Hot on the Trail (12 page)

.    It wasn’t long before Dimitris arrived by private plane. Stavros was with him and a few members of the Australian police force. The ambulance services weren’t long after them.

“Well, Miss Masters, you had a lucky escape there,” Dimitris said to Eve a little later.

“I did indeed, inspector. You must admit that here in Australia, I wasn’t even looking for Joanna. She’s just kept appearing wherever I was. Lucky for you really.”

Dimitris didn’t reply, knowing she wouldn’t like what he had to say.

“I must say I am pleased that she’s been caught.” Eve continued.

“So am I, Miss Masters. I don’t like to leave a case unfinished.”

“So you’ll be going back to Crete now?”

“Yes, it won’t be long. There is paperwork to be done first. And you?”

“Oh, it’ll be a little while yet.”

Dimitris inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He could hopefully have a few weeks peace and quiet. However, he did look at the Australian police force with a certain amount of pity. He had heard that Eve’s house in Perth had already been burgled and had the shed set on fire. Was this another mystery? One thing he knew, he was glad he wasn’t going to be part of it.

* * *

The rest of the day proved to be very different to what Eve and David had expected and planned. They weren’t able to continue with their cycling tour of Rottnest as they were taken back to the mainland to give their statements. They were also asked to do short interviews for television. Eve was in her element, hardly able to believe that this was happening at last. She had wanted and dreamt about doing an interview relating to one of the crimes on Crete for a long time and it didn’t matter that it was happening in Australia. In fact, it was preferable. It would probably have a better chance of being shown in England. She didn’t see why not as Joanna was English and so was she.

Eve felt on top of the world standing in front of the cameras answering questions about where she had first met Joanna, about David’s kidnapping and finally about that day’s incident. She tried to make herself out to be humble, but she couldn’t help but end up as the heroine of the story.

“Well, after the two cyclists had gone by, Joanna was getting out her gun again and I knew it was my only chance, so I pushed her over. She fired her gun, but shot herself in the foot. I’m sure if I hadn’t done this, she would have killed us both.”

When Eve and David finally returned back to Rottnest Island, it was much too late to resume cycling, not that either of them felt like any sort of exercise after such an eventful day. They decided it would be far preferable to use the spa and then have a leisurely evening with a lovely dinner and cocktails. Then the next day they would stay longer than intended and sightsee before going back to Perth.

“It’s a pity that our time on Rottnest Island didn’t turn out quite as I had hoped,” David remarked.

“No, it wasn’t very nice being held at gunpoint,” Eve said, shivering a little. “Plus it was a pain having to go back to the mainland and give a statement, but I’ve still enjoyed the hotel and I’m sure dinner tonight will be wonderful, David, thank you. You really did spoil me.”

Eve deliberately didn’t mention how much she had enjoyed giving the television interview as she didn’t want to appear too self-centered, but David, of course, was well aware of how much she had loved the experience. However, he decided to say nothing.

“I’m glad you did enjoy it despite all the problems. I know I had a good time when Joanna wasn’t around, but at least she’s now been caught. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve never said anything to you, but I’ve been worrying that she might come back and take her revenge on you. After all you seem to have played a major role in ruining her chances of making a fortune.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing. I thought she might leave it a while, but I always expected her to come back to Crete and pay me back for everything I’ve done.”

“Well now she can’t.”

“Hopefully not, but while it can be proved that she kidnapped you, they have no proof she killed James Anderson or was behind the plot to kill his aunt.”

“Perhaps someone in the hotel in Athens will remember her.”

“I doubt it. She’s used so many disguises and I’m pretty sure she looked different in Athens to what she looks like now. It was a while ago as well,” Eve said. “We can but hope that someone at the hotel was observant enough. With a murder charge she should definitely get life. I don’t know what she’ll get for kidnapping.”

“Come on, Eve; let’s forget about her for now. Whatever happens, I’m certain she’ll go away for a long time, so we can relax. What do you say we put her behind us and we have a proper holiday?”

“I do have to go to my house again, David, though I’m worried that something else awful has happened to it.”

David wrapped his arms around Eve.

“Don’t worry, Eve, I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s probably all just a coincidence. Why would somebody do this?  I mean, you hardly know anyone here in Australia, do you?

“No, only Vera and Marion and why would either of them do anything, unless they didn’t want an English neighbor, but I’ve told them I’d hardly ever be there.”

“As I said, it’s just a coincidence, you’ll see. The house will be in one piece, the kitchen will be coming on well and you’ll soon forget about those silly incidents.”

Eve hugged David. Sometimes he could be so consoling. She decided that she was a very lucky woman.

The following day, after a hearty breakfast at the Duxton hotel, both Eve and David took a cab to the house. David didn’t make a fuss at all about going there rather than sightseeing. He knew that Eve needed to see that everything was alright with her new property, particularly after the fire and the burglary, and he understood that she would be worrying about it if they went and did something else.

Arriving at the house, Eve noticed that the van belonging to the kitchen fitters was outside. She was surprised.

“David, look the kitchen people are here. They must be getting on pretty well with my new kitchen.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too high, darling.”

“I’m not. I’m just amazed that they’re here. I think I’ve got so used to the Greeks and their ‘We’ll do it tomorrow’, attitude that it’s hard to get used to proper workmen again.”

David grinned. Eve was probably right. As much as he might have complained about workmen in England, they weren’t half as bad as on Crete. He was pretty sure that the Australians were more like the English than the Greeks, forgetting that a lot of Greeks actually did live in Australia!

Entering the kitchen, Eve gasped. It was almost finished.

“This is wonderful, Andy,” she said to the head workman. “I didn’t think it would get done so quickly.”

“We don’t like to waste time, Miss Masters.”

“Isn’t it looking good, David?”

“I must say I am impressed.”

“Should get it done by tonight,” Andy continued.”

“Great,” Eve said. “We won’t keep you then. Oh, by the way, have there been any more problems? Burglaries or fires or anything else?”

“No, it’s all been very quiet.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

As Eve and David left the kitchen, the doorbell rang.

“I bet that’s Vera,” Eve whispered. “She must have X-ray vision and ears the size of an elephant.”

David giggled as Eve went to open the front door. As expected, it was Vera.

“Nice to see you back. Hope you’re recovered. We saw you on the telly. You must tell us all about it. We’re dying to hear everything. The whole street wants to know about this Joanna and as luck would have it, I’m having a barbie tonight for everyone. Do say you’ll come.”

Eve hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was go to Vera’s barbecue and she knew that David didn’t much like spending time with a group of strangers. However, he was being absolutely no help at all. He was standing there as quiet as a mouse and she knew why. If he made the wrong decision, he’d have hell to pay.

“You’d really be doing me a favor,” Vera continued. “Everybody along here tries to outdo each other with the food and it’s getting tedious. If you come, they’ll forget about that because you’ll be here. You’re a real celebrity you know. They’ve all been talking about you. I mean look at you now, all cool and calm. Nobody would ever think you had a gun at your head a couple of days ago.”

Well, that did it for Eve. She loved being the centre of attention and tonight she’d be the star of the show. There was no way she was going to miss this.

“If you put it that way, Vera, we’d love to come. I can’t disappoint all your friends. What time do you want us?”

“That’s great. Come round at about seven.”

“Shall we bring anything?”

“Oh, just some tinnies if you like.”

With that Vera left.

“You do know she might have been exaggerating, Eve? Not everyone might have seen you on television and they might not be that excited to see you.”

Eve glared at David.’

“I would imagine that most of them would be interested in talking to me,” she said haughtily. “After all, I was nearly killed by a mad woman on the run from the police.”

“I only don’t want you to be disappointed if people aren’t as excited as Vera has made them out to be.”

“I’m not expecting them to rush over to me like fans asking for autographs. I am just expecting them to be interested in my story. I am a bit worried about these ‘tinnies’ though. Do you think that beer is the only thing being served tonight?”

“I have no idea, but we’d better take some wine for you. We don’t want the evening to be a total disaster.”

Eve glared at David once again.

* * *

“I do feel underdressed,” Eve said in the taxi going to Vera’s.

David had spent ages persuading Eve to wear something casual for the evening. Eve always dressed to go out, whether it was day or night, but David was convinced that everyone at the barbecue would be dressed informally and she would look out of place. In the end she had agreed to wear a sleeveless denim dress with a little short sleeved cardigan on top. However, as she had put on heels, David still thought she looked sophisticated, but Eve felt as if she were just popping to the shops. David had put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and with his bronzed skin, he looked quite striking.

Arriving at Vera’s, they heard lots of noise and music coming from round the back, so they went there straightaway. Trevor saw them immediately and shouted out.

“Here she is, our heroine.”

There were around twenty people there and they all started clapping. For a brief moment, Eve seemed to be in shock and she said nothing. However, it didn’t take her long to become herself.

“Thank you, thank you, I don’t deserve this. It was nothing. Anyone would have done the same.”

David was stunned. He hadn’t anticipated this sort of reaction at all. He had been completely wrong and he fully expected Eve to rub his nose in it later; or would she? She had become a better person of late and wasn’t quite as self-centered as she used to be.

“Come on everybody,” Vera spoke. “Let the poor woman settle down first and get a drink before you quiz her. Come over here, Eve.”

Eve, with David following her, made her way through the crowd.

“We brought some beer,” David said, handing six cans over, “and a couple of bottles of wine. Eve doesn’t drink beer.”

“Trev,” Vera shouted. “Get a corkscrew and a wineglass for Eve.”

“Yes, mum.”

Eve wondered if everyone else was drinking beer. It looked like it. 

“You’ll get asked lots of questions tonight, so don’t be shy,” Vera said.

“Oh, Eve’s never shy,” David put in and Eve glared at him.

She wondered why he was being so strange about all the attention she was getting. Perhaps he was annoyed that he wasn’t getting much himself. After all, he had been on television as well. The person she used to be wouldn’t have cared, but she had changed and she did love David very much.

“You know that David was part of all this as well?” Eve asked Vera, surprising David.

“Of course,” Vera said, patting David’s arm. “But Eve was the one who overpowered Joanna and people have been impressed by that, plus she came over very well on camera.”

“And I didn’t? I was an actor, you know.”

“Was?”

“Mum, I can’t find a wineglass,” Trevor shouted, interrupting an awkward moment.

Vera went off to try and find a glass for Eve.

“Take no notice of her, David. She’s not a nice woman. I knew that the first time I met her. What would she know about acting anyway?”

David nodded, but he looked hurt and Eve felt terrible. This was going to be an uncomfortable evening.

And it was. As much as Eve tried to include David in her storytelling, most people seemed to be more interested in her than in him, even when she spoke about his kidnapping.

Good grief, Eve thought. You’d think these butch Australian men would be more interested in how David survived his kidnapping rather than in how I tried to rescue him. Things are never how you expect them to be, are they?

It was then that Eve saw Marion sitting in a corner with a drink in her hand. She went over to speak to her.

“At last; somebody else is drinking wine. I thought I was the only one.”

Marion smiled. “Oh, beer is drunk a lot at barbies. I’m afraid I can’t stand the stuff.”

“Me neither,” Eve replied and sat down next to Marion, hoping to get more than a few words out of her. “Have you lived here long?”

“I was born in my house.”

“Really? How interesting.”

“Yes, I was the only child and the house was left to me after both my parents died.”

“You never felt like moving?”

“No, I love my home. I could never leave, never.”

Marion took on a glassy look and Eve thought her to be slightly crazy.

    Fancy staying in the same house all your life? It is a little weird, but then I thought she was weird the moment I met her; well even before I met her, all that twitching behind her curtains.

“There you are, Eve,” Vera said, coming to Eve’s rescue.