The Other Side of Midnight

"Well, I'm sure it's not a lack of confidence in your ability," said Chotas.

"Certainly not," Minos said defensively. "They very often come to me on a stupid impulse. A husband or wife will have a fight and feel they hate each other and think they want a divorce, but when you come right down to it, in most cases they change their minds."

He stopped abruptly as he realized the full import of his words.

"Thank you," Chotas said gently. "You've been most helpful."

Peter Demonides was examining the witness.

"Your name, please?"

"Kasta. Irene Kasta."

>

"Miss or Mrs.?"

"Mrs. I'm a widow."

"What is your occupation, Mrs. Kasta?"

"I'm a housekeeper."

"Where do you work?"

"For a rich family in Rafina."

"That's a village near the sea, is it not? A hundred kilometers north of Athens?"

"Yes."

"Would you please take a look at the two defendants seated at the table? Have you ever seen them before?"

"Sure. Lots of times."

"Would you tell us under what circumstances?"

"They live in the house next to the villa where I work. I seen them on the beach a lot. They was naked."

There was a gasp from the spectators and then a quick buzz of conversation. Peter Demonides glanced over at Chotas to see if he was going to object, but the old lawyer sat at the table, a dreamy smile on his face. The smile made Demonides more nervous than ever. He turned back to the witness.

"You are certain that these are the two people you saw? You are under oath, you know."

"Them's the two, all right."

"When they were together on the beach, did they seem friendly?"

"Well, they didn't act like brother and sister."

A laugh from the spectators.

"Thank you, Mrs. Kasta." Demonides turned to Chotas. "Your witness."

Napoleon Chotas nodded amiably and rose and ambled over to the formidable-looking woman in the witness box.

"How long have you worked at this villa, Mrs. Kasta?"

"Seven years."