“That’s the good thing about living on Fourni, I suppose. Not too many places he can get into trouble here.” He glanced out the window, saw the sun cresting the island of Thimena in the distance, then leaned toward Remi. “What do you say we head up to the rooftop and watch the sun set and give one last toast to Tassos?”
“A spectacular idea.”
Several other guests had the same idea, and as the sun dipped below the hilltops of the small island, turning the clouds above a brilliant orange, they lifted their glasses. “To Tassos!”
Silence reigned for a minute or two, then quietly, the others wandered down the stairs, saying their goodbyes to Zoe, then heading home.
Nikos, Sam, and Remi began clearing the glasses and plates from upstairs, bringing them to the kitchen, while Denéa and Manos gathered the empty dishes from inside the house. When Zoe and Dimitris attempted to help, Remi and Denéa sent them up to the rooftop to enjoy some quiet time.
Remi filled the sink with warm water and soap, washing, while Sam picked up a dish towel, drying each plate and stacking them on the counter. She glanced over at him, pleasantly surprised how easily they worked together, as though it had always been. With goodbyes said, hugs given, they walked hand in hand down the path toward town.
“I hope they’ll be okay,” Remi said, looking back at the house, seeing Zoe and Dimitris sitting next to each other on the rooftop, silhouetted in the moonlight.
“They need time,” Sam said. He drew her to him. “As much as I wished none of this happened . . .”
“I know. But I’m glad you’re here.”
Neither had eaten a thing at Zoe’s, but the tantalizing scent of fresh-cooked food drifted toward them as they took the stairs down. “One last dinner on Fourni?” Sam asked.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
They looked down the main street at the square across from the church, seeing the fairy lights strung beneath the plane tree. The restaurant, Platanos, was very near the sarcophagus, candles lit on the patio tables. They dined on grilled fish, dolmades, and eggplant salad, drinking a fresh white wine, then finishing with a serving of watermelon and a glass of dessert wine.
Remi looked up at the leaves rustling in the offshore breeze. A few drifted down from the treetop, then danced across the paving stones. “Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked.
“I think so. Zoe seemed at peace when we left.”
“She did. Dimitris, not so much.”
“I think he’s worried about her. It’s understandable.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” She looked at Sam, watching the candlelight play across his face. After a moment, she reached across the table, placing her hand on his. “I wasn’t a big believer in fate, until I met you.”
He laughed.
“I’m serious. Who else would have showed up because of a voice mail talking about the North Star?”
“You know what I think? That you’re brilliant, Remi Longstreet. If we hadn’t met, you would’ve found another way to escape.”
“Not so fast, Fargo. Weren’t you the one who said my Plan B wouldn’t work?”
“Did I?” He pushed the candle aside and leaned across the table, kissing her. “We should probably head back. We’re going to need to get up early to haul your luggage up all the stairs in the morning.”
Sam paid the bill, then, arm in arm, the two strolled down the main street, until they reached Skavos’s café, where Nikos was sitting with a few of his friends. He called them over, and they joined him. “Glad we ran into you,” Sam said. “I wanted to double-check the ferry schedule tomorrow. I’m wondering if we’d be better off hiring a boat into Samos to make our flight.”
“It might be tight,” Nikos said. “But no need to hire anyone. I’m sure Dimitris won’t mind taking you.” He glanced over at Remi, smiling. “Better he picks you up in Kampi by your cottage. With all those suitcases of yours, it’ll be easier to carry it to the dock, instead of up all those stairs.”
Sam started to laugh, until he glanced over at Remi. He held up his hands, giving her a mock look of innocence. “I didn’t say a thing.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The next morning, Sam and Remi were waiting at the dock. Sam with his backpack and small carry-on, Remi with her two large suitcases and the biggest carry-on Sam had ever seen. It might be fine in the overhead on an international flight, but he wasn’t sure where it was going to fit on the much smaller plane from Samos to Athens. He was about to ask her if she had to pay extra to place it in the hold when he noticed the Asteri slowly entering the quiet bay.
It wasn’t Dimitris at the helm. It was Nikos. “The Star Catcher is missing,” he said with a heavy sigh as he and Sam loaded Remi’s luggage on board. “Dimitris didn’t come home last night.”
“Star Catcher?” Sam asked.
“The RIB boat that belongs to the underwater archeological society. He sometimes takes it out when he’s upset. I know he’d want to say goodbye. Perhaps we’ll see him before too long.”