Free Leandros by Leandros

Chapter One
    Vicky placed one more summer dress in her suitcase, and satisfied that her vacation wardrobe was complete, pulled the zippers along the seam until they joined. She had been looking forward to this vacation to Greece ever since she booked it with Sky’s the Limit Adventures, a company that specialized in outdoor, active vacations for singles. She didn’t care to meet a man on this trip, but none of her friends shared her desire to tour ancient ruins and hike up rugged mountains. Also, despite her independent nature, Vicky wasn’t comfortable visiting a foreign country alone.
    Her flight from JFK International Airport was scheduled to leave at 2:00 pm tomorrow and she wanted a good night’s rest to reduce the impending jet lag. After wheeling the suitcase into the corridor by the living room, she pulled on a cotton camisole and matching shorts and curled into bed with a book. She read a few chapters before the weariness of the work week drew her into a deep sleep.
    The annoying buzz of the doorbell pierced the hazy cloud of her dream. She woke with a start, unsure if the sound was real. She blinked in the darkness of the room and heard it again. She frowned. It was real. Swinging her legs off the side of the bed, she padded down the corridor to the front door. Who the heck is ringing at this time of the night? Whatever time it is. She rubbed her eyes and peered through the peep hole. A stab of concern went through her. She opened the door and took in the sheepish grin on her twin sister’s face. She gave her the once-over and when she assessed that her sister was fine—at least she looked fine—she stepped aside to let her in.
    Despite the scowl tugging on her mouth, she felt the urge to make sure. “Are you okay?”
    “Couldn’t be better.” Kay planted a kiss on Vicky’s cheek and brushed past her in a soft cloud of expensive perfume.
    Vicky shook her head, not unaccustomed to her sister’s quirkiness. Though twins, they couldn’t be more different. Physically, it was hard to tell them apart. Though they wore their hair differently and had different taste in clothes, the basic features were almost identical, long dark blonde hair, wide hazel eyes, and a delicate nose balanced by a strong chin and plump lips.
    Kay had always been a wild-child, a constant source of anxiety and headaches for Mom and Dad. She was bright but erratic and had suffered from impulsiveness and indecision early in her teens and throughout college, until she decided to pursue modelling. A wise choice, because she wouldn’t have been able to hold a conservative job. Her sister had so far managed to land modelling contracts regularly.
    Vicky closed the door and heaved a sigh, unwilling to entertain whatever nutty business her sister had been up to. Her body begged her to get back to bed, but she couldn’t ignore Kay. She crossed the floor and flicked on the tall standing lamp in the corner of the living room.
    “It’s late…what’s up, Kay?”
    Kay had already tossed her leather jacket and her clutch onto the sofa and ran a hand through her silky-straight hair. “Chill out, sis. I was at a party not far from here.”
    Vicky’s patience was thinning fast, but now in the light, she noticed the high flush on her sister’s cheeks. Her sister wasn’t the blushing type.
    “Have any wine?” Kay asked.
    The question registered a few seconds later. “Um, no. Weren’t you just at a party?”
    “Any kind of alcohol at all?” Normally, this would have been asked with blunt boredom, yet her sister was the picture of a content cat.
    Worry now edged into her wakening mind. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was becoming apparent that Kay was not herself. She watched her ease lazily onto the sofa and pull out a packet of cigarettes. Kay knew Vicky didn’t smoke and didn’t allow smoking in her home. Despite this, she lit a cigarette and blew a tendril of smoke into the air.
    My God…is she…? Vicky stepped closer to