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stays at sea and doesn’t once set foot on dry land, how can we conduct
the investigation?"
    Tom Frazer, a slight man in
his early forties, with black slicked back hair could easily have been taken
for a Cockney villain, leaned his light frame on the desk and spoke in a slow
and calculated tone. "I've been pondering this situation since I heard
that Henry was coming down here to meet with us. I spent time down the docks
and went on board some of the big cargo vessels to try and get some understanding
of life on board these ships. I've also had a few pints in some of the dockside
pubs from time-to-time and I’ve seen at first-hand what these seamen are really
like. It's hard from the little I've gleaned to pigeon-hole them. They can be a
very mixed lot of personalities, colors and creeds."
    "That was very thorough
of you Tom and leads me to our next and first big quest. We have first and
foremost to establish with certainty that our man is sailing on the Rangoon.
Henry, have you any ideas how we can go about this?" asked Vincent.
     "I was at the shipping
office yesterday. Carlisle Brent Shipping.  They have their offices in Belgrave
Street, a short walk away. I met the marine superintendent and he couldn't have
been more helpful. He's going to get the crew lists for the last twelve months
and also a list of all the ports she called at and how long she stayed in each.
He'll also find who left and who signed back on when the ship changed articles.
Our job then will be to contact all the ports she visited and see if there any
similar crimes committed while this ship was in port.”
    “Very good. And when we have
all her ports of call, hopefully, we can then get some information about crimes
in these countries. Policing in some far-eastern countries leaves a lot to be
desired. Not to our standards.  Life can be cheap in many of these places."
     Henry agreed. "Yes, and
I believe she traded to India, Burma, Egypt, Pakistan, East Africa, and as far
as Japan, and China. This gives us some idea how many countries we might have
to get co-operation from."
     Vincent Benedict moved his
bulky frame to a more comfortable position in his chair. "Now then,
there's paper and pen here. Henry, you write down what we need from the shipping
company."
     "Number one, a crew
list for the present crew and all changes of crew going back twelve months - if
you think that is far enough back?"
    "Yes I think so said
Tom. Considering the type of man I think we are dealing with, he will have
committed similar crimes in places where he would be very likely to get away
undetected. The only thing is if the killing of Henry's niece is his first, we
will have to monitor the ship's movements and ports for the next twelve months
at least. The crew lists and her changes will give us a breakdown on that
score. I will not go so far as yet to put a profile of this man together until
we have some positive details of a possible suspect."
     "I have arrangements to
meet Captain Leavy-Hobbs tomorrow afternoon and he should have that information
ready for me," enthused Henry.
    "That would be marvelous,
and I will be trying to work out how, if our man is indeed on board the ship,
how are we going to get to him - any ideas?" He looked at Henry and Tom
with intense, searching eyes, his tight-lipped mouth, slowly turning to a half
smile. "Did any of you ever contemplate a life in the merchant navy?"
    Tom's mischievous grin made
him a candidate, and Henry's mock serious frown had him with one foot on the
gangway.
     "It'll most likely cost
me a divorce but I'm up for it," said Tom.
     "I'm already feeling
sea sick," was Henry’s response.
    "That commitment will do
me. It’s too soon to call, but I've a positive feeling about this one. We’ll
make a good team."
    Vincent stood up to end the
meeting, and leaning over he laid a hand on Henry's shoulder.
    "With God's help Henry,
with God’s help."

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     The rest of his day was spent
sightseeing,