“Maybe it’ll be up to you to help him take off the blinders. Anyway, nothing at this hearing is going to stick. He says it’s not his baby, so at some point it’s all going to come out in the wash one way or another. I’ve been there and know it for a fact.”
She smiled up at him. “Your facts outweigh everyone else’s. You’ve always been the smartest man I’ve ever known.”
“You mean until you collided with Stavros Konstantinos.”
“If you hadn’t taken me to Thassos to visit the marble quarry, we would never have met.”
* * *
Elek Cadmus, the attorney for Draco Nasso, was known for his cutthroat tactics. Stavros didn’t put anything past him. There were five of them in the judge’s courtroom for the closed hearing Myron had insisted upon. But he couldn’t prevent Tina from being present.
When Stavros saw her and her father sitting by the attorney, he thought she looked pale. Maybe she was pregnant and had morning sickness.
They’d already heard the recording of Andrea’s deposition. Now the judge addressed Myron. “We want to hear about the events of the evening when your client and Despinis Linford began their search for the missing teen known as Darren Lewis.”
Myron stood up. “The court has heard her deposition. My client has nothing more to add.”
“I’d like more details, Your Honor,” Elek demanded.
The judge nodded to Stavros. There was no question the judge was in Draco’s pocket to allow this farce to continue.
“We left in my Jeep for the Dragon Cave near Panagia, thinking we might find the teen hiding there. After staying inside for a half hour without seeing him, we left and drove through the forest looking for him. Finally we stopped and camped out, sleeping separately—she in a bedroll, I on some blankets.”
“Did you and Despinis Linford have physical contact? Remember, you’re under oath.”
“No, we did not. At dawn, we went into Panagia for breakfast and asked salespeople in several bike shops if they’d seen the young American. When nothing panned out, we drove down to the ferry landing and went aboard thinking he might be hiding in one of the cars or trucks. We found him hiding under the tarp of a truck. After the police came for him, I drove us back to my home. She left in the helicopter.”
“I’ve already listened to your mother’s deposition. In it, she states that when she arrived at your villa, she discovered you and Despinis Linford were having lunch on your patio after having spent the night together.”
“That’s correct, but my guest slept in the guest bedroom.”
“Why did you invite her?”
“Because I was attracted to her and wanted to spend more time with her.”
“You were taken to a clinic by ambulance due to a sting from a stingray. It was Despinis Linford who called 911. By this time, were the two of you lovers?”
His hands tightened into fists. “No.”
“Do you deny she stayed overnight after you came home from the hospital?”
“No. She nursed me while I was confined to my bed. She saved my life and I’ll always be in her debt.”
“Do you still deny you’re the father of Christina Nasso’s baby?”
“Yes.” For the second time during the hearing, Stavros looked at Tina and her glowering father. “We were never lovers and I never made a
promise to marry her. A DNA test will be the proof.”
Elek looked at the judge. “I have no more questions, Your Honor.”
“Very well. I’ve heard all the testimony I need. This case will stay open until a DNA test can be made after the baby is born to determine paternity. At that time, I’ll deliver a verdict.”
He addressed Myron. “Neither of your clients is free to leave the country until my verdict is rendered. This hearing is adjourned until further notice.”
Andrea couldn’t leave?
Stavros was too jubilant to sit still. After the judge vacated the room, he turned to Myron. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”