Chapter 1

In Poole it was midday on a winter’s morning. Majestically designated in ferry guides; The Bretagne, stood in the docks at Poole. The Bretagne has top-rate onboard facilities. , These include live entertainment, shopping, first-rate dining, and can accommodate over two thousand passengers, approximately half of which are in cabin accommodation.
In the car park leading into the ferries car storage area stood a young pilot stunning in his uniform. Children stared and pointed others wondered why he shows of so openly when he is clearly not flying. He stood outside of his car conversing with a tall man with a confident stance and a pipe in the side of his mouth. The man was covered up from head to toe against the winters biter weather. Only showing the tips of his white hair and his great big glasses.
In Poole it was one thirty on a winter’s morning. Majestically designated in ferry guides; The Bretagne, stood in the docks at Poole. The Bretagne has top-rate onboard facilities. , These include live entertainment, shopping, first-rate dining, and can accommodate over two thousand passengers, approximately half of which are in cabin accommodation.

In the car park leading into the ferries car storage area stood a young pilot (Captain Labon) stunning in his uniform. Children stared and pointed others wondered why he shows of so openly when he is clearly not flying. He stood outside of his car conversing with a tall man with a confident stance and a pipe in the side of his mouth. The man was covered up from head to toe against the winters biter weather. Only showing the tips of his white hair and his great big glasses.

It was freezing cold and the last thing they wanted was more delays. All the foot passangers had already boarded not that there were many of them at such an early hour. Labon complained to his neighbouring driver as they waited for permision to get in there cars and board. Elequantly spoken and beautifully constructed arguments poured from his mind and out of his mouth. It was obvious that this man enjoyed conversation with the pilot but was a bit concerned at looking less intelligent. So as one does, he raised his standards, in accent, word choice and topic.
'You know you saved my neck back there.' Labon said emotionally.
'Ah, I only seek to find the truth.' The stranger replied.
'Yes but Detective Calcutta, if it was not for your cleaver, no genius, search for the truth, then I would be in prison right now.'
'Well, probably still on your way to prison but I understand.'

He had said this a few times before but who can blame him conversation waiting to bard a ferry is offten repetative and rarely stimulating.
'This is true.' Calcutta noded in agreement.
'How long are you intending to stay?'
'What in France?
'Yes.'
'Well I have never been there before so I intend to stay untill I am called back to work. So maybe half an hour.' The Captain said in jest.'I hope to travel to Paris stay the night and then head home for my inevitable flight. Such a fine city.'
'Paris?'
'Why yes, you do not think so?'
'Well yes but I am supprised you do.'
'Why?'
'Well. You have never been to france.'
'Ahh Well done. No I think so from pictures and videos and friends reviews. Alas I long to walk the streets myself.'
Calcutta shot a glare at the passangers setteling themselves in one the ferry. For what little difference it made, he was so far away. Instead he turned his atention back to his conversation.
'You know I can't decide whether I prefer traveling this time or during the day.'
'Oh? Why is that?'
'Well at this time there are very few people occupieing the ferry. In the day however, it is less awkward.'
'Yes it is a bit hard to travel at midnight.'
'No worry you will sleep and wake up in france' The Captain said.
'Indeed' Calcutta replied pasivly.
Anna Rhien was in her car trying to sleep after having little sleep the night before. She had left from Edinbugh the day before. Niether on her drive down to Poole nor now in the carpark has she been able to get any sleep. She sat up and looked around, nothing much to see. A large dark dock, the carpark leading to the awaiting ferry. A few cars waiting, two people talking, one was in uniform one looked like he was going to the arctit. God it must be cold outside.
The anouncment was made they must now board the ferry. They were instructed to follow the green light. The six cars proceeded upon instruction to go through a gateway following the car infront onto the car storage area. The whole process is very natural and simple. Follow the car infront and go where the ferry employees direct.
Finaly with everyone cleared from the lower decks, the ship began to move. Slowly at first as it was creeping out of dock.
By now everyone was one their way to seateling into their accomodation. Calcutta was directed Cruise Hostess to his four berth accomodation.
'Here you are sir.' She presented to Calcutta in a flamboyant and dramatic manner. Either to illistrate how great it was or to make it out to be better than it was. Eithe way Calcutta was happy he was alone in a four bed room.
Calcutta went to the resterant. It would had been hours since his last meal and it would be hours till breakfast. It was a tough choice to have to make sleep or eat, he was so tired but his stomach had taken comand on this occasion.
When Calcutta returned quite satisfied with his meal he fell straight asleep, he had a lot of sleep to catch up on from the past few days. Upon awaking he was satisfied that everything had gone exactly as the young pilot had said. "YOU WILL GO TO SLEEP AND AWAKE IN FRANCE."
However, when Calcutta walked out to head to his car the ferry had indeed stopped; but it had not stoped at St Malo where they should for all intents and purposes, be. Rushing to find someone who could tell him why they had stopped in the middle of the sea, as well as numerous other questions. No one seamed particularly bothered that they had stopped surounded by water; which by all acounts means they are stranded. Eventually Calcutta saw a Hostess and called to her.
'Exuse me.'
No answer.
'Hello! Excuse me!'Calcutta yelled down the long thin corridor.
This time she turned and stopped.
'Yes?'she replied.
'Why have we stoped?'
'Sir there was an anouncement. We have stopped because there is a problem with the bolt clamps in the engin room so we have routinely had to shut the engins down. I'm sure we will be on our way shortly.'
'Bolt clamps?'
'Yes.'
'And what are they?'
'I don't know. But they are broken and they need fixing.'
'I want to speak to the Captain.'
'The Captain is busy! Sir.'
'Driving the boat or playing enginer?'
The Hostess pouted.
'I'll see if he wants to see anyone.'
'Tell him Calcutta wants to see him.'
'Yea right shall I say Dortnmund is with you?' She laughed at her own wit.
'No just say Detective Samuel Calcutta wants a word' He said sternly.
'Oh. Oh I see. Yes certainly. Come with me sir.' Her face went straight as a poker players. 'I'm sorry I thought you were being difficult.'
'It's ok. I'm used to it.'
'Oh. Well we have a little proble that maybe you could help us with.'




The Captain who was also an old friend of Calcuttas informed him they have had a murder.
'We have stopped because one of the girls found a passanger dead locked in a cupboard.'
'So why have you stopped? Inform the French Police and take the boat in let them deal with everyone and find the murderer.'
'I have informed them. I was instructed to stop the Ferry and await the French Police.'
'When was this.'
'About three hours ago.'
'They must be sorting out the red tape.'
'It could be quite a while before anyone gets to us.'
'In the mean time there's a killer running around.'
'Please Calcutta I'm beggin you. Take the case, find the killer.'
'But there is a concern with that approach.'
'Which would be?'
'The killer at the moment still may think he has gotten away with it if he bought that interesting story about bolts.'
'You suggest what exacly?'
'Well, if an investigation begins, everyone including the murderer knows the body has been discovered. The consequences of which are unpredictable.'

The Captain chose not to head the Detectives warning and asked Calcutta to proceed with the investigation.
'...I will join you for I am in comand of this vesal.'
'Very well, the first and most important thing of any day and I have not yet done it.'
'What is that? Are you to make a list of suspects?'
'No Captain, I am to eat. It is breakfast that is the most important part in any succesful day.'
'Oh yes ofcourse. I useually end up skipping it.'
'Why on earth would you want to do that?'
'Well you know busy with something. Either on my way out in two minutes time or I'm makeing sure the ferry is pointed in the correct direction.'
'Well you should always make time. Wake up fifteen minutes earlier or have something bought to you.'
'Thats sound advise.'
'Indeed. Now you lead the way, I'm terible on these things. I sware they are like a great big village all crammed into one tiny space.' Calcutta indicated a shrinking motion with his hand as they steped into the elevator. 'Of course I find my way around just fine, I mean they are designed to be that way. But you must know this place like it's your second home.'
'Well more like knowing your way around your kids school, you know.' The Captain said looking at Calcutta as if for emphasis. Calcutta responded with a blank expresion on his face. 'Well by that I mean I don't actually come down hear that often but often enough to know it well.' He explained upon Calcuttas blank look.
'I see' Calcutta said. 'Where exactly was the body found?'
'Wow that was a change of topic.'
"not really" Calcutta thought.
'Um a locked cupboard in the lower decks. The area has been sealed of. The only way in or out is useing my authorisation, from outside or if there is an emergancy and the emergancy exits open.'
'Right.'
'Well here we are Les Abers AKA The Main Resturant.'
The Main Resturant has a superb range of dishes which can cater to almost any tastes you might fancy. There is a buffet of French cuisine. Ceareals for your quick breakfast and more English cuisnes such as Baccon, Eggs, Tommato and Toast. Calcutta Elected for Baccon, Eggs, on Toast and a coffee on the side.

Having sat down and not having much else better to do than talk to the Captain; which was difficult without talking about the case. And obviously talking about a murder in a resturant with blissfully unaware people in may cause a problem. No the anouncing of the murder needed to be handeled delecately. It should be a smooth procees of collecting everyone and geting them to think about why we have stopped. Then anounincing that there is a criminal on board. Anouncing there would be an investigation and then anouncing that the criminal murdered a passenger. Yes that is probably the best way of handeling this situation.
Calcuttas turn in the que came promptly and his trane of thought was broken when he made his order.
'I'll have a coffee to drink.' Having observed the girl behind the counter asking the passengers to repeat their orders several times he concluded she must be new, and so waited till she finished writing that down. 'Baccon and eggs.' Again waiting for her to write that down. 'on a bit of toast.'
"The eggs and baccon on toast not the coffee dear god." Callcutta thought.
Calcutta went and sat in the seat opposite where the Captain had already sat and apeared to be enjoying his breakfast. Calcutta looked around, he enjoyed traveling between countries. There is always this area where countries seam to mearg together and where members of both nationalities are accepted with open arms. There are of course technical borders to which nation states exist but this is but a formality so that those living further away from these crossover points can feel comfortable. Also it is a good way to make money.
'I like this don't you?'
'What eating breakfast? Yes, I didn't realise how hungry I was. I'm bloomin starving.'
'No I ment I like how so many differenct cultures and classes can all come together and get along together.'
'Don't overstate it. It is only ment to be a means to an end for a few hours then they never have to see any of them again. It's like a homophobic catching the only bus into town and there is a gay person on.'
'Even so I think situations like this and like the one you just described are a credit to the human race.'
'Situations like this hu.' The Captain said choking a bit on his bagette. 'You mean how someone.'
'Stop right there.'
'What?'
'If you were just about to talk about the broken engin then you probably shouldn't'
'I like that broken engin.' The Captain said quite sugestively.
'lets go.'
'What but I havn't finished my role and you still have some coffee.'
'The coffee can wait and you can bring your bagette'
Calcutta got up and began to leave. The Captain grabed his Bagette and hurried affter him. By the time he had caught up to him, Calcutta, was in the elivator.
'Wow, when you chose to go you really go don't you.'
'Yep.' Calcutta said firmly. Then turning to him said just as firmly. 'Also, you were just about to cause panic by spreading rumors about the murder.'
'Oh boy. I thought we agreed that we should go along with the case and that the passengers would find out.'
'We did. However, they need to find out correctly.'
'And what exactly is correctly?'
'Correctly is a strategicaly writen speach that you will anounce.'
'Oh I see.'
'Yes. So you will tell them that there is infact no engin problem, which will get them thinking why have we stoped, you will answer with we have stoped because there is a criminal umungst us. People will begin to worry and wonder what type of criminal, you shall say the matter is being investigated by the british police and you will then ask everyone to join you in a two minute silence in respect for the loss of whatever the passengers name was. They will at this point realise it is a murder but out of respect be unable to start a riot of any sorts.'
The elivator stoped and they got out and retraced their steps back to the bridge.
The captain happened to be good friends with Samuel Calcutta, seasoned detective.
‘You saved my skin today, old chap. I don’t know what we would have done without you, you saved me much hassle.’ The Captain said
‘Well I guess you would have just waited till the police arrive. Alas I am here, am I not’ Samuel replied.
‘Sorry to put you on the spot but it will be good to have someone as experienced as yourself work this case.’
‘Experience, yes an interesting word. It can be taken two ways.’
‘Oh’
‘Yes, either I take a compliment that I am well knowledge in my field or I take insult as it implies I’m old.’
‘I didn’t mean’
‘I know, don’t worry I know I am experienced and very good at catching criminals.’
They walked through the corridors filled with passengers as they continued to converse about Calcutta’s part in it all.
‘I honestly don’t think I can thank you enough for taking the case when you were on your way to your holiday.’ The Captain said.
‘Oh it’s no problem I can claim the days back, I can catch up on the paper work tonight. And let’s not forget that you’ve helped me out on plenty of occasions too. One being the cheap tickets for this journey’
‘Call it even then?’
‘Even it is.’ Calcutta concluded as they walked into the lecture room.
They entered the Bridge, It was large as a room but there wasn't much room to move. There was a large desk which resembled a map in the centre of the room. It was electronic and showed the location of themsleves in relation to France and England. They were just on the nose of French waters.
'Well I guess I should make the anouncement then.' The Captain said
'No not yet.'
'Why, not?'
'Well because, I would like to have a writen down version of the anouncement so that you do not say something by mistake that may do more harm than good.'
'Forgive me but who are you to determin what will do more harm than good? The Captain has made more anouncements than you will ever make.' Said one of the Bridge officers.
'Well I'm sure that is correct. But how many of those anouncements have been about a murder to potenital victims of another murder and the murderer himself.'
There was a silence and no reply, only awkward looks and people keenly going about their business.
'You said he.'
'Sorry.'
'The murderer you refered to the murderer as him. Do you know it is a male?'
'Oh no it is just a way of not saying "he or she" every time.'
'So you say he but the posibility is open?'
'That's correct. Alright lets get to work on this anouncement.'
As to what parts of Calcuttas eventful and highly profitable career Calcutta would talk about; that was left out of the conversation. It was left unsaid that Calcutta had more than enough material to write his memoirs on, the exciting, the interesting and the gruesome. Calcutta was both successful in the police force and business ventures.
All over the ferry the passengers either walked to the restaurant or sat down somewhere reading a book or conversing with one another. The windows shook as a violent wind swept by. Some people shivered, knowing it meant braving a bitter cold wind on their return home or their way to their holiday residence.
Calcutta and The Captain drew up an announcement together. Using Calcutta’s expertise in the area of handling peoples emotions in times of murder and the Captains experience of making announcements. They came up with:
“ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS. AS YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE STOPPED. THE REASON YOU MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR THIS IS BECAUSE OF EMERGANCY ENGIN REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THERE IS ONBOARD A CRIMINAL. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BRITSH POLICE TO APREHEND THIS CRIMINAL. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A TWO MINUTE SLIENCE TO PAY RESPECT TO THE VICTIM.”

The passengers had been informed that there would be a detective investigating from the British Police. Although it was not announced who; The Captain had set in motion the start of the investigation. The passengers seemed satisfied and curious about the investigation and the man seen walking around with The Captain. They had correctly assumed he must be the detective.
It is that time of year where few people chose to travel and it being a midnight departure even fewer people were travelling. That was why every year the detective went on holiday after the new year’s rush and before spring and summer began. He had not yet settled on whether he preferred to travel in the day or the night.
A young woman approached him she was tall, slim and beautiful; she had dark wavy hair. She wore Jeans and a T-shirt both fitted to her attractive figure. She held a jumper and coat with a bag draped over her shoulder. Calcutta judged by her appearance and bold attitude that she was the kind of girl who could handle anything thrown at her.
There was a long silence as some people made their way out of the restaurant. Others stayed to eat a while longer. For eating serves two purposes nourishment and social. They are the same passenger you see in the restaurant before and or after cinema.
Passengers took this time to eat and to talk amongst themselves. They talked about the cinema and their jobs the book they were reading a promotion which seemed so far off it may never take place. Andrew inquired if Miss Rhine would be attending a party later that day. Calcutta took this opportunity to make his exit with The Captain.
‘No I won’t be I’d like to read some of my book’ Miss Rhine replied.
‘That’s a shame.’
‘I might be out this weekend; maybe I’ll see you there we can all go together’
‘Maybe; we are going to Fabric this Saturday, if you are interested come over to my flat beforehand’ Fabric is a nightclub the largest nightclub in Britain and has an ecstatic atmosphere.
‘Well at this rate we shant even be in France by Saturday’
‘Oh don’t be silly of course we will. We will we in port in just a few hours and back in Britain by Friday just you wait and see.’ Andrew stated confidently
Out in the corridor Calcutta and the Captain continued their conversation half professional half old friends.
‘It is a lovely place you work here, reminds me of the good old days when we hadn’t a care in the world’ Calcutta said.
‘You didn’t have a care in the world, you just enjoyed the ride me I longed to be the person driving these cruises.’
‘You know this isn’t an actual cruise right?’
‘It’s a mini cruise it’s close enough.’
‘A mini cruise. Okay. Whatever makes you happy old chap.’
‘Hey do you remember how our parents used to exchange holidays?’
‘Oh yes.’
‘That’s how we met remember on these ferries. You would always drive from Viersen, Germany, and spend the weekend followed by us coming home with you for a few days.’
‘A neat little arrangement wasn’t it. We both had a regular long holiday in the other persons home. Our parents had friends us as kids had friends.’
‘And we are still friends to this day.’
‘Ah yes good times..’
They continued to talk in the corridor whilst moving towards the coffee shop. Passing meaningless scenery, which none the less held many memories for the pair.