The Beth Papadakis Thriller Box Set

by Cara Alexander

  ‘What time's Dev coming,’ Mum calls from the living room. ‘It’s nearly seven.’

  I look out of my bedroom window, his car’s not there, maybe he's been held up? I'm just about to give him a call when my phone rings, it’s Dev.

  ‘Sorry but I'm stuck somewhere. Can you make it to the Royal Garden Hotel and wait for me in the bar? I’m sorry, but I’m on the other side of town.’

  ‘Yeah, sure, what time shall I get there, half an hour?’

  ‘Sounds great, see you soon.’

  What with one thing and another I’m running late; I try to get a cab but they’re all full.

  I decide to walk across the park, it’ll only take me ten minutes and the hotel’s right on the corner.

  Dev’s already there when I arrive. He suddenly sees me and beckons me over. He leans across and kisses me on the cheek, it feels strange him doing this.

  ‘I’m trying to decide what to have for dinner, what do you feel like.’ He passes me the menu then looks at his phone.

  I thought we were going out but eating in the bar suits me fine.

  ‘I’d like stuffed vegetables if they have them.’

  His blue eyes glint with amusement.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘How you always seem to choose Greek food.’

  The waiter comes over with his pad. ‘Would you like to order?’

  ‘Sirloin Steak for me and —’

  He looks at me.

  ‘Stuffed vegetables if you have them!’

  The waiter shakes his head. ‘We have mushroom tart or cottage pie.’

  ‘The tart please.’

  ‘And to drink?’

  Dev looks at me. ‘Pinot Noir?’

  ‘No, sauvignon blanc.’

  ‘Can we have it on the terrace.’

  The waiter nods, we move to a table on the terrace.

  ‘I think this is better, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, it’s nice here, the view is great.’

  ‘You’re probably wondering why we’re eating at my hotel and not going out.’

  I shrug. ‘It’s lovely here, Dev.’

  He smiles. ‘I’m still on call, things are still bad so I thought this the best place to eat.’

  We sit chatting about the latest events in London until the waiter returns with our drinks and food.

  ‘How is it?’ Dev asks, slicing through his steak. ‘Is it good?’

  I can’t help but smile, he’s usually so serious, this is the first time I’ve seen him so relaxed. ‘It’s good but I still prefer the food we had with Elias in Athens.’

  He stops eating to read a text that’s just come through on his phone. He looks at it for a long time then reaches for his drink and gulps it down.

  ‘Everything all right?’

  He pushes his plate away and looks at me thoughtfully. ‘Finish your food then I’ll take you to my room, we need to talk.’

  For some reason I get a sense of dread, I pick up my glass and gulp the wine down. ‘I’m finished, let’s go.’

  Dev hits the button for the fifth floor. For some reason I think of the woman who works with him, I saw her in the bar when I came here to see him.

  ‘Is the woman you work with still here with you?’

  He looks surprised. ‘How did you know she was here.’

  ‘The last time I came to see you she was in the bar, she didn’t see me, then you came, so I presumed she must be here working with you.’

  ‘She went back to Athens yesterday.’

  The elevator stops, we walk along the corridor, he opens the door to his room and we go inside. He walks over to the hotel fridge, takes out a bottle of red wine and pours us each a glass. ‘It’s chianti, I think you’ll like it.’

  The room is lovely, a huge bed in neutral colours with a red cover on top, a beige coloured couch and a large writing desk. The views of the park from the windows are stunning.

  Dev sits on the chair near the desk – I sit on the couch. We sit drinking our wine for a few minutes then he stands up and starts walking around the room.

  ‘What do you want to tell me, Dev?’

  ‘It’s Helen.’

  A shiver runs down my spine.

  ‘David heard from her, she’s alright.’

  I close my eyes with relief.

  ‘She’s not coming back Beth, she’s staying with Miguel.’

  Suddenly I freeze. ‘With Miguel!’

  ‘Yes, she says she loves him.’

  ‘But why didn’t she call me?’

  ‘David said it’s something to do with Miguel. Anyway, she now has your other phone number, the one you gave to David.’

  ‘Yes, I called him yesterday.’

  He tips my face up to his. ‘What happened with you and Miguel?’

  I shake my head.

  He stares at me. ‘Something did happen, didn’t it?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  I nod.

  His phone lights up, it’s a message.

  ‘Sorry Beth, I have to go, it’s urgent.’

  45

  BETH

  Next Day

  Bayswater, London

  ‘Jamie, Nan’s train will be here soon, we have ten minutes to get to the station.’ I look at my phone. ‘Jamie, hurry, we’ll never make it.’

  Jamie comes bounding into the room.

  ‘Ready Mum.’

  We run around to the back of the block where my old Fiat’s parked.

  The traffic’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but then again Mum’s arriving later than usual. She bought an apartment in Athens, the house in Oxford has been sold, contracts exchanged, so this will be the last time I collect her from Paddington station. Well, that is unless she moves back to Oxford, which I very much doubt she will do.

  ‘Jump out here Jamie, go and find Nan, I’ll park the car.’ He slams the door shut and waves, I wave back then look for a place to park.

  Suddenly my phone rings. Thinking it’s Mum, I switch the speaker on as my phone’s in the bracket on the dashboard.

  ‘Beth.’

  Helen!

  I swerve to avoid crashing into a black taxi reversing into Praed Street from a small side street near the hospital.

  ‘Beth! Are you there?’

  ‘Yes, I’m here!’

  ‘Oh Beth, I’m so sorry I didn’t call you earlier.’

  There’s a place – I quickly drive in and park.

  ‘It’s Miguel…’

  ‘What’s happened, Helen?’

  ‘He said I should go back to Greece and forget him.’

  She starts sobbing, I look at the time.

  ‘Listen Helen, can I call you back, Mum’s waiting in the station for me.’

  ‘Okay.’

  I run to the station. Jamie’s standing there waiting with Mum, I wave my hand.

  They suddenly spot me and walk over.

  Mum gives me a big hug and murmurs. ‘Is everything okay, Beth.’

  ‘Yes, everything’s fine, the car’s parked outside, now tell me all about your new apartment in Athens.’

  ‘You’re going to love it, Beth, it’s close to the sea.’ She stops and turns to Jamie, hands him some money and whispers. ‘Get some chocolate.’

  He smiles and runs over to the station kiosk, Mum turns to me.

  ‘Are you going back to Spain?’

  I nod. ‘Can you stay here with Jamie? I must find out what’s…’

  She nods. ‘Of course.’

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  About the Author

  Cara Alexander has lived
in various countries including Greece and Spain which are the locations of some of her books.

  If you would like to connect with Cara she would be very happy to hear from you.

  Copyright © 2020 by Cara Alexander

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.