The Forty Column Castle Read Online Free PDF

you like the hotel?” I asked. I decided
     to stick to the mundane. It was funny how my tongue was getting all twisted up trying
     to talk. I hadn’t had that problem before.
    “It’s improved greatly since you arrived,” Zach said, smiling into my eyes. “I have
     the day free day to relax.”
    “Speaking of relaxing,” I said, rushing, hardly taking a breath between syllables,
     afraid if I stopped I’d never get the words out, “we’re going to a lovely, rather
     isolated beach north of here, above Ayios Georgios, the church that sits near the
     beach. Would you care to join us?”
    He picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his face and neck, as if giving the
     invitation serious consideration. He slid the towel over his chest and arms. I followed
     every move. My eyes were bolder than my tongue.
    “I’d like to,” he said with a grin. “Let me shower and change. Have you had anything
     to eat?
    “Yes, but I could use another cup of coffee. Couldn’t you, Yannis?” I hoped my pleasantries
     would offset Yannis’s frowning face.
    He crossed his arms and grunted.
    “Why don’t we wait for you at the restaurant on the outside terrace?” I said.
    “Great, I’ll see you there in fifteen minutes.”
    I slipped into the ladies room on the way to the restaurant and changed into black
     bikini bottoms under my skirt. I never traveled anywhere on Cyprus without bikini
     bottoms, beach towel, and sun tan lotion. Topless saved on half the price of a bathing
     suit, and I loved the feeling.
    I ransacked my brain for the right way to tell Zach about my aunt and enlist his aid,
     as I walked out to the terrace where Yannis was seated at a table decked out in blue
     and white checked cloth. If I could get my tongue to work, coming right out with the
     truth would probably be best.
    Yannis stood and helped me into a chair with a cushion that matched the table cloth.
     The table was next to the railing and overlooked the cove that the Coral Beach claimed
     as its own. A huge, meandering swimming pool stretched below us and beyond that a
     beach with a small harbor filled with pleasure craft.
    “We don’t need this guy’s help,” he said. His face was fixed in an unbecoming scowl,
     and he drummed his fingers on the table. “I have important contacts that we haven’t
     used yet.”
    “I’ve been mulling that over.” I propped my chin on my hand and looked at him. “I
     want to know what a security consultant does. Let’s ask and then decide.” I gave him
     a smile, trying to dispel the frown he’d adopted at the sight of Zach. “We may need
     all the help we can get.”
    Zach joined us in less than fifteen minutes. The waiter brought him a fresh cup of
     coffee and refilled ours.
    “Great coffee,” Zach said after sampling his. “Sure is nice to be back on Cyprus.”
     He looked around, taking in his surroundings. “This is my kind of living.”
    I nodded in agreement. The setting was spectacular.
    The waiter returned to take Zach’s order. He ordered breakfast even though we were
     well into the afternoon. We faced the sea, and the sun blazed on the water. Fair skinned
     Northern European tourists were scattered around on blue and white lounge chairs,
     working on a sun burn. A slight breeze blew the place mats up on the table, and Zach
     leaned forward to catch my napkin, as it tried to follow the breeze. Yannis seemed
     unaware of his surroundings. He sat with his arms folded across his chest, scowling
     into the distance.
    “What have you been doing?” Zach asked, directing his gaze at me.
    I shifted my gaze to the beach area, not wanting to rush into a reply. A striking
     couple who had very little on between them caught my eye. I watched them, as I thought
     what to say.
    At last, turning to him, I said, “I’ve been trying to get my aunt out of jail,” like
     I was giving the weather report.
    Zach’s reaction was in his eyebrows. They rose ever so slightly. “Nice way to spend
     a