Assassins of Athens

by Jeffrey Siger

  Her sounds, her touch, her taste, her hand driving at his crotch had him quietly battling orgasm but when she slid her hand into his pants and grabbed him bare, Andreas whispered, ‘Don’t, I’ll come.’

  She jerked her hand away, twisted onto her back and started undoing her jeans. He grabbed her hands.

  ‘No, not here. Someone will see us.’ He’d forgotten all about that until now.

  ‘Then take me somewhere where they won’t.’

  ‘I’ll get a room.’

  They made it as far as the car. She stopped him there, put a ‘be quiet’ finger to her lips, and pointed to the ledge in front of the car.

  ‘Are you crazy?’ he whispered. Those were his words, not his thoughts.

  Lila walked to the wall, pushed a few plants aside, and sat on the ledge. She pulled her blouse above her breasts and up to her neck so that it hung down her back. She leaned back and undid the front of her jeans, then slid off one pant leg. She allowed the other leg to slip down so that he could see there was nothing that separated him from her. She leaned back, separated her legs, and smiled.

  Not a word came to Andreas’ mind, not a thought of a car or person passing by, every thought was directed to that ledge and to her. He stepped to between her legs, pulled open his shirt and dropped his pants and briefs. He was naked to his ankles. He leaned over and touched her breasts, then put an arm around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his back. He felt her breasts against his chest, her bare leg straddling his. He braced his knees against the wall, one hand on the ledge beneath her, the other now on her naked ass pulling her toward him. They moved in separ ate ways trying to find each other and when they did, each paused.

  Andreas moved first. Lila flinched but didn’t refuse. Slowly, he found the way and they found a rhythm. But it did not last for long. The warmth and touch of her bare skin against his, her stuttered bursts of breath at his every thrust, and that erotic edge that came with the risk of being caught at any moment had him on the brink of orgasm the moment he entered her.

  He tried holding back, but when she moaned and started shaking he was gone. He came so hard and intensely he thought he hurt her. He caught his breath, and when he heard her crying he was certain he had.

  He didn’t know what to say.

  She was sitting on the ledge, sobbing. He put his arm around her.

  ‘Thank you.’ Her face was covered in tears.

  Now, for sure, he didn’t know what to say. He helped her put on her jeans and straightened out her blouse.

  Finally, he thought of something to say. ‘I’m sorry.’

  She sniffled and stood up. ‘Don’t be silly. You did nothing wrong.’ She drew in and let out three deep breaths, then took his hand. ‘It’s just … just that you’re the first man since my husband … and …’ She let go of his hand and threw hers in the air. ‘I can’t even say it.’

  Andreas didn’t say anything. Just reached for her hand. She gave it.

  ‘Okay, I know it sounds stupid … but it’s the truth. Look what we just did.’ She pointed back at the wall. ‘I mean that was crazy. Admit it.’

  He shrugged.

  ‘But I had to do it this way. Down and dirty. I don’t think I could have gone through with if if I’d waited until we had a room. I hope you understand. I’m still not sure I do.’ She shook her head. ‘I guess it’s just my hang-up.’

  ‘Come with me.’ He tugged at her hand.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  He led her across the parking lot to a hotel on the other side, got a room, took her upstairs, and made love to her for the rest of the night. It was the only way he could think of to cure her of her hang-up.

  18

  Andreas just made his seven a.m. plane. Thank God the night clerk didn’t forget the wake-up call, though Andreas forgot he’d asked for one. They fell off to sleep at five and the call came at six. Lila refused to get out of bed. She said she’d be fine, had plenty of friends on the island, and needed ‘at least two days to recover.’

  Again, he had a first row window seat, but this time he was alone in his row. Great, I can sleep. Andreas leaned his head against the window and shut his eyes. He heard the doors close, and the engines start. That’s when he felt the bounce of significant weight on the seat next to him. Shit, someone switched seats. He didn’t bother to look or even open his eyes, and by the time the plane was airborne he was asleep.

  His thoughts were of Lila: he dreamed of her next to him … stroking him … prodding him … wanting him to turn to her. He could feel her touch … her finger in his side—

  Andreas jerked awake and twisted to confront the passenger next him.

  ‘Morning, Andreas.’

  Andreas’ exhaustion was gone. Adrenaline did that. Now all he had to shake was shock. ‘Tassos?’

  ‘In the flesh.’ He smiled and patted his belly. ‘A bit more than the last time you saw me.’

  That last time was the last time Andreas ever wanted to see him. ‘What are you doing here?’ Andreas’ voice was angry.

  Tassos was cheery. ‘I think it’s fair to say if I tried getting an appointment with you, or even called, you’d never speak to me.’

  ‘And for goddamn good reason.’

  ‘The past is past. Let’s talk now as colleagues. You as chief of Special Crimes GADA, me as chief homicide investigator for the Cyclades.’

  Andreas looked around for other passengers who might be listening. No one else was in the front row. He looked behind them. No one in the second row. Or the third. He gestured behind with his thumb. ‘Your doing?’

  Tassos shrugged. ‘We needed privacy.’

  Tassos was a real old-timer, with more connections than hair, as bushy and dyed brown as it might be. Whatever else Andreas thought of Tassos, he never underestimated his ability to get things done, no matter what the means. Some might say Tassos, not Andreas, was a truer example of the traditional Greek cop. An undoubted point of pride for both men.

  ‘How did you know I was on this plane?’

  ‘You haven’t exactly been hiding.’

  Andreas looked for a smile. There was none. ‘Like I said, how did you know I was on this plane?’

  ‘People saw you and told me you were here. I wanted to talk to you, so I checked with the airlines. They gave me your flight information, and I set this up.’ He gestured toward the other seats.

  Andreas said nothing, just kept looking for a smile.

  ‘I also set up your wake-up call.’ Big smile.

  Andreas rubbed his eyes with his left thumb and index finger. He wondered what else Tassos might know about last night. No matter, Tassos would never turn against him on a personal level. Their differences were professional, and they’d still be friends but for that. ‘Okay, asshole, why did you want to see me?’

  ‘Ah, glad we’re back on a first-name basis.’ Tassos paused. ‘It’s about the Kostopoulos matter.’

  Andreas shook his head. ‘Let me guess, you’re the one “looking into things” for Zanni Kostopoulos.’

  Tassos nodded.

  ‘Officially or unofficially?’

  Tassos shrugged. ‘It’s a private retainer arrangement. I decided to catch up on some long overdue vacation time.’

  Andreas snickered. ‘Doesn’t surprise me. So, like I said, what do you want from me?’

  ‘Not sure anything at the moment. It’s more what I can do for you.’

  ‘Don’t hustle me with your bullshit.’ Andreas had trouble keeping his temper with Tassos. It was a trust issue.

  Tassos shook his head. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not. But judge for yourself.’

  Andreas shrugged. ‘So tell me.’

  ‘Kostopoulos came to me after he got that potsherd. And, yes, before you ask, I’ve helped him before.’

  Again, Andreas wasn’t surprised.

  Tassos continued. ‘I’d heard rumors, more like occasional gossip, of that sort of shit going on. Families being told to move or else, but it wasn’t any of my busi
ness, so I never looked into it. But, after Zanni called, it didn’t take long for me to find that the story was for real, involving seriously lethal people who followed through on their threats.’ Tassos turned away from Andreas and rubbed his forehead with one hand. ‘His son was a really great kid. I wish the son of a bitch had listened to me.’ He didn’t have to say he was talking about the father.

  ‘I told him to take precautions, take the battle to them. He wouldn’t listen. He’s not the sort that does. He said no one would dare go after him. His wife pleaded with him, but he wouldn’t listen to her either. Don’t know if she’ll ever speak to him again.’

  ‘Do you know who the bad guys are?’

  ‘I’m working on it.’

  Andreas was not about to offer an exchange of information.

  ‘What I do know, aside from what Marios told you, is—’

  ‘You told Marios to speak to me?’

  Tassos smiled. ‘He owed me big time, he’s the one who filled me in on the potsherd bit, too. I know how Marios comes across, but the bottom line is he’s also worried about what’s threatening our country. He just feared that getting involved might get him dead, and not just career-wise. I convinced him there were many ways to die. And not telling you would bring on one of the worst he could imagine.’

  Andreas rolled his eyes.

  ‘Despite what you think, I like you. Liked your father too. And I didn’t want you wandering around in the dark, not knowing what might be out there waiting for you.’ He waited for Andreas to respond.

  ‘Go on.’

  Tassos shrugged. ‘You’re welcome. Anyway, when Zanni said you told them about their son, I knew I had to let you know what you were dealing with, even though you won’t talk to me. Zanni doesn’t know about Marios talking to you, and certainly not about this little meeting, but screw him. Besides, you and I are on the same side in this.’

  Andreas wasn’t about to take his word on that.

  ‘Here’s what I have. I was a rookie cop working in a Junta prison for political prisoners …’ Andreas knew that part of Tassos’ story, and of how he took great care to befriend all the politicians in there as a hedge against Greece’s return to democracy. ‘That gives me an interesting perspective on our current situation. You see, I have friends some might call outright fascists and others who are definite to-the-core communists. “And never the twain shall meet,” or at least you’d think so.’

  Tassos liked his little riddles. Andreas hated them; they always led to lectures.

  ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘Since a year or so before the 2004 Olympics, things have been relatively calm as far as Athens goes. Demonstrations and strikes yes, but certainly not the sort of terrorist violence and assassinations of the prior thirty years. Many have prospered, a lot more haven’t. The media sees corrupt ion everywhere, the people accept it as a way of life. Everyone argues over whether government is out of control and politicians out of touch. Most see both as inevitable consequences of power.’

  Andreas was getting antsy. ‘It’s like that most everywhere, not just Greece.’

  ‘True, but we’re living here. And that’s all I’m concerned about.’

  Andreas gave a hurry-up wave.

  ‘Are you going somewhere?’ Tassos sounded a touch angry. ‘There are people who still believe the best thing for Greece is a return to dictatorship. With them, of course, in charge. They have all the answers for Greece’s problems, and there’s no need to waste time listening to another point of view. Especially from the “wrong sorts” of people.’ Tassos paused. ‘Then we have the other fringe, the ones who want to return Greece to a time that never existed … except in a university coffee shop.’

  Andreas thought Kouros and Tassos would get along nicely.

  Tassos shook his head. ‘I even heard an Athenian taxi driver complain the other day that “there’s no one to keep the politicians in line since they broke up 17 November.” Think about that: middle-class Athenians speaking openly to strangers of a twisted sort of admiration for the effect of terror on bettering their government?’

  ‘Where the hell are you headed with this?’ Andreas was happy the pilot announced they’d be landing shortly.

  ‘I think there’s more than one group involved in this. We’ve got different ideologies working together.’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘I don’t know, but for as long as I can remember, each generation of Athenians has bitched about the nouveaux riches coming out of the next, and all the targeted families have one thing in common, new money. The left wouldn’t be so selective. And this potsherd stuff … it’s way too esoteric for revolutionaries. They go for symbolism tied directly to their cause.’

  ‘Sounds to me like it’s just your old fascist buddies at play.’

  Tassos ignored him. ‘But they don’t, or rather didn’t, have the horses they needed to get their crazy ideas moving. Something’s happened. They have some real muscle behind them.’

  ‘I still don’t see why you think that means fascists are working with leftists.’

  Tassos patted the arm between their seats. ‘Because, associates of the guy trying to get money out of my principal used to blow up people for nuts on the left.’

  The plane touched down on the runway.

  ‘Kostopoulos said you didn’t know the negotiator.’

  Tassos grinned. ‘You believed him? Let’s put it this way: some of his playmates were on watch lists in the days of 17 November.’

  ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘Not a chance, at least not until Zanni says it’s okay.’

  Andreas wasn’t surprised. ‘So, why are they working for the right?’

  ‘Probably for the same reason they worked for the left. Money. They’re not ideologues, just muscle working for a payday. Not uncommon. But something, or someone, has brought them together. And I think the link is from the left.’ He paused and let out a breath. ‘Like I said, “who would have thought?”

  The plane was taxiing toward the arrivals area.

  Andreas thought whoever could bring right and left Greek extremists together in common cause must be one hell of a statesman. Greek leftists were demonstrating against the government with ever-increasing ferocity, and the right was clamoring for the government to crack down much harder on those responsible for the violence. The country was polarizing at the extremes. If there were someone who could bring those two groups together, that guy would get Andreas’ vote for sure, unless he was some general roaring in on a tank. Or responsible for the murder of Sotiris Kostopoulos.

  The plane stopped, and people started pulling things out of the overhead bins.

  ‘So, what do we have?’

  Andreas shrugged. ‘Don’t know. You tell me. You’re the only one who seems to know the players.’

  ‘Am I?’ Tassos studied Andreas’ face, then stood and stepped out to block the aisle. He gestured for Andreas to step in front of him.

  ‘Aren’t you getting off?’ Andreas asked.

  ‘No, the plane is going back to Mykonos.’

  ‘Rather not be seen with me?’ Andreas grinned and stepped in front of him.

  Tassos smiled. ‘Stay in touch.’

  The door opened and Andreas headed for it.

  ‘And say hello to Maggie for me.’

  * * *

  She hadn’t slept. She no longer slept at night. She barely slept at all. The beautiful, always coiffed and bejeweled Ginny Kostopoulos no longer cared. She hadn’t showered in a day, or touched a brush to her hair in two. She just sat with her children while they played, while they ate, while they slept. Never letting them out of her sight. She sat through each night watching them dream, checking their breathing, and whispering memories of her childhood, her first loves, and the birth of her son. She stopped at that point and rewound the loop. Not a word about her husband or her horrid present. She wanted her daughters to hear only happy thoughts.

  Ginny looked at the porthole on the
other side of their beds. It was sunrise. The children would be up soon. She must speak to the captain about the course. She trusted only herself to set it.

  She stared, looking for the horizon. Her husband had promised to protect them; to keep them safe from harm. She believed him, trusted him with her children’s lives.

  She looked at her sleeping babies. She’d never trust another with their lives. Never.

  Maggie rarely got to work on time, and Andreas usually didn’t care. Today he looked at his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes.

  A quick knock and immediately opening door meant Maggie was here.

  ‘Hi, Chief, understand you’re looking for me.’

  ‘You’re late.’

  ‘Hmm, something must be bothering you.’

  He stared at her. ‘I have regards for you.’

  ‘From whom?’

  ‘Tassos Stamatos.’

  Her face lit up like a three hundred watt bulb. ‘Really! What did he say? Tell me everything.’

  Andreas was flustered, she seemed to be missing the point. ‘Maggie, I have to know if you’re talking to him.’

  ‘I wish. It’s been years.’ She seemed to be swooning. ‘Ahh, Tassos. He was the last man I—’

  Andreas thrust up a hand. ‘Stop, I don’t want to know any more.’ He was certain Tassos was laughing himself silly imagining this moment. He mumbled, ‘Son of a bitch set me up.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing. Tell Yianni to join us.’

  Maggie opened the door and shouted down the hall, ‘Kouros, get in here.’

  Andreas put his right hand against the side of his face, rubbed it a few times and shook his head. ‘What am I going to do with you?’