/ can't go on like this, Catherine thought. / have to do something She discussed it with Evelyn Kaye 'I keep blaming myself for what happened.' 'That doesn't make sense, Catherine.' 'I know it doesn't, but I can't help it. I feel responsible. I need someone to talk to. Maybe if I saw a psychiatrist . . .' 'I know one who's awfully good,' Evelyn said. 'As a matter of fact, he sees Wim from time to time. His name is Alan Hamilton I had a friend who was suicidal and by the time Dr Hamilton was through treating her, she was in great shape. Would you like to see him?' What if he tells me I'm crazy? What if I am? 'All right,' Catherine said reluctantly till try to make*he appointment for you. He's pretty busy.' 'Thanks, Evelyn. I appreciate it.' Catherine went into Wim's office. He would want to know about Kirk, she thought 'Wim do you remember Kirk Reynolds? He was killed a few days ago in a skiing accident.'
'Yeah? Westminster-ohfourseven-one.' Catherine blinked. 'What?' And she suddenly realized that Wim was reciting Kirk's telephone number. Was that all people meant to Wim? A series of numbers? Didn't he have any feelings |i for them? Was he really unable to love or hate or feel compassion Perhaps he's better off than I am, Catherine thought. At least he's spared the terrible pain that the rest of us can feel.
Evelyn arranged an appointment for Catherine with Dr Hamilton for the following Friday. Evelyn thought of telephoning Constan-tin Demiris to tell him what she had done, but she decided it was too unimportant to bother him about.
I Alan Hamilton's office was on Wimpole Street. Catherine went '' there for her first appointment, apprehensive and angry. Apprehensive because she was fearful of what he might say about her, and angry with herself for having to rely on a stranger to help her with problems she felt she should have been able to solve herself The receptionist behind the glass window said, 'Dr Hamilton a is ready for you, Miss Alexander.' But am I ready for him? Catherine wondered. She was filled with sudden panic. What am I doing here? I'm not going to put myself in the hands of some quack who probably thinks he's God. Catherine said, 'I I've changed my mind. I don't really need to see the doctor. I'll be happy to pay for the appointment.' 'Oh? Just a moment, please.' 'But . . .' The receptionist had disappeared into the doctor's office A few moments later, the door to the office opened, and Alan Hamilton came out. He was in his early forties, tall and blond with bright blue eyes, and an easy manner He looked at Catherine and smiled. 'You've made my day,' he said Catherine frowned. 'What . . . ?' 'I didn't realize how good a doctor I really was. You just walked into my reception office, and you're already feeling better. That must be some kind of record.' Catherine said defensively, 'I'm sorry. I made a mistake I don't need any help.' 'I'm delighted to hear that,' Alan Hamilton said. 'I wish all my patients felt that way. As long as you're here, Miss Alexander, why don't you come in for a moment? We'll have a cup of coffee.' Thank you, no. I don't 'I promise you can drink it sitting up.' Catherine hesitated. 'All right, just for a minute.' She followed him into his office. It was very simple, done in quiet good taste, furnished more like a living room than an office. There were soothing prints hanging on the walls, and on a coffee table was a photograph of a beautiful woman with a young boy. All right, so he has a nice office and an attractive family. What does that prove 'Please sit down,' Dr Hamilton said. 'The coffee should be ready in a minute.' 'I really shouldn't be wasting your time, Doctor. I'm .
.' 'Don't worry about that.' He sat in an easy chair, studying her. 'You've been through a lot,' he said sympathetically 'What do you know about it?' Catherine snapped. Her tone was angrier than she had intended 'I spoke with Evelyn. She told me what happened at St Morit zI'm sorry.' That damned word again. 'Are you? If you're such a wonderful doctor, maybe you can bring Kirk back to life.' All the misery that had been pent up inside her broke, erupting in a torrent, and to her horror Catherine found that she was sobbing hysterically 'Leave me alone,' she screamed. 'Leave me alone.' Alan Hamiltons'sat there watching her, saying nothing. When Catherine's sobs finally subsided she said wearily, Tm sorry. Forgive me. I really must go now.' She rose, and started toward the door.
'Miss Alexander, I don't know whether I can help you, but I'd like to try. I can promise you only that whatever I do won't hurt you.'
Catherine stood at the door, undecided. She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with tears. 'I don't know what's the matter with me,' she whispered. 'I feel so lost.'
Alan Hamilton rose, and walked over to her. 'Then why don't we try to find you? We'll work on it together. Sit down. I'll see about that coffee.'
He was gone for five minutes, and Catherine sat there, wondering how he had talked her into staying. He had a calming effect There was something in his manner that was reassuring Maybe he can help me, Catherine thought.
Alan Hamilton came back into the room carrying two cups of coffee. 'There's cream and sugar, if you like.'
'No, thank you.'
He sat down across from her. 'I understand your friend died in a skiing accident.'
It was so painful to talk about. 'Yes. He was on a slope that was supposed to have been closed. The wind blew the sign down.'
'Is this your first encounter with the death of someone close to you?'
How was she supposed to answer that? Oh, no. My husband and his mistress were executed for trying to murder me. Everyone around me dies. That would shake him up. He was sitting there, waiting for an answer, the smug son-of-a-bitch. Well, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Her life was none of his business. I hate him.
Alan Hamilton saw the anger in her face. He deliberately changed the subject. 'How's Wim?' he asked.
The question threw Catherine completely off-guard. 'Wim? He he's fine. Evelyn told me he's a patient of yours.' 'Yes.' 'Can you explain how he why he is like he is?' 'Wim came to me because he kept losing jobs. He's something very rare a genuine misanthrope. I can't go into the reasons why, but basically, he hates people. He is unable to relate to other people.' Catherine remembered Evelyn's words. He has no emotions. He'll never get attached to anyone 'But Wim is brilliant with mathematics,' Alan Hamilton went on. 'He's in a job now where he can apply that knowledge.' Catherine nodded. 'I've never known anyone like him.' Alan Hamilton leaned forward in his chair. 'Miss Alexander,' he said, 'what you're going through is very painful, but I think I might be able to make it easier for you. I'd like to try.' 'I ... I don't know,' Catherine said. 'Everything seems so hopeless.' 'As long as you feel that way,' Alan Hamilton smiled, 'there's nowhere to go but up, is there?' His smile was infectious 'Why don't we set just one more appointment? If, at the end of that one, you still hate me, we'll call it quits.' 'I don't hate you,' Catherine said apologetically. 'Well, a little bit maybe.' Alan Hamilton walked over to his desk and studied his calendar His schedule was completely booked 'What about Monday?' he asked. 'One o'clock?' One o'clock was his lunch hour, but he was willing to forgo that. Catherine Alexander was a woman carrying an unbearable burden, and he was determined to do everything he could to help her. Catherine looked at him a long moment. 'All right.' 'Fine. I'll see you then.' He handed her a card. 'In the meantime, if you need me, here's my office number and my home number. I'm a light sleeper, so don't worry about waking me up.' 'Thank you,' Catherine said. till be here Monday.'
Dr Alan Hamilton watched her walk out the door and he thought, She's so vulnerable, and so beautiful. I have to be careful. He looked at the photograph on his coffee table / wonder what Angela would think?
The call came in the middle of the night Constantin Demiris listened and when he spoke his voice was filled with surprise. 'The Thele sank? I can't believe it.' 'It's true, Mr Demiris. The coast guard found a few pieces of the wreckage.' 'Were there any survivors?' 'No, sir. I'm afraid not. All hands were lost.' "That's terrible. Does anyone know how it happened?' Tm afraid we'll never know, sir. All the evidence is at the bottom of the sea.' 'The sea,' Demiris murmured, 'the cruel sea.' 'Shall we go ahead and file an insurance claim?' 'It's hard to worry about things like that when all those brave men have lost their lives but yes, go ahead and file the claim.' He would keep the vase in his private collection. Now it was time to punish his brother-in-law.
Chapter
18
Spyros Lambrou was in a frenzy of impatience, waiting for the news of Constantin Demiris' arrest. He kept the radio on constantly in his office, and scanned every edition of the daily newspapers. / should have heard something by now, Lambrou thought. The police should have arrested Demiris by this time The moment Tony Rizzoli had informed Spyros that Demiris was on board the Thele and was about to sail, Lambrou had notified US Customs anonymously, of course They must have caught him by now. Why haven't the newspapers picked up the story His intercom buzzed. 'Mr Demiris is on line two for you.' 'Someone is calling for Mr Demiris?' 'No, Mr Lambrou. Mr Demiris himself is on the line.' The words sent a chill through him It was impossible! Nervously, Lambrou picked up the phone. 'Costa?' 'Spyros.' Demiris' voice was jovial. 'How is everything going?' 'Fine, fine. Where are you?' 'In Athens. What about lunch today? Are you free?' Lambrou had an important luncheon engagement. 'Yes. That will be fine.' 'Good. We'll meet at the club. Two o'clock.' Lambrou replaced the receiver, his hands trembling. What in God's name could have gone wrong? Well, he would find out what had happened soon enough.
Constantin Demiris kept Spyros waiting for thirty minutes, and when he finally arrived he said brusquely, 'Sorry I'm late.' That's all right.' Spyros studied Demiris carefully, looking for any signs of the recent experience he must have gone through. Nothing 'I'm hungry,' Demiris said cheerfully. 'How about you? Let's see what they have on the menu today.' He scanned the menu 'Ah. Strldia. Would you like to start with some oysters, Spyros?' 'No. I don't think so.' He had lost his appetite. Demiris was acting much too cheerful, and Lambrou had a terrible premonition When they had ordered, Demiris said, 'I want to thank you, Spyros.' Spyros eyed him warily. 'What for?' 'What for? For sending me a good customer Mr Rizzoli.' Lambrou wet his lips. 'You you met with him?' 'Oh, yes. He assured me that we were going to do a lot of business together in the future.' Demiris sighed 'Although I'm afraid Mr Rizzoli doesn't have much of a future anymore.' Spyros tensed. 'What do you mean?' Constantin Demiris' voice hardened. 'What I mean is that Tony Rizzoli is dead.' 'How did . . . ? What happened?' 'He had an accident, Spyros.' He was looking into his brother-in-law's eyes. 'The way anyone who tries to double-cross me has an accident.' 'I don't... I don't understand. You . . .' 'Don't you? You tried to destroy me. You failed. I promise you, it would have been better for you if you had succeeded.' 'I -1 don't know what you're talking about.' 'Don't you, Spyros?' Constantin Demiris smiled. 'You will very soon. But first, I'm going to destroy your sister.' The oysters arrived 'Ah,' Demiris said, 'they look delicious. Enjoy your lunch.'
Afterward, Constantin Demiris thought about the meeting with a feeling of deep satisfaction. Spyros Lambrou was a man completely demoralized. Demiris knew how much Lambrou adored his sister and Demiris intended to punish them both. But there was something he had to take care of first. Catherine Alexander. She had called him after Kirk's death, near hysteria 'It's-it's so awful.' Tm so sorry, Catherine. I know how fond of Kirk you must have been. It's a terrible loss for both of us.' I'm going to have to change my plans, Demiris thought. There's no time for Rafina now. Too bad. Catherine was the only remaining link to connect him with what had happened to Noelle Page and Larry Douglas. It was a mistake to let her live this long. As long as she was alive, someone would be able to prove what Demiris had done. But with her dead, he would be perfectly safe He picked up a telephone on his desk and dialed a number. When a voice answered, Demiris said, 'I'll be in Kowloon Monday Be there.' He hung up without waiting for a response.
The two men met in a deserted building that Demiris owned in the walled city 'It must look like an accident. Can you arrange that?' Constan-tin Demiris asked It was an insult. He could feel the anger rising in him. That was a question you asked some amateur you picked up from the streets. He was tempted to reply with sarcasm: Oh, I think I can manage that. Would you prefer an accident indoors? lean arrange for her to break her neck falling down a flight of stairs. The dancer in Marseilles. Or she could get drunk and drown in her bath. The heiress in Gstaad. She could take an overdose of heroin. He had disposed of three that way. Or she could fall asleep in bed with a lighted cigarette. The Swedish detective at L'H+|tel on the Left Bank in Paris. Or perhaps you would prefer something outdoors I can arrange a traffic accident, a plane crash, or a disappearance at sea But he said none of those things, for in truth, he was afraid of the man seated across from him. He had heard too many chilling stories about him, and he had reason to believe them So all he said was, 'Yes sir, I can arrange an accident. No one will ever know.' Even as he said the words, the thought struck him: He knows that I'll know. He waited. He could hear the street noises outside the window, and the shrill and raucous polyglot of languages that belonged to the residents of the walled city Demiris was studying him with cold, obsidian eyes When he finally spoke he said, 'Very well. I will leave the method to you.' 'Yes, sir. Is the target here in Kowloon?' 'London. Her name is Catherine. Catherine Alexander. She works in my London offices.' 'It would help if I could get an introduction to her. An inside track.' Demiris thought for a moment. 'I'm sending a delegation of executives to London next week. I'll arrange for you to be in the party.' He leaned forward and said quietly, 'One thing more.' 'Yes, sir?' 'I don't want anyone to be able to identify her body.' Chapter 19 Constantin Demiris was calling. 'Good morning, Catherine. How are you feeling today?' 'Fine, thank you, Costa.' 'You are feeling better?' 'Yes.' 'Good. I'm very pleased to hear that. I'm sending a delegation of our company executives to London to study our operation there. I would appreciate it if you would take them in hand and look after them.' till be happy to. When will they be arriving?' 'Tomorrow morning.' till do everything I can.' 'I know I can count on you. Thank you, Catherine.' 'You're welcome.'