The Ransom

by Irena Nieslony

  Dimitris thanked the doctor and walked into the ward, followed closely by Eve.

  “I don’t think you were given permission to come in, Miss Masters.”

  “I have to see David, if only for five minutes.”

  Dimitris said no more, knowing he would do the same if it was his wife in there.

  As they went into the emergency room, Eve felt herself shiver. She didn’t really know why. Both times she had been poisoned, she had passed out and had woken up in a ward, but she imagined that she must first have come into E.R.

  Eve suddenly felt guilty. It was all her fault that David was here. If she wasn’t his girlfriend, he wouldn’t have been kidnapped and ended up in hospital. Perhaps when he got better he might think the same thing and end their relationship. He might think she was too much of a liability.

  Suddenly Eve saw David lying in a bed in the corner. Despite his tan he looked pale. He was hooked up to an oxygen mask and seemed to be asleep.

  Eve rushed past Dimitris Kastrinakis and went to David. She took his hand and started talking before Dimitris could say a word.

  “David, I’m so sorry. If you hadn’t have met me, you wouldn’t be in this position. I wouldn’t blame you if you called the wedding off.”

  Dimitris stood by, listening. For once he actually felt a little sorry for Eve. It wasn’t really her fault, but he could understand her blaming herself.

  David then pressed Eve’s hand and after tried to take off his oxygen mask, but he seemed too weak to get it off. Dimitris went to help, knowing he had to keep it brief and put the mask back on.

  “I know you’re ill, but can you answer one question?” Dimitris asked. “Was it Mr. Davies who kidnapped you?”

  David seemed to frown, but as he tried to say something, he started wheezing and was out of breath. He couldn’t say a word. A nurse rushed over to put the mask back on and had a few angry words with Dimitris.

  “I presume you will be staying here with your fiancé, Miss Masters?” Dimitris asked Eve

  “Of course, where else would I go?” she snapped, angry that he had put David through more pain.

  Dimitris ignored her attitude for once, knowing she was upset.

  “Well, I must join the search for Mr. Davies. Could you phone me if David says anything?”

  “Yes, of course,” Eve replied a little guiltily, knowing she had been sharp. It was important after all that they found out the name of the kidnapper as soon as possible.

  “Will you keep Mrs. Davies here with you? We have her number and will phone as soon as we find anything relating to her husband.”

  “Yes I will. I don’t think she should be driving on her own anyway,” Eve replied. “She hasn’t slept all night.”

  Eve wished Dimitris would leave so she could concentrate on David. However, as soon as he had left, she heard a commotion at the other end of the emergency room.

  “Be careful,” a loud voice boomed. “If my hip wasn’t broken, it certainly is now.”

  Eve groaned inside. What were the odds of finding Betty in hospital at the same time as David? To make matters worse, they wheeled her to a bed which was only two away from his. At the moment, she hadn’t seen Eve, but Eve, feeling as if it was about time she had a bit of light relief, decided to go over and talk to her.

  “Betty, what a surprise seeing you here. What’s happened to you?”

  “Eve, can I never get away from you?” Betty snapped. “If you’re really interested, I fell down the stairs and believe my hip could be broken; well I’m sure it is broken now after the rough handling I’ve had.”

  “Oh dear, I’m so sorry,” Eve said, trying to sound as sympathetic as possible.

  Betty wasn’t fooled though.

  “You don’t care what happens to me. You’re probably laughing your socks off.”

  “That’s a harsh thing to say, Betty. Of course I’m sorry you’ve had an accident.”

  “Humph,” was all Betty could say.

  “Where’s Don? Is he not with you?” Eve asked naughtily, knowing he was staying in a hotel as he and Betty had split up.

  “He’s not well himself. I told him to stay in bed.”

  “Really? He seemed fine at The Black Cat last night. We were sorry to miss you.”

  Betty looked dumbfounded and was just gathering her thoughts to give a clever retort when Eve’s mobile rang. Seeing it was Robert, she answered it, moving away towards David.

  “I’ve just got up and found your note. Are you and Annie still looking for Pete? You must be shattered.”

  “Robert, so much has happened since I left. Oh dear...,” Eve burst into tears.

  “Calm down Eve. Tell me exactly what’s happened since I went to bed last night.”

  Eve wiped away her tears and then started to recount the events of the night.

  “And now I’m at the hospital. David’s got pneumonia and hasn’t yet been able to tell us who kidnapped him. The police even think it might be Pete as he’s missing. David could have fought with him and now he’s lying somewhere and we don’t know where.”

  “Calm down, Eve, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Pete. He seems such a nice guy. I expect Annie’s in a bit of a state?”

  “That’s an understatement. Poor woman. She’s been frantic all night worrying that something awful has happened to Pete and now that the police have suggested that he might have kidnapped David, she’s in a terrible state. Personally, I don’t believe it,” Eve whispered down the phone.

  “Why are you talking so quietly, Eve. I can barely hear you.”

  “Betty’s just come in. It looks like she’s broken a hip.”

  “Is Don with her?”

  “No. She can’t have let him know. Actually, I feel a bit guilty. I was teasing her a bit about where Don was.”

  “You should go and apologize, Eve. She’s probably upset.”

  “Well, she lied about Don, making out they were still together.”

  “Eve, go and apologize,” Robert said sternly.

  “No, I won’t apologize,” Eve replied stubbornly. “However, I will go and see if she needs anything.”

  “Good. Do you want me to come to the hospital, Eve?”

  “No, I came in Annie’s car and I think I’ll come back in it. She wasn’t driving very steadily and it’s best she has company.”

  “I’ll wait to hear from you then, Eve.”

  Eve put her mobile into her bag and moved closer to David and took his hand.

  “I’ll find out who did this to you, I promise.”

  Then Eve remembered about Betty and turned to look at her. She was arguing with a doctor and Eve smiled.

  That woman will never change.

  Once the doctor had gone, she heard Betty shout over to her.

  “Is that David there? What’s wrong with him?”

  Eve got up and walked over to Betty, not wanting to shout over the Greek family surrounding the bed next to David’s.

  “He has pneumonia, Betty.”

  Eve decided not to elaborate. She didn’t want to tell her the whole story of David’s kidnapping and Pete’s disappearance. Perhaps Betty knew something already anyway. News travelled fast around the villages, even when you were completely certain there was no way the information could have got out.

  Betty, however, didn’t seem to know anything and seemed genuinely sorry.

  “Oh, how terrible,” she remarked. “I hope he recovers soon.”

  “Thanks,” Eve said, now feeling even guiltier about her attitude to Betty earlier on. Still, that woman usually gave as good as she got and recently she had been even more unpleasant to her.

  “He’s a bit out of it at the moment, but I’ll give him your regards.”

  Betty nodded and Eve excused herself quickly, not feeling comfortable when talking normally with Betty. She had completely forgotten to ask Betty if she needed anything.

  Eve walked out into the corridor to tell Annie about Betty.

  “Does she know anything?
” Annie asked nervously.

  “I don’t think so and all I said was that David had pneumonia. She seemed truly surprised. I didn’t mention Pete at all.”

  “Thank you, Eve. I couldn’t bear it if rumors about Pete being a kidnapper started spreading; I really couldn’t.”

  Annie looked close to tears again and Eve gave her a hug.

  “Well, you’d better cheer up then as I doubt Betty would believe you were this upset about David.”

  Annie attempted a smile and they sat there in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly the doors opened and David was wheeled out in his bed by some orderlies. Eve leapt up, grabbing Annie and they followed. She expected he was being taken to a ward and she was right.

  Once upstairs and settled, Eve asked Annie what she wanted to do now. Eve wanted to stay with David, but Annie couldn’t drive home in the state she was in.

  “I don’t know. I keep looking at my phone hoping the police will ring with some news, but they haven’t. Where is he, Eve? Where is my husband?”

  Eve didn’t know what to say, but in the end thought it best to get Annie home. Annie had barely slept the previous night and needed to get some rest and Eve had to get some things for David’s hospital stay. However, she didn’t want to leave him; he looked so vulnerable lying there asleep. Still it was better he rested and she could be back in a couple of hours anyway.

  “Come on, Annie, I think you need to get home.”

  “I don’t know if I can drive. I feel shaky.”

  “I’ll drive, don’t worry. I have to get David some pajamas and other stuff and he’s sleeping so soundly now that it’s better I go now and come back later.”

  “Alright,” Annie agreed. “I don’t want to bump into Betty anyway.’

  * * * *

  Annie fell asleep on the journey home. She was so tired after being up all night and had virtually used up all her energy crying. Eve glanced over at her and hoped against hope that Pete wasn’t the kidnapper.

  It would destroy Annie’s world. And what if Pete was involved with another woman and they planned to run away after they got the money? What if it’s that appalling woman, Joanna? It doesn’t bear thinking about.

  Eve remembered the murders earlier in the summer when she had seen Pete with Lucy Fowler, one of the two murder victims, in Rethymnon. She had vaguely suspected him of having an affair with Lucy, although she really couldn’t believe it.

  But what if he had? It’s not altogether impossible. He didn’t murder her, but he could still have had an affair. Oh dear, I must get these thoughts out of my head and try to stay positive for Annie.”

  It wasn’t long before they arrived at Eve’s house. With Annie fast asleep, Eve had put her foot down and had probably gone way over the speed limit a few too many times, but she wanted to get back to the hospital as soon as she could.

  As they parked up, Annie suddenly woke up and Eve caught a smidgeon of fear in her eyes.

  “It’s Ok Annie, we’re at my house. We’ll get a coffee and something to eat and I’ll see what Robert’s up to.”

  “I don’t think I could eat.”

  “You must try, Annie. You’re looking exhausted and you do need something to keep you going.”

  Annie nodded as Robert came out of the front door with Portia at his heel. The dog was wagging her tail, hopeful for a walk, but she was going to have to wait.

  “Hello, you two. I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,” Robert said.

  Eve explained her decision to come back, and then ushered Annie into the house. She got her sat comfortably in the lounge before going into the kitchen to start making breakfast.

  “I honestly don’t know how much more Annie can take. She’s exhausted and she’s so worried about Pete. I hope she doesn’t have a breakdown.”

  “And what about you, Eve?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Don’t give me that, Eve. You’re pretending to be fine for Annie’s sake, aren’t you?”

  “Don’t make me collapse into a heap, Robert. I’m using all my energy to keep on top of this. Somebody has to for Annie’s sake. At least David has escaped... but he’s ill, Robert, very ill.”

  Eve felt a lump in her throat, but instead of bursting into tears, she shook her head and moved away to start breakfast.

  “It doesn’t matter if you cry, Eve. I won’t think any less of you.”

  Eve smiled. “I’ve already had my fair share of crying. Now it’s time to move on and find out who the kidnapper is. I also need to be there for Annie; just in case...”

  Eve’s voice trailed away.

  “You’re right, Eve,” Robert agreed. “This situation is far from over.”

  Eve started breakfast, while Robert got the coffee on.

  “Have you told Don about Betty yet?” Robert asked Eve.

  “Why should I?” she asked. “He’s washed his hands of her. Why stir things up?”

  “Eve, that’s very callous. She’s probably scared and will need help in hospital, particularly if she can’t walk. You know the nursing staff don’t do nearly as much in the hospitals here as they do in England.”

  Eve knew Robert was right and she should help, but she was finding it hard to be kind to Betty. After all, that woman was rude and nasty to her all the time.

  “Ok, I’ll ring him after breakfast," she reluctantly agreed. “Then he can make his own mind up.”

  “Oh, by the way, Alison’s on her way. She’s managed to wangle a few days leave. She’s having to fly Aegean so has to change in Athens and won’t be here until late evening. I suppose I’d better hire a car as you might need yours.”

  Eve thought Robert wasn’t happy about hiring a car. Although he’d lent her the money she needed, when it came to everyday things, Robert was always on the lookout for saving money. She remembered his first trip to Crete the previous summer when he’d been quite happy for Eve to pay for all the meals out and for her to drive him around. When he’d come over at Christmas with Alison, he did hire a car, but Eve thought it was probably Alison’s influence that made him do it.

  “Yes, it probably is best if you hire a car,” Eve said. “You’ll probably end up doing things for Betty once she sees Alison is here.”

  “I’m supposed to be here to give you help and support, not Betty.”

  “And you will I’m sure. In fact you can look after Annie while I go back to the hospital.”

  Robert shrugged his shoulders. It seemed to him he was being given all the menial jobs to do. However, he then remembered being in Eve’s car when the brakes hadn’t worked. They had almost been killed and he didn’t really want anything like that to happen again.

  It wasn't long before breakfast was ready and Eve went to wake Annie up.

  “Oh my goodness, have I been asleep? I was so sure I wouldn’t drop off, but I think I fell asleep almost immediately after I sat down.”

  “You obviously needed it. Come on, Annie, I’ve made breakfast.”

  Annie was confronted with a plate of sausages, bacon, eggs, mushroom and beans.

  “I don’t know if I can do this justice, Eve.”

  “Just try and eat a little,” Eve replied, glancing afterwards at Robert who was making short work of his breakfast.

  Eve suddenly felt hungry herself, hardly having eaten much since David had been kidnapped. She needed to start practicing what she preached and she started on her vegetarian sausages, soon beginning to feel a little less light headed as she ate. She had felt quite faint at the hospital, but had tried to ignore the feeling and push past it, not wanting to be admitted into hospital herself. Twice was quite enough for her.

  Annie started to pick her way through her breakfast, not wanting Eve’s work to all be for nothing, but she knew she was forcing it down.

  “Oh why don’t the police call?” she asked. “They should have found Pete by now.”

  “They have a big area to cover, Annie,” Eve replied. “They haven’t been looking for long, but I’m sure they’ll ph
one as soon as they find him.”

  Annie nodded, but neither she, Eve nor Robert were convinced of anything anymore.”

  * * * *

  While Annie was having a rest after breakfast, Eve picked up the phone ready to ring Don. She still didn’t want to, believing that he was much better off without Betty, but she did realize that he had to be told. Eve was simply worried that he might return to Betty out of duty.

  Don answered after a couple of rings.

  “Eve, how nice to hear from you. I had a lovely evening in The Black Cat last night.

  I can’t tell you how pleasant it was to chat without being reprimanded for the things I say.”

  “Yes, it was a very pleasant evening, but today isn’t so good, I’m afraid.”

  Perhaps she should only tell him about David having pneumonia.

  “What’s wrong Eve?” Don asked. He was eager to help if he could. She had been such a good friend.

  “Oh, David’s in hospital with pneumonia and...”

  “Oh, how terrible for you, Eve,” he interrupted. “I hope he gets better soon. Luckily, he is a fit man.”

  Eve paused, knowing she had to go through with it.

  “While I was in E.R., Betty came in.”

  “Betty? Was she with someone who was sick?”

  “No, she fell down the stairs and hurt her hip. It could be broken.”

  “Fell where?”

  “Down the last few stairs at your house,” Eve replied, surprised that he hadn’t asked how she was.”

  Perhaps Don really didn’t care about her after all.

  “She’s done that a few times. I knew she’d break something eventually.”

  Eve didn’t know what to say to that.

  “I suppose I should go to the hospital and see if she needs some help.”

  “Yes, it’s not easy in the hospital with so few nursing staff.”

  “It doesn’t change anything, Eve; I’m not going to rush back to her if that’s what you think.”

  “You must do what’s right for you,” Eve stated.

  However, she was glad that he hadn’t decided to go back to Betty. Of course that could all change in the next few days. They could easily reunite.

  It’s none of my business, Eve said to herself, but hoped that Don wouldn’t be persuaded to return to his wife. She thought Betty treated him abominably, not that it was any of her business. She had told herself that time and time again.