From the journal of James Fernandez

I was quite hesitant heading to the Americans car. My interview with Señora Silveira had ultimately been a failure. I let out a deep sigh and entered the car. He and his friend were discussing…travel plans? The American spoke in an accent that made it very difficult to discern anything he was saying. A cover perhaps? Either way, I stepped forward clearing my throat. The men both stopped their discussion and focused on me.

"Hello gentlemen, so sorry to interrupt. I wanted to ask you a few questions about the murder in the car next door." I said in my best English. I'm not sure if I misspoke or if the American was just surprised by my arrival. He raised his eyebrows up above his dark sunglasses.

"A murder?! Oh shoot you mean the lady on the floor was dead? Al-Uh I mean ALL this time I thought my friend FRANKIE here was talking about someone else."

Elvis rolls a 24 on a bluff check

James rolls a 7 on an insight check

The man's glasses made him an unreadable enigma. He was either a genius or very lucky. Possibly both could be true.

"Uhhh…yes, well I'll try to keep this brief. Sorry to ask," I pointed to his companion. "Can your friend wait outside? I'd like to talk to you two separately." He turned his head to his friend.

"Uuuuuuuh he's fine right? He doesn't really talk anyways so you'd need me here to interpret for ya. Besides, he can read lips too."

I stood puzzling for a moment.

"Fine, do as you like. I'll just ask a few questions then." I sat down on an open seat and opened my notepad.

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"Did either of you see or hear anything before you came running into the car with the body?"

"Nope, not me. Frankie, you see anything?" He began began making hand signs. Johnny watched closely.

"Yeah…uh huh…okay." Johnny turned back to me.

"He didn't see anything either."

James rolls an 11 on an insight check

Unfortunately, they seemed to be telling the truth.

"He says he heard something or someone on top of our car though. Honestly this guy mishears stuff all the time. I don't know if I trust him."

"Is he not your friend?" The silent one looked at him then to me.

"Oh yeah, for sure. Him and I have been a whole lot together. I'd call us friends." I placed my hand firmly on my brow.

"I…You…" I shook my head and waved my hand.

"What did he hear?"

"Well," he starts and looks at his friend who begins signing again.

"He says it wasn't that he heard it. He's deaf, but he felt shaking that was off from the normal movement of the train." Frankie then points straight up.

"Above you?" I look up to check the emergency hatch is this car.

The hatch is still snugly closed and latched. Unlike the one in the car with the body and the one in the Silveira's car.

"Did you see anyone go in or out of the car in Front you around midnight?"

"Not me. I was asleep at the time and I'm a kinda heavy sleeper. Side effect of being on tour…Uh on tour of the Caribbean."

James rolls a 3 on an insight check

Damn, I can't find any holes in his testimony. He's picking his words very carefully. I have nothing, no rebuttal can dispute such solid claims.

"I see, what did Frankie see then?"

"Uhhh, he says hwle only saw you and your kid."

James rolls a Nat 1 on an insight check

That check out. I did step out for a cigarette. Damn these men and their untouchable observations.

"Okay let's try this a different way." I turn to a blank page. "Do either of you know the deceased?"

"Oh sure, I know plenty of deceased folks. My mama, Jimmy, a buncha friends in the army." I shook my head again.

"I'm sorry for your loss. No, I should have been clearer. Did you know Miss Martinez?"

"Who's that again?" He stared blankly back.

"THE DEAD WO…"

I inhaled deeply.

"I'm just going to write no."

"Thank you gentlemen. This has been…informative. I may come back for follow up questions so please try not to go back to sleep quite yet."

I exited the car back through where Miss Martinez was found. Towards the head of the train. I need to talk with Señor Diaz. Perhaps he could enlighten me how someone might engineer a murder.