Chapter Twenty-Three
Nik had just finished changing into his fireman’s gear. The increasing ferocity of the storm had compelled him to call the klimakia to see if he was needed on board. But he hadn’t been able to get a signal and his landline was dead, so he’d got in the car and struggled up the hill to report for duty.
He heard a commotion and a woman’s voice. Was she a local come to ask for help in person in the absence of any means of communication? The radio had been ominously quiet.
He was surprised when he saw Alison, and then his gut clenched as he thought of Frankie. Where was she? He assumed she was working at the Villa Lemoni. Perhaps she was stranded there because the road between Agia Kalamaros and Trapazakia would be a quagmire by now.
Then he caught sight of Kostas, his arms around his son, who was wrapped in a towel, while the dog sat patiently by. “Kostas?” he called. “What has happened?”
“Oh, Nik, I’m so glad you’re here. I went to your house, but you weren’t there.” Alison came rushing over to him. “We think Chrysanthe is in trouble. Frankie found Theo and Até in the front yard. Somehow, they must have walked down from Skalos—”
“Frankie, she is okay? Where is she?”
Alison’s face clouded over. “She went up to Skalos to help Chrysanthe, while I came here to raise the alarm and bring Theo and Até back to Kostas. Nik, I wasn’t happy that she did that, but she insisted—”
A cold, clammy hand of fear gripped the back of his neck. “O, Thee mou, Alison, the conditions are terrible up there in this kind of weather. Only a properly equipped vehicle or a four-wheel drive would be adequate.” He put on his waterproof hi-viz jacket. “Kostas, we must go immediately and check on your mother, and hope Frankie has reached her safely. Alison, can you take Theo and Até home with you for now?”
“Yes, of course.” She turned to Theo and asked him in Greek, “Will you and Até come and have tea with me? I baked some of those buns you like yesterday. Then you can help me put the cats and dogs to bed.”
At first, Theo looked a little wary, but then he nodded his head. Até got up and wagged her wet tail.
Nik followed the fire truck in his four-wheel drive through the rain and mist as it lumbered up the mountain road. The whole time, his mind was going around in circles. Was Frankie all right, or had his curse struck again and he’d lost another person he loved? Because he did love her! The realization hit him like a light switch being flicked on in a darkened room. If she’d had an accident… He blinked, trying to wrestle with his fear and get a hold on it. She was probably fine, sitting with Chrysanthe in Skalos, enjoying a warming cup of tea after her cold, wet journey up there. She had to be.
He saw the driver of the fire engine extend a hand out of the window and wave for him to stop. He pulled up and got out. He peered around the truck and saw the way ahead was blocked by a fall of boulders. He walked towards them and quickly became aware of a small silver car lying on its side in the glare of the truck’s headlights, perilously close to the edge of the road and the drop into the gorge below. Oh, dear God! Frankie’s car! He started to run, pain squeezing his heart and lungs until he could hardly breathe. As he neared the overturned vehicle, he prayed hard that she was still alive, knowing for certain that he would never, ever again let her go…