The Beth Papadakis Thriller Box Set

by Cara Alexander

  ‘I haven’t forgotten,’ I laugh. ‘I’ll drop you off then I’ll collect Nan from the station, she said she’ll be here at 3.30 this afternoon, so I’ve lots of time.’

  I grab my phone and call to see if someone can come and fix our dryer. No chance, it’s Easter I’m told. Shit. Why does everything break down at the wrong time.

  Ten minutes later the washing machine is on for a 30-minute wash, then I’ll put them on the radiators to dry.

  I’m just about to try Helen again when my phone rings, it’s Mum.

  ‘I’ll be there soon, Beth, I caught an earlier train. Will you be there to meet me, or shall I catch a bus?’

  I roll my eyes to the ceiling - what if the traffic’s bad, I have to take Jamie to Notting Hill, Mum’s train arrives at Paddington…‘What time does your train get here, Mum?’

  ‘In twenty minutes, I’ll get the bus Beth, you must be busy.’

  ‘No Mum, I’m just leaving, I’ll drop Jamie off at his friend’s house, and if the traffic’s not bad, I’ll only be a few minutes late. You can go to PRET if you like, have a coffee, if you don’t go there, text me where you are. See you soon.’

  ‘Come on Jamie, I’ll drop you off at your friend’s house, then I’m going to collect Nan.’ Then I realize, I don’t know where his friend lives. ‘Where does Sam live in Notting Hill?’

  He rolls his eyes and laughs. ‘I told you yesterday, Mum, it’s on the way to Portobello Road.’

  I grab my bag and phone and look around, is there anything else I need? No!

  We run downstairs then round to the back of the block where my old car is parked. It’s a beat-up old Fiat, unfortunately not as nice as Mum’s but it gets us around.

  12

  DEV

  Vauxhall Cross - London Embankment

  Dev looks up from what he’s reading and stares at the River Thames. They’re still trying to track down whoever made their getaway through the window of the basement apartment in Victoria. With any luck forensics will have found something to go on. They did a good job on my jacket, the guy’s been in London for a couple of years, arrested several times for driving offenses. But what’s really important is his connection with the woman who’s been seen delivering things to the basement apartment. The woman the police followed to the 5-star hotel in Victoria and who then took a flight to Ireland.

  He turns away from the window, his phone rings, it’s Tom.

  ‘Yes, Tom, I was just reading the report, seems it’s a family affair, he’s her nephew… What’s that?’

  ‘Sorry, I’m just getting into my car, a lorry just went by, that’s what the noise was. Did you read the rest?’

  ‘Yes, I did, what happened on the Tube was nothing compared to what we’re in for now.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘At HQ waiting to see the boss.’

  Vauxhall Cross is the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, MI6), it’s located on London’s Albert Embankment.

  ‘Right,’ Tom grunts. ‘I’m on my way.’

  The door to Dev’s boss’s office opens, Dev goes inside.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dev’s on his way to Heathrow airport, with Tom driving.

  ‘Nasty business,’ Tom says, raising a bushy eyebrow and glancing at Dev.

  Dev’s flicking through his phone and nods. ‘We’ve heard nothing from the flight crew for the last few minutes, but if there is a bomb on board, they should be able to detect it.’

  ‘Yeah,’ grunts John. ‘But if they know they’ve been discovered, they’ll trigger the bomb.’

  As they near Heathrow airport Dev looks up into the sky wondering how the crew and passengers are coping. ‘How the hell did they get through airport security in Spain, that’s what I’d like to know.’

  Tom slams on the brakes, they’re outside airport arrivals. They both leap out of the car and run into the entrance.

  ‘The flight should be landing soon I just wish…’

  Suddenly, there’s a deafening sound above them. They run back into the street and look up into the sky. A plane’s hurtling towards them, one of the wings is on fire.

  Dev’s on his phone as they run back into the airport.

  The plane’s trying to land, fire engines and ambulances are at the ready.

  ‘So far so good,’ Tom mumbles, not taking his eyes off the plane, willing it not to explode.

  They stand on the tarmac holding their breath. Fire engines race towards the plane ready to hose it down. Those on the ground are ready for an emergency landing.

  Suddenly the plane skids to a halt, the side shoots open and people come tumbling out.

  Airport buses take the terrified passengers to safety. Then a side door of the plane opens, a struggling, trussed up man, is lowered onto the tarmac. Dev takes out his gun and races towards the man, Tom follows.

  13

  BETH

  Wednesday - Bayswater London

  Later that day

  ‘Mum, the dryer’s stopped working, I’ll have to put the heating on to dry the clothes for tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll make us a coffee.’ Beth’s Mum walks into the kitchen and switches on the kettle. ‘When are you collecting Jamie from his friend’s house?’

  ‘I said I’d be there at 6.30 this evening, I’ll make us a quick snack before I go, what do you feel like?’

  ‘Have you any of that pizza, the one with mozzarella and pesto?’

  I laugh, Mum knows I love those pizzas. ‘Yes, there’s a stack of them in the freezer, I’ll pop one in the oven, it only takes ten minutes.’

  Suddenly my phone rings, it’s Helen, at last! I’ve been trying to call her all day.

  ‘Helen, how are you?’

  ‘Hi Beth, sorry I had my phone switched off for the plane and forgot to put it back.’

  ‘Yes, but that was yesterday,’ I reply, frowning. ‘I’ve been trying to contact you all day!’

  ‘Sorry, things have been a bit hectic here. David’s parents are in Tenerife, and lots of the staff haven’t turned up so he has to work.’

  ‘Oh, so you’ve been helping him?’

  There’s a short silence, then Helen mumbles. ‘I did offer but he wouldn’t hear of it. I’ve been exploring the local neighbourhood, it’s really stunning, you’re going to love it here.’

  ‘Did you get my message from David, I managed to get flights leaving Thursday afternoon, I’ll get a cab to the hotel.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, it’s an hour’s drive from Malaga airport, anyway David’s given me the keys to his car. What time’s your flight arriving?’

  ‘Should be landing at 9.00 - Spanish time.’

  Mum hands me a coffee and goes back to the kitchen, I sit on the sofa.

  ‘So, tell me, what it’s like? Is the hotel nice? What’s the food like, and have you been swimming?’ I can hear Helen laughing so stop and take a sip of my coffee.

  ‘The hotel’s lovely, modern inside, comfortable beds, and the food’s great. It’s very Spanish, but there are tourists staying here from the UK and northern Europe, lots of Germans and Norwegians from what I’ve seen.’

  I take another sip. ‘So where have you been, tell me all about it?’

  There’s another silence, then Helen laughs. ‘Oh Beth, I’ve met someone.’

  ‘What!’

  ‘He’s really nice, I know you’ll like him.’

  I can hardly believe what she’s saying.

  ‘What about David?’ I know he likes her, and so does she. He invited us to stay for a few days, and now she’s off with someone she’s only just met! This doesn’t sound like the Helen I know.

  As if she’s reading my mind, I hear her quick intake of breath. ‘Oh, he’s just a friend, I met him in the bar when David was working, he’s so nice Beth.’

  ‘I’ve heard that before,’ I mumble.

  She laughs. ‘Don’t be such a grump, I’ll talk to you later, Beth.’

  ‘Yeah, talk to you later.’

  Mum
comes into the living room. ‘How’s Helen, is she having a good time in Spain?’

  ‘Yes, she’s having a wonderful time.’

  ‘That’s good, David’s such a lovely guy and they seem to get on so well.’

  She looks at me expectantly.

  ‘Yes, he’s a lovely guy.’

  I get up, switch on the heating in the small hall, and then head for the kitchen and the washing machine.

  14

  HELEN

  Hotel Costa Tropical

  Thursday morning

  After breakfast I decide to take a walk down to the beach. David wanted to come but as usual the hotel’s busy and he can’t get away. I feel so bad going out enjoying myself and not helping him. Every time I ask if there’s something to do he says the same thing – I’m not here to work but to enjoy being in Spain.

  When I reach the bottom of the hill I can hardly believe what I'm seeing, so many people and so much noise.

  Then suddenly I see Miguel, he's sitting in a café overlooking the beach. He looks up and sees me and waves for me to come over.

  He moves over so I can sit next to him. ‘Have you been to Spain for Semana Santa before?’

  I shake my head.

  ‘There are processions throughout Holy Week, but Jueves Santo, Holy Thursday, is one of the most religious days in Spain, before el Viernes Santo, Good Friday.

  The procession el Silencio is held very late on Thursday night at midnight. In Granada it’s held at the foot of the Alhambra, on the slope of the Darro.’

  ‘Why is it called el Silencio?’ I ask.

  He takes a drag of his cigarette and looks at me. ‘Because all is silent, all you can hear is the sound of people walking and the sound of a drum. Lights are turned off as the candlelit image of the crucified Christ passes.’

  ‘It sounds incredibly sad and beautiful, I would love to see it, but my friend’s arriving this evening, I’m collecting her from the airport.’

  He smiles and pushes a plate over towards me. ‘Would you like some torrijos? It's custom to eat this during Semana Santa in Spain.’

  ‘Yes, they have them at the hotel.’ I take one of them and bite into it. ‘Wow, this is so sugary.’

  Miguel laughs. ‘Do you like it?’

  ‘It’s delicious.’

  He passes me a serviette.

  ‘Thanks,’ I mumble, wiping my face and hands.

  He calls the waiter over then turns to me. ‘Coffee?’

  I nod. ‘Yes, café cortado, please!’

  ‘Ah, you speak Spanish.’

  ‘No, not really, just a few words and the basics.’

  He sits watching me.

  ‘It's so lovely here isn't it,’ I say, looking around. ‘Do you come here often?’ Shit, how stupid that sounds!

  ‘Yes, when I'm not working. I'm usually too busy, but over the holidays it's nice to come to the beach.’

  The waiter brings my coffee. I sit sipping it thinking what a nice guy he is, I wonder if he's married? For some reason I haven't looked at his hand, but now I do. There isn't a ring on his finger, so maybe he isn't, you never know though, do you.

  Miguel suddenly stands up. ‘Look a procession, take your Torrijos and let's join them.’

  I grab a serviette to hold the sticky thing and follow Miguel down the street, the procession is coming towards us.

  I gaze in awe at the statues of Jesús and the Virgin Mary, penitents dressed in pointed hoods and capes, some barefoot wearing chains representing the suffering of Christ.

  Miguel turns to me. ‘Is it like this in Athens over Semana Santa?’

  ‘Yes, there are lots of religious processions, same as in Spain, and lots of chocolate Easter eggs.’ I look at him wondering if he's religious, he hasn't said much about it.

  He turns and looks at me seriously. ‘Are you religious?’

  ‘Not really, I was born in a small Cotswolds village in the south-west of England. I went to a Church of England school, this is where I met my friend Beth, she’d just moved here from Athens with her parents.’

  Suddenly I stop, why am I telling him all this?

  ‘She is Greek?’

  ‘Half, her dad’s Greek, her mother’s English, she was born in London.’

  ‘And what about your parents, Helen?’ Miguel asks.

  I feel as if a cloud has passed over the sky. 'They’re not with us anymore,’ I reply.

  He looks surprised and gives me a questioning look.

  ‘They were killed in a car crash in Spain.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, it was here?’

  ‘No, they were in Mallorca on holiday.’ I stop and suddenly want to go, the procession which had seemed so amazing now looks sad and horrible.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Miguel mumbles. ‘Do you want to stay? Or shall we go for a drive?’

  I nod. ‘Somehow I find it a bit depressing.’

  Miguel raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

  I stop and look at him. ’Where shall we go?’

  Suddenly his arm is around me, I feel a shiver run down my spine, I can feel the energy from him. The scent of his cologne is something I’ve never smelt before, there’s a hint of lemon and something else.

  His car is parked down a side street. He opens the door for me, I slide in. We drive up into the hills and stop at a small restaurant with idyllic views. I’m really getting to like this guy. He seems to know exactly what I like, but he doesn’t come near me. Just an arm around my shoulder like a good friend or a brother.

  ‘Come, I’ll take you back to the hotel, your friend is coming this evening isn’t she?’ He looks at me sadly. ‘You will miss the procession in Granada tonight.’

  ‘But I can come. It’s at midnight, isn’t it?’

  He raises an eyebrow. ‘But what about your friend, won’t she mind?’

  ‘No, she’ll probably be tired, she has her young son with her. She arrives at 9.00 this evening, so there’s lots of time, that is...’

  I turn to look at him, does he really want to take me? Maybe he has a girlfriend?

  His dark intense eyes look deeply into mine and he laughs. ‘Okay, if you are sure, give me a ring and I will collect you.’

  15

  HELEN

  Hotel Costa Tropical

  Late afternoon

  Miguel drops me off outside the hotel, the sun’s disappeared and I’m amazed to see how busy the hotel is now. I walk over to the outside bar, David's at reception talking to a stunningly dressed woman and sharply attired man. I watch them for a while not wanting to interrupt.

  Shall I go upstairs, I should really get ready to meet Beth and Jamie, their flight’s landing at 9.00 pm.

  Suddenly they stop talking and walk over to the restaurant, David spots me and calls me over.

  ‘Who was that,’ I ask, watching their retreating figures.

  ‘They’re friends of my father, he’s a lawyer from Madrid, I think he has something to do with the government also.’

  David looks at me thoughtfully. He’s about to say something, then stops.

  ‘Beth's arriving tonight with Jamie, they're in the room next to mine, aren't they?’

  ‘Yes, the rooms are the same as those in the hotel you had in Athens, they interconnect, I thought you'd like that. There is also a small kitchen in Beth’s room with a table if she needs to do some work, I can’t imagine her not bringing her laptop with her.’

  I laugh. ‘I don't think she’ll be doing any of that here, but you never know, Beth may have something planned, she's always doing something.’

  ‘How is her job? Does she still work for the same newspaper?’

  ‘Yes, but I think she's trying to find another job, something different that pays more money. It’s expensive living in London, she works hard but has nothing to show for it.’

  He raises an eyebrow questioningly. ‘But she has the apartment in Athens.’

  ‘Yes, but her ex Alex still lives there.’

  He frowns. ‘But why don’t they se
ll it if she is short of money. She does own half of it, doesn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, but she doesn’t want to sell it. She wants to keep the apartment, she feels it's some kind of security for her and Jamie. If anything happens in London she has somewhere to go. After all the terrible things that have happened to her, I don’t blame her. What happened to her in the Cotswolds and then in London…’

  ‘Yes, I remember you saying something about it,’ David says, frowning.

  I feel a rush of relief, glad I haven’t said something he doesn't already know. ‘After her divorce I thought she'd go to pieces. Whenever I called her, she was going to the gym or working all hours.’

  ‘Poor Beth, it must have been hard.’

  ‘Yes, it was, she was trained in martial arts and is good with a gun, but in the end that didn't help her.’

  David frowns. ‘But what happened to the man who did that to her?’

  ‘He's still in prison, she says it's in the past, but I know she hasn't forgotten.’

  ‘Cheer up,’ David says, suddenly giving me a hug. ‘Let's go down to the beach and have something to eat, you came all the way from Athens and I’ve hardly seen you.’

  He looks over to his sister Christina, she’s on reception tonight. He points outside the hotel. She nods.

  ‘What time does their flight get in?’ he asks, as we leave the hotel.

  ‘9.00 tonight.’

  ‘Is Christina working at the hotel now?’

  ‘She helps sometimes when she’s here with Jose, he’s looking forward to seeing Jamie.’

  ‘Yes, they’re both the same age, similar characters and Jose speaks English, they’re sure to get on.’

  Just then a waiter comes over. ‘Mister David…’

  ‘Yes, I’m coming.’

  He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out some keys. ‘It’s a shame I won’t be able to come with you, but you shouldn’t have any problems with this car, it’s easy to drive.’ He hands me the keys and smiles. ‘It’s a little Fiat, we keep it for running around in, drive carefully and call me if you get lost.’