When my guests arrived, I’d had a few minutes to get changed, but was hardly the vision of cool loveliness I’d been intending. Roasting a leg of lamb in a small kitchen made it hot, but I’d lit the fire in the living room anyway, just for the atmosphere.
Alex arrived first and gave me a kiss that felt so nice. He smelled good, and looked great in a blue linen shirt that emphasised his eyes. I had no idea how Leo had bowled me over so quickly. Why hadn’t I been looking in the right direction?
He handed me a bottle of the same brand of wine we had drunk in the fish restaurant a couple of days before. ‘I thought as we had enjoyed it…’
‘It’s perfect, thank you,’ I said, and gave him another kiss. Just because.
He took the chair by the fire and wafted his face with his hand. ‘You like to keep the house warm,’ he said. ‘I like your top, good colour on you.’ He tipped his head to one side. ‘You look lovely.’
I was quite relieved when the doorbell rang; it wasn’t just the fire making me warm. Cassia and Tinos had collected Cathy and given her a lift, and Maria arrived just as I got them settled with a drink.
One of the things I love most about Cretan cooking is the meze first course. Everybody dives in and takes a little from all the plates in the middle of the table. It’s relaxed and casual, and the cook doesn’t have to get up and do things all the time. I surveyed the vast quantities laid out, and hoped they were all hungry. ‘Let’s eat,’ I said, and we scrambled round the table until we were all in. I hadn’t ever thought I would have enough friends to invite five of them to dinner all at once.
We chatted in a mishmash of Greek and English, and drank wine and laughed at each other’s linguistic mistakes. It was like an extension of the language class. I enjoyed seeing Maria out of context, too. She was good company at the table. Sad that Spiros had fallen so far.
Once we had finished eating the meze, I sat back in my chair, sipped my wine and watched them. Tinos and Cathy were still in heated debate mode about the EU, Cassia and Maria were chatting about the unemployment problem, and Alex? Well, as far as I could tell, Alex was watching me. So I got him to help pile the empty dishes into the sink, and to carve the lamb, which we had with roasted potatoes and onions, green beans in tomato sauce and onion gravy. Scrumptious, if I say so myself.
Over Maria’s delectable baklava and coffee, I finally got around to the purpose of the evening. ‘So, now I have you all relaxed and receptive, I have a mystery I want you to help solve.’
Cathy rubbed her hands together. ‘Do tell,’ she said, ‘I love a mystery.’
‘Who is Leo Arakis?’ I asked them. ‘He may have been on the island longer than me, and he may not be who we think he is. So who exactly is he?’ Having set the scene I told them about his disappearances, and the state in which he returned, and my visit to his room where he appeared to have left all his paperwork behind.
‘You really got into his room?’ asked Tinos, laughing.
‘I don’t know what came over me,’ I said. ‘Not that I found much.’
‘Sounds as if you may make a good spy,’ he replied, and toasted me with his beer bottle.
‘But what do you think it means?’ asked Cassia, topping up her and Cathy’s glasses.
‘Do you think he isn’t intending to buy the land, and that the paperwork and maps are a cover-up?’ ventured Alex.
Cassia objected. ‘But what else could he want? Kokorakis owns nearly all the land around here. Nothing happens to do with land without him knowing.’
That brought me up short. ‘Really?’
‘Could Leo be a taxation officer working undercover?’ asked Cathy.
That took a bit of translation, but they got there eventually. ‘I don’t know, but I was thinking he might be a spy of some sort. I saw him in Chania yesterday, and he was all scruffy again and in a bar chatting with local men. There is no way he is in business meetings this week, not looking like that.’
‘I’d be surprised if Kokorakis is paying his taxes as he should,’ offered Alex, ‘so he could be under investigation, but not by an American with rusty Greek, surely?’
‘Now you have us all interested, Anna,’ said Cathy. ‘What can Leo be up to?’
‘Well, I have more news that might help. I’m going to the Kokorakises for dinner on Saturday and I invited Leo and he was very excited. Far more excited than he should be, I thought.’
Maria let out a long sigh. ‘This is hard for me, Anna. You know, I think you all know now, that Kokorakis holds the deeds to my taverna, and you all know why he has sacked Spiros.’
‘He has also told you to be out by the end of the summer, hasn’t he?’ I said.
She shrugged, her mouth turned down. ‘It has always been like this on the island. They could not have been local men with Leo in the bar. Not if they were plotting against Kokorakis in his own town. He has bought loyalty here. So they were either foreigners, or you are wrong about Leo. Maybe he was just having a drink.’
‘But money talks,’ said Alex, ‘and it may be talking louder than their fear of Mr K.’
We were all quiet for a moment. That was true, and there were enough unemployed men on the island to be bought. ‘But what does it mean? What could they be doing?’
Maria snorted. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone could bring Kokorakis down, after all that he has done to me?’
‘I can’t believe you are paying the price for your husband’s appalling behaviour, Maria,’ said Cathy, drawing herself up to her full height. ‘It’s barbaric.’ She held up her hand to prevent interruption. ‘And don’t anyone say, “it has always been like this on the island” or I’ll slap them. It’s wrong, and should not happen. There are laws.’
I poured more coffee, time to change the subject back again. ‘Leo’s American, but Cretan-American. He has ties to the island, just as I do, which may mean that he’s finding his place here, same as me. I suppose he might not be a master criminal’ – I arched an eyebrow – ‘but what if he is?’
Maria cleared her throat. ‘I have seen him leaving the hotel late at night, heading up towards the mountain road.’
‘Is that what you were hinting at the other day?’
‘It did not seem right to arouse your suspicions if it was nothing, but as you have doubts already, I cannot see that it would matter.’
‘It all adds to the mystery, doesn’t it?’
‘Look, shall we let it lie?’ asked Tinos. ‘Leo was kind to me when…’ He hesitated and glanced at Maria.
‘It’s okay, Tino, say it,’ said Maria.
He smiled at her. ‘Thank you. When Spiros set fire to my café. Maybe Leo is not a bad person, but a person who wants to find out all he can about Kokorakis before he commits to buying land from him. And that is all.’ He gave me an apologetic look. ‘Sorry, Anna, to ruin your good story.’
I sighed. Maybe the whole Leo Arakis thing was entirely in my head because I was so fed up at his unavailability. ‘You’re probably right,’ I said. ‘Leo did tell me he was bringing an American lawyer over to sort out the paperwork. I suppose that would fit if he doesn’t trust Kokorakis to give him a fair deal.’
‘But we can keep our eyes open, can’t we?’ asked Cathy. ‘Maria can see him going past, and we can watch who he meets?’
‘But what if he is just an ordinary businessman?’ said Cassia. ‘He does have rights to privacy, even on Crete.’
In the end, we’d had enough of Leo, and I told them about Irini, my second great cousin, or whatever she was, living next door. ‘I have to call her Aunt Irini, though, otherwise it’s very confusing.’
‘I am so glad you have met your relatives, Anna. It will help you to settle on the island.’ Maria beamed at me.
‘Me too. I have a Greek orthodox priest as a cousin, too. Not everyone can say that.’
Cassia laughed. ‘They can in Crete!’
I then told them about my parents leaving Crete in the late seventies and the feud that apparently existed betw
een my father and possibly Kokorakis or even his own father. ‘I don’t know any more as no one will talk to me until I have asked my father what happened all those years ago.’
‘But,’ spluttered Cathy, ‘they would have been boys forty years ago. Perhaps it was the fathers who began it all?’
‘Of course, you’re right. Unless it was a fight over a girl or something?’
‘Do you think your father will tell you the truth now, after all those years of silence?’ asked Alex.
‘Not willingly. I think Dad must have upset Mr K, or Mr K senior just like Spiros did, and has paid the price. But I guess we’ll find out once I’ve been home and asked him.’
The evening broke up then as it was late and Maria had to work the next day. Alex offered to wash the dishes, but I wanted a bit of time on my own to think through what I’d learnt. And I knew that if he stayed over, then my little complication, that I didn’t like or trust the man I was actually sleeping with, would spill over into a big one. Life certainly was no longer boring. But as for letting it all go, as Tinos had suggested. No way. Leo was up to something, and I would find out what it was, one way or another. And as it turned out, sooner than I expected.
20
I hate being late. It had become a problem over the years. Will cultivated lateness because above all, he liked to make an entrance, but that only made me worse. I hate being thought rude. I’d loved living a life for the past few weeks where time was more fluid and flexible and I wasn’t so driven, but the anxiety was still lurking.
However, I could remember those relaxed feelings when I was in a better mood, and not about to be late for a dinner party. I pulled the curtains aside and looked once again down the dark street. There were lots of people about as it was Easter Saturday, but all were headed down into the harbour for a huge midnight feast and fireworks after the usual church service. Only the honoured few would be going up the hill to Kokorakis mansion. Seven thirty and still no sign of him. Where was he?
I’d dressed in my favourite crimson silk shift dress, which was a bit tighter than I remembered around the hips, but still looked fine. With carefully applied makeup and a serious conditioning of the wild mop that passed for my hair, I’d been feeling pretty good by the time I’d finished dressing.
I checked again. Still no sign of him. Still no text since early in the week.
I poured a cold glass of deliciously scented white wine and sipped it as I perched on the very edge of the chair. No point creasing the dress before I got there. I was apprehensive, but also excited. I checked my watch. It was an old one my father had given me on my twenty-first birthday. Silver-and-gold bracelet with a tiny face and ornate numbers. He said it had been his grandmother’s. It was the only time I remember him ever mentioning her. I added silver earrings and my chunky ring, and checked my hair once again.
Ten minutes to walk up the hill, so I should leave at seven forty-five. Or maybe leave at eight, if I was going to have to go on my own. There was no way I was getting there first. I put lipstick, my newly-printed business cards and tissues into my beaded shoulder bag, and added my phone, which had remained silent since a quick call from my mother earlier in the day. Then I stared moodily at the cold fireplace.
Finally, there was a rap on the door, and Leo was there, looking very cool in a black dinner jacket and a bow tie.
‘Well, you look a bit better than last time I saw you,’ I said, and let him in.
Leo scooped me into a close hug and aimed for my freshly-painted mouth. I struggled back a little. ‘Watch it,’ I spluttered, ‘don’t wreck all my hard work!’
He settled for a kiss on the cheek. I wondered if he sensed that I wasn’t as bowled over by him as I had been.
‘Said I’d be here, clean and sober, ma’am,’ he said and saluted me. He offered his arm. ‘Shall we walk?’
‘Perfect timing. Let’s mingle with the rich and famous of Crete.’ I was excited now that the plan had come together.
I’d forgotten how to walk in strappy sandals after months in boots and trainers, so it was a slower walk up the hill than planned, and we were overtaken by two large, expensive-looking cars that Leo insisted on naming as we walked.
‘So, how did your meetings in Athens go?’ I asked.
‘Fine, I think everything is in place. At least I hope it is.’
‘So no drama then? No problems with leases or our host for the evening muscling in?’
‘I doubt Kokorakis even knows who I am,’ said Leo. ‘In fact, I’m looking forward to meeting him tonight. I’ve been dealing with his land agent, not the man himself, of course.’
And that was the end of the conversation. Still lying, I reckoned.
Leo was jumpy on the walk, laughing quickly and commenting on everything from slinky cats crossing our path to quirkily-painted front doors. I half-listened to his inane nervous chatter and thought about Alex’s blue eyes and calm smile.
The first thing I saw when we reached the house were the lights. A whole spectrum of colours washed slowly over the front facade and up into the night sky. It was breathtaking. Delphine had decorated her plain, modern house with light, and it was wonderful.
We walked up the path and were greeted by the housekeeper who took us into the sitting room. It was a large room with a vaulted ceiling, the plainness of the walls disappeared under lighting which glowed in soft tones of peach and apricot. ‘Oh my God, Leo, it’s beautiful.’
‘Classy,’ he said, ‘she must be a classy lady.’
There were uplit pieces of glass and sculptures on plinths, long, low leather sofas and coffee tables. On the walls were huge abstract prints which would have dwarfed a room with normal proportions. In the corner, a baby grand piano stood with the lid open, ready to be played. It was all gorgeous, and the real log fire in the granite-and-slate fireplace gave the room a warmth it would lack in daylight. I realised I had little to teach Delphine about interior design. ‘It’s just a party room, isn’t it though? You couldn’t actually live in it, could you? Too vast and empty.’ I thought about what Maria had said the other night, about the farmhouse in the mountains being Kokorakis’ preferred home.
‘I could get used to it,’ said Leo, scanning every corner. ‘He takes his security seriously,’ he murmured, smile gone from his face. ‘Alarms all over the place, and I doubt that guy over there is a waiter.’
I hadn’t noticed the man standing alone by the door in a dinner suit. I’d assumed he was a guest until I realised he wasn’t talking to anybody, or drinking anything. It brought it home to me that I was about to move in very different circles from those I was used to.
A short man in his sixties came towards us. His eyes were hooded but almost black in a long face. A good suit hid his paunch, and there was a sense of strength, of ownership about him.
‘You must be Anna Georgiou,’ he said, taking my hand. ‘Nikos Kokorakis. It is very good to meet you. My wife has been telling me about the wonderful work you are doing with her. Thank you, and if you need anything else, you must ask. It was a terrible mistake, what happened, and I want to put it right.’ He squeezed my hand and stared into my eyes.
I was surprised. He genuinely sounded like he cared. The trouble with listening to rumours is you only get half the picture, I thought. And then I remembered what he had done to Maria.
Kokorakis turned to Leo. ‘And who have we here?’
‘This is my friend, Leo Arakis,’ I said, and released Leo’s right hand. I hadn’t realised I’d been holding it.
‘It is very good to meet you, sir,’ said Leo, falling into that faux respectful tone that a certain class of American seems to find natural. I could see that Kokorakis liked it. Or was used to it. ‘You have a beautiful house,’ he added.
‘My wife’s work. I think, in another life she would have liked to be a designer, like you, Miss Georgiou. Perhaps you could teach her?’
I glanced around the room. ‘There is little I could teach her, Mr Kokorakis. She has a strong style already
. Unique. This is fabulous.’
On cue, Delphine left the couple she had been talking to and came across. She kissed me on the cheek, which was unexpected, murmured that I looked beautiful, also unexpected, and shook Leo’s hand. Both of them were examining Leo like he was a specimen in a jar.
‘I hear that you are planning on buying land here in Kissamos,’ said Kokorakis, his English slightly stumbling and not often used, I suspected. ‘Come and talk to me later, after dinner, about your plans.’
‘I will. Thank you, sir,’ said Leo to Kokorakis’ back as he went off to circulate.
Delphine waved a waiter over and we took glasses of champagne. ‘To new beginnings.’ We clinked glasses. ‘I’ll catch up with you later,’ she said, ‘I have a couple more people to greet,’ and headed for the front door once more.
I walked Leo across to a set of double doors and we looked into the dining room, set with ten places. It was a room that would have stunning views over the town and out to sea in the summer. Now, in the darkness, the windows were covered in gauzy curtains, and the table glowed silver. ‘It really is something,’ I whispered.
‘It’s just showing off, Anna,’ said Leo, a little sharply. ‘They want to impress their wealthy friends.’
I took a look at his eyes which were darting around, avoiding my gaze. ‘Well, you’re doing all right if Mr K wants to see you later,’ I said, giggling a bit as champagne bubbles went up my nose. ‘You might be one of the wealthy friends soon.’
‘I sure am, and it’s thanks to you. I wonder how I could repay the favour?’ he said, and kissed me just under the ear, which sent a small explosion of pleasure down my spine. See? Complicated. My head said avoid this man, he bad; the rest of me said, go for it, girl, he’s hot.
Another glass of bubbly settled my nerves and I was able to study the other guests. There were three other couples, most of whom seemed to know each other, so naturally they headed straight over to us, the newcomers. ‘Fresh bait,’ I muttered to Leo as one woman took my arm and led me towards a gaggle of them standing by the log fire, leaving Leo to fend for himself with the men.
Those You Trust: compelling women's psychological fiction Page 14
