Aikaterini was watching Hannah intently.
Edie’s mind flashed back to her friend’s secret smile to Mac, and their healthy appetites the morning after the row. But Hannah pulled a face.
‘Not exactly. Well, on the surface, yes. We agreed to try and get on for the rest of the week. We didn’t want to spoil everyone else’s holiday. But it was all a bit of a sham. Underneath, I was still really upset and he was seething.’
‘About what? About that man you were speaking to?’
‘No, well, partly that. He was more annoyed about Jessica, to be honest. He thought she shouldn’t intervene; she should keep her nose out. As far as he was concerned, our relationship was none of her business.’
Aikaterini dragged her chair in a bit further and rested her hands and elbows on the table. Edie noticed her neatly trimmed nails, coated in clear polish, and her thin gold wedding band.
‘Did Jessica believe in you and your husband’s – how shall I say it – reconciliation?’ Aikaterini asked now. ‘How did she take it?’
‘Badly, I think,’ Hannah admitted. ‘I think it’s maybe why she decided to go to Knossos. She may have wanted to get away.’
Edie rubbed her eyes, which were sore and stingy.
‘She wanted to go before then, though, remember? She talked about Knossos back in England, that time when you all came for lunch at our house.’
‘Yes. But she never told us when she might go until the morning she left. It was so abrupt.’
Edie frowned. ‘True. Maybe itwasrelated.’
Aikaterini took a deep breath and sat back, crossing her arms.
‘That’s helpful, thank you.’
The interview was over and when she rose, Ioannis followed suit.
‘Your husband is at the house now?’ the policeman asked Hannah, who confirmed that he was.
‘We will finish our enquiries here, then go to the villa to talk to him. Please warn him of our visit and ask him not to leave the building until we’ve seen him.’
13
Edie stood and watched the two police officers heading up the high street in the direction of the jetty. Before they got there, however, Ioannis disappeared into a store, possibly Mr Makris’ shoe shop. Meanwhile, Aikaterini ventured a little further before entering Marina’s art studio.
‘We forgot to ask if we can do anything to help,’ Edie commented, turning to the others when she could no longer see the officers, and sitting back down.
‘We should probably leave them to it while they make their initial enquiries,’ Ralph replied, scratching his head. ‘Hopefully someone will have seen something. I’m sure the police will get us involved further down the line, if we need to search the area, say.’
He swallowed, wincing slightly as if it hurt. ‘Let’s just pray it doesn’t come to that.’
Hannah, who’d been staring into space, came to all of a sudden. ‘God, what a nightmare! I wish we could rewind the clock and tell Jessica to stay with us.’
‘What do you think’s happened?’ Edie asked, wrinkling her forehead. ‘Do you get the feeling she’s OK?’ She hesitated for a moment while her eyes darted this way and that. ‘Or not?’
Hannah gave a helpless shrug.
‘There’s no point trying to guess,’ Ralph said, slightly tetchily.
He beckoned to one of the waiters, who’d been lurking close by when the police officers were there, but was now standing in his usual place near the café entrance, with his back to the wall.
‘I need a drink,’ Ralph told the women as the waiter approached. ‘I’m thirsty. Anyone else?’
Both Edie and Hannah ordered Cokes, while Ralph wanted an espresso and sparkling water.
His leg had started bouncing under the table again, doing its nervous jig.
