Authors: Ekaterine Nikas
I
was led to a room I had not before entered, a study lined with bookshelves and
containing a large fireplace and leather chairs and a massive desk behind which
Lieutenant Mavros sat looking fiercer than I had ever seen him.
"Please
be seated," he said, gesturing to the closer of the two chairs.
He waited for me to do so, then said,
"I do not think I need to remind you how serious this matter has become,
Miss Stewart.
Murder has been
attempted not once, but several times.
A boy is missing, perhaps kidnapped.
One of my men has been lured away from his post, another
attacked, and now a woman lies dead, thrown from a cliff by a ruthless
killer.
There is no more time for
games, evasions, or half-truths.
There is no more time for lies, however well-intentioned.
From this moment I expect -- no,
I
require
-- your full and
complete cooperation."
"Yes,
Lieutenant."
"Good.
Let us begin, then.
First I would like your description of
events from the time you left the hospital last night until my arrival this
morning."
I
told him everything, describing the drive home, Spiro and I swapping bedrooms,
and waking to find Spiro and Geoffrey arguing loudly in my room.
"How
long were the three of you together before I arrived?"
"Not
long, maybe five minutes."
"You
say Spiro and Mr. Redfield were arguing loudly.
Could they have been arguing more than a few minutes before
you awoke?"
"I
don't think so, but I’m not sure.
You'll have to ask them."
He
nodded.
"And you, did you
leave Spiro's room during the night or at any time this morning?"
"No,
though I can't prove I didn't."
"Tell
me, were you surprised to find Mr. Redfield in your room so early this
morning?"
For
a moment I hesitated, then admitted, "I was at first, but he explained to
me later that he'd come because of a note I'd left for him at his hotel.
He thought I was in some sort of
trouble."
"Is
he in the habit of coming to your rescue then?"
I
felt my cheeks grow warm.
"I
think he feels a responsibility for me because I came to
Ithaki
to keep
an eye on Michael."
"I
see," he said, looking skeptical.
"And that is why he stormed into your bedroom like a jealous lover?
No, don’t bother answering.
How did he know which room was
yours?"
I
met his intent blue gaze. "He visited me there before," I
admitted.
"When I first
arrived at
Ithaki
."
His
dark eyebrows rose, but he moved on to another subject.
"I understand that during your
first evening here Spiro loaned you a gold purse belonging to his sister.
I also understand from his sister that
the purse was never returned to her."
"I
meant to return it," I said, "but it disappeared before I had a
chance to."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes,
it was propped up on the bureau when I left for dinner Friday night, but
Saturday morning I realized it was gone."
"Why
did it take you so long to notice its disappearance, and why didn't you tell
someone about it when you finally did?"
"I
didn't notice it was gone, because I was distracted by other things when I got
back to my room Friday night, and I didn't say anything about its being
missing, because I assumed Maria had returned it to Mrs. Redfield.
Though I don’t see what any of this
have to do with --"
I broke
off, suddenly remembering the glittering object that had been clutched in
Helen's lifeless hand.
"Oh,
my God," I exclaimed.
"So it was Helen who took it."
"Apparently,
but why?"
"I
don’t know.
But the reason I
didn't notice the purse was missing Friday night was that my room had been
trashed.
There was nail polish on
my dresses, my purse was slashed to ribbons, and someone scrawled a message on
the mirror telling me to leave
Ithaki
."
His
expression was grave.
"Why
didn't you tell me of this before?"
"I
was going to,” I said, “but I was afraid you wouldn't believe me.
I thought you might think I'd done it
myself.
I decided to clean things
up and not say anything."
His
mouth tightened.
"The purse
disappeared from your room at the time of this attack?"
"Yes."
"And
you think Helen may have been responsible for the attempt to frighten you
away?"
I
nodded.
"She never seemed
happy with my being here, and when she came by my room Saturday morning she
seemed startled to find me still there and the room looking normal.
I wondered at the time, but I had no
proof."
"I
see.” He paused, steepling his fingers together.
“Perhaps Mr. Redfield took exception to such treatment of
you?"
My
head jerked up in surprise.
"Come on, Lieutenant!
You don't really think Geoffrey would murder Helen just because she
wrecked my room, do you?"
He
shrugged.
"I am still not
satisfied with the explanation of his presence here this morning."
"What
about Spiro?” I demanded.
“What
reason does he give for being up and about?"
"A
perfectly reasonable one.
He heard
a strange noise, and went out to investigate.
When he returned to the house, he was set upon by Mr.
Redfield."
"Kind
of undermines your theory, doesn’t it?
Geoffrey tackling Spiro that way?
I mean, if I'd just pushed a woman off a cliff, I wouldn’t rush to the
nearest house and pick a fight with someone so everyone would know I'd been at
the scene of the crime the very time the crime was committed.
Would you, Lieutenant?"
"Who
can know what crazy things an Englishman may do?" he said, but something
akin to respect flickered in his blue eyes.
"Well, Miss Stewart, I have only one more question to
ask you.
"For what reason do
you
believe the maid, Helen, was murdered?"
"I've
been thinking about that all morning.
My only guess is that she must have known or discovered something about
these attacks on Michael.
You
know, she disappeared yesterday.
Maybe she was lying low because she knew she was in danger."
He
nodded and stood up.
"It is a
possibility.
But then, why did she
return?"
I
shook my head.
"I don't
know."
"Well,
thank you.
You may go now."
"About
Michael?" I asked.
"Have
you found out anything?"
"No,”
he said, “there is no news, but that, in a way, is what I expected."
"What
do you mean, what you expected?
Haven't you at least been
trying
to find him?
He's in terrible danger!"
"Is
he?” replied the policeman.
“I am
not so certain."
"What
do you mean you're not so certain?" I snapped.
"He's in the hands of a murderer who's already tried to
kill him at least three times --"
"It
has been more than twenty-four hours,” he interrupted, “and, you will forgive
the brutality of my words, we have found no body, which gives me hope that the
boy is safe enough for now.
You do
not need to scowl at me that way, Miss Stewart.
I do not say I have abandoned the search for him, only that
I believe the discovery of his whereabouts may not be the most pressing
problem.
Judging from the events
of last night and this morning, I fear our murderer is growing desperate."
"Exactly!"
I cried.
"That's why we have
to do something."
He
frowned.
"The boy is not the
only one in danger," he said, striding to the door and opening it.
"Do not attempt to do my work
for me, Miss Stewart.
I do not
wish to see you taken away in an ambulance like Helen."
*
*
*
After
the Lieutenant had finished with me, I returned to the drawing room to find
Spiro anxiously urging his sister to retire to bed with some sleeping pills.
I didn't blame him for his
concern.
Up close, I was shocked
to see how haggard Demetra looked.
Helen's murder had obviously taken a toll on her; she looked strained to
the breaking point.
My
eyes rose and met Spiro's, and I was startled by the open anger I saw
there.
When he spoke, however, his
voice was frighteningly calm.
"Yes?"
he said.
"I
just wanted to tell you I'll be leaving today.
I've already imposed on your hospitality too long, and after
this morning I thought it might be best if I returned to town."
Demetra
suddenly looked up in surprise.
"You are leaving?" she said, almost as if the thought upset
her.
"Ah, I see, you are --
how do they say it? -- 'abandoning the sinking ship'.
My friends in England, my supposed friends, they did the
same after my husband died and the police started coming around with their
questions.
Very well then,
leave.
We do not need you."
"Demetra,
please," Spiro murmured softly in Greek, "do not upset yourself.
Everything will be fine.
Miss Stewart is leaving because she and
I have had a personal disagreement, nothing more.
It has nothing to do with this business of Helen.
Do you understand?
There's nothing to worry
about."
He motioned to Maria,
who was hovering in the doorway.
"Now Maria will help you to bed, and I will be in in a few minutes
to sit with you until you fall asleep.
All right?"
Demetra
nodded wearily and allowed Maria to guide her from the room.
Spiro turned on me furiously,
"Have you not done us enough harm?"
"I'm
sorry,” I said.
“I didn't
know.
I thought she'd be glad to
be rid of me."
"I
want you out of this house as soon as you can pack your things and go.
And not another word to my sister, do
you understand?"
I
nodded silently.
He stood there
staring at me.
I started to turn
away, but he seized my wrist.
"So, my sister was right.
All this, everything you've said and done, has been for Redfield."
"No."
"Then
for whom?"
I
hesitated for a moment, then said, "Michael.
I was afraid he was still in danger."
"Ah,
I see.
Now I am a murderer of
small children?"
"You
haven't yet said where you were when Michael was almost drowned."
His
eyes narrowed.
"I see
Redfield has indoctrinated you well."