Hotel Murder: The most gripping, page-turning mystery of the year (Greek Island Mysteries Book 5)

by Luke Christodoulou

  She paused. I said nothing. The load on her chest hadn’t departed yet.

  She took another sip. ‘I’ve asked to be transferred. No more homicides, for me. I wish for a desk job. With normal office hours...’

  I opened my mouth, ready to speak. ‘Wait!’ she said.

  ‘Before you judge me and try to change my mind by saying how good I am at it or say some perfect, guru-style line of support and make me love and appreciate you more, hear me out. I’m pregnant...’

  My eyes lit up. ‘Really? That’s great...’

  ‘Only two weeks late, no one knows yet. But, you see, I was already thinking of taking a break from murders. Then, Alexandro died before my eyes, and I thought, for sure, a break is needed. Then, this,’ she said, placing her right hand on her belly. ‘And, I started thinking, a desk job isn’t all that bad. I will work while the kids are at school and get to be with them in the evening.’

  I placed my hand upon hers. ‘You know you are more than a partner to me. You’re my friend, the adult daughter I never had.’

  Tears gathered in her bright eyes. ‘That’s why it’s so hard to quit homicide. It feels like I am quitting you. Deserting you.’

  ‘I’m retiring early.’

  ‘What?’ she yelled, and heads around us turned. I smiled and took a chunk out of my delicious, honey-dripping slice of baklava. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked again, lowering her decibels.

  ‘I’m there with you. Same stage. Lord knows I have had more than my fair share of death. I’ve lost a child, I’ve beaten cancer, I’ve broken up and gotten back with my wife. Now, I just want to garden, cook and read books. Enjoy time with Tracy, go away on holidays with her. Visit Greek islands and investigate beaches and restaurants, not murder suspects. And the timing is good. The new compensation plan isn’t half bad, and after my father’s death, my mother sold our family home back in New York and moved in with my sister. She divided the money between me and my sisters. Besides, I don’t spend much and it’s just Tracy and I.’

  Ioli sat back and exhaled deeply.

  ‘Haven’t you got anything to say?’ I asked the strong, opinionated Cretan woman before me.

  ‘I think, we should have skipped coffee and went straight to beers,’ she said and we both laughed. A laughter from lighter chests. ‘So, this is officially the end of our Greek island mysteries adventure?’

  I nodded. ‘Sounds so.’ Then, I chuckled. ‘Greek island mysteries? You’re a weird one, Cara.’

  ‘Always rich coming from you, boss.’

  I took another sip and smiled.

  ‘What you grinning about?’ she asked, finally biting into her dessert.

  ‘Actually, that title is growing on me. Maybe, in between cooking and gardening, I could pick up writing. The Greek Island Mysteries...’

  Ioli looked up and laughed. ‘You better make me sound sexy and smart, or I will be suing your ass for royalties.’

  THE END

  About the author:

  Luke Christodoulou is an author, a poet and an English teacher (MA Applied Linguistics - University of Birmingham). He is, also, a coffee-movie-book-Nutella lover. His books have been widely translated and are available in five languages (with more on the way).

  His first book, THE OLYMPUS KILLER (#1 Bestseller - Thrillers), was released in April, 2014. The book was voted Book Of The Month for May on Goodreads (Psychological Thrillers). The book continued to be a fan favorite on Goodreads and was voted BOTM for June in the group Nothing Better Than Reading. In October, it was BOTM in the group Ebook Miner, proving it was one of the most talked-about thrillers of 2014.

  The second stand-alone thriller from the series, THE CHURCH MURDERS, was released April, 2015 to widespread critical and fan acclaim. The Church Murders became a bestseller in its categories throughout the summer and was nominated as Book Of The Month in three different Goodreads groups.

  DEATH OF A BRIDE was the third Greek Island Mystery to be released. Released in April, 2016 it followed in the footsteps of its successful predecessors. From its first week in release it hit the number one spot for books set in Greece.

  MURDER ON DISPLAY came out in 2017 and enriched the series.

  HOTEL MURDER, the fifth and ‘final’ book in the series, followed in early 2018.

  Luke Christodoulou has also ventured into ‘children's book land’ and released 24 MODERNIZED AESOP FABLES, retelling old stories with new elements and settings. The book, also, features sections for parents, which include discussions, questions, games and activities.

  He is currently working on his next project, a different kind of book, which he is secretive about.

  He resides in Limassol, Cyprus with his loving wife, his chatty daughter and his crazy newborn son.

  Hobbies include travelling the Greek Islands discovering new food and possible murder sites for his stories. He, also, enjoys telling people that he ‘kills people for a living’.

  Find out more and keep in touch:

  https://twitter.com/ @OlympusKiller

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greek-Island-Mysteries/712190782134816

  http://greekislandmysteries.webs.com/

  (Subscribe and receive notice when the next book in the series is released)

  Feel free to add me: https://www.facebook.com/luke.christodoulouauthor

  Note to readers:

  First of all, thank you for choosing my book for your leisure.

  If you have enjoyed the book (and I hope you have), please help spread the word. You know the way! A review and a five star rating goes a long way (hint hint).

  For any errors you may have noticed or questions about the story, let me know: christodoulouluke@gmail.com

  GREEK ISLAND MYSTERY 1: THE OLYMPUS KILLER

  Voted four times as BOTM on Goodreads

  BOOK OF THE MONTH (May 2014) - Psychological Thrillers

  BOOK OF THE MONTH (June 2014) - Nothing better than reading

  BOOK OF THE MONTH (October 2014) - Ebook Miner

  BOOK OF THE MONTH (April 2015) – Modern Good Reads

  ‘... unlike many crime thrillers I have read before--which tend to be heavy and depressing by their very nature and the crimes and events upon which the plots are constructed--I did not find that to be the case with this novel. Quite the contrary. Mr. Christodoulou adeptly weaves anecdotal humor into the novel, along with Greek mythology, history, rich and flavorful Greek culture and food--all without detracting from the seriousness of the events--while bringing the story to brilliant life. For life is what continues to happen despite tragedy striking and heinous crimes ripping people's worlds apart.’

  Author M.J.

  ‘A journey of fast paced kills and sharp turns through the exotic Greek islands. The location descriptions were wonderful, descriptive and accurate. It is well written with intense action and superb characterization (foul mouth Ioli Cara and a couple of very Greek grandmothers were highly enjoyable). As seductive as a Sudoku puzzle, the writer has crafted an ingenious plot with nothing less than stunning revelations at the conclusion. In short, if you want a book that will shock and thrill you, read this one.’ Author J. Salisbury

  AMAZON:

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JMTRPTE

  AMAZON UK:

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JMTRPTE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

  GREEK ISLAND MYSTERY 2: CHURCH MURDERS

  EVIL UNDER THE GREEK SUN

  AMAZON BESTSELLING THRILLER

  ‘The Greek James Patterson strikes again’ – Greek Media

  Chapter 1

  The winter sun vanished behind the verdant hills that bordered the outskirts of the Megalopolis of Athens and light surrendered its place to darkness.

  The same dilemma every December. Did I hate that it got dark from 5 pm more than I hated the suffocating heat of the summer? Spring. Now, there is a perfect season. Maybe I was just getting grumpier as I unwillingly approached the threshold of my life’s fifth decade.

  I turned on my Audi’
s headlights and smiled upon hearing the sound of the skies rumbling above. I loved driving in the rain and my black car needed to shed off gathered dust.

  Route 56 is a bore. One long, straight line of a road, always loaded with traffic and with a view of endless, grey, dull apartment blocks. Others would have taken the Metro to Piraeus, but I never did have much so-called common sense. I was in no rush to see the department’s shrink and my empty apartment did not mind if I returned home early or late. I turned off the motorway and headed down to Akti Miaouli. Outside, the wind was busy playing around with dried up leaves and the clouds above shot down fat drops of rain.

  I parked opposite the modern, glass building that housed Dr. Ariadne Metaxa’s private office. She worked office hours, every Tuesday and Thursday, at police headquarters, but I preferred to attend her private practice. It gave me time to unwind from work and put on my fake, friendly and joyful mask before visiting her. I did not need a psychologist meddling inside my brain. I needed her clearance to get back to active duty.

  I exited my car and stood for a moment in the pouring rain, enjoying every drop that ran down my face, before running across the bustling road. Everyone, without an umbrella, was running to cover themselves from the menacing drops. Some get cleansed by the rain, some just get wet. I pushed the buzzer-bell that bore her name and waited for her assistant’s annoying voice to be heard. I do not mean to be harsh, but if you are going to hire someone to answer the phone and the door, at least avoid a girl with a grating voice.

  ‘Doctor Ariadne Metaxa’s office. How may I be of assistance?’

  Lower your voice.

  ‘Captain Papacosta. I have an appointment.’

  ‘Come right up, Captain. The doctor is waiting for you.’

  Of course she is. I have an appointment.

  I pushed open the heavy, metal door and walked towards the elevator. Dr. Ariadne’s office was located on the 14th floor. An entire side of her office was made of glass, offering an incredible view of the busy port of Piraeus; one of the few perks of visiting her here. That and the much more comfortable chair.

  Her lanky assistant was already standing and had her hand, palm up, indicating the office’s wooden door.

  ‘Go right in, Captain,’ her words came out from behind crooked teeth, accompanied by a warm, inviting smile. Good hearts can always make up for shrill voices and bad dental hygiene.

  ‘Thank you,’ I exhaled the words and smiled back as warmly as I could. As I walked into the dimly lit room, the door closed behind me. Dr. Ariadne rose from behind her huge, mahogany desk where she had been preoccupied, reading a medical journal. She walked towards me slowly with an air of confidence that lived with her permanently; her red hair stroking her bare shoulders and her emerald eyes glowing as they focused on my pitiful appearance. I stood there with soaked brown hair, drops of rain combined with mild sweat running down my face, wearing a plain, old pair of jeans and a white T-shirt under my black, leather jacket. In contrast, from her cleavage to her knees, a red, tight dress draped Dr. Ariadne’s body, silver high heels graced her feet and she looked as if she had just walked out of the hairdressers. She wore red well. Like fire, it shined upon her white, pale complexion. She must be one of the whitest women in Greece. She surely avoided the Greek, wrinkle-inducing sun. A highly intelligent woman, just a step away from forty, with a Mensa membership to prove it.

  Her soft hand fitted into mine.

  ‘Good evening, Captain. Lovely rainy day, is it not?’ her modulated voice filled the artful and minimally decorated room. She sat down first in her crimson armchair and her flat-line smile invited me to sit in the armchair facing hers. Below us, ships were entering and exiting the port, enjoying a good wash courtesy of the plummeting water. I twisted and I turned until I found a comfortable position to relax in. I knew I would be here for a good hour, but I asked anyway.

  ‘Doc, you know why I’m here. I need you to give me the all-clear to get back to the field. It’s been a week and I cannot take another day sitting behind a desk doing the chief’s paper work!’

  ‘I could sign the paper and you could be on your way, back to your work in under a minute. However, that would mean, I was not doing my job. You were sent here for a reason.’

  ‘I don’t need another psych evaluation,’ I snapped. Dr. Ariadne was my evaluator when I arrived in Greece two years ago and asked to join the police force here. With my background as a homicide detective in New York, a murdered daughter and being a lonely, unsociable divorcee, it came as no surprise being sent to the good, old head doctor. Eight sessions on and Dr. Ariadne deemed me fit for duty.

  ‘This is not an evaluation, Costa and you know it. It is just typical procedure when a Police Captain throws his computer out his office window,’ her reassuring, smooth, sweet voice flowed through the space between us and calmed me down. ‘You saw tens of dead bodies all at once. It is OK that you were upset,’ she continued, maintaining the same tone.

  ‘I was upset for not solving the case!’

  ‘Do you always solve the case, Captain?’

  ‘No. This is real life. Not a movie or a book where an ending is needed.’

  ‘Do you feel that this case needs an ending? Do you need closure?’

  ‘The case is closed. That’s closure... I just wished I had figured it all out sooner. Perhaps, I could have saved them.’

  ‘Don’t beat yourself up. I understand it is a pyrrhic win for you, but keep in mind, you save lives every day in your line of duty. Just last summer you made headlines by bringing the Olympus Killer to justice. You saved your partner’s life and protected many others.’

  I smiled slightly at the thought of my partner, Ioli. I had not seen her since she returned to Crete. She received three months leave with daily physiotherapy recommended. After Christmas, she would be back in action. She was being transferred to Athens where we would be officially teamed up by the chief. Homicide division for the Greek Isles.

  ‘Ioli was cleared by her shrink,’ I hinted.

  Dr. Ariadne exhaled deeply. She stared straight into my brown eyes for a good minute. ‘Let’s make a deal. I clear you today and whenever you need to be cleared again, and you agree to cut the tough guy act and come visit me once every fifteen days.’

  I started to form an argument in my mind, however, one single word came out that surprised us both.

  ‘Done.’

  Chapter 2

  A month ago...

  CASE No.1: The White Horse – Conquest, Evil, the Antichrist.

  Salamina Island is one of the closest islands to Athens; 2 km away from the main port of Piraeus. That is everything I could tell you about the place before November 21st came to existence. It was a typical morning, with me holding in my beer belly as I drank my third morning coffee, surrounded by mesomorphic, Herculean-build police officers down at the department. I nodded my head as they complained about the ongoing economic crisis and how they barely made ends meet.

  One phone call changed the dull day.

  ‘Captain? You are requested on line three. Possible murder case on the Island of Salamis,’ police officer Andrea Loukaki informed. I swallowed my coffee in one quick, sloppy sip and headed towards the phone located somewhere on my junk-yard of a desk.

  ‘Captain Costa Papacosta.’

  ‘Good morning, Captain. This is Police Sergeant Jason Galanos. A body, male, was reported found in a trench near Batsi beach forty minutes ago. I am at the scene now. The body seems to have been stabbed several times and from what I can tell, has been out here quite a while. I cannot get closer as the body is too far down. I have contacted local rescue workers to assist...’

  ‘I’m on my way. I’ll be picking up the coroner too. Secure the crime scene. Photograph everything, touch nothing.’

  I walked out of the station’s back door and exited into the vast parking lot. Excitement fuelled my pace and before I could dial the coroner’s number, I was standing beside my car. The steering wheel was hot, the air stale
and unpleasant to breathe. I looked up and squinted at the sizzling November sun. Enough with the heat, already.

  ‘Jacob Petsa,’ the coroner’s voice came through my cell phone’s crackling speaker and interrupted my fearful thoughts of another rain-free year in Greece. Jacob sounded out of breath and was obviously chewing down food of some sort.

  ‘It’s 9 o’clock in the morning. What the hell are you eating in the morgue?’

  ‘Costa! Malaka, what you up to? And to answer your question; breakfast, of course. There is an amazing bistro just round the corner that makes an exquisite full English breakfast. And guess what? With coffee, only five Euro! You see, ever since the kids left home, Maria has been trying to put us on one diet or the other. Oats are not breakfast, my friend, that’s for sure! I once told Maria that I was not a freaking rabbit and I demanded a man’s meal. You should have seen her face, she... Costa? You there?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘You normally interrupt me by now,’ the jovial coroner said and chuckled.

  ‘I was going to, but then I needed to satisfy my curiosity. I always wanted to know if you would ever stop!’

  ‘Well, now you know! What you’ve got?’

  ‘A dead male on Salamina. I’ll be outside the morgue in five minutes.’

  There was no reply. Jacob did not even bother to end the call. He placed the phone on his cold, stainless steel, surgery table and hobbled towards his breakfast. No crispy bacon was going to waste, not for any-body.

  AMAZON:

  http://www.amazon.com/Church-Murders-stand-alone-thriller-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00V5Z123I/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454659848&sr=1-2

  AMAZON UK:

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Church-Murders-stand-alone-thriller-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00V5Z123I/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454659386&sr=1-2