by Kate Collins
Maia said, “He’s sexy, too. Has Delphi called dibs?”
I gathered my purse and stood up. “I’ve got to talk to Pappoús and then get back to Spencer’s so Dad can take a lunch break.”
I headed straight back to the kitchen, where my grandfather was busy cooking. “Pappoús, I need to talk to you about Harry. Can you stop for a minute?”
He wiped his hands on his bib apron, then used a paper towel to dab his perspiring face. “You can see how busy it is here. I’ll call you at the office after closing time.”
“Of course, Pappoús. I’ll talk to you then.”
As I walked back to the garden center, my phone beeped. I pulled it out of my purse and saw a text from Case.
Dimitri: My hunch was almost right. Fatsis didn’t run straight to Sonny. Sonny was the client he met at his shop. He even bought a painting, no doubt to make it look like a legitimate reason for being there.
Athena: Wish I’d been a fly on the wall. I’m sure they discussed our meeting with him.
Dimitri: Speaking of meetings, when is our next strategy session?
Athena: My only free time is before I go home to help Nicholas with his homework tomorrow evening.
Dimitri: Lunch then?
I paused. It was risky making trips to the marina during the day, but as I hadn’t been there since Saturday, perhaps nobody would notice.
Athena: I’ll make it work. I’ll stop and buy sandwiches on the way.
Dimitri: I’m looking forward to it.
I put my phone away with a smile. So was I.
I paused, wondering whether he was looking forward to it for the same reason I was: the thrill of the hunt.
IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME
blog by Goddess Anon
Siblings. They’re not all they’re cracked up to be.
How can grown-up siblings be so childish in the presence of a parent, like they haven’t grown up at all? I’m firmly convinced that when the family gathers, every one of my siblings reverts to his/her childhood traits. Frankly, it makes me want to take my ball and go home. Today, for instance . . .
Shortly after eight o’clock, after my dad and Delphi had left for the day, I took advantage of the warm evening to sit in the outdoor area at Spencer’s to write my blog. A gentle breeze brought the fresh smell of coming rain, and dark clouds were moving in, so I had to hurry before the first drops started to fall.
I had just finished when Pappoús phoned. “What did you want to know about Harry, Athena?” my grandfather asked.
“Pappoús, were you and Harry close when he died?”
“I talked to Harry for the first time in three years the day before the Talbot auction, and that was because he wanted me to see the statue. He said it would be perfect for the diner. I told him I couldn’t afford such a beautiful piece, and he said not to worry about the price because he would arrange a way for me to afford it.”
A red flag went up. “Are you saying you didn’t actually pay the price on the receipt?”
“Nai.” Greek for “yes.”
“How much did you pay?”
“Not important.”
“Did you pay something?” I crossed my fingers, hoping he had so Case couldn’t make a claim for it.
“Of course I paid something. Do you think I would take it for free?”
“Did Harry give you anything beside the receipt when you bought the statue?”
“Nai. A yellow envelope with papers inside.”
“A yellow envelope. Did you look at the papers inside?”
“Why should I look? He gave them to me with the statue, so what would they be about but the statue? I gave the envelope to your father to keep for me. I don’t know what he did with it.”
“He put it in the filing cabinet for safekeeping, Pappoús.”
And no one who’d seen the file marked Statue had thought anything of what else might be in there, including me. I’d hurriedly found the receipt, never checking to see what else was in the envelope. Now that I thought about it, I did remember seeing other papers inside. It just hadn’t occurred to me that they might be important.
“Did Harry mention anything to you about his boss’s decision to cancel his plans to tear down Little Greece?”
His voice suddenly tightening with emotion, he replied, “Harry handed me the envelope and said, ‘Paliá fíli, tha eínai oraía me aftá.’ ”
“Which means?”
“That you should have attended your Greek lessons,” he chided.
“Pappoús!”
“It means, ‘Old friend, you’ll be fine with this.’ ”
“Was that all he said?”
“Nai. Then he gave me a hug. I wonder now if Harry knew he was in danger.”
“Thanks, Pappoús. That’s all I wanted to know. Tell Yiayiá good night for me.”
“Kalinýchta, Thenie.”
After ending the call, I pondered Harry’s words. He obviously believed that the papers would keep Pappoús safe. But had Harry meant just the diner or could he have meant the rest of Little Greece, too? And if so, why hadn’t he said something? Had he been afraid of putting my grandfather in danger?
I put my phone in my pocket and stood. I needed to get that envelope.
A sudden thud outside the fence made me jump. I looked around for Oscar but didn’t see him, so I gathered my laptop and slipped inside, locking the door behind me. Then I went straight to the office and opened the filing cabinet.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was much later than I’d thought. Nicholas would be waiting. I’d have to hurry.
In the file marked Statue, I opened the envelope and pulled out the top piece of paper, which was the receipt showing the sale of the statue. Along with it was a folded document two pages long. When I unfolded it, my heart jumped to my throat. I was holding the agreement Talbot Sr. had signed canceling the condominium project. Pappoús had been Harry’s confidant.
I wanted to call Case to tell him but two more thuds, these from inside the garden center, set my nerves on edge. Wishing I had a key to lock the filing cabinet, I slid the document and receipt back into the envelope, tucked it inside the folder, shuffled the folders around so it wouldn’t stand out, shut the filing cabinet, and left.
* * *
It was dark and starting to sprinkle when I locked the shop and ran to my SUV, managing to make it just before the skies opened up. With the windshield wipers going at top speed, the headlights of the oncoming cars blurred as I made the short trip to my parents’ home. I glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed a big black SUV close behind me, so close that even in the driving rain, I could see that the driver had a hood up, but I couldn’t see his face. I turned at the next corner and the SUV followed. Was I being tailed?
I made an unexpected left turn, then turned right at the next corner and checked the rearview mirror. The vehicle was still behind me. My heart started to race, and my palms felt damp on the steering wheel. Someone was definitely following me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
With shaking hands, I reached for my phone, voice dialed 911, and told the dispatch operator what was happening. She instructed me to drive straight to the police station and stay in my car, and meanwhile she’d have a patrol car waiting out front.
I got back onto Greene Street, turned onto Main, the major cross street through town, and the big black SUV was still on my bumper. I had three blocks to go but it felt like three miles. Just before I reached the police station, I glanced in my rearview mirror again and the vehicle was gone. I kept going anyway and when I pulled up in front of the station, an officer was waiting to escort me inside. I gave them a description of the SUV, but without a license plate number or make of SUV, there wasn’t anything they could do except follow me home to make sure I arrived safely.
I was trembling when I entered the house. I shut the door and leaned against it to steady myself, then pushed away and headed for Mom’s big kitchen to make myself a cup of cham
omile tea. My parents were in the living room watching TV and naturally Mama noticed my distress.
“Thenie, what happened?” she asked, both of them following me into the kitchen.
I took a cup from the cabinet, filled it with water, and popped it in the microwave. “Someone in a black SUV was following me. I called the police and they had me drive to the station.” I opened another cabinet and found the tea bags. “But the SUV disappeared before I got there.”
“Was it a Cadillac?” Dad asked, perching on a stool at the island counter.
“It was raining so hard I couldn’t tell. Why?”
“Sonny Talbot has a big black Caddy SUV,” he said.
The microwave dinged. I took out the cup and dropped in the tea bag. “A lot of people have black SUVs. And I don’t think Sonny would want to chance his Caddy being recognized.”
“I don’t care who it was,” Mama said with a scowl, “that’s it for you, Thenie. No more investigating those murders. It’s not worth risking your life. From now on you ride to work with your papa.”
“Mama, please, I’m not a child. I’ll be careful.” I took my cup and headed for the back staircase. “I’m going up to see my son and then go to bed.”
Mama put her arms around me from behind and hugged me as though it was going to be my last night on earth. “I love you, my precious moró. Just remember what I said. This investigation you’re so determined to do isn’t worth risking your life for.”
I went up to Nicholas’s room, took a deep breath to steady my nerves, and knocked before entering. “Hey, sweetie.”
He got up from his desk and came to give me a hug. “I’m glad you’re home.”
I put the teacup and my cell phone on the desk next to his bed. “I’m glad I’m home, too, Nick. I missed you.”
“It’s Niko now, Mom. I keep telling you I like that better.”
“Sorry. I haven’t gotten used to it. Why do you like it so much?”
“Because it makes me feel like part of the family. They’re fun and kinda crazy sometimes, and I like that.”
“Then I’ll try to remember to call you Niko, I promise. How’s your homework going?”
“All done,” he said proudly. “Aunt Selene helped me with my math.”
“Good. Then how about if we finish Charlotte’s Web?”
I climbed onto his twin bed beside him, put my arm around his shoulders, and leaned against the headboard to read. Fifteen minutes later, my phone beeped. I checked the screen, saw Case’s message, and felt my stomach tense.
Dimitri: I think someone is outside the boat.
“Oh, no” slipped out before I realized it.
Nicholas looked over my shoulder at the phone. “What is it, Mama?”
“A message from Dimitri. I need to answer it.”
I typed: Stay clear of the windows.
No answer came back. I started reading again but kept glancing over at my phone, hoping for an update. Finally, apologizing to my son, I stopped to text: Do you still hear someone?
No reply.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“I think Dimitri is in trouble.”
“Can you help him?”
I thought hard but, short of driving down to the marina, didn’t know how I could.
My phone rang then, and the name Dimitri popped up on the screen. “Are you okay?” I asked immediately.
“I’m off the boat and walking to a coffee shop,” came his breathless reply. “If anyone was near the boat, they’re gone now.”
I wanted to tell him about the SUV but didn’t want to frighten Nicholas, so I said, “It could have been one of the ropes hitting the hull.”
“That’s what I figured.” There was a pause and then, “Damn. Now a black SUV is following me.”
My heart began to race. That couldn’t be a coincidence. “Where are you?”
“On Oak. I’m going to duck down the lane behind Greene Street to see if I can lose it. I might be able to circle around and get a license plate—”
I heard a loud screech of tires and Case’s muttered curse, then his line went dead. I started to dial his number but stopped. If he’d had to hide, a ringing phone could put him in jeopardy. I took a deep breath to calm myself and started reading to Nicholas again, but my mind kept conjuring up images of what might’ve happened to Case.
“Mom, we can finish the book tomorrow. You’re distracted.”
“I’m sorry, honey. Yes, let’s finish it tomorrow.” I gave his shoulders a squeeze and kissed him on the forehead. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“I love you, too, Mama. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Is Dimitri your boyfriend?”
I scoffed playfully. “What a question to ask your mom.”
“I heard Aunt Selene and Aunt Maia talking about it. If he is, it’s okay. I want you to be happy, too.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Can I tell you something else? Promise not to tell anyone.”
“I promise.”
“I don’t like Kevin.”
“Can I tell you something, too? And you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially Grandma. I’m not a big fan of Kevin’s, either.”
We bumped fists. Then I kissed my son good night, went to my room, shut the door, and texted Case: Where are you? What happened?
I breathed a sigh of relief when I got an answering ding.
Dimitri: I’m okay, sitting at a coffee shop.
Athena: I heard tires screech and thought you got hit. You scared me!
Dimitri: How sweet that you care.
I ignored his remark and texted: What happened?
Dimitri: The SUV nearly hit another car. At least it gave me a chance to elude him, or them. I couldn’t tell how many were in the car, but I did see that it was a Chevrolet.
Athena: What are you going to do now? They might still be out there.
Dimitri: I’ve been here a little while and haven’t seen any black SUVs driving around. I’m going to head back to the marina in a bit.
Athena: Be careful. I was followed home by a black SUV this evening, too. I drove to the police station, but it didn’t follow.
Dimitri: I’m glad you’re ok. But if we’re being tailed, it won’t be safe to meet at the marina tomorrow. We’ll have to arrange another place.
Athena: I’ll pick up sandwiches at a food truck at the central plaza. Be nearby and watch to see if I’m being followed. If I am, text me and we’ll scratch the meeting. If not, I’ll continue on to the Páme as planned.
Dimitri: Sounds good. See you then, I hope.
Athena: Oh, wait! I almost forgot. I found the agreement Talbot Sr. signed. It was in the envelope Harry gave my grandfather when he bought the statue.
Dimitri: Wonderful! Do you have it with you?
Athena: No. I heard noises and got scared so I left it at the office for safekeeping. I think someone was listening outside the garden center while I was talking to my grandfather about it. And then I was followed, so I’m glad I didn’t take it with me.
Dimitri: Wise move. We’ll have to get it filed tomorrow to stop the project.
Athena: I don’t know how to get something filed. I’ll have to contact Kevin.
Dimitri: It’s your call. And just a heads-up. Five big bulldozers are parked one block past Little Greece. Talbot’s getting ready.
Tuesday
I had breakfast with Nicholas—Niko—I couldn’t get used to calling him that—then watched him get on the school bus before taking off in my SUV. I was angry that I didn’t feel safe walking to Spencer’s now, especially with the sun out and the temperature in the low seventies, a perfect day for a stroll. But I drove anyway, keeping one eye on the road and the other on my rearview mirror. I parked in a city lot one block behind Greene, cut down the back lane, and went through the gate into the outdoor center. I heard a crunch of gravel in the lane and glanced back but didn’t see anyone.
As I m
ade my way through the rows of outdoor shrubs and flowering bushes, and into the patio area, I spotted Oscar sitting in a chair at one of the tables as though he was human, holding an apple in his little paws and eating all around the core. He saw me and kept right on crunching away, not fearful at all.
Suddenly he glanced back toward the lane, dropped the apple, jumped down and was over the side fence in the blink of an eye. I spun around for a look but still didn’t see anyone. Now I was spooked. Then I noticed the back door. The glass had been shattered and the door was standing open.
I ran straight to the office where my dad and Delphi were talking with several police officers, Bob Maguire among them. The office was a mess—the desk drawers pulled out, the contents scattered, and more importantly, the filing cabinet had been opened and files were all over the floor.
“Oh, my God!” I cried, and everyone turned to look at me.
“They only targeted the office,” Dad said. “Nothing was broken but the back door. They didn’t harm anything inside the center. Only in here.”
“It appears that someone was looking for a file,” one of the officers said. “Do you keep anything of value in the filing cabinet?”
I had to bite my lip to keep from saying yes. My dad replied, “Just client files and purchase orders. Our safe is in a locked closet behind the checkout counter and it wasn’t touched.”
“Is it okay if I pick up the files?” I asked.
“Go ahead,” Maguire said. “We’ve already photographed everything.”
I began to gather the files on the floor, searching for the one that said Statue. I spotted it and opened it up. Prickles raised the hair on my arms. The manila envelope was gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I felt sick. Clearly, when I’d heard that noise while talking with Pappoús, someone had been listening. Why hadn’t I taken that envelope with me? Now there was nothing to stop Sonny’s project unless we could come up with something fast. The demolition was scheduled to start in six days.