‘How is she?’
‘She’s in a critical condition. She went through the windscreen of her car, she’s unconscious.’
‘I'll be on the next plane to Athens. Which hospital is she in?’
‘Central Hospital, ask for me at reception, if I'm not here, ask for Dr Vronikis.’
I need a ticket and fast so instead of going online I call the travel agency in Queensway. ‘Judy, this is Beth. It’s an emergency. Can you get me on the next flight to Athens?’
‘Is everything alright,’ she asks. ‘I mean you just came back.’
‘It's Helen. She's had an accident.’
I hear her sharp intake of breath, then the patter of keys on her laptop.
‘I can get you on the 6.10 from Heathrow - it's just gone 4.30, can you make it? I'll email you the ticket.’
As if in a trance, I stumble across the living room into the hall, cram my small laptop back into my luggage, I haven’t had time to take anything else out. Grabbing my coat from the hall stand I leave my apartment.
It’s dark outside, the cold rain lashes my face, but I feel nothing.
A black taxi turns the corner, I wave him down, wrench open the door, throw in my luggage, and climb inside.
‘Heathrow Airport - drive as fast as you can.’ Slamming the door shut I sit with my head resting on the window.
The driver peers at me in his mirror.
‘Don't worry love, I'll get you there in time.’
I sit silently cursing the traffic and watch as the rain lashes the window. She said - I know what to do, what did she mean? I sit trying to remember other things she said that didn’t make sense at the time. I had a feeling something was wrong. I sit cursing myself and the traffic then suddenly stop. When we came back from the cemetery and were in the hotel room Helen said I’m going to get her for this, what the hell did she mean?
Soon the taxi comes screeching to a halt outside the airport. I thrust a handful of money through the window to the driver and run to departures.
‘Wait, wait,’ the driver calls.
The rain’s lashing my face, I keep on running.
‘Miss, your luggage,’ he shouts.
I turn around, the driver’s running towards me with my carry-on luggage in his hand. I go to thank him but he puts his hand up to stop me.
‘You don’t have to thank me, just slow down or you’ll have an accident.’ With that he turns on his heel and runs back to his taxi.
I run into departures, go through customs, then run to the gate. The plane’s ready for take-off, I board and stow away my luggage in the overhead rack. A woman in the seat next to me starts talking about how she hates flying. I mumble something, get up and move to another seat, at the far end of the plane.
The next minute one of the cabin crew arrives with my luggage. ‘You forgot this,’ she says, stowing it away for me. ‘Thanks,’ I mumble. ‘That’s really nice of you.’ She smiles then goes to take her seat for take-off.
I fasten my safety belt and sit thinking of Helen, I should never have left Athens, I should have stayed with her, I should have called work, told them what happened – the article could wait. Jame’s death may have tipped her over the edge. My mind’s racing. I desperately need to talk to Dev or Elias. Do they know what’s happened? Does Theo, her husband know? Then I have a terrible thought. Did he have something to do with this? Helen’s trying to get a divorce. Did he find out? Then I think of James. Does this have something to do with James’s murder? My eyes keep closing, I need to think, but I can’t keep them open.
‘Prosecki parakalo (attention please), we are now landing in Athens, please make sure your safety belts are fastened. Cabin crew take your seats.’
It’s just gone midnight in Athens, the plane lands and when it stops, I pull down my luggage. I run to the exit and wait impatiently for the door to open. Then I run down the steps, across the tarmac and into the airport.
At last I’m in a cab heading for the hospital, I try calling Dev and Elias, but there’s no reply.
12
ELIAS
Athens
Late afternoon - 4.55pm
Elias jumps out of his car with the photographer hard on his heels. The police cordoning off the shooting has brought traffic to the small street to a standstill. Elias runs over to a paramedic wheeling a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
‘What happened,’ Elias shouts.
‘Move out of the way,’ yells the paramedic. ‘This is an emergency.’
Elias can’t help but look down and gasps.
The paramedic looks at him. ‘Do you know her?’
Elias stares at the blood-stained body. ‘Yes, it’s my friend Helen. What happened?’
‘She went through the screen, no idea how it happened, but I have to get her to the hospital fast.’
The doors of the ambulance close leaving Elias standing staring after it.
He turns, runs back to his car, jumps inside and follows the ambulance. With one hand on the driving wheel, he grabs his phone and shoves it into a bracket on the dashboard, then calls Dev.
‘First it was James, now Helen!’ Dev shouts. ‘What the hell’s going on?’
‘I don’t know,’ Elias mumbles. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her... Only a few days ago I was looking at James on a stretcher, now it’s Helen…’ His voice breaks.
Dev sits with his elbows on his desk, rubbing his forehead. Was it an accident or did someone try to kill her? ‘I’m leaving now,’ he mutters. ‘I’ll see you at the hospital.’
Grabbing his jacket, he leaves his apartment, his car is parked outside the entrance to where he lives. The streets are quiet, so it doesn’t take long and parking is easy.
Leaping out of his car he runs into the hospital, goes to reception and asks to see Helen. After what seems ages, he’s taken to the emergency room where Helen lays. Blood seeps through the bandages covering her head, her eyes are closed. In desperation he turns to the nurse. ‘Can’t you do something to help her?’
The nurse just stands patiently watching him.
Then in a much lower voice he adds. ‘You can’t leave her here like this. She went through the window of her car you must stop the bleeding.’
‘We are doing the best we can,’ replies the nurse, stiffly. ‘We are already under pressure with many other accidents.’
She’s used to this type of reaction, but what can she do? A shortage of staff always adds to the stress and makes her job that more difficult.
‘I will pay,’ Dev exclaims. ‘I want her to see a doctor NOW!’
‘There’s no need,’ she answers, patiently. ‘The doctor is on his way to see her. Please go outside and sit down.’
Dev stands shaking his head.
The nurse walks towards the door and opens it. ‘Please, we’re doing all we can, so don’t worry.’
Elias suddenly appears in the doorway looking stressed and disheveled, he stares at Helen, then at Dev.
‘Come,’ Dev says. ‘I think they want us to wait outside.’ With his arm on Elias’s shoulder they start to leave the room. ‘We’ll be outside if you need us,’ Dev says.
After what seems a long time the nurse appears and motions for them to follow her to a nearby room.
‘The doctor said she was very lucky, she’s still concussed, but she’s out of danger.’
Dev grabs a leaflet from a nearby table and scribbles down his number. ‘Can you call me as soon as she wakes.’
She takes it and nods.
‘When shall we come back?’ Elias asks, frowning.
‘Whenever you like,’ replies the nurse, turning and opening the door. She rushes off to another emergency, they return to reception.
‘Let’s have a coffee, there’s a small café not far from here,’ Elias mutters.
They walk out of the hospital, cross the road and start walking towards the café.
‘This is so terrible,’ Elias groans. ‘I can’t get my head around it. Do you think t
his has something to do with James’s murder?’
Dev shrugs. ‘We have to check all the CCTV footage near the accident, then we might have something to go on. I already have the footage of where she lives.’
‘How did you get it?’ Elias exclaims, sounding surprised.
‘This is highly confidential, my friend,’ Dev replies. Then in a low voice, adds. ‘We’ve been following her husband for a few weeks, we have the area covered with CCTV.’
He stops and frowns. ‘It doesn’t make sense, she went to the airport this morning with Beth, came home, then a little later she left the house and drove off quickly. They didn’t say if anyone was following her so I’ll check when I get back. Her cell phone was smashed in the accident, but we can check her home phone as we have that tapped.’
‘What about her husband? Is he here in Athens?’
‘I would think so, we must get someone to contact him, let him know what’s happened.’
Then as an afterthought he quickly adds. ‘Have you spoken to Beth? Does she know what’s happened?’
‘I tried to call her, but it keeps going to voicemail. Do you have another number for her?’
‘No, I just have her cell phone number.’
Elias stops outside the small café and turns to Dev. ‘Get a seat and I’ll get the coffees, do you want something to eat?’
‘No just a black coffee.’
Dev walks over to a small table at the back of the room and sits flicking through his phone.
A few minutes later Elias returns with two coffees and a toasted cheese sandwich. He hasn’t eaten all day and is starving.
After hurriedly drinking his coffee, Dev stands up. ‘I’m going back to the hospital, come over when you finish, I’ll call if there’s any change.’
13
BETH
Athens Central Hospital
As I jump out of the cab, I see Dev going inside the hospital.
‘Dev! Wait for me,’ I shout.
He turns and stares at me as if he’s seen a ghost.
‘Have you seen Helen?’ I gasp, running up to him.
He looks tired and shakes his head. ‘I saw her for a few minutes, she was unconscious, she’s had a few stitches in her head.’
We walk together to the hospital reception area and ask for her doctor. After a few minutes he comes over to talk to us, accompanied by a nurse.
‘You must be Beth,’ he says, taking my hand and shaking it. ‘I spoke with you on the phone. I am Dr Diamakis.’
‘Yes, I’m Beth, I just arrived from London, how is Helen?’
‘She’s out of danger, but she’s still unconscious, you can see her, but not for too long, she needs all the rest she can get.’
We follow the nurse to the ward where Helen is. Her eyes are closed, a bandage covers her head. I sit in the chair next to the bed. ‘I'm here,’ I say, grasping her hand.
Dr Diamakis comes over and stands by the bed, watching me.
‘Have you taken any x-rays?’ Dev asks, not taking his eyes off of Helen.
‘Yes, she was lucky, it could have been much worse, be patient, the body is a complex machine.’
After a couple of hours, there’s still no change, she’s still unconscious. I keep nodding off in the chair next to Helen, Dev’s outside on his phone.
Suddenly I feel someone prodding me.
‘You must sleep for a while.’
I open my eyes, it’s the nurse.
At that moment Dev comes into the room, he comes over to me, then turns to the nurse.
‘Don’t worry, I'm taking her to her hotel.’ Then he quickly adds, ‘If there’s any change, call me?’
I can’t believe he’s suggesting leaving her alone. ‘But I can’t leave her like this, it’s the same as when we left James at the hospital, the nurse said get some rest and then...’
‘It’s not the same, Beth,’ he replies, looking at me intently. ‘Helen’s life is not in danger, she’s going to be alright, you need to sleep. I’ll drop you off at your hotel, then I’ll come back here. If there’s any change, anything at all, I promise I’ll come and get you.’
We drive in silence to the Plaka Hotel and park outside.
‘I’ll get that,’ he says, leaning over and taking my case from the back seat.
He’s right, I am tired. I walk over to reception to collect my key, everyone seems to know what’s happened, news travels fast. Even the owner looks more subdued than usual. He stands shaking his head.
‘Such a terrible thing to happen, poor Helen.’ He squeezes my hand and says he’ll send me up a brandy.
Then Dev comes in, he says hello to the owner then puts my case down next to me. ‘Call me as soon as you’re awake, okay?’
I nod. ‘Thanks again for the lift.’
He smiles and walks back to his car, I take the elevator to my room.
The intercommunicating door is now locked, the room feels smaller than the last time I was here with Helen. Tears well up in my eyes, I should never have left her. I sit on the bed then rest my head on the pillow, I feel so tired and cold. There’s a knock at the door, it must be my brandy.
I down the brandy in two gulps, cover myself with the duvet and close my eyes.
Doors are opening and closing, I can hear people talking, I open my eyes and the morning sun streams through the shutters. Propping myself up on my elbow I reach for my phone. What time is it? Then it all comes back to me. Helen!
It’s 9.15, there’s no message from Dev, so I call him.
After a few rings he answers.
‘How’s Helen?’
‘She’s still the same. I'll come and get you, be at reception in fifteen minutes.’
After glugging down some water from the fridge I fill the hotel kettle with water – I must have a coffee.
A minute later I’m on my balcony sipping a black coffee. I still can’t believe Helen’s in hospital, it feels surreal, we were here chatting together just a few hours ago.
I start pacing around the balcony, thinking about Helen.
A car suddenly hoots in the street below, I look down, it’s Dev.
A few minutes later, we’re driving quickly through the streets of Athens back to the hospital, the same hospital James was in. Dev glances over at me, as if he knows what I’m thinking.
‘Did you stay at the hospital all night?’
He nods.
I had a feeling he would. He’s the kind of person who does what he says. For someone who’s been up all night, he seems incredibly wide awake. I glance at him through half closed eyes wondering if he can help find James’s killer. Then I think of Helen. This wasn’t an accident. The other evening, when we were walking to the restaurant with Elias, she told us about the driver who tried to reverse into her, no way was this an accident.
‘What are you thinking?’ Dev asks, suddenly.
I turn in my seat and look at him. ‘I think you know. This wasn’t an accident, was it? She said someone tried to run her down in a car when she was leaving her house. Elias called you and told you about it, do you remember?’
He just grunts.
‘Dev, it must be the same person, and this time they got lucky.’
He says nothing, just opens his window and waits for the traffic to move. If only I hadn't left Athens she wouldn’t be here now. I feel Dev looking at me again.
‘It’s not your fault Beth,’ he mutters. ‘Even if you'd been here, she wouldn’t stay inside, you of all people should know that.’
I know he’s saying this to make me feel better, but in a way he’s right. The last words she said to me were - I know what to do. What did she do? Something which made someone want to kill her? Then I think of her phone.
Did she call someone before it happened?
I look at Dev. ‘We must find her phone, check her last calls.’
He nods. ‘Don't worry. We’re doing all we can to find out who did this.’
His face is grim as we walk into the hospital.
While I sit with Helen, he goes to find the doctor.
14
BETH & DEV
Athens Central Hospital
An hour passes then Dev appears. ‘The doctor said she’s doing well, we just have to be patient.’ He stands looking at Helen for a few minutes, then turns to me. ‘Beth, I have to meet someone, but if you like, I can take you to see Elias, he has the police reports on the accident.’
‘But I can’t leave her alone like this!’
He raises an eyebrow. ‘You have nothing to worry about, Beth.’
I can’t believe it, I look at him and frown.
He seems slightly irritated. ‘We have guards outside the ward and entrances, she’s quite safe, I promise you.’
A few minutes later Dev drops me off outside a brightly coloured café. As I open the door, Greek music plays in the background and there’s a strong aroma of coffee and black cigarettes, but no sign of Elias.
The guy behind the counter looks up and gives me a questioning look.
‘Thelo ena kafe parakalo.’ (Coffee please.)
He nods and carries on serving.
I pull out a stool near the window and hoist myself up. I can see Elias hurrying towards me, he’s talking on his phone and clutching a wad of papers. He catches me looking and walks a bit faster.
‘Have you ordered?’ he calls, coming into the café.
‘Yes, but I just ordered one coffee, I didn’t know...’
The guy behind the counter catches his eye, Elias mumbles something to him, then he comes over and sits on the stool next to me. He plonks his papers on the small tabletop, swivels around and looks at me.
‘How is Helen?’
‘She’s still unconscious, but the doctor says she’s doing well.’
He sighs with relief. ‘That’s good, let’s hope she wakes up soon.’
The guy arrives with our coffees, Elias makes room for them. After he’s gone, he starts flicking through his pile of papers.
‘Are they the police reports?’
He nods, but says nothing, just carries on reading.
The Beth Papadakis Thriller Box Set Page 19