Death in the Aegean (2 page)

Eve swam as far as she could and then walked the rest of the way towards the cove. However, not being the best of swimmers, she’d swum out to the right and was now quite a way from the cove and was instead closer to a cave. Forever curious, Eve instantly forgot about going home.

“Ooh, this looks interesting,” she said out loud. “I think I’ll take a quick look.”

Eve walked in, the water just up to her ankles, and looked around. It took a little while for her eyes to adjust to the dim light.

When she could finally see a little better, she noticed that the cave seemed quite big and was separated into different sections by large lumps of rock. As all she was wearing was her bikini, Eve walked around slowly, trying not to bang into anything. However, she was finding it almost impossible not to hurt her bare feet on the stones.

I’m going to end up battered and bruised in no time at all. Perhaps I should turn back and go home.

However, Eve suddenly bumped into something and fell down.

“Damn!” she shouted. “What on earth was that?”

She pulled herself up, relieved that nothing seemed to be broken, although she was certain she’d have some scrapes and bruises from clambering over the stones and rocks.

She looked down and for a moment was frozen to the ground. The cave was bathed in a gloomy and shadowy light and she wasn’t sure if she was seeing clearly, but when she bent down and looked more closely at what she had walked into, she had no doubts at all.

Eve felt sick and covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

My God, it’s a body; at least I think the person’s dead.......What if he or she has been murdered and the killer is still here? If I run, I could be the next victim. What shall I do? Oh David, why aren’t you here with me, not writing that stupid book of yours? 

She knew she was being irrational as far as David was concerned, but for once Eve Masters was truly afraid. She remained completely still, but knew she had to do something as soon as possible. Her cell phone was in her bag on the beach, so she had to move; she had to get help somehow.

However, I’ll have to see who it is first and find out if he or she is dead. I mean, whoever it is could have tripped and been knocked out. And when I’ve done that, I’ll make a run for it.

Slowly, Eve bent down. She was trembling, partly in shock over seeing the body, but she was also terrified that someone could jump out and attack, or maybe even kill her.

Crouched down, Eve could tell that it was the body of a woman. She stared at her, trying to think who it could be. She was quite thin, but was face down. Although her profile was showing, her hair was covering her face so Eve couldn’t see any of her features.  

I’m pretty sure she’s dead, but I don’t think I can bear to feel for a pulse.  

Eve wasn’t usually a squeamish person, but this was different. She hadn’t been confronted with a dead body in the two previous cases.

I should go and call the police, but I wish I knew who it was...... perhaps I could just move her hair. It would only take a second.

Eve moved her hand to push the woman’s hair away, but stopped before she had the courage to do it.

I can’t, I really can’t. I thought I was braver than this.

Eve was disappointed in herself, thinking how much she had loved her previous attempts at being a private sleuth, yet now she wasn’t even able to touch a body.

Still crouched over the woman, Eve looked her up and down a few times and then it suddenly clicked.

“That frumpy blue flowery skirt and pale blue blouse. I saw her wearing them yesterday afternoon in the local shop. She barely acknowledged me. She’s hardly been civil since I suspected her of being involved in Jennifer’s death at Christmas. It’s Lucy, Lucy Fowler. I’m sure it is.”

Eve then took a deep breath and quickly moved the woman’s hair away from her face.

I can’t believe I did that.

Eve was now feeling very sick.

But having got that far, I had to confirm I was right.....and I was. It’s Lucy Fowler alright.

Eve however, felt a little faint after touching Lucy, even though it had only been for a brief moment. She didn’t think she would ever want to touch a dead body again; and dead was what Lucy Fowler definitely was. Eve was also sure that rigor mortis had set in.

That must mean the killer has long gone. But who murdered her? Her husband, Kevin? Their marriage has been on the rocks for ages, ever since she suspected him of having an affair with Jennifer Anderson.

Eve
continued staring at Lucy, her mind a myriad of thoughts
.

I could have ended up like that if I hadn’t met David. I might have been murdered after trying to catch one of the killers last year. There would have been nobody to help me. I was silly putting my life at risk so many times. David always came to save me.......... No more of that nonsense for me. David will leave me if I carry on hunting murderers.

 
Eve got up, trembling and wishing she hadn’t stormed out of the house so recklessly that morning.

“Never again,” she said out loud. “Never again will I act so foolishly.”

Eve truly meant it as she said it, but she’d meant similar things many times before and changed her mind just as quickly. Then she remembered what she’d thought on the beach and felt as guilty as hell.

My goodness, what a stupid thing to wish for. I didn’t really want a murder to happen, and even though I didn’t like Lucy Fowler, I certainly didn’t wish her dead......... But this happened before I wished for someone to be killed, so it isn’t my fault. Anyway, I don’t know if it was murder. It could have been an accident...........

Eve bent down again to look at Lucy’s body. Now that she had pushed her long hair back from her face, and had got more accustomed to the light in the cave, Eve could see marks around her neck. Had she been strangled?

“And why is she in here fully dressed. If she had gone into the sea of her own accord, she would have put on a swimming costume. It must be murder.”

Eve got up again quickly. She’d had quite enough of looking at a dead body for one day.

Yes, it looks like the police have another case. And it might not be as easy to solve as it first seems. Not many people liked her so I don’t suppose Kevin will be the only suspect.

Lucy Fowler had moved to Crete the previous October with her husband Kevin. She was in her late forties and had bored Eve and many others with her endless chatter about her sons and grandchildren. She seemed to have little interest in anything else. However, Lucy turned out to have quite a vicious tongue and ended up being a suspect in the murder of Jennifer Anderson. Lucy had believed that there had been something going on between her husband and Jennifer which would have given her good cause to have murdered the woman.

For once Eve wasn’t sure what to do. She wondered if she should ring David or the police first. David spoke Greek much better than she did, so it would be sensible if he rang on her behalf. However, somehow she didn’t want to involve him.

He’ll probably think that I’m keen on searching for the murderer again. A moment ago I said I wouldn’t, but am I that certain that I won’t be tempted?....... Oh, what the heck; I’m getting curious about this case and I probably would like to do a bit of investigating. I love David and I don’t want to worry him, but I’d also like to find out who killed Lucy.......Yes, I’m going to do it, but perhaps the best thing would be not to tell David. I know it’s a naughty thing to do, but he worries so much about me..........

 Eve sat on a rock for a few moments trying to convince herself that this wasn’t a lie. Basically, she wouldn’t be telling him what she was going to do. Now, that wasn’t a lie, was it?

Eve then got up, deciding it was time she took some action. She waded out of the cave back into the sea and then paddled to the beach where she had left her clothes and cell phone. Everything was still there. Despite the severe austerity measures, unless you went to the major cities on the mainland, Greece still seemed safer than the U.K.

Eve took out her phone and suddenly remembered that she had saved the telephone number of Dimitris Kastrinakis, the police officer in charge of the previous murders. She liked to think he had given her his number because he considered her to be useful, but in reality it was because he was worried that she would keep getting herself into trouble by poking her nose in where it wasn’t wanted. However, despite Dimitris telling Eve to keep out of the investigations, she had taken no notice and ended up in danger many times.

Eve dialed the number, intending to keep any enthusiasm for solving the crime out of her voice.

Dimitris picked up almost immediately.

“Nai.”

 
How rude,
Eve thought.

She couldn’t get used to the way the Greeks answered the phone. Eve thought that just saying ‘nai’ which means ‘yes’, wasn’t polite at all and she certainly wasn’t going to take on this Greek custom.

“Ah, good afternoon, officer Kastrinakis. This is Eve Masters.”

She wasn’t certain, but she thought she heard him sigh.

“Miss Masters, it has been a long time. What can I do for you? No more murders I hope?”

He laughed and Eve was pleased that she was going to ruin his mood.

Annoying man. He was always telling me not to interfere, yet I did a better job than him in finding the killers.

“Well, I’m not certain about a murder, sir, but I have found a body,” Eve replied smugly.

“What? Do not joke with me about such a serious matter, Miss Masters.”

“As if I would joke. This morning I went to a little cove to sunbathe on my own and when I went swimming, I came across a cave nearby. In this cave, I found a body.”

Dimitris was quiet for a moment. He was stunned by this turn of events and wondered why, out of all the people in the area, it had to be Eve Masters who found a body. He hoped that the dead person wasn’t from Britain otherwise Eve would want to be involved again.

“Have you any idea who this body is?” he asked nervously.

“Oh yes. It’s Lucy, Lucy Fowler.”

Eve hoped that she didn’t sound too conceited, but she couldn’t help it.

“What? I don’t believe it. Not another English person. Do you British people do nothing but kill each other? You, Miss Masters, have given me so much extra work in the past year.”

“Excuse me, I have not killed anybody since I arrived on Crete, but I think I discovered the murderers quicker than the police.”

Eve was getting quite uptight and annoyed that he was taking all the glory for solving the cases for himself.

“You caused me more work, madam. You were continually getting into trouble. You were poisoned twice, your car was tampered with, your house was set on fire, and the list goes on. If this is murder, you are to keep your nose out of it, do you hear me.”

Dimitris was shouting at Eve by this point. She said nothing, but her blood was boiling. How dare he speak to her like this? It wasn’t very pleasant finding a dead body and for all he knew, she could be in a state of shock. All she needed was Dimitris Kastrinakis being rude and unpleasant.

Just wait till David hears about this.

She had forgotten that she wanted to keep as much of this from David as possible.

However, Eve decided not to get angry with Dimitris, but instead she put on a pathetic voice in an attempt to make him feel guilty.

“Please don’t shout at me. It’s been very upsetting finding Lucy dead like this. I don’t feel at all well. It’s been a shock.”

Dimitris didn’t know if she was lying or not. From his experience, Eve could be a hard, calculating woman, but even tough policemen could get sick at the sight of a dead body.

“I’m sorry.”

He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, though he wasn’t entirely duped by Eve.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” he continued, sounding concerned. “Now tell me where you are.”

Eve smiled to herself, believing she had fooled the detective. She didn’t think he had any idea that she wanted to solve the murder herself.  

“I’m in a small cove in Kokkino Chorio.”

“Near the turning to Drapanos?”

“You know it?”

“I was brought up in Kokkino Chorio.”

“Oh,” Eve said, not ever having imagined Dimitris Kastrinakis as a small boy. “Well, hurry please.”

“We’ll do our best,” he replied with a sarcastic tone to his voice.

Dimitris thought there was little need to rush if Lucy was already dead.

When the call had finished, Eve decided to get dressed before the police arrived. Her bikini was still a little wet, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

Eve then wondered if she should call David, but again decided against it. His first thought would be to tell her not to interfere if it was murder and she wanted to enjoy the anticipation before she had to hide the truth from him.

I feel bad about not telling David that I’m going to do a bit of investigating, but it’s better than arguing or, God forbid, splitting up over this.

Eve shivered at the thought of losing David. However, a moment later, Eve smiled. The murder of Lucy Fowler was a chance for her to shine again. Eve Masters liked nothing better than being in the spotlight.

She imagined that the police would have no idea who had a motive to kill Lucy Fowler and it would probably take them some time to find out. They knew little of what went on within the English community. She was already much further forward in the investigations than they were.

Of course Dimitris Kastrinakis would warn her against interfering again and she would nod in agreement as usual. However, he knew that she would meddle. It went without saying.

Then there was David. He would be concerned about her again. He hated her getting involved in these murders and had in fact left her last time, but it had ended up only being for one night. Most of the time Eve was certain that David’s love for her would keep them together, but on occasion it did cross her mind that her behavior might drive him away.
 

Suddenly Eve remembered Lucy and wished she felt sorry for her, but she didn’t and instead felt guilty for using her death to her advantage. However, she kept telling herself that Lucy hadn’t been a nice person. Would anyone be sorry? She expected that the only people who would care would be her sons and grandchildren. Eve guessed that Kevin wouldn’t be sad, not going on that conversation she overheard at their Christmas party. In fact they seemed to hate each other. She decided it would be better to forget about him for the moment, so she turned her attention to Lucy.