Death Beyond the Limit: Fiji Islands Mysteries 3

by B. M. Allsopp

  ‘We’re still charging Yee with murder, though?’

  ‘Io, Joe. He’s under guard in hospital. You broke his arm rather badly, you know. He’s having surgery today—realigning the bone and some pins, I understand.’

  ‘Neat telescopic truncheons the navy has, sir.’

  *

  At ten o’clock the interview room was even more crowded than the previous day. First, there was Lt Vodo from the navy, who had set up a large monitor screen on a trolley wedged between the end of the table and the wall. He stood beside his laptop that teetered over a corner of the trolley. He looked his confident self, but the jiggling cordless mouse in his hand hinted at his nerves.

  As Horseman predicted, Mishra brought his own specialist advisor, Dr Smirnov, a GPS expert from the University of the South Pacific. Surely this was unjustified—Captain Shen must possess the required skill in interpreting navigation data. But his lawyer would use any pretended disadvantage to claim the police had not proceeded correctly and their watertight case could be thrown out.

  In the adjacent room, Musudroka, Singh and Superintendent Navala were equipped with headphones listening via an extension.

  Once Kau had made the announcements, Horseman began.

  ‘We need to be accurate about the whereabouts of Joy-13 on 8th September. I gave you the VMS data printout yesterday, together with the analysis by the naval expert. Today Lieutenant Timoci Vodo of the Royal Fiji Naval Squadron will present it more clearly and answer any questions.’

  Lt Vodo clicked on the screen and cleared his throat. He zoomed in to show a trail of coloured circles. ‘Each circle shows Joy-13’s position, which is transmitted at two-hourly intervals from the vessel’s transponder via satellites to receiving stations owned by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Let’s zoom in closer to look at the boundary between the EEZ and Fiji’s territorial sea. You can see the vessel fishing in the EEZ here—the circles are close together where the vessel slows for some hours as the longline is set, then slows even more as she backtracks to haul in, a ten-hour process. Then the vessel moves off quickly again in a south-westerly direction, crossing the twelve-nautical-mile limit into Fiji waters here at 1530 hours.’ He traced Joy-13’s course with the cursor.

  ‘Joy-13’s speed is ten knots, so she’s not fishing at this time. But here, between 1900 and 2100 hours on 8th September, we see the circles overlapping again. The GPS coordinates show Joy-13 turned and backtracked slowly for two hours but remained within Fiji’s territorial waters. This is a fishing pattern, but the time is much too short for longlining.’

  ‘Captain Shen, this pattern matches your description of your search for fishing observer Jimmy Inia, doesn’t it?’ Horseman asked.

  The captain stared at the screen for some moments before replying. Sam translated. ‘Yes, but I think I was fishing for bait at this point, maybe.’

  ‘The same day and time that Jimmy Inia fell overboard?’

  ‘I don’t quite remember. Maybe it was on Saturday 9th that Jimmy’s accident happened. My logbook fell overboard during the navy patrol boat attack yesterday.’

  ‘Dr Smirnov, could you comment on this data?’

  ‘Yes, er, well I do not have much to say. Lieutenant Vodo, his interpretation was correct. There is nothing ambiguous about this VMS track at all.’

  ‘Can you confirm that Joy-13 was in Fiji’s territorial sea at 1600 hours on 8th September?’

  ‘Yes, there is no doubt of that.’

  ‘Are there any more questions for our navigation data experts?’

  Horseman paused. ‘No? Then thank you very much, Dr Smirnov and Lt Vodo.’

  The two experts left, leaving the screen displaying Joy-13’s course.

  ‘Now we’ve established that Joy-13’s position on 8th September at 1600 hrs was within Fiji’s territorial sea, do you agree that Fiji has the responsibility as the coastal state, to investigate the death of Semisi Inia, the fishing observer on board, conduct an inquest, and if appropriate prosecute those responsible for his death?’

  ‘If that was when his death occurred, yes. But how can you establish a precise time of death?’ Mishra seemed genuinely puzzled.

  One by one, Kau laid in front of the captain and Mishra the sequence of images taken by Filipo.

  ‘For the recording, Constable Kau is displaying photographs taken on a mobile phone on Joy-13 over ten minutes from 1610 to 1620 on 8th September. The date and time of each photo is recorded.’

  They stared in silence at the erratic shots. It looked like a fight. No faces could be seen, but there was one pair of dark brown, heavily muscled Fijian legs in denim shorts, and several shorter, lighter-skinned, wiry legs of crewmen. Then they saw the body of the Fijian bent over a ship’s rail, rough fishermen’s hands gripping his arms and legs. The next image showed the Fijian’s hands secured behind his back with chains. The next, the Fijian body hitting the water on his back. Then a swirl of blood in the water. There were no more.

  Horseman said, ‘We’ve just witnessed the murder of the fishing observer, Jimmy Inia,’

  The interview room was deathly silent, all eyes intent on the images on the table.

  ‘These photos aren’t sufficient to identify individuals,’ Mishra protested with little conviction.

  Horseman was unperturbed. ‘The crewman who took them is willing to testify. However, what the shots demonstrate is the precise time Jimmy went overboard, which was 1620 on 8th September. This cheap old phone doesn’t have a GPS chip so it can’t tell us where the shots were taken. However, the VMS track of Joy-13 shows her position at 1600 hours was within Fiji’s twelve-mile limit. Indeed, the VMS track confirms the captain’s statement that he did backtrack for a couple of hours later.’

  ‘Captain Shen, why did you pretend to search for Jimmy when you knew he was dead?’

  The captain’s weather-beaten face was resolute. The next moment his ramrod spine collapsed in a slump. He looked from Sam the interpreter, to Mishra, then to Horseman, his eyes full of the helpless appeal of a child. Then he started speaking to Horseman in a rapid stream. Sam had to keep interrupting him to translate.

  ‘I was scared of Yee. So were all the crew. We don’t know anything about him, except the company sends him to inspect. But I know he isn’t a fisherman—he is too smooth, his hands too soft, but his nature is hard and cruel. We all suspect he is a triad. We hate him but we keep quiet to avoid trouble. When Yee and the women transhipped from the carrier, that caused trouble among the men. But I did what Yee ordered.

  ‘Jimmy didn’t understand. I saw him talking to Yee on deck, quite serious. That morning. I never saw him again. I was on the bridge at this time, but I can’t prove it because I dropped the log into the sea when the navy patrol boat chased us. Maybe the engineer’s log can prove it. But Santo did not return to Joy-13 before we left Suva on Wednesday.’

  He trailed off, then recalled himself and spoke rapidly again.

  ‘Yee forced a few of the crew to help him. They told me later. They were very upset. He ordered the crewmen to tie his wrists in chains and throw him overboard. Then he shot him as he struggled in the water. Terrible! I don’t know why. Maybe Jimmy threatened to report Yee to you police for smuggling the women. I don’t know. Yee ordered us all to say nothing, or he would shoot us too. He told me to return to the EEZ and fish for another few days. That suited me because my holds were not full. You will see where we went if you look over the full VMS track. We are all innocent because we had no choice.’

  While Sam translated, the captain covered his face with his hands. Soundless sobs convulsed his body.

  ‘Your client needs a rest, Mr Mishra. I’ll send in some refreshments. DC Kau and the interpreter will assist Captain Shen to make a full statement in Chinese and an English translation. We’ll confer with the Public Prosecutor and resume at four o’clock to lay charges.’

  Horseman gave silent thanks that Jimmy Inia was dead when that tiger shark opened wide its maw and tore off
his head.

  EPILOGUE

  Friday 13th October

  Horseman and Singh waited for Dr Young in the Holiday Inn bar. The pathologist had promised he’d get a cab straight from the airport. His direct Sydney-Suva flight should have landed an hour ago.

  ‘Do you think Matt will have caught up with the news of the Vice raids this morning?’

  ‘Bound to. Even if they didn’t make the Sydney media, the Fiji newspapers would be handed out on the plane.’

  ‘It’s news I’ve been hanging out for. I’m still mad Vice left us completely in the dark even though you gave them Yee and several brothels on a plate!’ Singh did righteous indignation well.

  ‘The fewer in the loop the better with that sort of op, Susie. What a success! Criminal charges against several ringleaders and dozens of exploited Asian girls will be sent home within a few days.’

  ‘I worry about what’s waiting at home for them though.’

  ‘Still, that Vice result was worth waiting for,’ Horseman said.

  ‘Of course I’m worth waiting for, guys!’

  Dr Young squeezed past Horseman’s chair. He stood grinning at both of them, hands on hips. Horseman hoisted himself upright with care and shook hands.

  ‘Bula vinaka, Matt! Good to see you. How’s Sydney? How’re your kids?’

  ‘Sydney’s overcrowded, mate. The kids are fine, doing their uni exams now. I can feel them slipping away—it’s a bit sad. They’ll be back here for Christmas, though.’

  Horseman made a mental note; he must find a home of his own before Christmas. When a waiter brought their drinks, he said, ‘Let’s go outside where it’s quieter. Sunset, anyone?’

  The waiter found them a quiet table near the sea wall. Dr Young raised his Fiji Bitter. ‘Drink up, Susie. You’re looking much too serious.’

  ‘I’m just wondering what sort of life those young Asian girls are going back to,’ she said.

  ‘What, are they being deported?’ Dr Young asked.

  The others filled him in. Then they drank without speaking for a bit.

  Dr Young broke the silence. ‘Mates, let’s look on the bright side. Joe, you should have been in a balaclava since Yee bashed you up, but I can just about tolerate the sight of your ugly mug now. When the colours even out you’ll be as near to presentable as you’ll ever get! You’re out of the orthopaedic boot, you’ve chucked away the stick. Not quite jogging yet, but you’ll make it. Here’s to you!’

  They laughed and raised their glasses.

  ‘Shen and Yee are both locked up and awaiting trial, aren’t they?’ Dr Young asked.

  Singh looked brighter. ‘Yes. Shen’s charged with shark-finning, other fishing violations and failing to report a death at sea. Yee’s facing murder and human trafficking.’

  ‘I’m worried Yee will give up information in return for a deal on his charges. I’ll be mad as hell if he gets off,’ Horseman said.

  The pathologist gazed into his glass. ‘Speaking of hell, do you know the Greek legend of Hydra? She guarded the underworld. She had many heads and acid breath. Whenever a hero chopped off a head, two more grew in its place. I hate to say it, but that legend is bloody relevant to all this organised crime.’

  ‘Damn true. It’s an invasion Fiji can’t cope with,’ Horseman said.

  ‘Is the fishing boat still here?’ Dr Young asked.

  Singh pitched in. ‘Joy-13 was impounded while we looked into charges against the owners. So far, nothing’s happened. The Chinese embassy protested and the vessel sailed away with a new captain and engineer supplied by TTF.’

  ‘A great pity,’ Horseman added. ‘She should have been towed out beyond the barrier reef and sunk. That longliner would make a wonderful artificial reef for Fijian fishermen.’

  Horseman stared at the lurid swirls of purple, orange and red above the glittering sea. ‘You know what old Ratu Cakobau said in 1874 when he ceded Fiji to Britain? Something about if things didn’t change, um, yes, I remember—“Fiji will become like a piece of driftwood in the sea, and be picked up by the first passer-by.” Maybe his prediction is coming true.’

  ‘I dunno, maybe not. Fiji’s independent now and has you two and hordes more good guys striving for justice. I’m a simple doctor. I deal with one case at a time. I can’t tackle all the ills of the world. But I have my small place in these bloody lovely islands and I do a useful job.’

  Singh nodded vigorously. ‘That’s a much better way of looking at things, Matt.’

  ‘Man, you’re right,’ Horseman said. ‘But until Shen and Yee are convicted I won’t feel optimistic.’

  ‘Come on, mate. You two have solved the most baffling case I’ve ever come up against. You’re brilliant, both of you!’

  Horsman needed to put on a cheerful face or Matt wouldn’t stop. He smiled. ‘Vinaka vakalevu. Let’s have another beer.’

  They watched the sun dive into the sea until the waiter set their drinks before them. ‘Vinaka. Fish and chips for three, please. Out here in the sea air.’

  Exclusive BONUS – Deleted Scenes

  Would you like to know what went into the recycling bin?

  I ended up cutting quite a number of complete chapters from the final draft of this book. However, I do rather like these scenes so I’ve clipped them together in a bonus booklet for you. Now that you’ve finished reading the book, I hope you’ll enjoy these extras too.

  If you’re not already a Fiji Fan Club member, you’ll be given the chance to join when you tap the link below.

  Get your bonus here: Death Beyond the Limit – Deleted Scenes

  Welcome gift for Fiji Fan Club members

  I hope you enjoyed this book. Like other readers of my Fiji Islands Mysteries series, you may have especially enjoyed discovering Fiji. I was privileged to live and work in Fiji in the first decade of this century. Indeed, my motivation to embark on this mystery series was to share my love for these beautiful islands and their inhabitants.

  When I published Death on Paradise Island, I began a blog which has evolved to include Fijian food, customs, history, sport…whatever occurs to me. I was so delighted with readers’ responses, I compiled the best into a slim illustrated volume. Finding Fiji is a short, subjective collection of snippets that enrich members’ enjoyment of the novels.

  Finding Fiji is exclusive to Fiji Fan Club members, so I invite you to join us today. Each month, I’ll write to you with a post about Fiji and the latest crime fiction promos. You’ll always be the first to know about my new releases too. As a welcome gift, I’ll present you with Finding Fiji.

  Get your free copy here: https://www.bmallsopp.com/copy-of-free-sample-1

  Glossary and Guide to Fijian Pronunciation

  bula - hello

  moce - goodbye or goodnight

  moce mada - see you later

  io - yes

  vakalevu - very much

  vinaka - thank you

  Acronyms

  DI - detective inspector

  DS - detective sergeant

  DC - detective constable or deputy commissioner

  MOB – man overboard

  SOCO - scene of crime officer

  FAD – fish aggregating device

  FO - fishing observer

  WCPFC - Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

  Spelling

  The Fijian alphabet is based on English but it is phonetic, so each sound is always represented by only one letter, unlike English.

  Vowels

  a as in father

  e as in met

  i as in Fiji

  o as in or

  u as in flu

  Consonants

  Most consonants are pronounced roughly as in English, with the following important exceptions.

  b = mb as in member eg. bula = mbu-la

  d = nd as in tender eg. dina = ndina

  g = ng as in singer eg. liga = li-nga

  q = ngg as in stronger eg. yaqona = ya-nggona

  c = th as in mother eg. m
oce = mo-thay

  Enjoy this book? You can make a big difference.

  As an indie author, I don’t have the financial muscle of a major world publisher behind me. What I do have is loyal readers who loved my first book and took the trouble to post reviews online. These reviews brought my book to the attention of other readers.

  I would be most grateful if you could spend just five minutes posting a short review on Amazon, Goodreads or your favourite book review site.

  Also by B.M. Allsopp

  Death of a Hero - how it all began: Fiji Islands Mysteries Prequel

  Meet young Joe Horseman. How much will he risk to save his dead hero’s honour?

  When Horseman finds his rugby captain’s corpse in the changing shed, he vows to help investigate. But the police refuse to pass him the ball.

  Read more… https://books2read.com/u/3Geqnp

  Death on Paradise Island: Fiji Islands Mysteries 1

  An island paradise. A grisly murder. Can a detective put his rugby days behind him to tackle a killer case?

  Joe Horseman knows he'll have to up his game when guests at an island resort witness a young maid's corpse wash ashore.

  Read more… https://books2read.com/u/mBP50k

  Death by Tradition: Fiji Islands Mysteries 2

  Must DI Joe Horseman sacrifice his chance at love to catch a killer?