19
BETH
Athens, Plaka Hotel
Early morning
The hotel phone’s ringing, I let it ring. To my annoyance it rings again. Who can it be? Nobody calls me on this phone.
Sticking my hand out, I grope for it on the bedside table. ‘Yes,’ I groan, sleepily.
‘Good morning, sorry to wake you, but I need to talk to you.’
I’m suddenly wide awake, I don’t recognize the voice, it’s not the hospital, so who is it?
I glance at my phone – 5.45 in the morning. ‘Who is it?’ I mumble, wishing I hadn’t answered.
‘I have something to tell you.’
His voice is low and for some reason it makes my skin crawl.
‘It’s about your friend, James.’
I shoot out of bed. ‘Who is this?’ I demand, walking over to the window and peeping out. I have no idea why I’m doing this, but I instinctively feel he’s outside, not in the hotel.
‘It doesn’t matter who I am, this is urgent.’
I need to put a trace on this.
‘How did you know I was at this hotel?’
‘Many people know you stay at this hotel when you come here. You used to live in Athens and many people follow you on social media.’ He laughs, a nasty horrible laugh. ‘Don’t worry, you can trust me, I want to help.’
My mind’s racing, how does he know this? I must delay him, I’ll call Dev.
‘Hold on for a second, I need to go to the bathroom.’
‘No, it must be now, give me your cell phone number or I won’t call you back.’
Shit! He must have guessed what I’m thinking. I feel like slamming the phone down, but I don’t. I want to know who he is.
There’s no time to call Dev, so I give him my number.
He calls back immediately.
‘You must listen carefully and not say a word about this to anyone.’
I sit on the bed, my phone close to my ear, listening to his soft creepy voice.
‘Your friend was collateral damage. You must stop putting your nose into things that don’t concern you. This is the last time I am telling you, do you understand?’
‘Who killed him and why?’ I shout, gripping my phone tightly. ‘He may just be collateral damage to you, but he was my friend and I want to know why he was killed.’
‘I’m not going to say this anymore. You must go back to London and forget about this, otherwise...’
‘Otherwise what? Are you threatening me?’
‘If you value your safety, leave Greece now.’
‘Who the hell are you?’ I shout, angrily.
But he’s hung up. He only spoke for a minute, he’s being careful. I quickly call Dev but it goes to voicemail. I leave a message telling him it’s urgent, and to call me back.
A minute later my phone rings, it’s Dev, he sounds as if he’s just woken up.
‘I need to see you now, I just had a weird call from someone, it’s about James.’
‘I’m coming,’ he mutters. ‘I’ll be there soon.’
20
DEV & BETH
Athens, Plaka Hotel
Early morning 5.55 am
I open the balcony door to the early morning sounds of Athens, it’s one of my favourite times of the day, everything’s so new, it’s like the slate has been wiped clean for another day.
The street vendors are already at work setting up stalls to sell the popular round sesame bread rings. People are rushing off to work, tourists are arriving and leaving, and I desperately need a strong hot coffee.
After splashing my face with water, I pull on a pair of trousers and head for the hotel terrace.
Nobody’s here yet so I have my pick of tables. The early morning sun spreads a glow of warmth across the city as I sit thinking of what just happened.
A waiter appears and takes my order.
A minute later he returns with my coffee. ‘Up early today?’ he asks, grinning at my disheveled appearance.
I nod, realizing I haven’t brushed my hair and still have my nightshirt on.
‘What about some toast?’
‘No thanks, maybe later.’
He goes off and I sit thinking about the man who just phoned me. I haven’t really kept in contact with anybody here since I left, except of course Helen and James.
‘Good morning Beth,’ Dev pulls up a chair and sits down beside me. He smells fresh and clean, how does he do it? I turn and look at him. Gray suit, white shirt, just a little bit of stubble – amazing!
‘I’m OK,’ I reply, sipping my coffee. ‘It takes more than a creep like that to frighten me. What worries me is Helen.’
Dev orders a coffee and for a few minutes we sit in silence, we’re both waiting until the waiter brings his drink.
‘Can we trace the number?’ I suddenly ask, unable to wait any longer.
‘I’ve already done that. He was calling you from a phone box outside the metro in Monesteraki, we’re checking to see if there’s CCTV in the area.’
The waiter returns with his coffee and another for me.
Dev takes a few gulps, then turns and looks at me. ‘Tell me everything this man said.’
I relate our conversation as best I can. Dev stiffens when I come to the bit about – if I value my safety, I must leave Greece – and starts drumming his fingers on the table.
‘Do you have any idea who he is?’ he asks, peering at me. ‘If we know what he looks like, we can check him out and see if he belongs to any of the political organizations in Athens.’
I shake my head.
‘It must be political,’ he mutters to himself. ‘Why else would he tell you to stop putting your nose into things that don’t concern you.’
He stops for a moment and frowns. ‘Are you politically active? Do you belong to a party or an organization in Greece or London?’
I’m amazed he should ask this. ‘What does that have to do with it?’
‘Come on, Beth, you’re a journalist, you know what I’m talking about.’
I shrug. ‘I studied politics and economics here at uni in Athens.’
‘Anything else?’
He sits watching me closely, what else does he want to know, who I voted for?
‘I need to know everything, Beth, if you want me to find him.’
‘Well, as a student I was quite political, who isn’t? I learnt to look after myself. Mum got me to take martial arts lessons.’ I don’t tell him why I learnt martial arts and how to use a gun, that’s got nothing to do with this and will only waste time.
I start thinking back to my days at uni, all the friends and people we knew. Then a strange thing happens, I sit staring at Dev, amazed that I didn’t realize it before. It must have been his hair or his clothes that threw me, he’s changed, but…
‘What’s wrong, Beth?’
‘I know who it was,’ I mutter. ‘How on earth could I forget him.’
Dev stares at me in surprise. ‘So, you know who this man is?’
‘No, I’m not talking about the guy who called me this morning.’
For a minute he looks confused. ‘So, who are you talking about.’
‘It happened the day James...’ I swallow and carry on. ‘I was having a drink in a café near the Acropolis, a man came and sat next to me, he said he knew me.’
Dev looks at me sharply.
‘I had no idea who he was, he gave me the creeps, I told him he was mistaken and left.’
Dev leans back in his chair looking puzzled.
I sit shaking my head. ‘I just remembered who he is, he was a student at uni.’
Dev’s looking at me strangely, how stupid I must sound he has no idea what I’m talking about, why should he?
I shrug, wishing I hadn’t said anything. ‘It was a long time ago when I was at uni in Athens, this guy always gave me the creeps, he used to annoy Alex as well.’
‘Who’s Alex?’
‘My husband, we’re divorced now.’
‘How did you meet him?’
‘Who, my ex?’
He nods.
‘At university, in Athens.’
‘Do you still see him?’
‘No.’
He’s the last person I want to see, but I’m not going to tell Dev that.
‘Where is he now?’ he asks.
‘Probably still in Athens?’ Why does he want to know, what has he got to do with anything?
‘So, you haven’t seen him since your divorce?’
‘No, I just told you, the last time we spoke was a few months ago. He was in London, he called to see if I had the telephone number of someone we knew at uni.
‘What does your ex do?’
‘He’s a lawyer.’
‘You didn’t see him in London?’
‘No,’ I reply, wondering why he’s asking so many questions. He has a strange look in his eyes. I sit waiting for him to say something, he quickly looks away, takes out his phone and reads a text.
‘It’s time for me to go, Beth.’ He slips his phone back in his pocket and stands up. ‘Let me know if you need anything.’ He walks over to the elevator and is gone.
I sit gazing after him then return to my room for a quick shower before I see Helen.
On my way to the bus stop I buy a takeaway coffee and a cake for Helen.
As I enter the hospital a nurse rushes up to me nearly knocking me over.
‘I saw you from the window,’ she pants, sounding out of breath. ‘I have good news for you, your friend, she’s awake. Come, I will take you to her.’
‘Wow!’ I stand staring at her in surprise.
‘Come on.’ She grabs my arm and walks with me to the ward.
Then I hear a familiar voice.
‘Beth.’
It’s Helen, she’s sitting up in bed smiling at me.
I stand staring at her for a few seconds, then run over and gently put my arms around her. ‘Oh Helen, it’s so good to see you, how do you feel?’
‘I’m OK, just a bit weak, but fine. What about you? What’s been happening?’
I start updating her with all the news, then I quickly call Dev to let him know Helen’s awake.
An hour later, as I’m leaving, I get the feeling someone’s following me. I begin walking quickly. I can’t see any taxis. I know a bus is due but they’re often late. Shit, shall I go back to the hospital?
Just then a bus turns the corner, I run to get it, the doors shut behind me, I quickly walk to the back of the bus.
Out of the back window I can see a man with a hooded top pulled over his face. It’s the same man who followed me the other evening from the restaurant, the one with the knife.
When I reach Syntagma, I get off the bus and walk quickly to my hotel, I must keep my wits about me, someone is following me and they’re up to no good.
At the hotel I drink a small bottle of brandy, flop on the bed, and close my eyes.
What time is it?
I stretch, slide off the sofa and pad over to the window. It’s dark outside, then I realize I’m hungry, I feel I need something nutritious, I’ve had enough cheese pies to last me a lifetime. I glance at the hotel menu, the stuffed peppers look good, I’ll call room service.
After a quick shower, I flick on the TV.
There’s a tap at the door. It’s my food.
With the tray perched on my lap I sit eating and watching the news. The stuffed peppers are good, I should have ordered more. I glance over at the TV and gasp - the food falls from my fork.
James’s wife, Isabelle is on the TV with a young guy. I can’t rewind the footage and curse myself for not watching it properly. No wonder she didn’t let us know when the funeral was, who the hell is this guy, and why is she on the news?
I try calling Dev but he’s not picking up, so I leave a message to call me urgently.
He doesn’t call back, so I order a bottle of wine and fall asleep watching a film.
I can hear my phone ringing. ‘Yes,’ I mumble, sleepily.
‘Beth, I’m sorry to call you so late, I really didn’t want to, but we need your help.’
It’s Dev, I struggle to sit up, my mouth’s dry and I feel like shit. ‘What are you talking about?’
I pad over to the small hotel fridge and look for something cold to drink.
Why did I have that third class of wine.
‘Can you come to the casino?’ he asks.
‘What! Are you crazy?’
‘No, I’m not crazy,’ he snaps. ‘It’s about the man who called you this morning. I think I’ve identified him, I’ve been following him all day. I checked the CCTV footage outside the metro at Monesteraki, around the time he called you, I want you to see if you recognize him.’
‘But I’ve never met him, Dev. I don’t know who he is.’
‘I know, but this is all we have to go on.’
The TV’s still on in the background, I quickly turn it off.
‘Why don’t you get your people to take a photo of him and send it to me,’ I groan. ‘What’s the point of going to the casino when I can see it on my phone?’
‘I knew you’d say that, I’m sending it right now, let me know if you recognize him.’
I look at the photo, one has a beard, he has a black flat cap on and is wearing dark glasses. How the hell can I recognize someone from this? The other guy is bald with a pinched looking face and owl-like glasses.
‘Sorry Dev, I’ve no idea who they are.’
‘I thought you’d say that,’ he replies, rather abruptly. ‘That’s why I asked you to come to the casino to see them in person. I’ll be outside your hotel in about fifteen minutes.’
I can’t believe it! What’s he playing at? Of course, I want to know who called me, but this is ridiculous. I groan and haul myself into the bathroom, splash my face with water, brush my teeth and find something to wear to the casino.
My hair looks terrible, I clip it up on top of my head. I’m wearing my little black dress, it’s perfect for a night at the casino. Now where are my boots?
My phone rings, it’s Dev. ‘Hurry, I’m downstairs.’
Grabbing my coat and bag, I quickly slip on my boots and leave my room.
The elevator’s there, I run and jump inside, Dev ’s waiting outside, I walk over and slide into his car.
Twenty minutes later, we’re at the lower teleferique station. We park then go inside and into a waiting cable car.
It only takes seven minutes and we’re outside the casino. After paying the entrance fee we make our way to the bar. Dev orders a beer for both of us.
‘They’re sitting on your right, about ten feet away,’ he mumbles.
I spot them immediately, they’re deep in conversation, we sit drinking in silence, I try and observe them without making it look too obvious.
Suddenly a woman bumps into Dev, practically knocking him off his stool, his beer goes flying and he just saves himself from falling by hanging onto the bar.
‘Signomi, signomi - sorry, sorry,’ the woman says in a husky, Melina Mercouri type voice. ‘I will get you another - barman, barman, give him another beer.’
The barman grabs a beer and starts pouring it into a glass in front of Dev. The woman leans across Dev, shoving her ample breasts in his face and starts wiping the beer off his jacket.
Dev gently pushes her hand away. ‘Don’t worry, I can manage.’
The woman leans back, gives his jacket another dab, pays the barman for the drink, then disappears back into the casino.
‘That livened things up for you, didn’t it?’ I say, trying not to laugh.
He glares at me, then looks over to where the men are sitting. ‘I think the weedy looking one with the owlish glasses has gone.’
I take a quick peek and he’s right, he has gone. The other guy’s looking at his phone, I can’t see his face because of his hat, his beard and his dark glasses. Then he stands up as if to leave, he’s tall and slim, his clothes look expensive, do I know him? I sit watching him clos
ely.
Dev starts groaning, then he falls to the floor clutching his stomach.
‘Dev!’ I jump off my stool and squat down beside him. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I don’t feel good,’ he groans, pulling up his knees and holding his stomach.
‘Get a doctor,’ I shout, looking at the barman. ‘Can someone please get a doctor.’
The barman jumps, then grabs a phone.
A few minutes later a doctor arrives, he takes one look at Dev and mutters, ‘We must get him to hospital immediately, he’s in a lot of pain, we’ll take my car.’
A couple of men at the bar stand watching us.
The doctor walks over to them. ‘Don’t just stand there, help me.’
They try to pick Dev up but he’s in so much pain it’s difficult - the doctor yells to the barman to get a chair from the reception area with wheels.
A few minutes later a chair is brought to the bar. Dev’s placed as gently as possible into the chair, then the doctor wheels him outside to the car park.
Eventually we get him in the back seat of the doctor’s car, I climb in beside him, the doctor drives like a maniac down the mountain road, I groan inwardly.
At every turn the car makes Dev falls over me. Soon we’re off the mountain road heading for the central Athens. Suddenly the doctor puts on his brakes, the car squeals to a halt outside the hospital, he leaps out and runs inside.
A few minutes later he returns with a nurse wheeling a chair.
‘Help me get him in the chair,’ he yells to me.
Very gently we ease Dev out of the car and into the chair, then he’s wheeled into a room to be examined.
I sit outside holding my head in my hands, I knew this was a bad idea, why the hell did I say I would come?
A few minutes later someone coughs.
I look up, there’s a doctor peering at me.
‘I’ve just examined your friend, he’s been poisoned, we’re going to pump his stomach.’
‘Oh my God, poisoned? Will he be alright?’
He nods. ‘Yes, he should feel better in the morning.’
I quickly call Elias, there’s no reply, I leave a message.
The Beth Papadakis Thriller Box Set Page 22