Mykonos After Midnight

by Jeffrey Siger

  The drive back to the airport was a cautious one. Kouros drove, though neither would have passed a breathalyzer test. Nor would either have scored a record for such a test on an island where virtually no one feared being stopped for erratic driving of any sort.

  As they neared the airport Andreas began drumming his fingers on the dashboard.

  Kouros looked over from the driver’s seat. “Do I detect inspiration?”

  Andreas nodded. “I think I have an idea on how to get things rolling.”

  “Are we talking about something like the ‘rolling’ boulder opening scene of Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark?”

  “As I recall, the boulder was chasing the hero.”

  “I guess I should go for a different movie.”

  “Good idea.”

  “The War of the Worlds?”

  Andreas shook his head and waved a hand toward the road ahead. “Drive.”

  Kouros smiled. “Liked that film, Ryan Gosling, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  “Morning.”

  “Chief Kaldis! What are you doing here?”

  “Sorry to startle you. I’ve come to see the minister.”

  “Is he expecting you?”

  “No, it’s a surprise. Just tell him I’m here, please.”

  Andreas stood by the secretary’s desk as she dialed her boss, whispered into the phone, stuttered in reply to some comment, and looked up. “He’s very busy.”

  “Please tell him that I must see him on a matter of great importance.”

  She went back to whispering, nodded to the phone, and hung up. “I’m sorry, Chief, but he can’t possibly see you today.”

  “No problem, just tell him I stopped by to let him know I plan on running for his seat in parliament in the next election and I’m on my way over to ask the Prime Minister for his blessing.”

  The woman’s jaw dropped. “You want me to tell him that?”

  Andreas smiled and nodded.

  She called and whispered again.

  The door to Spiros’ office burst open. “Andreas, get in here.”

  Andreas mouthed, “Thank you,” to the secretary as he passed by.

  Spiros shut the door, pointed Andreas to a chair in front of his desk, and went to sit behind his desk.

  “You’re joking of course. You can’t be serious about all that. You’re not a politician, you couldn’t possibly put up with all the bootlicking I have to do day after day.”

  “Who knows? At least you have influence, the ability to get things done.”

  “But it’s a horrible life, and ––”

  Andreas held up his hands. “Stop. I just wanted you to know what I could do if I ever wanted. But, as long as I feel I have your unconditional support in my job––”

  “You know that you do. Always have, always will.”

  Andreas smiled. “Let’s just say there is a reasonable basis for disagreement on that score and leave it at that.”

  “Fine, that’s a mature way to look at things.”

  “With one proviso?”

  “Proviso?”

  “Yes, I want you to set up a one-on-one meeting with me and the minister of finance right away.”

  “Why?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  The old rage returned to Spiros’ face. But he spoke softly. “I really must know.”

  “Sorry, I can’t tell you. For your own good.”

  “Then I can’t arrange the meeting.”

  “No problem, I’ll ask the Prime Minister to do it when I see him later.”

  “You’re wasting your time trying to blackmail me with a threat to run for parliament. The Prime Minister would never agree to allow you to run for my seat.”

  “Blackmail? That’s a rather harsh term to apply to someone who simply wants to participate in the democratic process. Is your tape recorder running, again? I have an idea. Instead of meeting with the minister of finance this morning, why don’t you and I go see the Prime Minister and let him decide if he’d rather have this hero cop run for your seat as a member of his party or as a member of the loyal opposition.” Andreas smiled.

  Spiros bit furiously at his lip. “I’ll only agree if you let me attend the meeting at finance with you.”

  “You might regret it if you do. I’m telling you that up front.”

  “Don’t threaten me!”

  “I’m not threatening, I’m warning you. But if you want to come, fine. Just arrange it for today. And tell him it’s urgent.”

  Spiros bit at his lip a few more times before calling his secretary. “Call Panos at finance and tell him I must see him ASAP on an urgent matter.”

  He hung up and glared at Andreas. “Satisfied?”

  “Very.”

  ***

  “Panos, thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”

  “When the minister of public order says it’s ‘urgent,’ I take it seriously. Please sit down.” He pointed to two chairs in front of his desk.”

  Andreas walked to the edge of the desk and extended his hand. “Andreas Kaldis, Minister.”

  “Oh, you two haven’t met? Sorry about that, I should have introduced you.”

  “I know of Chief Inspector Kaldis by reputation, and for having the loveliest wife in Athens, next to mine of course.” He smiled and shook Andreas’ hand.

  Andreas nodded. “Thank you.”

  “So, Spiros, what can I do for you?”

  “It’s a delicate matter that I thought would best be explained by Andreas. That’s why I brought him with me.”

  Andreas tried to suppress a smile by squeezing hard at the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Feel free to take the lead if you’d like, Minister.”

  Spiros, cleared his throat. “No, as I said, I think it best that you take it from here.”

  Andreas thought he saw a slight grin on Panos’ face.

  “I’m sure you’re familiar with the recent kidnapping and rescue of a fellow police officer.”

  “Who in Greece isn’t? Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” Andreas leaned forward. “In connection with the investigation that led to the rescue I learned of a plot to blackmail members of the government. The simplest way to put this, Minister, is I’m here to tell you that you are a target.”

  Spiros bolted forward in his chair. “What?”

  Panos’ grin was gone. “What are you saying? How dare you suggest that I would do anything to compromise my duty to my country?”

  “I’m sure that’s not what Andreas was saying. Were you Andreas?”

  “Minister, you are in charge of the office that creates new casino licenses. The kidnappers tortured that police officer in an attempt to get him to reveal the location of a cache of audios, videos, and photographs secretly recorded over decades by Christos Vasilakis. It is not just the behavior of members of government and prominent citizens that they were after, but incriminating materials related to their families.” Andreas put his hands out palms up.

  “And who’s to say what one might be willing to do to spare themselves or their loved ones from ruination?”

  “I have nothing to fear,” said Panos.

  “I understand how you feel.” Andreas shook his head. “But there are some things in there––”

  “What sorts of things?” said Spiros.

  “Spiros, shut up.” Panos ran his fingers through his hair.

  Andreas said, “I’m the only one who knows what’s in those materials. The kidnapped inspector and my assistant have never seen them. And there’s no reason for anyone else to ever know.”

  Panos snickered. “And what is it you want in return, Chief Inspector?”

  “Nothing but a little cooperation that will allow us to quietly put an
end to this matter once and for all.”

  “Yes, yes, just as I suggested,” said Spiros.

  Panos shook his head and glared at Spiros. “Please, Chief Inspector, continue.”

  “Very soon someone will attempt to access your ministry’s records. I’m not sure what the pretext will be, whether it will be an official or unofficial request, but it will come. And when it does, this is what I want them to find.”

  Andreas’ explanation took five minutes, during which Panos quietly took copious notes and Spiros said not a word.

  At the end Panos stood up, extended his hand to Andreas, and said, “We have a deal.”

  ***

  “Wacki, could I talk to you for a minute?” It was the Mykonos police chief calling out to him from a table at the Kadena harborfront taverna close by City Hall.

  “I’m in sort of a hurry, Mihalis, what is it?”

  “Sit, please, it won’t take long.”

  Wacki looked at his watch and sat.

  “Glad I bumped into you. I have to ask you some questions about your friend, Sergey.”

  “Me? Why are you asking me? Ask him.”

  Mihalis gestured no. “I can’t do it that way. I’m doing a background check on him and have to ask his known associates about him.”

  “What sort of background check?”

  “Just routine.”

  “Chief, I’d like to help but how can I if I don’t know what it’s about?”

  Mihalis leaned in. “All I’m authorized to tell you is that it’s a direct request from the office of the minister of finance. Sergey’s applied for some sort of license and the ministry is required to get a police background check on him before giving its okay. There’s a lot of heat on me to get this report back to them ASAP, so my guess is unless I come up with a reason to say no, he has his license.”

  Wacki shook his head. “No reason I can think of to deny him a license. He’s a model citizen as far as I can tell.”

  Mihalis smiled. “I thought you’d say that. Thanks.”

  Wacki stood up and hurried away, wondering as he did, what license?

  ***

  Wacki knocked on Sergey’s hotel room door. “Hey, boss, it’s me. Open up.”

  No answer.

  Wacki went downstairs and asked the desk clerk, “Are you sure he’s in his room? There was no answer when I knocked. Or yelled.”

  The clerk shrugged. “I haven’t seen him go out. Maybe he went out the backdoor and is down at the harbor for sunset.”

  Wacki grunted and left the hotel.

  Time to call Teacher.

  ***

  Sergey stared at the door from inside his hotel room. He’d ignored Wacki because he could not stand him. He was always in his way. Never helping, just trying to make himself look important. Today the two men Teacher found for him would be in Athens. Now things would get done. And quickly.

  ***

  “I hope you’ll be comfortable in the guest bedroom,” said Lila.

  “Yes, thank you very much,” said Kouros.

  “Good, and as soon as my husband gets off the phone I’ll leave the two of you alone to talk. Don’t forget, if you need anything, just ask Marietta.”

  “Thank you.”

  Andreas closed his mobile and hugged Lila. “Thanks, my love.”

  “No problem. Yianni is like family. Besides I feel safer having two cops in the house.” She turned and left them alone in the library.

  Kouros looked at Andreas. “Chief, that guest room is bigger than my whole apartment.”

  Andreas laughed. “Tell me about it. It’s what comes from being an honest cop.”

  “Does Lila happen to have a sister? Even an ugly cousin.”

  Andreas shot him an open palm. “But Lila’s right about you staying here. Until we take down that bastard, things could get very nasty. No telling which of us he’ll come after next, but he will.”

  “Me, me, me. I want him to pick me.”

  “Don’t be a macho wise-ass. These guys aren’t brave. Just ruthless. Could be a bomb or grenade launcher. Dirty and distant is their trademark. Unless you’re an old man or a girl.”

  “Thank God Tassos is off the critical list.”

  Andreas crossed himself. “Maggie said they might let her in to see him tomorrow. She’ll tell him only what she thinks will make him feel better.”

  “Five dead and three in jail should start him along the great yellow brick road to happiness.”

  Andreas shook his head. “You sound like his clone.”

  “How long do you think I’ll have to stay here?”

  “Why? Do you have a cat to feed at home?”

  This time the palm came from Kouros.

  Andreas smiled. “That was the finance ministry on the phone. They received a fax from Mykonos police that their chief had spoken with Wacki about Sergey applying for a license and there was ‘nothing negative to report.’”

  “Did Wacki take the bait?”

  “Won’t know until it happens. All we can do is hope Wacki runs true to form.”

  “And straight back to Teacher.”

  Andreas nodded. “If he goes to Sergey, we’re fucked.”

  “It’s a gamble.”

  “This whole thing’s a gamble. Starting with my suggesting to the minister of finance there was something on him or his family in Christos’ files when as far as we could tell there wasn’t.”

  “He could have hung us out to dry.”

  “Nope, just me. I said I was the only one who knew what was in the files, then I watched as his mind ran to whatever painful moment in his past or his family’s past conceivably might be out there. Never ceases to amaze me how much more threatening imagined risks are than the known.”

  “Whatever, it worked. So now what do we do?”

  “Wait.”

  “Want to watch a soccer match?” said Kouros.

  Andreas turned on the television. “Whom are you rooting for?”

  “The winner.”

  ***

  “Hello, Teacher, it’s Wacki.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “I’m sorry to call so late, but I was trying to reach Sergey and couldn’t find him so I thought I’d pass this information on to you. It might be important and I didn’t want to sit on it overnight.”

  “Just tell me what it is, please.”

  “This afternoon the Mykonos police chief questioned me about Sergey.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That he was a ‘model citizen.’”

  “Why are you bothering me with this?”

  Wacki began to stammer, but caught himself. “It wasn’t what he wanted to know that mattered it was why he wanted to know.”

  “And ‘why’ was that?”

  “Sergey applied for a license from the ministry of finance and the police were doing a mandatory background check at the request of the ministry.”

  “Did the police say what sort of license?”

  “No.”

  “Did the police say it was for a license in Sergey’s name?”

  “I, I can’t swear to that but the chief did say that with all the pressure coming down on him from the ministry to hurry along the background check it looked as though he would get his license.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. I hope––”

  “Wacki, for the time being I want you to keep this conversation and your conversation with the police chief just between us.”

  “You mean don’t tell Sergey?”

  “Do I have to repeat myself?”

  “No, Teacher, no. Absolutely. I understand completely. Tell no one.”

  “Very good. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  Teacher hun
g up the phone and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes moved to the backs of her hands, and the black and blue marks along her arms.

  She hadn’t been surprised when she’d received the news about her health. No one wanted to think such things were possible, at least not about yourself and not out of a past you’d put so far out of mind. But she’d been a prostitute, and this was to be expected. She’d battled her illness for years, but with no one to share her burdens she was growing weary of the war.

  Then Sergey entered her life with what seemed the answer to her prayers.

  Her eyes shifted to the photograph of the young girl. She dropped her head.

  I must make inquiries.

  Chapter Thirty

  It was early morning when the email arrived from Teacher’s colleague in Athens. It read simply: ATTACHED ARE ALL FILES ON THE APPLICATION YOU REQUESTED.

  The contact was thorough. The attachments included a copy of an application for a casino license on Mykonos. It was stamped as submitted to Greece’s ministry of finance the day after the hotel owner had agreed to sell his interest in the hotel lease. Listed as the applicant was “Sergey Tishchenko.”

  That was not as they had planned. It would be foolish to hold a license in a single individual’s name because the license would lapse should anything happen to that person.

  Why would he do this? He surely knew better than to steal from her. Perhaps he thought of it as insurance against her killing him should she become disenchanted with him, as the license would end with him?

  She smiled. She admired that sense of self-preservation. Her smile faded. As long as he did not plan to steal from her.

  She read on. The application was filled with the words of lawyers.

  He couldn’t have done this on his own. He had help. But from whom? Wacki? Not a chance. But there had to be others involved in preparing this application, persons she did not know. She did not like that.

  Teacher cleared her throat and finished reading the application. It contained financial representations and divulged sources of funds necessary to complete the project and bond the performance obligations of the casino. She knew the accounts, they were hers that she’d put in Sergey’s name for purposes of the application.

  She looked for questions about the hotel lease, but there were none. The application focused on the applicant’s financial abilities and background, not on specific details of the facility to be operated within the approved venue. That would come later, after the ministry approved the license. She read on and lingered for a moment over the signature of Sergey Tishchenko.