Murdered by Nature (12 page)

‘A dendrologist might find the information of interest; I do not.'

‘The bitter almond is a source of prussic acid.'

‘A scientific discovery of which you have become aware?'

‘It is important.'

‘To someone ignorant enough to eat them.'

‘But Kerr was poisoned by prussic acid.'

‘Your authority for saying that?'

‘It's what the laboratory reported.'

‘I am interested finally to be told this.'

‘I mentioned it when I said I had questioned Señor Browyer.'

‘You are consistent in that you have reported neither fact.'

He thought back. The intention had definitely been there, but his time in the garden shed at Son Dragó had been very relaxing.

‘No doubt, you considered the information of insufficient importance to mention until now?'

‘There is so much going on, señor.'

‘Is any of it concerned with your work?'

‘Señor Browyer denied knowing Kerr. I've no reason to think he's lying.'

‘Why?'

‘It needs mental strength knowingly to poison someone; Browyer clearly has very little. To accept that when the victim swallows the poison, he is on the brink of hell and within seconds will fall and suffer unendurable agonies for an immeasurable time . . .'

‘If he endures them, they are not unendurable. Resist the urge to empty a dictionary of histrionic words.'

‘I asked him if he had ever knowingly seen Señor Ashton smoking a spliff. He denied the possibility. And it is almost a rule that drug dealers seldom sample their own products or they become victims.'

‘You still are unable to accept that Señor Ashton, with his wealth and position, was the most unlikely of men to enter the drug trade?'

‘How else can one explain the facts? Kerr received five thousand euros from Señor Ashton and the—'

‘I have previously pointed out that that is an assumption, not proven fact. As is the proposition to pass a handkerchief around a second casket since this might expose that the señor had a part in the drug trade.'

‘But . . .'

‘The laboratory failed to trace the slightest indication of marijuana, or any other drug, on the handkerchief you sent them.'

‘How do you know that?'

‘Their report is reasonably intelligible.'

‘I didn't know they'd given it.'

‘I informed you of the fact.'

‘No, señor, you did not. Had I known about the report, I would not have suggested a second casket, nor would I have questioned staff about the señor's smoking. Just as the pressure of work caused me to delay my report, it must have done the same to you. Part of the trouble is that
I
asked the lab to test the handkerchief, but they reported the result to
you
. Had they got back on to me when saying what was the nature of the poison—'

‘You blame them for your mistakes?'

‘I don't think anyone can be blamed for honestly forgetting.'

‘But for dishonestly forgetting? The laboratory found that the marijuana in the cigarettes from the dead man's possession did not come from Morocco.'

‘Then it was probably from Algeria and transported there.'

‘It was grown in England.'

‘Impossible!'

‘A rash comment, even if made by a man such as myself. With ever-increasing frequency, it is grown indoors under a bank of electric light bulbs. You should now be able to understand your theory that Señor Ashton had any part in the drug trade is ridiculous, as is your suggestion to pursue the matter.'

‘I did not know about the nature of the tobacco in the cigarettes.'

‘You were informed by me some time ago.'

‘I'm sure you didn't tell me, señor.'

‘I shall ask my friend, the eminent psychologist, what a continual denial of fact signifies.'

The call over, Alvarez opened the bottom drawer in the desk. It seemed to be in keeping that there was only one small drink remaining in the bottle of Soberano.

T
he next morning, seated in his office, Alvarez wondered if, as Salas held, the motive for Kerr's murder was money. It no longer made sense to consider Ashton had had any part in the drug trade. Then Kerr could not have learned this and blackmailed him over the fact. Yet if the money Ashton had drawn from the bank had not followed blackmail, for what possible reason would he have given it to Kerr?

Was it coincidence that the money in Kerr's possession had been within eight hundred euros of the five thousand Ashton had drawn? To explain, as he had, the difference between the two sums by saying the money had been spent on wine, women, a pullover and a bottle of malt whisky, was not only difficult to substantiate – not that he had yet tried to do so – but unlikely. There were still many female tourists who would welcome the company of an attractive man and not name the cost.

Because of his belief in the possibility of drug smuggling, he had tended to overlook the bequests the staff were to receive. Ten thousand might not seem enough to encourage a murder, but these were constantly being committed for stupidly small amounts. Could one believe stately Benavides would murder for such a sum, or for ten times as much? But who could know the desires, fears, hopes, and guidelines of another human? The council of Port Llueso had been willed five thousand euros. Pleasant, but absurd, to imagine the council members agreeing to murder Ashton in order to gain that amount, that each member would trust his or her colleagues to divide the money equally.

Let the money be the motive. Logically, Laura Ashton had to be the prime suspect. She had become rich. He had learned she was a woman of much compassion, but no man should believe he could correctly judge a woman's character when she could deceive with a smile, speak love with a dagger in her hand. A woman would believe a younger man who swore she was more beautiful than the stars seen from the crest of Puig Major. But how could she have had any cause to wish Kerr dead? The staff unanimously agreed he had never visited the house; she had nursed her husband with the strength of love. Was there an as yet unknown man of her own age who, unknown to everyone else, had ingratiated himself into her affections? Had the staff, loyal to her, lied about there being any such companion? He was a damned fool to ask himself the questions. Was he not convinced she was as true and loyal as any woman could be? Yet he had accepted a man could not hope correctly to assess a woman's true character . . .

He looked at his watch.
Merienda
time.

‘You're looking less than lively,' was Roca's greeting as he reached the bar in Club Llueso.

‘I've been turning circles in my mind,' he answered.

‘Small ones?'

‘A coñac, a café cortado and respect for your customers.'

‘How do I go about finding that?'

Coffee and brandy were put down in front of him. He drank. Women were, by nature, devious, but Laura Ashton was an exception and he was ashamed to have doubted her, to have thought she could betray her husband when he was alive and perhaps his memory after his death.

‘Why so deep in thought? Thinking of meeting a lady who mistakes you for a gentleman?' Roca asked.

‘Another coñac and café.'

‘Some people say “please” when they want something.'

‘Not when they know the service they'll get here.'

‘When you meet your dream woman she'll continue looking for her dream man.'

‘Yes?' Ángela Torres demanded.

‘I'd like a word with the superior chief,' Alvarez answered.

‘You are who?'

He told her.

‘Yes?' Salas' curt question was clearly the origin of his secretary's manner.

‘Inspector Alvarez, señor. Having considered the facts in the Kerr case, I think it could be informative to ask the police in England if he was known to them.'

‘On what grounds?'

‘The pathologist was of the opinion the scar on Kerr's neck might well have been caused by a broken bottle.'

‘And if that was so?'

‘The use of a broken bottle in a fight surely means rough company. That would indicate a different background from what we have so far considered. It might well be that the money in Kerr's possession came from criminal activity in England in which others were involved. He stole all the money and fled. He was traced to here and killed in revenge.'

‘Another theory based on the most unlikely proposition.'

‘I don't see why you should say that.'

‘You have forgotten the evidence strongly suggests the money was provided by Señor Ashton?'

‘You have said one should not assume that.'

‘If they had killed Kerr out of revenge, they would first have searched for the stolen money and found it amongst his possessions in the villa.'

‘I still think it would be worth contacting the English police to learn if Kerr had a criminal background.'

‘It is surprising you have not found a way of introducing elephants into the case. Have you learned anything of consequence from Patera or Valles?'

Alvarez stared at the jumble of papers on the desk as he struggled to put persons to the names. Eureka! The two local women with part-time jobs at Son Dragó. ‘I fear, señor, I had not yet managed to find the time to question them. I was on my way to do so when you phoned me.'

‘You phoned
me
. In future, try to offer an excuse for not doing your job which is not quite so familiar.'

‘María and Raquel's addresses?' Benavides said as he stood in the hall of Son Dragó. ‘I wouldn't know, but Beatriz will.'

‘And if you'd also ask her if she has a telephone number for each of them.'

‘Very well. If you will—' He stopped as Laura came into the hall. ‘Inspector Alvarez, señora, has arrived.'

She faced Alvarez. ‘Good morning, inspector.'

He returned the greeting. She appeared to be more at ease with grief than when he had previously seen her; had taken more trouble over her appearance.

Benavides said: ‘In the course of his investigation, señora, the inspector is seeking details of Patera's and Valles's residences. Perhaps the inspector may stay here until I have had a word with Beatriz?' He spoke as if referring to a scruffy plumber who had come to mend a burst pipe.

She had not missed the nature of his tone. ‘It'll be more comfortable in the sitting room. And since it is the right time of the day, inspector, perhaps you would like to join me in having a drink?'

‘Thank you, señora, I would.'

‘What you would like?'

He gained perverse pleasure in knowing Benavides would resent waiting on him, despite his obsequious politeness. ‘May I have a coñac with ice, please?'

‘And I'll have some champagne, Manuel.' She spoke to Alvarez: ‘If you would like to come through?'

They entered the large, luxuriously furnished room, through the picture windows of which was a three-quarters' circular view of mountains, bay, headlands, open sea, and the port.

‘Do sit, inspector.'

She was one of the very few Englishwomen from a wealthy background who had spoken to him on terms of equality.

‘You think María or Raquel may be able to help you?'

‘I rather doubt that, señora, but I need to question anyone who might, however unlikely it is.'

‘You have not yet been able to learn much about the unfortunate man?'

‘I'm afraid not.'

‘Even though I do not know who he was, I was shocked to learn what had happened.'

Benavides entered with a tray on which was a flute, a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket, and a glass containing brandy and ice. He placed flute and ice bucket on the embroidered runner on the occasional table at the side of her chair, skilfully opened the bottle of Veuve Cliquot without losing a drop, quarter filled the flute, allowed the bubbles to dissipate, filled the glass, replaced the bottle in the ice bucket. He handed the glass of brandy to Alvarez with notable lack of grace. ‘Is that all, señora?'

‘Thank you. Have you been able to learn what the inspector wishes to know?'

‘Beatriz is writing down both addresses and phone numbers. Shall I bring them through when she has finished?'

‘Yes, please.'

He left.

‘
Salud
!' She raised her glass.

‘A hundred years, señora.'

‘I always think it would be disturbing to live that long. One would meet so much sorrow.'

‘I am afraid that is true.' As he had learned from many fewer years.

She sipped the champagne, replaced the flute on the table. ‘Is there a family?'

‘I beg your pardon?'

‘Has the dead man left a family who will have to come to terms with the tragedy?'

‘We know so little about him, I can't answer.'

‘Then one has to hope he did not.' She paused. ‘Have you been in the police during all your working life?'

‘My father farmed some land he had inherited, and when old enough, I helped him. But it was not large enough to provide for me as well as my parents, so I had to find a job.'

‘Would you have preferred to carry on farming?'

‘Were I to win the lottery, that is what I would do.'

‘Rather than lead a life of luxury?'

‘It would give me pleasure to sow and to reap, to plant saplings which grow into fruitful trees, to have a large flock of sheep . . . I am sorry, señora, I am boring you.'

‘No, inspector, you are not. I understand what you mean by the pleasure of producing. In the winter I sometimes see in one of the garden centres a bare shrub with only a photo of what it will look like when flowering. I sometimes buy and try to plant it myself, but Felipe always finds an excuse for doing the planting himself.'

‘As we say, the sweetest orange is grown by the speaker.'