‘Uh-huh.’ Mavros smiled tightly. ‘You know that Roufos was using Rudi Kersten’s grandson for the same purpose?’

Waggoner’s jaw headed floorwards. ‘What? I wasn’t aware there was a grandson.’

‘Oskar Mesner. He’s here in Chania. Coincidentally, he knows the neo-fascist shit-heads Roufos got to tickle my throat. In fact, your pal Roufos contributes to an organization of far-right headbangers who go around goose-stepping and giving Nazi salutes as they beat up immigrants. What do you feel about that?’

Waggoner was clearly taken aback. ‘I don’t know anything about it.’

‘I always find it’s a good idea to do basic research on people before you go into business with them.’ The words rung hollow in Mavros’s ears — he’d only recently discovered essential information about Luke Jannet and his sister. ‘Anyway, what was your interest? You’ve been blackmailing Kersten for years. Did you want to take every single thing of his, even via a bastard like Roufos?’

‘The man was a hypocrite and a murderer. He deserved to die on the street.’

‘As opposed to an orange grove not far from where you were watching the massacre shoot.’

Waggoner glared at him. ‘What are you implying? I had nothing to do with his death.’

‘Don’t worry, I saw where you were sitting. But maybe you got one of your bandits from Kornaria to do the deed.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ the Englishman blustered, but he lowered his gaze again.

‘Or maybe Roufos used your inside knowledge of the set to send one of his heavies in. I saw you speaking on your phone while you were on the platform.’

There were beads of sweat on Waggoner’s forehead. ‘That’s all speculation, Mavros. Kindly leave.’

‘I’m not finished. Besides, Inspector Margaritis will get to you and your phone records soon enough.’ Mavros doubted that, given the official feeling that it was suicide, but even imaginary leverage was useful.

‘Now,’ he continued, ‘let’s talk about Kornaria. I know you used the village as one of your bases during the war.’ He waited till the old man confirmed that with a nod. ‘So it’s perfectly reasonable that you built a house there — even if the money you used to do so resulted from blackmail, which is a crime even in Crete.’

‘Get to the point.’

Mavros smiled. ‘I was hoping youwould. No? Well, allow me.’ He leaned forward and pulled the knife from the table.

Waggoner stood up unsteadily. ‘Now look here, you can’t-’

‘I can!’ Mavros yelled, stepping round the table and pushing the old man on to the sofa. ‘I can do anything I fucking well like, you murdering, thieving, lying piece of empire detritus. You want to know something? The EAM man Kanellos you said betrayed you to the Germans, he was my father.’

‘What?’ Waggoner gasped. ‘Your father?’

‘And, as you know very well, he had nothing to do with the betrayal of your band. You executed that man yourself.’

Waggoner’s face was now slicked with sweat and his thick-veined hands were trembling. ‘Your father?’ he repeated. ‘How can that be?’

‘It’s a small country,’ Mavros replied. ‘Sooner or later, everyone knows everyone else.’ He raised the knife. ‘As you can imagine, I’m seriously pissed off about the lies you spread. There’s only one way I’m leaving this house with you still breathing — tell me everything I ask.’

‘I have nothing to say,’ the Englishman said, his lower jaw protruding like the bow of a battleship.

Eventually Mavros turned on his heel and left.

Mikis drove Mavros to the Heavenly Blue.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ he asked. ‘They are your employers, after all. And mine.’

Mavros shrugged. ‘You can leave me at the gate if you want.’

‘What? Like they don’t know I was with you in Kornaria and in the fight afterwards? No, fuck ’em. I’m coming with you.’

‘Thanks.’ Mavros was relieved, but he would have gone through with his plan on his own. As they approached the resort, he made a call.

‘Hi, Cara, good morning.’

‘Same to you, Alex.’ The actress sounded like she was ready to take on the world. Then she remembered his raison d’etre. ‘Any news about Maria?’

‘I’m working on it. Can you do me a favour?’

‘Anything.’ She laughed. ‘Within reason.’

‘Let Luke Jannet and Rosie Yellenberg know that I need to talk to them in your suite.’

‘OK. When?’

‘Ten minutes?’

‘Consider it done. I’ll offer them breakfast. If that doesn’t work, I’ll threaten to stop working again.’

‘You’re good,’ he said, in admiration. ‘Really good.’

‘Why, thank you, sir.’

Mikis parked as near the hotel entrance as he could. ‘Am I bringing hardware?’

‘I don’t think that’ll be necessary.’

‘What about that knife you’re carrying?’

‘I may need to cut some fruit.’

As they crossed the reception area, Renzo Capaldi stepped forward from the door to the Kerstens’ apartment.

‘Mr Mavros,’ he said, smiling ingratiatingly. ‘Everything is fine. I had a man patrolling outside all night. I spoke to Mrs Kersten a few minutes ago.’

‘How is she?’

‘Calm, I would say.’

‘I’ll call in to see her soon.’ Mavros led Mikis to the stairs.

‘Race you,’ the Cretan said, disappearing round the first corner.

Mavros, worried about stretching the stitches in his neck, let him go and took the lift from the first floor. He found Mikis on the fifth with his chest expanding at a normal rate.

‘Is that natural fitness or do you work out?’

‘Both.’

‘Arrogant Cretan shit,’ Mavros said, nodding at the gorilla outside Cara’s suite. They were allowed in.

‘Alex!’ the actress said, when she saw the dressing on his neck. ‘What happened to you?’

‘Yeah,’ Jannet added, from the armchair he was slouching in. ‘Cut yourself shaving?’

‘Something like that.’ Mavros looked around. Alice Quincy was sitting behind her boss, but there was no sign of the producer.

‘Don’t worry,’ Cara said, giving him a cup of coffee, ‘Rosie’s on her way. Who’s your friend?’

‘Mikis Tsifakis,’ the Cretan said. ‘Driver.’

‘You brought the hired help?’ Jannet asked contemptuously.

‘Why not?’ Mavros replied. ‘That’s what Iam, isn’t it?’

Mikis smiled and went over to one of the windows. Shortly afterwards, the external door opened and Rosie Yellenberg came down the hall. She looked at Mavros, but made no comment. He watched as she cast an expressionless glance at her brother and then caught Cara’s eye.

‘What’s this about? Some of us have got work to do.’

‘Aw, chill out, will you, Rosie?’ Jannet said, looking up from his phone.

‘Was she always like this?’ Mavros asked. ‘I mean when you were kids.’

There was silence while people exchanged surprised looks.

‘Well, lookee here,’ the director said, his eyes narrowing. ‘We’ve got ourselves a dick who knows how to dig.’

Mavros wondered if that was a reference to what he had put Oskar Mesner and Roufos’s skinhead through last night. It seemed unlikely as even Waggoner hadn’t seemed to know about it.

‘You and Rosie are brother and sister?’ Cara said, in astonishment.

The producer directed an icy glare at her. ‘Something wrong with that?’

‘Well, yes, actually,’ the actress replied. ‘Like why you’ve kept it secret.’

Jannet looked at his sister. ‘Any reason why we shouldn’t? That is, any reason we have to share personal stuff with you?’

‘It’s weird,’ Cara said.

‘Like everything else in the movie business isn’t?’ the director returned.

‘It’s more than weird,’ Mavros said. ‘What they’ve also failed to mention is that their father, Eugene Tzannetakis, came from the notorious drug-producing village of Kornaria and that he was jailed for drug trafficking in the States.’

‘Kornaria?’ the actress said. ‘That’s where Maria was held, isn’t it?’ She moved towards Jannet. ‘What have you done to her, you animal?’ she demanded, her voice rising.