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realize how tightly I was
clinging to him, I jerked backwards and turned away so I wouldn’t have to meet
his gaze.
                “Perhaps
we should start back down,” he said quietly behind me.
                “Sure,”
I agreed, hoping my voice didn’t sound as shaken as I felt.
                As
we descended, I noticed we were taking a different route than we had taken
up.   So I wasn't all that surprised
when we turned a bend and came out onto a rather overgrown portico overlooking St.
George's.   As we climbed down some
mossy steps and rounded the church, I hesitated.   I wasn't sure I wanted to see this.   Geoffrey took my hand and led me up to
the ropes.   Then all I could do was
stare.
                The
second block had fallen slightly to the right of what remained of the broken
bench.   It hadn't split apart into
as many pieces as the first one had, but instead had embedded itself into the
hard earth almost six inches deep.
                "I
don't understand," I murmured.   "Why?"
                Geoffrey
was silent.
                My
mind rebelled against the implications. "I don't suppose it could have
been a mistake, or the result of some stupid prank?"
                "A
rather deadly lark, wouldn't you say?"
                "You’re
right.   Someone would have to be
crazy --"   I looked up in
sudden hope.   "Wait, that
could be it!   Some nutcase --"
                "What?   Was wandering about the place with a
tire iron ready to hand just in case he came upon an opportunity for
mischief?"
                "All
right,” I said.   “What's your
explanation?"
                "I
think the blocks were loosened ahead of time, perhaps after dark.   There's a Sound and Light show held
here in the evenings.   He could
have come the night before --"
                "Or
she," I added.
                "I
doubt a woman could have done it," he said.
                "Why
not?   Granted, she'd have to be
strong, but not that strong.   That
mortar crumbles to the touch.   She
could have loosened the blocks beforehand, left the crowbar hidden somewhere
nearby, and then -- when the time was right -- used it to lever the block from
the wall."
                "You
paint a very clear picture of how it was done," he said.
                "Of
how it might have been done.   You don't have to look at me that way.   In case you've forgotten, I was the target of that rather
heavy gift from the sky!"
                "I
hadn't forgotten," he assured me gravely.
                I
frowned.   "The thing that
still doesn't make sense to me is how anyone, man or woman, could have known
that Michael and I were going to be sitting on that bench yesterday
morning."
                Geoffrey
stared up at the rampart high above us.   "I don't know how anyone could have known you were going to be
there, but at least two people knew Michael would be."
                "But
that's impossible!   It was pure
chance Michael and I sat down there."
                "No,
it wasn't."
                "It
had to be!" I exclaimed.   Then
I remembered.   Michael leading us
to the bench, suggesting it would be a good place to rest.   Michael looking startled when I
mentioned the time.   Michael asking
to be left alone.   I said slowly,
"That was where you planned to meet him."
                "Yes."
                "And
the person who phoned claiming that Michael was in the hospital --"
                Geoffrey
nodded grimly.   "Expected
Michael to be sitting on that bench at ten o'clock.   Alone."

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
                There
was a note from Lieutenant Mavros of the Corfu Police waiting for me when I
returned to my hotel.   Kyria Andriatsis
looked both curious and