A Question of Motive

by Roderic Jeffries

  He left.

  Alvarez spoke over the phone. ‘I am just back from Aquila, señor.’

  ‘Interesting. But it would be far more interesting had you remembered to explain why you were there.’

  ‘After I had questioned Señor Kiernan, who signed the IOU which is in the señor’s safe. . . .’

  ‘Why and about what did you question him?’

  ‘I suspected his IOU provided the motive for Señor Gill’s murder.’

  ‘Did it?’

  ‘On the contrary.’

  ‘He was able to offer an explanation of events which you had to accept?’

  ‘Señor Ibarra has checked the bank statements and other figures . . .’

  ‘Who is Ibarra?’

  ‘You know . . .’

  ‘Who is Ibarra?’

  ‘The accountant we employ when there is accountancy work which needs to be carried out. He went through all recent figures and there was evidence of three months during which the normal amounts in cash had not been withdrawn from a bank.’

  ‘That is important?’

  ‘Señor Kiernan claimed he had three times repaid five hundred euros . . .’

  ‘You will stop there and start again. If I am to understand what you are saying without having to ask constantly for elucidation, you will explain why you were doing what you did, what you learned from Señor Kiernan, whether he was able to provide an alibi, or whether you still believe there is cause to believe him guilty of Señor Gill’s death.’

  Alvarez made a full and detailed report.

  ‘You no longer believe him to be guilty?’

  ‘No, señor. I mean, yes.’

  ‘You would care to choose between the two possibilities?’

  ‘No, I no longer believe him to be guilty, yes, I no longer believe him to be guilty.’

  ‘There are times when I wonder . . .’ Salas stopped. ‘You have questioned the staff again?’

  ‘Yes, señor.’

  ‘And are satisfied none of them had any part in the señor’s death?’

  ‘Their alibis show none of them was near Aquila at the time of the señor’s death.’

  ‘You have discovered, uncovered, or fantasized further unusual motives?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then you can offer no further suspects’

  ‘That is so.’

  ‘Did you express the view that there is an advantage to be gained from proving a suspect’s innocence because it eliminates him? Now that you have eliminated your last suspect, would you like to explain that advantage more fully?’

  ‘It shows the señor’s death was an accident, not murder.’

  ‘Since, despite the findings at the inquest, that was always the more likely verdict, it seems you have conducted a long and unnecessary investigation.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s so.’

  ‘To start from a verdict and spend weeks returning to it is an example of extraordinary ineptitude.’

  ‘But for my work, there could be no certainty that, since no one had the motive to murder Señor Gill, his death was an accident.’

  ‘You would claim that to be logical?’

  ‘Yes, señor.’

  ‘When you have made a gross error?’

  ‘I don’t see that I have.’

  ‘You have refused to listen to your senior’s advice.’

  ‘Are you going back to . . . Are you suggesting . . .’

  ‘I am referring to Señorita Farren. From the beginning of this investigation, she has been the prime suspect since she had more to gain from her uncle’s death, the greatest opportunity to encompass it.’

  ‘Impossible!’

  ‘You find it difficult to follow your own logic? Motive was the key, those with motives had to be suspects, when all but one suspect is found to be innocent, the guilt of the last becomes certain.’

  ‘Señorita Farren was so shocked by her uncle’s death, she could not have had any part in it.’

  ‘As I have previously pointed out, you are determined not to acknowledge a woman will always use her emotions to confuse a man.’

  ‘Unless she is a superb actress, Señorita Farren’s bitter grief was completely genuine.’

  ‘You have proof she has no acting talent?’

  ‘Of course I don’t.’

  ‘Then you cannot make such judgment. She has been left an estate which can be described as a fortune. Men will flock around her and she will choose whichever one will cause the greatest jealousy amongst her women friends.’

  ‘She doesn’t like men.’

  ‘Then she will enjoy claiming the attention of women.’

  ‘That’s an unfortunate statement.’

  ‘What the devil do you mean?’

  ‘You’re making the suggestion she is a lesbian.’

  ‘How dare you make so abominable a remark? I would never refer to any woman in such terms.’

  ‘The way you spoke . . .’

  ‘Was without the slightest objectionable inference.’

  ‘She does not like men because . . . She asked me never to repeat what she told me. If I were at liberty to explain, you would understand what I say.’

  ‘You are too optimistic. Carry out my orders. Failure to do so will be treated as gross insubordination. You will treat Señorita Farren as prime suspect of her uncle’s death. You will question her at great length and in the greatest detail. If she has an alibi, you will treat it as a lie. You will determine the relationship between her and her uncle.’

  ‘I have done so and every single person stated without reservation there was a warmth between them which named a very close relationship. How could she even think of killing the man who came to her rescue when her parents were killed in an accident . . .’

  ‘You will closely investigate any suggestion of a rift, however small, between them. And you will do so, aware that by your own logic, she is guilty of her uncle’s death since she is the remaining person with a motive. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, señor, only . . .’

  ‘I do not intend to listen to any more emotional nonsense.’

  ‘I was going to say, I am not sure how long it will take because . . .’

  ‘Less time than you would like.’

  ‘Because she’s become reluctant to speak to me.’

  ‘Understandable. Do you need to be reminded how to deal with a suspect who refuses to cooperate?’

  ‘I can’t bring her to the post and treat her like a criminal.’

  ‘It has so far escaped your notice that that is how she is to be treated by you? Why is she refusing to speak? Have you made lewd comments which have annoyed her?’

  ‘She was upset I could believe Señor Kiernan might be guilty of murdering her uncle.’

  ‘It was your duty to believe him guilty, however mistaken the reasons for your belief.’

  ‘She couldn’t understand that.’

  ‘Yet again, it seems you have made difficult what should have been simple. Nevertheless, however objectionable she finds your company, you will question her to the best of . . . I was about to say, the best of your ability, but for once you will make the effort to act professionally.’

  Alvarez refilled his glass.

  ‘You look as if she’s finally found out where you live,’ Jaime said.

  ‘Why doesn’t she know where Uncle Enrique lives?’ Juan asked as he took the last of the baked almonds off the plate in the centre of the table.

  ‘One does not ask personal questions,’ Dolores said sharply. ‘Nor does one take all the almonds.’

  ‘What is a personal question?’

  ‘You are trying to make out you do not understand me? What happens when you annoy me?’

  ‘You get angry.’

  ‘You now understand both question and answer. You can go out and play.’

  ‘Isabel is out there with that stupid friend of hers. She tries to cuddle me, and the boys laugh.’

  ‘Tell her you are too old to be cuddled li
ke a child. Off with you.’

  Juan left. They heard the front door slammed shut.

  ‘It’s sad that when one’s young and is offered something, one doesn’t want it, but when one’s grown up, it’s not offered,’ Jaime remarked.

  ‘You wish to be cuddled? Of course, not by me.’

  ‘I was just thinking . . .’

  ‘Your thoughts were with a nineteen-year-old with few, or preferably no, morals.’

  ‘You think I’m interested in nineteen-year-olds?’

  ‘When I am not there to observe you.’ She turned. ‘Enrique, you are not saying anything.’

  ‘I have been ordered to do something which will cause great pain.’

  ‘To whom?’

  ‘To me and Mary.’

  ‘The young person you have been seeing frequently?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What have you been ordered to do?’

  ‘Question her to know if . . . To prove she killed her uncle.’

  ‘Could she have done such a dreadful thing?’

  ‘Never. I’d bet my life on that.’

  Jaime said: ‘You’d need a better stake to interest anyone in the bet.’

  Dolores spoke sharply. ‘Must you constantly expose your lack of empathy with anyone but yourself?’

  ‘When he says . . .’

  She interrupted him. ‘Enrique, you are clearly very upset about this woman.’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Are you fonder of her than you have had us believe?’

  ‘I thought you said a moment ago that one should not ask personal questions.’

  ‘I was speaking to a child. Do I make a mistake to think of you as an adult?’

  ‘Mary had a bitter life before she came to the island and it’s been even worse in the past days. I cannot willingly add to her suffering; I cannot make it seem I believe her capable of an abominable crime.

  ‘This morning, I had to suggest one of her friends might have caused her uncle’s death. She became furious, like a genet defending her cubs. Her bitter anger, her terrible sorrow will be still greater when she understands I seem to believe she might be the guilty person.’

  Jaime said: ‘All you need to do is tell her you can’t believe she did push her uncle over the cliff in order to inherit her uncle’s money and live on the Riviera . . .’ He stopped.

  ‘You are thinking of the chits of girls with whom you like to imagine yourself,’ Dolores snapped. ‘Sweet Mary, my mother knew what she was talking about when she said a man had room for only two thoughts in his brain: food and women.’ She spoke to Alvarez. ‘The young lady was incensed you could suspect her friend and you are certain she could have had no part in her uncle’s death, yet you have been ordered to treat her as if you believe she might have had?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then first you must regain her trust.’

  ‘I doubt that’s possible.’

  ‘How typical of a man to admit defeat before he’s begun. You tell her it was your fault you spoke in such a way she was bound to misunderstand you. It was obvious her friend could not have been guilty. Express deep sorrow at causing her so much grief. Tell her you have only returned to ask questions because that pompous and incompetent Madrileño has ordered you to do so. Left to yourself, you would never have bothered her again since not for one second have you thought she could have had any part in the tragedy. Frequently tell her you trust her implicitly. In all your years in the cuerpo, you have not met someone so patently innocent of any wrongdoing; to look at her is to know that if she found a hundred euro note in the street, she would hand it in to the police and make certain they traced the loser. You are questioning her when knowing her to be innocent, and your report will teach that mountebank Madrileño he is unfit for his job.’

  There was a silence.

  ‘Now I know why a woman’s never in the wrong,’ Jaime said as he reached for the bottle.

  ‘You will drink no more,’ she snapped.

  ‘I’ve only had . . .’

  ‘Far more than you should.’

  Jaime showed unusual resistance. ‘Since when has a wife had the right to dictate how much her husband drinks?’

  ‘Since she made the mistake of marrying him.’

  Alvarez drove ever more slowly up to Aquila, not from fear of the death-edged road, but because he did not wish to arrive. When Dolores had given her advice, it had seemed very positive; now he was not so sure.

  He reached the house and braked to a halt. He opened the door and waited, he knew not for what – miracles had gone out of fashion. Parra left the house and crossed to the car. ‘Good afternoon, Inspector.’

  ‘Is the señorita here?’

  ‘May I suggest you do not leave your car?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I have been told you are no longer welcome in the house.’

  ‘I have to speak to her.’

  ‘I did not make myself clear?’

  ‘Quite clear. So I’ll do the same. I am going inside and speaking to the señorita and if you get in my way, you’ll end up on your arse.’

  ‘Is that a threat of violence?’

  ‘Make of it what you will?’ Alvarez left the car, pulled the door free of Parra’s hand and slammed it shut, crossed to the front door, went inside.

  Mary came out of the sitting room. ‘Didn’t Pablo tell you to go away?’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘Then would you please do so.’

  ‘After you said what you thought of me last time, d’you think I’d be here now if I didn’t have to be?’

  She looked past Alvarez. ‘Pablo.’

  ‘Señorita?’

  ‘Phone the police and say a man has broken into my house and I want them to come and remove him.’

  Alvarez said: ‘If the policia come here, Mary, it will be to take you to the village for questioning.’

  ‘Oh, my God! You’re threatening me now!’

  ‘No. But my superior chief refuses to listen to reason.’

  She turned. ‘All right, Pablo. There’s nothing we can do in the face of the bullying.’

  ‘I will stay to make certain he does not molest you, señorita.’

  Alvarez said, ‘You will disappear quickly, or I’ll have you arrested.’

  ‘If you . . .’

  ‘Pablo, please leave before the inspector enjoys the pleasure of trying to prove himself the big man he would like us to believe him to be.’

  Parra left. She went into the sitting room and closed the door behind herself. Alvarez opened it and entered. ‘Please try to understand, Mary . . .’

  ‘Señorita Farren.’

  ‘Of course it was ridiculous to think your friend, Señor Kiernan, could possibly have had any part in the death of your uncle, but I was ordered to question him to find out whether he had been trying to escape the repayment of the money he owed . . .’

  ‘He owed nothing.’

  ‘I knew that after speaking to you.’

  ‘No. Only after the accountants had finished their work. Someone capable of any understanding would have known without their pawing through uncle’s papers.’

  ‘I hated causing you so much bitter distress.’

  ‘You kept your emotions very well hidden.’

  ‘You think I enjoyed upsetting you? I’ve said, I was ordered to make those enquiries.’

  ‘And that justifies them? The Nazi war criminals tried to justify their brutalities on the grounds of orders. Most of them were hanged.’

  ‘You’d like to see me hanged?’

  ‘You have no room for the feelings of others, no sense of remorse for what you are doing. An order is an order.’

  Contrary to Dolores’ belief, his words had enraged, not pacified. ‘You obviously want me out of here . . .’

  ‘Pablo made it very clear I did not wish you to enter the house, but being a bully, you threatened him. Had he decided physically to prevent your coming in, you would, of course, have claimed his action could not
be excused on the grounds of my order.’

  ‘I’ll leave as soon as I’ve asked something.’

  ‘Is it which of my uncle’s other friends should become the next suspect?’

  ‘Have you remembered anyone you saw in Palma on the fourth who will remember the meeting?’

  ‘You . . . You’ve come here to find out if I killed Robin. When I loved him for his kindness, his humanity . . .’ Tears slid down her cheeks.

  ‘Please try to remember someone,’ he pleaded.

  She spoke with difficulty. ‘If it’ll get rid of you. I was in Perfección. Buying a frock because Robin was going to give a special party and I wanted to look as nice as I can. Then when I got back home, he wasn’t there and I just thought he . . .’ She ran out of the room and he heard her hurry up the stairs.

  As he walked to the front door and opened it, Parra appeared.

  ‘I doubt you’ll bother to come back, Inspector.’

  On his drive down from Aquila, Alvarez did not once pay heed to the deadly perils he was facing.

  SEVENTEEN

  The phone rang. Alvarez reluctantly picked up the receiver and identified himself.

  ‘The superior chief will speak to you,’ Angela Torres said.

  The way she had spoken suggested he was being granted an honour. It was one he would have happily rejected.

  Salas spoke without any preliminary greeting. ‘Have you questioned Señorita Farren?’

  ‘I am recently back from having done so, señor.’

  ‘Why didn’t you get in touch the moment you returned?’

  ‘When I said “recently”, I meant I had only just done so.’

  ‘It would be an advantage if you learned the recognized meaning of words.’

  There was a silence.

  ‘Do you intend to make a report?’

  ‘It took me time and considerable effort to persuade the señorita to answer me and . . .’

  ‘There is no reason to waste time over irrelevant details.’

  ‘They were relevant at the time.’

  ‘Why are you prevaricating? Is it because you allowed her to refuse to answer you?’

  ‘I am trying to explain it was only by telling her it was your fault that I encouraged her to answer me.’

  ‘What the devil caused you to make that ridiculous and incorrect allegation?’