The Ransom

by Irena Nieslony

  Eve walked cautiously to Annie’s car. To her relief, there was still nobody about, but it was a very quiet village inhabited mainly by elderly Greeks.

  “David wasn’t there,” Eve said as she got into the car.

  “Can we go home then?” Annie asked, hoping against hope that Eve wouldn’t want to go to the other house.

  “I know you don’t want me to break into Joanna’s other house, but I have to. I must see if David’s there.”

  “Joanna herself might be there. Then what are you going to do?”

  “I’ve thought about that. I’ve decided to ring the doorbell first. Then I’ll know if she’s in or not.”

  “But what if she answers the door? You’ve told me that from the brief meetings you’ve had, that you don’t get on.”

  “Well, I thought I’d tell her how silly we’ve been for having a feud for no real reason and invite her to a little party I’m giving a week on Saturday.”

  “What will you do if she accepts, Eve?”

  “If she does, I’ll have to have a party I suppose, but if she has kidnapped David, I doubt if she will accept. I’ll just have to come back tomorrow and watch the house to see when she goes out. I’ll try and break in then.”

  “Oh Eve, your plan is so dangerous. Please be careful.”

  “I will, I promise,” she replied, crossing her fingers behind her back.

  * * * *

  Annie then drove to Joanna’s other house, neither woman saying much. Annie knew there was nothing she could do now to prevent Eve from breaking into the second house.

  As Eve got out of the car, Annie shook her head.

  Eve really is taking risks now. Goodness knows how all this is going to turn out.

  Eve hopped out of the car, grabbed her handbag and walked towards Joanna’s house. It looked as if it was in darkness.

  I do hope nobody’s in, Eve thought. It will be much easier to just break in and have a look myself, rather than try to get Joanna to allow me in. I’m pretty sure she won’t and I’ll have to come back tomorrow. I think she’s a very clever woman and can think quickly on her feet.

  By this time, Eve had reached the front door. The shutters were shut and the front door was completely made of wood, so Eve realized that the lights could be on behind them. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell and waited. Nobody came to the door so Eve rang again. When there was still no reply, Eve smiled.

  Now, how to break in? I wonder if there’s a key under a pot in the back garden.

  She started to walk round the back, but came across a fence.

  Damn. Mind you, it’s not that high. I’m sure I could get over it... Yes, I’ll give it a go.

  Eve put one of her feet in-between two of the pieces of wood making up the fence and then managed to get her other leg over the fence. As she then brought the first leg over, she felt a part of the fence snap and she looked at it in horror.

  What have I done? I’ve already committed enough crimes to be put in jail. But then, what about David? Come on, Eve, pull yourself together. David’s more important than a broken fence.

  Eve walked round the back, glad that the moon was almost full and she could see quite well. However, there were no flower pots with a back door key underneath. She looked under the mat and there was no key there either. The shutters each side of the kitchen door were shut, but as she looked along the house, she saw a window further along which had its’ shutters open. Eve breathed a sigh of relief and went to have a look.

  She reached the window and tried to open it. It was locked, but it didn’t seem to be very tight. It was one of John Phillips’s houses and most of them had been shoddily made as Eve herself could testify, having bought one herself. She thought that if she rattled the window for long enough, it might open.

  Eve started to shake the window and at first it didn’t move. However, a couple of minutes later, it became looser until finally it opened. Eve couldn’t believe her luck, although she did make a note to have better locks fitted on her windows. She climbed inside the house quickly, knowing that the faster she was the better. Joanna could be back at any time.

  Switching on her torch, Eve saw she was in the sitting room. Thinking that the most likely place David would be if he was there would be the basement, Eve went off in search of one.

  Meanwhile, Annie sat in the car, feeling sick. Amateur sleuthing was not for her and she kept thinking what her husband would say if he found out. He would not be a happy man at all.

  Then a car drove up and stopped outside Joanna’s house. Annie’s heart missed a few beats and when she saw Joanna and Kevin get out of the car, she struggled to get her mobile out of her bag. She was all thumbs and wasted precious seconds finding it. However, finally Annie managed to dial Eve’s mobile, but unfortunately there was no reply. Eve was, at that moment, in the basement and there was no mobile phone signal.

  Meanwhile Eve was disappointed and frustrated that she wasn’t able to find David in Joanna’s basement. As he hadn’t been at the other house, she had been almost certain he would be there. As she came up the stairs, she had drifted off into her own world and didn’t realize that there was a light on in the hall. As she reached the top of the stairs, she came face to face with Joanna and Kevin.

  There were a couple of moments of silence before Joanna spoke, unable to hide her astonishment anymore.

  “What on earth are you doing in my house, Eve Masters,” she asked frostily, not for one minute losing her cool. “How dare you break into my home? I thought you were a rich woman, or perhaps you weren’t stealing, but snooping.”

  Eve was feeling sick.

  Why on earth didn’t Annie phone me to say they were coming home? Or perhaps she did while I was down in the basement and there wasn’t a good enough signal. I’ve got to think quickly.

  And Eve did.

  “Where is David?” Eve asked firmly, not allowing herself to stumble over her words. “I know you’ve got him somewhere and you’d better tell me where he is.”

  Joanna sounded mystified by Eve’s words.

  “I have absolutely no idea what you’re going on about, Eve. How would I know where David is? Have you gone crazy?”

  “Ha, don’t give me that,” Eve replied. “I know it was you who kidnapped David and sent me the ransom note. That’s why I’m here, looking for him. I’ll tell you this, there’s no way I can get together that amount of money by Friday. My money is invested in different things, so forget it.”

  Joanna stared at Eve in horror. She was obviously speaking the truth about David’s kidnapping, but how dare she accuse her. This wasn’t on and she was going to phone the police.

  “I’m sorry about David,” Joanna said, “but I’m very put out that you’re accusing me. Why on earth would I want to kidnap David?”

  “For the money of course,” Eve replied.

  “I have plenty of money, thank you,” Joanna remarked, smiling.

  “Oh, you can never have too much money,” Eve commented.

  “I’m sorry, Eve, but I’m going to have to call the police. I have no choice.”

  “Really? Is that necessary?” Kevin finally joined in the conversation.

  “Yes, yes I think so. She can’t break into my house and get away with it.”

  “But the person who kidnapped David said there had to be no police involved. They could kill him, or you could. As I couldn’t get the money by Friday, I had no choice but to look for him myself,” Eve continued.

  “Oh, for God’s sake, I haven’t got David. Anyway, he’s much more important to them alive than dead.”

  “Call the police if you will, but then David will die if I’m sat in a police cell.”

  “I don’t really care what happens to you, Eve Masters, but I care very much that you broke into my house and you’re not getting away with it. Excuse me for one moment.”

  While she was gone, Eve spoke to Kevin.

  “Thanks for nothing, Kevin. You could have stood up for me a bit more t
han you did.”

  “It wouldn’t have done any good. Joanna has her own mind and I doubt she would be swayed by anyone.”

  “Not even you? You seem to have got quite friendly lately.”

  “We have. It came as quite a surprise to me, but of course Lucy and I hadn’t been close for a long time, in fact I’m sure we would have got a divorce.”

  “What about Joanna? She had only recently married Yiannis.”

  “She thinks it was more of an infatuation and doesn’t know what would have happened in the future.”

  “Well,” Joanna said coming back into the hallway. “Chief Police Officer Dimitris Kastrinakis will be here shortly. We’d better go and sit in the lounge while we wait.”

  Eve breathed a sigh of relief. Dimitris Kastrinakis had been the officer in charge of all the murders and knew her well. He would know that she hadn’t been trying to rob Joanna’s house. However, he would be angry with her. He had continually told her to keep her nose out of police business, but she had kept ignoring him and continually put her life in danger. He would be really angry that she had taken the law into her own hands for yet another time.

  * * * *

  They sat in the lounge for just over twenty minutes before Dimitris arrived, barely saying a word to each other. However, all their minds were active.

  Eve was still thinking that Joanna was the most likely person to have kidnapped David, but where else could she have put him? She wasn’t physically strong enough to overpower him, so who was her partner? Perhaps it was Kevin, or maybe there was someone else and she was also planning an untimely end for Kevin?

  Kevin himself was a little worried. If Eve was right, perhaps Joanna was going out with him with a plan to marry him and then kill him for his money. After all, she did get over Yiannis very quickly. However, he dismissed this idea almost as soon as it had come to him.

  No, I’m sure she genuinely likes me. We get on so well.

  Joanna just wished the police would arrive and take away that infernal busybody. She did wonder however what the police would actually do with Eve. They would probably believe her; nobody would make up something like that, but she still shouldn’t have broken into her home. Joanna decided that she probably wouldn’t press charges in the end; her main aim was to give Eve a fright.

  When the doorbell finally rang, Eve jumped and her heart started racing. All she knew was that she’d never survive jail, especially knowing that it would waste valuable time which she needed to spend looking for David. This stupidity of hers could cost him his life.

  A few moments later, Joanna came back in with Dimitris and another policeman.

  “Well, well, well, Miss Masters,” Dimitris said. “Turned to robbery now have you?”

  Kevin stifled a laugh and Joanna shot him a dirty look.

  “I was not trying to steal anything, sir,” Eve stated, attempting to sound firm. “I was looking for my fiancé, David Baker. He has been kidnapped and the kidnappers want 100,000 Euros. I have most of my money invested and I can’t get it all in cash quickly enough, not that I want to give so much money to some low life, although I would if it was the only option to get my darling David back.”

  “And may I ask why you think Joanna Neonakis has kidnapped him?”

  “She doesn’t like me for a start....”

  “I am oblivious to your presence,” Joanna butted in.

  “You were flirting with my David at the airport while ignoring me. Decent women don’t do that.”

  “You were chasing after another man, Joanna?” Kevin asked.

  “It was harmless flirtation, for God’s sake, Kevin. I flirt all the time, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested.”

  “Come now,” Dimitris said. “We’re going off the subject completely. Eve, couldn’t you come and talk to the police instead of breaking into Joanna’s house?”

  “The letter said not to go to the police.”

  “Well,” Joanna interrupted again. “Eve, you must be worried now. If you think I’m the kidnapper, it would have been me who told you not to go to the police and here you are talking to them.”

  “I didn’t go to them though, did I? You called the police,” Eve said smugly.

  “Now, now, we’ll have none of this bickering,” Dimitris put in.

  “By the way, Eve,” Joanna said. “Did you go to my other house?”

  All eyes shifted to Eve who now looked very sheepish.

  “Well, yes, but I didn’t have to break in as there was a key under a flowerpot in the back garden.”

  She omitted to mention that she had broken the flowerpot.

  “David wasn’t there either,” Eve added, “but she could have found somewhere much safer to put him.”

  “I’m telling you that I didn’t kidnap him,” Joanna screamed, finally losing her cool.

  “Shut up, both of you, or I will arrest you, Joanna, as well as Eve,” Dimitris said

  Joanna became silent straight away and Eve said nothing. Kevin sat with his head in his hands, thinking that this was not what he had signed up for. His marriage had ended up being miserable. Then he thought he’d found a wonderful beautiful woman who cared for him as he did for her, but although she was still gorgeous, she was bringing too many complications into his life. He wanted a simple existence after all he’d been through, not this.

  “Right,” Dimitris spoke. “Mrs. Neonakis, do you want to press charges against Eve for breaking and entering?”

  Joanna looked at Eve. Yes, she wanted to. She didn’t like Eve at all, although she didn’t know why; possibly because they were very similar. Both women were beautiful, strong women who liked power. Joanna had imagined stealing David from Eve; in fact nothing would give her greater pleasure.

  “No, no I won’t press charges,” she finally said. “Eve has more important things to worry about at the moment.”

  Eve was totally surprised by Joanna’s reply.

  “Thank you, Joanna,” she said, but thought immediately afterwards that there must be an ulterior motive.

  She wants David for herself; that’s it. Well she’s not having him. He’s mine and he doesn’t want anyone but me.

  “We won’t keep you any longer then, Mrs. Neonakis, Mr. Fowler. Good night.”

  As Eve went out of the door with Dimitris and the other officer, he asked her where her car was. Luckily, Eve was able to think quickly in most situations and this wasn’t an exception.

  “I walked. It would have been silly to bring the car, wouldn’t it?’

  Dimitris nodded in agreement while Eve sighed in relief that he couldn’t see her blushing. She was also relieved that Annie had gone and thought she must have left after the police arrived. It would have been stupid for her to get into trouble as well. She only hoped Annie wouldn’t phone until she was back home and on her own.

  “Right,” Dimitris said. “We’ll take you home, Miss Masters. By the way, we’ll need the ransom letter. Tomorrow you’ll need to come down to the station to make a statement about the break-in.”

  “What if the kidnappers see me? They said no police and if they’re watching, they could kill David.”

  “Very well, we can leave it for a couple of days. Apart from Joanna, do you have any idea who could have kidnapped Mr. Baker?”

  “No, none at all. Everybody else are our friends, well expect for Betty Jones and I can’t see her having the strength to overpower David.”

  “Do you know anyone, perhaps with financial problems, who may have been led to do this through desperation?”

  Eve thought long and hard.

  “Well, I can, but I doubt that these people would have done it.”

  “You must tell me. Anything will help.”

  “Alright,” Eve spoke reluctantly. “There’s Ken and Jan who own The Black Cat. They think they might have to go back to England because of all the extra taxes they have to pay. They don’t want to go, but they need a lot more money.”

  “Is there anyone else?”

 
; “Don Jones wants to divorce Betty, but they’re broke apart from the house. I can’t see him having the strength, unless of course he has an accomplice.... And that’s it, I think.”

  “You know the kidnappers could be watching you now, Miss Masters?” Dimitris said.

  “Then it could be too late for David. What am I to do, inspector?” Eve asked, feeling at a loss.

  Dimitris was surprised to see Eve so devoid of hope. She was obviously very worried about David and 100,000 Euros was a lot of money. Dimitris suspected that she had more than enough cash to pay it, but who would want to give away money they had worked hard for.

  “Listen,” Dimitris said, trying to sound upbeat. “I doubt if the kidnappers are around now and if they are, there’s not much we can do about it. I will drive you home, look at the letter and as I have my sergeant with me, take a statement tonight. How’s that?”

  Eve nodded in agreement, thinking that it seemed a good idea. Then she wouldn’t have to go to the police station, although if Joanna was one of the kidnappers, it wouldn’t matter if she did.

  Eve got into the back of the car and they had an almost silent journey back to her house. At one point Dimitris did start talking to his sergeant who Eve learnt was called Stavros, and Eve took advantage of that time to fiddle in her bag and discreetly switch her phone off just in case Annie called. She didn’t want to get her friend into trouble and it would be very difficult to talk to her without giving anything away.

  * * * *

  Once the officers and Eve had left her house, Joanna said goodnight to Kevin, or at least she tried to.

  “Darling, I’m tired. It’s time you went home. It was a lovely meal in Bella Sophia, if only that woman hadn’t broken in afterwards and ruined the evening. Eve has stressed me out and I do need to go to bed now.”

  “Why won’t you let me stay, Joanna? I’m in love with you, you know I am. How long are you going to keep me waiting?” Kevin pleaded.

  He was a little drunk, not normally having the nerve to ask Joanna outright if he could spend the night with her.