Assassins of Athens

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 business, 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.'