Stavros' pov:
Three weeks have passed and still no sign of Melina. No one knows where she is or what happened to her. In the last two days I started looking for her in hospitals and clinics but still got nothing. Neither her relatives nor her friends know where she is. I just can't believe it! The whole thing is so frustrating. I feel so icompetent and helpless.
How can I not find her? Aggeliki thinks that maybe Melina was kidnapped. But if this has happened, why didn't they already demand a ransom? What are they waiting for? No, no ..... something else must have happened, but what? The police also have nothing on Melina's disappearance.
It's like she disappeared into thin air! I decided to hire a private detective to look for her and announce a reward for anyone with reliable information about her. Searching for her by myself has had no results so far and time is running out. I won't be able to forgive myself if something bad happens to her.
After the announcement of the fee, many came here claiming to have information about Melina. Most of them turned out to be scammers or giving information about another woman. I'm sick of all this! I can't believe no one has seen her or has any info on her. She just can't vanish into thin air!
I was in my office waiting for a woman who claims to have seen Melina three days ago. I really hoped she had important information to share!
-"Sir, the woman you were waiting for has just arrived" Mary interrupted me while I was talking to Angeliki. She accepted all people with me.
-"Please tell her to come in" I asked her.
-"Yes Sir!" Mary said and bowed.
A knock on the door was heard and an old woman entered. She was short with a hump and was limping. Her clothes were worn and dirty, her hair was unkempt and she wore a black torn hat on. She stood in the doorway waiting for a nod or a word from me.
-"How is it possible that this woman has information about Mrs. Melina?' Aggeliki who stood next to me whispered in my ear.
-"Such people usually have information Aggeliki because they are on the streets all day. Who were you waiting for?" I scolded her in a low voice. Then I turned to the woman and said.
-"Please my lady come closer"
-"Lady? This is a first! I've never been called as such before, pretty boy!" the woman said sarcastically and approached the desk. I ignored her comment as I'm not affected by attitudes like hers. I've been hanging out with these people since I was a little boy. I know they don't have manners and they usually talk the same way they live, awful.....
-"And I was never called a handsome boy, but there is a first for everything.... Now tell me what information do you have?" I contradicted.
-"First my dough...where is it?" she asked incredulously.
-"You'll get it as soon as your story is valid" I told her firmly.
-"Oh....it is.......trust me... it is...." she said with certainty making a grin.
-"Start then....what are you waiting for?" I asked her impatiently. The truth is that I didn't believe she had any valuable information. Probably she was another scammer like the others that came before but since I wasn't sure about it I couldn't risk it.
-"You are in a hurry...you shouldn't be...." she commented like she had the ultimate word over the conversation.
-"Cut to the chase!" I told her frustrated. I was fed up of her fucking around.
-"Well, pretty boy, the woman you are looking for was living with a loser and a drunkard!"
-"Υοu are lying! The woman I am looking for couldn't live with such a man!"
-"I didn't say that she was with him of her own free will! He introduced her to us as his wife, but we all knew the truth: he took her off the streets"
-"What are you saying you silly woman? The woman I am looking for isn't a prostitute!" I scolded her.
-"I didn't say that either. You are easily jumping to conclusions pretty boy, do you know that?"
-"I am not a pretty boy. Now tell me more about this man. Who is he? Where does he live? What is his job?"
-"The man isn't worth a sit! He is a drunk and a loser. I never believed a word he said about her. It was obvious that the woman belonged to high society. Εven if her clothes were torn and dirty one could tell that the fabric was very expensive. I don't know how he took her or how he found her. One thing is for sure. The girl seemed lost. I believe she didn't remember anything from her previous life"
-"How did she look like?"
-"She was short, with curvy body, brown hair and hazel eyes"
-"Was this woman?" I asked her while I took Melina's photo and showed it to her.
-"Yes, this is the woman!" the old woman said excitedly. Her eyes shone.
-"Are you sure?"
-"I am so sure as I am talking with you right now...."
-"Tell me this loser's address then."
-"You won't find her there anymore."
-"Are you shitting me? Do you think I'm stupid?" I told her angrily and stood up abruptly.
-"No, my Lord, I do not. What I'm telling you is the truth!" she knelt before me and begged.
-"Stand up. Do you know where he took her?" I ordered.
-"He didn't take her anywhere. She escaped, but she didn't go far. A well dressed and very wealthy man took her when she reached outside the church".
-"What do you mean took her?"
-"He stopped his carriage, got out and approached her. Then he hugged her and looked very happy!"
-"Do you know who that man was?"
-"I don't usually hang out with your circle...if you know what I mean..." she commented sarcastically and continued "All I know is that his carriage was black with an A as a monogram on its sides".
-"How did he look like?"
-"He was handsome just like you. Only he had blonde hair instead of black and forest green eyes."
The description fits George.....I thought to myself.
-"I see.... Did you manage to hear his name?" I asked her trying to confirm my suspicions.
-"No, but I heard him calling her Melina."
-"Are you sure about that?" I asked while my heart was pounding.
-"The hell I am! That's why I came here today when I read the article about your fee at the newspaper! Υοu heard what I had to tell you now give me the dough."
-"Relax! Here you are!" I told her and put out of my jacket the money. She stretched out her hand to grab it when I pulled my hand towards me.
-"Hey" she protested.
-"Do you want to double them?"
-"Ηοw?" she replied eager to find out. Her eyes were shining.
-"Bring this scum that held her hostage all those days"
-"It would be my pleasure Sir" she said giving me a wide smile revealing her lack of front teeth.
-"I want you to bring him here until tomorrow morning."
-"We will be here Sir. Don't worry about that"
-"Take the fee I promised and when you bring me this bast..rd you'll get the rest of it!" I told her while I gave her the money. Ten thousand drachmas isn't a small amount. Ιt will secure her a royal life until she dies. She grabbed the money and left the room.
-"Unfortunately we didn't manage to learn anything about our Lady's whereabouts" Aggeliki commented disappointed.
-"On the contrary. The woman gave us very valuable information about the man that took her" I replied.
"The only thing that troubles me is why Melina didn't try to contact with me. Is she still angry? And why did she accept to stay at the Andreadakis house? Did she return to him? I have to pay him a visit and soon to sort things out once and for all."