The eyes looking back at Francie from her bathroom mirror were almost unrecognizable. Dark circles under them testified to her sleepless night. How could she have placed her trust in Kostos? Last night, he had stood under her window for almost an hour, pleading with her, begging her forgiveness. One of her upstairs neighbors finally convinced him to leave by throwing a vase at him and flinging a string of threats.
Perhaps she should move. She would definitely need to find another job. But right now she needed to get to class. It was the last week of the semester, and she couldn’t let an incident like this affect her grades.
This morning, after her first class, she had an important meeting to attend. The invitation had arrived last week, printed on expensive paper and embossed with the university’s seal. She had been chosen to participate in a special archaeological dig on the island of Paros, a beautiful spot in the Cyclades Islands. Professor Theodoris, one of her favorite instructors at the University of Athens, was to head the dig. The invitation was an honor she couldn't refuse. Aside from the welcome addition to her resume, she loved working with “Professor Theo,” as everyone called the good-natured instructor.
Hopefully, there would be no problems this time. On her last dig with Professor Theo, some items had been stolen. The police interrogation had been unpleasant, but she had been cleared, and she was glad her involvement in that dig had not marred her reputation.
She threw on a pair of jeans and the first clean t-shirt she could find. Mindful of the time, she rubbed a wet cloth across her face and applied a light touch of makeup to cover the circles under her eyes. After a quick swipe of the brush through her thick brown hair, she was ready to go.
Somehow she made it through her class, and with a lighter step headed toward the room indicated in the invitation. She arrived early and took a seat in the front row. Gradually, the others trickled in. It looked like an eclectic group. There were two females she recognized from her classes and two men she hadn't met.
She looked up as Professor Theo shuffled into the room. He welcomed everyone and introduced himself.
The professor went on to describe the project. The dig would last most of the summer. She could give up her job, get away from Kostos, and decide what to do in the fall. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
“The Project Director is coming today to give us more specific information. He is in contact with the major investors—oh, here he is, Mr. Alexandros Leonidis.”
Francie turned her expectant gaze toward the door and felt her blood freeze. There had to be a mistake. The mystery man from the restaurant, the man who had rescued her from Kostos’s advances, was the Project Director? Maybe she should rethink joining this dig. There was really no question she would go, of course. She needed the work, and she needed to get away from Kostos.
But would she be trading one problem for another?
Against her better judgment, her gaze traveled down the length of the man. A battered brown satchel hung from his left shoulder, conflicting with the polished yet casual appearance of his clothing. Perhaps the satchel had sentimental value. Or perhaps he was a practical man, not requiring new things simply because what he had was worn.
Her father had had a similar leather satchel for his digging tools. He had used it long after it showed signs of wear, repairing the rips and tears. One Christmas, she had given him a new one, hoping to please him. He’d thanked her but continued to use his old one. During her last visit to his home, she found her gift stuffed in the bottom drawer of a cabinet, unused.
She forced her mind back to the present. The stranger from the previous night was definitely not Georges Vasileiou. Unlike her father, this man moved with purpose. His eyes were clear and focused. And right now they were focused on her.
So the man had a name. Alexandros, or Alex. He greeted them before launching into specifics of the project. The dig was funded through public as well as private sources and would take place on the estate of a well-known shipping magnate, Constantine Zotis. The tycoon wanted the excavation done this summer and had asked Alex to oversee the selection of the crew and the logistics of the dig. As Project Director, he had selected Professor Theo as the Project Archaeologist, and the professor, in turn, had selected the rest of the crew.
She started when she heard her own name and realized the professor was introducing the team members to each other. She felt her face heat and shrank in her seat as the professor listed her accomplishments.
There were two other students she recognized from the university: Jane, a Brit, and Christina, a Greek. There was Dimitri, a native of Paros, who would serve as their guide, cook, and general gofer. Yannis, a tall, gangly young man with a penchant for his Blackberry, was the last member of the crew. He was introduced as a graduate student from the Hellenic Institute.
Other details were covered, but since they were outlined on a handout, she listened with only half an ear. Having participated in several digs, she was familiar with the routine. But she perked up when he got to the part about accommodations.
“Since the land owner wishes to have this project done quickly, he is hosting us all on his property. A campsite has been set up along the shore, including cooking facilities, so that we can work and take our meals there with a minimum of interruptions.”
All heads popped up at this. The younger crew members looked disappointed.
“You mean we’ll be trapped on site the entire time?” Jane asked.
Alex cast an indulgent smile at the young girl, and Francie berated herself for the twinge of envy she recognized.
“You’re not going to be trapped, Jane,” he told her. “The site is only seven kilometers from Alyki and ten kilometers from Parikia. Transportation will be available if you want to go into town in the evenings and on days off. But during the day we will be able to get much more accomplished if we don’t have to leave the site for all our meals. We’ll also get a much earlier start each morning if we are already there.”
The girl pouted, but she refrained from arguing. Perhaps she realized the opportunity for experience outweighed the availability of entertainment.
“Are there any other questions?” Alex asked.
The only questions came from Jane and Christina, the two with the least dig experience. Alex promised to meet with them afterward and asked Professor Theo to answer the questions about process of the dig and their specific duties. Soon afterward, the crew was dismissed, and Francie gathered her things.
****
Alex watched his suspect as he spoke to the class. She avoided eye contact, which didn’t surprise him. The alarm on her face when she recognized him soon faded, replaced by annoyance. Was it possible she would turn down her invitation to join the dig? From what he had read, her participation was almost guaranteed. Too bad her fool of a boss had decided to make his move last night. He hadn’t wanted to frighten her. He needed to gain her confidence and make her want to join this dig so he could catch her and discover her involvement in the thefts.
The meeting ended, and the students headed toward the door. He moved to catch up with her. Not wanting to alarm her, he simply walked beside her into the hallway.
“I trust you have no ill effects from last night’s excitement?” he murmured.
Her posture stiffened and her step faltered, but only for a moment. “I’m fine,” she returned. “Thank you for your help.”
“It was no problem.” He matched his steps to hers and found she walked with an athletic gait. Her jeans covered her long legs, but he could easily imagine how those legs would look—lean and tanned. He forced his mind to return to the task at hand. “Will the incident have an effect on your employment?”
“I suppose it will. I’m grateful for the dig opportunity. It’s the perfect excuse for leaving.” She frowned. “Of course, I’ll need to replace the income from the restaurant, unless you need another cook besides Dimitri.” She turned her beautiful, brown eyes toward him, and his heart melted at the hopefulness in them.
Alex cleared his throat, forcing himself to concentrate on the conversation. “With such a small crew, he shouldn't need an assistant,” he explained.
Her face fell and the first seeds of doubt took root in Alex’s mind. If she was as guilty as Zotis claimed, why would she be so anxious for menial work? Wouldn’t she have been compensated for prior heists? Besides, she was the daughter of a world-famous scientist and a Hollywood actress. Surely she didn’t have to provide for herself? Something wasn’t right.
“Perhaps I can suggest something for now.” Glancing to confirm he had her attention, he continued. “I'm sure the professor knows what he's doing as far as the actual dig, but he seems to be a bit unsure about electronic communication. Several of his reports need to be turned in online, and I know he would appreciate your help. There has also been interest in keeping a blog, so students elsewhere can see what we’re doing. You would, of course, be compensated for your time.”
The glow lighting her face made Alex’s heart soar. He would have promised her anything to keep it there. But he quickly dampened his eagerness. He could not, would not, take on the responsibility for someone else’s happiness. It led only to heartbreak. He forced himself to remember the pain of the last betrayal. He looked away, only half-listening to Francie express her gratitude and promise to do her best.
It was going to be a long summer. If he had any sense at all, he would leave her now and go back to his office. Instead, he heard himself ask, “Have you eaten lunch yet?”