The inspector crinkled his nose at the putrid combination of diesel fumes and seagull droppings while he looked across the soaked deck of the enormous oil tanker as it sparkled in the midday sun.
“There’s no damage to the ship from last night’s storm?” he enquired.
“Not at all. A ship this size won’t suffer damage no matter how the waves roll” the skipper interjected. “Alright, let’s go below deck and get this over with.”
“The sooner the better!” Exclaimed the inspector.
The pair descended a rusty metal staircase before heading inside to a dark and dank corridor punctuated by hefty bulkheads. Finally, they entered a small room.
“This is the captain’s quarters,” explained the skipper “there’s nothing out of ordinary and no sign of forced entry.”
The inspector crouched down and examined the neatly tucked-in bed sheet. Clearly, the captain was a man of precision. The room was silent apart from the ticking of a simple minimalist alarm clock by the bed.
“Alright, time for the scene of the crime” he said with a deep sigh.
A few meters down the corridor was a cramped engine room. The couple entered to a strong smell of chemicals lingering in the air.
“He came in here to check on the machine room but the fumes were too concentrated. He must have passed out and that was the end. I just don’t understand. The captain always followed protocol. Why would he enter the room when the noxious gas was still in there? He was three hours early for the inspection.” The skipper was forlorn.
“The only explanation is trickery. Somehow another person on the ship tricked him in there!” Scoffed the inspector.
They went outside to get a bit of fresh air. Just at that moment, a small rowboat nudged the mighty hull of the ship.
“I couldn’t help overhearing your predicament gentlemen!” called out the rower, one rather tanned detective Case. “Let me offer a slightly less sinister but no less tragic explanation”
“You mean to say there is no foul play?” asked the inspector.
“The only thing foul in this case are those fumes! The captain was not murdered!”
How did the captain meet his end?