‘My God,’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about these before?’

‘I only found them today.’ Hildegard looked at him gravely. ‘They mean he arranged for Rudi’s death, don’t they?’

‘It certainly looks that way. You have to give them to the police.’

She shook her head. ‘No. I told you, they are worthless. It wouldn’t surprise me if Inspector Margaritis was in the pay of Waggoner and the Kornariates — many of the local politicians and officials are.’

Mavros glanced around the room. ‘Where are the coins?’

‘In a safe place,’ the widow replied. ‘Not in the resort.’

‘Better you don’t tell me.’

‘Very well. What do you intend to do?’

‘Take down David Waggoner.’

‘Yes, but how?’

‘Better I don’t tell youthat.’ He got to his feet. ‘Make sure you keep all the windows and doors locked. Short of putting up signs saying the coins are no longer here — which no one would believe — there isn’t anything to do apart from ensuring the security is as high as it can be. I’ll talk to Capaldi again.’

‘He’s a good man. Rudi trusted him and he’s never let us down.’

‘Apart from the night your grandson got in and took the thirty coins.’

Hildegard nodded. ‘True. I much appreciate what you’re doing, Alex. Rudi said you were an honourable man and a dogged investigator. He looked you up on the Internet.’

Mavros was strangely moved by that. ‘You shouldn’t stay here, you know. Even another room in the hotel would be better.’

‘This was our home. I’m not leaving, especially when Rudi is still not buried.’

‘I understand. Keep your phone close at all times and call me if anything worries you.’

They said their goodbyes and he left for the actress’s suite.

TWENTY

‘What happened?’ Cara Parks demanded. ‘Rosie told me that Maria was kidnapped.’

Mavros wondered how the producer knew that — had the police or paramedics blabbed to the local radio station, or was she in with the men who’d taken Maria?

He told the actress what had happened to Maria at Yiota Prevelaki’s house and about Mikis’s head wound. That reminded him to call the hospital. Doctor Stavrakakis told him that the driver was still unconscious and that there was swelling inside his cranium — if it continued to expand, he would have to operate.

‘Did you believe Rosie and her brother?’ he asked. ‘I mean, when they said they had nothing to do with their father’s drug trafficking?’

‘I don’t know what to believe. Thinking of them as brother and sister is hard enough. But dope-dealers?’

‘Hm.’ Mavros gave her a potted version of what he had learned from Maria’s cousin and from Hildegard Kersten.

‘Hold up,’ the actress said. ‘Where are you going with this? Are you suggesting Maria’s in the drug business as well?’

He shrugged. ‘I’m having trouble understanding why she’s been kidnapped twice. And why she refused to tell anyone — even you — about what happened to her after we got her back from Kornaria.’

‘She had a head injury,’ Cara said, but she wasn’t even convincing herself. ‘Jesus. This is the kind of shit that’ll fuck the movie up big time.’

Mavros wasn’t impressed. ‘Well, fuck Freedom or Deaththen. Do you know what really happened at Makrymari? The woman your character is based on didn’t get away while her fellow villagers bravely took the bullets for her. She was shot down like the rest of them. That’s what happens on this island, in case you haven’t noticed. People live and die violently.’ Suddenly he thought of the black youth Cara had driven into. ‘Like on Mulholland Drive.’

Cara’s head went down. ‘Old Mr Kersten didn’t commit suicide, did he?’ she said, in a small voice.

‘The authorities are saying he did, but I’m certain he was murdered. As well as looking for Maria, I’m trying to find his killer.’

The actress looked up. ‘I’ll help you.’

‘By doing what, exactly? Can you fire a gun?’

‘Rifle, shotgun, pistol and revolver,’ she said, with a smile. ‘My daddy made sure I could handle firearms before I turned sixteen.’

‘Right,’ Mavros said, taken aback. ‘I suppose you can fight as well.’

‘Kick-boxing, judo and karate — state champion at high school.’

He took an involuntary step back. ‘Uh-huh. So, Ms Parks, what do you think you can personally bring to this role?’

She laughed. ‘I might be able to save your ass, Alex — not just in a brawl with those crazy villagers, but with Maria. If she really is her mobster father’s daughter, she might cut up rough — but not with me. She loves me, for Christ’s sake.’

‘What makes you think Maria’s not being held captive up in Kornaria? She’d been mistreated when she came down the hillside the last time.’

Cara thought about that. ‘It’s hard to put my finger on. She was different when she was in the clinic. Sure, she’d been through some shit — like you guys on the road back down — but she didn’t seem particularly affected by it. I’m beginning to think she might be a better actor than me. I mean, you saw her when she said she was coming back to work. She didn’t exactly look traumatized, did she?’

‘No,’ he replied, remembering the Greek-American’s demeanour. ‘More like traumatizing.’

Cara laughed. ‘Give me a moment. I’ve got to change.’

She reappeared in a dark-blue tracksuit that emphasized her curves. Her trainers were pristine but thick-soled, and she’d gathered her hair back.

‘Charlie’s Angel?’ Mavros asked.

‘And Frankenstein’s monster.’ She offered her arm. ‘Let’s knock ’em out, Boris.’

The big man on the door stared at them as they brushed past him. Cara told him not to follow them.

‘Take the stairs,’ Mavros said. ‘I’ll race you.’

Despite the start he’d given himself, she overtook him one flight down and was waiting on the ground floor when he got there, panting. He missed his footing on the bottom step and toppled forward. Cara moved quickly towards him and caught him in surprisingly strong arms.

‘Shit,’ he grunted and they both started to laugh hysterically, holding on to each other like kids who’d taken their first toke.

‘What’s the joke?’ came a voice that silenced Mavros instantly.

He looked over the actress’s shoulder and saw Niki a few metres away, an overnight bag between her bare legs and her face set hard.

‘My woman,’ Mavros whispered to Cara. ‘Cover for me. Please.’

‘Don’t sweat it,’ she returned, taking her arms away and stepping back. ‘My, my, Alex, you need to be more careful. If I hadn’t caught you, you’d have done some serious damage to that magnificent nose.’

‘Thanks for nothing,’ he muttered, going towards the seething Niki. ‘My love,’ he said, in Greek. ‘What are you doing here?’

Niki stared at the bandage on his neck. ‘Let’s stick to English. I’d like your friend to hear.’ She pronounced the ‘f’ word as if it were a curse. ‘And you are?’ she said, moving forward and extending her hand.

‘Cara Parks,’ the actress said, smiling broadly. ‘It’s so nice to meet you. Alex has told me somuch about you.’

Mavros glared at her, aware that he hadn’t mentioned Niki’s existence.

‘I’m Alex’s other, better half,’ Niki said acidly. ‘What was so funny?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ Cara said, waving her hand loosely. ‘We were just horsing around.’

Niki turned her frozen gaze on Mavros and then looked back at the actress.

‘Cara Parks? The star? Oh my God.’ She put her hand out again. ‘It’s a real pleasure to meet you. I love your work.’

Mavros knew he wasn’t off the hook, but Niki’s transformation from ice queen to quivering fan was an eye-opener.

While the women were building bridges, Mavros went over to reception and asked for Renzo Capaldi. The security manager arrived hotfoot.

‘Ah, Mr Mavros. I have been looking for you. How is the throat?’

‘Painful. Why did you want me?’