I went into the bathroom and slammed the door hard, sharing my pent up frustration with the wood door. Not that it mattered much to the door but that simple act felt good. I couldn’t get the instant hot water switch to work so I bathed in a trickle of water from the solar tank. At least the water wasn’t ice cold. Using the small cake of soap, I washed my hair but had a hard time getting all the soap out. By the time I was finished the water was cold. In a perverse way I was pleased he would have to take a cold shower. Maybe it would calm him down.
I pulled my bag into the tiny shower room and got out a pair of fresh shorts and tank top. When I came out of the bathroom, he wasn’t there. I checked the door. Locked. I tried to open the deadbolt but it was jammed or locked from outside. I kicked the door in frustration.
On the stand beside the bed was a tray with several small hard roll sandwiches and two bottles of Keo beer. I could really tie one on with two beers. I took a long, thirsty swallow and smacked my lips good enough for a beer commercial back home.
Zach’s bag was no where to be seen.
By the time I had eaten one of the sandwiches and downed a beer, exhaustion overtook me. The day had started too early and involved too much drama. I stretched out on the bed and turned off the light. I remembered looking out the window at the stars blazing away in a crystal clear night and must have drifted off.
I started awake.
Someone was standing by the bed.
The faint illumination from the lamp on the driveway outlined Zach’s profile. He wore only a pair of shorts and his hair was slicked back wet, like he had just showered. I could see the well-defined contours of the muscles in his chest. Any other time I could be real interested in those muscles but now I tensed, waiting to see what he was going to do. I didn’t have long to wait.
“Time to get up,” he said with no more effort than was needed for a night time conversation.
I propped up on one elbow. “What time is it?”
“Around four A.M. We’re pulling out.”
“Do I get to brush my teeth?” I felt cranky and difficult. And not refreshed at all.
“If you hurry.”
I pushed the hair out of my eyes and tried to finger comb it but ran into too many snarls. It would be impossible to untangle now.
He pulled me from the bed and headed me in the direction of the bathroom. “If you’re cooperative, I’ll buy you a coffee.”
I slammed the bathroom door again. That was beginning to feel really good.
Seven
We watched the sun come up over Chrysochou Bay on the northwest tip of Cyprus. A new day dawned. I didn’t know where my aunt was, I had no cell phone, I was sleep deprived, the police were looking for me, and my kidnapper thought I was a thief.
We had stopped at a café in Polis, a town right on the bay, and sat outside at a small table shaded by a mimosa tree in bloom. The café was no different from hundreds of cafes frequented by Cypriot men drinking coffee, a national past time. I was the only woman as other sane tourist women were no doubt sleeping. Cypriot women didn’t do the café thing.
I was nursing my second small cup of the black tar they call Greek coffee. From the corner sundries store across from the café, afro pop music blared from a CD player. It was a little early in the morning for that level of noise. But it was a catchy tune, and I tapped my fingers on the table top in time with a female rapper who sang in French.
Breakfast arrived as Zach sat down across from me. He had phone calls to make and left, I guess, to have a private conversation. We were the only two tourists in the café accompanied by several Cypriot men engaged in noisy conversation.
“Who’d you call?” I asked, not that I expected a civil answer. I shoved eggs and potatoes in alternate forkfuls into my mouth. I was starved. Adversity had not affected my appetite.
My kidnapper, as I thought of him now, hadn’t said two words the whole trip down from the Troodos Mountains. I had slept most of the way, or tried to while my head banged on the window that I was using as a pillow.
He gave me his half smile like he was trying to decide if he would take me into his confidence or not. “I had to report yesterday’s incident. This morning was the first time I was able to get through.”
Incident? He looked so nonchalant about murder. Two people were dead, and he was reporting an incident. Cool customer. I wondered what he was going to do with me. Being in an altered state, it was hard to get up enough energy to care. He didn’t look any the worse for sleeping in the Rover last night. I figured he thought I would steal it and make my getaway. So much for the sizzling sparks I thought were flying between us.
His wet hair had dried, but he must have used the unfriendly hotel soap because he sported the same wild flyaway hair. That and his unshaven jaw gave him a piratical look. But his unsmiling face said he was angry about something. He sat with his shoulders hunched over like he was guarding a secret.
“I want to call Yannis,” I said, laying down my fork and heaving a satisfied sigh. At least my belly was happy.
Zach chewed silently, studying my face. He didn’t respond but washed down a swallow with a coffee chaser.
“I need to know what is going on and let Yannis know that I’m okay.” I didn’t say safe, just okay.
Zach fished in his pocket, pulled out my cell phone and handed it to me.
“Don’t give him any more information than that. Not right now.”
This guy was something. What did he possibly think I could do by calling Yannis? Unless he thought that Yannis might be in on the smuggling ring. I was afraid of that. That’s probably why he permitted me the call. Two thieves making contact.
I hoped I could catch Yannis before he went to work.
“Ney, ney.”
“Yannis.”
“Princess? Where are you? Are you all right? We are worried to death about you.”
“I’m okay. Have you heard anything about my aunt?”
“Nothing. She seems to have disappeared into thin air. The police were here after you left, and they want you to come in for questioning.”
“Don’t think I will right now.”
“They have an all points bulletin out on you. You are on a wanted list.”
“Me? Gosh, that sounds kind of criminal.”
“If you don’t want them to find you, you better lay low. This is a small country. With your movie star looks, people will recognize you if the police post a photo of you.”
“You didn’t give them one, did you?”
“Not yet. But if they keep the pressure on I may have to. Our police are very efficient. We don’t have a high crime rate and don’t want one. They appear to be getting extremely impatient with the smuggling ring and are eager to make some arrests and have done with it.”
“Gosh.” I didn’t know what else to say. This all sounded so serious. Up until yesterday morning I thought this would be an open and shut case, but now two people were dead. Things were a lot more complicated.
“Where are you?” Yannis asked.
An innocent enough question.
I looked at Zach who was listening to every word, of course. “Hold on a second, Yannis.” I put my hand over the mouthpiece.
“Yannis says there’s a bulletin out on me and wants to know where I am. Are you going to let me go?”
I felt stupid asking permission but this guy had the gun, after all.
He shook his head. “Let me talk to him.” He reached for the phone. I reluctantly handed it over.
“Hi, Yannis. Claudie is fine. She stopped and asked for my help yesterday. I’m taking good care of her.” He smiled at me like he was doing a good job of it. “Yes, we’re making the best of an unfortunate situation.”