t believe that Dario was on board this ship. “

The Policeman -“Did the Captain not know what he looked like?”

Faith “No, see Dario and I, we never had many photos taken. He was kind of weird. He would often talk to people who weren’t there, you know , so once I saw that. I broke off with him. “

The Policeman – Ok obviously he knows you’re on the ship so I’m going to move you into a room with one of my officers. Have you anything you need to get from your room?’

Faith -: “Nothing really important.”

Bill called one of his men to collect Faith. A search of the kitchen produced a bottle of Cyanide. Now he had some solid evidence. Bill was sure there would be some fingerprints on the bottle s. He put the bottle safely away in a plastic food wrapper bag for forensics. Morning came and the ship docked in the Port .Before breakfast the Captains body was taken away for an autopsy.

Bill waiting patiently for the results and it didn’t take very long. 

Cyanide poisoning was confirmed.

Faith had asked to be there when Dario was arrested.

Later that day, Bill along with his fellow officers went into the kitchen to make the arrest. 

The Policeman – “Dario D Spinelli, you are under arrest for the murder of the Captain.  “

The Chef – “What are you talking about?

The Policeman- (Holding up the letters and the bottle of Cyanide) your fingerprints are all over the bottle and your handwriting is on these death threats.”

Faith walked into the kitchen.

Faith –“How could you do something like this? You’re a monster Dario “

The Chef – It’s all your fault, you bitch.”

The Policeman-“Release those other two from the cool-room and take this piece of garbage away.”

The police handcuffed Dario. As he was taken away he screamed  

The Chef:” You bitch, a man cannot live without love. “

 

The End