“That’s right.”
“It must have been dark up there on the boat deck,” Mason said. “She couldn’t...”
“Now, that’s the funny thing,” Hungerford told him. “Aileen Fell swears there was a light in the hospital and the hospital door was open. You know, the hospital’s really a penthouse. It’s up there forward of the gymnasium, and just aft of the officers’ quarters.”
“And there was a light on in the hospital?” Mason asked, frowning.
“That’s what Aileen Fell says. Of course, I got it second hand. She was hysterical when she told her roommate. Personally, I don’t put one bit of faith in what she says she saw. But it started the captain searching Mrs. Newberry’s cabin and it’s going to put Belle’s mother in an awful spot.”
“Did the captain search the hospital?” Mason asked.
“Not then, I don’t think,” Hungerford said. “I heard he did later on.”
Mason frowned. “You know, Hungerford, this thing, just doesn’t make sense.”
“Of course it doesn’t,” Hungerford declared. “Miss Fell is crazy. Ida Johnson, her roommate, will do anything she can to help Belle. She doesn’t like Aileen Fell, and is crazy about Belle. She says Miss Fell is one of those opinionated people who make all sorts of positive statements, and then lie to back them up if necessary.”
“Did you get her address?” Mason asked.