1 The Assassins' Village (4 page)

‘Going on? Oh for about a couple of weeks. But now, he’s coming more and more often. I can’t relax, knowing he may be lurking around outside. He frightens me,’ she gave a quiet sob and bit her lip.

‘Have you thought about telling the police?’ Ann asked, always one for action.

‘Yes. I wasn’t sure if that was a bit extreme at first. There is a police inspector that lives down the road. I wondered if he would help. But, I don’t want it to be official. That would mean the police taking him in for questioning. Surely he’s just a silly old man and I’m afraid Sonja would find out. How upsetting would that be for her? I don’t want to cause any more trouble than I already have.’

‘Okay, what about unofficially then? How well do you know the inspector?’ asked Pete.

‘So-so. He’s always polite if not particularly friendly. I’m not sure he likes us Brits much.’ Tilly gave a half-hearted smile.

‘That doesn’t matter. The important thing is you tell him. He’ll know what to do. We’ll come and give you moral support if you like,’ Pete looked at the others for confirmation. He was big and soft hearted, always a champion for females in distress.

‘Thank you. You are kind. Yes, I will have a word with him. Maybe he can warn Leslie on the quiet. Tell him to back off and stop making a nuisance of himself. That is, unless he thinks
I’m
being an over hysterical female,’ Tilly looked more forlorn than ever at the thought of what she had to do.

‘Don’t be downhearted. I bet he won’t think that at all. He’ll probably agree a few words will frighten the life out of Leslie. It will do him good. I’d love to see it.’ Rubbing his hands together with glee, there was a note of gloating in Bernard’s voice. ‘You contact the police and let us know the outcome. Now, the first thing is not to worry about it. I’m sure Leslie is no threat really; he’s just an arrogant bully. He’ll soon run off scared if there’s a whiff of the law onto him.’

‘I hope you’re right,’ Tilly still looked scared and depressed. Her hands restlessly pleated the tablecloth in front of her.

‘I think another glass of something my dear. Would it help if you spent the night with us? We’ve plenty of room,’ Jen asked, laying her arm around Tilly’s shoulders.

Tilly made an effort to smile before answering her. Her mind was clearly elsewhere. ‘No thank you. I’ll be fine at home. As Bernard said, Leslie’s probably no danger really. Just a big bore.’

She looked away from the others; out into the darkness beyond the warm glow from the taverna. What if the police wouldn’t help her? If they didn’t believe her, then she would have to think again. One way or another Leslie had to be stopped. Tilly had had enough. She was terrified at the thought, but she was now desperate enough to put an end to this herself.

Chapter 4. Thursday 26
th

And nothing is but what is not.

Macbeth. Act 1 Scene 3

July was always stonking hot and this summer the temperatures had risen higher than normal. It was even thirty-six degrees up in the cooler mountains of the Troodos. Down below on the coast it was horribly sticky, and on the plain where the capital Nicosia lay, it was reaching an unbelievable forty-five degrees. To make life more uncomfortable, there was not a trace of wind. The slightest movement caused trickles of sweat to roll down between ones’ eyes and shoulder blades, bringing yet more discomfort.

Diana lay stretched out on the sitting room floor under the ceiling fan. She had exposed her bare midriff to the turgid air that swished around her, giving a temporary sluggish respite from the heat. Sparky, the family cat, flopped down next to her; a pathetic bundle of hot fur.

Steve wandered in from the courtyard, glad to be in the shade and beyond the slash of the sun’s cruel rays. Surveying the scene on the floor in front of him he gave a slight grin as Di opened one eye and groaned.

‘I shan’t state the obvious.’

‘Yeah, hot and horrible! How about going down to Curium beach for a swim?’

‘I don’t know I can be bothered. It’s unbearable just walking from here to the car.’

‘Don’t be idle. Besides you haven’t been in the car since I had the air conditioning re-gassed. Now, as soon as you switch it on it cools down immediately. You can turn it down low and still be cool. It’s much better for the environment, as you keep reminding me.’

‘Bugger the environment. Global warming’s causing this.’

Steve was amused. Di was, and had long been an advocate of the theory of Global Warming even before she had taken her Science degree and studied the full facts for herself. Early on, way back in the 1980s, she had been convinced man was ruining the planet at a breakneck speed.

‘Okay. But I still think a swim would be nice, apart from a change of scene if nothing else. Come on, we can be cooling off in the sea in twenty minutes.’

‘You’re right. I am being idle. It’s just that today is hotter than ever and I’m sure it’s making me feel nauseous.’ She sat up, brushed her long dark hair back from her flushed face and twisted it up into a knot on the top of her head. Despite her dishevelment, Steve could not help thinking she looked beautiful and desirable. If only it had been a little bit cooler he might have been able to entice her into their bedroom.

‘Do you think we should give Jen and Bernard a ring? Jen loves a swim and their car’s not too reliable at the moment? In these temperatures it keeps overheating.’

‘That’s because it’s old and knackered and they need a replacement. Okay. You get your cossie on and I’ll ring and ask them. Do you want to suggest it to anyone else? What about Pete and Ann or Elaine?’ he paused before dialling the number.

Diana looked thoughtful for a moment, ‘No, just Bernard and Jen. Elaine said she has too much to do and needed to ring the UK gallery later. Let’s just make it a foursome. Besides, we owe Bernard and Jen a lunch and it would be a good opportunity to pay our debts. As for their car, they really don’t have the money for a new one.’ She turned to make her way upstairs.             

~~~

‘Mmm. What a good idea of yours this was.’ Lying, floating on her back Jenny looked completely relaxed. Her ears were under the water, blocking out the noise from the shore. The beach was packed with holidaymakers and locals, who had all come down to the sea to catch a respite from the heat.

Small waves rippled the surface making it appear oily and immobile. That is until, out of nowhere a big wave crested and curled and came crashing down over her head.  Jenny disappeared under a ton of water with a small shriek. She tumbled towards the direction of the shore, caught in the frothy energy.  ‘Well!’ She exclaimed laughing as she struggled to stand on the sandy sea bottom.

‘Oh I’m sorry,’ Di spluttered joining in her laughter. ‘I couldn’t warn you in time. That was a rogue wave. It must have come from a ship out at sea. There’s no wind to make any. Are you all right?’

‘Yes of course I am. It’s a good thing Ann isn’t here, as she hates waves of any kind. Let’s swim out once more to the orange buoys and back, and then go in for a drink? Coming?’

With long lazy strokes, they made it as far as the buoys that separated the swimming from the sailing boats area. After taking a breather they agreed to head for the shore. Diana felt the first tell-tale twinges of leg cramp and didn’t want to get caught out.

Massaging her calf, Diana became aware of a long and slim, dark-grey shape gliding in the water nearby. Panic gripped her. A shark! She turned back towards Jenny.

‘Jenny!’ the scream tore from her throat.

‘What is it?’ Jenny puffed up alongside. 

‘Did you see it? I think I saw a shark.’

‘What? Where?’ Jenny’s large eyes darkened with terror. She thrashed around and peered down into the water’s depths.

‘Keep calm and still. Movement might make it come back. Stay close to me.’

‘How can I stay calm if there’s a shark out here? Did you, did you see a fin?’ Jenny squeaked with terror.

‘No.’ Di gasped as she too looked fearfully down into the depths.

They kept close together as they swam steadily towards the shore, terrified and trying hard to keep back the rising panic. Just then, a glistening grey beak poked its head out of the water just in front of them. Its eye was turned towards both women and Diana felt as if it was looking right at her as it moved forward.

Jenny let out a horrified scream of terror and started swimming erratically towards the shore.

‘Jenny, Jenny it’s all right! It’s not a shark! It’s a dolphin. Look.’

The intelligent eye slid back under the surface and glided nearer to Diana. She held her breath in wonder, not daring to move. Despite being a dolphin and not a shark, it was still a large wild animal. Then, the most amazing thing happened. The mammal slid alongside and gently thrust its beak under her armpit. As Diana was about to call out in alarm, the dolphin began to swim towards the shore taking Diana along. The dolphin was gentle, and stopped every now and then to reposition its beak in her armpit. They overtook Jenny who stopped swimming and looked on in astonishment. With a look of total bewilderment on her face she watched the dolphin carry Diana in towards the shallower waters. As quickly as the dolphin arrived it turned and swam out to sea again, giving a wiggle of its tail.

Placing her feet on the sandy bottom Diana was left wondering, why me? She stood there quaking with excitement and wonder. She glanced around and nobody onshore had noticed, they all appeared absorbed in their own activities. She felt privileged. It was beautiful, by far one of the most astounding things she had ever experienced.

‘Di! Are you all right?’ Jenny asked her in a breathy voice when she eventually reached her. She looked as white as a ghost.

Filled with awe and shaking with excitement, Diana covered her mouth with her hand and nodded at her friend.  She had heard strange stories before, of how dolphins sometimes rescued drowning sailors or swimmers. But she had not been in danger of drowning. Why had it approached her? Yes, she’d felt a twinge of cramp but what if the dolphin sensed something special about her? It was bizarre. She could not wait to tell Steve.

~~~
Steve and Bernard had snuck away and were on their second pint of cider when Diana and Jenny joined them at the beach restaurant. The women gushed out the dolphin story as they collapsed into their chairs.

Steve looked sceptical. ‘Well I see neither ships nor dolphins. And I’ve never seen one here before. You certainly have a vivid imagination my love,’ he teased.

‘But it’s true.’ Di felt cross at him for doubting her word.

Steve raised his brow and gave Bernard an amused look, and then turned to Diana.  ‘I suggest you keep your fiction for your books, darling.’

Infuriated that the men thought their story far-fetched, Diana and Jenny decided to let the matter drop. However, Diana promised that Steve would regret doubting her story when they got home!

~~~

‘Gosh, Bernard. You’ve hardly started that pint. You’re slow today.’ Di remarked. Jen shot her an irritated look.

‘Rubbish, Di. He’s already had one pint. Don’t think just because
you’re
not driving us home you can get legless. I’ve only got so much in my purse,’ she rounded on him with a deep scowl.

Bernard raised his glass to Jen in a gesture of defiance saying, ‘Don’t be a spoilsport, my love.’

‘I’m not! It’s just that I need to go to the bank,’ she sounded worried.

Steve looked over to Diana who gave a tiny nod of her head. She knew he read her signs when he stepped in with a cajoling smile. ‘Don’t worry, Jenny, lunch is on us today.’

‘Oh no, no you can’t do that.’ She gave a quick glance across to Bernard.

‘Oh yes we can. We owe it to you for looking after Sparky and watering the garden when we were away.’

‘But you gave us a nice plant in return.’

‘Yes, but that was nothing. Anyway, why can’t I treat our friends sometimes? It’s reasonably priced here so it’s not as if it’s going to break us, is it? Now no more arguments. Shall we look at the menu and order lunch before they get really busy? The place is beginning to fill up fast.’

They ordered a simple meal of pork and lamb kebabs, salad with warm pitta bread, dips and the old favourite;
chips
. Proper chips; made from potatoes and not flour. Potatoes peeled and fried to a golden crispy skin with a soft and tasty inside.

‘Funny how I never lose my appetite even in hot weather,’ said Di helping herself to another good spoonful.

‘And here was I thinking you were feeling sick earlier,’ Steve smiled at her with his eyebrows raised.

‘Mmm. It’s the third or fourth time this week. Perhaps I have a wee bug or something.’

‘There’s always something going around,’ said Bernard. ‘It’s the tourists; they bring all sorts of nasty things over with them. I blame the air conditioning on the planes. Thank you both for this. You’re very kind and generous. It is delicious and totally unexpected.’

‘Yes, and our second meal out in two days,’ agreed Jenny.

Steve waved aside their thanks with a smile as he asked where they had eaten out yesterday.

‘Well, we were going to tell you. We ate at the new taverna, Michael’s with Pete, Ann and Tilly. It was excellent. The food was very good and the views are simply gorgeous. It was pretty much packed out as well. You must try it sometime.’

‘Yes, you must. The four of us drove up together and met Tilly there in the evening. She was desperate to get out,’ Jenny agreed.

‘Oh? Why was that?’ asked a curious Diana.

There was a little pause as Bernard and Jenny looked at each other. It was clear to the others that they wondered what to say. Jenny’s gaze lingered on Bernard, her earlier, carefree look now unsure.  They had promised Tilly not to say a word to anyone. On this occasion she waited for Bernard to make the decision.

‘Oh, she has some personal problems at the moment. It’s nothing that can’t be settled. Is that kebab going free Jenny?’ Bernard said changing the subject and pointing at her plate with his fork.

Steve and Diana gave a quick glance to each other. If they wanted to tell them it was up to them. The conversation paused and everyone tucked into his or her food.

Pushing his empty plate aside, Bernard gave a contented sigh, and picked up his third pint of Blackthorns. He took a large swig and smacked his lips together in appreciation. ‘Jen and I love eating out, but we do have to watch the pennies now.’

Diana and Steve had always assumed that as Bernard and Jenny no longer worked they relied on pensions. Finite resources of course, often did not go as far as one would like.

‘It wasn’t always this bad. Just the last year or so,’ Bernard frowned as he studied the gold coloured cider in his glass for a moment. He traced a finger down the condensation on the outside. ‘Actually I got taken for a ride,’ he raised his head and looked first at Steve and then across to Diana. A look of anger darkened his face. ‘I was persuaded to cash in some P.E.Ps and reinvest it in a supposedly watertight, fail proof new investment. Unknown to me it was all a bloody scam.’

Jenny touched Bernard’s hand. ‘You weren’t to know, darling,’ she said in a soft consoling voice.

‘How perfectly dreadful. Was this here in Cyprus?’ Di assumed he was talking about some Anglo-Cypriot venture.

‘Yes. I was guaranteed a high rate, a
very
high rate, of interest in return for lending them the money. Unfortunately, there was nothing legal backing them. Just a lot of quick mouthed, smooth talking bastards. I tell you his acting merited an Oscar! He’s wasting his time with all that modern art he’s so proud of,’ he paused and took another sip from his glass. Diana registered what he had said as her stomach did a quick flip. It felt as if it had suddenly fallen from a height. She instinctively knew what he would say when she asked, ‘
His acting? His modern art
?’