Honeymoon with Death

by Vivian Conroy

  “Yes, of course, sir, but what happened? A theft? Was the lady robbed in the street?”

  Jasper said, “I’ll explain later. Just let me make the call.”

  She called the number for him and then gave him the receiver. He explained he was a former Scotland Yard inspector on holiday and had found a dead body on the beach. That he would like for some men to come in at once and secure the scene, and investigate what had happened there. “I have two witnesses you can talk to. I’m not sure what they saw but they were on the beach around the time it happened.”

  As he listened to the man on the other end of the line giving hurried instructions to someone in his office, and asking when and where they could meet him to take them to the body, Jasper debated with himself about whether he was doing the right thing. By making it two witnesses, he was putting Mr Ramsforth in the spotlight with his wife.

  And by calling Mrs Ramsforth a witness, he was avoiding having to call her… a suspect.

  He lowered the receiver slowly. The girl behind the desk eyed him. “Is the lady in shock because of what she saw? A dead body? Who died, sir?”

  “You will hear all of that later. It has nothing to do with the hotel.” He couldn’t be one hundred per cent sure of that of course, but it seemed better to say so for the moment as he didn’t want to cause panic, either among the guests or the staff.

  He checked his watch. The police officer had said they had their own boat and would come over as soon as they could. He had to meet them in the harbour in forty-five minutes. That just left him time to talk to the husband.

  He turned away from the desk and found Mr Ramsforth knocking on the door of the hotel room into which Mrs Murray had taken his wife. He was shouting he wanted to see her and even rattled the door knob but as the door was locked on the inside, it was in vain.

  “I suggest you let your wife rest first, Mr Ramsforth.’

  * * *

  Teddy spun around to face the irritating man. “Who do you think you are, telling us what to do? It’s my wife, and if I want to see her, I want to see her. Now!”

  The man reached out a hand. “My name is Jasper. Ex Scotland Yard.”

  Teddy froze. It was as if the entire lobby spun around him. Ex Scotland Yard, ex police. Ex watchdog. Ex sniffer of secrets. Detector of lies.

  “I want to know exactly what your wife did before she vanished from the cafe,” Jasper said.

  Teddy wet his lips. He wasn’t sure how something so right had gone so wrong so quickly. This man had overheard the argument last night. He was a witness to the fact that Teddy had been drunk and violent to his wife… well, of course he hadn’t been drunk. How could he have been? He had only had a couple of drinks, and he could handle alcohol well. And shoving Damaris had been an act of frustration really, because Gideon had hounded him about the money, taunting him that he couldn’t raise it. Damaris had understood that. She had forgiven him. But he could hardly explain that to Jasper. The money, his business relation with Gideon, had to stay out of all this.

  Meaning this man took him for an abusive husband.

  “Mr Ramsforth?” The former inspector leaned closer. “I assume you do know what your wife did?”

  Teddy took a deep breath. As Jasper believed he had been dead drunk last night and he couldn’t tell him otherwise, he’d better go with that story. “To be honest, Inspector, I’m a bit hazy on the details. My head is splitting.”

  “That’s funny,” Jasper said. “You ran over quite quickly on the beach.”

  “I was worried for Damaris. I thought she was hurt.”

  “And then you accused her of murder.” Jasper’s eyes were cold and probing, as if he were studying some despicable animal. “That’s an odd thing to do if you were truly worried.”

  “I’ve been worried about her before today,” Teddy said. His mouth was dry and his heart beat so fast he was sure the former inspector could see it thumping in his chest, but he had to go on now, make this good. “You see, we hadn’t known each other that long before we got married. We didn’t spend a lot of time together, at least not like you do once you’re on the honeymoon. Then I… I must say I find her peculiar at times. Disturbed, perhaps even unbalanced.”

  He took a deep breath and pushed on, “Damaris is a very emotional woman, Inspector. She can be happy and full of joy, dancing around me, hugging my neck; then suddenly she can get angry or upset, spill tears while I have no idea what for. I just ascribed it to her character and, to be honest, I found it quite endearing that she’s so open and… well, genuine. She doesn’t play games.”

  He waited a moment, wondering briefly how quickly he should let this unfold. He had to be confused, of course, and not tell it like a lesson he had rehearsed beforehand.

  “She’s different from other women I know. They always strike me as calculating, having something up their sleeve. But Damaris is like a child. Open, honest. You can read her feelings in her face.”

  He smiled. “I fell in love with her for that very reason.”

  “But on the honeymoon, you’ve seen a different side to her?”

  “I don’t know if it’s a different side. She’s just as emotional as she always was. But it is somehow bigger. More volatile. This thing with the beetles.”

  He looked for words, glancing at the inspector from under his lashes. The man gave no indication whether he did or did not know the story, so Teddy launched into it. “I bought her some flowers in the harbour. She loved them and said they were so pretty. Here, at the hotel, she put them beside the bed. Then that night, when we retired, I had forgotten my lighter in the dining room. She went ahead to the suite. She ran out again screaming it was full of big black beetles. She was completely out of her mind with fear and disgust that they had come from the flowers. When I went in with her to look, there was not a single beetle in sight. I think she must have seen something in the shadows and thought…”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t think much of it even though she was more upset than such a small matter warrants Then last night it was a skull.”

  “I saw the skull,” Jasper said.

  Yes, unfortunately, Teddy thought, but he said, “Did you? I can’t quite remember what happened.”

  “I saw that it was there on her pillow and later when we went back in to have a closer look at it, I saw it was no longer there.”

  Teddy let his jaw drop. “No longer there?”

  “Yes. So I can establish that a skull appeared in the room and then disappeared again. Might the same have happened with the beetles?”

  “I don’t see how.” Teddy leaned back on his heels. “The room is locked when we’re not there.”

  “Yes, but I assume there is a spare key? The hotel would have one for the staff to come in and clean, change the bed linen?”

  “You think a member of the staff puts skulls in people’s rooms? Not a way to gain guests, I’d say.”

  “I’m not saying a member of the hotel staff did it. I’m only pointing out to you that there is an extra key.”

  “Why, yes, of course. That fellow also had one. Had to have had one to be able to get into our room. The painter.” Teddy hesitated a moment. “I think my wife was having an affair with him.”

  “And why would you think this? A moment ago you called her genuine and honest.”

  “Yes, that is how I felt about her. That is why I married her. But here… Look, if you can explain it to me, then please do so. The man was in our room with her. In our bedroom!”

  “Measuring the wall for a painting he was commissioned for, I heard.”

  “Yes, but there is more.” Teddy put his hands in his pockets and began to pace. He had to do this carefully, telling it like a man feeling betrayed, deceived, vulnerable, would do it. “It was this woman. I was in the hotel bar having a drink and she came to me, telling me my wife was unfaithful to me. She had seen them in the orchards. I also saw them, but my wife acted like the man was a caretaker or worker there. He gave her lemons. That old woman saw th
em and told me it was an affair. She had seen them come from the bedroom together and then go out on the walk. She also said the man had put his arm around my wife. She had no reason to lie.”

  Jasper tilted his head. “She had no reason either to tell you something like that. An unknown woman?”

  “Yes, just a little island woman, all in black.” Teddy waited a moment to drop the final blow. “In fact, I think it may have been the very woman that was murdered on the beach.”

  He held Jasper’s gaze. “So you see, Inspector, I have every reason to think my wife killed her – to prevent her from telling me more about the affair she has going on with this painter. It’s no coincidence they met here on the island. She must have agreed with him to have him come here.”

  Jasper nodded slowly. “You’re sure it’s the same woman?”

  “I can’t be. They all look alike. Old, wrinkled, dressed in black.” Teddy shrugged. “But why would Damaris kill a woman she didn’t know a thing about? She must have killed this woman because she knew something about my wife. Something bad, incriminating.”

  Jasper hemmed.

  Teddy looked him over. “You found her on her knees beside a dead body. Don’t you suspect her?’

  Jasper smiled. “It doesn’t matter what I suspect. The Greek police will come in and investigate.”

  Teddy waited a moment. Was this clever? Was this stupid? He had no idea. “Couldn’t you investigate? If you believe she’s innocent?”

  “You want me to prove her innocence? I thought you believed she was guilty.”

  Teddy grabbed at his head. “I don’t know what I believe. My head is splitting, and it all feels like a bad dream. I would have said a few days ago, before we came to this wretched island, that Damaris wasn’t capable of killing. That she was a sweet creature who wouldn’t hurt a fly. But I’m not sure any more. After all, how well do I know her?”

  He gave Jasper a pleading look. “You have experience with these things. You can look into it. You can help her if you think she’s innocent.”

  Jasper looked thoughtful. “The Greek police will want to investigate. It’s one of their own people who was killed. Not a tourist.”

  “I know, but a tourist has fallen under suspicion. I want to help Damaris any way I can. Couldn’t you ask them if you can cooperate with them? If they say no, that’s it, but at least you’ve tried.”

  Jasper checked his watch. “I’m meeting them shortly to go and see the body.”

  “There you are. Perfect chance. Ask them.” Teddy stepped closer to the former inspector. “I don’t know what to believe any more. This dream honeymoon has turned into a terrible nightmare. For me, but even more so for Damaris. Please find out what happened. She needs to know. Also for her own sake. If she does have… hallucinations, she might have killed that woman without meaning to do it. She shouldn’t be condemned, but treated in a clinic for mental illness.”

  “You’d have her confined?’

  “For her own safety as well.” Teddy swallowed again. “If it’s some disturbance of the mind, she can’t help it. She should be protected against herself.”

  “I suppose you do have a point there, Mr Ramsforth.” Jasper stepped back. “I’ll go to the harbour now. I’ll talk to you later. Please do not pound on the door again. I asked that couple to look after your wife and they will. You can do nothing right now but stay calm.”

  Oh yes, Teddy knew that. He had to stay calm. Or everything would be lost.

  * * *

  Jasper walked in silence beside the short, rotund man who had introduced himself as Achilles Kyrioudis. Despite the heat he wore a suit and tie. He had brought two colleagues in uniform, who carried a stretcher. They spoke a little English and Jasper a little Greek, so they had been able to establish that the victim was an old woman and she was on the beach in a spot Jasper could take them to. Kyrioudis had kept his distance, studying Jasper as if he was making up his mind about him.

  They had travelled by cart as far as they could to win time, followed by dozens of eyes belonging to fishermen, peddlers, children – as if everyone wondered what was happening, that the police had come to the island.

  Kyrioudis said, “Do you think she was robbed?” His English was grammatically perfect but had a slightly uneven pitch.

  “And killed as she resisted?” Jasper shook his head. “I don’t think she was carrying anything valuable.”

  “What is not valuable to you may be valuable to another. Some people living here have very little.”

  “And they would kill an old woman for her day’s earnings?” Jasper shook his head again. “I don’t believe it. Besides, she was wearing a gold necklace around her neck. Perhaps carrying a cross or some other religious symbol. I couldn’t see that, just the chain. If the killer wanted money, he should have taken that.”

  Kyrioudis said, “So not a simple robbery gone wrong. Not something we can solve quickly.” He glanced at Jasper. “These witnesses of yours, are they Greek?”

  “No, English. Staying here as guests, on their honeymoon.”

  Kyrioudis clicked his tongue. “This murder is a bad thing, Jasper.” He folded his hands behind his back. “Brides on their honeymoon stumbling across dead bodies. It could harm the reputation of this island.”

  “And that reputation is important to you?” Jasper eyed the man. “You haven’t told me yet in what capacity you are here.”

  Kyrioudis laughed. “Ah, you smell a man who is not of your own profession. I was asked to be present to translate if need be. I normally translate books from English into Greek and the other way around. My brother Stephanos is chief of police. I translated for him on earlier occasions. He told me to go and meet you and… how do I put it?”

  Jasper hitched a brow, waiting for the words his companion would choose.

  “Engage you?” Kyrioudis smiled. “He rang Scotland Yard to ask about you and heard you were one of the best inspectors they ever had. They said that if you were on the scene, you’d sniff out the killer without delay. That was exactly what my brother wanted to hear. A killing is bad, but it’s worse when the killer is not found. If you can deliver him quickly and we can tell people he is locked up, the island will be saved.”

  Jasper walked more slowly. Part of him was intrigued by the puzzle of the old woman, Mrs Ramsforth by her side, the beetles, the skull and the dead-drunk husband and his story of never having known his wife well suggesting she should be committed to an asylum.

  On the other hand, he was there to holiday, unwind. Spend time away from murder.

  He smiled wryly. It seemed murder followed him. First to the Riviera, now to Kalos.

  Kyrioudis said, “It’s common here in Greece that if you ask someone a favour, you offer him something in return. I fear, however, from my time in England that in the case of a policeman this may be seen as bribery.”

  “I’m no longer on active duty,” Jasper said.

  Kyrioudis smiled. “I’m happy to hear it. If you’re kind enough to use your vacation here to find our killer for us, I can give you a much better vacation in return. I will personally see to it that you get the best hotel in whatever place you want – Athens, the countryside – with great food and guides to take you to places. The Parthenon if you like the ancient world; night clubs if you like more modern entertainment.”

  Jasper made a dismissive hand gesture. “That’s a very kind offer, but if I take this case, I’m taking it purely for the intellectual challenge it provides.”

  “You think finding the coward who stabbed an old woman is an intellectual challenge? I would take the trip to Athens if I were you, my friend.”

  “There.” Jasper pointed ahead. The men with the stretcher now overtook them and hurried ahead, kneeling beside the dead woman. One of them checked her neck and pulse, while the other placed the stretcher ready to lift her onto. Jasper was surprised they didn’t seem to care much for disturbing the scene.

  “Is one of them a doctor?” he asked Kyrioudis.


  “No. We will have a doctor examine the body later. They’re only here to move her.” Kyrioudis halted and looked down on the corpse. He wrinkled his nose. “An old widow no one will have cared about. Too bad you had to find her. Her body might have been washed away by the sea and we wouldn’t have heard of her at all.”

  “The body isn’t close enough to the shore line to have it washed away,” Jasper said. “Besides, the water wouldn’t be strong enough to carry it.”

  “If you say so.” Kyrioudis bent down. He pointed at the woman’s neck. “Show me the necklace she’s wearing.”

  One of the men pulled down the black garment’s neckline. No necklace was visible.

  Jasper gasped for breath. He bent down himself and searched the neckline. Nothing.

  “Robbery anyway, my friend?” Kyrioudis asked.

  “After she was murdered? The killer would have had to return after I left with Mr and Mrs Ramsforth to steal the necklace. And why?”

  Kyrioudis shrugged. He snapped his fingers at the men. “Put her onto the stretcher and carry her off.”

  He looked at his watch. “I want to be back on the mainland as soon as possible.”

  He looked up and smiled at Jasper. “I’m glad I can leave this matter in your competent hands.”

  Jasper said, “Wait. If you’re going back to the mainland, who will translate for me?”

  Kyrioudis shrugged. “I thought your witnesses were English? And who else will you want to question?” He gestured around him. “This beach is deserted. There is no one here. No one saw anything.”

  “I need to know more about the victim. About how she lived, what she did, whom she knew.”

  Kyrioudis shook his head with a sad sigh. “Just an old woman who went about her business.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Jasper said, recalling Ramsforth’s statement that the old woman had found him in the hotel bar and told him his wife was cheating on him. Why would an old widow who went about her own business care about that?