“I told you he would be here,” Selina smiled. The jeep pulled up against the curb next to where they were all waiting. Mehmet stepped out of the jeep and opened the back door so that they could get in. Inside it was basic, two benches were all they had to sit on. “Can I ride in the front with you?” Selina asked.
“I was hoping you would ask,” he replied as he lead Selina to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Eve slid along to the front of the jeep with Kevin tailing close behind. Everyone else clambered on after.
“Way hay, here goes. I have the beer,” shouted Ryan.
“Great, can we have one now?” Asked Stephen.
“Why not?” Ryan replied as he handed his cans out. Rachel took one and began sipping. Eve turned down a beer and pulled out her first bottle of water, the last thing she needed was a tea time hangover when they had all evening to go.
It was now gone midday and the heat was relentless. She was sure all the bickering had partly been down to the heat. Sweat gathered down the back of Eve’s back, she could feel the wetness begin to seep through her thin white tee shirt. Kevin placed his clammy hand over her shoulder and stroked her. There was a loud bang as Mehmet slammed the back door. It was time to go; Eve smiled at Kevin still disbelieving how good things were.
The engine began to rumble as the vehicle started up. As soon as they got round the bend the air thrashed through the jeep cooling everyone down. They passed the town, they passed Marmaris, and then they headed off, up into the hills. Snaking around the bay, Eve looked down at the view. The boats now looked like Harry’s toys. As they climbed higher, her hearing was subdued, she swallowed and it returned. They were now high up on the road, signs pointed to Mügla, a city she'd heard of. The cool air blasted through the jeep and she instantly felt energised.
Slowing down, the jeep took a succession of tedious bends. Eve grabbed hold of Kevin as they swung close to the edge of a killer drop. Behind the jeep, a bus full of hot passengers looked on at them. They chugged up the hill until the bay of Marmaris could no longer be seen. Veering off up a bumpy gravel path they headed inland. To her left were a row of detached white houses. Old looking, with vines growing up them, rows and rows of fruit on trees and farmed land. An old man walked a donkey along the roadside. Mehmet beeped as they passed and the old man waved. A group of children moved out of the road as they trundled on.
“You want a beer?" Ryan shouted as he pulled a can out of his backpack and held it over towards Kevin.
“No, I’m good” he replied as he took a sip of his water. Eve shook her head also. It was going to be a long hot day. All of a sudden the jeep veered off-road.
“I’m going to take you on a short cut my father told me about,” Mehmet shouted. Without warning they then trundled down a steep bumpy mud hill. The jeep jumped and tilted.
“Stand up,” Kevin shouted. Eve stood and held onto the bars and screamed as they fell. Exhilarated and wind swept she laughed and kissed Kevin. He looked at her and smiled. She fumbled for her phone and after a few moments fiddling with the buttons she managed to access her camera function. She took a picture of Kevin. A picture she would treasure, one of him smiling, with his hair blown back and him looking at her in a way that made her melt. A look she wanted to enjoy for many years to come.
Chapter 12
The temperature crept to thirty five degrees. Guz began to set up the fold out chairs by opening them out and facing them towards the waterfall. The last one was jammed, he pulled it hard. It flew open, sending him off balance, stumbling backwards towards the hard ground. He fell to the floor and the chair landed on his stomach.
“Shit,” he cried as he held onto a tree and dragged his sweaty body up.
“Shit! Fuck! Shit!” he yelled as he whacked the chair onto the floor several times. He then grabbed the frail canvas frame and flung it at the tree before falling to the ground and sitting on the dried mud below. Leaves and grit stuck to his legs and hands, he grabbed a handful of earth and threw it into the water. “Stuff you too,” he yelled. He looked at his watch; he had so much to do and not much time. He had to sort the food, prepare the barbecue, make it all “look pretty” he said aloud as he pulled a sour face. He stood and walked over to the waters edge. Kneeling down, he scooped up the icy water and splashed it over his face and body. He shook his head and focused on what was around him.
They would approach from the back and park up close to where his car was. They would have to walk for a few minutes battling the shrubs and the rocky surface before they arrived at the clearing.
Guz walked back to the car, taking the route he was thinking about so intensely. Arriving at the car he opened the boot. He lifted the car blanket up, beneath it sat his real helpers. The gun, the syringes and the knives. He smiled as he pulled the blanket back over them. “Later,” he said.
He grabbed the cool box and the barbecue bag and began to walk back. Already the heat was making him clumsy. He tripped up a rock propelling the food box forward as he landed face down on a row of ants. The box flew open and the food at the top of the box spewed out and landed in a pile of mud dust. Swearing he sat up. The food was destroyed. Several pieces of chicken had been thrown out of the bag and were now finely coated with debris. There was no more food; Celile had only packed the bare minimum.
He cursed Celile. She was meant to be with him, helping. “I’m not feeling well,” she had proclaimed earlier that day. “But I’ll definitely be there later." But here he was, doing all the hard work alone.
He knew better though. Sadik had said he had some errands to run, that he was still getting over the night they met up with The Boss. Excuse after excuse is all he’d had from both of them. He was under no illusion that they were sitting round the pool drinking beer knowing that they had him out the way for a while. He would watch them later andhe would watch them closely. His original dream was that he would get a new identity and move. Gerhard had become that identity. If only Celile had been a good girl, she could’ve been Ilse. The passport would need some work but they could do it with their contacts. Sadik, he was beyond caring about. Blood had always bonded them but he questioned how thick blood was now. That very blood was so diluted,he felt he had flushed Sadik down the toilet and was trying to spot what was left of him in the sea.
Standing, he regained his balance and took a long swig of cold water from a bottle before pouring the rest over his head. His thin black hair flopped forward over his brow as the water cascaded over his face and down his tee-shirt. Taking a deep breath he knelt and picked up the chicken before placing it back in the bag. He carried the luggage over to the water and knelt down, with the bag of chicken in hand he began to rinse it off. He watched the dust soak off the sticky meat and disperse into the water. He then dried it out on his tee-shirt and placed it back into the bag. “Looks okay to me,” he laughed. “Time to light the barbie.” He decided there and then that he would not be eating any chicken that day. He couldn’t care a less about the tourists and he certainly didn’t care about Celile. They could all have the chicken.
He pulled out the two disposable barbecues and set them up on a tree stump. Lovely he thought. He put up the small fold out table for the salad and bread and closed up the food bag. It was all getting warm but he may as well keep it as cool as he could. He would inevitably pick at some of it also and he didn’t want to give himself an upset stomach.
It was odd he hadn’t heard from anyone whilst he’d been there. He delved into his pocket and felt for his phone. It wasn’t there. He searched his other pocket and the floor around him. Had he dropped it when he was leaning over into the water? Grabbing his hair he pulled it outwards as he paced the clearing. He looked in the food box then in the barbecue bag checking all the pockets. No phone. He leaped over the rocks and pushed his way through the spiny shrubs before reaching the car. It wasn't on the front seats; he opened the door and checked the glove box. It wasn't there either. His heart beat fast and his breath quickened; it was
his only way of communicating with The Boss. If he had gone off radar they would send someone to find him. Things could get bad; no one ever ignored a call from The Boss. He took a deep breath. What were the chances of The Boss calling? The boot, he had leaned into the boot. Running around the back of the car he opened the boot. No phone.
There was a beep, it came from close by. He knelt down on the floor and he saw it tucked up against the back wheel. He must have dropped it while he was struggling with the bags. The screen lit up, his battery was low. That’s why it had beeped. He laughed loud, then louder. The battery was half down. “Stupid phone. You can’t hold a charge for long,” he said as he laughed. Allowing himself to sit and recuperate in the car’s shadow he enjoyed the sound of the water, he felt the cool earth. He looked at his watch, still lots to do he thought as he dragged himself up. He opened the passenger door, turned the engine and plugged his phone in to charge. The phone flashed again, no signal. It then flashed once more, the signal had come back. Then he noticed it. There was a missed call from The Boss.
Chapter 13
Deeper inland they went. The jeep swerved round a bend and jerked sideways onto a main road. Selina screamed as she grabbed Mehmet’s leg. The young man looked at her hand and smiled
On the roadside, a bony man wearing an open shirt sat under a large yellow parasol in front of a stall. The old man placed his newspaper down on the floor and put a rock on top of it to stop it blowing away. He stood and smiled as he walked around to the front of the stall. Eve spotted the large refreshing watermelons.
“This is free for you, to stop you getting thirsty,” Mehmet said as he pulled on the hand brake and opened the jeep door. “Please do get out and have a walk for a few minutes.” He walked round the back and opened the hatch.
“Stuff that, I never came all the way to Turkey to eat fruit. Want another beer Stephen?” Ryan shouted as he remained in his seat.
“No, I think I’ll give it a rest for a bit,” he said with his eyes scrunched together as he tried to find the tube of bite cream in his bag. “And do you know watermelon isn’t a fruit? It’s part of the same family as cucumbers and things like that.”
“That’s a really exciting fact Stephen. I think you should have another beer. If you’re going to start with your usual taking shit to me I’d rather us both be smashed when you do it.” He replied as he opened a beer and forced it into Stephen’s hand.
Selina ran around the jeep and stood by Rachel, Kevin and Eve. “I told you all he would come,” she said as she watched Mehmet approach the stall.
Now they were out of the moving jeep Eve felt the heat hit her. They were in the open, during the hottest part of the day standing still on a stony road. “I’ve got to make a quick phone call,” she said as she let go of Kevin’s hand and smiled as she walked away. He smiled back at her.
She walked over towards the stall. The watermelons were arranged in a tidy pile, some were cut into half, some into slices. She felt saliva build up in her mouth as she craved the melon's juice. A car sped past and left a dusty gust behind it. Eve almost enjoyed the moment even though the coolness that only lasted a second.
Standing to the side of the stall, Eve pulled out her phone and dialled, she needed a few words from her little boy's mouth. Straight to answer phone. After a few seconds she tried again, it rang. Her heart quickened and she smiled, then the call was cut off. “What?” She said as she looked down and saw that her phone signal had gone. Placing her mobile phone back into the pocket of her shorts she began to walk back towards the stall and the jeep.
Eve watched as Mehmet walked over to the stall-holder and pointed to the cut melon as he spoke in Turkish. The bony man stared at Mehmet. His expression went from welcoming to fearful in a moment. “Alti Lutfen,” Mehmet said. The man held six fingers up and Mehmet nodded. At no point did the man take his eyes off Mehmet. He placed his hands in front of his face and took a step back. Mehmet smiled and went to touch the man's arm. The man flinched and stepped back once more. Mehmet then took a step back and held both of his hands up in the air and smiled at the distressed man. From beneath the wooden table the bony man pulled out a carrier bag and placed five slices of cut melon into the bag and held it out to Mehmet before sitting back on his plastic chair under his parasol. Shaking, he pulled out a towel and wiped his head, his eyes still fixed on Mehmet.
“What was all that about?” Eve asked.
“Oh nothing. I think he is nervous of strangers,” Mehmet replied as he handed Eve a piece of watermelon and walked towards the others. Eve looked back at the man and walked over to him. She pulled out a couple of lira from her pocket, “thank you,” she said as she handed him the coins. Again the man flinched and put his hands up. She left the money on the table and stepped back, he looked towards Mehmet who had his back turned before grabbing the coins and placing them in his pocket. Mehmet looked back and the man looked away. Eve began to walk back to the others. Why had the man been so nervous? He obviously met strangers all day long selling on a roadside. She shuddered as she watched Mehmet handing out the fruit. The others laughed, ate and drank. Selina shared her slice with Mehmet and Rachel had joined Ryan and Stephen back on the jeep.
“Are you alright?” Kevin asked.
“Yes,” she paused. “I don’t know,” Eve replied.
“You’ll be able to speak to Harry later. Was it engaged?”
“I got cut off, my signal went,” she said with her eyes still transfixed on Mehmet.
“Is there anybody there?” Kevin said with a smile as he stroked the ends of her hair that had stuck to her neck.
“Sorry. Something odd just happened.”
“Odd, in what way?”
“See than man over there? See how he is watching Mehmet’s every move?” She said as she pointed to the stallholder. He was sitting still as she had described, watching them. He began to rock back and forth in his plastic chair. “There’s something not right. He’s scared.”
“It’s probably just the heat doing-”
“It wasn’t the heat. I watched him hand over the melon and I saw him trembling. He is scared of Mehmet. Why, I don’t know. But he is scared. Something’s not right, I have to warn Selina.”
“Wait, Eve.” Kevin shouted as she jogged towards Mehmet and Selina.
“Can I just have a word?” she said.
“Go on then Evie,” she said.
“In private,” she replied as she dragged Selina by the arm.
Mehmet smiled and got back in the jeep. “We will leave in two minutes,” he shouted.
“Eve, this isn’t funny. What’s so important that you have to drag me away from Mehmet? You came across as rude just then,” she said.
“Something's not right with that man over the there with the melons. He was scared of Mehmet. I don’t know why but he was. I’m worried about you Selina.”
Selina pulled her sunglasses down to reveal a stare. “Evie, you must be joking. Try to lighten up. Please, for me. I’m having a good time. He is just selling watermelon and there’s nothing wrong with Mehmet. Look at him, he’s fine,” she said as she pointed over towards the melon seller. Eve looked over; the man was now sitting down, leaning back on his chair reading his paper.
“I didn’t make this up, I swear, there was something wrong.”
“Eve, please. I don’t want to hear anymore. Are you jealous that I’m having such a good time?” she shouted.
“Shush, there’s no need to raise your voice and no I’m not jealous just concerned,” Eve replied as Kevin approached her from behind.
“I don’t know what’s going on with Eve. I suggest you have some of your melon, you’re probably dehydrated. I’m getting back in the jeep.” Selina said as she left the couple and got into the front of the jeep.
“We’re leaving now, can you get back in,” Mehmet shouted.
“I’m not sure,” Eve whispered to Kevin.
“Come on Eve, it was nothing and you can’t stay here,” he smiled. “I�
�ll look after you,” he said as he kissed her. She looked around; there was nothing, no buses, taxes or shops. He was right, she couldn’t stay. She didn’t even know where they were anymore. There were mountains all around, pines everywhere and a relentless heat that was beginning to drown her.
“Maybe it is the heat,” she smiled as she pulled out her melon and took a bite. As the jeep door slammed she looked back at the melon stand. The man looked over his paper, watching as the engine started up and the jeep pulled away. As they did he placed his paper down and wiped his head with shaking hands. Eve waved at him, just a subtle wave and the man held his hand up. She could see that he was trembling as his hand wavered. She continued to watch until they headed back the way they came, off road. Kevin placed his hand over hers and stroked the insides of her fingers.
“Come on, let’s have fun. It’ll all be over before we know it,” he said as he kissed her cheek. She clenched his hand and forced a smile back knowing she would be much happier once the trip was over and they returned back to the villa.
Chapter 14
The skin on his knuckle began to peel. Whacking the rocky floor had seemed like a good idea at the time, a way of releasing all his tension but now, all he felt was a burning pain around the torn skin. Guz tried to call The Boss again; it rang twice before he got cut off. The Boss was cutting the call off on purpose. Was the deal off? Were they all in danger? He tried to call Celile to warn her of what had happened. No answer. It was mid afternoon, she was due to arrive soon with Sadik but neither were picking up. He left a message. “When you can pull yourself away from my dick of a brother, answer your phone.” Then he hung up. Selecting re-dial he tried The Boss again and like before the call was cut off.
For several minutes he sat against the car, there was no point moving as he didn’t know how the whole scenario would pan out. Tarkan sang and the phone lit up. Grabbing it, he placed the phone against his ear.
Whispers Beneath the Pines Page 7