by Kate Collins
“I’ll have to take my chances. I gave Athena my word that I’d help and I’m a man of my word. Besides, I’ve always been good at beating the odds.”
“Is that so?” Dad asked. “What’s your occupation?”
“For the past year it’s been doing research to track down the family statue.”
“And before that?”
“I’m self-employed. Researcher-for-hire.”
“I didn’t know there was a need for that type of work.”
“You’d be surprised, sir.”
“College degree?”
“Political science.”
With an eye on the time I said, “Dad, Delphi’s going to be here any minute. Can we talk about Dimitrius’s history some other time?”
“Sure, but I’m not worried about her,” Dad said. “It’s your mother who worries me. You know how she gets when she’s curious. Like a dog with a bone.” He rose from his chair. “I’ve got to get to work. Thenie, you’d better take him out the back way. Thanks for coming in, Dimitrius.”
They shook hands. “Thank you for listening to my story.”
“One more thing. Don’t ever put my daughter in harm’s way.”
* * *
Five minutes before noon, I dashed down to Fatsis’s Acropolis Gallery and caught him writing something at the counter. He had no customers. “Don, do you have a minute?”
He glanced up at me, then went back to writing. “What do you need?”
“Some advice on Talbot.”
He studied me for a moment as though trying to decide if I had an ulterior motive, then checked his watch.
“How about lunch?” I asked. “My treat.”
“I’m not sure I have the time.”
“Please? It’s important.”
“I need to be back at twelve forty to meet with a private customer. But maybe if we make it quick, like at The Parthenon . . .”
Exactly what I was trying to avoid. But I forced a smile. “Well, I can certainly guarantee speedy service there.” As well as ears trying to hear our every word.
He turned the sign on the front door over to CLOSED, locked up, then we walked three doors down to my grandparents’ diner. My mama greeted Fatsis as though they were old friends and then seated us at a table close to the family booth where Selene and Maia were already eating. Both sisters shot me questioning glances, but I ignored them.
We made small talk about the tourist season being one of the biggest ever due to the warm temperatures, and then, after Don’s platter of gyros with hummus and pita bread and my Caesar salad arrived, I got right to the point. “I wanted to fill you in on the meeting I had with Talbot.”
Fatsis started to dip his pita bread into the tzatziki dip but stopped to look at me. “I didn’t know you had a meeting with Talbot.”
“He offered my grandparents a prime location in his new building for their restaurant and a luxury condo on the top floor if I can get the GMA to back off.”
Fatsis paused, his food halfway to his mouth. “Did they accept?”
“Not yet. What did you tell him when he made you the offer?”
Fatsis started to choke on his food and quickly grabbed his Greek beer to wash it down. He used his napkin to wipe the tears from his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
He was playing dumb. Not a stretch for him. “Don, Talbot told me he made you the same offer. You don’t need to pretend he didn’t. I mean, it’s a pretty sweet deal after all. So what did you tell him?”
He took another huge bite of gyros, mumbling, “That I’d have to think about it.”
“He said you accepted it.” I stabbed a forkful of salad and put it in my mouth.
Fatsis stopped chewing, clearly realizing he’d stepped into my trap. “You’re taking Talbot’s word over mine?”
“He had proof, Don.” Or so I wanted him to believe.
Fatsis glanced around, then leaned toward me and said quietly, “Listen, Athena, not everyone’s going to get into that building. First come first serve. My advice is for them to accept the offer. No one needs to know but us and your grandparents.”
I could almost hear my mother’s blood boiling somewhere behind me.
“What happens when the shops are demolished, the building goes up, and you and my grandparents are the only ones out of the whole group who moves in?” I asked. “The truth is that my grandparents would rather close up their restaurant than to turn their backs on their friends. No one but you wants to see those shops torn down.”
“That’s not true,” he said, his big face bright red. “Marie Odem made a deal with old man Talbot, so I’m not the only one who doesn’t care what happens to Little Greece.”
I sat back shaking my head. “But Talbot Junior didn’t offer Marie the deal. She was banking on Talbot Senior marrying her, and that’s how she was going to save her shop.”
“She didn’t want to save her shop,” Fatsis said snidely. “She wanted to marry the old man so she’d never have to work another day in her life. And think about this before you defend her again. After the old man put the kibosh on their marriage, she might have put the kibosh on him, if you get my drift. You know what they say about a woman scorned.”
“I didn’t ask you here to talk about Marie. I was hoping you’d change your mind and back the rest of us, but I can see your mind is made up.” I folded my arms and shook my head in disgust. “I wouldn’t plan on attending any more GMA meetings if I were you.”
Fatsis wiped his greasy mouth with his napkin. “Talbot has all the power on his side. He’s going to win no matter what we do. I’ve already checked into it. So here’s some more advice. Stop fighting Talbot and use him like he’s using us.”
“And the others? Do we just sit back and watch as their livelihoods are taken away?”
“They can make their own deals with Talbot. They’d be better off working with him than with his old man, who was ready to tear down Little Greece a month ago, until he had a sudden change of heart, which personally I think Harry Pepper influenced.”
My surprised look must have given Fatsis cold feet because he immediately said, “Forget I said that. I don’t know what influenced the old coot.”
“Something made you say that. What do you know about Harry, Don?”
“Nothing.”
“What are you afraid of? Or should I say who?”
“All I know is that Harry and your grandfather were friends a long time ago, so maybe Harry felt bad that your grandfather was losing his home and diner and talked to his boss on his behalf. Whatever the reason, Talbot canceled the project.”
As Fatsis stopped to take a bite, I had a sudden thought. What if my grandfather was Harry’s confidant?
Fatsis checked his watch. “I’m going to have to go, but let me give you one more piece of advice before I do. Talbot’s son has no sympathy for us, so we’re better off cutting a deal with him and getting whatever we can.”
As Fatsis stuffed his mouth with the rest of the gyros I said, “I really thought you were geared up for a fight to save our downtown, Don, and as determined as the rest of us not to let the Talbots run this city.”
“You just named my reason for taking the offer, Athena. The Talbots have been running this city for a long time. We’re simply one small block of shop owners who rent space. We don’t have any clout. We’d be in for a long, drawn-out fight that would cost plenty more than any funding website could raise.”
“Which I suppose you haven’t set up.”
Fatsis looked at his watch again and didn’t answer.
“Then my next report to the GMA is going to be that you joined forces with the Talbots and you believe the rest of us should just bow down to the tyrant.”
“Hey, if you want to look at it that way, be my guest. I’d prefer it if you told them to think of it as taking advantage of Talbot while we can.”
“What do you think happened to the agreement Talbot Senior signed?”
“He took it with him, that’s a
ll I know.”
“You don’t have any guesses what happened after that? Like perhaps someone rifled through his safe and found it?”
He glared at me, his big, beefy face puffing up further. “Are you insinuating that I had something to do with it?”
“What did I say that would make you think that?”
At that moment, Case slid into the booth beside me, startling me.
“I thought I’d find you here, Athena.”
That was definitely not in our plan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Before the shock could register on my face, I forced a smile. “C—Dimitrius, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to tell you about what I found out today about Talbot’s secret deals.” Case reached his hand across the table toward Fatsis, who had gone pale at Case’s announcement. “Hi. Dimitrius Costas, Athena’s second cousin several times removed.”
“Don Fatsis,” the big man said warily, his lips greasy with food.
“Ah, the gentleman who owns The Acropolis, the premier art shop in town.”
Fatsis puffed out his chest. “You can’t get art anywhere in town better than mine.”
“That’s surprising considering that you were about to file bankruptcy.”
“What?” Fatsis’s mouth opened in shock.
“What?” I reiterated, staring at Case.
“What?” my mother asked, appearing suddenly tableside. When we turned to stare at her she said to Case with a blush, “. . . would you like to drink?”
“Nothing for me, thanks. I’m only staying a few minutes.”
“Don, Thenie, you need anything?” she asked.
“We’re fine, Mama,” I said firmly. When I didn’t make a move to introduce Case, she gave me a glare and stalked off.
Case turned back to Fatsis. “You’ve been operating in the red for quite some time, haven’t you?”
“How—what—?” he stammered.
“In fact,” Case continued, “you recently made an inquiry into what kind of bankruptcy you’d need to file.”
Fatsis’s heavy face turned an angry red. “How would you know that?”
“It’s amazing what people at the courthouse will tell you.”
“I beg your pardon,” Fatsis said, trying to act indignant, “but all I was doing was checking into it for someone else. Thank you for lunch, Athena, but like I said, I have a private client coming in.”
“That client wouldn’t be Talbot, would it?” Case asked.
The big man rose and tossed his napkin onto the table. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Case sat back smugly. “Those huge loans you took out on your business? Talbot Senior made arrangements to pay off your debts in return for you supporting his condo project, didn’t he?”
“You,” he bellowed, pointing to Case, causing every head to swivel toward us, “don’t know what you’re talking about.”
And with that he stormed out.
I stared at Case in wonder. “What did you just do?”
“Put him on notice that we’re onto him. I found out that Fatsis made a deal with old Mr. Talbot to support the condo project in exchange for having his debt of several hundred thousand dollars paid off. He had changed sides way back and no one knew it.”
My mouth dropped open. “What a traitor! He has no idea what a pariah he’ll be now in the Greek community.”
“Did you really think he’d tell anyone in the GMA about working with the Talbots?”
I shook my head, still in a state of disbelief. “Mr. Talbot’s change of heart must have really pulled the rug out from under him.”
“But only until Sonny made it clear how he felt about the project,” Case said, “then Fatsis knew he had to get in Sonny’s good graces quickly.”
“Fatsis is definitely becoming a stronger suspect,” I said. “He knew the old man’s evening routine and how to get up to his bedroom. Marie already told us Harry didn’t lock the office’s French doors at night. She might not have been the only one who knew that.”
“Or she spilled that information to Fatsis after a few drinks,” Case said, “and he’s certainly big enough to hold an old man down under the water.” He sighed in frustration. “But all we have are conjectures.”
“Here’s something I forgot to tell you. Fatsis reminded me that Harry and my grandfather were old friends. Perhaps Harry convinced Talbot Senior to build the condominium somewhere else for Pappoús’s sake.”
“Do you really believe a powerful mogul would care enough about Harry’s old friend to scrap a multimillion-dollar moneymaker in the heart of the downtown area? Face it, Athena, Sonny might have been telling the truth when he said his father was just going through the motions to placate the GMA and never intended to file that document. Otherwise, why would he take it back home with him? He probably had Harry destroy it.”
“But what if Harry didn’t destroy it? What if he feared for his own life after Talbot drowned and handed it off to his confidant, just in case? He knew how important it was to the Greek community and especially to his former partner, Theo Karras, my pappoús. Case, it’s possible that my grandfather is Harry’s confidant.”
“Wouldn’t your grandfather have given the document to the GMA to stop the project?”
It was my turn to sigh in frustration, resting my chin on my palm. “You’re right. But I still believe Harry’s death has something to do with that signed document. I’ll have to talk to Pappoús and see what he has to say about it.”
I felt eyes on my back and glanced around to see that my sisters were watching us like hawks. I gave them a glare and turned to Case. “How did you learn about Fatsis’s finances?”
“I told you I’m an expert researcher.” He rose.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m going to slip outside to follow Fatsis to see who he’s meeting with. I have a feeling he’s going to run straight to the Talbot headquarters to see Sonny. And you’re going to deal with your family, who is about to descend on our table. Let me know what your grandfather says.”
And with that Case was gone, striding toward the door like a man on a mission. I turned back to my salad only to have Selene, Maia, and my mother pull out chairs at the table and sit down. The family descendeth.
“Okay, Thenie,” Mama said, crossing her arms over her ample bosom, her heavy bracelets clattering. “What’s going on?”
I wasn’t sure what my mother was referring to, so I went with a sure thing. “We were discussing Donald Fatsis being a turncoat.”
“You were discussing GMA business with a stranger?” Mama asked as though I’d committed a sin.
“He’s not a stranger anymore. He’s a friend who’s trying to help us save Little Greece.”
“A friend, is he?” She had a shrewd gleam in her eye. “And what does he get in return?”
“Yes, tell us, Thenie,” Selene said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
“I’m helping him with his mystery novel, and that’s it,” I said. “He’s writing a fictionalized account of the murders.”
Maia looked at Mama and shook her head. She always had been the tattletale of the group. “Thenie makes it sound so innocent. The truth is that our Athena, girl reporter, is playing detective with a handsome stranger. And she’s not just helping him with details. They’re both actively looking for the murderers. They even went to see Sonny Talbot Saturday morning to question him about his father’s and Harry’s death.”
“His name is Dimitrius Costas,” Selene said. “And Delphi tells me he’s single.”
Maia continued, “Thenie and Dimitrius are working very closely together on the investigation. Lila told me so at yoga.”
I gritted my teeth. Sisters! I was already writing my blog for the day in my head.
“How does everyone know this but me?” Mama huffed.
“Stop making it sound like something is going on between us,” I snapped at Maia and Selene. “Yes, I’m looking into the
two murders because I’m convinced Sonny is involved. I’m sick of how the name Talbot allows them to get away with anything, not just tearing down Little Greece but also possibly murder. And yes, Dimitrius is working with me. Initially it was because he’s writing a book based on the murders. But then he got involved in our cause, and he’s even uncovered some valuable information, such as that Fatsis is on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Mama nodded knowingly. “I had a feeling about Fatsis’s business.”
I knew that would divert her attention away from Case. “Dimitrius found out that Fatsis arranged with Talbot Senior to pay off his debts in exchange for convincing us not to fight the condo project. When Talbot died, Fatsis and Sonny struck a deal like the one Sonny offered Yiayiá and Pappoús. When Dimitrius confronted him with it, Fatsis stormed out, as you just witnessed.”
“How did Dimitrius find all that out?” Mama asked, obviously still skeptical of him.
“He’s a writer, Mama. He knows how to research.” I turned toward Maia. “Now, Miss Tattletale, answer a question for me. When Harry’s body was discovered last Tuesday morning, did Lila show up for yoga class?”
“I can check the schedule,” Maia said, getting serious, “but I’m almost certain she did. She rarely misses a class.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d check, just to make sure.”
Mama leaned across the table to stare me in the eye. “Is that all that’s going on between you and Dimitrius?”
“Yes, I promise. In fact, we might be distantly related through relatives in Tarpon Springs. Somehow. Distantly.”
I realized I was twirling a strand of my hair and dropped it.
Mama got up, went to the hostess stand, and came back with a notepad and pen, which she pushed across the table toward me. “Write down his full name.”
“Selene already told you his name. It’s Dimitrius Costas.”
She wrote it down instead, gave me a long, skeptical look, and got up. “We’ll see.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Call my aunt in Tarpon Springs. She knows everyone in the Greek community.”
Gulp.
After she left, Maia and Selene were all eyes and ears, folding their hands on the table and leaning in to talk in hushed tones. “He’s adorable,” Selene said. “It’d be too bad if we found out we were cousins.”