All at Sea by Greg Tuck

Author:Greg Tuck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder, mystery, theft, police, cruise ship, investigation, australia, queensland, cairns, jewellery
Publisher: Greg Tuck

Chapter 21

How to look busy when you actually aren’t. This was the dilemma that faced Liz, Nat and Sarge over the next couple of days. With no new leads, they were at a loss. Back in Cairns, such a case would be shelved and something else could be worked on. On the Coral Voyager, out at sea, that opportunity didn’t present itself all that well. Sarge was regretting having his two best detectives with him. Such was his confidence that a quick resolution would be found, he thought that it would all be wrapped up within a couple of days and perhaps a passing vessel may take them back to the nearest wharf. Now well out to sea, there was no way they were going to be able to leave the ship before Townsville.

Normally the Coral Voyager followed the coastline and it was just over a day’s sailing between Cairns and Townsville if there were no stops. Traveling at vastly reduced knots, because it was under tow and unable to steer properly, the ship speed inched southward laboriously slowly. They had to travel a greater distance too which just added to the time on board. The captain was well aware of the number of wrecks that had accumulated on the reef, some still rusting on the rocky shore, others now covered in coral growth below the surface. He was confident that his ship wouldn’t be added to the list, but one thing he was concerned about was the possible damage below the surface that may have occurred during that time on the rocks. The Great Barrier Reef was a World Heritage listing and a place of magnificent beauty with a fragile ecology. He didn’t want to be the commander of a ship that spilt oil and damaged it. Extra time at sea in very deep water was a far better option.

Sarge had reinterviewed Mendoza’s cabin mate with not much gained. Mendoza was a pretty insular character who seemed focused on his work, his family and little else. They rarely spoke, mainly because Mendoza appeared shy and taciturn as well. His cabin mate was also an oiler, but worked a different watch, at his own request. They tended to live two separate existences. Their twenty-four hours which involved, sleep, work and personal time rarely saw them together and both were happy with that choice.

The chief engineer was a little more helpful saying that Mendoza had more talent than many of his colleagues and even some of his superiors. He was brilliant on a lathe and a mill and was able to do any fine work that was required, including some electronic work that needed almost a microscope to see. His fellow crew members knew of the skill but as Mendoza didn’t laud his own abilities, he wasn’t teased for having them. In fact, many crew members brought things to him to repair, which he would do for free in his own time. Sarge had seen some electronics in Mendoza’s cabin, but assumed they were his.

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