I left the engineering compartment and returned to Judy’s bunkroom. The metal pinged as I rapped on the hatch. “Judy, Tristan would like to speak to you. I’ve got him on the line, or you can call him. Comms are back online.”
After a moment of silence, she said, “I’ll call him on my phone. Thank you.”
I told Tristan and said we were sending the body up in the diving bell. At that point, I wasn’t sure if Judy would accompany her husband to the surface or if she’d stay on board.
I returned to engineering. JD and I grabbed the handles and lifted the body bag from the deck. Weyland wasn't exactly a light guy. At 6’2”, 200 pounds, we had our work cut out for us. We hauled him through the facility, back to the diving bell. It was loads of fun hoisting him up through the hatch. Once we had secured the remains, we returned to the habitat.
The others gathered around, but I didn't see Judy. I asked Wong, "Do you know if Mrs. Weyland is staying aboard?"
He shrugged.
JD guarded the hatch to the diving bell, keeping an eye on the body. I hurried back through the habitat to the bunk room and knocked on the hatch again. "Judy, I hate to put pressure on you, but we need to get the remains to the surface as soon as possible. Have you made a decision?”
I hadn’t ruled her out as a suspect, but I felt it was unlikely.
18
"I've decided to stay on board," Judy said, her muffled voice filtering through the closed hatch.
"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" I asked.
"It's what my husband would have wanted. This was a dream we both shared. I'm not letting that dream die. Not now."
I returned to the bell, and we sealed the chamber. I contacted the DSV and told them the body was ready for retrieval.
"You're staying down here?" David asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Yes, until we can figure out who's responsible. You've got a murderer in your midst.”
His face tightened.
"I hope you've got a place for us to bunk," I said with a hopeful grin.
"This facility was designed to accommodate 14. There were 10 of us. Now there are nine, plus you two. There is an entire berthing compartment that you can help yourselves to. I'm sure you will appreciate the privacy.
"Thank you. That will be great.”
"I'll show you to your quarters, then you can continue your investigation.”
David escorted us through the facility to our own bunk room. It was just the same as the others. JD and I stowed our gear, then had some questions for David.
I pulled the hatch shut for privacy. "I'm just going to be direct. Who do you think killed him?”
David shrugged. "I don't have the foggiest idea. This honestly comes as a total shock to me.”
"Did you notice any tensions brewing over the last few days?”
"Not that I can say.”
"How about what you can't say?”
The muscles in his jaw flexed, and he exhaled with a hint of frustration. "I'm telling you, I can't think of anybody on the ship who would sabotage the mission like that. We are all focused and dedicated professionals.”
"What about Ross?”
David frowned and reluctantly admitted, "He's the least professional of the bunch, but I do believe, despite his shortcomings, he is a dedicated crewman. Tristan would not have put him aboard the habitat if he didn't see somethingin him. In the time that we've been here, he's already started the grow and is ahead of schedule.”
"The grow?"
