Followed

by Cara Alexander

  I can hear my phone ringing then it stops. I try to sit up, but my head feels heavy, then I remember – someone was in my room. I half crawl out of bed, everything's blurred.

  Then I look down. My nighty, my pants, where are they? What happened? I stand holding my head looking around the room, it looks the same. I grab my dressing gown, my phone rings, it's DCI Thomas. I stand staring at the phone, I can’t move, I feel heavy.

  Mum knocks. I can’t move. She knocks again then opens the door.

  ‘Didn't you hear your phone? DCI Thomas just phoned me he wants to talk to you.’ Then she stops. ‘Beth! What's wrong, you look as if you've seen a ghost?’

  She leads me over to my bed, I sit down and tell her what happened. She grabs my phone; presses redial, DCI Thomas answers.

  I sit listening to her talk – my head's fuzzy, I don't know what happened, I go to the bathroom, lock the door and look at myself. No bruises, no cuts, I'm not in pain. I sit on the toilet seat, hands over my face, I want to remember but I can't.

  The next few hours are a blur.

  DCI Thomas suggests I have some tests taken, just to be sure I’m OK, he drops us off then goes back to the station.

  After they’ve done all the tests Mum gets me a cup of tea and we sit waiting for the results.

  Much later, maybe an hour but it could be less, a policewoman comes in.

  ‘Sorry, for the long wait.’ She hesitates and I know by her expression what's coming, I shake my head. No, tell me it's not what I'm thinking. ‘It's not good, not what we hoped for.’ She puts her hand on my arm. ‘I know this is difficult. The forensics team are at your house right now.’

  What happened in Oxford was bad enough, but this! I sit staring ahead, I want to shout I want to scream, I want to kill whoever did this. How did they get in? Did I leave the kitchen balcony door open? I'm sure I locked it - I always do.

  The policewoman says she’ll arrange for us to be driven home, but Mum tells her we'll get a taxi.

  The taxi pulls up outside our block, the police are just leaving – Mum stops and talks to them, I rush inside straight to the kitchen. I want to see if the balcony door has been tampered with.

  ‘Just relax,’ Mum calls, closing the front door. ‘Go and sit in the living room, I'll make us a coffee, or would you rather have a brandy?’

  I swing round and look at her. ‘The door lock its broken, how could they do this without us hearing?’

  She sighs. ‘Whoever it was knew what they were doing. Forensics have checked everything.’

  In the living room she fills two glasses with brandy, I gulp it down and lay on the sofa, she sits on a chair near the window drinking hers.

  The next thing I know the phone's ringing. I'm still on the sofa, Mum must have covered me, the small lamp is on, it's dark outside - how long have I been asleep?

  ‘Beth,’ Mum whispers. ‘It's DCI Thomas. Do you want to talk to him?’

  I shake my head. ‘What time is it?’

  ‘It’s just gone 6.00, are you sure, he might have some news.’

  I shake my head; she closes the door.

  I don't want to think about it, I pull the cover up over my head close my eyes and try to sleep but all I can see is Nick. Did he do this?’

  32

  Later that day

  I can hear Jamie whispering to Mum, the clock on the TV says it’s 10.45 in the evening. I get up and go into the kitchen, Jamie looks up, Mum quickly pulls out a chair and gives me a wink.

  ‘How do you feel? You won't be eating any more of those pizzas, will you?’

  Jamie's watching me strangely I can tell he doesn't believe Mum.

  ‘She'll be alright, don't worry Jamie,’ Mum says, filling a bowl with soup.

  He comes and sits beside me. ‘Anything I can do Mum?’

  ‘I'm alright, really, a bowl of soup and I'll be as right as rain.’

  He keeps looking at me, a worried look on his face.

  ‘Don't worry Jamie, I'm feeling much better.’ I try to smile but don’t succeed. ‘No more pizzas for me for a while.’

  It's late, so he reluctantly goes to sleep, and an hour later so does Mum. I stay in the living room I can't go near my bedroom.

  Next morning

  I'm up early, I’m in the kitchen making coffee when my phone rings. It’s DCI Thomas.

  ‘Sorry, I couldn't talk yesterday, I hope you understand.’

  ‘Of course, I understand. I'm so sorry this happened, I just want you to know that...’ He stops for a few seconds; I can hear him breathing.

  ‘You know who it was, don't you?’

  ‘No, Beth, but I think I know where Nick is.’

  I hold my breath and wait.

  ‘Don't get your hopes up, these sightings can be misleading but from what I know he was last seen heading for the port, in Malaga. He's probably trying to get a boat. The Spanish police are onto it. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.’

  So, who was it?

  As if reading my mind, he says. ‘If he's in Spain then you know what that means, although it all depends on when they saw him, but as we've got all the ports and airports covered, I really don't think it could have been him.’

  ‘Then who was it?’ I really did think it was Nick, but why would he? If he's on the run, I hardly think he'd be visiting me after everything that's happened.

  ‘We don't know, Beth. It takes time, it could have been a random act, we’ll soon find out.’

  ‘Let me know if you hear anything,’ I mumble.

  ‘Don't worry. I'll be in touch as soon as I know something. In the meantime, think seriously about taking that trip to Athens.’

  I can't believe he just said that. It's the same old thing they all kept saying, get out of the country, forget about it, but it won't help, it will never stop until I find out who did it. I stand staring down at the street below. If it wasn't Nick, who was it? Major Oliver Hudson and the rest of those horrible people are in prison, aren't they?

  The kitchen phone suddenly rings, it's DCI Thomas.

  ‘Beth, I'm sorry to trouble you again, but there's been a new development.’

  From the sound of his voice I know it’s something awful. ‘Yes, what is it?’

  ‘I’ll come to that in a minute but first let me run through some things with you. You were right about Nick, he was on drugs, probably still is, but there's something else, it's about the Major.’

  I feel sick. ‘But he’s in prison.’

  ‘Yes, he is, Beth. But the Major has his finger in many pies. He befriends people, gets them used to the good life – if you can call it that, and then gets them hooked on drugs, the rest is easy. Anyway, Nick wasn't the only one, we're investigating the Detective Superintendent, seems he also dabbles in drugs.’

  ‘So what are you saying?

  ‘Well, from what we've discovered, he's been doing this for years. We've also contacted Interpol…’

  ‘So you think he had something to do with this?’

  He doesn’t reply.

  ‘But this could go on forever, next time they might kill me.’

  ‘Beth, the Major's a very dangerous man with many friends in high places who still haven't been caught, I thought you should know, you must be vigilant, don’t go out alone.’

  ‘What do other people do in my situation? In films they get a new identity, go and live in faraway countries where they hope they'll never be found.’

  ‘Look, I know this is hard, but believe me, we are dealing with it. We have the best criminal minds working on this case. The net's tightening people are squealing they’re hoping to get a shorter sentence. As I said before, many influential heads are going to fall, but until that happens, we must look after you and your family.’

  I sit listening not really taking it in.

  ‘Beth, are you listening?’

  I grunt. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Now listen, very carefully, this is what you must do. I've taken the liberty of arranging flights for you all -
leaving tomorrow. ‘

  ‘What!’

  ‘Yes, this is serious Beth, we’re getting you out of here for a while. Your mother knows, she’s going with you and of course Jamie. She’s packed a few things, the police collected them. She'll take the train as usual in the morning to Oxford, Jamie’s going with her. She's told him not to say anything, it's a surprise - you're all going to Athens for a short holiday.’

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

  ‘I’ll come to your place, all very normal. We'll get you out the back way. Helen knows about it; you'll be staying with her.’

  ‘I don’t have much choice do I?’

  'It’s the best we could do at such short notice, Beth.’

  Next day

  Mum and Jamie are on their way to Oxford. Mum tells me not to worry the police will be following them to make sure nothing happens. They’ll go to her place, have lunch, then take a cab to Heathrow airport.

  A couple of hours later DCI Thomas arrives. I’m taken out the back way to a waiting car and driven to Heathrow airport where I meet up with Mum and Jamie. Of course he’s over the moon, he thinks Mum arranged it all.

  The plane takes off at 5.00 so 7.00 Athens time, we settle down for the four and a half flight to Athens.

  It's late when we arrive. DCI Thomas arranged for us to be taken through customs and led out through a special exit, just to be on the safe side.

  Helen’s there to meet us, she drives us back to her place, a police car follows. DCI Thomas said this is just a precaution they have to take.

  33

  Athens

  We've been here for two days, the weather's lovely, still a healthy 25 degrees and so far, we're safe.

  DCI Thomas calls me daily, still no news about Nick but there's lots of news about my case. People are being arrested, including many in high places - but the person who raped me is still on the loose.

  Jamie's school are under the impression one of his close Greek relatives is getting married, what else could I tell them. Fortunately the head was nice about it.

  Mum and Jamie are still in bed, Helen's just gone to work, she starts early. Most people in Athens do due to the hot weather.

  I take my coffee onto the balcony so I can enjoy the fresh morning air. My phone suddenly rings, it's DCI Thomas.

  ‘Good morning Beth, how are things in Athens?’

  He sounds happier than usual; I hear the rustle of papers, then he's back on the phone.

  ‘I'm going to tell you something highly confidential, it’s about an arrest the police have made regarding your case.’

  My heart skips a beat, will this nightmare soon be over? ‘What is it?’

  ‘The Major paid someone to... to do this to you.’ He pauses for a few seconds then carries on. ‘He used to work for him, at the farm.’

  I’m holding the phone tightly. They've caught him, I can’t believe it. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.

  ‘Did you hear me, Beth?’

  ‘Yes,’ I mutter. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course. As I said before, people are squealing, it always happens. They're either looking for a way out, nobody wants to go to prison, or they've got revenge on their mind. This boy, or rather man, he's twenty-eight, he's been spending a lot of money, which is unusual for him as he doesn't have much. He's been drinking and boasting about his latest conquest, describing what he did in graphic detail.’

  I feel sick. I start taking deep breaths.

  He carries on talking.

  ‘We got a tip from his girlfriend. It seems a friend of hers heard him bragging about it in the pub, so she goes and calls her friend, of course she’s furious and calls the police.’

  As I listen to him, I keep thinking I'm having a bad dream that will soon stop but it doesn't.

  ‘Are you still there, Beth?’

  ‘Yes,’ I croak.

  ‘Shall I carry on?’ he asks, in a worried voice. ‘You know we can do this later.’

  ‘No, tell me, I want to know.’

  ‘Well, the following evening we had one of our undercover men in this pub, we had it all set up and it worked. The guy was drinking heavily and blabbing as usual about his conquest. His girlfriend came in. She was furious, she had a go at him, he laughed in her face, he said...’

  Suddenly he stops talking. ‘Beth, are you alright? I know this must be a shock, but we've got him, you can come home.’

  I don't know whether to laugh or cry, it's just so awful, it's like it happened to someone else, but he's talking about me, it happened to me.

  34

  London

  I'm working hard to catch up with work, Mum hasn't been to Oxford for a long time, I think she’s had enough and is looking for somewhere to live in Greece.

  I'm on my way to the café in the park, a few tourists and mothers with kids are sitting outside, but not so many as the last time I was here with Helen.

  She popped over to see me the other weekend, which was nice. She still wants me to come back to Athens, but for now I'm staying here.

  Jamie's settling into school which is a relief for both of us. He likes living in London and has lots of friends.

  I still don't know where Nick is, DCI Thomas told me not to worry - the Spanish police think he boarded a ship in Malaga, they say he might have gone to Algeria or Morocco but could still be in Spain.

  But if he’s in Spain, why do I get the feeling I’m being followed? I often think I’m going a little bit crazy, and what with all that’s happened I probably am. It’s just that... when I go shopping, or when I’m walking around Queensway late at night, I often get a whiff of Nick’s cologne.

  I told Helen and she said it’s my mind playing tricks on me, so many men use the same cologne, and when I get a whiff of it, I automatically think of him. I know what she means but I still have the feeling he’s following me.

  35

  He stares ahead at the woman slowly crossing the road, laden with heavy shopping. Autumnal leaves coat the black, shiny street still wet from the rain. She's going to slip, he thinks, any minute now. She crosses the street unscathed and he scratches his head.

  He looks in his rear-view mirror, checking to see if anyone else is wandering around a residential street at close to midnight. He shuffles around in his seat to get more comfortable and takes off his seatbelt. Physically drained, he rubs his eyes and sighs. He sees the light has been switched on at number 8. He watches as the woman dumps the heavy shopping on the counter. She disappears away from view for a while. Ten minutes later she returns to the kitchen, switches on the kettle and takes a couple of mugs out of the cupboard. A younger woman joins her in the kitchen. They're chatting and laughing about something. He cracks his knuckles and looks in the rear-view mirror again. It's such a quiet street that he's now very aware of the sound of his watch ticking.

  He looks up and sees that the younger woman is alone in the kitchen. He concentrates on her as she spoons coffee into the mugs. He can hear a boy call her from another room, she quickly scoops up the mugs and leaves the kitchen. The lights go off. It's rather late for the boy to still be up, and on a school night too. Soon the bedroom light will be switched on and around an hour later it will be turned off. He knows her routine now. He also knows when she's alone.

  For more Beth Papadakis action check out THE KILLING - Book 2

  Prologue

  4 February, Athens, Greece 10.15pm

  ‘We need to meet - all I want is a few minutes of your time.’

  James was getting pissed off, he had no idea who this man was or why he was calling him.

  ‘You won’t tell me your name,’ James snaps, angrily. ‘So why should I bother?’

  ‘It’s urgent,’ the rasping Greek voice hisses. ‘It’s a matter of life and death. You can stop someone from being killed, you must come!’ Then he lowers his voice. ‘Do you know Fanis Bar, in Glyfada? It’s just off the main highway, the one with the terrace outside? I'll be there at 10.30 - be there.
’ Then he hangs up.

  James stands staring angrily at his phone. Is the guy mad or just winding me up?

  Gulping down the rest of the coffee he’d just bought he crumples the now empty polystyrene cup into a ball and tosses it into a nearby bin.

  He crosses the road into a small side street where his car is parked. All he wants is to go home, have a beer and put his feet up, but he can’t. He’s arranged to meet Helen, she said it was urgent so he can’t let her down.

  He clicks the key fob and his car springs into action, then his phone rings, number withheld.

  James stares at his phone, is it that crazy Greek again?

  ‘Yes,’ he snaps.

  ‘I want you to understand how important this is, it is of international concern and politically motivated, this man’s life is in danger.’

  Oh my God, this guy just doesn’t give up. For some strange reason he has a gut feeling this could be good, he might be wrong, but what if the guy is telling the truth?

  ‘Okay, but it'd better be good, what do you look like?’

  The man sighs with relief. ‘I’m wearing a brown velvet jacket and a striped scarf.’

  ‘I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes,’ James mutters, then under his breath. ‘This better be good.’

  He slides into his car, switches on the air con, then calls Helen. He says he’s going to be a bit late, she sounds irritated but agrees to wait for him. She knows if he has a bee in his bonnet about a story there’s no stopping him.

  Ten minutes later he’s out of the centre of Athens heading towards Glyfada. As usual Posseidonas Avenue is busy, it’s the main coastal road leading to Glyfada and the coastal resorts leading to Cape Sounion and the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon.

  The neon lights of the restaurants and hotels shed a rainbow of colours over the highway. Clandestine meetings like this don’t happen often to James and strangely enough he’s looking forward to meeting this guy.