“Mr. Stendahl, can a person murder another, then collect on his life insurance?”

“No. A murderer is not legally entitled to benefit from his crime.”

“So if Mrs. Manning should be convicted in this court, what would be the next action of you and your company?”

The ax fell on Stendahl. “Ah, we would of course endeavor to recover the money already paid.”

“So, you and your company have a twelve-million-dollar ax to grind, do you not?”

“I, ah, see your point,” Stendahl said softly.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Thank you, Mr. Stendahl; no further questions.” Stone sat down and gripped the edge of the table so that his hands would not be seen to tremble. Now the playing field was better than even; it was tilting his way.

Sir Winston had no redirect. He was not looking happy. He called his next witness. “The prosecution calls Captain Harold Beane of the St. Marks Constabulary.” A well-starched officer took the stand and the oath.

Now, Stone thought, we find out what, besides the diary, the police might have found on the Expansive.

Chapter
52

Sir Winston shuffled some notes, then addressed his witness. “Captain Beane, in the pursuit of your duties did you have occasion to visit the yacht Expansive at the marina in English Harbour?”

“I did.”

“For what reason?”

“I received a call from the customs officer at English Harbour saying that a death had occurred on a yacht which had just sailed into the harbour.”

“What did you find when you arrived at the marina?”

“I found Mrs. Allison Manning alone on the yacht. She told me that her husband had died aboard while they were en route from the Canary Islands to St. Marks.”

“Did she mention a cause of death?”

“She said he had died of natural causes; she strongly suspected a heart attack.”

“Did you later have occasion to search the yacht?”

“I did, after the preliminary questioning of Mrs. Manning.”

“Did you find any evidence aboard the yacht to support Mrs. Manning’s contention that her husband had died of natural causes?”

“No, I did not.”

“Did you find any evidence aboard the yacht to suggest that Mr. Manning might not have died of natural causes?”

“I did.”

Sir Winston held up the leather-bound diary for the jury to see, then handed it to the 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.”