Sweet Essence of Murder

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After the USS Garfield, CVA-89, hit Hanoi and the rails going from there into China, Otis figured they had started WWIII. By early April of 1965, he and his shipmates were ready for a rest, and the huge carrier anchored in Hong Kong. Rest, however, would come after he got out of the navy, as he caught shore patrol duty the first night. It was not a routine assignment. While assisting the British M.P.'s in searching for a deserter, his partner disappeared on a commuter train headed for Red China. Their C.O. feared espionage agents had grabbed him. Thus, blaming Otis for the incident, the officer charged him with "Shirking Duty," a shameful offense, and scuttled the young man's career. Four years later, starting over as a San Diego P.I., Otis Mulday went back to look for his old shipmate. As before, he stood on the banks of the Sham Chun River border and stared at the ancient fort built by the Ching Dynasty. It still housed border guards and dissenter prisoners. Like most castles, it had a moat, but it contained huge crocodiles, doing double duty as guards and food, the guide said. He must get inside.