Spiros sat staring at his portrait hanging behind his desk. “My wife had that done. Then insisted I hang it here rather than in the house. I think so she wouldn’t be reminded of me.”
Andreas looked down at his hands.
“We never had children. There are no photographs of us together, or even alone. Just ones of her with her family or friends.”
Andreas kept looking down.
Spiros turned his head to face Andreas.
Andreas looked up.
“Do you know who’s going to miss me when I’m gone? Who’s going to know I even existed?”
Andreas prayed that was a rhetorical question.
“Not a soul. At least not a soul outside of this building.”
Andreas didn’t move.
“And I want the people in this building who do remember me to say I was someone who did his job in a way that mattered.”
Andreas nodded as emphatically as he could.
“You saved my reputation. I don’t want to know how you did it, but you got the media, Tank, and his father off my back.”
“You’re the one who gave us the time we needed by your political maneuvering with the prime minister,” said Andreas.
“Only because you told me how to handle him. Listen, Andreas, this is not meant to be a mutual backslapping session.” He smiled. “Or a love-in, honey.”
He’s really playing that one-liner for all it’s worth.
“So there’s no reason for us to speak other than honestly. I’ve been virtually AWOL here, leaving you to bring the ball up the field all on your own.”
Andreas didn’t move.
“I’d like to tell you I’m giving you a raise, but I can’t. Perhaps you’ll find your reward in my successor.”
“Successor? You’re resigning?”
Spiros nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. I can’t take the stress anymore. Physically or mentally. And things will only get worse. It makes no sense to go on kidding myself that I can do this job while I’m battling for my life.”
“Of course it does,” said Andreas.
Spiros gestured no. “It doesn’t. Besides, perhaps it will give me time to find another way to live.” He looked Andreas straight in the eye. “We’re all going to die sooner or later.” Spiros looked up at his portrait. “I’ve decided to move to a place I have near Tripoli, in my father’s village.” He looked back at Andreas. “I still have family there and thought it might be nice to spend time getting to know them better.”
Andreas drew in and let out a breath. “As much as I hate to say it, I think you’re right.”
“Why do you ‘hate to say it’?”
“Because you’re the devil I know, and now I’ll have to break in an entirely new malaka boss.”
Spiros smiled. “That’s about the nicest way you’ve ever described me.”
Andreas grinned. “You caught me in a weak moment.”
Spiros patted Andreas on the thigh. “I’ve already spoken to the prime minister. I told him that whoever he chooses must be someone who’ll work well with you.”
Andreas did a double take. “Wow, that’s quite flattering. Thank you.”
“He’s agreed, and so I’m here to tell you who he’s chosen to replace me.”
By law it has to be a member of Parliament. A long list of potential assholes raced through Andreas mind.
“You.”
“Yu? A non-Greek? Who the hell’s Yu?”
Spiros laughed. “No, YOU,” and he pointed at Andreas’ chest.
“Now you’re playing games with me. I’m not a member of Parliament, so I can’t be a minister.”
Spiros gestured no and smiled. “It’s taken years, but I’ve finally proven you wrong. As a result of the financial crisis the law’s been changed to allow professionals, not just politicians, to be appointed to run ministries. Granted it doesn’t happen often, but it’s the new law. Besides, your appointment is only until the upcoming elections, and with the leftists likely to win, who knows who will be in that seat then.” He nodded toward his desk chair.
Andreas slid down in his chair and shook his head. “I can’t do that. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“Of course you do. There’s a laundry list of problems out there, and you know them at least as well as I do. Problems I ignored.” He looked at his hands. “Because I didn’t have the balls.” Spiros looked up. “But I want to be remembered as the minister who had the mega-balls to bring you on as my successor.”
“I think the word for how you’ll be remembered in this ministry if you brought me on as your successor is despised.”
“Then so be it.”
“I’ve got to think about this.”
“Sure. Take all the time you need. Just let me know by tomorrow at noon. The prime minister wants to make the announcement in time for the evening news.”
Andreas rubbed his eyes with his fingertips and dropped his hands back into his lap. “I’ve got to speak to Lila.”
Spiros shrugged. “If that’s the only bridge to cross, then let me be the first to say, Minister Kaldis, welcome to your new digs.”
“How can you possibly say that?”
“It’s simple, Andreas. Lila is your biggest fan.”
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Devil of Delphi: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery Page 27