‘You know, Leroux, I was thinking of another possibility.’
‘Another one?’
‘It’s obvious. There might be someone besides us on this island.’
‘What?’
Ellery and Leroux had first gone to the inlet with the pier, then the rocky area near the burnt-down Blue Mansion and were now walking along the little path through the grove. They were heading for the northern cliffs that overlooked Cat Island.
‘What do you mean, Ellery?’
Leroux stopped in his steps and asked again.
‘There’s a possibility the murder was committed by an outside party.’
Ellery looked back at Leroux and smiled.
‘Or do you prefer to think that one of us is the murderer?’
‘D—don’t make jokes about it. But who could be hiding on the island?’
I think it’s…’ Ellery said nonchalantly, ‘Nakamura Seiji.’
‘Oh!’
‘Why so surprised?’
‘But Ellery, Nakamura Seiji was murdered last year.’
‘And I think that a mistake was made there. Have you never considered it, Leroux? The body of Nakamura Seiji, which was found six months ago, was the textbook example of “a headless corpse.” And then there’s that gardener who disappeared at the same time.’
‘You mean that Seiji was the murderer and the body thought to be his was actually the gardener’s?’
‘Precisely. A simple switch.’
‘And that’s why Seiji is still alive and has now come to the island.’
‘A possibility. Though perhaps he actually lives on the island.’
‘He’s living here?’
‘Remember the story the old fisherman told us two days ago? That sometimes the lights of the Decagon House are on? Seiji might’ve been the one who lit the lights.’
‘You can’t believe all those ghost stories. During the period the police and media were on this island because of the case—and even now—where do you suppose Seiji is hiding?’
‘That’s why we’re exploring the island now. We just took a look at the little boathouse in the inlet, but there was nothing suspicious there. Even though our first priority is to find a way to contact the mainland, I think we should also look for traces of someone living on the island somewhere. That’s also why I said we need to take a look at Cat Island.’
‘But still, I can’t believe that Seiji’s the murderer.’
‘Really? Did you know the window in Orczy’s room wasn’t locked? Isn’t it reasonable to suppose she forgot to lock her window and that someone came in from outside?’
‘Then why was the door also unlocked?’
‘The murderer opened it from the inside after the murder. To get into the hall and glue the plastic plate on the door.’
‘But that doesn’t make sense. How could anyone from the outside know that you’d placed the plates in the kitchen drawer?’
‘The one who left those plastic plates could have been someone from the outside in the first place, couldn’t he? The lock of the front entrance is broken, so anyone can go in and out as they please. Yesterday morning Seiji could have left those plates on the table, waited until we got up and probably observed us through the kitchen window. Or someone among us might be working with him.’
‘That’s impossible.’
‘I’m just discussing theories. Leroux, you may be a big fan of mystery fiction, but you’re not showing much imagination.’
‘Ellery, mystery novels and reality are two different things. Anyway, what motive could Nakamura Seiji have for wanting to kill us?’
‘Who knows?’
They had reached the end of the path and come out on the cliffs where Carr was standing. Having noticed them, Carr stood up and looked the other way.
‘Hey, you’d better not go off alone all the time.’
Ellery was speaking to Carr, who had not said a word. He ignored Ellery and walked off into the grove.
‘Difficult guy.’
Ellery clicked his tongue lightly.
‘Everybody’s on edge right now. I’m afraid I might’ve said too much also. But he seems to be holding a grudge against me personally.’
‘I think I know what’s bothering him,’ said Leroux and he glanced to where Carr had vanished.
‘Ellery, you always—even at a time like this, you always remain so calm, as if you’re observing us normal people from a place far away.’
‘That’s how I appear to you?’
‘Yes. I’m not sure whether it’s praise, but I do feel some kind of respect for you for that. But Carr is the opposite. I think he’s jealous.’
‘So that’s all it is?’
With a disinterested look, Ellery walked in the direction of the sea.
‘Just shrubberies. Not a good place to view the island.’
He was talking about the island in front of them, Cat Island. Leroux stood next to Ellery and said, while paying attention as to where he put his feet: ‘It does seem like two or three people could hide there. But then there’s this cliff.’
‘He might have a boat. It’s not far, a rubber boat is probably enough. Leaving from the rocky area over there and then…Hey, look, Leroux.’
Ellery pointed.
‘That slope on the island, do you think it’s climbable?’
‘Yes, I think so.’
Staring at the dark Cat Island floating on the white waves, Leroux tried to make sense of all the thoughts inside his confused mind.
True, the possibility of another party present on this island, as pointed out by Ellery, could not be dismissed altogether. Someone else might be hiding on the island and be after their lives. But to assume that person was Nakamura Seiji would be jumping to conclusions. What were the chances of Nakamura Seiji still being alive? Even if he were, why would he want them dead?
It’s just impossible.
Leroux slowly shook his head.
It’s just impossible, he thought.
But there was something in his memory that nagged at him. There was something he needed to remember.
The waves washing the cliffs at his feet also washed his mind. Every time a fragment of memory appeared, the waves immediately took it away.
Leroux gave up thinking and looked at Ellery next to him. Ellery had nothing to say anymore and was looking coolly at the sea.
The wind brought the scent of dusk.