A Deadly Twist

by Jeffrey Siger

  “Which kind of makes you wonder,” said Andreas.

  “About what?” asked Toni.

  “Our man’s trademark has him making deaths look like accidents. What happened here checks that box, but he always works alone and doesn’t take risks that might come back to haunt him. In this case, at least two people were likely involved, a truck driver and a car driver, and the paint on Popi’s pickup and the straight-job don’t quite match. Yes, it might have been overlooked by investigators if the pickup had rolled all the way down the mountain, but the clear paint differences would be just the sort of mistake our man takes pride in avoiding.”

  “So who else could it be?” said Maggie.

  “Anyone.” Andreas looked at Dimitri. “Any luck yet on identifying that dead tourist?”

  Dimitri gestured no. “Like I said before, identifying tourists is difficult.”

  “Have you tried our Greek databases?”

  “For a foreigner?”

  “Maybe he wasn’t a foreign tourist?”

  Dimitri exhaled. “Will do.”

  Andreas turned to Yianni. “What were you planning on doing next?”

  “Having a big meeting with all the activist leaders Nikoletta interviewed. Popi was going to set it up using her local connections.”

  “So much for that, I guess,” said Dimitri, quickly adding, “at least for now.”

  “Not necessarily,” said Andreas. “Tassos Stamatos’s boat arrives in less than an hour. He has local connections everywhere and might just be able to set up that meeting.”

  “If anyone can, it’s Tassos,” said Maggie. “Everyone in the Cyclades seems to owe him favors.”

  “Or worries about what he has on them,” said Yianni.

  Andreas looked at Dimitri and nodded toward Yianni. “He’s Yianni’s hero.”

  “Can’t help it; he’s my Greek version of John Wayne.”

  “A shorter, stockier Rooster Cogburn version, no doubt,” said Andreas with a smile.

  “Easy there, that’s my guy you’re talking about,” growled Maggie.

  “Enough already,” said Yianni. “Just set up the meeting for tomorrow so that I can make it.”

  “But you’re all bandaged up,” said Lila.

  “It’ll generate sympathy. And make me look like a tough guy.”

  “Not as tough as the guy who put you here,” joked Andreas.

  “You’re staying right here until the doctors say you can leave,” said Toni.

  “Then I want to talk to the doctors.”

  “Fine,” she said.

  “Alone.”

  “Why?”

  “You intimidate them.”

  “That’s not a good reason.”

  “Okay then, because you intimidate me.”

  Toni patted Yianni’s hand. “Get used to it.”

  * * *

  Andreas and Maggie were waiting for Tassos when the massive Blue Star ferry docked at the port. Andreas had used his badge to park next to the Harbor Police post by the end of the pier, saving Tassos a three-hundred-meter walk lugging baggage.

  Tassos hugged and kissed Maggie. “Great to see you, my love.”

  He looked at Andreas. “Good to see you, too, fella.” They embraced and slapped each other on the back.

  “You look terrific. Slimmer than I can ever remember.”

  “I owe it all to my prison warden here. Maggie keeps everything I’d like to eat under lock and key, leaving me to battle rabbits for food.”

  “That visual works for me. You out in your garden on all fours, hopping around after lettuce and carrots.”

  “Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.” Tassos looked inside the three-row SUV. “Hey, where’s Lila?”

  Andreas picked up Tassos’s bag and put it in the far back seat. “She’s at the hospital keeping Yianni company while Toni takes a break to shower and catch a bit of a nap in Yianni’s hotel room.”

  “How’s the kid doing?”

  “He’s almost as tough as you.” Andreas smiled. “I’m not worried about him. Come on, jump in the car, and we’ll go see him.”

  Maggie opened the passenger side rear door and stepped inside. “Sit up front,” she said to Tassos. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”

  “Don’t we always,” said Andreas.

  He carefully maneuvered the SUV through the crowd of pedestrians headed toward the taxis, hotel buses, and car rental offices far ahead. “This place is packed.”

  “Always is when a boat lands. A real bottleneck for the whole town,” said Tassos.

  “I can’t imagine what it must be like when one of those behemoth cruise ships lands,” said Maggie.

  “Naxians can. It’s what motivated some of them to wage a humongous battle against the town’s plan to expand the port by seventeen acres.”

  “When was that?” asked Andreas.

  “Back in 2007. Town hall wanted to expand the port to accommodate five cruise ships. Thirty-three citizens filed a lawsuit against their plan and won it in 2008 when the Greek Supreme Court found the study on which the expansion was based to be insufficient.”

  Andreas shook his head. “That sort of activism must have really pissed off town hall.”

  “That’s an understatement. Participants in the Case of the 33, as it came to be called, and their supporters were vilified for opposing the plan. Threats of physical harm were reportedly made, CURSE THE 33 appeared emblazoned on signs at rallies and in graffiti, and boycotts were called against businesses tied to the thirty-three. The more overtly threatening tactics largely subsided once the media in Athens got word of what was happening and turned the situation into an embarrassment for the island. But even today, pockets of resentment remain and some still boycott the original thirty-three.”

  “What happened to the thirty-three?”

  “Actually, there were more than thirty-three actively in opposition, but since the law required those acting as plaintiffs to be directly affected by the plan, some of its strongest opponents weren’t officially named as part of the thirty-three. After their court victory, the group disbanded, though some members later ran for office, and their party is now the third-largest vote-getter on the island.”

  “So they gave up good works to became politicians,” said Maggie.

  “Not all of them, my love. Some of the thirty-three organized an environmental group that’s very active on a lot of fronts.”

  “Such as?” said Andreas.

  Tassos looked at Andreas. “Why do I get the impression you’re interested in what I’m saying for more than its historical significance?”

  “Just keep talking, Professor, and I’ll tell you after you’re done.”

  “He’s never done talking. Here take this.” Maggie held out a bottle of water.

  “Ignoring those slights, I shall continue.” Tassos paused to take the bottle and twist off the cap. “So, back to today’s hot environmental issues on Naxos…” Tassos took a long sip of water and stuck out the thumb of his free hand. “Number one is windmills.”

  “Windmills?” said Andreas, “I’d think environmentalists would be all for them.”

  “They claim they’re not as efficient as other methods and that those behind them are actually seeking to create an industrial park for purposes of selling energy off-island, not to conserve and protect the island.”

  “Interesting.”

  “The other hot button issues are much the same as those confronting most islands.” He popped out a finger. “Private businesses using public spaces like beaches for their umbrella, kitesurfing, and taverna businesses. Three,” another finger shot up, “protection of wildlife, like sea turtles. Fourth,” another finger, “where do you place stops on tourist development? And that issue raises more additional and complicated issues than I have finger
s to count on.”

  “And please do spare us your toes.”

  Tassos waved Andreas off. “Bottom line, there’s a lot of activism here, and it’s not just a right versus left political thing. Naxians are proud of their independent lifestyle, and many have genuine concerns over what constitutes sustainable development and what threatens to destroy the way of life they treasure. These are not new concerns. Back in the 1990s, there was talk of expanding the airport to accommodate bigger planes, and twenty-three communities came out publicly against it.”

  “God sent you to me today for a purpose,” said Andreas.

  “Glad you finally figured that out.”

  “Stop this blasphemy,” said Maggie, crossing herself.

  “I need you to reach out to your contacts here to arrange a meeting.”

  “What sort of meeting?”

  “With the activists interviewed by Nikoletta Elia.” Andreas brought Tassos up to speed on the case.

  “Don’t we need Yianni at the meeting?” said Tassos. “He’s the only one who’s read the reporter’s notebooks.”

  Andreas nodded. “I know. But there’s no choice. We only have until Monday before the minister goes public about the reporter’s disappearance.”

  “That could get her killed,” said Tassos.

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I guess that means the three of us have some serious reading to do before tomorrow,” said Maggie.

  “We can divide it up among us,” said Tassos.

  “If you set up the meeting, we’ll do whatever has to be done to make it work.”

  Tassos pulled out his mobile, found a name, and pressed it. “Now, please be quiet while I try to be charming.”

  Andreas glanced back at Maggie. “My, Maggie, it sounds as if you and I are in for a novel experience.”

  She rolled her eyes. “To quote you, oh wise one, ‘Tell me about it.’”

  * * *

  By the time they reached the hospital, Toni was back in her chair next to Yianni.

  “I thought you were taking a nap,” said Andreas.

  “Couldn’t sleep. Too wired,” said Toni.

  “You should take one of the pills they’re giving me. It will put you right out,” said Yianni.

  “Or take a ride with this guy, listening to him attempting to be charming.” Andreas nodded at Tassos walking into the room behind Maggie.

  “Tassos, you old devil, so good to see you,” said Yianni, struggling to sit up in bed.

  “Don’t move,” said Tassos.

  “It’s not me that’s weak; the meds only make me feel that way. The nurse had me walking while you were out. With any luck, they’ll release me tomorrow morning.”

  “Don’t push it,” said Andreas.

  Yianni frowned. “But we’ve got to set up that meeting if we hope to have any chance of finding the reporter before Monday.”

  “It’s all taken care of,” said Tassos. “I spoke to an old friend from Junta days, and he said he’d do what he could to set up the meeting.”

  “‘Do what he could’ doesn’t sound very promising.”

  “The guy I spoke to was one of the Junta’s fiercest opponents. They threw him in prison, and I was the only guard who made sure he was properly taken care of, which included protecting him from some of my colleagues who thought they could use him as a punching bag. Since then he’s always thought of me as a brother. But more importantly, he’s from Naxos and a legend on the island among the sort of people the reporter met with. To them, getting a request from my friend is a royal command.”

  “I think ‘royal command’ might be the wrong analogy, considering their politics,” said Lila.

  “Trust me, he’ll make it happen. In fact, he’s reaching out as we speak. He’ll set it up for someplace where they’ll all be comfortable, around siesta time so as not to interfere with their distinctly varied lines of work.”

  “What sorts of work?” asked Andreas.

  “He said we’ve got a shepherd, a chef-restaurateur, an artist, a bookseller, and a farmer.”

  Yianni nodded. “And, according to Nikoletta’s notebooks, each is firmly committed to different strongly held opinions. It should be quite a get-together. I can’t wait.”

  “Like hell you’ll be involved. Your pulse rate is moving up on the monitor just talking about it.” Toni pointed at blinking lights above the bed.

  “That’s because my medication is wearing off, and having you so close to me is giving me intriguing thoughts.”

  “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

  “How about laid?”

  Toni shook her head. “Please excuse his language. It must be his medication talking.”

  “I think it’s our cue to leave,” said Lila.

  “No, we’ve got work to do,” said Yianni.

  “Your only job is to rest and get better. We’ll take care of the meeting,” said Andreas.

  “But, like I said, I’m the only one who’s read Nikoletta’s notebooks.”

  “We’ll read them tonight. Toni brought them here from your hotel room.”

  “I still think I should be at the meeting.”

  “Only if the doctors say so. And that’s an order. I also think it’s time we leave you two lovebirds alone.”

  “Toni, go with them. I’ll be fine.”

  “Not a chance. When you leave, I leave, not before.”

  Yianni squeezed Toni’s hand and winked. “More motivation for me to get out of here ASAP.” He looked at Andreas. “Where are you staying?”

  “At the home of a friend of Lila’s family, about fifteen minutes south of Chora toward a beach area known as Plaka.”

  “That commute time assumes you know where you’re going. From my experience with Naxos roads, you’re in for a longer adventure.”

  “Use GPS,” Toni told Andreas.

  “You’re wasting your breath,” said Lila. “He’s a man.”

  Andreas spread his arms. “What did I do to deserve this unprovoked attack?”

  “You’re right,” nodded Lila. “It’s not your fault you were born a man.”

  “Make that a Greek man,” added Maggie.

  Tassos patted Yianni on the leg and waved for everyone to leave. “I think I’d better retreat before this skirmish accelerates into an all-out separate bedrooms battlefield.”

  “Like I said, a Greek man. If you want to get his attention, feed him or threaten not to fuck him.”

  “Maggie, such language,” said Lila, feigning horror.

  “It comes from too many years hanging out with cops.”

  Toni looked at Lila. “I’ll call you later and let you know what the doctor says.”

  “There’s really no need for all of you to leave,” said Yianni.

  “Of course there is. You’ve just been fed.” Toni smiled. “Now it’s time for that other thing.”

  “What other—” Yianni’s face lit up. “Bye, everybody.”

  * * *

  A few minutes after his visitors had left his room, Yianni turned to Toni. “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “What you promised.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. I was joking. Here you are, wired up to a monitor and IV twenty-four hours after going through a car wreck, and you want to have sex? In your hospital bed, no less, when a nurse could walk through the door at any moment.” She shook her head. “You are nuts.”

  “No, just excited. After all, I survived a near-death experience, with no seriously broken bones or internal injuries.”

  “But you have two broken ribs.”

  “I’ve had those before. Besides, if I’m discharged tomorrow, I’ll want to have sex as soon as we’re alone at the house, but you still might be afraid for me.”

  “Damn right.”
/>   “That’s the brilliance of doing it here, while I’m hooked up to these machines. We can tell if I’m overdoing it and should stop.”

  Toni stared at him. “You do realize what you just said is among the most creative lines I’ve ever heard from someone desperately trying to get into someone else’s pants? And in all my years of working in bars, I’ve heard a lot of them.”

  He smiled. “So, did it work?”

  She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, then on the lips. “Not totally.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She kissed him again and looked up at the monitor. “Your pulse is beating faster.”

  “I’d certainly hope so.”

  She pressed her lips against his, opened her mouth and felt him press his tongue hard against hers. She glanced up at the monitor and mumbled, “Faster.”

  He kissed her more deeply and felt her hand slide under his blanket, beneath his gown, and down to where he was growing hard. She squeezed and slowly slid her hand up and down as she squeezed.

  Again, she looked up at the monitor. “Faster.”

  “Yes,” he whispered, “faster.”

  She pulled back from kissing him. “Uh-uh.”

  “What—”

  Toni dropped her head beneath the blanket and brought her mouth to where her hand had been.

  Neither noticed or seemed to care when the alarm went off on the monitor, and by the time the nurse responded, it was as if nothing had happened.

  “Everything okay in here?” she asked.

  “Yes, fine,” said Toni.

  “Are you sure?” she said, looking at Yianni.

  Yianni nodded, closing his eyes. “I’m sure.”

  The nurse nodded back. “Funny thing about these monitors. In all the years I’ve been watching them, there’s a certain pattern they follow when I leave young couples alone in the room. Congratulations, you two rang the bell.” She smiled, stared for a few seconds at a red-faced Toni, and walked out.

  “Busted,” said a still-blushing Toni.

  “Me too,” said Yianni, sighing contentedly. “Thoroughly and totally busted.”

  Chapter Ten