“I’m not on the best of terms with his Honor the Mayor, but the police chief might know something. I’ll try him first.”
“Good. So, I’m back to what I said before. Why kill Christos if all Sergey wanted to do was run a hotel? I can’t imagine he needed the ammunition in Christos’ second safe to get permission to take over the lease. Sure, maybe he’d have to bribe a few people to get some permits, but that’s business as usual for a guy like Sergey. It’s not like he’s trying to cut in on the Mykonos nightlife mafia’s action by opening a club. It’s just a goddamned hotel. There are one-hundred sixty-two of them on the island.”
“Maybe he’s thinking of tearing the hotel down and building condos?” said Kouros
“If he killed two people just to do that he really is insane. First, of all, in this real estate market he’s better off renting rooms, and second, like Andreas said, why kill someone when all you have to do is pass around some bribes? That guy’s done this sort of thing before, he has to know that.”
“So, how do we find out what he really has in mind?” said Kouros.
“I’d start with Wacki,” said Tassos. “He’s a weak sister when it comes to dealing with cops.”
“You mean honest cops,” said Kouros.
“Tassos, see what you can find out about that meeting with the mayor. Yianni and I will talk to Wacki. If Sergey’s dirty, I want him to know we’re out to nail his ass.”
“I wonder how he’ll react to that sort of pressure,” said Kouros.
“Can’t wait to find out,” said Andreas.
***
Sergey sat at a table in his hotel room and stared toward the harbor.
Those cops knew nothing of his plans. They knew about Anna so they suspected him. But she was a dead end. The others soon would be too.
He wondered if he should call Teacher to make the arrangements. She could find the two easily. But she’d want to know why. No, he’d better handle this himself. He could never seem rattled or unsure to Teacher. That would be dangerous.
He’d use the same mutual friend from his prison days who’d put him together with the two men to find them. And, for the right price, to get rid of them, too.
Sergey poured himself a glass of water from a bottle on the table. Those cops had to know about Christos’ files. It all fit. The cop from Syros was in charge of murder investigations and the police chief said it wasn’t his case, it was “on Syros.”
They must have found the files and figured that’s what the robbery was about. That’s why they came to him. They weren’t interested in solving the murder, they wanted him to know what cards they held and, if he were interested, that he’d have to pay for them.
He took a sip of water. That could be arranged. He’d get Wacki to do it.
Chapter Sixteen
Wacki got up the moment Andreas and Kouros sat down at his table.
“Please, no reason to leave. It’s a beautiful day to be sitting with old friends in a taverna along the harbor.” Andreas pointed at Wacki’s chair. “Stay.”
Two other men at the table looked at each other as if unsure what to do.
“You two may leave,” said Andreas.
They quickly did.
“I thought you worked in Athens,” said Wacki.
“Missed me, huh?”
Wacki smiled.
“We just had a most interesting chat with your employer.”
“Who’s that?”
“Come on, Wacki, don’t make this hard on us.” Kouros gave him a quick smack on the arm that was slightly more painful than friendly. “Because we’ll have to make it hard on you.”
“I’m just showing the guy around town and acting as his translator.”
“Since when have you become a tour guide?” said Andreas.
“Since the economy cratered. Just in case you public payroll guys haven’t noticed.”
“Play nice,” said Kouros, feigning another run at Wacki’s arm.
Wacki winced. “What do you guys want with me? I’m working for someone who’s interested in taking over a hotel. He’s trying to help Greece by making money for everyone.”
“I’ve heard that money pitch before. It can justify a lot of things,” said Andreas.
“Like I said, he’s into ‘making money for everyone.’” Wacki paused and dropped his head until his eyes were visible over the top of his sunglasses. “That is, for everyone who wants to make money.”
Andreas leaned in to six inches from Wacki’s face. “Some things never change. You’re still a rat-faced, crooked son of a bitch who thinks everyone can be bought. Congratulations, asshole, you just made the top of my shit list. You want off it? Tell me what your boss is really up to.”
Wacki jerked back in his chair. “Honest, all I know about is the hotel. I’m his employee, not his confidant.”
“Were you with him at his meeting with the mayor?”
“Yes.”
“What did you talk about?”
“Things?”
“What sorts of things,” said Kouros, patting him lightly on the arm.
“He wanted to know if the town was safe.”
“For that he went to the mayor?” said Andreas.
“The police chief was there. He told him the town was safe.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that I can remember?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Andreas motioned with his finger for Wacki to lean in toward him. “I want to make myself perfectly clear. If I find out you’re holding out on me about what Sergey’s really up to, you and all your island buddies will become my number one targets in what I can assure you will be ironclad, big-time, jail-time investigations. And I’ll personally let each one of them know it’s all coming down on them because of you.”
Andreas smiled. “Do we understand each other?”
Wacki nodded.
“Good. Now run along.”
And he did. Straight back to the hotel.
***
Tassos walked past the cop at the reception desk and up the stairs to the second floor of the police station. He stopped at a door around and to the left of the top of the stairs, knocked once, and opened the door.
“Hi, Mihalis.”
The police chief looked surprised. “Tassos, what are you doing here?”
“Just thought I’d stop bye to say, ‘Hi.’”
Tassos plopped onto an overstuffed chair alongside Mihalis’ desk. “I understand your distinguished mayor is running his mouth off about my investigation into Christos’ murder.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
“Never mind how I know, how does the mayor know about my case?”
“Christ, Tassos, he’s the mayor, how do I know?”
“Because you’re the only one in this goddamn sieve of a police station that I told about the girl and her two accomplices.”
Mihalis ran his hand through his hair. “Honest, I didn’t expect him to tell the Russian.”
Tassos hoped his surprise didn’t show. “You were there?”
“Yes, the Mayor said he had a ‘delicate matter’ to discuss and when I showed up the Russian and Wacki were there.”
“What did the mayor tell them?”
“It was hard to follow, they were speaking in English and Wacki was translating.”
“Did the Mayor mention the girl and the accomplices?”
“Yes.”
“How many men did he say were with her?”
“I think he said ‘a couple,’ but not sure.”
“What other cats did your esteemed mayor let out of the bag?”
“Nothing. Just that it was a crime of passion. Not robbery.”
“How did he come to that conclusion?”
“The mayor said there was nothing left in the safe to steal. Everything had been taken.” Mihalis paused. “Sort of makes you wonder if it wasn’t a crime of passion what were they looking for?”
“Sure does. Thanks, Mihalis.” Tassos pulled himself out of the chair. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t pass along this little chat of ours to the mayor.”
At least not until I’m out of the building.
***
Wacki sat at the table in Sergey’s room, repeating word for word his conversation with the two cops.
Sergey listened patiently until Wacki finished. “Interesting. I assume this means those police cannot be bribed.”
“Kaldis? Not a chance. He’s a legend on a mission. And he has a rich, socially prominent wife. Doesn’t need the money.”
Sergey flicked his index finger against his lips. “I guess we must find another way to get what we need from him and his colleagues.”
“Good luck with that,” said Wacki.
Sergey smiled. “Thank you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Andreas, Kouros, and Tassos sat outside a cafenion next to the entrance to the airport, two buildings up from the police station.
“Is your plane on time?” said Tassos.
“Far as I know,” said Andreas.
“We’ll see it coming in from Athens. It drops off one load of passengers, fills up with another, and heads straight back,” said Kouros.
“I’ve heard the Athens-Mykonos trip is the most profitable per mile airline route in Europe,” said Andreas.
“Everyone tries to find a way to get rich off of Mykonos. It’s like a curse,” said Tassos. “Whether honest or dishonest, they all come here to make money from its tourists.”
“My bet is whatever Sergey has in mind it won’t be honest.” Andreas raised his coffee cup. “Here’s to hoping we figure out what that is before he does it.” He took a sip and put the cup back on the table. “Wish we could stay, but I’ve got to get back to the office.”
“Yeah, Chief, if you stay away too long people might start to realize who really runs the office.”
Andreas smiled, “Are you trying to get Tassos to put in a good word for you with Maggie?”
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
“You’re wasting your time, she’d never believe me anyway,” said Tassos.
“Let’s just keep an eye on Sergey. And let Wacki know we’re watching him so he doesn’t get cocky,” said Andreas.
Tassos nodded. “But, as you said, I’m afraid we won’t know what Sergey’s next move is until he makes it.”
“You don’t think Wacki might talk?” said Kouros.
Tassos gestured no. “Even if he would, I think Sergey’s smart enough not to trust him with anything that really mattered.”
“I think the only real shot we have at finding out what he’s up to is through the two guys with the girl who killed Christos,” said Andreas.
“Sergey must know that, too,” said Kouros.
Andreas nodded. “Which means if Europol doesn’t find them first Sergey is home free.”
“Damnit,” said Kouros. “I wish I knew what the son-of-a-bitch was up to.”
“We will,” said Andreas. “The only question is ‘when?’”
“And ‘how?’” said Tassos
Andreas stood up and nodded toward the sky. “Let’s go, Yianni, here comes our plane. Athens awaits our return.”
“As Mykonos mourns.”
***
The call came into the police station in the early afternoon and the caller asked to speak to the chief of police.
Mihalis answered on the first ring. “Yes?”
“Is this the chief of police?”
“Yes.”
“This is Wacki. I’m calling on behalf of my employer, Sergey Tishchenko. You met him this morning in the mayor’s office.”
Now what? thought Mihalis. “What can I do for you?”
“As you know, my employer doesn’t speak Greek so he asked me to pass along something you might find interesting in connection with the investigation of the murder of Christos.”
“It’s not my case.”
“I know, but you are the only one he knows to contact.”
“Have him call Tassos Stamatos on Syros.”
“That might be a problem.”
“Problem? What sort of problem.”
“Well, right after my employer left the meeting with you and the mayor he was confronted at his hotel by Tassos Stamatos, Andreas Kaldis, and a detective Kouros. From his conversation with them, he had the distinct impression there was something else the killers were after.”
“So?”
“And those police had whatever it was.”
“Why would they tell that to your employer?”
“I don’t know. But, like you, my employer thought it strange for them to think he would have an interest in what they had. It may be an innocent remark that he misunderstood, and whatever they were talking about was part of the official file on the investigation. He just didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings with you or the mayor on his commitment to being a legitimate businessman in this community. He had an unfair scrape with the law before and doesn’t want that being used by anyone to imply he’s not pursuing this opportunity on the up and up.”
Jesus, thought Mihalis. Was that why Tassos showed up here this morning? If he was fishing for what the mayor knew about whatever the killers were looking for…“Thank you. I appreciate your call.”
“You’re welcome. Always happy to help.”
Mihalis hung up the phone. There were always rumors that Christos must have had something on a lot of people to be able to run his club as he did for so long. Shit, if Tassos found it…and didn’t turn it in.
He shook his head. He hated going after cops. And if super-clean Kaldis was involved, this was a problem way above Mihalis’ pay grade.
Before he breathed a word about this to anyone, he better make damn sure there’s something to it. Otherwise, goodbye pension.
***
“Keria.”
The maid turned to face the man’s voice. Mihalis stood inside the doorway of a large living area she was cleaning. Next to him stood the maid’s boss.
“Excuse me for bothering you at work. I tried you at home but you weren’t there and it’s urgent I speak with you immediately.”
The boss shook her finger at the maid.”He won’t tell me what this is about. If you’re in any sort of trouble you can take your things and get out of here right now.”
“I can assure you this is not about her or anyone in her family. Now if you’d please excuse us, I’d like to speak to her alone.”
“I’m not used to being told what to do in my own home,” she snarled.
Mihalis smiled. “If you’d prefer I can spend the time checking whether or not that stairway I saw when I came in leads to an illegal basement.”
She glared at the maid. “If my husband is fined because you brought the police into our house, you’re fired!” She spun around and walked out of the room.
“Seems like a real charmer to work for.”
The maid did not respond.
Mihalis nodded. “I understand. You need this job. Times are tough. Let me get to the point. It’s about your former employer, Christos Vasilakis.”
“I told everything I know to the other policemen.”
He nodded again. “I’m sure. But I just want to go over a few things to make certain that they didn’t miss anything. Please, sit down.” He motioned toward a chair.
She gestured no. “Madam does not allow me to sit on her furniture.”
“Very well.” He cleared his throat. “What I want to go over is what you told the policeman from Syros.”
“You mean the olde
r man?”
“Yes, the older fat man.”
“I told him the same things I told the other police. I came into the house, saw Mister Christos on the floor, called the police, and sat with him until they arrived.”
“Did he ask if you knew where Christos kept things in his house?”
“What sort of things?”
“Valuables.”
“I told him, in the safe.”
“The one in the bedroom?”
The maid hesitated for an instant. “Yes.”
He paused. “Was there another place Christos kept valuable things?”
One of her eyes began to twitch. “I don’t know what you mean?”
He walked to a couch next to where the maid stood and sat down. For thirty seconds he stared directly up and into her eyes without saying a word.
“Unless you want me to tell your employer you’re withholding evidence in connection with the robbery and murder of your former employer, I suggest you tell me now precisely what you told the Syros cop about any other place where Christos kept his valuables.”
She shut her eyes and dropped her head. “In the wall next to the living room fireplace. Under white marble tiles.”
***
“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Andreas yelled from the entry foyer of their apartment.
He heard a loud whine coming at him from the next room. It sounded like a missile. Around the corner it came, headed straight at him. He bent down, waited until it was right upon him, and swooped it into the air, spinning it round and round above his head. The whine turned to laugher and spurts of, “Daddy home, daddy home.”
“You sure know how to draw a crowd, my darling,” said Lila walking into the foyer. “But be careful, I was in the middle of changing Tassaki’s diaper. He’s likely armed and dangerous.”
“So, what else is new?”
“Was Mykonos that bad?”
“Just business as usual. Bad guys and bizarre behavior.” Andreas kissed Tassaki on the cheek, nibbled at his belly, and put him down on the floor. Tassaki shot off in the direction of his mother but went right by her.
“Marietta will intercept him before he can do much damage.”
Mykonos After Midnight Page 13
