Those You Trust: compelling women's psychological fiction

by Bernie Steadman

  I raised my eyes towards my father and he gave me the smallest of smiles and a subtle shake of the head. The rich American wasn’t going to get it all his own way as far as he was concerned. I couldn’t imagine what Dad was thinking about this first meeting with his younger brother, but I could see that my grandfather’s worst traits had skipped to the youngest of the three. He was cruel, hard and all about the business.

  ‘If you sign the document,’ Stephanos continued, ‘Nikos need never know of this agreement. He can live the rest of his life safe in the knowledge that you will inherit, and you can relax, knowing that you won’t have to worry about the business aspects. It’s a fair offer.’

  Leo, who had been silent but bursting with tension, finally let go of my arm and banged on the table. ‘Come on, Anna! You don’t want all that hassle. Give it to me. I have as much right as you to inherit.’ He rattled the papers and threw the pen at me. ‘Sign the damn things.’

  I kept both hands firmly clasped, mostly to stop them shaking. ‘You can’t make me do this. As I said before, take it through the courts.’ I needed a better argument. ‘Leo, Nikos could easily live another twenty or more years. He might not retire for another ten. You can’t hang about doing nothing for all that time. Go and do something else. Go back to America.’

  Dad said, ‘My daughter will not sign your documents. I suggest you leave and I will inform my brother that you wish to challenge his intentions through the courts.’ He pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘I think that is all we have to say. Please leave.’

  I tried to stand as well, but didn’t get far. Laskaris, silent until now, hissed in my ear, ‘It would be wise for you to sit and listen, Miss Georgiou, we are not finished yet.’

  ‘Not finished with what?’ came a gravelly voice from the front door. Uncle Nikos stood there, with his driver, Panos, standing behind him, looking menacing in his dark suit.

  At that moment Mum came running down the stairs and into the kitchen, where she clung onto Dad. ‘At last! Come in, Niko,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘I think you might want to hear what’s going on. This person,’ she spat the words at Leo, ‘this person has attacked my daughter, bruised her neck and is now holding her captive. He tried to strangle her, Niko.’ She then faced up to Stephanos, who also stood. ‘And this man, this is your brother, apparently. You should be ashamed to come into my daughter’s house like this. Ashamed.’

  I have to hand it to her, my mother can do venom like Cruella de Vil.

  Nikos stood next to Dad in the kitchen doorway. We were all standing by this time, crowded round my pine table. ‘Theo,’ he said, ‘could you take your wife into the other room, please?’ He moved into the small space they reluctantly vacated.

  Mum and Dad backed into the living room, just far enough to give Nikos some room. They were both staring at me. I could feel them giving me strength.

  ‘Niko,’ snarled his younger brother, not bothering to disguise his disgust. ‘Surprise, surprise. So here you are, top of the heap, king of all you survey. You’ve done pretty well for yourself, haven’t you? But of course you have, you had the best start in the world. It was all handed to you on a plate.’

  ‘I was ready to apologise to you for that, Stephie. I made a terrible mistake when I was young. I can never make it up to you. I am sorry. I mean it. But you have done well in America. You have a fine family and a good business. Why come here to cause trouble? I can leave my business to whomever I please.’

  ‘But it should be mine,’ he retorted. ‘What’s the point in giving it to her? It’s like throwing it all away on a whim. I’m just trying to get her to see sense. This is an agreement between me and this girl. It has nothing to do with you.’

  Nikos spread his hands wide. ‘And you use your thuggish son to achieve that aim by attempting to strangle my niece?’ His eyes widened. ‘Stephie, I had hoped for so much from our first meeting. It would have been over food, and drinks, and not this, whatever it is. Intimidation, threats, assault. You do things differently in America, hey?’ He changed tack. ‘What exactly did you want her to sign?’ Nikos gestured to his companion. ‘My assistant would be very interested to see the papers you have with you.’

  Panos leant forward to take them from the table.

  So did Leo. But I was closest. I grabbed them up, pressed them close to my chest and said, ‘No. Just get out. I’m not signing anything.’ I was close to tears. This wasn’t the reunion I’d planned. Nothing like it. Stephanos gave off hate, in waves. I was so grateful to Nikos for taking control. He was used to the gladiatorial arenas of big business. I just wanted it all to stop.

  ‘I think Anna has some rights, Stephano,’ said Nikos again, refusing to lose his temper. ‘It’s hard to believe that we three brothers are in the same room for the first time in forty years and yet we are still at each other’s throats.’

  Dad pushed back into the kitchen. ‘He’s not my brother, Niko. No longer. No brother of mine would allow his son to hurt my daughter, and approve of it. Stephie, you were the youngest and the brightest of us, but something bad has happened to you.’

  Nikos said, ‘That is true. You are your father’s son, Stephano, but you’re not our brother.’ He reached across the table and took the papers from me, passing them to Panos before Leo could react. ‘We will study these papers and decide what action to take. You’ – he stared hard at Leo – ‘you are not welcome here. You will never be welcome in Kissamos. Forget starting a business here.’

  Nikos cocked his head at Stephanos. ‘Accept it. There is nothing here for you. You have lost. It’s better for you if you go home.’ He stood back from the table, taking Dad with him so there was room for the men to pass. ‘The sooner you leave the better, because when the police catch up with Leo here, they will arrest him for assault, and attempted murder, and in Crete that means a long prison sentence.’

  ‘Which he deserves,’ added Dad.

  Stephanos boiled with rage. ‘This is not over. You can’t intimidate me with your threats. I’m not just going to go away and leave it. You owe me, Niko, and one way or another I’m going to get what I’m owed. I’ll do whatever it takes.’ He pushed past Nikos, shoving him hard against the cupboards and stormed out through the front door, closely followed by Laskaris and lastly Leo, who spared me a murderous glance as he followed his father to their car.

  I collapsed back onto the chair and tried to calm my heart. What a family. Mum shuffled in next to me and held onto me, while Nikos scanned the documents.

  ‘He made you a good offer, Anna, I think you might have been tempted?’

  I let out a nervous laugh. ‘I’ve never met a man so horrible. No wonder Leo is a nasty piece of work. No, I’d never have agreed to his terms. It was a damn cheek anyway to start negotiating on the terms of a will before you’re even dead!’

  He smiled. ‘Before I’m even ill, in fact.’

  ‘Sorry, that didn’t come out right. At least they’ve gone. Thank you for coming when you did. I was frightened that I wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. Oh, and thank you for bringing Panos. That made Leo think twice.’

  Panos smiled and went back outside to guard the car, or whatever he got up to.

  And now we had some talking to do.

  32

  The heat and anger disappeared out of the house on the breeze that blew a promise of the heat of summer through the open doors.

  Dad, more grey-faced than I would have liked, said, ‘I think you need to tell me what exactly has been going on, Anna.’

  Mum pushed herself out of the chair. ‘Well, I think I need to make us all a pot of coffee and we can just calm down a bit. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was terrified that awful boy was going to hurt Anna again. Look at her poor, poor neck! She could have died!’

  I sighed. I couldn’t put it off any longer. I pushed myself to my feet, even though all of me felt bruised, not just the new ones on my left arm. ‘I suppose so. Will you stay, Uncle Niko, and help me tell the story
?’

  ‘I will. I need to make a call first, to let Delphine know what has happened, and to tell the police Leo is here in Kissamos.’

  He wandered out into the spring sunshine and I helped Mum make coffee, and plate up the cakes we liked for breakfast. Little shivers kept running across my skin as my brain and body tried to work through the whole mess, and I tried to work out how to say what I needed to say to my parents.

  Once Nikos returned, we told the story between us, but I didn’t give details of the short relationship between me and Leo. They didn’t need to know that. Mum moaned and cursed and generally overreacted her way through the telling, especially when it came to the assault. I couldn’t blame her for being furious, it had been outrageous behaviour, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became too. All over again. He nearly killed me.

  By the time Nikos and I had finished, we had drunk the coffee, had another refill and finished off the pastries. Mum’s coffee was stronger than I make it and I could feel the butterfly sensation and shakiness as it hit my system, and that combined with two paracetamol was giving me lots of messages, most of which said ‘go to sleep’.

  ‘And so,’ said Nikos, ‘I have changed my will and made Anna my heir.’ He reached across and took my hand. ‘I am happy to say that she has accepted, although she is already making me spend it.’ He smiled at me.

  Mum drained the dregs of her coffee and told Dad he had to rest.

  ‘I will,’ he said. ‘But I can’t stop thinking about Stephanos, and why he went so wrong. He was right in one thing, though, we really are strangers.’ He got up, patted Nikos on the shoulder and went back up the stairs, followed by Mum, harassing him into bed for a nap.

  ‘And you haven’t had your medication,’ she muttered on the stairs, ‘all this excitement can’t be good for you.’

  Left on our own, I fought down the panicky sensation in the pit of my stomach and told Nikos what I’d been thinking about since the last time we had met. ‘I have to say something to you, and I need you to listen and not get angry.’

  He played with an unlit cigarette, tapping it onto the pack and flipping it over and over.

  ‘You can smoke it if you like, the door is open.’

  He lit up and took a deep inhalation. ‘Thank you. Go on.’

  I still hate smoking, hate it, but there is a time and a place, and he would need this one. ‘I don’t want to inherit your business. I only agreed to sign the document to help you.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Stephanos will not just go away. If he can’t get what he wants, he’ll find a way. He’ll alert the taxman, and have your books checked for irregularities. He’s had Leo spying on you for months, looking for weaknesses. He’ll find a way to get what he wants. It’s about revenge, with him, not good sense. He will be haunting you for years, and so will Leo and I don’t think I can cope with that. He scares me.’

  Nikos let out a plume of smoke, nodding slowly. ‘And you have a plan to solve this problem?’

  Yipes. The crux of the matter. ‘I think I do. How about selling the whole thing as a going concern? Now, or soon, and then retiring early? Get rid of the problem.’

  To his credit, Nikos didn’t react immediately. He took another drag on his cigarette and pushed smoke out through his teeth, peering at me under his heavy lids. ‘And why should I do that? To give in to him?’

  ‘No, you’ll be making sure he never gets his hands on what is yours!’ I took a moment to organise my thoughts. ‘This is difficult to put into words. You see, I have no children, so I have no heirs either. I have no idea about managing a business like yours. I don’t want anything to do with building houses, which, as far as I know, brings you in the bulk of your income.’ I put my hand on his arm. ‘Once you did pass on, I would just sell it all anyway. I want to live simply. I don’t want all that responsibility or to be in fear of takeovers, like you have been. Or in fear for my life, as I have been. I can’t live like that.’

  ‘You would leave me with nothing?’

  ‘No! Far from it. You would have a huge amount of money in the bank! Think about what you and Delphine could do with that. You’ve agreed to open a charitable foundation to help the young unemployed. Make that your task for the next few years. Use your money for good. Grow your status as a philanthropist, not a businessman. Make that your legacy to Crete. Otherwise, what use is money growing ever larger in a bank account when you already have all that you could ever want?’

  He didn’t look at me, or move for at least five minutes. I had no idea what he was thinking and could feel myself starting to fidget. ‘You could hold onto the oil and wine businesses to keep you busy,’ I tried.

  Nikos stubbed out his cigarette on the edge of his plate, and stood up. ‘I must go. I will think about what you have said, and talk about it with Delphine. Thank you for being honest, although it is a great disappointment to me. I thought I had found an heir for my business, perhaps I have not.’ He gave me a sad smile. ‘But at least I have an heir.’

  I walked him to the front door, and he waved at Panos. He turned and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. ‘You are a remarkable person, Anna Georgiou. It is many years since I met someone who isn’t frightened of me.’

  As soon as I had closed the door, Mum clattered down the stairs. She also gave me a hug. ‘So proud of you, darling.’

  ‘Mum, were you listening to our private conversation?’

  ‘Heard every word. It’ll be a miracle if it works, but according to Irini, the tax people are after him anyway and he knows it, so the sooner he packs it all up, pays his taxes properly and does something good for the community, the better. Otherwise, he’ll probably spend his last few years in prison.’

  I was amazed. She’d picked up all this useful information in a couple of days. ‘You don’t like him much, do you?’

  ‘Never did. Cruel, quick to put people down, and when he just went along with his father’s evil wishes, well, I lost all respect for him. But you, you have seen a different man. He’s in your debt now, and that’s a good position to be in. I hope he will see sense.’

  ‘So do I. I don’t think my American uncle and cousin are going to hang about until he dies of old age, are they?’

  ‘No, I can only think that their initial discussions with Nikos’ lawyers didn’t go so well, and that’s why they thought they could put pressure on you, my brave girl.’

  ‘Well, if there’s any justice in the world, they’ll be charged with assault and intimidation. At least Leo should be.’

  ‘They may end up being deported.’

  ‘Yes! Perfect.’ I wanted them gone, forever, from my island. Not that I thought it would be that easy.

  I piled plates and cups into the sink and ran water. ‘Help me dry the dishes.’ I passed her a tea towel. There was comfort in doing something simple. ‘Is Dad asleep?’

  ‘Yes, I made him get back into bed. I’m worried that by overdoing things he may set himself back. But, he’s been more alive these last few days than he has been in a long time.’ She found the cupboard and piled up the dry plates and cups. ‘You have changed so much in these few months. I never saw that Will was holding you down, holding you back even, until now. You belong here I think, among the Cretan people.’

  I carried on wiping down the worktops, emotions too close to the surface to speak. We finished the cleaning in silence.

  ‘So, is this Alex “the one”?’ she asked, doing air quotes.

  I glanced at her. ‘Yes, I think he is.’

  She gave me a sly grin. ‘Then perhaps, grandchildren may happen, eh?’

  ‘I hope so, I really do.’ I scrubbed at my eyes. Typical of my mother to have come through a dangerous situation, only to focus on the possibility of grandchildren. But then, why not? What had happened was so far out of our normal experience, it didn’t compute. Grandchildren, so much longed for, did.

  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to settle the restlessness in my head if I stayed
home. So when in doubt, shop. ‘Shall we go out for a walk round town? The shops will still be open.’

  Her eyes sparkled. ‘Let’s do it. I’ll leave a note for your father in case he wakes up.’ She shot upstairs to get ready and I locked the back door and tested the windows. I left the spare key for Dad on the table, so that I could lock the front door, too, without imprisoning him. It would be a while until I felt safe in my house. I wished the police would do their job.

  I checked my phone and remembered that Delphine had arranged for her doctor to come to the house on Thursday morning to check on Dad. So I wrote that on the note for Dad as well. I texted her back, and gave her a summary of what I’d said to Nikos. It would give her a bit of forewarning. I had no idea what would happen once he got home, but at least she was prepared. Then I texted Alex and copied and pasted the same message to him, but with kisses.

  That done, I dug out my bag and shoes, and put on a bit of makeup and off we set. I was in dire need of a few mindless shopping hours, pootling around the market.

  33

  We had a few quiet days where I didn’t hear from Nikos, although I doubted he had forgotten me. Delphine’s doctor came as promised, and whisked Dad off in a private ambulance to the hospital in Chania, almost giving Mum a heart attack, but he was returned the next day, looking and feeling better. He took to taking short walks into town, and renewing his old friendships, reading the newspaper in the café and chatting with the other men. He loved it. Mum spent time with Irini, visiting relatives and catching up. I avoided such excursions where possible, except for chauffeuring them to places in the car. I enjoyed the peace and seeing them so happy. I didn’t see Alex for those few days, it was enough to enjoy their company.

  There was still the niggling worry that Leo had not yet been arrested though. Crete is a big island, but I was surprised at his ability to hide. He did spend months tramping over the hills spying and he could easily survive up in the mountains for the summer if he chose to. I had a hope that he might have gone already, off with his father to plot their revenge from Athens. I still locked the house carefully and stayed alert. He wouldn’t leave me alone, especially at night.