Murder on the Minneapolis Read Online Free

himself? His arms are by his sides as if—’
    ‘You’ve clearly had a shock, Miss Maguire.’ Officer Martin stepped in front of her, blocking her view. ‘I suggest you return to your suite while we deal with this.’
    Flora bridled, but resisted. ‘Why do you keep trying to get rid of me? I’m not hysterical, and I asked a perfectly reasonable question.’ She directed a look of enquiry at the crewmen, each of whom studied her with varying degrees of scepticism.
    Heavy footsteps approached. Flora braced herself for yet more censure, but the startled, ‘Good grief, what’s happened?’ came in a voice both familiar and reassuring.
    ‘Mr Harrington, thank goodness.’ Flora grabbed hold of his sleeve, urging him forwards. ‘I found this man on the deck.’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘He’s dead, and not only will the crew not answer my questions, they keep trying to make me leave.’
    ‘Did you see it happen?’ Bunny slid an arm around her waist, though she was in no danger of falling. She left it there, his touch comforting, and safe.
    ‘No, he was just lying here,’ Flora said. ‘The doctorthinks he fell down the steps, but I’m not so sure.’
    ‘The lady is a trifle distraught, Mr, er—’ Officer Martin took her arm again with one hand and saluted Bunny with the other, a brow raised in enquiry.
    ‘Harrington.’
    ‘Mr Harrington. Coming upon a body like that could upset anyone, especially a young lady.’
    ‘I am not upset!’ Flora glared at him.
    Officer Martin removed his hand from her arm as if burned. ‘It appears to be a simple, but regrettable accident, sir. Easily done when one isn’t used to the motions of the ship. Added to which, the companionway is quite steep.’
    ‘Do fatal accidents occur often on board ships?’ Bunny’s penetrating gaze made him flinch.
    ‘Not at all!’ Officer Martin’s voice held affront. ‘Falls do, especially in rough seas, but I cannot say we have many deaths. This gentleman must have been extremely unlucky.’
    Flora frowned. Was his bland reassurance an attempt to shield the other passengers? Or to allay blame that the companionways weren’t safe? A metal rail ran around three sides of the hole, but the steps were thin and metal, thus quite slippery. They had also been washed recently, judging by the sheen of water that clung to the treads.
    ‘Do either of you recognize him?’ the doctor asked, fastening his jacket.
    Flora hesitated. ‘N-no, I don’t know him.’ Her attempt to eavesdrop on his conversation with the lady in the red coat hardly counted as an acquaintance. Nor was she certain the argument she had heard was with the same one who occupied the stateroom next door to hers.
    ‘His name is Parnell,’ Bunny interjected. ‘Frank, I think.’
    ‘You knew him, Mr Harrington?’ Officer Martin’s expression hardened to suspicion.
    ‘We met for the first time at dinner last evening,’ Bunny said. ‘He was travelling in the company of a young lady. An actress, I believe.’
    Flora frowned. The woman in the claret coat didn’t strike her as being an actress. Not that she knew any.
    ‘I see, now if you would excuse me, sir.’ Dr Fletcher beckoned two members of the crew who proceeded to maneuver the dead man onto a sheet of tarpaulin.
    ‘Shouldn’t the captain see the body before it’s moved?’ Flora whispered to Bunny.
    He shrugged. ‘I don’t know what the procedure is. I assume they know what they are doing.’ He addressed the nearest sailor. ‘Where are you taking him?’
    ‘To my office for the time being,’ Dr Fletcher said over his shoulder before following.
    ‘The matter is out of our hands now,’ Bunny said with a sigh, turning back to Flora. ‘Won’t you allow me to escort you back to your suite?’
    ‘But—’ she halted and exhaled, resigned. After all, she hadn’t known the dead man, and whatever had happened to him was none of her concern. ‘All right, if you insist. I mean – thank you.’