Affair in Trinidad Page #2

Mrs. Emery.

Mrs. Emery, I'm sure

the Inspector didn't mean to imply...

Those were bricks falling, Mr. Anderson,

not innuendoes.

Well, if there's any way

the Consulate can help...

No, thank you.

All I want to do is get out of here fast,

catch the first boat back home.

Are there any friends or relatives

you'd like us to notify?

Well, there's...

No.

I guess not.

They tell me Trinidad makes the rest

of the tropics look like Callahan's back yard.

- Yes. It's very beautiful.

- Must be.

I have a kid brother who came down here

five years ago to paint a tropical moon.

He's still painting it.

Say, maybe you know him.

The name's Neal Emery.

- Emery?

- Yeah.

He's about my size. He's a sort of a...

No. I don't recognize the name.

- You down here on business?

- Yes, business.

- Come down here often?

- Yes. No.

- Once in a great while.

- Things must be picking up.

I hadn't heard from him for months,

and then all of a sudden I...

- Excuse me.

- Yeah.

- Anything wrong?

- I don't know.

But I hope he makes it.

I say, Jimmy,

why waste your time with that?

Here comes the real thing.

May I have one more, Mrs. Emery?

How about giving a fellow American a break,

Mrs. Emery?

My name's Peters. Freelance reporter.

I'd like to get some details on this story.

You know, American girl, ex-GI.

- With pictures of me doing native dances?

- Why not?

- We could both pick up a few bucks.

- Not interested.

Listen, baby,

you don't have to put on an act with me.

I've been in that joint you work in.

I'm an old friend of Mrs. Emery's.

If she needs an arm to lean on,

I think she'd prefer mine.

Sure. Sure, whatever you say, Mr. Fabian.

- There'll be no more of that. I'll see to it.

- Thank you, Max.

Why haven't you let me come to see you?

Why should I bother you with my troubles?

I was a friend of Neal's.

I'm still a friend of yours.

At least, I hope I am.

Oh, Mrs. Emery?

Inspector Smythe would like to see you,

if you please.

Of course.

- Excuse me, will you, Max?

- I'll wait for you.

Oh, I'll be with you in a minute.

Very well. Now, sign there, will you, please?

Oh, Mrs. Emery, this is Jefreemy Bates,

a fisherman from the island of Tobago.

He has some information for us.

Thank you. That'll be all for now.

- We'll let you know if we want you to testify.

- Yes, sir.

Do you happen to have your passport

with you?

- Yes.

- May I have it, please?

Mr. Anderson tells me

you're planning to return to the States.

As soon as this is over.

Well, I can't say I blame you.

Your stay in Trinidad

hasn't been a happy one.

However, I'm afraid I can't let you go.

Not just yet.

Perhaps not for a very long time.

Mr. Anderson, I...

Mrs. Emery,

your husband didn't commit suicide.

- He was murdered.

- Murdered?

Yes.

According to the medical examiner,

there were signs of a struggle.

He died of a fractured skull,

not a bullet wound.

The gun was fired after death.

But who would want to kill Neal?

I have here a statement

made by the man who just left.

I'd like you to hear it.

"I, Jefreemy Bates, do declare that

at 4:
30 in the afternoon of Monday last,

"I saw Neal Emery's boat

docked at the landing

"which adjoins the estate of Max Fabian.

"There was no one on board.

"I was in view of the landing

for at least half an hour

"and during that time

saw no one approach or leave the boat."

4:
30 in the afternoon,

approximately the time

at which your husband was murdered.

You think Mr. Fabian...

Or someone in his employ.

But I can't believe it.

He was a friend of Neal's.

Mrs. Emery,

if you knew Max Fabian's history,

you'd have no trouble whatever

in believing it.

- But what reason could he have?

- As for his precise reasons, I'm not sure,

but we're certain

your husband was involved with him,

and murder is very much

a part of Mr. Fabian's business.

He's caused the death of many thousands.

Oh, he's not a criminal

in the ordinary sense. Far from it.

He's a man who deals in political intrigue,

secret information, treason.

A man who has grown rich by exploiting

trouble and unrest wherever they exist.

During the last war,

he recruited saboteurs for the enemy.

He bought and sold

vital military information for both sides.

However, there's no need to go on.

The important fact is that Max Fabian

is now in the Caribbean

and, frankly, we're disturbed.

We have reason to believe

that he's engaged in activities

that threaten our security.

Well, then, why don't you arrest him?

Unfortunately, we have no proof.

We can, however, arrest him

for the murder of your husband

and charge that you were the motive,

that he killed Neal

because he was in love with you

and wanted to get rid of him.

It would be difficult to convict him,

but at least we can try.

I realize it would be a very ugly business

for you,

and I regret to have to put you through it,

however, I have no choice.

I hate to think

what tomorrow's paper will look like.

By the time this is over,

I won't be able to go back home.

There is an alternative, Mrs. Emery.

Yes, there is.

And we'd much prefer it

if you could help us find out

exactly what Mr. Fabian is doing in Trinidad.

Me?

How could I...

It's well known

that he finds you most attractive.

You could get us the proof we need.

Is this where Neal Emery lives?

Well, would you tell him

that his brother's here?

Come in.

I Wittol, sir.

- You are the owner of the Caribe?

- Yes. Full owner.

- You knew the deceased, Neal Emery?

- Very well. An unhappy, tragic boy.

- He was in your employ, was he not?

- We had arrangement, that's all.

I allowed him to use my premises

for his sketching.

- Purely out of friendship.

- Inspector?

You were good friends, then, eh?

To give you an idea, I let him run up

a bill at the bar, almost $100.

Little secret from his wife.

Can you give me any reason

why Mr. Emery should have taken his life?

When a man wants so much

to be a great painter and has failed...

You mean he was despondent

about his work?

Many things.

To understand Mr. Emery,

you must remember he was an American.

It humiliated him

to be supported by his wife.

It's a ridiculous attitude, of course.

Why should he object

to such an arrangement?

Myself, when I was young,

I used to dream of such a thing.

Now, of course, it's too late.

That's all. Thank you, Mr. Wittol.

You may step down.

- Thank you.

- Mrs. Emery, please?

Mrs. Emery, we have no wish

to add to your grief,

and we shall try to conclude this hearing

as rapidly as possible.

You have heard Mr. Wittol and the others

describe your husband's state of mind.

Do you agree substantially

with what has been said?

- Yes.

- Do you have anything to add?

No.

In your presence,

did your husband ever speak of suicide?

Yes, many times.

- Inspector Smythe?

- No questions, sir.

That'll be all, Mrs. Emery.

- We have no further evidence to present, sir.

- Very well, then.

Since there is nothing

to conflict with the presumption of suicide,

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