Santorini Caesars

by Jeffrey Siger

  “The leftists’ phrase of choice, I see,” said Yianni.

  “That’s what happens when a lawyer who never liked cops gets appointed head of police,” said Petro.

  “God have mercy,” said Maggie.

  Andreas opened his eyes and looked down at his desk. “The people elected the government of their choice, and that government has the right to its priorities.” He looked up at Yianni. “But, Yianni, I think it’s time you told Maggie what sort of help we need from her.”

  ***

  Andreas, his pregnant wife, and five-year-old son lived at the very heart of Athens’ privileged society in a penthouse apartment on the city’s chicest street, next door to the Presidential Palace and across from the National Gardens. Andreas’ lifestyle came with his marriage to Lila. At first he’d felt he didn’t belong, that he was betraying his working class roots. He’d grown up the son of a decorated cop and housewife mother in a shabby but stable neighborhood surrounded by people quick to judge themselves morally superior to any who did not labor as they did to survive. In time, Andreas came to realize that what truly mattered was not what you did or how much you earned, but rather the ethical principles you practiced in living your life.

  He’d also be the first to admit it was a hell of a lot easier making the proper life choices when money wasn’t an issue.

  “Welcome home, handsome,” said Lila from a cream-and-blue linen-covered sofa facing a bank of windows looking off toward the Acropolis.

  Andreas dropped down beside her and took her hand, his eyes fixed on the Acropolis.

  “Not even a kiss? Something serious must be on your mind.”

  He turned and kissed her on the cheek. “Sorry. Just the state of our world.” He patted Lila’s belly. “And what it will be like when our little one arrives.”

  Lila laughed. “Hopefully not that different. My due date’s less than a month away.”

  Andreas leaned over and kissed her again. “You’re right. No reason to talk about anything other than happy things.”

  “I’m not saying that. I’m just tired, a bit anxious, and a lot excited about getting this heavy little ball of love out here into the world.” Lila patted her belly.

  “Yeah, Tassaki could use a playmate.”

  Lila stared at him. “Yes, that too.” She shook her head. “Men.”

  “Hey, did I say something wrong?”

  Lila patted Andreas’ hand. “Don’t worry about it. I know what’s bothering you.”

  Andreas bit at his lower lip.

  “It was tragic what happened to that poor girl at the demonstration today.”

  Andreas nodded. “At every level, and now every bastard malaka in Greece is looking for some way to spin it to further private agendas.”

  “Welcome to the twenty-first century, my husband. No one is direct, everyone has hidden motives and aspirations.”

  “I know, but it still bothers me. “

  “Isn’t that why we have cops, to keep the really bad ones in line?”

  “That’s just my point, I’m not sure we are keeping the really bad ones in line.”

  “Where, might I ask, is this conversation headed?” She rested her head on Andreas’ shoulder.

  He kissed her forehead. “Something isn’t right about the girl’s death. Her mother’s catatonic, the father’s in denial. Both are expected reactions, but my instincts are screaming that the father’s holding something back, that he knows more than he’s told us.”

  “So how do you find out if you’re right?”

  “From the way things are going, maybe only when two bodies turn up who happen to be his daughter’s killers. I was hoping Maggie might be able to learn something through her old-girl network, but so far she’s come up empty.”

  “If the father knows, do you think he’d tell his wife?”

  “Hard to say. It depends on how he thinks she’ll react. He might just want to keep it to himself.”

  “Wise choice.”

  “Why do you say that?” said Andreas.

  Lila lifted her head off Andreas’ shoulder. “Because I know the mother. She’s one of the biggest gossips in Athens. Hard to imagine her keeping something like that secret. She’d want the whole world to know if she thought it might help catch her daughter’s killers.”

  Andreas watched Lila rub her belly. “What mother wouldn’t?”

  She sighed. “I guess you’re right. But if you thought she might know something, I could take a run at her for information.”

  “Uh, uh,” said Andreas firmly. “Our prime directive is that you never again get involved in any of my cases.”

  “I know, but I just thought—”

  Andreas cut her off. “Last time it nearly cost you your life. And if I’m right, there are far more serious players involved in whatever’s going on now. Don’t even think about having anything to do with it. If you’re bored you can take up something less dangerous, like sky diving, while you’re waiting for D-Day.” Andreas smiled.

  “D-Day? As in ‘delivery day’?” Lila shook her head and stared at Andreas’ eyes. “Okay, charmer, what do you suggest we do to divert me from my boredom?”

  Andreas waggled his eyebrows. “Is Tassaki asleep?”

  “I hate it when you do that thing with your eyebrows.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Yes, he’s asleep.”

  “Terrific.” Andreas stood, gently pulled Lila up from the couch, and steered her toward their bedroom. “It’s diversion time.”

  She shook her head. “As I said…‘men.’”

  ***

  Tassos had long ago grown used to Maggie’s body. He knew precisely where she liked to be touched. The light was dim and the room a bit warm, but it didn’t matter. He had the urge and she always let him. They’d long ago worked around the belly issue; it was passion that drove them. He pulled her closer, firmly gripping her breasts and pressing his thighs hard against her buttocks. They rocked slowly together, she moaning softly as he thrust at a pace in keeping with her breathing. He held her tightly as she came, and moaned into her ear as he soon followed. They knew how to enjoy each other.

  They lay quietly together in the darkness.

  “At least some things in our country are still worth doing right.”

  She smacked him on his bare butt. “Is that the most romantic thing you could come up with at a moment like this?”

  “Who needs romance? We just had sex.”

  She laughed. “I’ll remember that the next time you start nibbling at my ear.”

  “It’s not your ear I’m interested in.” He brushed his finger tips along her breasts.

  She smiled in the dark and pressed back against him. A moment passed and she sighed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, my mind was wandering. I was thinking about something Yianni and Andreas asked me to do.”

  “What on earth could that be to come to you at a moment like this?”

  Maggie giggled. “It has to do with that poor girl murdered over by the university.”

  “The Sigounas girl?” said Tassos.

  “Yes.” She shifted on the bed. “Andreas wanted me to find out what I could about her father. See if there’s anything he’s hiding.”

  “Generals have a lot of things to hide.”

  Maggie stiffened. “You know him?”

  “Some. But I knew his father very well.”

  “How’s that?”

  “He was my boss when I worked at that prison on Yaros.”

  Maggie sat up and turned on the light. She pulled the sheet up to her neck. “But you were working for the Junta then.”

  “I was a rookie cop, doing a job. I made friends with prisoners and guards alike. It’s my nature. And a good thing too,” he gently flicked her no
se, “because that’s how I made friends with Andreas when he was chief of police on Mykonos, and if I hadn’t, where would you and I be today?”

  Andreas’ chance mention to Maggie of widower Tassos, not knowing of their long ago romantic past, had helped put them back together.

  “Fine, so what do you know about the Brigadier’s father?”

  “He was a biggie, had the ear and trust of the Colonels ruling the country.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “He’s dead now. Passed away a few years back.”

  “But what’s his name?”

  Tassos told her.

  “That’s not the Brigadier’s last name.”

  Tassos nodded. “After the Junta fell, his parents changed his name to his mother’s.”

  “Out of shame over his father’s past?”

  Tassos gestured no. “Not at all. It was a practical decision. No reason to saddle their son with such a notorious name.”

  “You mean the military doesn’t know about his father?”

  Tassos patted her belly. “Darling, of course they know, and that name’s not a problem there. His father was a much admired military man—still is, to some—and that makes the Brigadier part of a special clique of multi-generational military types who regard themselves as the true protectors of the nation, no matter who their ancestors may have served along the way.”

  “Andreas thinks he may be hiding something about who killed his daughter.”

  Tassos nodded. “If he is, my bet would be he plans on taking vengeance himself.”

  “That’s what Andreas thinks.”

  “Then what’s the problem? Let the Brigadier take care of this mess. I’m sure he’ll find a way to restore capital punishment in Greece for the occasion.”

  “At times it’s hard for me to remember you’re a cop. You sound more like a thug.”

  “That’s why you work for my squeaky clean buddy Andreas, and sleep with me.” He smiled as he tugged at the sheet in Maggie’s grip. “You like us bad boys.”

  Maggie held firm to the sheet. “Well, I’m glad you’ll be helping us, at any rate.”

  “Us?” said Tassos.

  “Yes. Welcome to the investigation, Cyclades Chief Homicide Investigator Stamatos.”

  Tassos tickled Maggie’s belly through the sheet. “And by what authority are you assigning me a case?”

  “The same authority that’s going to keep this sheet up around my neck until you say yes.”

  “That’s not very romantic.”

  “As a wise man recently told me, ‘Who needs romance?’”

  Tassos frowned a smile. “Hoist by my own petard.”

  Maggie said, “But look what you’ve gained,” and dropped her hands from the sheet.

  Chapter Five

  When Maggie arrived at work the next morning, Andreas was sitting behind his desk. She stuck her head in the open doorway to his office. “You’re here before nine? What happened? Did Lila throw you out of the house?”

  Andreas pointed toward the flickering television on the wall. “Obviously you haven’t been watching this morning’s news.”

  “As a matter of fact you’re right. What’s up?”

  “Demonstrations. Everywhere.”

  “Before noon?” Maggie stepped inside the doorway.

  Andreas waved his hand in the air. “Tell me about it, all across the country. Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Ioannina, Crete. If it has a university, it has a demonstration.”

  “Over the murdered girl?”

  Andreas nodded. “I’m just waiting for the rock and Molotov cocktail-tossing crowd to move in. International news channels are all over this, so it’s hard for me to imagine them staying away.”

  “I take that to mean you’re not a believer in our minister’s claimed ability to keep the violent ones in line.”

  “Why, because his party once tossed the rocks he thinks his government gets a lifetime pass on incoming? The only distinction between his crew and the just-as-bad ones they replaced is in the different promises they made that they won’t keep. This government is busy stuffing family, friends, and supporters into every position they can come up with, and pouncing on the same capitalist perks they once denounced. Their arrogance has them thinking the voters they care about don’t care, but the people notice. Any day now it’ll be his government dodging rocks and bottles.” Andreas pointed at the TV. “I just hope today’s not that day.”

  Tassos walked into the office, carrying a small cardboard carton.

  “And to what do I owe the honor of this surprise visit?” said Andreas.

  “You don’t. My love does.” He kissed Maggie on the cheek.

  “He dropped me off and went across the street for croissants and coffee.”

  “What’s the matter? You’re too good for our GADA cafeteria?” said Andreas.

  “I’m too old to suffer its indignities.”

  “Indignities?”

  Tassos put the carton down on Andreas’ desk and picked out a cup of coffee. “Yes, think indigestion, but working differently on the system.”

  Andreas waved his hand at Tassos. “Okay, I get it. Spare me the details.”

  “Shh,” said Maggie, pointing at the television. The screen showed police in full riot gear standing outside Parliament, holding shields raised up against a crowd of hooded men wielding clubs.

  “Damn it,” said Tassos. “There should be a fixed perimeter of barricades out there to protect our boys from being encircled and overrun.”

  “The new government ordered them all taken down as a sign of ‘trust in the people,’” said Andreas. “Let’s just hope the damn fools had the good sense to have backup on site, because if the crowd breaks through and our boys sense they’re cut off and their lives are in danger…” Andreas waved a hand off into the air.

  Tassos picked up a croissant and sat down on the couch beneath the windows. “I never understood the reasoning behind kids with sticks and stones running up against guys with badges and guns.”

  “I told our malaka of a minister to be ready with a plan. Once word gets out that Athens is rioting, it’s going to spread.”

  Maggie nodded toward the television. “It’s already happened. There’s rock-throwing in Heraklion.”

  “Great. Athens and Crete. And it’s still breakfast time,” said Tassos.

  Andreas’ desk phone rang. Maggie picked it up, listened, covered up the mouthpiece, and said, “It’s the malaka minister.” She handed Andreas the phone.

  “Kaldis here.”

  “You’re responsible for all of this. If you hadn’t moved that girl’s body the protestors would have vented their anger by now. Instead, she’s become a martyr for every student demonstrator in Greece.”

  “Not sure I get the logic of how allowing rioters to tear up one part of Greece discourages them from tearing up the rest.”

  “Kaldis, you’re incompetent. I’m bringing you up on charges.”

  Andreas counted to five. “So nice to hear you’re in control of the situation, Babis. Have a nice day.” He hung up the phone.

  Tassos stared at him. “Did you just hang up on the minster of public order?”

  “Yes. He said I was responsible for the riots and he was bringing me up on charges, so I figured what was left for me to say?”

  Tassos took a bite of the croissant. “You always seem to draw winners for bosses.”

  The phone rang and Maggie reached for it.

  Andreas put his hand on the receiver. “No need to.” He let it ring three times before picking up. “Kaldis here.”

  “How dare you hang up on me!”

  “Did you have something else to say to me? I thought you were finished.”

  “You’re finished, Kaldis. Finished!”

  “Good, enjoy your day.” />
  As Andreas dropped the handset toward the receiver he heard Babis’ tinny voice cry, “Wait!”

  Andreas brought the receiver back to his ear. “Yes?”

  “You owe it to your government to go on television and apologize to the people for what you’ve done to bring on these demonstrations.”

  Andreas blinked. “You know, Minister, if I thought that actually had a snowball’s chance in hell of working, I’d go for it. But all that’s going to do is encourage bad guys to go after more cops.”

  “I don’t care what you think. We’re in crisis. Our country is in danger and you must do as I say.”

  “Minister, out of respect for your office, I will simply say I think you’re out of your mind.”

  “How dare you speak that way to me?”

  “Well, my first choice was to tell you to go fuck yourself, but I don’t want to carry that visual in my mind.”

  “Kaldis—”

  Andreas raised his voice. “Now you listen. Our country is on the verge of incinerating itself, whether the girl’s death or something else triggers it. If you think hanging cops out to dry will change that, think again. We’re more polarized as a country than at any time I can remember in my lifetime, and if all you can come up with to deal with this crisis are bullshit political maneuverings intended to protect your party’s ass…well, I’ve already told you what you can do.

  “Once you start sacrificing cops, who the hell do you think is going to stand up to the mobs the next time? Your volunteer neighborhood watch groups? Perhaps you’d like to form a protective alliance with Golden Dawn’s neo-Nazi party members? And if they’re not enough for you, how about calling out the military?

  “That should all play very nicely in the international news. Just imagine the headlines, ‘Military junta tanks return to Athens’ streets.’ Should do wonders for tourism.”

  “We’ve taken all that into account. Everything is controllable if you do as we say and apologize.”

  “We? Whoever’s in your brain trust ought to watch more television news and play less Nintendo. We’re way beyond the apology stage. It’s head-busting time out there on the streets, and you damn well better do something before someone else gets killed.”