Authors: Ekaterine Nikas
"So
the money you've been so desperate to get your hands on,” I said, “was to pay
back the money that was embezzled?"
His
eyes widened in surprise and then he nodded wearily.
"After the funeral, I was informed I would be allowed
three months to pay back the missing money."
"And
if you didn't pay?"
"Criminal
charges would be filed against me here in Greece."
His mouth twisted into a bitter
smile.
"Fate has played quite
a joke upon me, don't you think, Christine?
Two days ago I thought all my troubles were over because I
had finally managed to obtain the money I needed to avoid going to jail for
stealing.
Now I am on my way to a
British prison for murder."
"That's
what your mysterious business on the mainland was?"
He
nodded distractedly.
"Actually, I never left the island."
"So
how did you get the thirty thousand pounds?"
"A
friend and I reached a mutually satisfying arrangement."
I
suddenly thought of the admiring banker's wife.
"Aspasia?"
"Yes,"
he admitted.
"She made me a
generous loan."
"And
you were with her the afternoon Michael almost drowned?"
He
nodded.
"Yes."
I
remembered what Geoffrey had said about Panos Sminiotiou's jealous temper.
No wonder Aspasia had been unwilling to
come forward to give Spiro an alibi.
Not only had Spiro spent several days and nights in her arms, she'd
offered him a loan of thirty-thousand pounds to get him there.
"And
the morning Helen was killed?
What
were you doing up and about so early?"
"I
heard a strange noise and went out to investigate."
"Did
you see anything?"
"No."
"Hear
anything else out of the way?"
He
replied impatiently, "I thought I heard a car, but it was probably
Redfield.
I found him hiding in
the shadows when I returned to your room.
Christine, there is no time for this.
Will you tell Ari where the boy is?"
"No."
"Why
not?" he demanded.
"Don't you believe me?"
I
shook my head.
"The problem
is that I do."
"Then
why won't you help me?
Why won't
you help to bring the boy out of hiding?"
"Because
I can't.
Don't you see, Spiro?
If you're innocent, then Michael is
still very much in danger."
*
*
*
When
I returned to Lieutenant Mavros's office, the door was closed, and I could hear
angry voices inside arguing in Greek.
"What
could I do?" demanded the Lieutenant.
"Grammos himself gave the orders."
His voice dropped, deepened.
"Demetra, my darling, please
understand -- I had no choice!"
A
voice I recognized as Demetra's replied bitterly, "You could have warned
him, Ari!
You could have warned
me
!"
"What
good would that have done? He cannot run from this!"
"At
least he might have had a chance!” she cried.
“What chance has he now?"
"I
will prove him innocent, I promise you!
Even the thick-headed British accept there can only be one person behind
all these attacks.
Once I find
Helen's killer, I will have found the real murderer of your husband as well,
and the British will be forced to set Spiro free."
"I've
already told you the identity of your killer: my brother-in-law, Geoffrey
Redfield!
But without the boy, you'll
never be able to prove it.
Can't
you make that Stewart woman tell you where he is?"
"I've
tried, your brother is trying now, but I cannot force her to speak."
His voice softened.
"Please, my sweet dove, I know you
are frightened, but I promise you, I will make all well for you in the
end."
The
voices grew quiet.
I moved off
down the hallway, in the direction of the stairs, but before I could make good
my escape, Robert emerged from a shadowed doorway and blocked my way.
"Christine!
Is it true?
Have they arrested Spiro Skouras for William's murder?"
I
nodded and gave him a brief outline of what had happened, including Spiro's
admission that he'd staged the accident.
When I finished, Robert looked thoughtful.
"Well, at least now Geoffrey can bring this ridiculous
charade to an end and return Michael, if not to Demetra then to the boy's
mother.
You
are
planning to
ring him up and give him the news, aren't you?"
"No."
"In
heaven's name, why not?" he demanded.
"Don't
you remember?
I haven't the
faintest idea where he is."
I
moved past him and started down the stairs.
"Wait,
Christine!
Let me drive you back
to your hotel."
"No
thanks," I said, hurrying down the steps.
"My two watchdogs are waiting downstairs to give me a
ride."
"I
think you must be mistaken, Christine.
The polite young fellow who drove you in told me that Pappas and Koulos
might be delayed some time as a recovery van was being sent out for their car.
It seems you were right about their
having an accident; apparently one of their tires burst.
Not surprising when you think what
miserable care these Greeks take of their cars."
He drew even with me, slid an arm through mine, and flashed
me a faint smile.
"Since your
escorts aren't available, I think I'd best see you safely home myself."
"You
don't have to bother, really."
"Oh,
it's no bother at all, I assure you."
So
arm-in-arm we descended the rest of the stairs and crossed through the
lobby.
We were almost out the door
when a man's voice called out behind us, "Kyrie Humphreys!"
It
was Takis.
"I'm sorry, sir,
but Lieutenant Mavros wishes to speak a few minutes with you before you
leave."
"I
was just on my way to drive Miss Stewart home," Robert snapped.
"Surely it can wait until I
return?"
Takis
shook his head slowly; I wondered if it was still sore from the blow he'd taken
from Helen's murderer.
"I'm
sorry, sir, but he is a very busy man tonight and later there are many things
he must do."
"Don't
worry, Robert.
I'll be fine on my
own."
I slipped my arm from his
and gave him a little push toward Takis.
"I'm sure whatever the Lieutenant needs to talk to you about is
more important than seeing me home.
I can catch a cab."
For
a moment, the hazel eyes glittered in irritation, then a look of cool
resignation settled across his aristocratic features.
"All right, Sergeant, I'm coming."
He turned briefly to me.
"Goodbye for now, Christine.
I'll be in touch."
I
nodded and without another look slipped out the door into the cool night.
Down the street, a taxi was dropping
off a fare.
I waved and it slid
toward me.
Clambering inside, I
slammed the door shut, and only then did I breathe a deep sigh of relief.
Safely
back in my room, I locked the door and dragged a small bureau in front of it,
wondering what I was going to do in the morning if my police guards didn't show
up.
With Spiro's arrest, and my
refusal to provide any information about Geoffrey's whereabouts, it was quite
possible Lieutenant Mavros would decide I no longer merited protection.
Too bad I suspected I was now in
greater need of it than I'd ever been before.
I
was dead tired, but somehow a nightgown made me feel too vulnerable, so I
changed back into jeans and a tee shirt before climbing into bed and pulling
the covers up over me like a cocoon.
But
sleep was elusive.
Charged up with
fear and adrenaline, I couldn't throttle my exhausted brain back down out of
overdrive.
It kept jamming facts
together like incompatible pieces of a jigsaw puzzle it was desperate to make
fit.
I
didn't manage to drift off to sleep until nearly four, so when the phone rang
at six I wasn't in the best of moods.
"Hello?" I growled into the receiver, keeping my eyes grimly
shut against the sunlight flooding the room.
"Good
morning," replied Geoffrey cheerfully.
Reluctantly
I opened my eyes part way.
"Is waking me up going to become a habit with you?"
"Perhaps.
Would you like it to?"
I
felt the corners of my mouth curl up into a smile.
"Not if it's going to be by telephone."
"Most
decidedly
not
by telephone!" he exclaimed, laughing.
Then his voice sobered.
"Christine, I have some important
news."
Oh,
no, here it comes
, I thought.
"What kind of news?"
"Good
news I think, though you may not see it that way.
I've just spoken with Inspector Haggerty in London.
They've found a witness who identifies
Skouras as the cyclist who reported William's accident.
That, along with information that
Skouras embezzled money from my brother's company have convinced the police to
arrest him and charge him with William's murder.
Haggerty and another officer are flying down today to escort
him back to England."
He
paused, waiting for my reaction.
Reluctantly I took a deep breath and said, "I know."
"You
what!"
"Mavros
arrested Spiro last night.
Spiro
asked to speak with me, and Mavros had me brought in.
I was down at the police station until nearly
midnight."
"And
when were you planning to tell me about all this?" he demanded tensely.
I
chewed on my lip and remained silent.
"You
weren't going to, were you?"
"No,"
I said.
There
was an angry intake of breath.
"May I ask why not?"
"I
was afraid if I told you Spiro was in jail, you'd think the danger was over and
bring Michael back out into the open."
"And
why not?
The sooner he returns,
the easier it will be to come up with a plausible explanation for his
absence.
You were the one telling
me I couldn't keep him on the run forever."
"I
was wrong, and you were right.
Michael's safer hidden away."
"If
Skouras is in jail, Michael's in no danger."
"
Yes,
he is!
Geoffrey, please,
listen to me.
You can't bring him
back!
There's still someone trying
to kill him!"
"Don't
be ridiculous!
Do you actually
think there are
two
killers out there?"