‘That sounds intriguing.’ He rubbed his leathery hands together. ‘And mysterious.’
‘We went down to Tulip Cottage to see if he was there. We tried the call button on the entryphone,’ she went on, slightly editing the truth, ‘and got no reply, but Barney had told us there was a key.’
‘In the amphora to the right of the gates,’ said Travers, once again proving that there were no secrets in Kayaköy.
‘Yes. So we went in. And we didn’t find Barney there, but we did find Erkan. You know who we mean by—?’
‘Of course. Runs the diving school. Nita’s husband.’
‘Well, he had a gun with him, and he said he was going to kill Barney.’
‘Oh.’ Travers looked more alert as he asked, ‘Did he say why?’
‘He accused Barney of having killed his wife.’
‘Did he? And do you have any idea why Erkan believes that Nita is dead?’
Some instinct for caution stopped Carole from admitting what she had seen in the tomb at Pinara. Instead, she lied, ‘I’ve no idea what made him think that she is.’
‘Hm.’ Travers Hughes-Swann looked thoughtful. ‘And you say you’ve come here to benefit from my local knowledge. What do you actually want me to do?’
‘Find Barney. We thought you might know where he would go if he was on the run from Erkan.’
He patted his chin complacently. ‘I might have some thoughts on that, yes.’
‘And, more generally,’ said Jude, ‘tell us what we ought to do. Should we be getting in touch with the police?’
He looked surprised. ‘Why would you want to do that?’
‘Well, if there’s a homicidal Erkan with a gun out to kill Barney, don’t you think the police should be notified to avert a disaster?’
Travers Hughes-Swann shook his head slowly. ‘I wouldn’t necessarily say that that was how things are done out here.’
‘Oh?’ said Carole, once again thinking of Midnight Express, the film she had never seen. Visions of corrupt and brutal policemen filled her mind.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Travers. ‘I’ll make a few phone calls, check things out. I’m sure I can find where Barney is.’
‘Well, I hope you can,’ said Jude. ‘And before Erkan does.’
‘I’ll do my best. Wouldn’t want to let down two ladies as lovely as you are, would I?’
Both Carole and Jude tried to smile, with limited success.
He looked across to the barbecue, from which there was now less smoke as the charcoal burned through. ‘As I said, I was just about to cook something for myself and Phyllis. You’d be most welcome to join me for a light supper if—’
Visions of the chipped cups they had been given on their last visit prompted quick responses from both of them. It was very kind, but they’d had a late lunch.
Travers Hughes-Swann saw them the short distance to their car, again asking, ‘And, apart from what Erkan said, you have no other reason to believe that his wife Nita is dead?’
They denied hotly that they had. But they still thought it was a slightly odd question to ask.
Back at Morning Glory both the women were restless. They had done what they could in their search for Barney, but it didn’t seem to be much. And their distaste for Travers Hughes-Swann made them feel slightly uncomfortable about having involved him in their investigation. They couldn’t be certain about his allegiances. Maybe he might support Erkan against Barney.
They both had a swim to wash off the day’s stickiness. Then, while Carole took a shower, Jude lay in her bikini on a lounger, soaking in the day’s last rays of sun. It was while she was lying there that her mobile rang.
‘Hello?’
‘Jude, it’s me, Barney.’ His voice was a whisper, tight with emotion.
‘God. Where on earth are you?’
‘I’m in a safe place. At least, safe for the moment. But I need you to help me. I’ve had an accident and cut myself. Trouble is, I’m losing a lot of blood.’
‘I know what’s happened to you. It wasn’t an accident. You’ve been shot by Erkan.’
‘How the hell do you know that?’
‘Doesn’t matter. Where are you?’
‘As I say, I’m in a safe place. But I’ll be moving again shortly. Can you bring some bandages or plasters or something, just to stop this bleeding? You’ll find them in the kitchen drawer at Morning Glory – though, of course, I don’t know if you are at Morning Glory.’
‘Yes, I am. And presumably you’re not far away? Since you didn’t have a car with you when you left Tulip Cottage.’
‘How do you know all this about where I’ve been?’
‘We met Erkan.’
‘Oh my God!’ There was naked terror in the voice. ‘He’s not there with you, is he?’
‘No.’
‘That’s a relief.’
‘Perhaps not quite such a great relief. He’ll soon be out there looking for you again.’
‘He won’t find me. Or, at least, he won’t find me when I’ve made my next move.’
‘Look, can’t someone just talk to him? Stop this absurd game of Cops and Robbers?’
‘No. He’s dangerous.’
‘He’s also convinced that you murdered Nita.’
But Barney didn’t have any response to that. He just said, ‘Get here as soon as possible, Jude.’
‘Fine for you to say that, but I don’t know where “here” is, do I?’
‘Get down to the Antik restaurant … You know where I mean?’
‘Yes.’
‘Either you’ll get another call from me, or someone’ll point you in the right direction.’
‘Who?’
‘Most important of all, don’t tell anyone you’ve heard from me. And come on your own.’
‘But I can’t—’
‘I’ve got to go.’ And the line went dead.
Jude sat there for a moment in shock. She tried to call him back, but got no response.
The box of medical equipment was where he’d said it would be. As she went upstairs to change, Jude tried to think of what she could say to Carole. There was no way ‘just nipping out for a walk’ would avoid follow-up questions. She’d have to come up with something better than that.
But when, once dressed, she crossed the landing towards Carole’s room, she saw that the problem had been solved for her. Wrapped only in a bath towel, her friend lay on the bed fast asleep. She must have had her shower and just laid down on the bed for a couple of minutes, and the shocks and stresses of the previous days had caught up with her.
Blessing her good fortune, Jude tiptoed back downstairs and set out in the moonlit evening to walk through Kayaköy.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Carole woke some half an hour later and at first she could not think where she was. The moon was bright enough to shed rectangles of light across the bed, and the net curtains stirred in the warm evening breeze. She felt down her body, and the touch of towel told her she was in her bedroom at Morning Glory.
With the realization came an instinctive guilt. She shouldn’t be lying around sleeping in the daytime! (Carole Seddon had never really caught on to the concept of holidays.) So she quickly got up and dressed.
It was clear when she got downstairs that Jude was not about. And, with even more guilt, Carole recognized that her first reaction was one of relief. Much as she liked – possibly even loved, though she didn’t go in for that sentimental stuff – her friend, she wasn’t used to being in anyone’s company twenty-four hours a day. And just as she had felt the need to go to Pinara alone on the Tuesday morning, so she once again felt grateful for a little solitude.
Then she felt a knee-jerk twinge of anxiety. Jude hadn’t gone off with Barney, had she? But she was quickly reassured. Barney was a man on the run; no need to worry about him and Jude becoming emotionally entangled again.