Dead in the Water

officer. “Did you find this book?”
    “I did.”
    “After comparing it with other documents aboard the yacht, did you find the book to be in the handwriting of Paul Manning?”
    “I did. Mrs. Manning confirmed that.”
    “In what form is the book written?”
    “In the form of a diary.”
    “A diary written in the hand of the murder victim?”
    Stone was on his feet. “Objection; no evidence has been offered to indicate that a murder took place.”
    Sir Winston turned on him. “The man is dead, isn’t he?”
    The judge intervened. “I am sorry, Sir Winston, but Mr. Barrington is right. The objection is sustained.”
    Sir Winston nodded, then turned back to his witness. “A diary written in the hand of the deceased?”
    “Yes.”
    “Captain, would you turn to page three and read the passage marked, please?”
    The officer found the page. “‘They had been on the boat together for months now, and she had been the perfect bitch. She had always had a temper, but now she frightened him with the intensity of her anger.’” He looked up from the book.
    “Now please turn to page seven and read the marked text.”
    The officer found the passage. “‘They argued one day as she was making lunch. She had a chef’s knife in her hand, and for a moment, he thought she might use it on him. He slept badly that night, waking often, expecting to feel the blade in his back.’”
    “Thank you, Captain,” Sir Winston said, taking back the book. “Your Lordship, we wish the diary to be recorded as Exhibit Number One for the prosecution. Now, did you find on the yacht any weapon that might be used to commit a murder?”
    “There were no firearms, except a flare gun which had never been fired,” the officer replied, “but there were many knives aboard—several in the galley and two on deck in scabbards, secured to parts of the yacht.”
    “Was any of these knives of sufficient size and strength to be used to kill a man?”
    “They were, all of them.”
    Sir Winston paused dramatically and looked at the jury as he asked his next question. “And did you find any other weapon?”
    “Yes, I did.”
    Sir Winston reached into his briefcase, brought out an object, and held it up for the jury to see. Without taking his eyes from the jury, he addressed his witness. “Did you find this item?”
    “I did,” the officer replied.
    Sir Winston handed it to the bailiff, who handed it to the witness. “And what did you determine this object to be?”
    “It is a spear meant to be fired at fish by a gun operated by compressed air.”
    “Could this spear be fired out of the water?”
    “Indeed it could.”
    “With sufficient force to penetrate and kill a man?”
    “Yes, indeed. I believe it would be effective from a distance of as much as twenty feet.”
    “Is any particular strength or skill required to load and fire such a spear gun?”
    “No.”
    “Could a woman do it?”
    “A child could do it.”
    Sir Winston produced a spear gun from his briefcase. “Would you demonstrate the weapon for the court?”
    “I would be glad to.”
    Sir Winston turned to the judge. “May the witness leave the box for the purpose of a demonstration, Your Lordship?”
    “He may,” the judge replied.
    The captain stepped down from the box, and another officer entered with a sheet of plywood, leaning it against a wall. The captain loaded the spear gun, aimed it at the plywood, and fired. The spear buried itself solidly into the wood with a loud thunk. There was a stirring in the jury box as the members imagined the spear entering Paul Manning’s body.
    “The defense wishes the spear recorded as ExhibitNumber Two for the prosecution,” Sir Winston said. “I have no further questions for the witness at this time.”
    “Mr. Barrington?” the judge said.
    Stone rose. He wanted to address the spear first. “Thank you, Your Lordship. Captain Beane, have you had occasion to go aboard other yachts at English Harbour?”
    “On many occasions,” the officer replied.
    “Did any of them have knives aboard?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “Did all of them have knives aboard?”
    “I suppose so.”
    “Did any of them have spear guns aboard?”
    “Yes, I suppose so.”
    “So knives and spear guns are quite common, if not universal equipment aboard yachts, are they not?”
    “Yes, they are.”
    “Did you find any specific evidence that the spear or any of the knives aboard the yacht Expansive was used in the commission of a