"Captain tossed me overboard, sir," Bill blurted out. "Had a tally board of everyone who drowned. Looked like he was excited to add another -"

He stopped himself as he remembered why the captain had done this. He usually made a habit of avoiding the police at all costs; the constable would be just as happy to lock up a thief as a murderer.

He turned to the man who had handed him the bathrobe. "Should I just, er, strip down right here?" he asked.