Ariadne was tearing down to the harbour when Mel caught up with her on her way back from the fish stalls. ‘Glad I’ve seen you. There’s going to be a slight problem with—’
‘Yes, yes!’ Ariadne couldn’t concentrate. ‘Have you seen Hebe?’
‘Not on the street, no. Is there a problem?’
‘It’s just that she went out for a walk and it’s over an hour and she’s not back for her breakfast. It’s not like her… Do you think she’s fallen somewhere?’
‘Does she have a regular route?’ Mel said.
‘Along the harbour to watch the boats coming in, just a stroll, nothing strenuous, no cliff paths, unless I’m with her.’
‘Do you want me to come with you? I can get help.’
‘No, no – I’ll manage. She’s a bit forgetful some of the time. You carry on and I’ll be fine.’
‘If you’re sure. I just came to tell you our party will be better in someone else’s home. Irini is not keen—’
‘Another time, Mel. I must get on.’ Ariadne left the girl standing, as she marched along the harbour. The cafés and the ouzerias were boarded up. The wind was raising quite a swell and there was more rain in the air. Where on earth had the silly woman got to? It wasn’t the first time she’d wandered off, forgetting the time. Ariadne tried not to be cross with her, but she had so much to do now. Mel was saying the party would not be in the taverna. Why not? She had no time to think about that now. Perhaps Hebe was talking to a fisherman, or sitting on a bench, gazing at the view across to the main island. It was not a morning for lingering. Was she even wearing her anorak? Oh, Hebe, where are you, dear? Don’t keep worrying me like this. Then she saw a familiar figure doing his morning jog. ‘Gary, have you seen Miss Wilson? Hebe?’
He stopped. ‘No, I don’t think so. To be honest, I’m listening to my music so I don’t notice much, but if you go on this way, I’ll head homewards and see if she’s up in our direction.’
But she never wandered that far. Ariadne felt uneasy. There was no sign of Hebe along the shoreline and she walked home, half expecting her to be sitting at the table, or on the veranda searching for her. Then the landline rang. It was Gary Partridge.
‘Kelly found her. She’s fine, just a bit cold so Kelly’s making tea and toast. I’ll run her down to you.’
‘No, I’ll bring the jeep and collect her. Thank you so much. It’s such a relief.’
Ariadne jumped into their old jeep, its canvas roof now on, and raced up the bumpy track towards the villa they all called the Bunker. She had watched it being built but had never been inside. What was Hebe doing up that track? When Ariadne arrived, there she was, eating toast, oblivious to the concern around her.
‘I can’t thank you enough.’ Ariadne was breathless.
‘Sit down,’ said Gary’s wife, still in her dressing-gown. ‘Lucky I was looking out the window and I saw this lady wandering, with no coat on. It didn’t look right, so I followed her. Is she okay?’
‘She gets forgetful from time to time,’ Ariadne replied
‘She looked very lost to me, didn’t know where she was. I’ve never seen her up here before.’
‘Hebe, where were you going?’ Ariadne asked, but there was a faraway look in her eyes, as she smiled.
‘Birdwatching, I think. Do I live here?’
‘Birdwatching? Without your binoculars?’ Ariadne was puzzled.
‘I wanted to see the sea eagles.’
‘But there aren’t any here, dear. That’s in Scotland.’
‘Do I live here?’
At her confusion no one spoke.
‘Mr and Mrs Partridge found you.’ Ariadne looked round the large kitchen, with its granite tops and ceiling-high cupboards, wanting to change the subject. ‘Isn’t this spectacular? And you’ve a panoramic view of the bay. You must be enchanted by it.’
‘Not in this weather. It’s so grey,’ Kelly replied. ‘Excuse the dressing-gown. I like to have a long swim now we have a heated pool. Gary, warm up the coffee for the lady. Would you like to look round?’
‘Ariadne, please,’ she said, and guided Hebe through a sequence of spacious rooms, dining room, drawing room, study, a TV snug, all with marble floors and Persian rugs, like an Oriental palace, but nothing that suggested they were lived in. ‘Soulless’ was the word that came to mind. ‘What a wonderful house and such views,’ she said.
Kelly smiled. ‘We rattle around a bit, but we do have friends over from the UK for parties.’
‘Talking of which,’ said Ariadne, ‘my idea for a choir party has fallen through. Mel’s mother-in-law’s not keen. Poor Mel, she wanted to have a singsong there.’
‘We could do it here,’ Gary said, turning to his wife.
‘Are you sure?’ Ariadne was thrilled.
‘Any time. We’ve no visitors booked, have we, Kelly?’
‘It would be just a social for choir members and their friends. This would be the ideal venue, if your wife is willing?’
Kelly was looking shocked. ‘I’m not a cook,’ she said.
‘That’s not a problem. Natalie and Mel will help, and we could have a faith supper where everybody brings something. All you would need to do is open the door. But don’t feel you have to.’
‘We’ll be delighted to host it, won’t we, Kelly?’ Gary was searching his wife’s face for a response.
‘I suppose… yes, it’ll be okay.’ Kelly didn’t look too enthused.
Hebe clapped her hands – ‘A party, what fun!’ – but Ariadne was no longer feeling cheerful. ‘I’ll take this wanderer home,’ she said, and they made their exit down the steps. ‘We shall look forward to coming again, and if I can do anything to help… I’m hoping to get all the choir mixing. It won’t be long before our St Nicholas’s concert. Bye for now and thank you so much.’
Hebe was silent on the way back. Ariadne was worried that she hadn’t known where she was. Watching birds in Scotland? She could have slipped and fallen on rocks, or worse. For the first time Ariadne realised that Hebe mustn’t go walking alone. Perhaps it was just her mind flitting from one thought to another. Tomorrow she’d be back to her old self. What she needed now was rest and the normal routines of the day. But something wasn’t right.