The Ransom

by Irena Nieslony

  However, as they walked back, they were sidetracked by the sound of live jazz coming from one of the bars. They both loved jazz and there was nothing for it, they had to go in and listen. Three drinks later, the music was still playing, but Alison was feeling decidedly tipsy and Robert insisted they went home. Greek measures were so much larger than English ones.

  Once home, Alison and Robert went straight to bed without even bothering to have a glass of water or to see how Portia was. If they had gone into the kitchen, they might have seen the note which Eve had stuck on the fridge door and the search for Eve and Kevin might have begun a lot earlier.

  * * * *

  Alison woke up at about six thirty the following morning. They hadn’t got to bed until after two and she still felt shattered. However, she had a raging thirst.

  No more of those gin and tonics for me. I’m sure they had more gin in them than tonic.

  Alison got up quietly so as not to disturb Robert. She found her dressing gown and went downstairs. Portia greeted her happily, indicating that she wanted to go out. Alison opened the back door and let Portia into the garden and then went to the fridge to get a glass of water. She still felt very groggy after drinking it and got another glass to take upstairs with her. As she shut the fridge door, she noticed a post-it note stuck onto it.

  Where did that come from? she asked herself as she took the note off the door.

  Eve didn’t have fridge magnets or shopping lists on her fridge, so it was slightly unusual to find a note stuck on it. She put it on the table as she went to let Portia back in and then forgot all about it until she was half way up the stairs. Alison nearly didn’t bother to go back, but in the end wondered if the note was something important.

  Dragging herself back downstairs and into the kitchen, she picked up the note. As she read it, she woke up immediately.

  “When did Eve leave this? She can’t have gone to Joanna’s this early in the morning, can she?”

  Alison dashed to the front door to see if Eve’s car was parked outside. She vaguely remembered that the Mercedes hadn’t been on the driveway when they had got home at two, but sometimes Eve would leave it on the road.

  Running to the gate, Alison looked up and down the street. She was relieved when she saw Eve’s Mercedes parked a few yards away, so she went back inside and up the stairs. However, the thought then crossed her mind that perhaps Eve had been drinking and might have walked to Joanna’s. It would do no harm to check and Alison tiptoed to Eve’s bedroom. She hesitated for a moment, thinking that Eve wouldn’t be too happy if she was woken up so early. However, it was important that she checked, so she knocked and opened the door a moment later. Alison was shocked to see that the bed hadn’t been slept in and dashing back to her room, she started shaking Robert.

  “What’s going on?” he asked drowsily.

  Alison quickly told him what had happened.

  “And Eve isn’t here, but her car is?” Robert asked. “Perhaps we should try ringing her mobile.”

  Robert got out of bed and found his phone. When he rang Eve, all he got was a voice telling him that the phone was switched off.

  “Perhaps something happened to David and she asked Annie to take her to the hospital,” he suggested. “She hasn’t been driving so well since David was kidnapped. She’s completely exhausted.”

  “Why wouldn’t she ask one of us to drive her, Robert?”

  ”Possibly because she heard us come home in the early hours.’

  “I still think she would have told us, Robert.”

  “Yes, you’re probably right. It’s also unusual for her to have her phone switched off.”

  “I agree. I think we should go to Joanna’s house now.”

  “If that’s what you think we should do, we’ll do it.”

  To tell the truth, Robert was more than just a little scared, but he couldn’t show it in front of Alison. He didn’t want to be a wimp while she was being so brave.

  * * * *

  Both Alison and Robert were annoyed that they had left their hire car close to Bella Sophia’s the previous evening, feeling that they were wasting time walking to collect it. However, it wasn’t too far and soon they were driving towards Joanna’s. As they approached her house, Alison spoke.

  “Well, it looks like Joanna’s in. There’s a car in the driveway.”

  “I wonder if Eve’s in there as well.”

  “I just hope Joanna hasn’t already killed her and disposed of her body. There’s been plenty of time. If only we saw the note earlier.”

  Oh God, what if we find Eve dead. Robert thought. Why didn’t we go into the kitchen last night? We would have found the note and been here much sooner... but then, who knows what time Eve went to Joanna’s house?

  They both got out of the car quickly and Alison dashed ahead to ring the doorbell, but after ringing and knocking a few times, there was no reply.

  “I think we should call the police,” Robert said. “It would be silly if we broke in, don’t you think?”

  “I suppose so,” answered Alison, who wasn’t too sure if they should wait much longer to get into the house.

  “Eve gave me that officer’s phone number, what’s his name, Kastrinakis? I’ll ring him direct.”

  Dimitris was not too happy to be woken up so early, but once he was informed about what had happened, he told Robert to stay put and he would be there as soon as he could.

  The next fifteen minutes were excruciating. Alison and Robert wandered around to the back of the house where they found a window with an open shutter. They peered in and saw that it was the kitchen. However, there was no sign of life. They tried the back door, but it wouldn’t open. Both knew it was more sensible to wait for the police, but they were very restless.

  “I’ve let her down,” Robert said dismally. “I came to help her, but instead we were out till the early hours of the morning enjoying ourselves.”

  “Don’t blame yourself, Robert; you weren’t to know that Eve would do this.”

  “No, but I should have been prepared for her doing something wild and stupid. You know Eve; she’s reckless and won’t sit still.”

  As Robert finished his sentence, Dimitris rolled up in his police car, with Stavros, who he had picked up on the way.

  “When will that woman stop interfering,” Dimitris said as soon as he met Alison and Robert.

  “Don’t speak like that about her,” Alison retorted. “She’s our friend and something is obviously very wrong. She could be in serious danger... or even worse.”

  Alison’s voice trailed off as she thought of the most horrible scenario. She didn’t dare say it out aloud.

  “I’m sorry,” Dimitris replied. “I too am concerned. I have got quite fond of Miss Masters, but she will keep doing these thoughtless and irresponsible things.”

  Alison said nothing, knowing that Dimitris was right.

  Dimitris and Stavros banged at the door and when there was no reply, they wandered around the outside of the house, Alison and Robert following a few steps behind. Seeing that the shutters of the kitchen window were open, Dimitris broke the pane of glass and told Stavros to climb in and let them in through the back door.

  “Now, you two, stay in the kitchen while we search the house,” Dimitris instructed as soon as they were all inside.

  Robert wanted to help, but thought it best to let the police get on with their job. After all, they did have guns so they could better protect themselves.

  The two police officers searched the house, including the basement, but came back to the kitchen shortly afterwards with news that there was no sign of anyone.

  “It’s very interesting that Joanna’s car is still here,” Dimitris said. “Perhaps she has left in the car of her accomplice. Possibly they have both taken Eve somewhere, but where?”

  “Well,” Alison said, having just realized what they all seem to have forgotten. “Nobody knows where they took David, do they? I reckon they’ve taken Eve to the same place” />
  “Ah yes,” Dimitris replied. “Of course, that would be very likely. If only Mr. Baker had remembered where it was.”

  “Well, he didn’t,” Robert snapped, feeling that every minute was precious and they were wasting time talking when they should be looking for Eve.

  Dimitris decided to disregard Robert’s tone, knowing that both he and Alison were very upset about their friend’s disappearance.

  “Now we will go to the other house Joanna owns, but I have a feeling we’ll find nobody there either.”

  Alison and Robert followed the police car, but again they were disappointed.

  “What now?” Robert asked despondently.

  “I will circulate a description of Joanna Neonakis to the ports and airports, but I expect she has long gone.”

  “What about Eve?” Alison asked. “You can’t have forgotten about her can you officer?”

  “Of course not. We will start a search, but I don’t hold out much hope. Even if Eve is still alive, I fear Joanna would have hidden her well. I think we all have to prepare ourselves for the worst.”

  Chapter 20

  David woke up early that same morning. His breathing was a little better than the previous day, but he felt nauseous again. He was fed up of being sick and wished more than anything that the effects of the arsenic trioxide would wear off.

  A few minutes later, he started thinking about the nurse or whoever she was, coming in and giving him the injection. He had barely looked at her face, but he kept trying to visualize her.

  It’s no good, he thought a few minutes later. I can’t think what she looked like. I was quite drowsy at that time. And why can’t I remember any more about the kidnapping? However, I’m beginning to think Eve is right and the person behind everything is Joanna.

  He couldn’t imagine any of their close friends on the island going to such lengths to obtain money from Eve and he certainly didn’t think any of them would try to kill him. Yes, murders had been committed recently, but only by acquaintances of theirs.

  But of course you never really know people. I found it hard to believe that Phyllis Baldwin could have been a double murderer, nor for that matter, Paul.

  David was looking forward to seeing Eve that morning. He knew she would cheer him up. He had started brooding and imagining all sorts of awful scenarios that could have happened. This wasn’t like him at all. He wasn’t used to having anxiety or panic attacks, but he was having them now. Thinking about his own mortality had taken up a large amount of his time while lying in that hospital bed. He didn’t know how Eve had managed to put all her brushes with death to the back of her mind. David didn’t think he would ever get over this experience. Instead he imagined spending the rest of his life having nightmares.

  * * * *

  Eve and Kevin had also woken up early. Eve wanted to go to the bathroom, but didn’t think she would be able to get there with her feet tied up.

  “Well, I want to go to the loo as well,” Kevin said. “And I’m hungry and am dying for a cup of black coffee.

  Eve wished he’d stop whinging.

  “I’m sure it won’t be long, Kevin,” Eve said, trying to sound optimistic. “Joanna will probably ring someone to let us out as soon as she’s off Greek soil.”

  “How do you know? She’s proved herself to be a hard woman and it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t phone anybody and we rot to death in here.”

  “Perhaps we should try and escape then,” Eve said.

  “And how are we going to do that? We’re well and truly tied up and even if we get ourselves untied, how are we going to open the door. There was a bolt as well as a lock, so it’ll be practically impossible.”

  “My God, Kevin, you are negative, aren’t you?”

  He just shrugged his shoulders which annoyed Eve all the more.

  “Why on earth did you get involved with Joanna, Kevin?’ Eve asked the question she’d wanted to ask for a long time. “It was so soon after Lucy’s death.”

  “Oh, so you’re going to start criticizing me, you who keep getting into situations like this all the time.”

  “And I’ve always got out of them,” Eve jumped in quickly. “Anyway, you haven’t told me why you went out with Joanna.”

  “You’ve seen her, Eve, she’s beautiful and young, and I thought she was keen on me. Anyway, Lucy and I were heading towards divorce.”

  “Didn’t you think it strange that Joanna took up with you so soon after Yiannis was murdered? I know she’s just told us about her relationship with him, but you weren’t to know the story. It would have been more likely that she would have been in love with Yiannis as they’d only just got married a few months previously. Didn’t it ring any alarm bells?”

  Kevin shrugged his shoulders again. He knew Eve was right, but he didn’t want to admit it.

  Eve’s always right. What on earth did Joanna want with me? I really can’t make it out. Was she just after my money, not that it amounts to a fortune?

  “I’m also surprised that she didn’t rope you into the kidnapping. Why did she choose someone else?”

  “I don’t know,” Kevin snapped. “Perhaps you should have asked her. I can’t believe that I’m going to spend my last hours with you, I really can’t.”

  Eve didn’t bother to reply. He was also the last person she would wish to spend her last few hours with.

  But these aren’t going to be our last hours, though I don’t know if I can bear to listen to Kevin moaning for much longer.

  Suddenly, Eve had an idea.

  “Why don’t I try to untie your feet? It will be difficult with my hands tied behind by back, but it’s worth a go.”

  Once in position, Eve began to try and loosen the rope around Kevin’s feet with her hands still tied up. However, it was near on impossible. When Eve admitted defeat, Kevin tried to undo Eve’s knots, but he too struggled. In the end, Eve had to admit that they were at the mercy of Joanna.

  * * * *

  After the police started their search for Eve, Robert and Alison felt at a loss. They didn’t have any idea what they should do next.

  “Robert,” Alison spoke at last. “Do you think we should go and tell David?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking the same thing, but he’s sick and I don’t know if we should worry him. It might put back his recovery.”

  “But he’ll probably be expecting Eve to come and visit him. When she doesn’t turn up, he’ll be wondering where she is and will try to call her. We did and got no reply. I bet Joanna stole her phone.”

  Robert agreed that it might be best after all if they did go to the hospital, but he wasn’t looking forward to telling David the news about Eve.

  * * * *

  David sat in stunned silence, with Alison and Robert standing by the side of his bed. He was trying to take it in, but it was difficult to comprehend that Eve was missing? How could she have been so reckless again? However, he didn’t feel he could be cross with her this time. He knew he would have done the same if the roles were reversed.

  “I’m so sorry that we had to bring you such bad news, David,” Alison said, taking his hand. “However, we thought you should know.”

  “I would have worried anyway when she didn’t turn up this morning, so I had to know. I can’t believe she was right though. She suspected Joanna all along.”

  “It’s a pity you didn’t remember who her accomplice was, David,” Robert put in. “Then the police could have confronted him before this happened. Mind you, it does look like it could be Kevin.”

  “I’ve been wracking my brains since I’ve been here and it just won’t come to me. I find it really hard to believe that her accomplice is Kevin though. Kevin and I have become good friends recently.”

  “I’m sorry,” Alison said. “Of course, it might not be him.”

  An awkward silence followed when nobody came up with better suggestions as to who the accomplice could be. David finally broke this.

  “They might have put Ev
e in the house where they put me,” he said, forgetting about Kevin. “I just can’t remember where it was. God, I feel useless.”

  “Try and get some rest,” Alison said. “I know it’s hard, but it might help you remember.”

  David nodded, but he didn’t know how he would be able to sleep with Eve missing, probably injured, or God forbid, dead.”

  * * * *

  The police had started their search, but Dimitris wasn’t holding out much hope. There was a large area to cover and it would take a lot of manpower, manpower which they didn’t have.

  If they came across any new houses which were partially built, they decided to search them. There was a possibility that Eve could have been locked up in one of them.

  “This is impossible,” Stavros said to his boss.

  “We have to keep looking,” Dimitris replied.

  Suddenly he thought of something.

  “Joanna was often seen with Kevin Fowler. We’re going to his house next.”

  It wasn’t far from where they were so it took just five minutes to get there.

  Reaching the house, Dimitris knocked at the door a couple of times, but there was no reply. He also noticed that there wasn’t a car parked in the driveway.

  “This seems be a bit fishy,” Dimitris remarked. “Perhaps he’s gone off with Joanna Neonakis. We’ll get a search warrant for his house. You never know, Eve could be locked up in there.”

  * * * *

  David was surprised that he had been able to sleep, despite his concern for Eve. However, he had been through a great deal and hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep since before he was kidnapped.

  As David sat up, he suddenly realized that he remembered everything that had happened in the past few days.

  “I remember who he was, the man that kidnapped me,” he said out loud.

  Astonished by this turn of events, he grabbed his mobile and phoned Dimitris Kastrinakis. Dimitris had given him his direct number in case he recalled anything about his ordeal.