Page 16 of Deep Blue Lies
Hans shrugs. “Probably not then. This was more recent I think. Ten years or so.”
Even so, I’m pretty shocked.
“Is that why it’s empty now?”
“Sure. The locals won’t work there, not after what happened.” He shakes his head. “And it’s no good for tourists. You wanna go on holiday to a place where people get decapitated?” He laughs at the thought.
TEN
I finish my shift at ten, and I’m exhausted by the end. I grab a take-awaysouvlakion the way back, it’s this hot spiced meat with salad in a soft, warm pita bread, and it’s totally, amazingly delicious, if not the heathiest choice. The arrival at my new home is less wonderful though. It wasn’t lovely in the warm midday sun, and now it’s dark it’s even worse. Even though Klaus told me how hard it is to find anywhere to stay at this time of year, all of the other buildings around mine seem empty and dark.
Inside the apartment I throw all the lights on, to try and cheer it up, but the bulbs are the cheapest, low-watt versions you could possibly get. Probably this is good though, because the place really is filthy. The bed has sheets, that’s the good news. The bad news is I don’t think they’ve been washed since last summer. But it’s late, and I’m too tired to care too much.
The next morning I head straight down to the harbour for a coffee and breakfast. Then on the way back, I stop by at the supermarket. I’m not working today, so I’m going to clean my house.
The same woman who gave me the tip about the job is serving again. I remember now that Hans called her Maria. She gives me a friendly smile as I come in, and I smile back. I still don’t see how this shop does it, but even though it’s tiny, it seems to haveeverything I need, and somehow it’s all arranged exactly where I expect to find it. I buy bathroom cleaner, bleach, rubber gloves and a scrubber, and I even find sheets and lightbulbs. I gather it all and head up to the tills, where Maria is serving an old man. Serving and chatting, I should say. To my slight surprise, they’re both speaking English. The man takes a copy from a stack of newspapers.
“So, the old ADR is coming down then?” the man says, glancing at the front page.
“That’s what they say,” Maria replies. “About time, if it’s true.”
I’m only half listening, but then I remember Hans used the term ADR for what he called the Aegean Nightmare Resort. The ADR must be what the locals call it.
“No doubt the Mayor will get his piece,” the man goes on, and I glance up at him, seeing how this seems to annoy him. Maria simply gives him an indulgent smile.
“No doubt.” She seems to be aware of how I have my arms full of products, while the old man looks happy to stand there talking, leaving me waiting with nowhere to put them. “He always does.”
Finally the old guy pays, and Maria starts to scan my shopping. The place does have a real old-fashioned feel, but at least she does have a scanner.
“I hear you were successful with Hans,” she says, looking up suddenly.
“Oh, yes,” I say, then I add, “thank you.”
“A pleasure to help. But do watch out with that one.”
I’m not sure what she means by that. Or maybe I do. Either way, I hold out my hand. She seems kind.
“I’m Ava.”
She stops what she’s doing and takes my hand. “Hello, Ava. I’m Maria.”
“I know,” I say, smiling at the momentary confusion on her face. “Hans told me.”
“Ah.” She continues to scan my shopping. My eye falls on the newspaper. I hadn’t noticed, but there’s a picture of the derelictAegean Dream Resort on the cover. There’s not much point me buying a copy though: it’s written in the Greek alphabet.
“He told me the story of the old resort,” I say, slightly blurting the words out. “It’s really shocking.”
Her reaction isn’t quite what I expect. She nods, but it’s like she doesn’t fully agree with me.
“Well. It was a long time ago.”
“Yeah,” I reply. I feel like I’ve slightly insulted her, which wasn’t my intention. I’m curious what the newspaper article is about though.
“What’s happening to it now?” I indicate the newspaper.
“Oh.” She brightens at this. “There was a planning meeting, last week. They finally agreed to knock it down and replace it with apartments. I expect they’ll be too small, and too expensive for local people…” She shrugs. “But you know. It’s been a long time,” she repeats.
I stand for a moment, wondering about the horrible thing that happened there.
