Memories of Midnight

His mind was racing. He swiftly ran through the evidence that was piling up against him: the maid saying that he had called his wife at two o’clock and told her to come to the beach house alone…a pair of his swimming trunks with blood on them…a button torn from his jacket…a knife with his fingerprints…

"Don’t you see, you idiots? It’s a frame-up," he shouted. "Someone carried those trunks to the beach house, spilled a little blood on them and on the knife, ripped a button off my jacket, and…"

The special prosecutor interrupted. "Mr. Demiris, can you explain how your fingerprints got on that knife?"

"I – I don’t know…Wait. Yes. I remember now. Melina asked me to cut open a package for her. That must be the knife she handed me. That’s why my fingerprints are on it."

"I see. What was in the package?"

"I…I don’t know."

"You don’t know what was in the package?"

"No. I just cut the rope around it. She never opened it."

"Can you explain the blood stains on the carpet, or in the sand leading down to the water, or…?"

"It’s obvious." Demiris shot back. "All Melina had to do was cut herself a little and then walk out toward the water so you would think I murdered her. She’s trying to get even with me because I told her I was going to divorce her. Right now, she’s hiding somewhere, laughing because she thinks you’re going to arrest me. Melina’s as alive as I am."

The special prosecutor said gravely, "I wish that were true, sir. We pulled her body out of the sea this morning. She had been stabbed and drowned. I’m placing you under arrest, Mr. Demiris, for the murder of your wife."

Chapter Twenty-four

In the beginning, Melina had had no idea how she was going to accomplish it. She knew only that her husband intended to destroy her brother and she could not let that happen. Somehow, Costa had to be stopped. Her life no longer mattered. Her days and nights were filled with pain and humiliation. She remembered how Spyros had tried to warn her against the marriage. You can’t marry Demiris. He’s a monster. He’ll destroy you. How right he had been. And she had been too much in love to listen. Now her husband had to be destroyed. But how? Think like Costa. And she had. By morning, Melina had worked out all the details. After that, the rest had been simple.

Constantin Demiris was in his study working when Melina walked in. She was carrying a package tied with a heavy cord. She held a large butcher knife in her hand.

"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.