It got worse. Later the next day, the police tracked down Briars as we were touring the Roman ruins at Thuburbo Majus, and took him in for questioning. He came to see me at the auberge around ten o'clock that evening.
"Apparently there is evidence that the fire on the Susannah was deliberately set," he said, downing what I was afraid was to be the first of several Scotches. "The police know Groves and I are both looking for the same shipwreck. I suppose Groves told them. They certainly seem to be aware of my little tantrum down in Sousse, and are therefore considering the possibility, if not outright assuming, that the fire was my revenge. They haven't thrown me in jail, as you can see, but they've taken my passport."
"You should get in touch with the U.S. embassy in Tunis first thing tomorrow, Briars," I said. "I think you need to take this very seriously."
"I suppose you're right, and I am taking this seriously. That isn't why I'm here, though. First off, I want you to know that I didn't set that fire. I confess my first thought was that I'd have the field to myself for a little while, but I didn't do it, and I think it's terrible what happened to that young woman. My remark last night was callous, and totally inappropriate."
"You heard that little speech of Peter's at Les Oliviers."
"I did, and there is no question I was furious. Still am, in fact. I wanted to go down there and knock the jerk flat on his ass. But I am not a violent man, Lara, despite my temper. My idea of revenge is finding that ship before he does. I still intend to do that, and I've come to ask you for some help. We're really short-handed, and I'm wondering if you would consider helping us out tomorrow afternoon when we get back from the morning tour. Would you?"
"I'll think about it," I told him. "I'll let you know in the morning. In the meantime," I said, as Briars signaled for another drink, "if I were you, I'd get some sleep. I don't think a hangover is going to help you any."
"You're right," he said, canceling his drink order, and getting up to pay his bill. I, too, got up from my chair. "Lara," he said to me, "it's really important to me that you believe me, about the fire, I mean."
I looked at him for a moment, and then, without a word, turned and went up to my room. I didn't know what to say, because I couldn't decide whether I believed him or not.
"If you're interested," he called after me, "be at the pier at two o'clock."
The next day didn't get any better. That morning we were exploring an old Byzantine fort north of Taberda. The views of the coastline from the ramparts were magnificent, although one had to dodge chickens and cows to get there, the space having been taken over by an enterprising farmer and his family. Still, it was worth the visit. The place was not as well maintained as it could have been, and we kept cautioning everyone to watch their step. There was one stage that was something of a bottleneck on the way down, and the group was milling about when there was a cry. Catherine tumbled down the broken steps, and lay in a heap at the bottom.
Everyone rushed over to her. She was breathless, and had a rather nasty scrape on one knee. Her wrist, too, was already swelling.
"I'm all right," she said, as she was helped to her feet.
"I'll get the first-aid kit in the bus," Jamila said, rushing away.
"We were told often enough to watch our step," Jimmy said to Betty.
"Oh hush, Jimmy," Betty replied. "Don't be so critical of everybody and everything."
Jimmy looked nonplused. "First time his wife has stood up to him, do you think?" Aziza said quietly.
"Could be," I replied. "I hope Catherine is all right. She hasn't been having much fun lately, has she?"
"I was pushed," she said to me a few minutes later, after the others had moved on and Jamila had taken care of the scrape and taped her wrist. "I did not fall."
"Who do you think pushed you?" I asked. This is preposterous, I thought. The woman was paranoid.
"I don't know," she said. "There was a whole bunch of us there, and I didn't see who it was, but I was definitely pushed. Susie was there," she said accusingly. "I think it was her."
"Catherine maintains she was pushed," I said to Jamila, taking her aside.
"What?" she exclaimed. "Do you think that woman is completely sane? Maybe she's embarrassed to admit she's none too steady on her feet."
"I don't know. Did you happen to see her fall?"
"Not really. There were a whole bunch of them milling about on that small landing. I was talking to Cliff and Emile when it happened, so if Catherine's story is true, which I very much doubt, then it wasn't one of them. I think Chastity and Marlene had already gone down. Other than that, it could have been any one of them."
"What about Susie? Where was she?"
"I think she was in the pileup of people, but I couldn't say whether she was right next to Catherine or not."
"Catherine thinks Susie is behind all this, because she's envious of Catherine's money. There's no question Susie worries about money, but I don't think she's the jealous type, somehow."
"I don't think so, either," Jamila said. "Nor do I think she's capable of such a thing. She's a contented little soul. I found her annoying at first. All those personal questions! But now I think she's really sweet."
"Okay, but let's assume for a moment these stories of Catherine's are true. I agree it's a stretch, but let's do it anyway. Who has it in for her? Has she inadvertently offended someone in the group that badly?"
"Not that I know of. I haven't heard any talk to that effect. Very puzzling."
"Keep your eyes and ears open, Jamila," I said. "And let me know what you hear." There was something very wrong with this group of people, but I had no idea what.
For instance, I had to decide whether or not to accept Briars' story. Having had a night to sleep on it, I decided I did. He had a temper, but other than some rather heated language, I'd never seen any indication that he'd be capable of arson.
"I'm going back to that dealer who tried to rip me off yesterday," Emile said when we got back to the auberge. "Do you want to come with me?"
"I'm sure that would be very entertaining, Emile, but Briars asked me to come out and give him a hand on his boat this afternoon, and I think I'm going to do that. It's rather pleasant out on the water. Do you want to come along? I don't expect the work will be very onerous."
"No," he replied. "My curiosity has been piqued. I'm going to have to go and see if he really does have something, although everything I know tells me he doesn't."
"Okay, I'll see you at dinner, then." I changed into my bathing suit, pulled shorts and a T-shirt over it, and headed for the pier.
"I can't tell you how much this means to me that you're here," Briars said, giving me a big hug. "Whether you meant it or not, I'm taking your presence as a vote of confidence in me, a sign that you don't think I had anything to do with the fire on the Susannah. It makes me feel as if everything is going to be all right."
"You can safely assume I wouldn't be here if I thought you'd done it," I said, and he beamed. He was an attractive man, with an open face, a lovely smile, and a rather good physique. His beard felt very nice against my cheek. There's nothing like an attractive man who's prepared to admit to some vulnerability to turn me weak at the knees. I thought I was outgrowing this tendency. Apparently not.