Cast into Doubt by Patricia MacDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

up in a room across the hall. And I need to ask you a few questions. Could I prevail upon you to come with me for a few minutes, please?’
    Shelby hesitated, looking from the captain to the FBI agent. Both of them wore identical, impassive expressions.
    ‘What is he going to do?’ she demanded of Chief Giroux, looking, all the while, at Captain Fredericks.
    ‘I need to speak to some people at our corporate headquarters. They’ve asked me to keep them updated on the situation,’ Fredericks said.
    ‘Mrs Sloan?’ DeWitt repeated. ‘Could you come now?’
    ‘Yes, all right,’ Shelby mumbled.
    ‘It’s just outside and down the hallway,’ he said, rising to his feet. ‘We can speak privately. If you wouldn’t mind.’
    ‘Yes,’ Shelby said. ‘All right.’ She got to her feet and followed the FBI agent. They left the chief’s office and entered a wide hallway with cubicles along the right hand wall. The hallway was crowded with people milling around, sitting on the industrial carpeting, or leaning against the wall. They were clearly Americans, judging by their sporty, casual clothing. Most everyone, men and women both, were sunburned, and wearing shorts and fanny packs, hats and, often, sunglasses. Others, similarly dressed, were already seated in the cubicles, talking across desks to policemen. Shelby glanced at Agent DeWitt.
    He answered her unspoken query. ‘Chief Giroux and his team are still questioning people from the ship. They’re talking to passengers as well as crew. Anyone who might know something, or have seen what happened,’ he said.
    Shelby nodded and followed him into a small, bare office. He closed the door behind him. Suddenly it was quiet.
    The agent sat down at the desk opposite her and folded his hands in front of him. ‘I know this is very difficult,’ he said. ‘I understand if this becomes too much for you, but we really need your cooperation.’
    ‘I’ll do my best,’ said Shelby.
    Agent DeWitt nodded. ‘All right. Good. Now, did you speak to your daughter in the last few days? Did she call you from the boat?’
    ‘Yes, she called a couple of times. She has a son. A four-year-old. Jeremy,’ Shelby whispered. ‘She never left him before. She liked to talk to him.’
    ‘How did she sound to you?’ the agent asked.
    Shelby closed her eyes and tried to remember. ‘She sounded . . . normal.’
    ‘Cheerful?’ he asked. ‘Having a good time?’
    Shelby opened her eyes and gazed at him. ‘Do you think my daughter is . . . dead?’ she asked.
    The agent would not be drawn into speculation. ‘They’re still searching,’ he said.
    ‘How long can someone survive in the water like that?’ Shelby asked, pressing the palms of her hands on the desktop.
    ‘I’m no expert on the water,’ said DeWitt. ‘You’d have to ask someone from the marine unit about that.’
    ‘I’d like to do that, right now,’ Shelby said.
    Agent DeWitt’s expression was opaque. ‘When we’re done here. First, let’s get back to the phone calls. You said she sounded normal . . .’
    Shelby could feel her eyes filling with tears.
    ‘Mrs Sloan, I know you want to help your daughter,’ he reminded her. ‘This is the best way for you to help.’
    Shelby nodded and wiped the tears away with the side of her hand.
    ‘Normal,’ he repeated. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary.’
    ‘No. Why?’
    ‘How about her husband?’
    Shelby frowned at him. ‘What about him?’
    ‘Were they getting along?’ Agent DeWitt asked.
    Shelby frowned. ‘Chloe and Rob? Yes. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Why are you asking me about Rob?’
    ‘It . . . it has to be asked.’
    ‘Why?’ And then she understood. ‘Oh no. You don’t think . . .’
    ‘We don’t have any reason to suspect your son-in-law. To be clear, we have surveillance tapes which show him at the sports trivia contest where he said he was.’
    Shelby shook her head. ‘So . . . ?’
    ‘Right now we are leaning toward the theory