“Costa, would you mind cutting this open for me? I can’t seem to manage it.”
He looked up at her and said impatiently, “Of course you can’t. Don’t you know better than to hold a knife by the blade?” He snatched the knife from her and started to cut the cord. “Couldn’t you have had one of the servants do this?”
Melina did not answer.
Demiris finished cutting the cord. “There!” He put the knife down and Melina carefully picked it up by the blade.
She looked up at him and said, “Costa, we can’t go on this way. I still love you. You must still feel something for me. Do you remember the wonderful times we used to have together? Do you remember the night of our honeymoon when…”
“For Christ’s sake,” Demiris snapped. “Don’t you understand? It’s over. I’m finished with you. Get out of here, you make me sick.”
Melina stood there staring at him. Finally, she said quietly, “All right. Have it your way.” She turned and left the room carrying the knife.
“You forgot your package,” Demiris shouted.
She was gone.
Melina went into her husband’s dressing room and opened a closet door. There were a hundred suits hanging in the closet with a special section for sports jackets. She reached for one of the jackets and tore a gold button from it. She put the button in her pocket.
Next she opened a drawer and removed a pair of her husband’s bathing trunks with his initials on them. I’m almost ready, Melina thought.
The Katelanos Detective Agency was located on Sofokleous Street in a faded old brick building on the corner. Melina was ushered into the office of the owner of the agency, Mr. Katelanos, a small bald man with a tiny mustache.
“Good morning, Mrs. Demiris. And what can I do for you?”
“I need protection.”
“What kind of protection?”
“From my husband.”
Katelanos frowned. He smelled trouble. This was not at all the kind of case he had anticipated. It would be very unwise to do anything that might offend a man as powerful as Constantin Demiris.
“Have you thought of going to the police?” he asked.
“I can’t. I don’t want any publicity. I want to keep this private. I told my husband I was going to divorce him, and he threatened to kill me if I went through with it. That’s why I came to you.”
“I see. What exactly is it you wish me to do?”
“I want you to assign some men to protect me.”
Katelanos sat there studying her. She’s a beautiful woman, he thought. Obviously neurotic. It was inconceivable that her husband would harm her. This was probably some little domestic spat that would blow over in a few days. But meanwhile, he would be able to charge her a nice fee. On balance, Katelanos decided it was worth the risk.
“All right,” he said. “I have a good man I can assign to you. When would you like him to start?”
“Monday.”
So he was right. There was no urgency.
Melina Demiris rose. “I will give you a call. Do you have a business card?”
“Yes, of course.” Katelanos handed her his business card and ushered her out. She’s a good client to have, he thought. Her name will impress my other clients.
When Melina returned home, she telephoned her brother. “Spyros, I have some good news.” Her voice was filled with excitement. “Costa wants a truce.”
“What? I don’t trust him, Melina. It must be some kind of trick. He…”
“No. He means it. He realizes that it’s stupid for you two to be fighting all the time. He wants to have peace in the family.”
There was a silence. “I don’t know.”
“At least give him a chance. He wants you to meet him at your lodge at Acrocorinth at three o’clock this afternoon.”
“That’s a three-hour drive. Why can’t we meet in town?”
“He didn’t say,” Melina told him, “but if it’s going to mean peace…”
“All right. I’ll do it. But I’m doing it for you.”
“For us,” Melina said. “Good-bye, Spyros.”
“Good-bye.”
Melina telephoned Constantin at the office. His voice was abrupt. “What is it? I’m busy.”