Captive in Crete: The First Jet Wilson Cozy Mystery (Jet Wilson Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Lyssa Stanson (best motivational books of all time .TXT) 📕

I thought back to my early years. “Not really. Not like some grandparents who babysit every week. I mostly remember her swooping in from some long period of travel, with tales of adventure and full of promises, never kept, of being around more in the future.”

“And that didn’t bother you? The broken promises.”

“No. It rather added to the attraction. Her life seemed so exciting, particularly in comparison to my dull existence. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Instead I turned into a bank clerk.” My shoulders slumped in disgust and I took another sip of wine.

“A part-time bank clerk,” Matt corrected, “who travels to foreign climes and investigates murders.” He smiled at me and raised his glass.

“Well, when you put it like that!” I smiled and clinked glasses.

“How’s it going? Have you found out anything juicy?”

“Well now you come to mention it,” I said with a smirk, “I grilled the police inspector this morning and he told me that Adrianna had an allergy. It may still have been poison, but it could have been a simple accident, she’d left her EpiPen in her room when she went to dinner. Oh phooey, I forgot to look up what it was that she’s allergic to. All I know is it’s some sort of food.”

“Look it up?”

“Yes,” I started rooting in my backpack. “Aristede wrote it down for me in Greek so I could check my dictionary.”

“Aristede?”

“The police chief.”

“Oh. That was extremely helpful of him.”

“Yes. Now, where is it?” I had started turning everything out of my backpack by this time. There wasn’t much: a packet of tissues, a small notebook and pen, a water bottle, a tube of sunscreen and a mosquito repellent spray. I had turned out every pocket, but the scrap of paper was nowhere to be found.

“Where did you have it last?”

I thought back over the day. “At lunchtime in the taverna. I had lunch with Hans and showed it to him.”

“My, you are taking this investigating stuff seriously.”

“No,” I laughed and gave up my hunt. “It was just a coincidence. He was there and all the other tables had been cleared so he invited me to join him.”

“Yes, I can see why he might suggest that. And you told him about the whatever it was?”

“Yes. I wasn’t supposed to, but it just slipped out.”

“Do you think he might have taken it, the paper?”

“No. I’ve crossed him off the suspect list. His house is all sorted, and if he had any gripe, it’s with his builders, not Adrianna.”

At this point the waiter came to take our order. We hadn’t really looked at the menu, but we happily ordered from the specials. Lamb kleftico for Matt and souvlaki with Greek salad for me.

“And what random man did you see after lunch? Sorry,” Matt looked embarrassed, “that didn’t come out quite right. I didn’t mean to grill you.”

“No, that’s ok. Let me see… I went to the mini-market… Oh, wait. Spiros bumped into me. Maybe it wasn’t in the pocket properly and it just fell out.”

“You seem to have men following you everywhere. Could Spiros have taken it?”

“No, why would he.” I considered some more. “I suppose he could have. I had my back to him and was pretty absorbed in conditioner before he bumped into me.”

“Conditioner?”

“Well, shampoo really.”

“Yes, that makes much more sense.”

“I suppose if he had seen it fall, he could have picked it up, but why not just return it to me? He can’t have known what it was.”

“Of course he could. He’d know what Adrianna was allergic to, and obviously he’d understand the Greek.”

“Yes, but it’s a food allergy – the paper could have been a simple shopping list.”

“Hmm, yes, I suppose you’re right.”

“Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.”

Matt laughed, “Well I wouldn’t ever have said it at work, would I?”

I felt myself blush. “No, I guess not.”

“Sorry,” Matt had the grace to look contrite, “I was just kidding.”

“It’s ok, I know I’m not the best bank clerk in the world. My heart just isn’t really in it. The money’s good but…”

“But you work to live, not live to work.”

“Yes. Very much so. What about you? I’d have guessed you’re a live to work kinda guy, but you don’t seem to be missing it much here.”

“No, I’m not. I enjoy my work,” he paused to consider, “it fits me well, I think. But I can easily let it go when I’m not there.”

We were saved from more introspection by our food arriving and we dug in hungrily. We didn’t talk much more until our plates were clean, just enjoying the food and the sight of the sun slipping slowly over the hills. As we sipped the obligatory free raki, I began to worry about Grandma. If she had simply been delayed, she might have had something to eat at home, but she would still have joined us at some point. Alternatively, if she had been deliberately staying away in the hope of eventually generating a grandson-in-law and great-grandkids, I would have expected her to turn up in time for raki at least – can’t make it too easy for a potential suitor. It had been dark for some time.

“Penny for them,” said Matt.

“What? Oh, sorry. I’m a bit worried about Grandma, she should have been here by now.”

“Maybe, but maybe she was tired and decided to leave us to it. It must have been a long day for her.”

“Not really. She goes out like that most days, I think. She says it keeps her fit.”

“Then I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Hmm.” I lapsed back into my thoughts again.

“Ok, I can take a