Before I go however we’ve just found out that there’s a surprising connection with Britain. The photograph of the soldier who rescued the icon has been identified as that of a Captain Harry Llewellyn-fforbes of the Hertfordshire Regiment. He led a small unit that fought with the Partisans in the Second World War. They call him ‘Captain Harry’ here and he’s already become something of a saint in the town’s eyes.’
(Newsreader) Thanks for that Ben. A feel-good story from Greece at last. Now I wish that I could say the same about the weather but I’m afraid that it’s going to be raining pretty much everywhere…
Four weeks later
Mac was once again putting his shopping into the boot of the old Almera at the supermarket. He’d just driven out of the car park onto Broadway when he noticed a familiar figure sitting on one of the benches. He parked as close as he could and walked over.
He sat next to the man who seemed to be so deep in thought that he didn’t even glance in his direction when he sat down.
‘Hello Monty,’ Mac said. ‘Nice day, isn’t it?’
The old man awoke as if from a dream.
‘Oh, it’s you Mac!’ he smiled broadly and offered his hand. ‘I’m sorry but I was miles away.’
‘I’d guess about two thousand miles away,’ Mac said as he shook his hand.
Monty laughed.
‘Yes, you’re spot on there. I must say that it all takes a bit of thinking about.’
‘When did you get back?’
‘Just three days ago, I’m still in shock I think.’
‘I saw you on the news,’ Mac said.
‘Yes everyone’s said that. My little visit seems to have created quite a splash.’
‘What was it like?’
Monty looked up the sky before answering.
‘It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You know I used to see those pop star chappies on the TV and wondered what it must be like. Crowds everywhere you go and all that. I finally got a taste of it and at my age too. Helena and I had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for when we booked the flights. That’s all we had to do as she’d been in contact with young Nikos and he arranged the hotel and everything else.’
Mac would have bet that she’d more than willingly volunteered for that job.
‘We should have known something was up when we mysteriously got upgraded to first class and then had the money for the flights refunded. We definitely should have twigged when the pilot and co-pilot made a point of coming out and shaking our hands before we took off. They announced it over the tannoy you know, ‘the son of Captain Harry is on board’ they said. A cheer went up. I thought they were all watching football or something and someone had scored a goal.
Then we were met at the airport by both young and old Nikos. We followed them into what I thought would be the arrivals area when old Nikos apologised and said that it couldn’t be avoided. We walked into a huge room full of journalists and photographers. It was a press conference just for me and Helena. They fired questions at us for fifteen minutes or so but they were all very nice.’
‘Yes I saw a bit of it. I thought you were very good, you looked quite calm.’
Monty smiled.
‘I was quaking in my boots I can tell you. Well luckily they managed to smuggle us out of the airport and young Nikos drove us to Agiou Athiris. I sat in the back with old Nikos. We talked non-stop, he’s a most interesting man you know. I couldn’t help noticing that Helena and young Nikos weren’t talking so much but they were looking at each other a lot which I thought was a bit strange.
Anyway we walked into the hotel through the back entrance and they were all there to meet us. Not just the staff but all the guests too. They clapped and cheered and I just didn’t know what to make of it. I tried to pay for our rooms but the owner looked offended and said that, ‘The son of Captain Harry will never spend a cent while he is in my hotel.’
I was still wondering what was happening when we went to the restaurant next door for something to eat. It was absolutely packed but young Nikos had a word with the owner and like magic a table was produced and people were moved to make way. When we sat down the owner announced who we were to the whole room. They all stood up and clapped. Later, after we’d finished eating, loads of them asked to have their photo taken with us. It was all very strange.
The day after old Nikos had arranged for us to visit the icon. We only had to walk across the square but, with all the people and the photographers, it took us quite a while. It was quiet in the church, I didn’t realise it but there’d been thousands of people visiting the icon every day, so many that all they could do was walk past it and quickly look at it. They gave us five minutes alone with her which was a real honour.
God knows I thought she was beautiful the first time I saw her but there, in the proper setting, I thought her beyond beauty, beyond this world even. I prayed and kissed the corner of the frame. Below her they’d put the photo of my father, so that everyone who visits will know who saved her, so the priest said. I must admit I cried when I saw that.’
Mac could see the tears form in his eyes as he said this.
‘They were all very good and laid on loads of things for us to do while we were there but I’m afraid that I had to do most of them by myself.’
‘Why was that?’ Mac asked.
‘There were lots of sick people turning up who needed medical help and the local hospital had set up a clinic in a disused shop near the church. Young Nikos, being a good sort, was helping them out. As soon as she heard Helena volunteered as well. I hardly saw her after that. I noticed that the day before I left she and young Nikos were walking hand in hand. I don’t know what had happened between them but it was obvious to everyone that they were a couple now. She’s still there with him now. She’s working very hard because there’s so many people to look after but I must admit that I’ve never seen her so happy.’
Monty took out his phone and gave it to Mac.
‘She sent this yesterday.’
Mac looked at the photo. Helena and young Nikos were in white doctors coats with T shirts and shorts on underneath. They both had a sheen of sweat on their faces. He had his right hand resting on her shoulder while her left arm was around his waist. They weren’t looking at the camera but at each other, looking right into each other’s eyes as only lovers can do. They were both smiling.
‘Mind you she could do far worse,’ Monty said as he took back the phone. ‘I really like young Nikos a lot but, if I’m honest, it’s hard losing Helena. It was so nice having her around the house.’
Mac gave it some thought.
‘Well it might not be so bad.’
‘How do you mean?’ Monty asked.
‘He’s technically on sabbatical leave so, in time, he might carry on his studies here at the Medical School. If that’s the case then they’ll both be looking for somewhere to stay and your house is so big.’
‘Yes I hadn’t thought of that,’ Monty said with a smile.
‘And if they do decide to settle in Greece just think of how nice and warm it is there when the snow is on the ground over here. It would be really good to have somewhere like that to go for a nice long holiday, now wouldn’t it?’
Monty laughed out loud.
‘You’ve really cheered me up Mac. I’m so glad we bumped into each other today,’
As Mac drove home he thought about the two cases. The one that had looked so sinister at first had turned out to be anything but and the other, the one that looked so straight forward, had proved to be a cruel deception from start to finish.
What linked them both were tears. A woman’s tears were an incredibly powerful thing, Mac thought. He remembered how he’d made Nora cry once or twice and the regrets still stung him now as he thought about it. He also remembered the making up afterwards.
He thought about the making up all the way home.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed this story. If you have please leave a r
eview and let me know what you think.
Also in the Mac Maguire series
The Body in the Boot
The Dead Squirrel
Coming soon from Patrick C. Walsh
The Blackness
The fourth Mac Maguire mystery
For more information go to -
www.gardencityink.com
The Weeping Women (The Mac Maguire detective mysteries Book 3) Page 15