Assassins of Athens

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?'

'Did he say anything else? Please, tell me.'

'Honest, not a word more.' Andreas paused. 'But it was the very last thing he said to me. I'm sure you were on his mind from the beginning.' Andreas said it sincerely; no reason not to make her happy.

'Morning, Chief.'

Andreas nodded hello. 'So, Maggie, did you find anything on the Sardinian connection?'

'The town he mentioned is in central Sardinia among some of the wildest mountains on the island. Its tourist website says 2,700 people live there and that it's known for wines and cheeses. The place goes back to ancient times and has lots of history to it. It's also the source of one of Sardinia's symbols, the mask of Mamuthones. Damn scary looking thing if you ask me. But I think Demosthenes was interested in something a lot scarier about Mamoiada. It's in the area that was home to a ruthless kidnapping industry. Italy had to change its banking laws to limit cash withdrawals and send in the army to stop it. That was in the mid-1990s.'

'Guess that sent a lot of locals back to minding cows,' said Kouros.

Andreas shook his head. 'Not all of them, I'm afraid. Has Demosthenes contacted the Sardinian boyfriend… what's his name?'

'Efisio. Not sure,' said Kouros. 'Don't think so, but he may have a telephone number for him. He went to Anna's apartment about three this morning and asked if she had anything for him. She said "yes," but yes could have meant something else.'