“Then how do I know you’re not kidnappers?” said Kouros.
“We’re rom. We don’t have papers for all of our children. You know that.”
“Like I said, ‘Then how do I know you’re not kidnappers?’ This is serious. If I don’t have papers on every minor in this camp in my hands in fifteen minutes, I’m arresting all of you.”
The shorter of the two other tsigani laughed. “Yeah, sure you are. So what is it you want? A little spending money, a taste, a special favor perhaps?” He nodded toward a girl leaning against the redbrick skeleton of the abandoned building.
“No, asshole, I want you leaning over a barrel in Kordydallos pulling the train for your cell block.”
The man stepped toward Kouros.
“Another step and your journey to butt-hole heaven will start with my foot up your ass.”
“You talk big,” said the other man. He was a head taller than Kouros.
“Come to think of it,” said Kouros to the tall man, “he’s probably more used to having you up his ass. Or is it the other way around?”
The tall man lunged at Kouros, but lost his balance when Kouros stepped to the side and delivered a sweeping kick to the back of his knee.
“Try that again asshole and you’ll be walking with a stick for years.”
The short guy reached behind his back.
Kouros smiled at him. “For your sake I hope that whatever you come up with in that hand, little man, is tasty. Because you’re going to end up eating it.”
The leader said something in a language Kouros did not understand. The two others shouted at him in the same language. He shouted louder. The short guy brought an empty hand around from his back, and tall guy limped over next to him.
The leader said. “What is all this about?”
Kouros nodded toward tall guy. “About a year for him for assaulting a police officer.” He pointed at short guy. “And about six months in a beauty parlor for that one. As a public service. He’s one ugly motherfucker.”
“ Stop! ” said the leader. “I don’t know why you’re trying to start something with us. We are peaceful. We have come here to honor our Blessed Virgin.” He and the other two crossed themselves.
Kouros shook his head. “Not this year, pilgrims. You’re off the island on the next boat to Athens. All except for tall guy here. He’s got a court appointment.”
“Why?”
“You don’t take very good care of your children.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Carausii brothers.”
“They weren’t children.”
“See, that’s just the kind of attitude I’m talking about. They were God’s children, even if none of you gave a damn about them.”
The leader said nothing.
“Like I said, you have no respect for children. So, get your people packed up. The boat leaves in two hours.”
“What if we refuse to go,” said the leader.
Kouros smiled. “Trust me on this, you won’t want to do that.”
The leader said something to the two others. They argued for a few seconds, but they left, leaving the leader alone with Kouros.
“I heard that police from Athens were on the island asking about the two brothers.”
“Did you now? And from whom did you hear that?”
“A lot of people. Your Athens cop friends didn’t make a secret of what they were looking for. No more than you did asking questions this morning. Word gets around fast.”
“Well, then give me some words I want to hear,” said Kouros.
The clan leader shrugged. “The brothers’ murders were a tragedy.”
“Yeah, I can tell you’re all choked up.”
“You are a very difficult man.”
“This is my nice side. Stop fucking with me. Why were they murdered?”
“No idea.”
“Fine, start packing.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“I’m not asking you to be.”
“Then we will not leave.”
“Do you have any gasoline?” said Kouros.
“Gasoline?”
“Yes, or should I have it brought up from town?”
“What are you talking about?”
“We’re going to have to burn your trucks, tents, and everything else in the camp. Public health hazard.”
“You can’t do that!”
“File a complaint with the E.U.” Kouros looked at his watch. “Better get busy. One hour and fifty minutes until the boat leaves or the barbeque starts.”
The leader mumbled a tsigani curse Kouros recognized.
Kouros smiled, reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. “And I don’t smoke.” He flicked the lighter and held the flame up to the clan leader’s face. “Your choice,” and repeated the curse.
“Two women, Greeks. They were the last ones anyone saw with the brothers.”
“The ones from the bar?”
“Yes.”
“Who were they?” said Kouros.
“No idea, women like that read too much. They think the rom life is romantic. Our boys take advantage of them. Can you blame them?” The leader smiled.
“What do you know about the women?”
He shrugged. “The boys said they liked to fuck.”
“I see the brothers liked talking about their women.”
“When the women aren’t rom we all do. It’s a tradition. But the brothers were here only the first morning after they met the women. They never came back to camp after that.{
“What else did the brothers say about them?”
“Nothing that mattered.”
“What does that mean?”
“Most girls like that want booze and drugs before fucking. These two weren’t into drugs. They wanted to get high on something else. The brothers said it was weird at first, but after they got used to it they said they liked it.”
“What was ‘it’?”
“Gas. The women called it ‘laughing gas.’”
Kouros swallowed hard. “Where’d they get the gas?”
“They didn’t say.”
“Where are the women now?”
“No idea. No one has seen them since the brothers disappeared.”
“Any ideas on who might have wanted the Carausii boys dead?”
“If I did, I’d have told the other cops who asked me.”
Kouros paused. I sure as hell hope Chief knows what he’s doing having me say this. “I want you to tell Shepherd that my boss wants to meet.”
The clan leader’s head jerked slightly to the left.
“I’m sorry, did I say something that surprised you?” said Kouros.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just tell Shepherd that GADA’s Chief of Special Crimes wants to talk about three dead Carausii brothers, a dead guy in Syntagma, and a Pakistani who passed away unexpectedly this morning. I’m sure Shepherd knows how to find him, but if not, here’s my card.”
The clan leader took the card without looking at it. “What do you want me to do with this? I have no idea who you’re talking about.”
Kouros shook his head. “Then I’m very sorry for you, because the rest of the message to Shepherd is, ‘If you don’t agree to meet, it will be a very lonely August 15th for you.’ There won’t be a member of Shepherd’s flock left on Tinos. And the first to go will be guess who?” Kouros pointed a finger at clan leader’s forehead.
“By the way, if you don’t pass along the message what do you think is going to happen to you when Shepherd finds out that everyone disappeared because you didn’t do what my boss asked you to do?”
Clan leader put Kouros’ card in his pocket.
“Good choice,” said Kouros.
The clan leader’s face seemed paler. “Your boss may regret that I made it.”
“ Nitrous Oxide! ” Andreas said the words so loudly Kouros might have heard them on Tinos without his phone.
&n
bsp; “Those two women definitely set up the brothers,” said Kouros.
“They might even be the killers,” said Andreas. “Once the gas knocked them out, all the women had to do was get them into the van, drive it to the spot, and torch it.”
“One could have driven the van while the other followed to pick up her partner.”
“But somehow I just don’t think it’s going to be that easy,” said Andreas. “Either way, we’ve got to find those two women.”
“They’ve disappeared, no one has seen them or has any idea who they are.”
“Not surprised. I think you should go out to that tsigani bar-”
“I already did, Chief. Like I said, no one has any idea who or where they are or can give a description better than big blond hair and even bigger tits.”
“What I was going to say, Yianni, was ‘I think you should go out to that tsigani bar’ and locate every building in the area with a field of vision that includes the bar and anywhere customers might park. Then check out the buildings to see if any has a surveillance camera that might have caught something. It’s about time we get lucky.”
“Will do. But what are you going to do if the Shepherd calls?”
“Be very surprised,” said Andreas. “I can’t imagine he will, but I wanted to shake things up, see if he makes a mistake.”
“In my book, five murders already qualify as pretty well shaken.”
“You’re starting to sound like Tassos.”
“Hey, I did what you asked and my guess is he’s going to pass along the message. I just think that with all the distractions of the wedding you’re too easy a target for the bad guys.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just chase down those cameras and make sure you’re over here tomorrow in time for the wedding.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Bye.”
Andreas was alone in their bedroom. He put the phone in his pant pocket.
Those bastards are terrorists. “Goddamn them. Goddamn us. ” He’d said the words out loud but not loud enough for anyone to hear.
As far as Andreas was concerned, Greece really blew it in 2004. It had the best minds from the CIA, MI6, Mossad, and everywhere else in the world focused on preparing Greece for the Olympic games, sharing their latest ideas and information on how to protect against terrorism. It was Greece’s perfect chance to learn, to build on what the world’s best counter-terrorism experts were giving it. But what did Greece do? Nothing. Let it all go to waste. Now the terrorists were back and Greece had no idea where to begin dealing with them, much less finding them. And no one else in the world seemed to care anymore. At least not as much as they once did. They all had their own problems.
Maybe I made a mistake calling out Shepherd so close to the wedding? Andreas shook his head and swallowed. No reason to chase that thought. If Shepherd takes the bait and comes after me, there’s nothing more I can do about it than I am. Andreas bit at his lower lip.
He looked out the window. The sea was calm. Tomorrow should be a beautiful day. He crossed himself.
“No, no. I want something larger. That is too small.”
The salesgirl said, “I’m sorry, madam, I misunderstood. You said you wanted a silver bowl for a wedding gift, so I showed you our most popular size for that occasion. What size are you looking for?” This was the shop of the most famous jeweler in Greece, an international legend and a man of impeccable reputation.
The woman in the huge sunglasses, a tent of a long sleeve dress, and an enormous floppy hat pointed to a display of hammered silver bowls and pitchers, a hallmark of his craft. “I’ll take that one, the big one.” It was a foot and a half in diameter and about six inches deep.
“Certainly, madam. Here, let me tell you the price.”
“It doesn’t matter. My employer said I am to buy ‘the biggest.’”
“Yes, madam. Is there a card you wish to put inside?”
The woman nodded.
The salesgirl put out her hand to take the card.
“I’ll put it inside myself. I’m supposed to arrange it in a particular way.” She shrugged. “Those are my instructions.”
The salesgirl smiled. “As you wish.” She took out a large red box, symbolic of the store, arranged the bowl amid tissue paper, and pointed the customer to the bowl. “Please.”
The woman said, “Could I trouble you for a filter coffee?”
“No trouble at all. How do you like it?”
“Medium sweet, no milk. Thank you.”
The salesgirl left. By the time she returned the box was closed. She carefully placed the coffee on a table by the customer, finished wrapping the gift with ribbons, put it into a large red shopping bag, and sealed the bag shut.
“How will you be paying?”
There was no attempt to bargain. The woman reached into a large beach bag she carried on her shoulder and handed over cash in the exact amount owed. The salesgirl noticed the woman was wearing white cotton gloves of the sort used to handle silver and had not touched her coffee.
“Thank you,” said the salesgirl. “Will there be anything else?”
“Could you possibly have this delivered to the church? My employer doesn’t want to carry it there herself.” She spread her arms and shrugged her shoulders again. “What can I say, those are my instructions?”
The salesgirl smiled. “I understand. We all have our bosses. Where is the wedding?”
“In Ano Mera at-”
“The Vardi-Kaldis wedding?”
“Yes.”
“No problem, our owner is invited and he’s bringing presents from several of our clients with him. Consider it done.”
The woman smiled. “Thank you. You have no idea how happy you’ve just made my employer.”
Chapter Fourteen
Every faith considers marriage a primary rite. Most also accept it as the excuse for one hell of a party. The Greek Orthodox Church was no exception, especially on Mykonos. On the night before a local boy married a local girl, the groom spent the night partying with his guy friends, and his bride with her girlfriends. It was sort of a “kids’ last night out,” for after the wedding locals no longer called them “boy” and “girl,” but “man” and “woman.” Lila and Andreas, though, were not locals, and no one was likely to call them kids, so they skipped that ritual and stayed home Saturday night. Not that either got much sleep.
Andreas was on the balcony outside their bedroom staring at the sea. Sunlight was breaking over the horizon bringing color back to the sky.
Lila came up to him from behind and pressed her face against his bare back. “Nervous?”
“About becoming your husband until death do us part, forever and ever, until the sun stops rising in the morning, until-”
“So, you are.”
“A bit.” Andreas smiled.
“Me too.” Her tone sounded serious. “But it’ll be worth it for the party.”
Andreas turned around and hugged her. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Yes, but feel free to tell me again.”
“Words fail me.”
Lila laughed.
“So, where do I have to be today and when?”
Lila cocked her head. “Why, do you have plans?”
“Nothing more important than whatever you want me to do.”
“Nice try, Kaldis. What’s on your mind?”
He didn’t want to tell Lila about the threat. He also didn’t want to lie. So he decided to break his rule against discussing his cases with her. But just a little bit. “The Tinos murders.”
“What about them?”
“Until now the case only involved metanastes and tsigani bad guys killing each other. That’s the perfect way to keep Greeks from caring much about it. We love pointing fingers, blaming others for our troubles. We blame immigrants for crime, drugs, and change to our way of life. We ignore that few in this country want to pay taxes, corruption is everywhere, and only the honest seem to get screwed. Our system is ‘every man
for himself,’ so why are we surprised when new arrivals want to get their piece of the action, too? But, for some, violence is the only way they know, they’re not sophisticated or connected enough yet to do it with a pen, and that makes the lot of them perfect scapegoats for whatever goes wrong here.”
Lila stared at him. “You’re on a rather cynical rant for so early in the morning. Even for a cop.”
“I know, but it’s as if someone were taking great care to make sure that only tsigani and metanastes were involved. Then out of the blue two Greek women pop up as potential killers. It just doesn’t fit. Or, more likely, I’m missing something.”
Lila snuggled her head against his chest. “As long as you don’t miss the wedding. Only twelve hours to go.”
Andreas kissed her on the forehead. “I think you’ve mentioned something like that to me before.”
“Hopefully the message has sunk in.” Lila leaned back and smiled. “But, I think for this morning you should go off and play with your buddies. You’re way too serious for our wedding day.”
Tassos and Andreas were sitting in a scruffy, virtually deserted kafeneion by the edge of Ano Mera’s town square, thirty feet and a few steps up from the entrance to the monastery of Tourliani. Most of the town’s early rising locals seemed to have headed to the harbor for their Sunday morning coffee and gossip. Ano Mera was the other town on Mykonos, with roots tracing back to 4500 BC. It sat at the island’s rural heart, five miles from the far better known harbor town bearing the island’s name.
Tradition had it that two monks from the nearby island of Paros, while escaping pirates, found asylum in a small Ano Mera church and decided to establish a monastery there. During its construction in 1542, an icon of the Virgin Mary was found on a beach on the west side of the island. According to legend, each time the icon was placed at another site, at night it miraculously found its way back to the monastery and now resided within its walls as the revered icon of Panagia Tourliani, the protector of the island.
“You know, if someone were interested in stealing a priceless icon it would be a lot easier going after this one than the Megalochari.” Tassos nodded in the direction of the monastery.
“Or practically any other icon in Greece. But the Megalochari is the big prize.”
Target: Tinos ak-4 Page 13
