The False Inspector Dew

15

He had borrowed an oilskin and gone out to the boat deck at the request of the master-at-arms. One of the crew had reported seeing Jack Gordon on the starboard side, near number 5 lifeboat. Earlier in the day, when he had been released from detention, Gordon had given an undertaking to remain in his stateroom for the rest of the day. It had been thought that his presence in any of the public areas of the ship might alarm certain passengers. And now the wretched man appeared to have broken his word. They had checked his stateroom and found it empty.

Walter cursed him as he stepped into a driving wind that sprayed his face with what felt like hail, and was actually spindrift whipped off the highest waves. He remembered Mr Saxon's advice to keep hold of the rail. He reached for it and started moving forward, watching the horizon rise to a point somewhere above the monkey island high above the bridge and then plunge out of sight below the prow. With the wind from the north-west, three-quarters of the night sky was clear. Wisps of cloud intermittently blotted out the moon, but Walter soon discerned a figure in an oilskin gripping the rail below one of the boats. Jack Gordon seemed completely absorbed in the breaking crests of the sea.

Walter got so close that he touched Jack's arm before he was noticed. He had to shout above the shrieking squalls.

'You said you would stay below.'

Jack turned his face to look at Walter. He said nothing.

'You gave your word,' shouted Walter.

Jack shrugged. 'What's the fuss? Nobody else is here.'

'You can't do this.'

'Leave me alone. Go back to the dance.'

'You're coming with me — back to your stateroom.'

'No.'

Walter showed that he was unused to dealing with open defiance. He became more conciliatory. 'This is no place to be on a night like this.'

Jack just stared at the sea.

'Why did you come up here?' shouted Walter conversationally.

'I feel safer.'

Walter laughed.

'I mean it. I'd rather be here than shut in my stateroom.'

'Why?'

'Safer to be near a lifeboat.'

'You must have been through storms before, scores of times.'

'Never felt safe,' shouted Jack. 'Leave me alone, for God's sake.'

It was clear that nothing short of physical force would get him below. He was a very frightened man.

Walter was starting to turn away, with one hand still on the rail when he was suddenly thrust back with astonishing force as if someone had kicked him viciously in the chest. He crashed helplessly against Jack's legs, almost upending him as well.

'What was that?' demanded Jack.

Walter just groaned. He seemed stunned.

'Are you all right, Inspector?'

'My shoulder.' Walter's right hand covered his left shoulder. He made no attempt to rise. He said, 'The pain!'

Jack crouched beside him. 'Let me see. You must have dislocated it, falling like that. Let me help you up.' He tried to support Walter, but he was a large man, difficult to move. 'Put your hand over my shoulder.'

Walter lifted his hand feebly. Jack succeeded in getting him into a sitting position.

'Whatever happened?'

Walter groaned again, i think I'm going to pass out.'

'Is this some kind of trick?'

It was not. Walter's body went limp in Jack's arms. 'Damn you!' said Jack.

He got up to go for help. At the door to the stairway leading to the embarkation hall and the purser's office was a ship's light. As he put out his hand to open the door he saw that his fingers were stained with blood.