A Deadly Twist by Jeffrey Siger (free novel reading sites .txt) 📕

“He knew her, but she didn’t know him. I watched to make sure he wasn’t going to harass her. I protect my customers from that sort of thing.”

Yianni nodded. “I’m sure. So, what did you hear?”

“Basically, the things she wrote in the article. I heard him say he had some interesting things to tell her. Once she told him to sit, I lost interest in their conversation. I had no idea who he or she was and didn’t have to hear another seduction routine. I think I’ve heard them all at one time or another. Besides, we were busy, and I had other customers to sit with.”

“Did they leave together?”

“I don’t remember. And I’ve never seen either of them again.”

“I assume that’s another question you get asked.”

Stelios nodded.

Yianni extended his hand. “Thanks, for everything.”

Stelios quickly stood and shook Yianni’s hand. “May I go now?”

“Sure.”

Stelios turned to walk away but paused and looked back at Yianni. “You’re not so bad for a cop. Your dinner’s on me.”

“No, I insist on respecting your business by paying for it.”

Stelios touched his chest with his hand. “Thank you. But only for the pizza. The beer and salad are on me.”

Yianni returned the gesture. “Deal.”

Yianni devoured the pizza and salad and ordered a second beer for which he insisted on paying. As he was about to leave, Stelios came over with a plate of fresh fruit. He placed the fruit on the table and sat down across from Yianni.

“Something else occurred to me. I’m not sure it’s important, but just in case it is, I wanted you to know.”

“I’m listening.”

“Someone else came into the bar at about the same time as the man and the woman. I can’t be certain when he arrived, but he sat at the bar sipping beers with his eyes glued to the mirror behind the bar.”

“Could he see their table in the mirror.”

Stelios nodded.

“Did he speak to either of them?”

“No.”

“When did he leave?”

“Right after the woman left.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone this before?”

“I didn’t even think about it until you asked me whether she and the hacker guy left together. That’s when I remembered the fellow at the bar. He could have been her driver waiting for her to leave, but I don’t recall her saying a word to him, even when she left.”

“Have you ever seen him before?”

“No, or after.”

“What did he look like?”

“Your height, a bit stocky, ruddy complexion, dark, normal-length hair, dark eyes, in his thirties.”

“His ethnicity?”

“No idea, I never heard him speak. He could have been Eastern European, American, or even Greek. I’ve no way of telling.”

That fits the description of the guy who did a header onto the rocks below Nikoletta’s hotel.

“What about the bartender who waited on him. Where can I find him?”

“You mean her. I wish I knew. The staff in this place turns over before I can even learn their names. They move on as soon as they find a better job, whether here or on another island. I’m just happy if they give me notice.”

“Do you have a name for that bartender?”

“Uh, that’s a bit complicated.”

“No working papers? So no legitimate name.” Yianni shook his head.

“Hey, I was trying to help you out. Now you’re going to burn me?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to turn you in. Just promise not to do it again.”

“Sure. Promise.”

Good chance of that one being kept.

“Thanks,” said Stelios, hurrying off as if afraid to test his luck with further conversation.

As Yianni walked back to the hotel, he put his conversation with the bar owner out of his mind to focus on his next challenge: telling Toni that their weekend plans were canceled.

* * *

“Hello.”

“Sorry to bother you at work, but I know you take a break fifteen minutes before every hour.”

Toni looked at her phone. “It’s a quarter to three, and there’s no one on the phone except you and me, so what’s the story you have to tell?”

“One that I hope won’t dampen your sense of humor.”

“Try me.”

“The case that has me on Naxos is going to keep me here through the weekend.”

“Whew, I thought it might be something serious, what with this being so far past your bedtime. We’ll do Athens another time. After all, it’s not going anywhere.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing you.”

“Me too.” Yianni paused. “You could come over here. I’ll still have to work, but at least we could be together part of the time.”

“Does Naxos have beaches, bars, and restaurants?”

“Great ones.”

“Fine, then count me in. I’ll find some way to keep myself occupied while you’re busy elsewhere.”

“I’m not sure I like that proposal.”

Toni laughed. “It’s no different than the sort of life I live over here on Mykonos without you. Need I remind you that I’m the experienced partier in this relationship? So, what is it, big boy, Naxos or nyet?”

“If Greece had you negotiating its bailout with the European Union, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in today.”

“That’s not an answer. I’ll give you until tomorrow to make up your mind.”

“You mean today.”

“Whatever day is Friday. I can catch the first boat to Naxos Saturday morning.”

“Excellent. Just let me know the boat’s name so I can arrange for you to be picked up by the hotel if I can’t be there.”

“Works for me. Time for you to get to bed, and me to get back to work.”

“Miss you.”

“Miss you too. Kisses.”

The EU wouldn’t have stood a chance against her.

Chapter Four

Andreas couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept past dawn. With two young children, one of them always found a way to serve as his wake-up call. Lila and he had live-in help who could tend to the children, but Andreas looked upon these early-morning moments as his only guaranteed time with his children, because his evenings far too often belonged to the vagaries of what awaited him each day in his office.

Lila never interfered with her husband’s first thirty minutes of daybreak playtime, but then she’d show up