Clive Cussler - Wrath of Poseidon

Denéa led them to a small, private patio at the back of the house, where Zoe and Dimitris were waiting, both looking relieved to see them. Denéa left, then returned shortly with the police chief. He nodded at Sam and Remi, then turned his attention to Zoe. “I hate to bother you, today of all days. I won’t take up much of your time. It’s about your grandfather.”

“What is it?”

“A few questions for the investigators, nothing more.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

We found a couple of things in Tassos’s pocket that we hoped you might know about,” the police chief said.

“What things?” Zoe asked.

“There was a book with a note in it.”

“A book?”

“I don’t have it with me at the moment. Right now, the Athens investigators are more interested in the note they found. I have a photocopy, if you could take a look?”

“Of course.”

He opened his notebook, pulling out a slip of paper and handing it to her. “Have you ever seen this before?”

She studied it a moment, then shook her head. “No, but it looks like my grandfather’s writing.”

Dimitris looked over her shoulder, reading the note. “ A. Cave. 9 . . . A has to be Adrian.”

“That would be the logical assumption,” the chief said before returning his attention to Zoe. “I don’t suppose you know what the 9 means?”

Zoe gave a slight shrug. “I can only assume the time of day?”

“It must be,” Remi said. “That’s around the same time Dimitris and I saw them up on the hill.”

“That’s exactly when we were up there.” Dimitris pinned his gaze on the chief. “That proves he killed him.”

“Easy does it,” Sam said to Dimitris, earning an appreciative look from the chief. “They’re not going to be able to make an arrest based on one note found in Tassos’s pocket.”

“Mr. Fargo’s right,” the chief said as Dimitris bristled, his fists tight. “We need more evidence. I’m sure you’ve heard the term before, but the wheels of justice turn slowly.”

Zoe took a ragged breath. “How can it not be enough?”

Remi, seeing her friend close to tears, reached out and clasped her hand. “Maybe we could finish this tomorrow?”

The police chief hesitated, then nodded. “Of course. I apologize for the bad timing, but the investigators from Athens felt this was important.”

Zoe nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“I’ll walk you out,” Sam said to the chief.

Remi hesitated in the doorway after they left, worried more about Dimitris than Zoe. “Are you going to be okay?”

His jaw was clenched as he watched the two men walk off. He gave a sharp nod.

Zoe smiled at her. “We’ll be fine. I just need a few minutes to compose myself before we go out.”

“Let me know if either of you need anything.”

“Thank you. To Sam, too. The both of you have been so much help already.”

It was a short while later, after Dimitris and Zoe returned to the gathering, that Dimitris approached Sam. “I need some advice. I don’t know what to do about Zoe, how to help her.”

Remi smiled at him. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

“No, it’s fine,” Dimitris said. “It’s just . . . I don’t know what to say to her. I’ve never been in this situation before. If the police aren’t going to make an arrest, what do I tell her? We can’t let Kyril get away with this.”

“He won’t get away with it,” Sam replied. “Police investigations like this take time. What you can do is make sure she’s surrounded by family and friends. Just knowing how many people love her and loved Tassos will help keep her mind off the frustration over how long it’s taking.”

Dimitris glanced back at Zoe, who was hugging one of her friends. He looked at Sam. “I’ll try.”

Remi linked her arm through Sam’s as they watched Dimitris return to Zoe’s side. “That was pretty impressive, Fargo. I didn’t know you could be so philosophical.”

“Just repeating what I heard my dad say once.”

“Let’s hope it helps him. I think he was more upset than Zoe was when he learned the police weren’t going to run out and make an immediate arrest.”

“That’s the good thing about living on Fourni, I suppose. Not too many places he can get into trouble here.” He glanced out the window, saw the sun cresting the island of Thimena in the distance, then leaned toward Remi. “What do you say we head up to the rooftop and watch the sun set and give one last toast to Tassos?”

“A spectacular idea.”

Several other guests had the same idea, and as the sun dipped below the hilltops of the small island, turning the clouds above a brilliant orange, they lifted their glasses. “To Tassos!”

Silence reigned for a minute or two, then quietly, the others wandered down the stairs, saying their goodbyes to Zoe, then heading home.

Nikos, Sam, and Remi began clearing the glasses and plates from upstairs, bringing them to the kitchen, while Denéa and Manos gathered the empty dishes from inside the house. When Zoe and Dimitris attempted to help, Remi and Denéa sent them up to the rooftop to enjoy some quiet time.

Remi filled the sink with warm water and soap, washing, while Sam picked up a dish towel, drying each plate and stacking them on the counter. She glanced over at him, pleasantly surprised how easily they worked together, as though it had always been. With goodbyes said, hugs given, they walked hand in hand down the path toward town.

“I hope they’ll be okay,” Remi said, looking back at the house, seeing Zoe and Dimitris sitting next to each other on the rooftop, silhouetted in the moonlight.

“They need time,” Sam said. He drew her to him. “As much as I wished none of this happened . . .”

“I know. But I’m glad you’re here.”

Neither had eaten a thing at Zoe’s, but the tantalizing scent of fresh-cooked food drifted toward them as they took the stairs down. “One last dinner on Fourni?” Sam asked.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

They looked down the main street at the square across from the church, seeing the fairy lights strung beneath the plane tree. The restaurant, Platanos, was very near the sarcophagus, candles lit on the patio tables. They dined on grilled fish, dolmades, and eggplant salad, drinking a fresh white wine, then finishing with a serving of watermelon and a glass of dessert wine.

Remi looked up at the leaves rustling in the offshore breeze. A few drifted down from the treetop, then danced across the paving stones. “Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked.

“I think so. Zoe seemed at peace when we left.”

“She did. Dimitris, not so much.”

“I think he’s worried about her. It’s understandable.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.” She looked at Sam, watching the candlelight play across his face. After a moment, she reached across the table, placing her hand on his. “I wasn’t a big believer in fate, until I met you.”

He laughed.

“I’m serious. Who else would have showed up because of a voice mail talking about the North Star?”

“You know what I think? That you’re brilliant, Remi Longstreet. If we hadn’t met, you would’ve found another way to escape.”

“Not so fast, Fargo. Weren’t you the one who said my Plan B wouldn’t work?”

“Did I?” He pushed the candle aside and leaned across the table, kissing her. “We should probably head back. We’re going to need to get up early to haul your luggage up all the stairs in the morning.”

Sam paid the bill, then, arm in arm, the two strolled down the main street, until they reached Skavos’s café, where Nikos was sitting with a few of his friends. He called them over, and they joined him. “Glad we ran into you,” Sam said. “I wanted to double-check the ferry schedule tomorrow. I’m wondering if we’d be better off hiring a boat into Samos to make our flight.”