Over My Dead Body (Detective William Warwick #4)(21)

‘… at whose coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up their dead …’

William remained on the edge of the gathering, a spectator of the game being played out in front of him.

‘… and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body …’

He took a closer look at the burial party to see Mrs Buchanan was weeping quietly, while her son Angus tried to comfort her. Flora Buchanan stood a pace back, calm and dignified, the mantle of power now resting on her shoulders. Hamish Buchanan, tight-lipped, stood next to Dr Lockhart, whose expression gave nothing away.

‘… according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.’

The commodore closed his prayer book, stood rigidly to attention and saluted. Two young officers stepped forward and raised one end of the platform on which the coffin was resting. The funeral party watched as it slid slowly down its determined path into the sea, before sinking to a salty grave below the waves.

Chief Inspector William Warwick might have been able to convince a coroner to exhume a body that had been buried a few feet below the earth in a graveyard, but not one that rested on the bottom of the ocean. The Buchanan family had buried not only their dead, but the one piece of evidence that would have condemned his murderers.

A minute’s silence followed, after which the commodore saluted once again before issuing a command. Moments later, the propellers began to slowly rotate, allowing the ship to continue on its journey to New York.

William stood aside as the family departed: Mrs Buchanan on Angus’s arm, silent and resolute; Hamish and the doctor a pace behind, chatting, making a mockery of mourning. They were followed by the rest of the family, with Flora Buchanan and the commodore bringing up the rear. When the new chairman saw William, she broke away and approached him.

‘I feel I owe you an explanation,’ she said calmly. William couldn’t think of an appropriate response and he felt slightly embarrassed by the fact that he was wearing a dressing gown and slippers while the others were all dressed somewhat formally. ‘At our board meeting yesterday,’ she continued, ‘the directors made the decision to carry out Fraser’s last request – as specified in his will – to be buried at sea.’

‘Even though you must have suspected it was one of those directors who was responsible for his untimely death,’ said William pointedly.

‘We considered that possibility,’ said Flora. ‘But as Fraser’s personal physician had already signed the death certificate confirming he had died of a heart attack, the family, and Mrs Buchanan in particular, decided we should carry out his final wishes rather than face a long investigation by the police. One that would have given the press enough ammunition to cause irreparable damage to the company’s reputation – the last thing Fraser would have wanted.’

‘I would suggest the last thing he would have wanted was to see his son punished for the crime he had committed.’

‘I can understand how you must feel, Chief Inspector,’ said Flora. ‘So you may be interested to know that among the other decisions the board took was to sack Hamish as a director and cut him adrift.’

‘To somehow survive on a vast inheritance,’ said William bitterly.

‘Unfortunately not,’ said the chairman. ‘The only thing his father left him, as he will discover when the will is read later today, is a compass, a metaphor I’m sure you will appreciate.’

‘And the good doctor?’

‘Resigned before he could be sacked. I will also personally make sure he won’t be employed by anyone who asks us for a reference.’

As Flora turned to leave, William asked quietly, ‘When did you discover the truth?’

‘Young James is a great admirer of yours, Chief Inspector, as I’m sure you’re aware. However, after a little coaxing he couldn’t resist letting me know how you were able to prove that my brother didn’t die of a heart attack.’

William should have realized that, in the end, blood is always thicker than water. In this case, sea water.

‘Don’t blame the boy,’ said Flora. ‘We’ve all learnt a great deal about ourselves on this journey.’

‘What did you learn?’

‘That given time, James will make an outstanding chairman of the Pilgrim Line. Which is exactly what his grandfather, may he rest in peace, would have wanted.’

? ? ?

William returned to his cabin and crept back into bed, relieved to find Beth fast asleep. He was woken a few hours later by a light tap on the door.

Beth, who was already dressed, opened the door to be greeted by a young ensign. He saluted and said, ‘Good morning, ma’am. The commodore wondered if you and Chief Inspector Warwick would care to join him on the bridge at around ten o’clock, when we will be sailing into New York harbour.’

‘You bet,’ said Beth, unable to hide her excitement. ‘How kind of him.’

William sat up in bed, and was about to protest when he saw the look on Beth’s face.

? ? ?

‘You’re a shameless hussy,’ said William, as he came out of the bathroom to see his wife looking at herself in the mirror.

‘I know,’ said Beth, ‘but I couldn’t resist it.’