The Atlas Murders Read Online Free PDF Page A

time of the ship's stay in that port fits
in with them."
     "Yes, I see where
you're coming from now. Also, you will want to know if the same crew members
were on her because she probably changed articles twice in that year. By that I
mean she would sign off her crew and sign on a new crew. Not many would stay on
for a second voyage; they would take a few weeks leave and sign on another of
the company’s ships. I'll have to dig out all that information for you."
     "When do you think you
could get all that together for me?"
     "I'll have it for you
soon, if you can drop by.
     "Yes, I will be in town
for a few more days."
    "Would a ten o’clock appointment
suit you?”
     “Yes, that will be fine.”
    Henry got up to leave and
leaned in over the big desk with outstretched hand.
    "Thank you Bob, you've
been such a great help."
    "Well Henry, this is
only the beginning of what I can see as a long and very arduous investigation
and to bring it to a successful conclusion is not in my opinion going to be
easy."
     
      Henry found himself a guest
house not too far from the shipping offices, and having enjoyed a meal with
three other guests at a convivial table, he decided it was time for an early
night. Before turning off the bedside lamp, he spent some time re-reading his
new friend, the Sea Breezes magazine and gleaned a lot more useful information
from it. Knowing if he were to bring this investigation to a successful
conclusion, he would have read similar books and would need to learn an awful
lot more about seamanship. He was also painfully aware of his lack of knowledge
of global geography and added a world atlas book to his mental shopping list. Eventually,
with the bedside light still burning, he fell asleep into a world of mighty ships
and vast expanses of ocean.
     
    An early morning had him out
and about. After reading a copy of The Times in a nearby café, he was outside
Scotland Yard ready for his nine o’clock appointment.
      He was expected at reception
and ushered to a room at the back of the building on the first floor. A pretty
young receptionist spoke in a low tone as she opened the door to a room.
    "They're expecting
you."
    There were two men seated at
a large desk. The smaller of the two stood up. "Come in Henry."
    He walked over and shook
hands.
    "I suppose no one told
you who you were meeting? I'm Tom Frazer, I'm going to try and help you get
inside this fellow’s head and get us some clues as to his psyche. Try to draw
up some kind of psychoanalysis to help you identify, and maybe pinpoint some
weakness in his character that will make him talk or boast about his
crimes."
    He walked Henry over to the
desk and introduced him to the other man. "Vincent Benedict, Henry
Carter."
    Henry was surprised to meet
someone as old. He was also a portly man. Henry guessed he was at least seventy
with a full head of thick white hair. Henry could tell that he was once a very
handsome man. He had unusual light brown, almost amber eyes, like those of a
wild cat. He met Henry’s eyes with a strong but sympathetic gaze. "I'm
very sorry for your sad loss. I've been coaxed out of retirement to help you
Henry."
    "Thank you, may I call
you Vincent?"
    He seemed to involuntarily
take over proceedings. He had a commanding presence.
     "Let’s be seated
gentlemen. We shall be on first name terms; there will be no such thing as rank
or seniority. The three of us will work as a team. This is the only way we are
going to make any progress with this investigation."
    He noticed Henry looking at
him with disappointment written all over his face. "Henry, I see you are a
little disappointed with my remark when I didn't categorically say we are going
to solve this crime and bring the perpetrator to justice. To start with, we
have very little to go on, and even if we establish that the suspect is a
crewman on this ship, what's she called?"
     “The Rangoon," Henry
chipped in.
     "Yes, the
"S.S.Rangoon."
    He continued, “If the
murderer