Barry looked it over with a critical eye, searching for any clues as to what might have happened to Charlie before his sudden death, but the boat was clean.Probably Louis or the sea had wiped it all clean.
“Did you find anything out of place when you bought the boat back?Broken glass, something missing?”
“At least one glass got broken.I found several pieces in the kitchen area.Took forever to get them all, but it’s not at all surprising.”
“Why is that?”
“These are party boats.People get a little drunk, lose their balance, and glasses break.There had also been a storm a day or two before the boat washed up on shore.That’s probably why it did—” He blinked as if that thought had just occurred to him.“Anyway, things could have fallen out of the boat if the rocking was bad enough.”
“Did Charlie happen to mention why he was buying the boat?”
Louis looked thoughtful.“I don’t remember.He was eager to get the boat, I remember that.Said something about having a small one and wanting to upgrade.”
This would be a huge upgrade from his small fishing boat.None of the boats on the other island were near as large unless it was a commercial fisherman, and Barry was sure even then that they didn’t have plush furniture and full bathrooms.
Why would a broke fisherman get this boat?One would think he would want to give up a life on water and seek dry land.
“Can you tell me what kind of impression he gave you?”
Louis looked confused.“What do you mean?”
“Did he seem like a man of wealth or like someone who had just won the lottery and was out to spend it?”
“Definitely not wealthy.He actually showed up in a t-shirt and shorts and sandals.”Louis chuckled as he shook his head in disbelief.“I’d say more the lottery winner.He looked like he had just come running from somewhere.He was all too happy to flash his money.”
That would put a target on anyone’s back.Anyone would have tried to kill him for the money, but not necessarily the person who gave him the money to begin with.
“And you didn’t find it odd he paid in cash for this boat?”
Louis looked sheepish but shrugged.“It’s not like I could prove the money was stolen.He knew what he was looking for and paid.It was a quick sale.”
Louis wouldn’t question a guaranteed sale.Especially at that price.So once Charlie got the money, he immediately spent it.Barry wondered about the others.
“Have you sold any other yachts about this size or in cash over the past two months?”
“No.”
So either the other fishermen had just moved on to other fishing grounds, or they hadn’t bought from here?“Is this the only place in the islands to get yachts?”
Louis stood up a little taller, looking prideful.“It’s the best place to find yachts in these waters.”
“I can see that.What about smaller boats?”
“It’s the Caribbean.”Louis barked with laughter.“You can find a boat anywhere, but yachts are only found here.”
“Are there a lot of fishing boats around here?”
“Not the big commercial ones, only a few smaller ones who bring fish to the island for the restaurants or the boats for tourists who want a big catch.”
“Have you heard of any fishing issues here?A decline in fishing?”
Louis looked thoughtful again, his lips pursing out before shaking his head.“Not that I’m aware of.”
“I really appreciate it.”Barry started to walk past him.
“What about your friend?Do you think this is the type of boat he would want?”
Leave it to a salesman to keep pushing the sale.“I’ll talk to him and get back to you.I thank you again for your help.”
