Target: Tinos ak-4

by Jeffrey Siger

  Andreas nodded and Tassos banged his fist on the door. “ Open up, police. ” Both cops pressed their backs against the wall and waited.

  Nothing.

  Tassos banged his fist on the door again, and repeated the order.

  Still no reply.

  Tassos was banging away at the door for a third time when he heard a voice, “Hold your horses,” and the sound of an opening lock.

  “It’s Yianni,” said Andreas.

  The door opened and Kouros waved them in. “I could see through the side and rear windows that no one was inside, and when I found an open one I thought I’d spare us the trouble of breaking down the door.”

  It took less than a minute for them to check out every room. The place was even smaller than it appeared from the outside. Two tiny bedrooms, a bathroom, and one large living room open to the kitchen.

  “I thought this family had money,” said Kouros. “It looks like the sort of place rich people give their housekeepers to live in.”

  There was a fireplace in one corner and photographs on the mantle above it. Andreas pointed at a photo. “That’s Petros with what looks to be his sister. My guess is the one with them is the other brother.”

  “Well, at least we know they live here,” said Tassos.

  “If you call this living,” said Kouros.

  “I can understand why Trelos spends so much time walking the island if this is what he gets to call home,” said Tassos.

  “Any ideas on where they might have gone?” said Andreas.

  “Not a clue,” said Kouros.

  “My guess is the sister ran to whomever she passes along the information she picks up in the bar,” said Tassos.

  “That means if we find her we just might find our shepherd,” said Andreas.

  “But where’s the brother who lives with her?” said Kouros.

  “Who knows?” said Tassos. “Probably out wandering the island. Neither bed looks slept in. I’ll get the local cops to cover the house and grab him when he comes back,” said Tassos.

  “While you’re at it, ask them to keep an eye on Petros. He’s not convinced me he’s clean, just that we don’t have enough yet to hold him. He’ll probably try to connect with his sister. Better have them watch the Polish girls, too, but tell them to make it obvious. Even if they complain it puts a crimp in their business. We want to discourage anyone who might be thinking of getting rid of them.”

  Tassos said, “Odysseus is still on that holiday Spiros ordered him to take, and the lieutenant covering for him is a real pencil pusher. I can almost hear him bitching about how our crisis-mandated cutbacks mean we’re asking him to tie up half the Tinos police force on a case he must know the minister wants closed.”

  Andreas shrugged. “Once you point out the potential downside implications to his career if the robbery of the century takes place in his backyard, under his nose, on his watch I’m sure he’ll find us the people.”

  “You have such a high opinion of our brethren,” said Tassos.

  “Only most of them.” Andreas yawned. “Time to get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ve a lot of hunting to do.”

  “For what?” said Kouros.

  “Answers.”

  First thing the next morning Tassos and Andreas stopped by Eleni’s office while Kouros went off to make sure the local police were providing the requested surveillance.

  “I certainly hope you’re here with good news, uncle. August 15th is the day after tomorrow and if you still think something might happen to the Megalochari I’m very uncomfortable at keeping that from my boss.”

  “Don’t tell him yet. We think we’re on to someone who may have the answers we’re looking for,” said Andreas.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Meerna, the sister of Petros and Trelos.”

  “You must be joking.” Eleni paused. “If you’re not, I think you’re both crazy. I’m not even sure she can talk. I’ve never heard her say a word in all the years I’ve known her.”

  “Have you ever tried to speak with her?” said Tassos.

  “Yes, many times when I was an administrator at the Foundation’s old age home. She was a volunteer there and whenever I tried she simply shuffled away.”

  “What in the world did she do there?”

  “Whatever the doctors and staff told her to do. They loved her because she had an uncanny ability to anticipate what needed to be done without being asked.”

  “All without her saying a word?” said Andreas.

  “That was regarded as a plus. Like I said, she just did as she was told.” Eleni smiled. “A rare quality among Greeks.”

  “Does she still volunteer there?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “What else do you know about her?”

  “Aside from that tragic love affair I mentioned to you once before, I heard she was a terrific athlete in her youth.”

  “We heard the same thing. Almost a national cycling champion,” said Tassos.

  “She just missed making Greece’s Olympic team,” said Eleni.

  “For cycling?” said Andreas.

  “No, the pentathlon.”

  “Amazing,” said Tassos. “Seeing her now it’s hard to imagine what she once was.”

  “Her brother even more so, but his skill set was pure gray matter,” said Eleni.

  “Petros?” said Tassos.

  “No, Trelos. It’s said he was the smartest kid of his generation on Tinos. A certified genius.”

  “What happened to him?” said Andreas.

  “The same thing that happens to a lot of kids who can’t find stimulation in school, they find it elsewhere. He ended up hooked on heroin. His parents tried everything they could to help him. Even had him physically dragged off the island to some special clinic in Switzerland. Rumor was they did something to his brain there. When he came back he was never the same. He spent all his time with his music and computers. And after his parents died he never talked to anyone again. He just started dancing around the island and hasn’t stopped.”

  “How did his parents die?” said Tassos.

  “In a car accident on the road between here and Pyrgos. They were driving back late at night when their car went off the road and over a cliff. The police said the father apparently fell asleep at the wheel. A real tragedy.”

  “How come you know so much about the accident?” said Andreas.

  “It was big news on Tinos. The family was quite prominent, descendants of one of our island’s most celebrated heroes of the War of Independence, and zealously dedicated to preserving Tinos traditional life. They also were among the richest Tinian families and left a considerable donation to the Megalochari.”

  “You mean the Foundation, don’t you?” said Andreas.

  “Yes.”

  “How considerable?”

  “I really can’t say.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “It was one of the largest bequests ever received from a Tinian family.”

  “Seven, eight, nine figures?”

  “I’ve said all I’m going to say on that subject.” Her tone was sharp.

  Tassos stood up. “Thanks, kukla. I don’t think we have any more questions, do we Andreas?”

  Andreas looked at Tassos and smiled. “I guess that’s your uncle’s way of saying I’m pushing you too hard again. Sorry. But I do have one last question. Do you have any idea where we might find Trelos?”

  “He always walks the road his parents died on. If you follow that road sooner or later you’ll find Trelos.”

  Andreas stood up. “Thanks. Anything else we should know about him?”

  “Yes, I understand he’s really quite harmless.”

  They found a place to park on the right side of the road up against a hillside just before a hairpin turn to the right. On the left was a brilliant view of the sea, a guardrail, and a sheer drop of several hundred feet. It was impossible to see around the bend at what might be coming from the direction of Pyrgos, but this was t
he only spot within three hundred yards of the curve that allowed them to park off the road.

  “According to the police report, they were coming in the other direction and went over the cliff right there.” Kouros pointed from the back seat of the police cruiser straight ahead between Andreas and Tassos. “There was no guardrail then.”

  “Did you find anyone at the station who knew anything more about the accident than was in the report?” said Andreas.

  “By the time you called and asked me to get the report the only two who might have known anything more were out doing our surveillance. I left word for them to call me when their shifts were over.”

  “What makes you think they might know something?” said Tassos.

  “The accident happened about a dozen years ago, and those two are the only ones still on the force who were here at the time.”

  Andreas started drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “You know, your niece is right. If we had to say out loud what makes us think Trelos and his sister have anything to do with whatever is going on here, we’d be giving Spiros grounds for certifying us as crazy.”

  “Speaking of crazy, Chief, look who’s coming down the road.”

  Dancing toward them in the oncoming lane, wearing a black tee shirt, black running shorts, a black waist pack, and black tennis shoes, was Trelos. He seemed oblivious to everything but what was coming through the earphones from the white iPod in his right hand. He did a pirouette-like move at the edge of the road closest to the cliff before backing across the road toward the hillside in a style that would make Michael Jackson fans proud. He seemed to catch a rhythm that had him strutting up to the police car. He stopped in front and spun around twice, almost like an ant searching for a way around an unexpected obstacle in its path.

  Andreas opened his door. “This should be interesting.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Trelos didn’t move from in front of the police car when the three cops got out and surrounded him. Nor did he stop moving in time to his music.

  “Pandeleis, good morning.” Andreas thought it better to call Trelos by his given name.

  Trelos kept spinning and dancing in front of the police car.

  “I said, ‘Good morning.’”

  Andreas thought he saw a slight nod, but beyond that nothing to indicate Trelos heard a word Andreas had said.

  “We want to talk to you about your sister.”

  More dancing.

  “Get in the car.”

  He didn’t move from his spot.

  “Yianni, put him in the back seat.”

  Kouros stepped forward, gently put his hand on Trelos’ elbow, and led him back to the car. Kouros opened the rear door on the driver side and steered him into the car, taking care not to hit Trelos’ head on the roof pillar. Kouros closed the door and went back to the front of the car.

  “I thought you were going to rip off his earphones,” said Tassos.

  “No reason for that, he seems a gentle soul.”

  “Inspires your protective instincts, does he?” said Andreas. “That’s quite a gift to have. His brother, Petros, said something about it being his obligation to ‘protect’ him. I wonder if his sister feels the same way.”

  “What are you getting at?” said Kouros.

  “From the way things seem to be going with this guy, I’d say nothing,” said Tassos.

  “Let’s take him back to his house,” said Andreas. “Maybe we’ll find some way to get through to him there. Because we sure as hell aren’t getting anywhere with him here.”

  When they arrived at the house a Tinos police car was parked in front.

  Andreas turned to look at Trelos in the back seat. “They’ve been waiting for you to come home. You put many people to a lot of trouble to find you.”

  Kouros got out of the backseat on the passenger side and went around to get Trelos out the other side.

  “By the way, since you obviously didn’t come home last night, where were you?” said Andreas. “You’re clean shaven, so don’t tell me you were out dancing on the streets all night.”

  Andreas got out of the car when Trelos did. “I’ll take him from here, Yianni. Please thank the Tinos cops and tell them they can leave now. And check to see if any of them know anything about you-know-what.”

  Andreas pointed in the direction of the house and said to Trelos. “Walk.”

  He didn’t move.

  “I didn’t think you’d listen. That’s your hustle isn’t it? I don’t buy your Peter Pan routine. So, move.” Andreas pushed Trelos toward the front door.

  Trelos paused.

  Andreas pushed him again. “Keep moving or I’ll ram that iPod so far up your ass you won’t need earphones.”

  Tassos stepped in next to Andreas and whispered. “I see Yianni’s playing good cop and you’re playing Attila the Hun cop.”

  “He’s moving, isn’t he?”

  Once inside, Trelos walked over to the mantle and touched a photograph of a man and a woman.

  “Are those your parents?” said Andreas.

  Trelos said nothing. He went over to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water, opened a cupboard, took out a glass, filled it with water, drank it all, refilled the glass, and drank that, too. Then he put the bottle back in the refrigerator, took the glass over to the sink, washed it, dried it, and put it back in the cupboard.

  “I see you clean up after yourself. Is that because you have no help here? Does your sister help when she’s here? Or isn’t she here that much? Or maybe you’re the one who’s not here that much? Funny, isn’t it? Such a tiny place for two grown-up people, especially for someone with your peculiar habits.”

  Trelos went into the bathroom and started to close the door. Andreas stopped the door with his foot.

  “Uh, uh. No private time for you. Don’t worry, I won’t watch. Just make on like you’re back in the army. You were in the army, weren’t you?”

  There was the unmistakable sound of a stream hitting water.

  “Good boy.”

  Andreas waited until Trelos came out of the bathroom. “You know what has me wondering. Here you are, a big time music fan, into computers for sure and there’s not a computer or audio devices to be seen anywhere in here. Not even a radio. I hope you’re not going to try and convince me that your only link to all the music you love in this world is that tiny little thing in your hand.

  “All of which makes me wonder whether you have another place for your music. Maybe even a whole house somewhere else. Is that where your sister is now, at your other place? You know we’re going to find it sooner or later. So why don’t you just tell me now. It will save us the bother of ripping up this place looking for clues. It would be a shame to make a mess so unnecessarily?”

  No answer.

  Kouros stuck his head inside the doorway. “Chief, may I speak with you?”

  Andreas looked at Tassos. “Keep an eye on him,” and went outside.

  He was back in two minutes, walked over to the mantle, and picked up the photograph of Trelos’ parents.

  “Lovely looking people. Your mom and dad?”

  No answer.

  “You know, my own father died when I was very young. I never really got over it. But I did get on with my life. Why, I wonder, haven’t you?” Andreas smiled.

  No answer.

  “I just found out that it could have been a lot worse for you. Your sister was with them the night they died. She went with them to dinner in Pyrgos, but she didn’t come back with them. Said she wasn’t feeling well and stayed over at a relative’s house. My, weren’t you lucky? You almost lost your only sister and your parents in one night.”

  Trelos didn’t move.

  Andreas studied the photograph. “Interesting, looks like it was taken right around here.” He walked over to the window on the north wall and held the photo up to the light. “You know, the church in the background of the photo looks an awful lot like that one over there.” He pointed at the church in the d
istance. “Could that, by chance, be your family’s church? Perhaps where your parents are buried?”

  No answer.

  “Tassos, why don’t you and Yianni take a walk over to that church and check it out. And while you’re at it, take a look inside the other structures in the area.” He stared at Trelos. “Just in case his sister might have gotten lost in one of them.”

  Trelos hadn’t moved from where he’d stopped after coming out of the bathroom, but his eyes trailed after Tassos leaving the house.

  “You know, Pandeleis, all this talking to myself has given me a mighty thirst.” Andreas put the photograph down on the kitchen counter by the window. “I assume you won’t mind if I help myself to some water?” He reached for the refrigerator door handle.

  “Not at all, Chief Inspector Kaldis. But please, call me Trelos, everyone else does. By the way, your friends are wasting their time. They won’t find a thing.”

  Trelos walked across the room to where Andreas was standing, took off his earphones, and put them and the iPod down on the counter. He picked up the photograph of his parents, kissed it, and carried it back to the mantle.

  Trelos turned and smiled at Andreas. “No one will. Ever.”

  Andreas gripped the door handle for few seconds, opened the door, took out a bottle of water, closed the door, opened the cupboard, took out two glasses with one hand, shut the cupboard with the back of the same hand, turned, and set the glasses and bottle on the countertop across from Trelos.

  “Is this where the master-criminal divulges his secret plan to his noble adversary knowing that it cannot be stopped?”

  Trelos smiled. “Not at all. There is nothing left to stop. My plan is simple and underway. My only desire is to give choices to those who would like to change their lives for the better. Give them the chance at finding honest work they truly enjoy, an opportunity I never had. I support them financially until they are able to support themselves.”

  “So, you’re the Shepherd.”

  “I have taken an oath to tell only the truth or speak not at all.”