Free Hot on the Trail by Irena Nieslony Page B

other side. For a brief moment she saw Marion looking down at her and then she disappeared.
    You are a weird one, Marion. Perhaps it was you who set the fire. I have no idea why; it’s just a gut feeling. Perhaps you’ve just taken an instant dislike to me and don’t want me to be your neighbor, even if I’ll only be here for short periods of time.   
    * * *
    The first thing Eve and David did when they got back to the hotel was have long hot baths. They felt grimy and they knew they smelt of smoke. They then decided that they would go to the Botanical Gardens and find somewhere to have lunch. It was another lovely day and they hoped they could sit outside.
    Eve had her bath first and went down a bit earlier than David as she wanted to buy postcards from the hotel shop.
    The doors of the lift were about to shut when Eve came dashing towards it and just managed to get in before they closed. There was another woman in the lift, a blonde who stared at Eve for longer than was polite. Eve however, was too absorbed in getting her breath back and smoothing her clothes to take much notice of her lift companion. The blonde managed to regain her composure before Eve did turn and glance at her, but as Eve rarely bothered to engage strangers in trivial conversation, nothing was said. Eve thought that the woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t think from where.
    And her hair’s a terrible bleached shade of blonde. She must have done it herself.........Now where have I seen her before?
    The lift reached the ground floor and Eve still couldn’t remember who the other woman was. Then the blonde glanced at Eve as she walked out of the lift. It was only for a second, but Eve could see that the woman recognized her. Why couldn’t she remember where she had seen her and why didn’t the other woman speak to her as she obviously knew her or at the very least, had seen her somewhere? Then as the blonde walked away from the lift, it hit Eve like a thunderbolt.
    I’d know that walk anywhere. I reckon she thought she could lure any man with that seductive gait of hers.
      Eve knew she had no time to lose. The woman had also recognized her and Eve guessed she probably wouldn’t ever be coming back to the hotel. There was no point ringing Dimitris Kastrinakis because Joanna would be long gone by the time he got there. Eve decided that her only option would be to take action right now. She dashed out of the lift and ran after Joanna as fast as she could, catching up with her before she reached the front door of the hotel. She grabbed Joanna’s arm and twisted her round.
    “Joanna, I knew it was you.”
    “Joanna? My name’s Adele, Adele Costello.”
    “Don’t give me that. Just because you’ve changed your hair color doesn’t mean that I’m unable to recognize you.”
    “Well, it took you long enough,” Joanna said venomously. I don’t think you knew it was me, not until I walked out of the lift, did you?”
    Eve refused to answer, embarrassed that she hadn’t been as sharp as usual.
    “But I reckon you also saw me at some other time in the last few days, didn’t you? That’s why the detective from Crete is here. You’ve caused me so many problems, Eve Masters; and not only here in Australia. You constantly ruined my plans on Crete, but why you had to turn up here as well to torment me, I honestly, don’t know. I thought I was home and dry so it gave me a bit of a shock when I saw Dimitris Kastrinakis at the reception desk of the hotel I was staying at previously. I had to leave immediately and leave all my clothes as well.
    “I’m sure you can afford new ones,” Eve said.
    Joanna glared at her
    “Did you actually know I had come here to Australia, Eve?”
    “No, not at all. How would I have known that? A cousin of mine, who lived here, died and left me her house. It was just a pleasant coincidence that you were here as well.  Now you’ll get your just rewards.”
    “I don’t think so,” Joanna hissed, suddenly