A Question of Motive (6 page)

‘I was out, señor.'

‘You find it necessary to underline the obvious? Or is it to cover the fact you could not be bothered to answer the calls?'

‘I am surprised, señor, you should think I could ever behave in such a manner.'

‘Then you are easily surprised. What has been learned from the post-mortem?'

‘Nothing, because . . .'

‘Because you forgot to attend.'

‘It did not take place. Doctor Jurando was unable to conduct it yesterday. It will now be on Monday.'

‘Why is there this delay?'

‘Today is Sunday.'

‘And you would agree that is a valid reason for not doing one's job? Why did you not inform me of the delay immediately you became aware of it?'

‘There seemed little point in reporting a negative.'

‘Your reports are frequently of that value. Have you conducted any further investigation into the death of the Englishman?'

‘Of course, señor.'

‘An optimistic assurance.'

‘I returned to Barca and examined the edge of the rock face . . .'

‘Why?'

‘When I suggested perhaps a wedge of rock had given way when Señor Gill was standing on it, you ordered me to find out if that was so. Despite the height and sheer, dangerous drop, I examined the face. Nothing had recently broken away. But because the rock is well weathered, it was possible to distinguish two downward scrapes caused by the dead man as he fell.'

‘If there has been no post-mortem, what is your authority for saying he suffered a stroke or cerebral bleed?'

‘I don't understand.'

‘I spoke very simply in order you should be able to do so.'

‘I never suggested he had had a stroke or whatever the other thing is.'

‘You named him as dead before he had completed the fall.'

‘I was identifying him as the victim, señor, not suggesting he was dead as he fell.'

‘An example of your inability to express your thoughts intelligibly. I presume you have not thought to ask at what time the PM is to take place.'

‘Nine in the morning.'

‘You will be there?'

‘Of . . . Yes, señor.'

‘You will inform me of the findings as soon as they are known. And refrain from giving the impression that the deceased was alive during the PM.'

The house in Carrer Julia Gayarre was little different in appearance from those around it, but some who passed it crossed themselves as they did and the more troublesome boys repeatedly tried to find a way of looking through the heavily glazed windows. Alvarez would have given much to be able to stare through them at the normal world beyond.

The post-mortem came to an end. Doctor Jurando completed recording his findings, the overhead pod of lights was switched off, and the assistant began to clean and sterilize the instruments before ‘tidying up' the body.

Jurando removed gown and surgeon's gloves, dropped them into a disposal bag. He spoke to Alvarez. ‘I'm sorry about the delay, but I had to deal with a very serious emergency yesterday.'

‘There was no problem. In fact –' Alvarez hastily changed what he had been about to say – ‘it enabled me to complete some work.'

‘Death was due to crushing injuries to the head and would have been instantaneous. Two small pieces of rock were embedded in the fractured skull.'

‘The fall definitely killed him?'

‘Yes.'

‘So it's straightforward?' Alvarez managed to conceal his relief.

‘The cause of death, yes. But the cause of the fall . . . That is your problem.'

‘Surely he must have misjudged his footing or tripped and went over the edge?'

‘There are inconsistencies.'

There would be, Alvarez thought bitterly. Foreigners seemed unable to die in an uncomplicated manner.

‘There is recent bruising to the stomach. One would expect that; during his fall, it was likely he would have struck the rock.'

‘Then I don't quite see the problem?'

‘He was wearing a cotton T-shirt and shorts. On the shirt and top of the shorts, corresponding to the position of the bruising, there are no signs of contact – no scuffed or torn material, no rock stains.'

‘Contact must have been very brief.'

‘Yet of sufficient force to cause the considerable bruising. In the circumstances, would you not have expected the clothing to have suffered?'

Alvarez tried to find circumstances in which he would not and failed.

‘There were further injuries of an internal nature. These are consistent with the victim having suffered blows of considerable force.'

‘Caused when he struck the rock face?'

‘I doubt it.'

Alvarez knew irritated despair. Problems meant careful enquiries, enquiries meant endless work.

‘How did the shirt lie on him when he was on the ground?'

‘It was slightly disarranged, but it was down over his chest.'

‘Probably held down by the rush of wind, since he was falling head first.'

‘Are you saying he was attacked?'

‘It seems probable.'

Alvarez phoned Palma.

Angela Torres answered, her voice more plum-laden than ever. ‘The superior chief is not in his office.'

‘Enjoying an early siesta?' Alvarez asked.

‘You consider that amusing?'

‘I'll try again around five.'

‘You will be returning from lunch early?' she asked sweetly.

‘Ah, yes!' Salas said. ‘The inspector who suggested I wasted my time with a siesta.'

Even if she
was
a woman, Alvarez thought, Angela Torres might have kept silent. ‘There was no intention to criticize, señor.'

‘Yet you insolently succeeded.'

‘I attended the post-mortem of Señor Gill.'

‘The result?'

‘The cause of death was the injuries to his head. Death would have been immediate, so he was fortunate.'

‘You do not find it to be lacking in moral decency to refer to a premature and violent death as fortunate?'

‘I was meaning the probability he could not have fully understood what was about to happen. When something catastrophic occurs, shock may briefly still the brain and black out conscious knowledge.'

‘You are an expert on the brain?'

‘No, but—'

‘That is all there is to report?'

‘No, señor. In addition to the injuries to the head, there was bruising to the stomach, yet there was no damage to the material of shirt or shorts, no evidence of contact with the rock.'

‘A man can fall in an arc.'

‘There was also heavy bruising to the stomach and internal injuries consistent with heavy blows.'

‘If I have managed to understand you, Señor Gill might have been assaulted before he fell?'

‘That is what Doctor Jurando said.'

‘You are now telling me this may be a case of murder?'

‘It seems so.'

‘Then the only possibility you have not so far suggested is natural causes.'

‘My investigation will soon resolve the nature of the death.'

‘I have never received evidence to confirm your optimism.'

‘If it was suicide, there would surely have been evidence of a distracted mind. The staff have told me there was no such suggestion. I will question the señorita to learn her impression of her uncle's mental state.'

‘Yet no doubt not before you are satisfied that by doing so you will not distress her further?'

‘Something one has to remember is that the señor was wealthy.'

‘Did you not inform me he was worried about money?'

‘I don't think the suggestion was that he had become hard up. In rough times, people often try to appear short of money in order to avoid the envy of the less fortunate.'

‘You are wealthy?'

‘Far from it.'

‘Then you are again indulging yourself by asserting facts about which you can know nothing.'

‘It makes common sense.'

‘Then you are even less qualified to comment.'

‘Señor, where there is money, there is anticipation. Amongst those who benefit from the señor's death, there may well have been one prepared to commit murder in order to do so.'

‘You will search for a motive in order to judge if this case is one of murder?'

‘Motive makes murder. And there is possible motive in that the señor had a friend. A very close friend.'

‘I fail to see the significance of that.'

‘She was married.'

‘You are suggesting an illicit relationship because you are unable to understand that a man and a woman can enjoy a platonic friendship?'

‘In this case, there is evidence it was not platonic. Which means the husband may have known of his wife's adultery and taken his revenge.'

‘Then you will question the husband.'

‘I think I will question the wife on her own, first.'

‘Why?'

‘If she confesses her adultery, and can assure me her husband has no knowledge of it, it will eliminate him as a suspect.'

‘You do not consider it your duty to inform him of her infidelity?'

‘Certainly not my duty, nor even a moral obligation. Since Señor Gill is dead, the affair cannot continue. So where is the point of bringing pain to the marriage?'

‘Your attitude is deplorable.'

‘I would call it realistic.'

‘To condone adultery displays depravity, not realism.'

‘I don't agree.'

‘I have not asked for your opinion. What else do you have to report?'

‘A very strong motive, judged by the present evidence. The señor had a bitter row with a local who was in his wood and whom he suspected was after birds. The feathered kind.'

‘You know of birds without feathers?'

‘It is an expression in common use.'

‘What does it mean?'

‘Young ladies.'

‘You introduce the subject for no reason other than your depravity?'

‘Santos, who is the gardener at Aquila—'

‘There is no need constantly to waste time by telling me something of which I am well aware.'

‘He heard the señor, who was below Barca, having a very acrimonious row with a man. The señor accused the man, in Spanish, of poaching thrushes and being a thief. Threatened to bring in the policia local.'

‘You are claiming the poacher had a motive for the señor's murder?'

‘Yes.'

‘That does not strike you as somewhat absurd – a man murders because he is accused of poaching and is called a thief?'

‘When a Mallorquin is addressed in such terms, especially when correctly, he may develop a sudden, unthinking anger, which can turn to violence. It's said to be a trait inherited from Moorish ancestors.'

‘A nonsensical excuse for an unforgivable temper. Have you questioned this man?'

‘No.'

‘Why not?'

‘I don't know who he was.'

‘And see this as an excuse for not taking steps to find out?'

‘Santos can give me no hint of his identity since he never saw him and didn't recognize his voice.'

‘You will not have considered that Santos may well be aware of who it was? You will identify and question this poacher.'

‘But if—'

‘But and if are words which have no place in the cuerpo.'

‘Yet how does one—'

‘By carrying out the order.' Salas replaced his receiver.

A
lvarez remained behind the wheel until he had overcome emotions aroused by the drive up to Aquila. He finally stepped out of the car, crossed to the front door and rang the bell.

The door was opened by a young woman, just short of twenty, who remained slim, as modern Mallorquin women were tending to do. Her face was round; hair, deep black; eyes, dark brown; nose, snub. Although not a close lookalike, she did remind him of . . . He couldn't remember the name, only the passion. ‘I'm Inspector Alvarez. And you are Eva?'

‘How d'you know that?' The question had disturbed her.

‘I was told you worked here and haven't met you before.'

‘I thought . . .'

He wondered what she had thought? ‘Shall I come in?'

She became flustered. ‘I should have said.'

He stepped into the hall. ‘Is Parra not here?'

‘Him and Luisa have gone into Inca.'

‘And the señorita?'

‘She's in the sitting room, watching television. Doesn't do much else.'

She had spoken with little feeling. One had to approach middle age and understand the fears of one's future to sympathize with the burdens of others.

She made no move to show him into the sitting room. He preferred her indifference to the finer points of staff service to Parra's over-indulgence in them. As he entered, Mary looked away from the television set and at him. ‘I hope you don't mind my turning up without warning?'

She used the remote to switch off the television. ‘Of course not. You're looking rather stern.'

‘I have to tell you something.'

‘Which is going to be horrid.' She looked away.

He sat. ‘Your uncle may not have died accidentally.'

‘Then what happened?'

‘Might he have been sufficiently worried and depressed to commit suicide?'

‘Never! It's a horrible suggestion.'

‘He was rather depressed.'

‘Was he?'

‘So I've been told.'

‘By whom?'

‘I can't remember. Perhaps there were many worries with the present financial chaos . . .'

‘He said we'd be more careful because no one knew how the markets would move, but we'd no need to worry.'

‘He could have wanted not to disturb you.'

‘Don't you understand? He wouldn't have killed himself whatever happened. He thought it the coward's way out.'

‘You seem very certain.'