‘I’m so sorry about your friend,’ she said, closing the magazine quickly and shaking her head. ‘Bad business. I’m surprised no one saw her get the ferry, mind.’
She eyed them slyly while they put some cheese and a packet of cold meat into their basket.
‘That’s if no one did see her,’ she continued, before raising her eyebrows, which were rather badly pencilled in, as usual. ‘Did they?’
She looked a bit different today because her blonde hair, usually scraped back, was loose. It was rather dry and brittle, owing, perhaps, to too much straightening, but she was wearing an attractive, short-sleeved, white lace top that showed off her tan, plus eye-catching blue earrings and a matching necklace.
Edie knew she was fishing for juicy information, but didn’t mind. Naturally, April was curious, anyone would be.
‘The police haven’t told us anything yet,’ Edie answered honestly. ‘I think they’re up at the villa now, having a word with our other friend, Mac.’
April pretended to straighten a pile of greaseproof paper on the counter, which she used for wrapping meat.
‘Fancy a few sausages?’ she asked. ‘Those Cretan ones you had the other day? You said you liked them. You can have them on me.’
Edie started to protest but April wouldn’t hear of it.
‘It’s the least I can do. Treat yourself, why don’t you? You deserve it, what with everything you’re going through.’
Without further ado, she scooped up a string of six or seven sausages from the chilled display cabinet and wrapped them in paper.
‘Was she meeting anyone in Knossos – your missing friend, I mean?’ she asked, resuming her not-so-subtle line of enquiry as she popped the parcel of sausages on the surface beside her.
Meanwhile, Edie took a tub of Greek yoghurt from one of the fridges, along with a pot of hummus.
‘No, not that we were aware of. Unfortunately, she didn’t say where she was staying and we didn’t think to ask, which doesn’t help.’
Walking over to one of the shelves, she selected a couple of packets of sweet biscuits, deciding she needed some comfort food. Meanwhile, Ralph found a big bar of chocolate to add to their growing grocery pile.
April was just getting into her investigative stride when one of the huge dogs reappeared from upstairs and lumbered over to her side, wagging its tail and looking up at her with moist, expectant eyes.
It was soon followed by Meaty, who was blowing a huge bubble. When it popped, he was left with a mess of sticky gum all over his nose, cheeks and mouth.
April stared at the dog, then Meaty, and back again.
‘What’s she doing here?’ she snapped, pointing at the animal, which promptly plonked itself down on its haunches and continued to gaze at her adoringly.
She glared at Meaty once more. ‘Take her upstairs – now! And for Christ’s sake, wash your face. You’re an embarrassment.’
There was a pause while Meaty tried, unsuccessfully, to pick off the gum with his grubby fingers. Meanwhile the dog, sensing a brief window of opportunity, heaved itself up and took a surprisingly agile flying leap at the counter.
Before anyone realised what was happening, it had grabbed the packet of sausages and waddled upstairs as fast as its legs could carry it, clearly thinking its birthday and Christmas had come all at once.
April threw her arms in the air and screamed. ‘After her – this minute!’
Meaty turned tail and raced after the dog, his feet thumping on the wooden steps as he went. Bang-a-bang-bang.
April, Edie and Ralph stared at the ceiling, listening in silence as a torrent of thuds and crashes erupted overhead.
‘I hope nothing’s broken,’ Edie said rather lamely after a while.
‘I don’t think the sausages will have survived,’ Ralph muttered darkly.
At last, they heard a shout and Meaty hurtled back downstairs.
‘Got them!’ he yelled triumphantly, holding aloft a torn package with a few bits of chewed pink meat still clinging to the wrapping.
He was about to proudly present the parcel to Edie and Ralph, as if it were a gift, but April whipped it off him just in time.
