by K. M. Ashman
‘I suppose not but it’s none of our business.’
‘It could be.’
India stared at Brandon before shaking her head.
‘You’re not seriously considering taking this on are you?’
‘Why not?’
‘Because it’s dangerous, that’s why.’
‘India, the man contacted us, nobody else, you and me. He was involved in something that he thought we could help with and now he seems to have disappeared. If there is anything we can do to help the police investigation then it is our duty to do whatever we can. Besides, don’t forget that despite the current circumstances, he helped us get out of that convent alive.’
‘I suppose so,’ India sighed, ‘what are you proposing?’
‘Look, all I am suggesting is that we go out there for a couple of days and have a look around. You can spend some time on the beach while I make some enquiries and if it comes to nothing, then at least we both get a holiday out of it.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Oh come on, India,’ said Brandon, ‘the place is reeking in history, you will be in your element. Same deal as last time, double your salary plus expenses.’
‘I suppose I can get a couple of weeks off,’ said India eventually.
‘Great,’ said Brandon, ‘then that’s agreed. You go and get packed and I’ll meet you at the airport tomorrow at nine.’
‘Tomorrow?’ said India, ‘it’s too short notice, I won’t be able to process the leave application in time.’
‘No need,’ said Brandon,’ it’s already done. Come on, I’ll drop you home.’
India stared at him incredulously before standing to follow him out of the café.
‘Unbelievable,’ she mumbled as she went, ‘bloody unbelievable!’
----
Two days later, India and Brandon stepped off the ferry from Alexandroupoli to Samothrace.
‘It seems like only yesterday,’ said India.
‘It does,’ agreed Brandon. ‘I bet Agatha will be surprised to see us.’
India stopped.
‘Um, Brandon?’ she said.
Brandon stopped and turned back toward her.
‘What?’
‘I’ve got a confession to make.’
Brandon stared at her for a few seconds before putting the cases down on the pavement.
‘What have you done?’ he asked with an air of resignation.
‘I booked us in to the Hotel Kastro,’ she said quickly.
‘You did what?’
‘It’s the best hotel on the island,’ she said, ‘swimming pool, restaurants, nightlife, it’s got the lot.’
‘India, we are supposed to be working,’ he said.
‘I know but not twenty four, seven. All I am saying is why can’t we have some fun at the same time?’
‘But I’ve booked Agatha’s,’ he said, ‘she will be expecting us.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ said India, ‘I phoned her and cancelled. We now have two air conditioned rooms booked at the Kastro, less than a hundred yards from the beach.’
‘And you paid for this?’ he asked.
‘I did, on expenses of course.’
‘Expenses?’
‘You did say I could claim expenses,’ she said with a smile.
‘You are unbelievable,’ he laughed.
‘So it’s all right?’
‘Yes,’ he sighed, ‘I suppose I could do with a break.’
‘Then what are we waiting for?’ she smiled, ‘call us a taxi.’
----
Nine o’clock the following morning, India lay on a sun-bed besides the hotel pool, the scorching Aegean sun already drying her white bikini after her first dip in the water. Brandon approached and paused for a few seconds, admiring the young woman’s perfect body.
‘Ahem!’ he coughed after a few seconds
India raised her sunglasses.
‘Hello, sleepy head,’ she said.
‘Good morning,’ said Brandon, ‘you look nice.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, adjusting her position self-consciously, ‘how’s your hangover?’
‘A bit of a headache, that’s all, nothing a good walk won’t sort out.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘Into town, I’ve got an appointment with the police.’
‘Do you want me to come with you?’
‘No, you chill out here and I’ll go and see what this is all about.’
‘How long will you be?
‘A couple of hours, I suppose.’
‘Okay, why don’t we meet up at lunch?’
‘Sounds good,’ he said, ‘see you then.’
Brandon turned and walked away from the pool area. He left the hotel and took the coast road toward Kamariotissa, enjoying the sea breeze as he walked.
----
An hour later he was sat in an office waiting to see the duty officer. A young man in black trousers and a white short sleeved shirt entered the room. Brandon stood to shake his hand.
‘Mr Walker?’ asked the young man.
‘That’s right,’ replied Brandon, ‘Brandon Walker and you are?’
‘Adriano Boulos. We spoke on the phone a couple of days ago, thank you for coming.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Adriano,’ said Brandon, ‘so, how can I help?’ They sat down on opposite sides of the table and Adriano poured them both a glass of chilled water.
‘First of all, Brandon,’ he paused and looked up, ‘can I call you Brandon? Good. The first thing is to realise is that I know all about you.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes. I was Gatilusi’s aide and he told me everything about the Mortuus Virgo thing.’
‘And how does that affect this situation?’
Adriano stood up and closed the door to the room before sitting down once again.
‘What I am about to say, is off the record.’
‘Okay,’ said Brandon slowly.
‘The thing is I’ve brought you here under false pretences.’
‘How?’
‘I told you Gatilusi is missing.’
‘You mean he’s not?’
‘No, I mean he’s dead.’
Brandon sat back in his chair, shocked at the revelation.
‘My god,’ he said, ‘are you sure about this?’
‘Absolutely,’ said Adriano, ‘he is buried less than three kilometres from here.’
‘But why lie to me?’ asked Brandon.
‘Because I was not sure if you would help and if you decided it wasn’t something you wanted to get involved in, then there was no point in making that information public.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I think he was murdered and I would rather keep that information between us for now.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Look, over the last few weeks, Gatilusi became distracted. He spent many days off the island but wouldn’t tell anybody where he went. All he told me was he had some very exciting news, something that could change the fortunes of Samothrace forever.’
‘Where have I heard that before?’ sneered Brandon.
‘I know,’ said Adriano, ‘he was a bit fixated about things like that but you couldn’t fault his patriotism. Anyway, one evening he called me and told me to come up to the house as he had something to tell me, something wonderful.’
‘Why did he call you?’ asked Brandon.
‘I told you, I was his aide and we trusted each other implicitly.’
‘And did you find out this wonderful news?’
‘No because by the time I got there, he was already dead.’
‘I suppose there was an investigation?’
‘There was.’
‘And what did they come up with?’
‘Nothing much. I wanted to delve deeper but was called in to the governor’s office and told to back off. I was told that it would undermine the people’s confidence if they suspected that the ministry couldn’t protect one of their
own.’
‘And you are uncomfortable with that?’
‘Yes, Gatilusi was no angel but he always had the best interests of this island at heart. His roots stretch back hundreds of years and he would do nothing that would harm Samothrace or its inhabitants. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the ministry, there are too many people on the take.’
‘Why not go to the Greek police?’
‘There are things you don’t understand here. Samothrace is riddled with organisations and brotherhoods that stretch back thousands of years. Many officials from the mainland are part of these secret societies and I don’t know who I can trust.’
‘So that’s why you called me?’
‘It is. We are a small island, Brandon, everyone knows everyone else or has a relative in high places. I think he was murdered and that he died because he was onto something.’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know but whatever it was, it must have been big. Who would risk killing a senior police officer on this tiny island? The probability of being found out is huge.’
‘How did he die?’ asked Brandon
‘The official records say it was a heart attack.’
‘But you don’t believe that.’
‘I don’t know, Brandon, the post mortem was done by a reputable doctor but it doesn’t make sense. Gatilusi was thirty two years old and very fit. He had regular medicals and was not considered at risk of a heart attack.’
‘Perhaps he disturbed a burglar and the stress was too much?’
‘I considered that,’ said Adriano, ‘Gatilusi’s house is filled with valuable antiquities yet nothing was taken.’
Brandon sat back, the information swimming around his head.
‘So,’ he said, ‘assuming I was to help you, what help can you offer me?’
‘Not much, though I have access to records and have many contacts.’
‘Can you get me into Gatilusi’s house?’
‘I can.’
‘Okay, at least that’s something. Is there anything else you can tell me?’
‘No, that’s about it. Not much I know but I am convinced that anyone delving a bit deeper may find out what he was hiding,’
‘Okay,’ said Brandon eventually, ‘what time can we go to his house?’
‘I’m free in half an hour, we could go up then.’
‘Could you make it a bit later, I need to pick up an encyclopaedia.’
‘There’s a good library in the village, if that helps,’ said Adriano.
‘No, it’s okay, said Brandon, ‘the type of encyclopaedia I need is currently sunbathing at the Hotel Kastro and looks great in a bikini. Pick us up at seven?’
‘Seven it is,’ said Adriano.
----
Click here to order!
Click Here for All K M Ashman’s books
More Books by K M Ashman
The India Sommers Mysteries
The Dead Virgins
The Treasures of Suleiman
The Mummies of the Reich
The Tomb Builders
The Roman Chronicles
Roman I – The Fall of Britannia
Roman II – The Rise of Caratacus
Roman III – The Wrath of Boudicca
Roman IV – Boudicca’s Daughters
(Coming Soon)
The Medieval Saga
Medieval I – Blood of the Cross
Medieval II – In Shadows of Kings
Medieval III – Sword of Liberty
Medieval IV – Ring of Steel
Medieval V – Warrior Princess
(Coming Soon)
Novels
Savage Eden
The Last Citadel
Vampire
Audio Books
Medieval I – Blood of the Cross
The Last Citadel
Follow Kevin’s blog at:
WWW.Silverbackbooks.co.uk
Or contact him direct at:
[email protected]
