Murder On Display_A riveting, stand-alone murder / mystery that keeps you guessing until the shocking end

by Luke Christodoulou

  We had already gone over procedural hustles with the officers in-charge of Nick’s case and were permitted to visit and interrogate him.

  The high gates of Ioannina Prison moved back and the guard showed us to the visitor’s parking area. The air carried the smell of freshly-cut grass and the skies above us rumbled in delight. By luck, we avoided the fat drops of water that plummeted down as soon as we entered the dull, grey building.

  The vast visitor’s room was deserted; preserved just for us. We chose a table in the middle and sat side by side. Above us, a guard leaned on the rusty rails like an eagle overlooking its territory. The massive window to our left, filled with droplets, offered unobstructed views of wastelands heading up to the towering, rough mountains.

  Our coffees arrived before Nick Pavlou.

  His horrific smirk entered the room during my third sip.

  ‘Well, you’re the last person I expected to see,’ he said, as two beefy guards escorted him through the room. ‘Now, who’s this pretty thing?’ he said as he sat and turned his attention to Ioli.

  ‘I’m a bit old for your likings, aren’t I?’

  ‘I love exceptions. Confirms the rule and all,’ he replied, leaning forward on the cold, metal table. His cuffs rattled as he raised his arms and placed his hands, palms down. ‘So, what’s up, mighty know-it-all, Captain?’

  ‘Cut the crap, Nick. I was served enough of it on board. Enjoy your little game, did you?’

  He lifted his hands up high as if to say ‘I don’t know what you are talking about’, leaving sweaty prints on the table’s hard surface.

  ‘Clueless is not your style. You numbered them. They have you down for four murders already. Four teenage girls, Nick. You are getting life in prison. What do you have to lose? Is Holly the missing number four?’

  He remained silent; his eyes never leaving mine.

  ‘What’s in it for me?’

  ‘Closure for the girl’s family.’

  ‘Oh, please, Costa. Her whore of a mother was the reason she was running away.’

  ‘So, you did speak with her?’

  ‘Could have heard it from the rest of the kids,’ he replied, lowering his tone and pretending he was bored with me.

  ‘He is right, boss. Fuck the family,’ Ioli said.

  ‘Ooh, I like this one,’ Nick said and widened his crooked smile; his yellowy teeth peeking through his newly-prison-grown beard.

  ‘Do it for you, Nick. You told a story. From one to five. Without Four, your tale is unfinished, incomplete. You will be forgotten, locked up as just another rapist slash killer. But tell your story to a reporter, your whole story and you earn immortality. Probably get a cool nickname. Nick, the virgin slayer. That was the reason you chose them so young, right? Licked them up and down. Innocent and pure, lost under your skillful hands...’

  ‘Stop, woman. You’re arousing me,’ he said and let out a loud, sinister laugh.

  ‘People will look up to you in prison,’ she lied. ‘Successful serial killers gain respect inside. The more victims, the larger the respect,’ she continued lying, clearly knowing that Nick and his obnoxious face would get a good beating and he most likely would end up being raped.

  ‘Life, huh?’ he said and licked his lips. ‘You cops have your way around the system. Arrange me a proper coffee in the morning. Coffee, like the ones steaming in front of you, not the brown piss they serve in here and I’ll tell you everything you need to know. Oh, and a cell with a view.’

  And just like that, with a hollow promise for decent coffee and a wish for fame, an excited Nick began to answer our questions.

  ‘... I found her hiding in one of the lifeboats on the upper deck. She hid below the covers, snacks and everything with her. She begged me not to tell her teachers where she was. Cried out a soap opera story about her abusive mother,’ Nick said and paused to take a sip out of his aromatic coffee. ‘She even offered to pay me for my silence.’

  ‘What happened next?’ I asked, seeing that Nick was taking his time with devouring his coffee.

  ‘I lied to her that lifeboats were checked daily. She panicked and I told her not to worry. As she was going to pay me, I would take care of her. She and her lovely blonde hair. I sneaked her into an empty worker’s cabin below. There, she became mine. My own. My number four,’ he announced proudly.

  ‘And the girl’s body?’ Ioli asked.

  ‘Huh?’ he said, coming out of his daydream of reliving the moment.

  ‘The body,’ Ioli said, trying to remain cool.

  ‘Oh, I threw it overboard wrapped up in a plastic bag. There’s a chute in the engine room. Opened it and out she went. I’m impressed she hasn’t washed up somewhere by now. That’s weird. I didn’t use anything for extra weight. Refugees pop up on beaches all the time.’

  Ioli stood up. ‘You are one hell of a piece of shit. A total waste of oxygen. People like you is why we should still hang criminals. Have fun, inside. Hope you become someone’s new bitch, to rape and to hold till death does you apart.’

  She did not wait for a reply and stormed out the room.

  ‘Was it something I said?’

  ‘Shut it, Nick,’ I said and stood up, pushing back my chair that reluctantly screeched upon the dirty tiles.

  ‘See you in court, buddy,’ he called out to me as the two guards lifted him up and I approached the door.

  After thanking the prison warden and sorting out details of the recorded session with Nick, I headed outside.

  Ioli stood by the car, enjoying the fresh air. The rain had ceased and faint sunrays skipped upon newborn puddles; the timid sun infusing the winter sky with shades of orange.

  ‘Are we off duty, now, boss?’ she asked.

  ‘Erm, yes.’

  ‘Great. I haven’t gotten wasted in a long time. Last decent drink was before my pregnancy,’ she said and jumped in the car, placing her hands steady on the wheel.

  ‘Food, first?’

  ‘Of course,’ she replied and stepped on the gas.

  Greek meat, Greek ouzo. The Greek way of moving on.

  Another day, another breath, another struggle, another case.

  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.

  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.

  The finale to Captain Papacosta’s and Lieutenant Cara’s adventures came with Hotel Murder, released in January 2018.

  He is currently working on a new project and the many translation of the Greek Island Mysteries book series.

  He resides in Limassol, Cyprus with his loving wife, his chatty daughter and his cra
zy 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 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 of
fice 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.