Mersey Murder Mysteries Collection - Books 4-6

Chapter 2-3

“So why call us then if there"s no sign of violence or external cause of death?” Booker asked.

“Ship owner"s policy in the case of unexplained death on board, apparently,” Ross replied. “Keeps them in the clear, avoiding law suits from irate families. A police investigation is mandatory.”

“I see, so what do we do when we get on board?”

“Doctor Nugent and Mr. Lees will make a preliminary examination of the body,” Nugent nodded as if to confirm this, “and once the doc has finished it will be up to you to determine as much as you can, given the obvious limitations. The cabin will be sealed once you and Doctor Nugent have done your stuff, and if a full forensic examination is deemed necessary we"ll organise it as soon as we return to shore.”

After what seemed an interminable age, accompanied only by the strangled parrot impersonation produced by the police launch"s foghorn, those on board at last heard another sound, a deeper, more resonant blaring sound that could only be the foghorn of another, larger ship.

Sergeant Beswick cut the throttles, instantly reducing the speed of Morse to little more than a crawl. Constable Keys appeared from the wheelhouse where he"d stood beside the sergeant for the majority of the journey and reached under the port side bench seat from where he produced a gaff, a long, wooden pole with a brass hook attached, in readiness, Ross assumed to grab onto any dangling mooring lines suspended from the deck of the ship they were approaching.

MorseSuddenly the sound of the larger ship"s foghorn blasted out again and those on board the launch guessed correctly that they were nearing their destination. The deep, sonorous "barp" of the Alexandra Rose"s foghorn were in stark contrast to the tin-whistle-like, shrill screech of the police launch"s own warning call.

Alexandra Rose"s“Told you the GPS system would deliver us right on the button, Inspector,” said Beswick, proudly, as, like a massive ghostly apparition, the stern of the Alexandra Rose materialised, wraith-like from the thick, all enveloping fog, the words Alexandra Rose, Sydney, in bold royal blue lettering now clearly visible on her rear transom. Beswick expertly manoeuvred the police launch alongside the ship, which, to those on board the smaller boat, assumed gigantic proportions the closer they came to her hull. Beswick could be heard as he engaged in communication with the Alexandra Rose"s bridge officer.

Alexandra RoseAlexandra Rose, SydneyAlexandra Rose"s“Ready, Constable?” he shouted.

“Ready Sarge,” Keys replied.

“Cutting power now,” Beswick shouted as the launch drew up beside a metal gangway, comprising a stairway that had been lowered in readiness for their arrival from the ship"s deck. The sound of the launch"s engine died instantly, a few vibrations running through her deck as the last revolutions of her propeller shaft died away.

“All yours,” the sergeant called to Keys.

“Making fast now,” the constable shouted in return.

Keys expertly reached out with the gaff and using the hook on the end, he gained a hold of one side of the steeply sloping stairway and pulled the police launch closer until he was able to use ropes attached to the gangway to make the launch secure in seconds. Ross found himself impressed by the speed and professionalism displayed by his waterborne colleagues.

“There you go, folks,” Beswick announced. “You have the skipper"s permission to board. His name"s Gideon, by the way. I"ve identified you all to him as a matter of courtesy, so he knows who to expect when you get up there.”

“Aren"t you coming with us?” Ross inquired.

“No sir. We"ll remain here with Morse in case we"re needed elsewhere while you"re on board. If that happens, we"ll notify the Alexandra Rose and return as soon as possible for you. We only have the one launch you see, sir, so we need to be ready for any other emergencies that might need our attention.”

MorseAlexandra Rose“I understand, Sergeant Beswick,” Ross replied. “Thanks for getting us here safely. How will I call you if I need you? I hope I won"t have to radio in to shore and have messages relayed back out here to you.”

“Not at all, sir,” said Beswick, handing Ross a small, hand-held radio transmitter. “This is tuned in to our frequency. Just push the button on the side to talk and remember to release it so you can hear my reply.”

“Thanks again,” said Ross. “Right everyone, let"s go aboard and see what"s what.”

“Looks a long way up,” Drake commented.

“A bit steep too,” Nugent added.

“Is it safe?” Lees spoke for only the second time that morning.

“Don"t worry,” Beswick reassured them all. “Just pretend it"s your stairs at home. You"ll be on board in no time.”

“My stairs don"t sway from side to side as I climb them,” Drake said as she placed a tentative foot on the wide metal platform at the bottom of the gangway, before beginning her negotiation of the steps that led to the ship"s deck.

One by one, they followed Drake up the gangway, Ross helping Lees with his equipment cases, Nugent carrying his bag, and Miles Booker bringing up the rear with his own "bag of tricks" as Ross always referred to it.

Two minutes after Constable Keys had tied them up to the gangway, the party of police and medical examiners found themselves standing on the deck of the Alexandra Rose.

Alexandra RoseAs first officer, Patrick Neary welcomed them aboard as each stepped from the gangway onto the wooden deck of the ship, installed by the owners to give newly arriving passengers the "feel" that passengers on the old ocean liners must have experienced when boarding ships like the Mauretania, or Titanic perhaps, Ross and Drake both shared a frisson of expectation as their adrenalin levels rose at the beginning of another case for the Murder Investigation Unit.