h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*sits bolt upright*

I mixed the drinks, I remember what everyone had. Marisol had dry sherry; Maria, vodka martinis with two olives each. June had rum and coke, I had neat whiskey. And Abel had his usual: brandy and seltzer. There were only a couple of fingers of brandy left in the bottle, and only one small bottle of seltzer, but he only had time for one before we were called to dinner, anyway.

I had no idea he was armed, but it doesn't surprise me. He dealt in weapons manufacturing and distribution, after all. You can't be secure enough, in that field.

Ms. is it? Well, I had no idea who the guests would be this evening, nor the purpose of this doomed get together. And, if you must know, my assistant books family time into my diary as required.

*Spins sharply towards the former Mrs. Body.*

Embezzling! How dare you accuse me, Marisol! Abel's company is but one of many in my portfolio and one of the smaller ones, at that. I don't need to acquire wealth by stealing it.

And not that it is any of your business, but I inherited these pearls from my dear, departed mother.

Do please turn off the water works. It is not a flattering look for you.

And another thing... Abel and I were never anything more than business partners. He had a good business idea and I saw the potential for profit in it.

I don't mix business with pleasure. Ever.

Thank you.

My error I am sure.

Maria, how did you come to be in business with Mr Body? And how is business, may I ask?

Mr Body was looking for an investor for his business idea. He approached me and I was impressed with the the product, weapons that neither jammed not misfired. I agreed to become a silent partner in the endeavour.

The business is doing quite well, although there are a number of opportunities that remain to be exploited.

*offers Maria a coffee*

Thank you, what opportunities would those be?

Opportunities with characteristics that didn't meet Abel's high ethical standards. Perhaps Simon can be more specific on the matter.

I'm sure he may?

*looks at Simon*

And I have one further question for Marisol, do you recall visiting the guest bathroom yesterday?

Inspector? Were you able to find out who made the phonecall to mr Body?

*opens notebook - reads while muttering the words slightly under his breath*

'In her statement, Ms Fonseca said that she went to the bathroom to take a warfarin tablet. She had left a pack here from when she stayed in the house at an earlier occasion.'

*keeps muttering and pacing up and down*


'Doesn't look as if we are near to an arrest yet, does it?'

Ah, Ms Mil - The call was an international one, but the phone did not store the number. We are still trying to trace it.

International phonecall? Now that is curious... Perhaps mr Simon would know more, if it perhaps was about the weapons business? Is he still dozy from the drinks?

*Stares at Simon* 'I think the lot of them are still under the influence of alcohol. And shock at finding the host dead like that.'

Has the autopsy revealed anything? Or has it not started yet?

Well, there are certain possibilities.. at the moment, the death is suspicious. As to the cause, the field is wide open.

The only thing that is known is that he wasn't stabbed, shot or strangled. Death at the moment is by means unknown.

If he was clubbed by a heavy object, why did he die clutching his stomach? It is very, very strange.

We need to examine everyone's alibi for the time of the murder, from the time Mr Body left the dining room, until the time he was found.

Did Ms Fonseca really say that she went to take a Warfarin tablet? (Inspector read that out in post 90) In Post 75 June Somers says it was her Warfarin.

I believe the Inspector was distracted by some sort of editing problems at the office, TC

(I must confess the literary habit of referring to someone by their first name, next statement by their last, next first, next last, can be quite confusing, especially when there are a number of people in the narrative)

Well, if he is easily distracted like that, it looks like we are on our own solving the case. Perhaps he has a vested interest in covering for one of the ladies?

Madisol, June, may I ask, who is Mr Body's lawyer? And who was the main beneficiary in his will?