gentlemen. We are not
properly equipped to do a full autopsy. However, our
medical examiner reports that the cause of death was head
fracture and massive bleeding because of auto accident.
There were no signs of foul play."
"Where is the body now?"
"We are keeping it in the cold storage room until
authorization is given for it to be taken away."
One of the photographers said, "Do you mind if we take
your picture, Capitaine?"
Capitaine Duval hesitated for a moment. "No. Please,
gentlemen, do what you must." And the cameras began to
flash.
Hotel Le Dauphin was a modest hotel but neat and
clean, and his room was satisfactory. George's first move
was to telephone Frank Harold.
"I'm afraid this will take longer than I thought," Brown
said.
"What's the problem?"
"Red tape. I'm going to see the man in charge tomorrow
morning, and I'll get it straightened out. I should be on my
way back to Los Angeles by afternoon."
"Very good, George. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
He had lunch at La Fontana on Rue Notre Dame, and
with the rest of the day to kill, started exploring the town.
Ajaccio was a colorful Mediterranean town that still basked
in the glory of having been Napoleon Bonaparte's
birthplace. I think Robert Stanley would have identified with
this place, George thought.
It was the tourist season in Corsica, and the streets were
crowded with visitors chatting away in French, Italian,
German, and Japanese.
That evening George had an Italian dinner at Boccaccio
and returned to his hotel.
"Any messages?" He asked the room clerk,
optimistically.
"No, monsieur."
He lay in bed and his thoughts return to what Frank
Harold had told him about Robert Stanley.
"Did she get an abortion?"
"No. Robert wanted her to have one, but she refused.
They had a terrible scene. He told her he loved her and
wanted to marry her. Of course, he had told that to dozens of
women. But Emy overheard their conversation, and in the
middle of that night she committed suicide."George
wondered how she had done it. He finally fell asleep.
At ten o'clock the following morning, George Brown
appeared again at the Prefecture. The sergeant was seated
behind the desk.
"Good morning," George said.
"Bonjour, monsieur. Can I help to assist you?" George
handed the sergeant another business card. "I'm here to see
Capitaine Duval."
"A moment." The sergeant got up, walked into the inner
office, and closed the door behind him.
Capitaine Duval, dressed in an impressive new uniform,
was being interviewed by an RAI television crew from Italy.
He was looking into the camera. "When I took charge of the
case, the first thing I did was to make certain that there was
no foul play involved in Monsieur Stanley's death."
The interviewer asked, "And you were satisfied that
there was none, Capitaine?"
"Completely satisfied. There is no question but that it
was an unfortunate accident."
The director said, "Bene. Let us cut to another angle and a
closer shot."
The sergeant took the opportunity to hand Capitaine
Duval Brown's business card. "He is outside."
"What is the matter with you?" Duval growled.
"Can't you see I'm busy? Have him come back
tomorrow." He had just received word that there were a
dozen more reporters on their way, some from as far away as
Russia and South Africa, "Demain."
"Oui."
"Are you ready, Capitaine?" the director asked. Capitaine
Duval smiled. "I'm ready."
The sergeant returned to the outer office. "I am sorry,
monsieur. Capitaine Duval is out of business today."
"So am I," George snapped. "Tell him that all he has to
do is sign a paper authorizing the release of Mr. Stanley's
body, and I'll be on my way. That's not too much to ask, is
it?"
"I am afraid, yes. The capitaine has many responsibles,
and..."
"Can't someone else give me the authorization?"
"Oh, no, monsieur. Only the capitaine can do the
authority."
George Brown stood there, seething.
"When can I see him?"
"I suggest if you try again tomorrow morning."
The phrase try again grated on George's ears. "I'll do
that," he said. "By the way, I understand there was an
eyewitness to the accident...Mr. Stanley's bodyguard,
Donald Herman."
"Yes."
"I would like to talk to him. Could you tell me where he's
staying?"
"Australia."
"Is that a hotel?"
"No, monsieur." There was pity in his voice. "It is a
country."
George's voice raised an octave. "Are you telling me that
the only eyewitness to Stanley's death was allowed by the
police to leave here before anyone could interrogate him?"
"Capitaine Duval interrogated him."
George took a deep breath. "Thank you."
"No problems, monsieur."
When George returned to his hotel, he reported back to
Frank Harold.
"It looks like I'm going to have to stay another night
here."
"What's going on, George?"
"The