All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred twenty-four)

All Bedlam Courses Past

Chapter Eight

Things Relative

(part two hundred twenty-four)

No, truly, he had not spoken to anyone. He had probably passed the odd crewman, who each and all, bless them, seemed in the habit of mumbling sir, and scuttling off too fast for reply. Gone back to change jackets, found Miss Buckley in the library, escorted her to the dining room. Conversation desultory. Made a joke or two…on the beef Stroganoff, and the sins that might be hid in sauces. Myra wanting to leave before Demrose felt ready himself; he had seen her off. Glad to have done so. But to be very clear, sir, I had sat in my chair, and watched her out the door. And to be quite precise, this is not a door, either, only an archway. Seven-thirtyish, eight.

How long did you remain in the environs of the Longhouse Lounge, the restaurant, bar, and games tables, altogether?

A bit past midnight, they were wishing to have patrons leave the bar.

Past midnight, for a certainty? You place yourself in the lounge five to six hours that evening. Did you play at cards?

I played at billiards. I don’t know my partner’s name. He gave it, I forgot it, a sailor of some sort…

A lighthouse keeper, retired. A Mr. Francis Bernal.

Yes, that was it. Did he tell you he enjoyed my company?

You departed the lounge past midnight. There was an incident, a thing catching your attention and that of one you spoke to.

God! Spare a bereaved man your tarot readings.

Below the cabins you and your party occupied.

I am not inclined to deny it. Let me see…an incident? And someone I spoke to. Can you mean Miss McGhee?

You confirm that you spoke to Miss McGhee, on the B deck, at a time following your supper, and after the departure of Miss Buckley, further, after you had stopped at the bar, played billiards for a time, stopped at the bar again, and consumed some fair portion of spirits.

I feel at sea with all this. Hmm. I had left the lounge, not as drunk as I’d hoped to be, and walked the corresponding deck, ignoring the near stairs…which fact you’ll want down in your notes…because I’d tended to use the other. I walked with nothing I can recall crossing my mind, and rather avoiding eye-contact with the lake. I said something in passing that I believe led Miss McGhee to bridle, and when I had not, in fact, passed her wholly, a flare went off, someplace on that inimical body.

You are referring to Lake Michigan.

Which I later learned had been a yachting accident.

You and Miss McGhee exchanged some speculative remarks.

[Subject laughs] Ah, well. Your humor is not mine, Monaghan. We speculated, and I can offer no quotes at this hour.

236

Bedlam

All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred twenty-five)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)