The dinner at the Connaught was delicious. They dined on Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Over the salad, Dino Mattusi said, 'I find you fascinating, Catherine. I love American women.' 'Oh. Is your wife American?' Catherine asked innocently. Mattusi shrugged. 'No, she is Italian. But she's very understanding.' 'That must be nice for you,' Catherine said. He smiled. 'It is, very nice.' It was not until they were having dessert that Dino Mattusi said, 'Do you like the country? I have a friend who has a car. I thought we might go for a drive on Sunday.' Catherine started to say no, and then she suddenly thought of Wim. He seemed so lonely. Perhaps he would enjoy going out for a drive in the country. 'It sounds like fun,' Catherine said 'I promise you it will be interesting.' 'I wonder if I might bring Wim?' He shook his head. 'It's a small car. I'll make the arrangements.'
The visitors from Athens were demanding and Catherine found that she had very little time for herself. Haley, Renard and Mattusi had had several meetings with Wim Vandeen, and Catherine was amused at how their attitudes had changed 'He does all this without a calculator?' Haley marvelled 'That's right.' 'I've never seen anything like it.'
Catherine was impressed with Atanas Stavich. The young boy was the hardest worker she had ever seen. He was at the office when Catherine arrived in the morning, and he was there after everyone else had left. He was always smiling and eager to please He reminded Catherine of a trembling puppy. Somewhere in his past, someone had badly mistreated him. Catherine resolved to talk to Alan Hamilton about Atanas. There has to be some way to build his self-confidence, Catherine thought. I'm sure Alan could help him 'You know the boy is in love with you, don't you?' Evelyn said one day 'What are you talking about?' 'Atanas. Haven't you seen that adoring look in his eyes? He follows you round like a lost sheep.' Catherine laughed. 'You're imagining things.' On an impulse, Catherine invited Atanas to lunch.
'In in a restaurant?' Catherine smiled. 'Yes, of course.' His face flushed. 'I I don't know, Miss Alexander.' He looked down at his ill-fitting clothes. 'You would be ashamed for people to see -1/2me with you.' 'I don't judge people by their clothes,' Catherine said firmly. till make a reservation.' She took Atanas to lunch at Lyons Corner House. He sat across from her, awed by his surroundings. 'I I've never been in a place like this. It is so beautiful.' Catherine was touched. 'I want you to order anything you want.' He studied the menu and shook his head. 'Everything is too expensive.' Catherine smiled. 'Don't worry about it. You and I are working for a very wealthy man. I'm sure he would want us to have a good lunch.' She did not tell him that she was paying for it Atanas ordered a shrimp cocktail and a salad, and a chicken roast with fried potatoes, and he finished off his lunch with chocolate cake with ice cream Catherine watched him eat in amazement. He had such a small frame. 'Where do you put it all?' Atanas said shyly, 'I never gain weight.' 'Do you like London, Atanas?' He nodded. 'What I've seen of it, I like very much.' 'You worked as an office boy in Athens?' He nodded. 'For Mr Demiris.' There was a note of bitterness in his voice 'Didn't you enjoy it?' 'Forgive me it is not my place to say it, but I do not think Mr Demiris is a nice man. I ... I do not like him.' The young boy glanced around quickly as though he might have been overheard. 'He never mind.' Catherine thought it best not to pursue it further. 'What made you decide to come to London, Atanas?' Atanas said something so softly that Catherine could not hear him.
'I beg your pardon?'
'I want to be a doctor.' She looked at him, curious. 'A doctor?' 'Yes, ma'am. I know it sounds foolish.' He hesitated, then went on. 'My family comes from Macedonia and all my life I have heard stories about the Turks coming into our village and killing and torturing our people. There were no doctors to help the wounded. Now, the village is gone and my family was wiped out. But there are still many wounded people in the world I want to help them.' He lowered his eyes, embarrassed. 'You must think I'm crazy.' 'No,' Catherine said quietly. 'I think that's wonderful. So you came to London to study medicine?' 'Yes, ma'am. I'm going to work days and go to school nights I'm going to become a doctor.' There was a ring of determination in his voice. Catherine nodded. 'I believe you will. You and I are going to talk more about it. I have a friend who might be able to help you. And I know a wonderful restaurant where we can have lunch next week.'
At midnight, a bomb exploded in Spyros Lambrou's villa. The blast tore out the front of the house and killed two servants Spyros Lambrou's bedroom was destroyed and the only reason he survived was because at the last moment he and his wife had changed their plans and decided to attend a dinner party given by the mayor of Athens The following morning, a note was sent to his office reading 'Death to capitalists'. It was signed: The Hellenic Revolutionary Party 'Why would they do a thing like this to you?' asked a horrified Melina 'They didn't,' Spyros said bluntly. 'It was Costa.' 'You you have no proof of that.' 'I don't need any proof. Don't you understand yet what you are married to?' 'I -1 don't know what to think.' 'Melina, as long as that man is alive, we are both in danger He will stop at nothing.' 'Can't you go to the police?' 'You said it yourself. I have no proof. They would laugh at me.' He took her, hands in his. 'I want you to get out of there Please. Go as far away as you can.' She stood there for a long time. When she finally spoke, it was as though she had reached a decision of great importance 'All right, Spyros. I will do what I must.' He hugged her. 'Good. And don't worry. We'll find some way to stop him.'
Melina sat in her bedroom alone during the long afternoon, her mind trying to take in what was happening. So, her husband had really meant his threat to destroy her and her brother. She could not let him go through with it. And if their lives were in danger, so was the life of Catherine Douglas. She's going to work for Costa in London. I will warn her, Melina thought. But I must do more than that. I must destroy Costa. I must stop him from harming anyone else. But how? And then, the answer came to her. Of course! she thought. It's the only way. Why didn't I think of it before Chapter 22 CONFIDENTIAL FILE TRANSCRIPT OF SESSION WITH CATHERINE DOUGLAS
C: I'm sorry I'm late, Alan. There was a last-minute meeting at the office A: No problem. The delegation from Athens is still in London C: Yes. They they're planning to leave at the end of next week A: You sound relieved. Have they been difficult C: Not difficult exactly, I just have a ... a strange feeling about them. A: Strange C: It's hard to explain. I know it sounds silly, but. . . there's something odd about all of them A: Have they done anything to . . .
C: No. They just make me uneasy. Last night, I had that nightmare again A: The dream that someone was trying to drown you C: Yes. I haven't had that dream in a while. And this time it was different. A: In what way C: It was more . . . real. And it didn't end where it had ended before A: You went past the point where someone was trying to drown you C: Yes. They were trying to drown me and then suddenly I was in a safe place. A: The convent C: I'm not sure. It could have been. It was a garden. And a man came to see me. I think I dreamed something like that before, but this time 1 could see his face A: Did you recognize him C: Yes. It was Constantin Demiris. A: So, in your dream . .
C: Alan, it wasn't just a dream. It was a real memory. I suddenly remembered that Constantin Demiris gave me the gold pin I have A: You believe that your subconscious dredged up something that really happened? You're sure it wasn't . .
C: I know it. Constantin Demiris gave me that pin at the convent A: You said you were rescued from the lake by some nuns who took you to the convent? C: That's right A: Catherine, did anyone else know you were at the convent C: No. I don't think so A: Then how could Constantin Demiris have known you were there C: I I don't know. I just know that it happened. I woke up frightened. It was as though the dream were some kind of warning. I feel something terrible is going to happen A: Nightmares can have that effect on us. The nightmare is one of man's oldest enemies. The word goes back to the Middle English 'niht' or 'night' and 'mare' or 'goblin'
The old superstition is that it prefers to ride after four and C: You don't think they have any real meaning A: Sometimes they do. Coleridge wrote, 'Dreams are no shadows, but the very substances and calamities of my life.' C: I'm probably taking all this too seriously. Other than my crazy dreams, I'm fine. Oh. There's someone I would like to talk to you about, Alan A: Yes C: His name is Atanas Stavich. He's a young boy who came to London to study medicine. He's had a rough life. I thought that perhaps one day you could meet him and give him some advice A: I would be happy to. Why are you frowning? C: I just remembered something A: Yes C: It sounds crazy A: Our subconscious doesn't distinguish between crazy and sane C: In my dream, when Mr Demiris handed me the gold pin .
A: Yes C: I heard a voice say, 'He's going to kill you.'
It must look like an accident. 1 don't want anyone to be able to identify her body. There were many ways to kill her. He would have to begin making arrangements. He lay on his bed thinking about them and found that he was getting an erection. Death was the ultimate orgasm. Finally, he knew how he was going to do it. It was so simple. There would be no body left to identify Constantin Demiris would be pleased. Chapter 23 Constantin Demiris' beach house was located three miles north of Piraeus on an acre of waterfront property. Demiris arrived at 7.00 p.m. He pulled up in the driveway, opened the car door, and started toward the beach house As he reached it, the door was opened by a man he did not recognize 'Good evening, Mr Demiris.' Inside, Demiris could see half a dozen police officers 'What's going on here?' Demiris demanded 'I'm Police Lieutenant Theophilos. I . . .' Demiris pushed him aside and walked into the living room. It was a shambles. A terrible struggle had obviously taken place Chairs and tables were overturned. One of Melina's dresses was lying on the floor, torn. Demiris picked it up and stared at it 'Where's my wife? I was supposed to meet her here.' The police lieutenant said, 'She's not here. We've searched the house and we've looked up and down the beach. It looks like the house has been burgled.' 'Well, where's Melina? Did she call you? Was she here?' 'Yes, we think she was here, sir.' He held up a ladies' wristatch The crystal had been smashed and the hands had stopped at three o'clock. 'Is this your wife's watch?' 'It looks like it.' 'On the back is engraved "to Melina with love, Costa".' 'Then it is. It was a birthday present.' Detective Theophilos pointed to some spots on the rug 'Those are bloodstains.' He picked up a knife lying on the floor, careful not to touch the handle. The blade was covered with blood 'Have you ever seen this knife before, sir?' Demiris gave it a brief glance. 'No. Are you saying she's dead?' 'It's certainly a possibility, sir. We found drops of blood on the sand leading down to the water.' 'My God,' Demiris said 'Luckily for us, there are some clear fingerprints on the knife.' Demiris sat down heavily. 'Then you'll catch whoever did it.' 'We will if his fingerprints are on file. There are fingerprints all over the house. We have to sort them out. If you don't mind giving us your fingerprints, Mr Demiris, we can eliminate those right away.' Demiris hesitated. 'Yes, of course.' 'The sergeant right over there can take care of it.' Demiris walked over to a uniformed policeman who had a fingerprint pad. 'If you'll just place your fingers right here, sir.' A moment later, it was done. 'You understand it's just a formality.' 'I understand.' Lieutenant Theophilos handed Demiris a small business card 'Would you know anything about this, Mr Demiris?' Demiris looked at the card. It read, 'Katelanos Detective Agency Private Investigations'. He handed the card back. 'No. Does it have any significance?' 'I don't know. We're checking into it.' 'Naturally, I want you to do everything you can to find out who's responsible. And let me know if you get word of my wife.' Lieutenant Theophilos looked at him and nodded. 'Don't worry, sir. We will.'
Melina. The golden girl, attractive and bright and amusing. It had been so wonderful in the beginning. And then she had murdered their son, and for that there could never be forgiveness . . only her death.
The call came in at noon the following day. Constantin Demiris was in the middle of a conference when his secretary buzzed him. 'Excuse me, Mr Demiris . . .' 'I told you I didn't want to be disturbed.' 'Yes, sir, but there's an Inspector Lavanos on the phone. He says it's urgent. Do you want me to tell him to . . . ?' 'No. I'll take it.' Demiris turned to the men sitting around the conference table. 'Excuse me a moment, gentlemen.' He picked up the receiver. 'Demiris.' A voice said, This is Chief Inspector Lavanos, Mr Demiris, at Central Station. We have some information we think you might be interested in. I wondered whether it would be convenient for you to come down to police headquarters?' 'You have news of my wife?' 'I would prefer not to discuss it over the telephone, if you don't mind.' Demiris hesitated for only a moment. till be right down.' He replaced the receiver and turned to the others. 'Something urgent has come up. Why don't you go on into the dining room and discuss my proposal and I'll be back in time to join you for lunch.' There was a general murmur of agreement. Five minutes later, Demiris was on his way to police headquarters.
There were half a dozen men waiting for him in the office of the Police Commissioner. Demiris recognized the policemen he had already seen at the beach house. '. . . and this is Special Prosecutor Delma.' Delma was a short, stocky man, with heavy eyebrows, a round face and cynical eyes 'What's happened?' Demiris demanded. 'Do you have some news of my wife?' The Chief Inspector said, 'To be perfectly frank, Mr Demiris, we have come across some things that puzzle us. We hoped you might be able to help us.' 'I'm afraid there's very little I can do to help you. This whole thing is so shocking . . .' 'You had an appointment to meet your wife at the beach house around three o'clock yesterday afternoon?'