In Search of Murder--An Inspector Alvarez Mallorcan Mystery by Roderic Jeffries

times and received no answer; there was no connexion due to Telecom’s incompetence; your mobile seems to have broken; you met a man who told you he had very important information, but after a long and liquid conversation you decided he was mentally deficient?’
    â€˜I have spoken to Señoritas Marta Espinar and Rosalía Mulet and their evidence is slightly at odds.’
    â€˜As you have already told me. The nature of your questioning may have made that inevitable.’
    â€˜The question is whether or not Señor Russell left Vista Bonita when Señor Picare was still alive. In effect, Marta says he did, Rosalía that he did not. Marta unfortunately believes the señor intended to divorce his wife in order to marry her and—’
    â€˜There is no need to repeat something you have already told me.’
    â€˜Minds are often clouded by emotion.’
    â€˜What are you attempting to say?’
    â€˜If Marta believed Señor Russell might be thought responsible for the señor’s death, perhaps a sense of responsibility would have urged her to free him from suspicion.’
    â€˜Russell has also been troubling her?’
    â€˜There’s no reason to think so.’
    â€˜Then why should she suffer any wish to make up the story?’
    â€˜I don’t think she did.’
    â€˜We seem to have become disconnected even though we are still speaking.’
    â€˜I’m trying to present all sides.’
    â€˜And presenting nothing. Do you or don’t you believe Marta’s evidence’
    â€˜Since it was necessary to determine whether her personal distress was disturbing her memory, I asked her what she ate at lunch that day. Her answer corroborated what Rosalía had said she cooked. Quail, seasoned with—’
    â€˜I am uninterested.’
    â€˜It can be a truly delicious dish.’
    â€˜You failed to hear what I said?’
    â€˜Since Marta accurately remembered what they’d eaten, I accepted it was reasonable to accept her evidence about what happened. Russell left Vista Bonita after lunch and when the señor was still alive.’
    â€˜Russell may have been in the pool with Picare.’
    â€˜Hardly likely since she heard them saying goodbye.’
    â€˜Where was she when she heard them?’
    â€˜In the kitchen,’
    â€˜Have you checked that the sound of voices would have reached her there?’
    â€˜It is my intention to do so as soon as I have reported, señor. He drove away immediately afterwards.’
    â€˜As to be expected if he’d murdered Picare.’
    â€˜His clothes would have been sodden.’
    â€˜That would not have prevented his leaving.’
    â€˜There wasn’t enough time for all that after Marta heard them say goodbye.’
    â€˜She may be misjudging the length of the interval between hearing the voices and Russell’s driving off. It would be normal for a woman to misjudge time.’
    â€˜If he had been clothed in the pool, there would have been considerable noise when he got out and the water streamed off him. She would have heard that.’
    â€˜Not necessarily. As you will have reason to appreciate, a wandering mind misses much.’
    â€˜Señor, I will return to Vista Bonita and check what, when one is in the kitchen, one can hear from the pool.’
    â€˜Something which should have been done before.’
    Rosalía’s words were sharp. ‘What brings you back yet again?’
    â€˜You,’ Alvarez answered.
    â€˜Then you’re a born loser.’
    â€˜I need your help.’
    â€˜To do what?’
    â€˜Talk while I’m in the kitchen and—’
    â€˜Forget it.’
    â€˜And you’re out by the pool.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜I want to make certain I can hear you speak.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Marta says she could hear the señor and Señor Russell say goodbye.’
    â€˜With her mind in its recent state,