Page 200 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Investigating the Mystery of the Talking Plant
198
so good. They found a place to hide behind an unused Tzigian tree
trunk that had been left outside the habitat.
“Now,” said Lieutenant Lugo, “will you tell me what your theory is
about the motive for Bulakko’s murder?”
“Certainly,” said Kaga, “but let’s keep our ears peeled for our
nocturnal visitor. First, let me tell you why I was so positive that
Bulakko was intentionally killed. You remember that sticky patch
below the knob controlling the gravity in this habitat? That was left by
a piece of tape, which I surmised had been hastily removed after the
crime was committed. Why was it there? It could only have served to
mark the location of that dial. That means the murderer did not know
which dial to turn, and depended upon an accomplice to leave some
indication of its location. The implication of this is obvious: only the
personnel here would both know which knob to use and be able to
open the door to the control room. Two individuals who fit these
qualifications are Farnitt and Miss Woswoot.”
“So the circumstances point to them!” exclaimed Lugo. “They
certainly have been acting guilty enough.”
“Indeed they have. But I think we found an alternative explanation
for their behavior last night. And I have yet to find any reason why
they would want to kill Bulakko.”
“I think that incident with the sonopor plant at the opening must
have had something to do with it,” said Lugo.
“So do I,” Kaga nodded. “I’m sure that Bulakko was silenced to
keep him from inadvertently revealing something the plant overheard
in the Tzigian gallery. Exactly what that was is lost; but we may be able
to make our own recording of something just as good. But, getting
back to the murder itself, if Miss Woswoot was not involved, and she
was not at her desk between midnight and 0230, then the accomplice
must have put the tape on the control panel sometime earlier in the
evening.”
“Why is that?” asked Lugo, puzzled.
“Well, the accomplice would not have planned to arrive after
midnight, because he would have been seen by Miss Woswoot. He
could not have foreseen that she would be absent from her post. If he
could have counted on there not being any witnesses, he could have
come at 0230, done the deed himself, and not needed to leave a piece

198