‘Don’t worry, Agapi, Matthia has just run Yánna into Viannos on his motorbike. He’s not even here in the village. There’s nothing to worry about.’
How wrong had she been?
*
By the time Demitri, Maria, and Angie arrived back from the city hospital, midnight had come and gone in Amiras. The hospital trip, and seeing Poppy after so long, had clearly exhausted Maria. Demitri said goodnight to everyone before leaving, and once Voula had put Maria to bed, she left too.
Papoú sat quietly by the fireplace drinking raki until he was alone with Angie. ‘How was Poppy?’ he asked.
‘She’s good, Papoú. They’re letting her come home as soon as she’s seen the doctor, tomorrow morning.’
He nodded. ‘Good. The police phoned,’ he said. ‘We can sleep easy tonight. They’ve got the malákas who drove into them, he’s locked up in Viannos.’
Angie noticed his tired, red-rimmed eyes. ‘Who was it?’ she said. ‘I need to know, and to understand why.’
‘I asked too, but they wouldn’t say. You know how it is?’
Frustrated, Angie shook her head. ‘No, actually I don’t!’ Her words came out more harshly than intended. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to –’
Papoú interrupted, ‘They’re afraid of reprisals, Angelika. They’ll tell us tomorrow at the station. First, they’ll probably make us sign an order to keep the peace. Anyway, he won’t be sleeping much tonight. Demitri’s friend said he was one of the Neo-Nazi mob and they’ve put him in a holding cell with three big Albanian immigrants who are awaiting deportation.’
Papoú patted the cushion beside him. Angie dropped into the seat, held his hand, and they sat in comfortable silence for a while.
‘You look tired, Papoú. Let me help you to bed. Can I sleep on your sofa?’ Angie said. ‘I can’t face the drive back to Viannos tonight.’
He nodded. ‘There’s bedding on the kitchen table. You can leave the front door open, it’s a hot night.’
Angie helped him out of the chair and when he stood, he cupped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and stared into her face.
‘It’s uncanny, but you’re the double of Poppy forty years ago,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘A phenomenon. God and his mischief.’ He huffed and continued. ‘I loved my girl more than anyone could ever know. It was impossible for me to go and see her in a hospital bed tonight. You can’t imagine the happiness she brought me, Angelika. I can’t think of her, or even hear her name, without smiling.’
His eyes glazed over and Angie suspected he was considering the past. ‘What Poppy did, when she discovered the truth, was noble beyond words. She broke all our hearts, and her own. Nevertheless, we were all extremely proud of her. You should be too, Angelika. She’s a very special person.’
Overcome with emotion, Angie couldn’t speak. Still none the wiser as to what had gone on, nevertheless, her mother had shone through and claimed an even stronger grip on everyone’s love.
She supported Papoú to the bedroom where Yiayá snored softly.
‘Leave me, koritsie. Close the door,’ he said.
*
The next morning, Angie heard Voula and Agapi sounding-off in the garden. The moment she stuck her sleepy head through the lengths of multi-coloured plastic, a camera flash blinded her.
‘Damn!’
‘Are you the bride?’ a reporter called.
‘Leave, before I call the police,’ Angie said. She jerked her head sideways at the screeching bookends and the two women, both wearing scarlet lipstick, waddled into the cottage.
Angie closed the door, turned the big old key and thrust it into her pocket.
‘Sit down!’ She pointed to the sofa which proved not quite wide enough for both bovine rumps. Her first thought was to bully them into telling her what she needed to know. But everything seemed to have caught up with her and she felt decidedly shaky. She dropped into her grandfather’s chair and lowered her voice. ‘Aunties, I’m the only person here who doesn’t know what’s going on. I’m sick and tired of all the secrets and it’s simply not fair to keep me in the dark like this. Now who’s going to start?’
They stared at her, then at each other. Agapi placed a protective arm around Voula.
‘Angelika,’ Maria’s voice came from the bedroom. ‘Let them go. I have all your answers.’
The ninety-year-old came into the living room in her long cotton nightgown. ‘Sorry, Yiayá, but I need to know why my mother and fiancé are at risk. They could’ve been killed last night. I’m the one responsible for them facing this danger, whatever it is.’ She thrust the door key at Agapi. ‘Go, before I change my mind.’
The women bounced to their feet, both panicking to get out of the room at the same time, wide hips bumping and shoving against the doorframe.
Maria sat at the table. ‘Make me a drink, koritsie, and I’ll tell you everything.’
Angie suffered the tedious affair of making Greek coffee, then she grabbed a glass of cold milk for herself and sat opposite Maria.
‘There isn’t time to tell you everything now, before you get married, koritsie,’ Maria said. ‘But let me try to help you make sense of the most important parts. Those concerning your mother. I’m sure she’ll fill in the details and answer your questions after the wedding.’
Angie nodded intently.
‘So, a long ago, there was some strife between us: the Kondulakis tribe, and your father’s family: the Lambrakis family, which reached a head when one of them tried, and nearly succeeded, to kill Matthia.’
At last Angie was getting to the bottom of it all.
‘The events of that year had been awful, especially for poor Poppy, she had suffered so much that she took it upon herself to try and stop any further reprisals.’
‘Mam suffered. How? Why? What happened?’
The phone rang. Angie picked up and heard Poppy’s voice. ‘They’re letting me out. Will you send the Amiras taxi to fetch me?’
‘Thank God, that’s great, Mam. Do you know how Nick is? I was thinking I’d come and get you both. Or at least you could come home together in a Heraklion taxi. They’re lined up outside the hospital.’
‘It’s not the way, Angelika. We keep the money in the village, and besides, you’ve too much to do today. Nick’s perfectly fine, apart from a broken leg, and we’re quite capable of making our way home.’
‘Mam. There’s a row of taxis waiting right there. You’ll have to wait over an hour for this one.’
‘Angelika, don’t argue. I want our taxi. I know his father very well. Nothing bad will happen. If I use a Heraklion taxi, next time Mama needs a ride, ours will arrive late and be more expensive.’
‘All right, Mam, if you’re sure. I’ll call you back in a moment. Is there anything you need?’ Angie caught sight of Maria going back into her bedroom and sensed a difficult day.
‘Of course there is,’ Poppy said. ‘A wedding outfit for tomorrow! According to Demitri, my suitcase has gone missing. He thinks it’s in the boot of the hire car, in a garage that’s closed for the weekend. Have you booked a hairdresser to come to the house? I need some proper food, and do you have any nail polish?’
‘Yes, Mam. Don’t worry. We’ll get you fixed up and looking great.’
‘I don’t want to let you down, Angelika.’
Exasperated, Angie called the taxi driver to make sure he was free, and then phoned Nick to see what time the hospital was letting him go.
Ten minutes later, she had both her mother and her fiancé organised. They were travelling back to Amiras together in the Amiras taxi that, luckily, was almost in Heraklion with a fare. Next, she found the number for Viannos police station and gave them a call.
‘Hello, my name is Angelika Lambrakis. Last night my fiancé and my mother, Calliope Lambrakis, were attacked just outside Viannos.’
‘Yes, Madam. I attended the incident myself. What can I do for you?’
‘Ah, thank you, sir. Well, it’s like this, they are coming
home from the hospital in a taxi in a couple of hours’ time. I want to confirm that the perpetrator’s still behind bars and my family is safe?’ Angie heard muted talking and guessed the officer’s hand was over the receiver. A moment later, he answered her question.
‘Yes, madam. Mrs Lambrakis can rest assured, Mr Lambrakis will be held, here, until he attends court on Monday.’
What?!
‘Who? What did you say?’ Angie couldn’t believe her ears. Did he just say: Mr and Mrs Lambrakis, in the same sentence?
She heard more muted talking before he came back to her. ‘Sorry, madam. I can’t discuss the case over the phone. But we need your fiancé . . .’ there was a pause, followed by paper rustling, before he said, ‘. . . Mr Kondos, to come in and verify his statement, this morning if possible. There was an amendment he didn’t initial, a minor detail.’
‘It might be this afternoon, because . . .’ Angie, so shocked at hearing her own surname relating to the criminal, and then the Mr and Mrs. All sorts of things came flying into her head, which she instantly rejected.
‘Madam?’ the policeman said.
‘Oh, sorry, yes . . . my fiancé and my mother are still at the hospital, in Heraklion, but we’ll come as soon as possible.’ She replaced the receiver and stood with her hand over her mouth.
Mr and Mrs Lambrakis? Breathless, she wondered what it all meant. None of it made sense. Then she remembered Papoú, the night before. Amidst the shock and mayhem, what was it he had said? I should have killed Lambrakis when I had the chance. Why?
Papoú shuffled into the lounge. ‘Make me a coffee please, Angelika.’
She stared at him. Mr and Mrs Lambrakis? Why couldn’t she get the words out of her thoughts?
Although Angie wanted the explanation from Maria, the moment she had her grandfather settled, she had to race to Viannos for a shower and change.
She returned to Amiras just in time to see Poppy and Nick’s taxi arrive at the cottage. She jumped out of her hire car and, with her arms wide, rushed to embrace them both.
Demitri and the taxi driver helped Nick over the uneven ground. Angie linked arms with her mother and they walked together. As they neared the cottage, Poppy faltered and stopped.
‘Are you okay, Mam?’ Angie slipped her arm around her mother, realising this was a monumental moment for Poppy.
Poppy swallowed hard and said, ‘I’m a little nervous about going back into the house, Angelika. I don’t know why I’m so anxious.’
‘It’s all right. Take your time. Whenever you’re ready, Mam.’ Angie gave her a squeeze. ‘I’m so proud of you and, before we go in, I want to say that I appreciate the enormous effort this has been for you. I couldn’t ever dream for a better mother.’ Angie kissed Poppy’s cheek. ‘Thank you. Papoú’s in there, desperate to see you. He was too upset to come along last night, so he sat in the corner praying for you until we returned.’
Poppy placed a hand on her chest and took a breath, reminding Angie of her first visit when she came up the steps with Demitri. ‘One step at a time, Mam. We’ll go in together.’ She kissed her mother on the cheek again. ‘I’m here for you. Anything you want, any time, just say.’
Poppy nodded, standing in the street, chewing her lip and looking slightly startled. She started scratching the back of her hand.
The moment was broken by a huge shriek, followed by Voula running at them waving her arms over her head. To Angie’s astonishment, Poppy also screeched, grinned, and mirrored Voula. They ran towards each other, laughing and crying and hugging. Maria appeared outside the cottage doorway. Voula backed away and Poppy rushed to her mother. They fell into one another’s arms, wide smiles and copious tears replacing Voula’s racket.
‘I need a chair,’ Maria said when the emotional greeting had exhausted itself. ‘Your father’s waiting inside. Go to him, Poppy. His heart’s aching to see you. Angelika, help me into the house.’
Angie slipped her arm around Yiayá’s waist and slowly guided her back inside. The frail old woman stopped and said, ‘One of the happiest days of my life, Angelika. Thank you, koritsie. You made this happen.’
Angie filled up. ‘Nothing, nothing,’ she said, in keeping with the Cretan response to a compliment, but more proud than ever before.
Angie longed to be alone with Nick. Inside the cottage, he winked across the room as she entered with Yiayá. With his plastercast on the low round table, he sat next to Demitri who was already pouring out glasses of raki. Angie hoped he would remember they had to go to the police station later. Poppy sat next to her father, holding his hand.
‘All right, Papoú?’ Angie said.
He nodded, tears still wet on his craggy cheeks. ‘I’ve prayed to the Blessed Virgin every night since ’68 that one day my Poppy would sit next to me at this hearth. A long wait, koritsie. You won’t understand this but, when Poppy was born, I couldn’t stand on two feet. A little girl. The day, and the time, and the baby, were so precious; especially after the loss of Petro. When she left for London, I felt my feet were lead, every step was a toil. Always wondering. But now I’m on air again.’ His eyebrows shot up, a look of amazement on his face. ‘My daughter’s back. I can die a happy man. Thank you.’
Angie couldn’t speak.
Voula brought more raki, and then plates of mezzé. Tiny meatballs, stuffed vine leaves, dips and rusks, plates of giant beans in sweet herby sauce, and olives, matchsticks of raw carrot, and tiny florets of raw cauliflower sprinkled with salt and fresh lemon juice, and many more. The small plates of food were arranged around Nick’s foot, on the low table, which caused some giggles. Delicious smells filled the room and in the warm celebratory atmosphere everyone chatted and laughed and ate.
The day seemed to go into fast-forward and often verged on chaos with more people calling to welcome Poppy.
Despite only being across the room from Nick, Angie longed to be in his arms again. Yiayá escaped the party and sat under the olive tree, quietly crocheting. There hadn’t been a moment to sit with her since the morning, and now Angie had to take Nick to the police station. She still had no real idea why her mother had left the island or what caused the feud. Perhaps the police could answer her questions.
Chapter 36
ANGIE HAD PARKED NEAR Agapi’s house, so Nick didn’t have steps to deal with. After the hubbub of the cottage, they both relaxed in the car. Halfway to Viannos, Angie pulled over.
‘Are you all right?’ Nick said.
She nodded. ‘I just wanted a moment alone together.’ She looked into his eyes. ‘Nick, I think it’s important that we don’t have any secrets, don’t you?’
He frowned, nodded, pulled some slack on his seatbelt.
‘When I arrived here, Voula gave me the letter from you and, well . . . I was broken hearted. I thought you were dumping me, so I opened it. I thought . . . well, I feared . . .’ She shrugged. ‘You and Judy . . . I feel completely ashamed. I’m so sorry I doubted you.’
Nick burst out laughing. ‘Angie, I can’t believe you! My big surprise is ruined then? All those surreptitious trips to the solicitors, wasted. Packing all our stuff and moving it into storage. I thought you’d guessed when she phoned about the title, and the contract.’
Angie blinked at him, suddenly making the connection. ‘I thought she was talking about a novel . . . I had no idea.’
‘I guess keeping the flat sale a secret was a stupid idea,’ he said. ‘By the sounds of it, one that could have gone horribly wrong. No more surprises from me, okay?’ He reached over and, looking concerned, stroked her cheek. ‘I’m lucky you didn’t simply walk away. What an unbearable thought.’
‘When I feared you were leaving me, I was devastated. Yiayá told me I shouldn’t give up on you. She said I should fight for the things I love.’ She leaned over and kissed him before she put the car into gear and drove on. ‘It must have been terrifying for you and Mam in that open-top car. I’m still not sure exactly what happened,’ Angie said
, changing the subject as she headed for Viannos police station.
‘How did you know?’ Nick said. ‘If you hadn’t called the police, we’d be dead.’
‘What? I didn’t call the police. They phoned us.’
Nick was quiet for a moment. ‘That’s bizarre, I can’t figure it out. Who told the police if it wasn’t you? We hadn’t seen another car. I thought you’d heard the smash while I was talking to you. It’s the only explanation.’
They travelled in silence until Angie pulled up at Viannos Police Headquarters. The new building had fresh paint splashes on the windows and pink marble floors. Although the desks were in use, the legs were still swathed in bubble-wrap and stacks of files and folders lined the corridor walls. Several had toppled and Angie imagined the chaos of a document search. The stink of cigarette smoke competed with the smell of fresh paint.
A police officer led Angie and Nick to a room divided across the middle by a row of bars; a table and four chairs were on their side of the division. Angie stared at the back of the man who had almost killed both her mother and fiancé. He faced the wall behind bars, his legs spread and hands behind his head. A police officer yanked the guy’s hands down, slammed cuffs on, and spun him around.
‘You!’ Angie gasped. ‘I don’t believe it.’ She stepped back. Her legs hit a chair which tipped and clattered to the floor. She turned to the policeman. ‘It’s a mistake, I know this man. He’s my friend.’
‘There’s no mistake, madam,’ the officer said.
‘Manoli,’ Angie called out. ‘Tell them they’ve got it wrong.’
Manoli gave Angie a cold stare, his eyes narrow and empty, and a fat lip appearing painfully fresh.
‘They haven’t got anything wrong,’ he said flatly.
‘What?’ Angie stared at him. ‘Why would you terrify my mother and my fiancé like that? You could have killed them. My mother’s just come out of heart surgery.’
‘Your mother doesn’t have a heart. She murdered my father,’ Manoli sneered.
‘Don’t say such stupid things,’ Angie said.
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