Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 127, No. 6. Whole No. 778, June 2006

Sisters and Lovers by Natasha Cooper

© 2006 by Natasha Cooper

Natasha Cooper has lived all of her life in London, so it’s no surprise that she sets her novels there. In the U.S., her books are published by St. Martin’s Press, and they have also been translated for sale in several other countries. Ms. Cooper’s most recent novel, Gagged and Bound, has been named one of the best paperbacks of 2006 by Publishing News, which says, “Strong characterization and sense of place put Natasha cooper among the best in current crime writing.”

The flight attendant offered me food. I shook my head. Even if I hadn’t felt sick, I wouldn’t have fancied reconstituted chicken. I’d been dining on lamb cooked with pomegranate juice and pistachio nuts for the past week. She moved on, leaving me to stare out of the window.

All I could think about was what I was going to say to Sally. The breakup had half killed her in itself. How would she bear the whole truth? Some people thought she was tougher than she let on, but I knew better.

When she phoned that night, her voice full of panic, I’d gone at once. I always did. Friends said I’d spoiled her, but how could I help it? She was only twelve when Mum died, and I was sixteen. I’ll never forget the way she shook and clung to me then. I had to look after her.

Her eyes were puffy with crying, and Geoff’s letter was crumpled in her hands.

“So you see, Sally,” he had written in the last paragraph, “I’m off to make a new start in North Cyprus. You’ll hate me for a bit, but in the end you’ll see it’d be worse if I stayed and lied to you.”

“He wasn’t answering any of his phones yesterday,” she said, crying again. “But I never thought... How could he, Kate?”

“I don’t know, Sally. Sometimes when we think we know someone...” I didn’t know what to say so I brushed her fine blond hair away from her swollen eyes and tried again. “You never like seeing the truth about people you love, but sometimes you have to. You hated me for telling you to be careful about those investments of his. Maybe I was right and he wasn’t the trustworthy man you wanted him to be.”

“He was once.” She grabbed my wrist. Her palm felt damp, but her grip was strong as ever. “You could bring him back, if you went out there and talked to him. I need him, Kate. Promise you’ll go. Please?”

What could I say? I couldn’t tell her that I was glad Geoff was gone, that I really hadn’t liked him; she looked so fragile and so trusting, I did as any loyal sister would. I promised to try.

In fact it wasn’t hard to find him. North Cyprus is a small place. I booked a hotel room in Kyrenia. They call it Girne now. It’s a harbour with yachts and restaurants round the edge. The first night I went to a bar and met some expats. They knew nearly every English person on the island, so it was easy to ask about Geoff.

They hadn’t met him, but they said they could find out if anyone new had rented a house or flat. It only took four phone calls before they came up with the address.

First thing next morning, I hired a car and drove to where he was renting a villa. There was no one about, but the doors were unlocked, so I knew he couldn’t be far. I called his name, then stood on the terrace, looking round. It was so beautiful. All I could see ahead of me was sea; nothing but sea between me and Turkey.

It was only a minute or two before Geoff emerged from the house in his dressing gown, holding a mug that smelled of coffee.

“I never thought she’d send you,” he said, grinning. “What are you supposed to do? Drag me back to England by my ear?”

“Maybe,” I said. “Or at least try to talk some sense into you. What are you thinking of to throw away everything you and Sally have together?”

“You’re out of date,” he said, putting down the empty mug. “I’ve been a bit of a naughty boy, as your sister will discover when the Fraud Squad comes looking for me.” He grinned again. “But there’s no extradition treaty with North Cyprus, so they won’t get me, or the dosh, darling.”

How was I going to tell her? My head was aching, so I laid it against the cold window. I’d done a bit of digging and now I knew he’d used her name and her money in a share scam. Sally was going to be in a lot of trouble, as well as deeply in debt.

The captain announced our descent. For the first time I was glad when we were held in a queue, then that my case took ages to appear on the carousel. Eventually I pulled it through the Nothing to Declare channel.

There she was, waiting as she’d promised. She looked better. Maybe she wouldn’t crack under the news. I put my arms around her.

“Where is he?”

“I couldn’t make him come. But it’s worse than that, Sally. He—”

I was saved by the buzz of her phone. She pushed me away.

“Yes,” she said into the phone, suddenly crisp. “No, she didn’t manage it. D’you want me to come in now or shall we talk in the morning?”

I must have moved or flinched because she broke off, looking at me. There was a kind of power in her I’d never seen, and a bit of shame. She switched off the phone.

“Don’t look like that, Katie,” she said, wheedling again. “I didn’t do it to hurt you. It’s work. There are things I have to keep secret.”

“You mean, you knew what Geoff was up to?”

“We suspected, but we needed proof. I was collecting evidence.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” A new feeling was growing in me. I hated it.

Sally shrugged. “He could’ve been telling the truth for once. We thought it worth sending you, but you had to believe the story or you’d have screwed up. You never could tell lies and I couldn’t let you jeopardise this.”

I stood back. My sister met my gaze and I felt as if I was seeing her for the first time. “I know you must feel used, Kate, but...”

I blanked the rest of what she said. How could she trick me like this?

Sometimes, when we think we know someone...