Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Vol. 29, No. 4, September 1971

The color in Benz’ cheeks was high now. And Sam took a flyer: “And Richard Ramirez is a Mexican-American. Is that why you dislike him?”

“One of the reasons.”

“Another being he and your former wife apparently were contemplating marriage.”

“She has been under the influence of alcohol, in one form or another, since the death of Roger Caldwell. She was in no mental or emotional condition to discuss anything.”

“But did she intend to marry Ramirez?”

“She was infatuated with him, no more.”

“From his remark of a moment ago, I gather he hasn’t been so hep on this possible wedding.”

“It’s his attitude now.”

“You mean—”

“I mean Tina is dead! If she were alive, you’d see Mr. Ramirez purring all over her. It was sickening.”

“Why would he change so quickly?”

“Defense. He doesn’t want to be involved. I’m surprised he hasn’t already bolted. Mr. Ramirez is a fair weather lover, sergeant, a fair weather man. When the ship is rocked, he likes to be on shore. He became trapped this time.”

“Trapped?”

“Poor selection of word. He was here when murder was committed. If he had had a choice I’m sure he would have been far away.”

“Perhaps he is the murderer.”

“Perhaps. He could have killed Tina, I suppose. It would have been an emotional thing, of course. She was an independently wealthy girl and Ramirez had an eye on that wealth, I’m sure, so if he did kill her the act probably was emotionally triggered. Maybe she came to her senses, told him to get lost. That would have angered him. Yes, that could have happened.”

“Earlier I heard you say something about this being a sex killing. Do you have evidence, doctor?”

“No. I saw her naked there on the floor, the swim suit stripped from her...”

“Of course, committing a violent sex act so close to the other guests does seem a bit far fetched. For instance, I assume anyone could have opened the door from the pool to the game room at any given moment and walked in.”

“The door was locked. From the inside.”

“Oh?”

“It shouldn’t have been,” Benz continued with a wave of his hand. “It wasn’t earlier. There is a bath off the game room, the only bath near the pool. So the game room door was never locked when we had guests. But today, when Caldwell attempted to open the door, he found it locked. It puzzled him, so he looked in a window, thinking there might be someone inside who had inadvertently locked the door. That’s when he saw Tina.”

“Do you think she might have locked the door? Perhaps she entered the house with someone and did not wish to be disturbed.”

“I don’t like that inference, sergeant,” Benz snapped.

“I have to consider all possibilities, doctor. I believe I heard someone say no one outside heard a scream, therefore, I must consider the possibility that Tina Polk was in the game room with someone who did not frighten her. Incidentally, do you think one of the women guests could have killed her?”

“I sincerely doubt it. Few women have the strength to strangle another person, especially if the intended victim is struggling.”

“And you’re assuming Tina Polk struggled. There is very little evidence of a struggle.”

“She struggled,” Benz said flatly. “Was she intoxicated this afternoon?”

“Not that intoxicated.”

“Well, there’s a bruise along her jawline. I’m going to guess a little and say that she was struck with a fist, perhaps knocked unconscious, then strangled. Of course, she could have been bruised in the fall to the floor.”

“Either could have happened.”

“She could’ve been struck without warning. This could be the reason no one outside heard a scream or any noise of a struggle. It could be the reason there was no struggle.”

“A possibility, yes,” Benz nodded.

“I believe you said you were sitting in a lounge chair at pool-side when Caldwell discovered the body.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t keeping a checklist of the comings and goings of the guests. I doubt that anyone was. People drift at these kind of parties, sergeant.”

“I see you have a knack for anticipation, doctor. I thought you might have been keeping a special eye on Tina Polk. You once were married to her, you profess love for her, you have been living in this house with her. Under those conditions I thought you might have noticed when she left the pool area, who might have accompanied her — or if someone later entered the house.”

“There are four entries to this house, sergeant, and only one is in sight of anyone in the pool area. But the other doors are easily entered. Also someone could already have been inside the house.”

“Where were the domestics working this afternoon?”

“Bales was tending bar at the pool. Mrs. Bales was keeping the snack trays filled from the kitchen. People can be in the house and Mrs. Bales would not be aware of them, the kitchen is that isolated. It’s in the left wing, and there is a direct exit to the outside.”