Deceit in the Daffodils by Fiona Grace

Author:Fiona Grace [Grace, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fiona Grace
Published: 2024-06-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Another row of trees was planted, and Alice sent the crew home to rest. "I'll see you all tomorrow."

In minutes, they'd gathered their gear and climbed back in the truck with Theo at the wheel. With a chorus of "antio sas” they were bumping their way back to the entrance.

Alice gathered up the last of the dishes from their lunch, muscles aching from lifting and digging and shoveling. Dimitra joined her minutes later and they made short work of piling everything up.

Alice and Dimitra made their way back to the house, a trail of footprints marking their journey through the soft earth. The air was warm and held the faintest hint of thyme from the surrounding hills.

"Has Eleni been struggling with money?" Alice asked, her curiosity piqued by their earlier conversation. "Something she said made me think funds might be tight."

Dimitra nodded, her expression somber. "I believe so. Her husband, Leonidas, he started an energy drink business. He's been having trouble getting it off the ground. It's hard to master all the production and distribution. He hired people to help, but I think they might have taken more than they gave. He is, maybe, a little naïve."

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Alice was always grateful that she never had to deal with the business side of Fieldstone Landscaping. Owen took care of marketing and scheduling and accounts payable and receivable, letting Alice focus on the plants and their harmony with the earth around them.

“He is also striving to be one of those social media influencers. Lots of selfies on social media, always trying to get more likes, more shares.” Dimitra shook her head. "I guess that's how business is done these days."

Alice knew people made money that way although it baffled her. Her sister Daisy was fantastic with it and was always after Alice to do more. It wasn't really her style, though.

"So, yes, I think money has been a problem for them for a while. Her mother, Narcissa, would have lent a hand without hesitation, but she’d been gone for more than a year when Leonidas started the company." She paused, a sigh escaping her lips. "Nikos... well, he was never one for financial matters. But the inheritance should more than cover any debts they have and maybe set them up to truly establish the business."

Alice pondered this new information, wondering how it fit into the puzzle of Nikos' untimely demise. Would Eleni have been desperate enough to hurry her father off this mortal coil? She didn't like to think it, but it was also clear that Eleni’s feelings toward her father were far from warm. The sound of voices drew her attention as they stepped into the cool shade of the kitchen.

"Inspector Pallas," Dimitra said, sounding a little surprised. "I didn't know you had arrived."

“I came to meet Ms. Markos and give her some information on her father's case." He looked around, seeming slightly uncomfortable. "Perhaps we could go somewhere more private to talk?"

"Oh," Alice said. "We were just dropping these dishes off.

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