Captive in Crete: The First Jet Wilson Cozy Mystery (Jet Wilson Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Lyssa Stanson (phonics story books .txt) 📗

hint. Shall we?” Matt gave the international hand symbol asking for the bill, and we gathered ourselves up. There was a small argument over payment – I insisted we’d invited him; he insisted that, well, he was a man, and eventually we split it – then we hurried back down the hill to Grandma’s house.

We arrived in darkness except for the outside lights which I had put on when we left. There was no motorbike parked reassuringly beside the wall, but maybe Grandma had put it in the shed. The cat jumped up onto the wall and meowed at us. I wasn’t sure if she was asking for food or complaining about the loss of her bed. Before I could tell him not to, Matt reached out a hand to stroke her, then quickly pulled it back when she swiped at it.

I unlocked the door and went inside, calling out as I entered. But there was no response, the house was empty with no Grandma tucked up in bed after a long day.

I felt an icy hand grip my heart and I struggled to breath. The room shrank down into darkness and pinpricks of light glittered around the edges of my vision. I couldn’t lose her like this. I just couldn’t.

Chapter Ten – Wednesday evening (still)

The room swayed and I felt a brief surge of joy that I would soon be insensible. Then two strong hands gripped my arms and guided me to a chair, rather indelicately pushing my head between my knees. My vision cleared, giving me a lovely view of my knickers. I shot upright and closed my knees, then slumped forward again as the room started to shrink once more.

After a few moments I felt better and risked a, rather slower, return to upright. Matt was crouched in front of me looking concerned. I hoped my head had blocked his view.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I think so. Sorry for being so silly. It’s just Grandma’s… she’s…” I felt tears pricking my eyes.

“I know. Try not to worry. She’s probably fine.”

“Fine? She’s seventy-four! And alone. In the dark.”

“And maybe in a shepherd’s hut, or at a friend’s house, or on her way home now.”

I took a deep breath. He could be right, he usually was. But that was at work, this was real life and my Grandma…

“Check your phone, maybe there’s a message.”

“Right, good idea.” I rummaged through my bag, but it wasn’t in there. I felt relief wash over me; I’d left it charging in my bedroom, so I wouldn’t have heard her call. I dashed in and snatched it up.

“Anything?” Matt hovered uncertainly in the doorway.

“Yes! She sent a picture at 5pm. Oh my gosh, she found it.”

“What?”

“The sea something – the plant she’s been hunting for months – she found it.”

I showed Matt the picture on my phone. His face drained of colour as I belatedly realised what he had seen at once.

“She’d want to share her excitement with me. She should be home. She should have been home in time for dinner.” I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. “I have to call the police.”

Matt ran a hand through his sandy coloured hair and breathed out a sigh.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I mean,” he said quickly, with a look at my face, “it might be too early. Don’t they insist someone’s missing for 48 hours before they’ll do anything?”

“Too early? 48 hours? She could be lying in a ditch somewhere.” I snatched back my phone and started dialling.

“Yes, of course. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be realistic. I don’t think the Cretan police will be much help,” he finished lamely.

“Aristede will,” I said, with a confidence I wasn’t entirely sure I felt. But I had to do something, and he had been so kind to me when I was terrified before.

Matt turned away, walking back into the living room, as I hurriedly explained the situation to Aristede. To my relief, he agreed to come out right away.

“He’ll be here in 15 minutes.”

“That’s great. I’m glad.”

“You don’t look it.”

“No, I am. I’m just worried, that’s all. And, er, I’m really sorry Jet but I have to go.”

“Go? Now?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry, but there’s something I need to do. Um, a work thing.”

“At this time of night?” I couldn’t believe it, but then I realised that he was just making an excuse. He didn’t want to have to deal with a hysterical female, and Aristede coming let him off the hook.

“No, I’m sorry. Of course, you must go if you need to.”

“I’m really sorry Jet. I wouldn’t if it weren’t important. And I’m sure Aristede will look after you.”

“Yes.” I ushered Matt to the door, keen to be rid of him now.

“Call me when you hear anything.”

“I will,” I said, not meaning it, and watched him walk away.

The temptation to give into tears was almost overwhelming but I had to stay strong for Grandma. At least until I had given Aristede all the information I had, and he had set the search in motion. I only hoped he would take the situation seriously and not try to persuade me to wait and see if she turned up in the morning. Fifteen minutes seemed an awfully long time just then.

In fact, only ten minutes elapsed before Aristede arrived. I heard sounds of a car and then hurried footsteps coming down the path. I opened the door and met him on the terrace, flinging myself into his arms without thinking. He held me tight and stroked my hair until I calmed down enough to realise how inappropriate this was.

“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling away. “I’m just so worried.”

“Of course,” he looked at me with pity in his eyes, “This