'Aren't you going to get undressed, darling?' Am I? How long has it been since I slept with a man? More than a year. And he was my husband 'Cathy . . . ?' 'Yes.' I'm going to get undressed, and I'm going to get into bed, and I'm going to disappoint you. I'm not in love with you, Kirk. I can't sleep with you 'Kirk He turned to her, half undressed. 'Yes?' 'Kirk, I ... Forgive me. You're going to hate me, but I ..
I can't. I'm terribly sorry. You must think I'm . . .' She saw the look of disappointment on his face. He forced a smile. 'Cathy, I told you I'd be patient. If you're not ready yet, I... I understand. We can still have a wonderful time here.' She kissed his cheek gratefully. 'Oh, Kirk. Thank you. I feel so ridiculous. I don't know what's the matter with me.'
'There's nothing the matter with you,' he assured her. 'I understand.' She hugged him. Thank you. You're an angel.' 'Meanwhile,' he sighed, till sleep on the couch in the living room.' 'No you won't,' Catherine declared. 'Since I'm the one responsible for this dumb problem, the least I can do is see that you're comfortable. I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed.' 'Absolutely not.'
Catherine lay on the bed, wide awake, thinking about Kirk Reynolds. Will I ever be able to make love with another man? Or has Larry burned that out of me? Maybe, in a way, Larry did manage to kill me after all. Finally, Catherine slept.
Kirk Reynolds was awakened in the middle of the night by the screams. He sat straight up on the couch and, as the screams continued, he hurried into the bedroom Catherine was flailing about on the bed, her eyes tightly closed 'No,' she was yelling. 'Don't! Don't! Leave me alone!' Reynolds knelt down and put his arms around her and held her close. 'Shhh,' he said. 'It's all right. It's all right.' Catherine's body was racked with sobs, and he held her close until they subsided 'They tried to drown me.' 'It was only a dream,' he said soothingly. 'You had a bad dream.' Catherine opened her eyes and sat up. Her body was trembling 'No, it wasn't a dream. It was real. They tried to kill me.' Kirk was looking at her, puzzled. 'Who tried to kill you?' > 'My . . . my husband and his mistress.' ft-+,1 He shook his head. 'Catherine, you had a nightmare, and . . .' [jfl 'I'm telling you the truth. They tried to murder me, and they were executed for it.' Kirk's face was filled with disbelief. 'Catherine . . .' 'I didn't tell you before, because it's . . . it's painful for me to ,, talk about it.' & ' He suddenly realized that she was serious. 'What happened?' 'I wouldn't give Larry a divorce, and he ... he was in love with another woman, and they decided to murder me.' Kirk was listening intently now. 'When was this?' 'A year ago.' 'What happened to them?' 'They were they were executed by the State.' |i He raised a hand. 'Wait a minute. They were executed for > attempting to kill you?'
I 'Yes/ | Reynolds said, 'I'm not an expert on Greek law, but I'm willing ; to bet that there's no death sentence for attempted murder. There has to be some mistake. I know a lawyer in Athens. Actually, he works for the State. I'll give him a call in the morning, and clear this up. His name is Peter Demonides.'
Catherine was still asleep when Kirk Reynolds awakened. He dressed quietly and went into the bedroom. He stood there a moment, looking down at Catherine. / love her so much. I have to find out what really happened, and clear the shadows away for her Kirk Reynolds went down to the hotel lobby and placed a phone call to Athens. 'I'd like to make it person to person, operator. I want to speak with Peter Demonides.' The call came through half an hour later 'Mr Demonides? This is Kirk Reynolds. I don't know whether you remember me, but . . .' 'Of course I do. You work for Constantin Demiris.' 'Yes.' 'What can I do for you, Mr Reynolds?' 'Forgive me for bothering you. I'm a bit puzzled about some information I just came across. It involves a point of Greek law.' 'I know a little bit about Greek law,' Demonides said jovially. till be happy to help you.' 'Is there anything in your law that allows someone to be executed for attempted murder?' There was a long silence on the other end of the line 'May I ask why you are inquiring?' 'I'm with a woman named Catherine Alexander. She seems to think that her husband and his mistress were executed by the State for trying to kill her. It doesn't sound logical. Do you see what I mean?' 'Yes.' Demonides' voice was thoughtful. 'I see what you mean Where are you, Mr Reynolds?' 'I'm staying at the Palace Hotel in St Moritz.' 'Let me check this out, and I'll get back to you.' 'I would appreciate it. The truth is, I think Miss Alexander may be imagining things, and I'd like to straighten this out and relieve her mind.' 'I understand. You will hear from me. I promise.'
The air was bright and crisp, and the beauty of Catherine's surroundings dispelled her terrors of the night before The two of them breakfasted in the village, and when they had finished, Reynolds said, 'Let's go over to the ski slope and turn you into a snow bunny.' He took Catherine over to the beginners' slope and hired an instructor for her.v Catherine got into her skis, and stood up. She looked down at her feet. 'This is ridiculous. If God had meant us to look like this, our fathers would have been trees.' 'What?' 'Nothing, Kirk.' The instructor smiled. 'Don't worry. In no time at all you'll be skiing like a pro, Miss Alexander. We'll start out at Corviglia Sass Ronsol. That's the beginners' slope.' 'You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll get the hang of it,' Reynolds assured Catherine He looked over at a ski run in the distance, and turned to the instructor. 'I think I'll try Fuorcla Grischa today.' 'It sounds delicious. I'll have mine grilled,' Catherine said -1/2m Not a smile. 'It's a ski run, darling.' '* 'Oh.' Catherine felt embarrassed to tell him it was a joke. / mustn't do that around him, Catherine thought The instructor said, The Grischa's a pretty steep run. You might start out on the Corviglia Standard Marguns to warm up, Mr Reynolds.' 'Good idea. I'll do that. Catherine, I'll meet you at the hotel |f for lunch.' 'Fine.' Reynolds waved and walked away 'Have a nice time,' Catherine called. 'Don't forget to write.' 'Well,' the instructor said. 'Let's go to work.'
To Catherine's surprise, the lessons turned out to be fun. She was nervous in the beginning. She felt awkward and moved up the small slope clumsily.
'Lean forward a little. Keep your skis pointed forward.' 'Tell them. They have a mind of their own,' Catherine declared 'You're doing fine. Now we're going down the slope. Bend your knees. Get your balance. There you go!' She fell 'Once more. You're doing fine.' She fell again. And again. And suddenly, she found her sense of balance. And it was as though she had wings. She sailed down the slope, and it was exhilarating. It was almost like flying. She loved the crunch of the snow beneath her skis and the feel of the wind batting at her face 'I love it!' Catherine said. 'No wonder people get hooked on this. How soon can we do the big slope?' The instructor laughed. 'Let's stay with this for today. Tomorrow, the Olympics.' All in all, it was a glorious morning.
She was waiting for Kirk Reynolds in the Grill Room when he returned from skiing. His cheeks were ruddy and he looked animated. He walked up to Catherine's table and sat down 'Well,' he asked. 'How did it go?' 'Great. I didn't break anything important. I only fell down six times. And you know something?' she said proudly. 'Toward the end I got pretty good. I think he's going to enter me in the Olympics.' Reynolds smiled. 'Good.' He started to mention the phone call he had made to Peter Demonides, and then decided against it. He did not want to have Catherine upset again. After lunch they went for a long walk in the snow, stopping in at some of the shops to browse. Catherine was beginning to feel tired 'I think I'd like to go back to the room,' she said. 'I might take a little nap.' 'Good idea. The air's pretty thin here, and if you're not used to it you can get tired easily.' 'What are you going to do, Kirk?' He looked up at a distant slope. 'I think I might ski down the Grischa. I've never done it before. It's a challenge.' 'You mean "because it's there".' 'What?'
'Nothing. It looks so dangerous.' Reynolds nodded. 'That's why it's a challenge.' Catherine took his hand. 'Kirk, about last night. I'm sorry. I . . . I'll try to do better.'
'Don't worry about it. Go back to the hotel and get some sleep.'
'I will.'
Catherine watched him walk away and thought, He's a wonderful man. I wonder what he sees in an idiot like me?
Catherine slept during the afternoon, and this time there were no dreams. When she awakened it was almost six o'clock. Kirk would be returning soon.
Catherine bathed and dressed, thinking about the evening ahead of her. No, not the evening, she admitted to herself, the night. I'll make it up to him.
She went to the window and looked out. It was beginning to get dark. Kirk must really be enjoying himself, Catherine thought She looked up at the huge slope in the distance. Is that the Grischa? I wonder if I'll ever be able to ski down that.
At seven o'clock Kirk Reynolds still had not returned. The twilight had turned to a deep blackness. He can't be skiing in the dark, Catherine thought. I'll bet. he's in the bar downstairs having a drink.
She started for the door just as the phone rang Catherine smiled. 7 was right. He's calling me to ask me to join him downstairs.
| She lifted the receiver and said brightly, 'Well, did you come I across any Sherpas?' I A strange voice said, 'Mrs Reynolds?'
I She started to say no, then remembered how Kirk had regis tered them. 'Yes. This is Mrs Reynolds.'
'I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. Your husband has on been in a skiing accident.' one 179
'Oh, no! Is it... is it serious?' Tm afraid it is.' till come right away. Where . . . ?' Tm sorry to tell you he's . . . he's dead, Mrs Reynolds. He was skiing the Lagalp and broke his neck.'
I Chapter 16
Tony Rizzoli watched her come out of the bathroom, naked, and thought, Why do Greek women have such big asses She slid into bed beside him, put her arms around him and whispered, 'I'm so glad you chose me, poulaki. I wanted you from the first moment I saw you.' It was all Tony Rizzoli could do to keep from laughing out loud. The bitch had seen too many B movies 'Sure,' he said. 'I feel the same way, baby.'
He had picked her up at The New Yorker, a sleazy nightclub on Kallari Street, where she worked as a singer. She was what the Greeks contemptuously called a gavyeezee skilo, a barking dog. None of the girls who worked at the club had talent of in their throats, anyway but for a price, they were all available to be taken home. This one, Helena, was moderately attractive, with dark eyes, a sensuous face, and a full, ripe body She was twenty-four, a little old for Rizzoli's taste, but he did not know any ladies in Athens, and he could not afford to be choosy 'Do you like me?' Helena asked coyly 'Yeah. Ympazzo about you.' He began to stroke her breasts, and felt her nipples get hard, and squeezed 'Ouch!' 'Move your head down, baby.' She shook her head. 'I don't do that.' Rizzoli stared at her. 'Really?' The next instant, he grabbed her hair, and pulled Helena screamed. 'ParakaloT Rizzoli slapped her hard across the face. 'Make one more sound and I'll break your neck.' Rizzoli dragged her face down between his legs. 'There he is, baby. Make him happy.' 'Let me go,' she whimpered. 'You're hurting me.' Rizzoli tightened his grip on her hair. 'Hey you're crazy about me remember?' He let go of her hair, and she looked up at him, her eyes blazing 'You can go . . .' The look on his face stopped her. There was something terribly wrong with this man. Why hadn't she seen it sooner 'There's no reason for us to fight,' she said placatingly 'You and me . . .' His fingers dug into her neck. 'I'm not paying you for conversation.' His fist smashed into her cheek. 'Shut up and go to work.' 'Of course, sweetheart,' Helena whimpered. 'Of course.'
Rizzoli was insatiable, and by the time he was satisfied, Helena was exhausted. She lay at his side until she was sure he was asleep, and then she quietly slipped out of bed and got dressed She was in pain. Rizzoli had not paid her yet, and ordinarily Helena would have taken the money from his wallet, plus a handsome tip for herself. But some instinct made her decide to leave without taking any money An hour later, Tony Rizzoli was awakened by a pounding on the door. He sat up and peered at his wristwatch. It was four o'clock in the morning. He looked around. The girl had gone 'Who is it?' he called 'It's your neighbor.' The voice was angry. 'There's a telephone call for you.' Rizzoli rubbed a hand across his forehead. 'I'm coming.' He put on a robe and walked across the room to where his trousers were draped on the back of a chair. He checked his wallet. His money was all there. So, the bitch wasn't stupid. He extracted a hundred-dollar bill, walked over to the door and opened it His neighbor was standing in the hallway in a robe and slippers 'Do you know what time it is?' he asked indignantly. 'You told me . . .' Rizzoli handed him the hundred-dollar bill. 'I'm terribly sorry,' he said apologetically. 'I won't be long.' The man swallowed, his indignation gone. 'That's all right. It must be important for someone to wake people up at four o'clock in the morning.' Rizzoli walked into the room across the hall and picked up the phone. 'Rizzoli.' A voice said, 'You have a problem, Mr Rizzoli.' 'Who is this?' 'Spyros Lambrou asked me to call you.' 'Oh.' He felt a sudden sense of alarm. 'What's the problem?' 'It concerns Constantin Demiris.' 'What about him?' 'One of his tankers, the Thele, is in Marseilles. It's tied up at the pier in the Bassin de la Grande Joliette.' 'So?' 'We've learned that Mr Demiris has ordered the ship diverted to Athens. It will be docking there Sunday morning, and sailing Sunday night. Constantin Demiris plans to be on it when it sails.'
'What?' 'He's running.' 'But he and I have a . . .' 'Mr Lambrou said to tell you that Demiris is planning to hide out in the United States until he can find a way to get rid of you.' The sneaky son-of-a-bitch! 'I see. Thank Mr Lambrou for me Tell him thanks very much.' 'It's his pleasure.' Rizzoli replaced the receiver 'Is everything all right, Mr Rizzoli?' 'What? Yeah. Everything is great.' And it was.