Death in the Aegean (16 page)

“I don’t believe Justin killed him” Eve said, sounding shocked. “He seems so sweet and gentle. Yiannis was a strong man.”

“He suffered a blow to the back of his head. Justin could have done that.”

Eve nodded in agreement, but inside she still couldn’t imagine Justin being the murderer. Perhaps she should try and prove his innocence. And of course, there was still Lucy Fowler’s murder to solve. Things weren’t quite so bleak after all.

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell Emma, Eve. She seemed very keen on him.”

“I didn’t think you wanted those two together, David. You should be relieved.”

David was going to deny this, but he realized that Eve was speaking the truth and he felt guilty. He shouldn’t have interfered, although now it seemed as if it had been the right thing to do. He would have to tread carefully though. Emma was bound to be upset.

“I know I’m too protective towards Emma. I’ve got to accept she’s grown up, but it’s difficult.”

“Just be sympathetic today, David, and be a shoulder for her to lean on. That’s what she’ll need.”

Suddenly, Eve and David heard loud banging at the door.

“Who on earth can that be?” Eve asked, looking at her clock and seeing it was only seven thirty. “Who would have the nerve to call at this time of the morning?”

She had completely forgotten that she had phoned Jane even earlier the previous day.

“I’ll go and try and get rid of them for you,” David said helpfully.

“Thank you, darling.”

However, as soon as David had gone, Eve jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to do something with her face and hair. It could be someone who refused to go away and she hated to be seen without her make-up on.

* * * *

David walked down the stairs slowly, hoping that the person at the door would go away before he got there. He didn’t like confrontation and it could be someone who wouldn’t leave without seeing Eve.

David wasn’t happy with the turn of events. He didn’t much like Yiannis either, but didn’t care one way or another that he had been murdered. All David was worried about was that Eve would take a bigger interest in the case. He had decided to come over and tell her about it as he wanted to judge her reaction. Unfortunately, he thought she looked keener than ever to solve the case, especially as she didn’t believe Justin was guilty. David wanted to keep an eye on her, but he couldn’t be with her all the time, especially with his niece staying.

The person banging at the door started again and then he heard Jane’s voice. When he opened the door, he found Jane standing there looking as if she were about to burst into tears.

“Jane. What’s wrong?” David asked, knowing full well that he wouldn’t be able to turn her away.

“Kevin’s been arrested for murdering Yiannis.”

“What?” David said, looking shocked. “I’d heard Justin, not Kevin, had been arrested.”

“He had,” Jane continued. “However, Paul rang me with news of everything that happened after Justin’s arrest. Kevin came forward and confessed to the murder and was taken in to police custody............ Can I talk to Eve, please?” she asked, suddenly bursting into tears.

“Yes, of course, come in. Eve’s just got up. I’m afraid I woke her pretty early. I’m staying at my own house at the moment while Emma’s here. I was out for my early morning walk when I heard all the commotion at Kevin’s house and I asked one of the Greek men standing outside what was going on. I popped in to tell Eve the news.”

“Was she surprised that Justin was arrested?” Jane asked.

“Yes. She didn’t think he was the one who’d killed Yiannis.”

As David finished speaking, Eve came down the stairs. She had quickly dressed and deftly put on a little make-up. David smiled. He thought she looked beautiful without anything on her face, but with her artistic touch, she was stunning. For a moment, he wished Jane hadn’t turned up and he and Eve could spend a few hours alone together, but it looked like that would have to wait for another day.

But why is Jane so upset and desperate to see Eve? he thought. There’s something fishy going on here. I think Eve has asked Jane to help her find the killer, but I doubt if Jane will say anything with me in the room.

“Kevin’s confessed to killing Yiannis, Eve,” David said. “So my job will be a lot easier with Emma. I’ll be off and leave you two girls to talk.”

Eve was too stunned to say anything. Hadn’t he confessed to killing Lucy as well? If he hadn’t, who did kill her? And had he really killed Yiannis or was he covering up for his son?” This case was getting very interesting. However, she didn’t want David to see how excited she was, so she went over to him, put on a sober looking face and kissed him on the cheek.

“I’ll see you tonight,” she whispered.

David’s stomach did a somersault. Eve was still able to excite him as much as she had in the early days.

“Can’t wait,” he whispered back.

I wonder if it’s all our arguments that make our relationship more exciting, David speculated. All this adrenalin seems to fire Eve up. However, I don’t know if I can handle it.  God, why does she have to be so damn gorgeous? 

With David gone, Eve took Jane into the kitchen and put the coffee on.

“Right, Jane, tell me what’s bothering you. I know something is.”

“Paul doesn’t think Kevin is the killer and nor do I.”

“Why did he confess then?” Eve asked, astounded.

“To get his son released. He doesn’t want Justin to end up in a Greek jail for murdering Yiannis.”

“Does Kevin actually think that Justin killed Yiannis then?”

“He’s not sure, but he thinks he might have done and so does Paul. He has a bit of a temper apparently. Paul says he’s bi-polar, but he is on meds.”

“Being bi-polar doesn’t mean he’s a killer, Jane. People don’t understand mental illnesses properly.”

“Apparently, Lucy didn’t. Justin was her favorite until he was diagnosed with the illness.”

“That’s very interesting, Jane,”

Jane wondered what Eve was thinking now. Surely she didn’t imagine that Justin killed his mother. He was in Athens after all at the time of her death.

 Jane started to sob.

“What’s wrong, Jane?” Eve asked, totally mystified as to why her friend had suddenly burst into tears.

“I’ll be called as a witness in Kevin’s trial. Paul will find out that I went to the police about Yiannis. He doesn’t trust the police at all, Eve, and will hate me for going. Then he’ll ask me why I didn’t tell him about Yiannis and Lucy. I doubt that he’ll never speak to me again.”

“Well, if he doesn’t, he’s certainly not the man you thought he was, and don’t look at me like that, Jane. You’re worth more than this.”

Jane tried to stop crying. She knew Eve was right, but it was still hard to think that Paul might end their relationship over this.

“It’s better I tell him now, isn’t it?” Jane asked.

“I wouldn’t for the time being. Wait and see what happens. I personally don’t think that either Kevin or Justin is a murderer. The police arrested Justin because he was seen having a flight with Yiannis a couple of hours earlier. Then Kevin possibly admitted to the murder to save his son, but he hasn’t admitted to killing his wife. Personally, I reckon the same person killed both Lucy and Yiannis. We haven’t got much time, but we have to find the real killer.”

“Oh, I hope we can,” Jane replied. “I really hope so.”

* * * *

“I don’t believe Dad killed Yiannis,” Justin mumbled, trying very hard to stop crying. “I bet he said he killed him to get me off the hook; in fact I’m sure he did, but I didn’t kill Yiannis either, Paul, I promise.”

He knew he had to stay strong and most of all, he had to take his meds, otherwise he could act irrationally.

“They’ve taken your Dad in and they’ll question him first. He was also seen arguing with Yiannis yesterday morning, Justin. I was with him in the local shop when Yiannis came in and your Dad had a go at him about your Mum. I had to separate them before they had a fight. Petros was in there and saw it, and so did Kristina, the shopkeeper.”

“I still don’t reckon he did it, but the police might suspect he's trying to cover for me, don’t you think?”

“They might do. It depends how convincing he is.”

“Why’s he done this?” Justin asked, still unable to stop the tears.

“Because he loves you, of course.”

“But I’ve been so horrible to him since we landed on Crete.

“You’re his son,” Paul said. “He knows you still love him and that you’re just missing your mother.”

They both sat in the kitchen for a little while without saying anything.

 “Do you think he killed Mum, Uncle Paul?” Justin finally asked.

“No, of course not,” Paul exclaimed. “Get that terrible idea out of your head. Your Dad isn’t a murderer.”

Paul was shocked that the idea had crossed Justin’s mind. He couldn’t see his brother killing anyone. Yes, he had got into the odd fight over the years, but murder, no way.

“But perhaps he did kill Yiannis?”

“I saw him early this morning and he seemed his normal self,” Paul continued. “I would have known if he’d done something wrong. I’m certain that if your Dad had killed Yiannis last night, he would have been a wreck this morning. I know him inside and out Justin. I always know when he’s lying.”

Paul was worried about Justin. He knew about his mental problems and worried that all this might be too much for the young man to handle.

As it was, Justin was feeling very low. He wished his parents had never come to Crete, remembering how happy they had been back in England.

* * * *

Don Jones went into the local supermarket to get the Daily Mail. During the summer they stocked a selection of English newspapers for the tourists to buy. He didn’t know why they didn’t sell them in the winter as well. There were enough British ex-pats living in the village and surrounding area to buy them. Betty had asked the owner once, but he had just shrugged his shoulders and that was the end of that. She had walked off in a huff and told Don never to buy anything from that shop again, but as it was quite a drive to the next shop that sold newspapers, he had ignored her. He always found it best to keep silent rather than argue with her.

That’s what Eve should do, Don contemplated. But then I’ve had over forty years of practice, not just one!

Entering the shop, he saw David who had just paid for a newspaper himself.

“Lovely morning yet again,” Don said with a smile on his face.

“Good Morning, Don. I take it you haven’t heard the news then?”

“What news?” Don asked eagerly.

Living with Betty had been dull and boring these past few years and recently she had become a vicious nag. He had become more interested in the outside world.

“Yiannis Neonakis was found murdered last night. It was a blow on the head from behind.”

“Oh my God. Who on earth.....”

His voice trailed off as David broke in.

“Well, Justin Fowler was first arrested for his murder as they were seen having a fight in a bar a couple of hours previously, but a little later Kevin Fowler turned himself in for killing Yiannis.”

“Goodness. That’s incredible. It did cross my mind that he might have murdered his wife, but why did he kill Yiannis? I wouldn’t have thought they even knew each other.”

“Apparently Lucy and Yiannis were having an affair.”

Don’s mouth opened wide.

Yiannis and Lucy, he thought. Well, at least it lets me off the hook.  

“She was a lot older than him,” Don remarked. “I find it hard to believe.”

“Well, Yiannis was a strange man. He was a bit promiscuous from what I hear.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Don had been worried that the police might arrest him and he hadn’t slept well the previous night thinking about it. The more he mulled it over the more he felt he had been stupid going to the police. It had been crazy admitting that he hadn’t been having an affair with Lucy Fowler. It had made him seem guilty, if not of murder, then at least of having been her lover. It looked as if he was afraid that someone would tell the police that he was in a relationship with her. He didn’t know why he had done it, but it was possibly because he was scared Betty might beat him to it.

But Kevin murder Yiannis? I don’t think so, thought Don. Lucy had said that Kevin wouldn’t be bothered if she had an affair. He didn’t care for her and she had told him they were already contemplating divorce. Why would he bother to kill Yiannis for having an affair with her?

While David was deciding to buy some chocolates for Eve, knowing how much she loved sweet things, Don spoke again.

“I’m surprised the police haven’t suggested that Kevin killed Lucy as well, now that he’s confessed to killing Yiannis. I bet you wish they would. At least it would stop Eve looking for the killer and getting poisoned or having her house set on fire again,” Don laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

However, David didn’t feel at all cheerful and couldn’t even bring a smile to his face.

“I wish I could agree with you, Don. Naturally she hasn’t said anything, but I’m sure that she doesn’t think Kevin murdered his wife or Yiannis.”

“She doesn’t?”

“No, I don’t think so. Kevin’s adamant he didn’t kill Lucy and he only confessed to the murder of Yiannis when his son, Justin, had been arrested. Yiannis and Justin had had a fight in a bar earlier.”

Don stared at him. He was starting to get worried.

I hope Eve doesn’t start her detecting again. Why can’t she leave things alone?

Don had always liked Eve, but at the moment he was scared. He didn’t trust the Greek police. Not particularly because they were Greek, but because they just weren’t English. He spoke barely a word of the language, despite having lived on the island of Crete for years and he had no idea how he would cope if he became a suspect again and were thrown into jail.  

“You think he’s covering for his son?” Don asked

“He could be,” David replied. “However, I’m like you. I’d rather leave it to the police. It’s their job to find out the truth.”

“Oh, I’ve thought all along that Kevin was the most likely suspect,” Don continued, determined to carry on the conversation and make a case against Kevin. “After all, it seems as if his wife and Yiannis were having an affair.”