Dimitris glanced back at Zoe, who was hugging one of her friends. He looked at Sam. “I’ll try.”
Remi linked her arm through Sam’s as they watched Dimitris return to Zoe’s side. “That was pretty impressive, Fargo. I didn’t know you could be so philosophical.”
“Just repeating what I heard my dad say once.”
“Let’s hope it helps him. I think he was more upset than Zoe was when he learned the police weren’t going to run out and make an immediate arrest.”
“That’s the good thing about living on Fourni, I suppose. Not too many places he can get into trouble here.” He glanced out the window, saw the sun cresting the island of Thimena in the distance, then leaned toward Remi. “What do you say we head up to the rooftop and watch the sun set and give one last toast to Tassos?”
“A spectacular idea.”
Several other guests had the same idea, and as the sun dipped below the hilltops of the small island, turning the clouds above a brilliant orange, they lifted their glasses. “To Tassos!”
Silence reigned for a minute or two, then quietly, the others wandered down the stairs, saying their goodbyes to Zoe, then heading home.
Nikos, Sam, and Remi began clearing the glasses and plates from upstairs, bringing them to the kitchen, while Denéa and Manos gathered the empty dishes from inside the house. When Zoe and Dimitris attempted to help, Remi and Denéa sent them up to the rooftop to enjoy some quiet time.
Remi filled the sink with warm water and soap, washing, while Sam picked up a dish towel, drying each plate and stacking them on the counter. She glanced over at him, pleasantly surprised how easily they worked together, as though it had always been. With goodbyes said, hugs given, they walked hand in hand down the path toward town.
“I hope they’ll be okay,” Remi said, looking back at the house, seeing Zoe and Dimitris sitting next to each other on the rooftop, silhouetted in the moonlight.
“They need time,” Sam said. He drew her to him. “As much as I wished none of this happened . . .”
“I know. But I’m glad you’re here.”
Neither had eaten a thing at Zoe’s, but the tantalizing scent of fresh-cooked food drifted toward them as they took the stairs down. “One last dinner on Fourni?” Sam asked.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
They looked down the main street at the square across from the church, seeing the fairy lights strung beneath the plane tree. The restaurant, Platanos, was very near the sarcophagus, candles lit on the patio tables. They dined on grilled fish, dolmades, and eggplant salad, drinking a fresh white wine, then finishing with a serving of watermelon and a glass of dessert wine.
Remi looked up at the leaves rustling in the offshore breeze. A few drifted down from the treetop, then danced across the paving stones. “Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked.
“I think so. Zoe seemed at peace when we left.”
“She did. Dimitris, not so much.”
“I think he’s worried about her. It’s understandable.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” She looked at Sam, watching the candlelight play across his face. After a moment, she reached across the table, placing her hand on his. “I wasn’t a big believer in fate, until I met you.”
He laughed.
“I’m serious. Who else would have showed up because of a voice mail talking about the North Star?”
“You know what I think? That you’re brilliant, Remi Longstreet. If we hadn’t met, you would’ve found another way to escape.”
“Not so fast, Fargo. Weren’t you the one who said my Plan B wouldn’t work?”
“Did I?” He pushed the candle aside and leaned across the table, kissing her. “We should probably head back. We’re going to need to get up early to haul your luggage up all the stairs in the morning.”
Sam paid the bill, then, arm in arm, the two strolled down the main street, until they reached Skavos’s café, where Nikos was sitting with a few of his friends. He called them over, and they joined him. “Glad we ran into you,” Sam said. “I wanted to double-check the ferry schedule tomorrow. I’m wondering if we’d be better off hiring a boat into Samos to make our flight.”
“It might be tight,” Nikos said. “But no need to hire anyone. I’m sure Dimitris won’t mind taking you.” He glanced over at Remi, smiling. “Better he picks you up in Kampi by your cottage. With all those suitcases of yours, it’ll be easier to carry it to the dock, instead of up all those stairs.”
Sam started to laugh, until he glanced over at Remi. He held up his hands, giving her a mock look of innocence. “I didn’t say a thing.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The next morning, Sam and Remi were waiting at the dock. Sam with his backpack and small carry-on, Remi with her two large suitcases and the biggest carry-on Sam had ever seen. It might be fine in the overhead on an international flight, but he wasn’t sure where it was going to fit on the much smaller plane from Samos to Athens. He was about to ask her if she had to pay extra to place it in the hold when he noticed the Asteri slowly entering the quiet bay.
It wasn’t Dimitris at the helm. It was Nikos. “The Star Catcher is missing,” he said with a heavy sigh as he and Sam loaded Remi’s luggage on board. “Dimitris didn’t come home last night.”
“Star Catcher?” Sam asked.
“The RIB boat that belongs to the underwater archeological society. He sometimes takes it out when he’s upset. I know he’d want to say goodbye. Perhaps we’ll see him before too long.”
“You’re sure he’s okay?” Remi asked.
“I’m sure. He seems to have settled down a bit these last two days. I think he and Zoe realized that it was better to leave the investigating to the police.”
“I had the same feeling, too,” Sam agreed.
“Don’t worry,” Nikos said as he piloted the boat out of the bay. “We’ll get you to Samos in plenty of time to make your flight.”
Once they arrived at the port in Pythagorio, Nikos received a radio call from Manos. He looked over at them, his brow knit with concern. “Perhaps we’re wrong. Maybe Dimitris is taking Tassos’s death far harder than we realized. And maybe taking things into his own hands. The Star Catcher was seen cruising along the south side of the Kyrils’ island between here and Patmos. And Dimitris is not answering his phone or the radio.”
“Kyrils’ island? Why would he go there?” Sam asked.
“The majority of the Kyril olives are grown on that island.” The radio crackled as another transmission came in. This time, he stepped in the cabin and shut the door.
Remi watched him through the window, then turned to Sam. “You need to do something,” she said, her green eyes filled with worry. “It’s clear Dimitris has gone there to look for evidence on the man he thinks killed Zoe’s grandfather. Obviously, he got the idea from you. Which means he’s following in your footsteps. That makes it your fault.”
It took a moment for Sam to realize she wasn’t joking. “My fault? How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Because you’re the one who flew all the way out here,” Remi said, getting flustered. “Being a knight in shining armor and all.”
“Hold up here, Longstreet. Last night you were happy I followed you.”
“That’s not the point,” she said, her cheeks turning red.
Sam couldn’t help but smile. “You do realize, that defies all logic?”
“Well, Fargo, why did you come?”
“The North Star. I was worried about you.”
“See? Logic has everything to do with this.” She took a deep breath and gave him a satisfied smile. While her explanation made no sense to him, what she said next was perfectly clear. “Nikos helped you rescue me. The least we can do is help him find Dimitris.”
She was right, of course. He opened the email Selma had sent, found the
link to the booking site, and canceled their flight. Remi’s return smile softened the sting over the change fee they were likely to be charged. “I’ll call Selma and let her know.”
She picked up on the first ring. “Mr. Fargo. You canceled your flight. Did your investor meeting get changed?”
As efficient as she was turning out to be, he supposed he shouldn’t have been too surprised that she already knew. “Something came up,” he said.
“Did you want me to rebook?”
“Not yet. Hard to say when this . . . issue will resolve.”
“I see. I assume you’ll call or email when you’re ready?”
“I will,” Sam said. “There is something you can do in the meantime.” He turned slightly, lowering his voice. “If I text you the phone number, can you call my friend Blake and let him know I won’t be able to make that meeting after all?”
“Would you like me to give a reason?”
“Just offer my apologies. I have a feeling that the truth might be a little hard to believe.”
The moment he disconnected, Remi looked at him, her eyes wide with another kind of guilt. “Oh, Sam . . . Why didn’t you say something? How selfish of me.”
“Remi, stop. It’s not that important. You’re important.”
“Your investor meeting is important. It’s your future. You need to go. This is all my fault.”
Nikos walked out, overhearing them. “What’s your fault?”
There was a moment of awkward silence, then Remi said, “I forgot about Sam’s investor meeting.”
“Investor meeting?” He looked at Sam for an explanation.
“It’s nothing,” Sam said. “The good news is, we’ve decided to stay and help you find Dimitris.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
A look of relief swept over the older man’s face after hearing Sam’s offer to help. “What about your plane tickets?” Nikos asked.
“If we’re lucky,” Sam said, “we get a refund. Your son is more important. So, where is this island?”
“Just this side of Patmos. It may be very difficult to find him, though.”
“Isn’t it harvest season?” Remi asked. “I’d think that’d make it easier. There’s got to be enough people on the island who will have seen him.”
“Not on this particular island,” Nikos replied. “Some areas are very rugged. The only way in or out is by foot or pack animal.” In fact, their only option at that point was to head out to the island, find his boat, and hope they could track him from there.
They arrived early afternoon. There was only one port, on the east side of the island. Nikos was certain Dimitris would not have entered from that direction. They cruised around the south, finding the Star Catcher anchored behind an outcropping of rock in a narrow cliff-edged inlet, the key sitting in the ignition. Had they approached from the east, they might not have seen it at all.
Nikos moored the boat as close as he dared, suggesting that he and Sam search the island from that point.
Remi, however, objected. “And leave me on the boat alone?”
“She’s right,” Sam said to Nikos. “If anything comes up, you need to be here, ready. If anything goes awry, you’re better able to deal with the authorities. Remi can stay here on the boat with you.”
“What if something happens and you need help?” Remi said. “I’m going with you. Don’t forget. I have the only sat phone, and by the looks of them there hills, I’d say there’s no cell service.”
“You’re not exactly dressed for the occasion.”
She tapped one of her suitcases with her foot. “Lucky for me, I’ve got a full wardrobe to draw from.”
Had he felt he had any say in the matter, he’d insist she stay on board with Nikos. But in the short time he’d known Remi, he’d learned several things about her. Not only was she the most stubborn woman he’d ever met, she was also a capable and worthy partner. Reluctantly, he nodded. “As long as you promise to do what I say and not go rogue.”
“Me?” Remi said. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
Considering how very aware he was of her presence at all times, he doubted that very much.
“In that case,” Nikos said, “I have something for you.” He opened a cabinet, removing a small black pouch. Unzipping it, he pulled out a holstered .38 Smith & Wesson, which he held toward Sam. “I bought this on a trip to America several years ago. I want you to take it. Just in case.”
Sam unholstered the weapon, saw there were six rounds in the chamber, then held it by the grip, index finger along the trigger guard. He aimed it out at the water, testing the balance, the feel of it. Though more compact than what he was used to, the revolver had a nice weight. “This should do,” he said.
Remi looked at the gun, then at him. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I’m with you,” Sam said, returning the gun to its holster. “In this case, though, better safe than sorry.”
* * *
—
While Remi changed, Sam and Nikos decided on a suitable in-case-of-emergency plan. “If something comes up,” Nikos said, “I can use the ship’s radio. If I can’t reach Manos at the office, between his cousins and mine, there’s bound to be someone within ship-to-ship radio distance.”
Remi emerged a few minutes later, dressed in khaki slacks, a safari-style olive-green shirt, and her pristine hiking boots. She looked more like a model about to embark on a photo shoot than someone about to do search and rescue. “Almost ready,” she said, kneeling in front of her carry-on bag, searching through it. She pulled out two scarves, both beige, one with large red roses, the other with tiny blue flowers, holding them up side by side as though trying to decide which matched best with her outfit. When she looked at Sam her gaze narrowed slightly. “I sense you don’t approve.”
“I didn’t say a thing. But if you want my opinion—”
“I don’t,” she said, smirking.
“We’re trying not to be noticed.” He gave a pointed look at the red-flowered scarf.
She dropped it back in the bag, and tied the other around her ponytail. “Laugh all you want. A good scarf always comes in handy.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He picked up his backpack, heavier now that it contained a coil of rope, in addition to his binoculars and two bottles of water. He slung it over his shoulder. “Ready?”
“Ready.” She smiled at Nikos, giving him a hug. “We’ll be back soon.”
He nodded, then turned and extended his hand to Sam. “Be careful, my friends.”
“We will.”
Nikos helped them lower the skiff into the water, then stood at the railing, watching as Sam and Remi rowed toward a small, pebbled beach.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Sam disembarked, helping Remi out, then looked at the narrow trail leading up between the cliffs. “At least we know he’s here,” he said.
“Do you think we’ll have any chance of finding him?”
“Let’s hope.” He examined the dry, rocky soil, surprised to see two sets of footprints, one much smaller than the other. “From the look of these tracks, I’d say Zoe’s with him.”
“What was he thinking, bringing her here?”
Looking over at her, he said, “Imagine a guy letting a girl talk him into doing something he shouldn’t.”
She crossed her arms. “I was being rhetorical.”
“The good news,” he said, standing, “is that it doesn’t look like either of them are too worried about being followed. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch up with them before they get into trouble.”
About twenty minutes later, the graveled path veered north and inland. It was, as Nikos described, very rugged, and all too soon, Sam lost their trail completely. When the route eventually branched off into more than one direction, Sam suggested they backtrack to make sure he hadn’t
missed anything.
“Go on,” Remi said. “I’ll catch up.”
He looked back to find her in the shade of a rocky outcropping, kneeling to untie the laces on one of her boots. If he had to guess, her shoes were giving her blisters. She did not complain, he had to give her that. “I’ll wait. Just be careful where you choose to sit. An island this remote, there’s probably any number of things we wouldn’t want to run into.”
“Please don’t say snakes.”
“I wasn’t. But now that you mention it.”
She turned a dark glance at him.
“The least of your worries,” he said, crouching to examine the trail again. “Trust me.”
“What could be worse than snakes?”
“Scorpions. Extremely painful. And possibly deadly if you’re allergic.”
She eyed the ground, her gaze darting from rock to rock. “If this is your way of helping me relax, it’s not working.”
“Were you thinking about snakes?”
“No.”
“See? It worked.”
“Very amusing, Fargo.” She hurriedly finished tying her shoelaces, then suddenly looked up. “Do you hear that?”
In fact, he did. A sharp breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding olive trees. As it died down, the scuffing of heavy feet on hard-packed earth grew louder.
“Maybe it’s them,” Remi whispered.
From the sound of it, far more than two people were coming their way. The olive trees on this side of the island definitely weren’t large enough to hide behind. He glanced up at the massive outcropping jutting up from the hillside next to Remi, motioning for her to follow him. They climbed to the top of the jagged rock, about ten feet above the path, then dropped to their bellies, hiding behind a few fragrant patches of sage that grew from the cracks.
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