Winter Hearts

Friends

Panos left the office, leaving George to deal with Stavros.

He had just sent all the clips he had found to Hongbin and to himself. He had deleted them, feeling a sense of foreboding, as if deleting them would actually cause more problems than avoid them.

He wished he could keep Stavros' phone for longer but there were limits that even they as employers had to observe. What he wanted was to go through his email and messages, but Stavros had his own rights too - and much as he wanted to just throw caution to the wind, George was involved and he didn't want things to get any more complicated than they already were.

As he left, he heard George say something about how well they had treated Stavros despite the fact that he had violated the privacy of several people and could even be seen as trying to besmirch the good reputation of a serving member of the Hellenic Military Corps. Panos smirked. That may work, but it could also backfire, as Stavros could accuse George of strong-arming him into submission - and although he had given them permission to go through his photos and delete them, he could say he was under duress to do that, too.

Still, Panos believed that Stavros was ultimately a coward, and would likely lay low.

He wanted to speak to Siana and didn't want any prying eyes or ears, so he walked past the bar to go sit in his car. As he passed, Eleni looked up briefly, a worried look on her face. Of course, she would be concerned about Stavros as a friend as well as a co-worker.

"I'll be outside if anyone needs me," Panos said brusquely, hearing her acknowledge him as he left.

Outside, he got into his car and texted Siana.

I have updated Hongbin, need to talk to you.

Her message remained unread for a few minutes. Panos sighed impatiently, and called instead.

She picked up after a few rings.

"Nai, Pano," she said in Greek, her voice thick.

"Pou eisai?" Where are you?

"Sto yialo." At the beach.

"You know where I am?"

"At the club. Did you find anything?"

"Yes. We got it all, we deleted it. Hongbin has a copy."

"All?" Panos heard a flicker of worry in Siana's voice. He knew she was quick. And tough. But he didn't know how she would handle the next bit of news. After all, she had her pride, and liked her privacy. He took a deep breath.

"You and Leo in the carpark outside the club. And you and him in Galaxidi."

Panos felt the silence grow so thick it was deafening. He spoke to fill it in.

"Outside the club, I can understand. But how he got footage of you in Galaxidi-"

"That was this afternoon, Pano." Siana's voice was small, tense.

Panos sat up. "What? That means he followed you back to Itea-"

"Where in Galaxidi?" Siana was obviously ahead of him.

Panos cleared his throat, remembering the images he saw, of Siana in Leo's heated embrace by the waters. The footage had been taken from high up - and he knew it was from the hospitality academy, a place Stavros regularly visited.

"By the sea. The academy."

He waited, not knowing how Siana would respond.

"I'll call you back. But... Thank you, Pano." Siana sounded defeated. Small. 

He hated that. He hated that this was being done to Siana.

"Anything, doll." Panos hung up. Suddenly angered, he got out of the car and strode back inside, past Eleni who was standing by the entrance, whose eyes widened at his expression. It irritated him that she was so fearful when his anger was obviously directed at someone else. His blood was already boiling as he approached the office door.

He banged through the office door, making Stavros jump. George looked up quizzically.

Panos glared at Stavros, who seemed to crumple in on himself from fear.

"You followed her! You followed her, you slime! What did she ever do to you, you goddam maggot?!" Panos could have screamed at the top of his lungs, he was so angry.

"What's this?" George stood up, his eyes like daggers as he towered over the cowering Stavros.

"The clip from Galaxidi was from today, before you met Siana in town. He followed her all day."

"No! No I didn't!" Stavros' voice was strangled in his throat.

"Explain yourself, then" George said, his calm voice threatening.

"I-it.. it was sent to me!" Stavros wailed. George looked at Panos, his eyes wide with surprise.

"What the hell is going on here, Stavros? You trying to say there are more assholes out there like you, and you have an organised network, is that it?"

"No, it wasn't like that! It just happened. A... a friend saw them and took it, then sent it to me," he wailed.

Panos had never felt like he could beat someone with his bare hands, but the rage that ran through him when he thought about how Siana must feel...

Panos heard a door slam outside, and he cocked his head to listen for more noise. He looked at Stavros, who had turned toward the sound, still simpering to himself on the couch. Then Stavros sneaked a look at him, and was shocked to find Panos watching him.

Panos suddenly got it. 

He went out, looking for Eleni.

She was gone.