Deathly Christmas

by Irena Nieslony

  Oh no, I’m going to die, she thought.

  Then she felt something running out of her nose and noticed drops of blood on her clothes. Tears started to fall, but she wanted them to stop. She didn’t want James to see how vulnerable she was.

  James tried not to look at her. Visions of the previous night flashed through his mind. Why couldn’t he be completely cold hearted? Life would be much easier.

  And why did Paul have to turn up so quickly this morning? he asked himself.

  James had phoned his lawyer in London about Jennifer’s Will and had been informed that Paul was the sole beneficiary as he was Jennifer’s son. It had been a total shock.

  James had been straight on the phone to Paul telling him they needed to talk. He hadn’t expected Paul to come straight over. If he hadn’t, James would have been able to form a plan and none of this need have happened. Yes, he could have planted strychnine somewhere in Paul’s house and engineered for it to be discovered. He wasn’t sure how, but he would have worked it out. James was nothing if not resourceful. Then Paul would have been arrested for Jennifer’s murder and he and Jane would have lived happily ever after. But he had to forget these thoughts and concentrate on the future. He had to forget about the money and about going back to England. The people he owed cash to would be on his back straight away if he returned home.

  He was jolted out of these thoughts by Jane being sick. Paul now had his head on his knees so it didn’t look as if he felt too good either. Eve was retching and it seemed as if she too would be sick at any minute. He glanced at Jane and it seemed as if she had passed out.

  That was very quick, but then she is quite fragile.

  He turned towards Paul, not wanting to look at Jane anymore. Paul, who was as white as a sheet, tried to get up. With his legs tied up, he naturally fell over and started coughing before he too was sick.

  Eve felt her head would explode and the pains in her abdomen were getting worse. For a moment, she wished she would pass out like Jane, but then changed her mind, thinking she might never wake up again. However, Jane wasn’t dead. Eve could see her chest going up and down. There was still hope.

  Paul, lying on the ground, felt his vision go blurry and he shut his eyes. He was tired anyway. His stomach hurt and he wished he could go to sleep. If he died, he died. Anything would be better than this pain

  James got up and looked at them. Jane was definitely out and Paul seemed to be. He kicked him and Paul moaned, but didn’t say anything. He went over to Eve, who stared at him.

  “Well, I’ll be off then,” he said to her. “I’m sure it won’t be too long before you’re found.”

  “You won’t get away with it,” she whispered, unable to speak any louder.

  “Perhaps, perhaps not.”

  James turned and left the room, locking the door behind him. He picked up a suitcase he had left in the hall and got into his car.

  Chapter 16

  Around five that afternoon, David came downstairs. He had been totally engrossed in his work and hadn’t realized what the time was. He saw Portia standing at the door, wanting to go into the garden. He let her out, but thought it was a little odd. Eve tended to walk the dog for about an hour around three thirty, so why did Portia want to go out again so soon; and where was Eve?

  “Eve,” he called out a couple of times.

  There was no reply, so he looked outside. Her car was in the driveway so she couldn’t have gone far. Perhaps she’d popped out to the local shop.

  David went and made a coffee, but when Eve hadn’t returned half an hour later, he started to become concerned. It would be getting dark soon and she wouldn’t normally go for a walk alone in the fading light. He told himself he was being silly, but with the murder still being unsolved and Eve being Eve, anything could have happened.

  David picked up the phone and tried Eve’s mobile. When she didn’t answer, he tried another number.

  “Annie, hello, I was wondering if you’d seen Eve this afternoon.”

  “No, I’m afraid not. Why? Have you lost her?”

  “I’ve been so involved in work that I lost all track of time and when I came downstairs, she wasn’t here.”

  “Oh I’m sure she’ll come home soon. She’s probably just gone to the shop.”

  “You’re probably right. Thanks, Annie.”

  He tried Jane next, but again there was no reply. David was becoming anxious. Where else could she be? She didn’t get on with Betty or Lucy, so there was little chance she would be with either of them.

  What was he to do? This didn’t feel right to him. She had said she wouldn’t get involved in the murder again, but this was Eve he was talking about. She could have suddenly come up with an idea and thrown caution to the wind.

  Portia wanted to come back in, so David opened the door, but he couldn’t settle. In the end, he grabbed his car keys and decided to drive slowly around the village to see if he could spot Eve.

  It took very little time at all and it was a fruitless journey, but David decided to stop at Annie and Pete’s before going home.

  “You really are worried about her, aren’t you?” Annie said, answering the door. “I must admit, I am too.”

  Pete came to the door and stood behind his wife.

  “Have you tried anywhere else?” he asked.

  “No, I did ring Jane earlier, but she wasn’t at home, nor did she answer her mobile. That made me a little nervous as well.”

  “Look, we’ll go and see if Betty and Don or Kevin and Lucy have seen her. I know it’s unlikely, but it’s worth a check. One of them might have been driving and spotted her. You go to Jane’s, James’s and Paul’s.”

  “Okay. Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.”

  Betty and Don and Kevin and Lucy lived in the next village. They parted company and David headed first to Jane’s house and then to Paul’s, both of which he found in darkness.

  * * * *

  Once James had gone, Eve tried to call out to Paul, but she could barely speak. He looked like he’d passed out anyway. She lay back. Her head was spinning and she wished she’d never come out that afternoon. However, she was sure David would find them soon. That is if he ever stopped writing.

  Unfortunately, the time dragged on and nobody came to rescue them.

  Damn you, David, stop writing and come and look for me, Eve begged.

  She immediately felt guilty. It wasn’t his fault she was in this mess. It was hers. Why hadn’t she told David she was going out and where she was heading? Why had she been so stupid? He would probably have stopped her going and she would have been cross with him, but at least she would have been safe.

  Eve looked at the others. Jane was still out cold, but finally Paul was stirring. She had been scared of never waking up again and had refused to let herself drop off, doing everything in her power to stay awake.

  Paul pulled himself up.

  “Eve, are you alright?”

  “I feel awful, but at least I’m alive. What about you?

  “Same. My head is throbbing and my stomach aches. God, what did he give us?”

  “I dread to think.”

  “How’s Jane?” Paul asked nervously.

  “Still asleep. I didn’t pass out; I don’t know why. I did desperately try to stay awake though.”

  “You’ve probably got a strong constitution, Eve. You survived all that arsenic after all… I wonder where James has gone.” Paul asked.

  “He’s probably trying to get off the island, but even if he does, I expect he’ll be caught in Athens. Of course he could have other plans, although I don’t know what they could be.”

  “If only we could get these ropes off.”

  “I wish we could, but they’re so tight. I’m sure David will send out a search party for us eventually. He gets so wrapped up in his writing, but he will realize I’ve gone missing at some point.”

  “I hope so… Eve, is there any way you can put that table light on next to you? It’s almost dark
.”

  “I’ll try.”

  The light had a cord with a switch on it and Eve struggled for about five minutes to turn it on, but she finally managed. However, the effort made her feel nauseous again.

  “Thanks, Eve.” Paul said. “At least we won’t have to sit in the dark, plus if anyone comes, they’ll think someone’s in.”

  About half an hour later, the doorbell rang and they both jumped. Jane was still out cold on the sofa.

  “Quick, we have to do something,” Eve said.

  Both Paul and Eve started shouting, but neither had regained full use of their voices.

  The doorbell rang again and they were sure that whoever it was would go away. As quickly as he was able, Paul slid across the floor, relieved that as in most Greek houses, there wasn’t a carpet. Reaching the other end of the room, he knocked down a large marble statue of Zeus which came crashing down with an almighty bang. Paul was lucky not to get hurt, while Eve threw herself on top of Jane to shield her from flying shards of marble.

  The noise had the desired effect. David, who was at the door, started ringing and banging, but getting no reply, rushed to the back of the house. Peering into the sitting room, he saw Eve, Paul and Jane and realized they were tied up and unable to let him in. David tried to open the door, but it was locked. As luck would have it however, it was a new house built by the company John Phillips had owned. He had had a reputation for shoddy workmanship and indeed, this house was not well built and David was easily able to break down the door. He rushed in and hugged Eve before quickly untying all three of them.

  “James poisoned us, but we don’t know what with. He used a syringe. Jane’s still out and I’m really worried about her,” Eve said hurriedly.

  She was delighted to see David, but at the moment was more concerned about Jane because she hadn’t woken up yet. Eve felt she needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

  The next thirty minutes were a blur. David rang Pete on his mobile and he and Annie rushed over. Both were shocked to hear what had happened, hardly able to believe James was the murderer. David rang both the police and an ambulance, but being a distance from Chania, they took some time to arrive.

  Eve started panicking about Jane, although David was also worried about her and Paul. After all, they had been injected with the same poison.

  Dimitris Kastrinakis and a couple of other officers were the first to arrive. He was stunned to see the state Eve, Paul and particularly Jane were in. Jane had now been laid down on the sofa to make her more comfortable, but she was extremely pale and Paul was pacing up and down, concerned that the ambulance would never arrive. Dimitris however, thought that all three of them looked like they needed immediate medical attention.

  “I’m pleased to see that you’re all still alive. I take it she’s still breathing,” Dimitris asked, pointing to Jane on the settee.

  Eve nodded, not wanting to say much in case she was given a talking to for interfering. David hadn’t told her off, but at the moment he was relieved she was alive, plus he knew she’d had a traumatic afternoon and had probably thought she was going to die. He didn’t want her to be even more stressed than she already was.

  “The airports and ports are being informed to look out for James Anderson, but he may already have left. In that case, he will be looked for on all planes and ships leaving Athens.”

  “What if he decides to get out of Athens some other way…..? Or stay there?” Paul asked.

  “Well, he can’t stay in hiding forever. I’m certain we’ll find him.”

  Eve wasn’t so sure, but he probably didn’t have that much money.

  “So, who was the first to arrive here?” Dimitris asked, looking pointedly in Eve’s direction.

  However, he was wrong.

  “That would be me,” Paul said and went on to tell him what had happened and how Jane had got involved.

  Dimitris indicated to one of his men to write everything down. When Paul had finished talking, he turned towards Eve.

  “Now, Miss Masters,” Dimitris continued.

  Eve jumped. Now he was going to start on her.

  Where on earth is that ambulance? she asked herself. I’m feeling dizzy again.

  “Is this really necessary,” David asked. “Can’t you see how ill they all are?”

  “Of course I can, sir. Just a brief description of events please, if possible, Miss Masters.”

  “Okay. It’s fine, David. I’d rather get it over and done with. There’s not much to tell anyway.”

  Eve went on to explain how she had suspected that Paul was Jennifer’s son and didn’t know whether to tell the police or not, so she had gone to ask James what he thought. However, she had found Paul and Jane tied up and ended up in the same boat.

  As she was finishing, they heard the ambulance arrive. Eve was relieved. Jane needed to get to the hospital and she and Paul had to be checked out as well. She also wanted to end her conversation with Dimitris before he had a go at her. She was surprised he hadn’t told her off already.

  It wasn’t long before the three of them were in the ambulance and half an hour later they arrived in the hospital. After they had been examined, they were all kept in.

  “I’ll go home and get your overnight things, darling.” David said. “Cheer up. Hopefully you won’t be here for long.”

  “Oh, I’m used to this hospital now,” Eve said, trying to smile. “I don’t feel at all well, so it’s for the best. I can’t believe you’ve forgiven me though.”

  “Eve, let’s not talk about it. I’m sure I’ll be very cross when I’ve got over the shock. You need to get yourself something to do, you know. You’re much too intelligent to sit at home doing nothing.”

  “I know,” she said, but he could she was drifting off to sleep.

  David kissed the top of her head and went home.

  When he returned, she was fast asleep, so he gently woke her to tell her he had come back with her things. Eve changed into a nightdress, but said she felt weak and tired so he left her to sleep, hoping this would be the last time that she would ever be in hospital because of her amateur sleuthing. This last incident must have terrified her enough to put her off. He was sure of it.

  Chapter 17

  The following morning David was up bright and early to return to the hospital. He had hardly slept; he had been so concerned about Eve. David knew that she had cheated death yet again, but despite having left her a few days previously, albeit for one night, he knew he wouldn’t be able to do it again even though she had got involved in the murder enquiries for the umpteenth time. She was a frustrating and difficult woman, but she was exciting and sexy as well and there was never a dull moment with her. David knew he was head over heels in love with Eve. His life had never been the same since she had come into it and he didn’t want his dull and boring existence back again.

  David got into his car and first picked up Annie and Pete. They also wanted to visit Eve. Annie had been up half the night worrying about her.

  David and his friends arrived at the hospital around ten and found Eve sitting up in bed.

  “How are you darling,” David asked, kissing her.

  “I feel a bit better today, though I’m still pretty tired.”

  “Have you been told what was in the syringe yet?”

  “Unfortunately not, but hopefully they’ll know this morning.”

  Paul, who was in the ward next to Eve’s came in. Both wards were small, only holding four people. Paul also looked tired, but he too was feeling a bit better than he had done the previous day.

  “Good news,” Paul remarked. “The doctor said Jane has woken up. They’re doing some other tests on her, but we should be able to see her soon.”

  “That’s a relief,” Eve said. “I was scared she wouldn’t make it.”

  Paul nodded, indicating he had thought exactly the same thing.

  A doctor then walked in.

  “Miss Masters, I have the results of your tests.”

>   “I’m Paul Fowler. I had the same tests,” Paul butted in quickly.

  “Ah yes. It seems you both were poisoned with arsenic trioxide.”

  “What?” Eve exclaimed. “Is that any different to ordinary arsenic?”

  “Oh yes,” the doctor replied, putting down his notes. “It’s used to treat different cancers, in particular, leukemia. However, whoever gave it to you, gave you a big overdose. I don’t think it was intended to kill you, but to make you very sick.”

  “It certainly did that,” Paul commented.

  “Have you any idea how he or she got it?” the doctor asked. “It’s a prescription drug.”

  “The person who gave it to us,” Paul explained. “His mum had leukemia. He must have had some left over.”

  Eve noticed that Dimitris Kastrinakis was standing at the door. She wondered how long he’d been there. The doctor turned and looked at Dimitris.

  “Could this have killed them?” Dimitris asked.

  “It’s not likely, though the other lady is very ill. If they had been left for a long time, their chances would not have been so good.”

  Eve shivered, but she knew David would have come to save her.

  “Well, Miss Masters, I hope that this will be the last time you get involved in a murder,” Dimitris spoke.

  I knew it, I knew he couldn’t keep himself from saying something, she thought.

  However, Eve decided not to give him the pleasure of seeing her react.

  “Any luck in finding James yet?” she asked instead, changing the subject.

  “I’m afraid not,” he replied. “But we will, believe me we will.”

  Eve wasn’t so sure.

  * * * *

  Paul went and sat at Jane’s bedside. She was asleep and looked peaceful, but he knew that when she woke, all the awful memories would come flooding back. He wanted to make them go away, but he didn’t know if he would be able to or if she would let him.

  Ten minutes later, Jane’s eyes slowly opened. She saw Paul sitting there and she smiled.

  “You’re alright then?” she asked.