Tanya Granger was unable to leave her dead fathers side. So Police Inspector, Ianis Alibec of the Romanian police, had to take her by the arm and lead her away, all the while showing her respect for her grieving. But, Chris Granger and his murderer were now a crime scene waiting for forensics dressed in their HAZMAT suits to descend upon it and Tanya was in the process of contaminating the site.

Boarding gate 5 had been taped off and some chairs and tables brought in to the indoor tent that was erected there, creating a make-shift incident room. A female police officer took Tanya away from the police activity and was shown into the quiet office belonging to the airport manager. Tanya collapsed onto a sofa in the office while the female police officer went away to fetch Tanya a cup of hot sweet tea.

Meanwhile back at the incident, Police Inspector Alibec crouched down beside the fallen assassin. He took hold of the black ski mask and without showing any dignity for the dead man, crudely pulled it off what was left of his face. Inspector Alibec whistled through his teeth as he stood up still looking down at the corspe.

"I still recognise that ugly face even if its only half there. Stefan Borgia. Well, that's one of our 'most wanted' we can take down from our website!" he proclaimed to the accompanying officer. "Did we get a description of who the other guy was?"

The police officer shook his head. "By the time anyone knew what was happening, they were already wearing ski masks."

Alibec reached down again and picked up the archaeologist blood soaked passport and boarding card. The card was not bloody to read and so was immediately dismissed. The passport, however even in the same condition, provided Alibec with confirmation of the professors name and date of birth. He then placed it into a clear plastic bag then went in search for Tanya Granger.

Alibec opened the door to the airport managers office and saw Tanya was being comforted by the female police officer. He needed to ask Tanya some questions while her memory was still fresh. Alibec went over and sat beside her, holding her fathers passport still in its plastic bag.

"Miss Granger, I know this isn't a good time right now but I hope you appreciate that I need to start asking you some questions."

Still shaking with grief, Tanya nodded through her sobbing. Alibec looked up and asked the female police officer to go and fetch some water.

"I understand from the staff here at the airport that you were scheduled to fly back to London after completing your archery training programme for Tokyo 2020?"

Tanya nodded.

"We have managed to delay the flight to unload you and your father's luggage."

Tanya sniffed.

"So, Miss Granger."

"Tanya, you can call me Tanya." her head was bowed as she looked down at herself still covered in her fathers blood.

"And you can call me Ianis."

She tried to smile.

"So, Tanya tell me what happened when you met your father?"

Tanya held her head up, blinked away the tears, then staring up at the ceiling began to relay to Inspector Alibec how she arranged to meet her father in the food court prior to flying back to the UK together and how he was excited about the discovery of some golden spirals in the Dacia forest."

"An archaeological excavation I presume."

"Dad hadn't actually started the dig. It was only all survey at this point to pursuade the Institute to fund the work."

"And no-one else knew of this find?" Alibec asked.

"Only his colleague, Grigor Lazar."

The Inspector wrote the name Grigor Lazar down in his notebook.

"How long had your father being working with Mr Lazar?"

"Oh! I don't know. He must have mentioned him on and off over the past year. They were quite close. I don't know of any other person dad worked with."

"And you are sure no-one else knew about this survey being done in the forest?"

"Well, there were two men sitting at the table opposite dad when I arrived. Dad seemed reluctant to talk in detail about his work with them being in ear shot."

"Could you describe the two men?"

Tanya thought hard. "I wasn't really paying attention, but one of them looked like his face was slightly disfigured. As if his right eye and the right corner of his mouth were pulled down."

Alibec nodded. "You have just described the man who stabled your father. He was a known criminal to us, went by name of Stefan Borgia. Did you get a look at his accomplice?"

Again, Tanya tried to recollect the second man. "He had short blonde hair. Razor-cut, as if he just left the army"

Inspector Alibec fished out his phone and after a couple of searches on the police website, he showed Tanya the picture.

"Yes! That's him!" she confirmed.

Alibec returned the phone to his pocket. "I thought so. He's name is Milko Orga, known associate of Borgia. They both escaped two years ago from the maximum security penitentiary at Craiova. Having encountered him Miss Granger, you are lucky to still be alive. You mentioned to my officer, that you got into a fight with Olga. This may sound like a stupid question, but why did you get involved?"

For the first time during their meeting, Tanya looked Inspector Alibec straight in the eyes. "You're right Inspector, it's a stupid question. My father was being threatened and robbed. I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing!"

"So, robbery you think was the motive?"

"Both of them seemed determined to steal dad's laptop!"

Alibec rubbed his chin. "Criminals the like of Borgia and Olga don't mug people for a laptop costing a few hundred euros. They must have been after what was on the laptop. Please Tanya, can you tell me more about your father's work."

She looked back down at herself. "I'm afraid you'll have to speak to Grigor about that."

"Thank you Tanya. We will together, but first I think you would probably appreciate a shower and a change of clothes.

To be continued...
© Alice White