A Breeze Across The Aegean Page 5

  Stopping for a forgettable moussaka, Nicholas thought over the day and what he had learnt. Buried in the subtext of his meetings, there had been some clues to Alessandra as a person and what might have happened to her. He took out his pocket notebook. He had already scribbled some comments about his visit to the police earlier. Now he wrote:

  “Boyfriend???

  Public argument in museum

  Friends?

  Talk to Eleni

  Halki?

  Work connection to disappearance??

  Kamides – Why is he nervous? What is he not saying?”

  Nicholas felt Alessandra’s disappearance was somehow interwoven with the fabric of this ancient island and its history. He just didn’t yet know how.

  That night his restless sleep was interrupted by a dream. Alessandra had fallen overboard from the ferry. No one noticed, despite her screams for help. His own shouts also elicited no response. His last sight of her, before she slipped into the deep, was her long dark hair streaming out behind her. He woke with a start, drenched. His disturbed night reminded him of those long months after Lynda’s death, when he had been unable to sleep. He had gone to bed exhausted, only to spend each night awake tormented by his thoughts.

  The next day he woke to a weak sun filtering through the shutters. After breakfast, he wandered across the drawbridge over the moat and into the old walled town. The artists and fruit sellers who had touted their wares at the entrance during the summer months were long gone. He strolled through the ramparts to the tangle of cobbled roads and alleyways running down towards the harbour. Only a few restaurants and shops were open. Nicholas enjoyed not having to share the streets with tourists. Most of the shops here sold souvenirs, often offering the same wares as their neighbours. He bought a hand-painted salad bowl decorated with green and red peppers for his mother. For himself, he chose a white ceramic candleholder that depicted the Colossus of Rhodes, astride the entrance to the harbour.

  He stopped for a coffee in the market, before continuing his walk. As the outline of the Knights’ Hospital came into view he turned left into Plateia Mousiou, where the museum stood. He asked for Eleni Papadakis at the desk. After five minutes, a trim, well-dressed woman in black skirt and cream blouse walked across the concourse extending her hand.

  “Hello. My name is Eleni Papadakis.”

  “Nicholas Adams. I assume that Michael Kamides told you about me. It’s kind of you to spare me some time.” Nicholas followed Eleni to a small staff lounge. “I hope your daughter is better today.”

  “She is, thank you. I think it was just a winter cold.”

  She seemed about Alessandra’s age, but more reserved. She offered him a coffee and a local pastry. They sat and she took off her black-framed glasses and folded them in her hand. “How can I help you? I understand that you are asking about poor Alessandra. It was a shock to us all here. We all believed that she had returned to England.” She was very softly spoken, with a slight accent. Nicholas felt he had to lean closer to hear her.

  “I was hoping that you could provide some background to her life here on Rhodes: who she knew, what her interests were outside of work and what you think may have happened to her. The police seemed to have concluded their investigation. They say she is now being treated as a missing person only. I think there may be more to her disappearance.”

  “Forgive me, Nicholas, but what is your interest in Alessandra? You are not family, clearly, and I assume you are not a current or past boyfriend. I am sure she would have mentioned you.”

  “It’s a fair question. The truth is that I am not sure what my connection really is. I know this may sound strange, but the fact is that I only knew her for a few hours. I met her on the ferry to Halki last year. But, I liked her – she touched something in me. I had a feeling that we shared some past experience, somehow. I think she felt it also.”

  “I see…” Eleni put her glasses back on to examine Nicholas more closely. They made her look more severe.

  “She was going to show me around the Old Town. I was surprised when she wasn’t on the return ferry, but we had arranged to meet up a few days later. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t turn up or why she didn’t even leave a message for me.”

  Nicholas told Eleni how Alessandra had remained in his mind, even after he had returned home. “I could still picture her very clearly. Particularly her smile and her sheer vibrancy. It just seems very wrong that she would just disappear. It’s that, more than anything, that has made me want to find her.”

  He told Eleni how he had seen the news item about Alessandra’s disappearance on television and how he had gone to see the police immediately.

  “I did not realise that her disappearance had been reported overseas.”

  “Yes, it was a huge shock seeing it. Knowing that I was possibly one of the last to have seen her. They interviewed her parents, so I contacted them, too, and we met up.

  “They were naturally distraught and they seemed confused and powerless to do anything. But, I thought, too, that they were frightened and were holding something back. It was after meeting them that I decided I had to come here. I had to do something. No one else seems to be doing anything – even though the information I gave to the police kept the investigation going for a bit longer, at least.

  “It’s the strangest thing, but my chance meeting on that ferry has given me a direction and a purpose. I feel, however implausible it might seem to you, I owe it to Alessandra to at least look for her while I can.

  “It might be that in the end she will not welcome my efforts and I will of course respect that. I just have this feeling that she needs help. Perhaps not necessarily from me but, as it stands, I’m the only one looking and at the moment I also have the time.”

  Eleni’s glasses were once again clasped in her hands. It felt important to him to convince Alessandra’s friend that he was genuine and she seemed to be softening. He told her he had booked into Hotel Anastasia for a month.

  “Alessandra’s parents mentioned a boyfriend and that the relationship seemed to have ended badly. They said Alessandra had become more guarded and they felt this might have had something to do with the break-up.”

  Eleni got up, saying she needed another coffee and asked Nicholas if he’d like one. He declined. Eleni seemed to need time to gather her thoughts. When she returned, she looked directly at Nicholas. She seemed to have come to a decision.

  “I have known Alessandra since she started here at the museum. We got on from the first moment and she would often spend time with me and also with my family. She was wonderful with children and my daughter loved her. Thea’s eyes would light up whenever she knew Alessandra was going to visit. Sometimes Alessandra babysat for us. That was so kind, as my husband and I both work and seem to have so little time together.

  “She did have a boyfriend. It was hardly surprising as she was so attractive and open. They started going out over two years ago. I think he was from Russia or the Ukraine. His name was Andriy Solokov, or Sokolov – I was never quite sure which, and I think he was originally an academic back home. Now he is a businessman. He was very wealthy and he liked people to know that. He was staying on an expensive yacht when he was on Rhodes. He was often away on business, though, Alessandra told me.”

  “Do you know how they met?”

  “They met just after he arrived on Rhodes. He was very interested in the history of Rhodes and I have a feeling they first met here at the museum, when he was looking around. Their relationship was quite volatile and Alessandra eventually became a bit withdrawn when she was with him. I didn’t like him.”

  Nicholas sat up. She was the second person to say that. “Why not?”

  “I found him quite intense, even a bit menacing. I did not like him visiting us with Alessandra. When I eventually told her I was not happy to have him around Thea, it did have an effect on our relationship. She withdrew from me a bit. I was glad when their relationship ended.”

  Nicholas was about to ask her whose decision that had been, when Eleni said: “I think it was Alessandra who finished it – because of all their arguments. I think he was jealous of her many friends in the museum. He also didn’t like it when she worked away on one of our active archaeological digs out of town. Once he was out of her life she became much happier.”

  “Do you know what happened to him after they split?”

  “No, I don’t. Alessandra did not speak about him again. I don’t even know whether he stayed here or left the island.”

  “And her other friends?”

  “I don’t know much about them. It was only rarely that I could spend time with Alessandra after work. There was something that I do remember, though. Once we went to a restaurant for her birthday. Andriy was there with some of her other friends. A couple of them were from Rhodes and one was from England. But there were one or two also from elsewhere. I think also from Eastern Europe. I really liked Stavros, who was local, and also Caroline, who was the person from England. I think she worked in a travel agency based in Lindos. What she is doing now, out of season, I am not sure.” Her voice tailed off.

  “Please carry on,” Nicholas said. At last some gaps were being filled.

  Eleni said the two men from Eastern Europe seemed to be good friends and kept to themselves during the meal. Like Andriy they were quite intense and rude, and she was surprised they were friends of Alessandra. One got drunk and argued with a waiter over his food. She had the feeling Caroline was in a relationship with him because they went off together when he was asked to leave. “I am not sure whether this is relevant.”

  “It may be,” said Nicholas, wondering how the Alessandra that he had met had become mixed up with people like this. “On the ferry, she mentioned to me that she was visiting a friend on Halki. Do you know of anyone who might have known Alessandra and who had moved to Halki?”

  “It rings a bell. I remember Alessandra mentioning a friend she had on Halki who she sometimes stayed with. I have a feeling the friend might have worked here some time ago. This would have been before my time. I will get someone in the administration department to check the records and I will let you know.” Nicholas gave her his mobile number.

  “Away from work, did Alessandra have any particular interests or hobbies?”

  “Yes. She did. One thing she loved to talk about was her work with a dog sanctuary – you know there are many stray dogs here on Rhodes. She often gave up a Sunday to help out there. She also read a lot – particularly on the history of ancient Greece and Rhodes – and she loved hiking in the hills around Monolithos and Mount Akramytis, on the west coast.

  “Alessandra was very fit. A couple of years ago she also took up diving and was doing a scuba course out of Mandraki harbour. She was passionate about this, particularly after she broke up with Andriy. She told me she was going to dive off some of our surrounding islands.”

  Nicholas remembered the snorkel and mask Alessandra carried in her green canvas bag.

  “Thank you, Eleni. This is so helpful. Do you know what she was working on at the museum before she went missing?”

  Eleni told him Alessandra had been researching the old trading routes across the eastern Mediterranean. “Did you know that Rhodes provided a gateway into three continents and had done so over many centuries?” Nicholas remembered his visit to the Palace of the Grand Master and the exhibit that had drawn his attention.

  Eleni said Alessandra had started spending time at the Archaeological National Library and the Muslim Library in the town. “She had become very enthusiastic and was spending long hours going through old records and maps. Alessandra had a deep love and interest in the history of Rhodes.”

  “Did she mention what she was researching?”

  “I am not sure what, specifically, she was looking at. Michael might know if there were plans for a future exhibition. Alessandra had become very excited about her research over the last few months. Whenever I tried to get her to talk about it, I got the feeling that she was keeping something to herself.”

  Eleni rose from her seat. “I’m sorry, but I do need to get back to work.” Her face fell as she told Nicholas they were preparing to interview people to fill in for Alessandra and she was due in a meeting with Kamides about it.

  “You might want to try the Archaeological Library nearby. They will probably have records of the documents that Alessandra was looking at, as well as the computer search records. It is not open to the public, but if you have permission for research purposes, they will let you use them. They are normally very helpful. Go to the Ministry for Culture, next to the Ministry for Tourism, among all the consular offices on the Knights’ Street. Ask for Effie. She knew Alessandra well. I will phone and make an appointment for tomorrow for you.”

  Putting her glasses on, she said she hoped she had been of some help. She walked with him back to the museum entrance and shook his hand. “I believe your story. Alessandra had that effect on people” she smiled.

  Chapter Six

  Rhodes Town

  Before making his way to the archaeological library, Nicholas walked down to Mandraki Harbour, dominated by its red-topped windmills and the lighthouse of Agios Nikolaos. He looked for diving centres. Aegean Diving Centre’s office was shut. On the door was a sign saying they operated only from April to October. He found a contact number in a dusty corner of the window. Frustrated, he carried on along the harbour wall towards the lighthouse. After a few minutes he spotted a boat moored towards the end of the pier advertising Apollon Scuba Diving School. He called out and eventually someone came out on deck.

  An unshaven man, dressed in dirty jeans and a thick blue pullover, regarded Nicholas suspiciously. After a pause, he said in halting English that there was no diving. They were closed. Nicholas asked how he could speak to the owner of the diving school, indicating the sign on the side of the boat. The man disappeared below, then emerged with a flyer advertising courses and dive spots. There was a phone number at the bottom. Nicholas thanked him and walked back despondently the way he had come. Although it was a bit of a stretch expecting a dive school to operate off-season, he was disappointed.

  Stopping at a café at the entrance to the port, he ordered a pot of Breakfast tea and phoned each of the dive centres. There was no response from Apollon, but a man answered at the Aegean Diving Centre. He said they were closed until April. Nicholas said he understood, but was looking for some help – he was trying to track down a friend who had taken a scuba course over the past year. Her name was Alessandra Bianchi. The man apologized and said he did not recognise the name. There were so many people who enrolled each year to do a course or just to dive for the day. Nicholas said she was not a tourist, but lived on Rhodes and worked at the museum. She was probably about thirty years old, with long dark hair. The man said he was sorry but he had no recollection of anyone like that and rang off.

  With an exclamation of frustration, Nicholas slammed his phone onto the table and finished his tea. He set off for the old medieval city and eventually found Platia Agryrokastrou and the building that housed the Ministry for Culture in what was the first hospital of the knights.

  At the reception desk he asked to speak to Effie. “She works in the Archaeological library and should be expecting me. My name is Nicholas.” Eventually, a tall slim woman, about Nicholas’s age, walked briskly down some steps into the reception area. Her long blonde hair was scraped back. “Hi, I am Effie,” she said with a confident smile. She extended her hand to greet Nicholas. “Eleni told me to expect you. Come on through to the library and my office.”

  Her manner was businesslike. She invited Nicholas to sit and closed the door to the small office. Effie said Eleni had told her why he was there. “I feel so upset. We did not know that Alessandra had gone missing. We all thought she had just returned to the UK suddenly. But, I was surprised that she did not say anything to me before she left. Now, I don’t know what to think. It is very strange.”

  Nicholas said that it was only recently that even her family knew that Alessandra was missing. “The police are not completely convinced that she has disappeared. I think they still believe she is elsewhere. That she has her own reasons for not contacting those close to her.”

  “It is very odd, though,” Effie added. “Anyway, let me help you where I can.” She told him she had been introduced to Alessandra by Helena Milonas, a former colleague at the library. “Apparently Helena had known Alessandra from her childhood on the island. Rhodes. They had stayed in touch when Alessandra had gone on to boarding school and university in the UK, seeing each other during holidays.”

  Effie thought Helena had also lived in England for a time and had stayed with Alessandra. “I believe it was Helena who had first contacted Alessandra about the vacant job at the museum.” Helena had worked at the archaeological library, which was where she had first met her. “Some time before that, Helena had worked briefly at the museum, which was presumably how she knew of the vacant position. I think she worked for Michael Kamides there, providing him with some administration help. Anyway, she left here suddenly over a year ago and moved away from Rhodes.”

  Could this be the friend Alessandra had gone to meet, Nicholas wondered?

  “As I got to know Alessandra more, we became good friends. Although I am a bit older than her, we have many of the same interests. I love her infectious approach to life – and her sense of humour. I wish I shared some of those qualities ...

  “I have always taken things quite seriously and I am often being told to lighten up.” She gave Nicholas a rueful smile that made him suddenly warm to her. She was easy to talk to. He suspected that she shared other basic qualities with Alessandra, if not her spontaneity. “We would spend hours just chatting about work and friends. I have really missed that.”