Murders in Bermuda
The Investigations of Margaret Blackburn. Book I
by
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As he finished talking, a short and full-bodied lady in her early sixties came down the stairs. She was in striped pink shorts, topped with a yellow Hawaiian shirt; the whole ensemble was complemented by white socks and the latest, most aerodynamic sneakers.
- Mrs. Baker, I presume? said Hughes.
- Yes. Are you the police?
- Yes, Mrs. Baker. This is Mrs. Blackburn and that’s Captain Surrey.
- I don’t know what else I can tell you that I didn’t tell the other policemen yesterday.
- Don’t worry about it, replied Hughes. Just sit down, right here, and tell us one more time all that comes through your mind. And spare no detail. Everything is important.
- Well ...it was early in the afternoon. I had some time to kill ... Good Lord! That word! I had some time to spare ... before my church group came to pick me up to go and visit the perfume factory. I decided to take a little walk. I had heard that behind the Manor passed a so-called tribe road. I was intrigued by the name, and wanted to know what it looked like. After a couple of hundred yards, I discovered a small dirt path going down toward the beach. I assumed it was the road in question. As I was looking around, I heard a noise, the humming of an idle motorcycle engine. I walked in its direction. I couldn’t see well because of the high bushes. Then ... I reached a clearing, and there ... there was this man on the ground. He looked... dead, and leaning over him was another man ... I guess it was a man. I couldn’t tell. He was wearing a motorcycle helmet and large dark goggles covering his face. This ... man ... person ... was holding some kind of knife in his hand. As soon as he realized that I was there, he took off on his motorcycle, and I started screaming ... I thought I was losing my mind... Then I ran back to the Manor where the desk clerks and Mary tried to help me.
- Then?
- Then? That’s it. The police came...
- Mrs. Baker, said Hughes, you told us that you saw the man ... or woman holding a knife. Was it something like this? He pulled out of his pocket the stiletto wrapped in a plastic bag, and showed it to her.
- I guess so! she replied.
- Are you absolutely sure, Mrs. Baker?
- Oh yes, I am!
- Very well. Now, and this is very important! Did you notice whether the man, or woman … the individual was wearing gloves? asked Hughes.
- No, the individual, as you say, wasn’t! His hands… I can still see them… they were white and covered with blood. It was disgusting!
- Thank you very much, Mrs. Baker. You’ve been a great help. I’m really sorry this had to happen and spoil your vacation.
- Can I go now? she asked, somewhat relieved it was over.
- Yes, Mrs. Baker. Thanks again.
He turned toward Margaret and
- This is not it, I bet. Someone is taking us for a ride. I found it down by the beach. This someone wanted us to find it, but I have reason to believe it isn’t the murder weapon! Do you know why I don’t believe that this stiletto is the murder weapon?
Simple! There is no blood on it, and guess what...I bet it will show
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About the Book
Tongue in cheek Victorian mystery: Margaret Blackburn investigates the murder of Pamela Outerbridge during the Queen’s visit to Bermuda in 1976. The husband is the prime suspect, but his alibi seems unshakable. The ending is happy, although during the investigation, Margaret’s associates and suspects pay dearly for her indiscretion.
About the Author
John Peter Dee (a pseudonym) is a Pathologist and University Professor in Philadelphia. In his early years of practice, he had served for the Coroner’s office of the Island of Bermuda. That experience was the ferment for his novel. He wanted it old fashioned, light and tongue in cheek, faithful to a modernized victorian tradition that he bilieves readers of the genre would enjoy.