A Maze of Murders Read Online Free

and looked uncertainly at him. ‘I am Inspector Alvarez,’ he said. She was hardly a model of discretion; her hair was too blonde, her make-up too generous, her dress too tight-fitting. ‘You are Señorita Glass or Señorita Fenn?’
    â€˜Cara. I mean, Cara Fenn. Kirsty’s gone with Bert to speak to the police again. I couldn’t go because … because it’s all too emotional.’
    Couldn’t be bothered, he thought uncharitably. He waited until she was seated, then said: ‘I have to ask you some questions, but will be as brief as possible.’
    â€˜Then you haven’t found Neil?’
    â€˜I fear not.’
    â€˜He … he’s dead?’
    â€˜There still can be no certainty and that is why I am here now.’
    â€˜But I don’t know where he is.’
    â€˜Of course not, but you may be able to help me ascertain where he might be if still alive … Have you known the señor for a long time?’
    She shook her head.
    â€˜When did you first meet him?’
    â€˜That night.’
    â€˜You mean, Thursday?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Please tell me how you met him.’
    She and Kirsty had had supper – like always, funny tasting and not what they were used to at home – and had then left the hotel to go to the front. They’d strolled along until they’d stopped to watch a woman in a long white dress and with whitened face and gloved hands who had been imitating a statue and moving only when someone put money in the collecting box. Neil had set out to make the woman laugh and had drawn them into his attempt; he’d suggested drinks at one of the bars; after a while, he’d said it was such a lovely night they ought to go for a trip in his boat …
    â€˜The boat belonged to him?’
    â€˜Seemed like it did. I mean, he had the key to unlock the cabin and start the engine.’
    â€˜You sailed across the bay?’
    She nodded. Then she said: ‘If only we’d stayed. Then it wouldn’t have happened. I can’t stop thinking that if only I’d said I didn’t want to go, he’d be alive.’
    He was satisfied she spoke only for effect. ‘Señorita, sadly one can never move back in time and it only makes things more painful to try and do so. What happened once you’d anchored?’
    â€˜We had a drink.’
    â€˜You’d taken this with you?’
    â€˜There were a couple of bottles of whisky on the boat.’
    â€˜Were they full bottles?’
    â€˜One of ’em was, the other didn’t have much in it.’
    â€˜Did you finish them both?’
    â€˜Give over.’
    â€˜Then how much did you all drink?’
    â€˜Hardly had any out of the full bottle … Look, I’m not a lush.’
    â€˜Of course not, señorita, but I need to understand what state you and your companions were in because that could be very important.’
    â€˜I was cheerful, nothing more.’
    â€˜And Señor Lewis?’
    â€˜We was all the same.’
    â€˜Did you do anything other than drink?’
    â€˜What’s that matter?’
    â€˜As I explained, I need to understand all the circumstances which surround the señor’s disappearance.’
    She said nothing.
    â€˜Señorita, you must tell me.’
    â€˜I … We … You know how it goes.’
    â€˜Not until you tell me.’
    â€˜We started to have some fun,’ she said reluctantly.
    â€˜You mean, you had sexual intercourse?’
    â€˜There’s no call to be crude … A girl’s entitled to a little fun.’
    â€˜With one señor, or both?’
    â€˜For God’s sake, what d’you take me for?’
    He was tempted to answer, but didn’t.
    â€˜If you must know, nothing happened.’
    â€˜Why was that?’
    â€˜Because it didn’t.’
    â€˜The señor had drunk too much?’
    â€˜If he’d been