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

its ports, where boats transport them to other Cycladic islands. It’s a simpler and more profitable arrangement for big-time transportation interests than having another international airport so close to Mykonos. Santorini serves the same role in its part of the Aegean.”

“Did you tell that to the reporter?”

“It didn’t come up, but she might have heard it from someone else. It’s not a secret.”

“What did you tell her?”

Marco gave a thoughtful recitation of everything he could recall of their conversation, which matched what Nikoletta had entered in her notebooks. She’d also describe him as “cute,” but Yianni decided not to share that bit with him.

“So, what do you think happened to her?” asked Yianni after Marco had finished describing his conversation with Nikoletta.

“I have no idea. Yes, there are strong passions on this island over its future direction, but enough to kidnap a reporter over a story about any of that?” He shook his head. “I don’t see it.”

“But what if she uncovered something someone didn’t want exposed?”

“You mean corruption?”

“That’s one possibility.”

“I think it’s safe to say that everyone on this island already knows who’s corrupt, and a reporter threatening to expose what’s already known wouldn’t likely lead the bad guys to harm her. That would be a surefire way of generating far more serious trouble for them than anything she planned on exposing.”

“So what’s not known that could have endangered her?”

Marco again shook his head. “I don’t know. There are crazies everywhere in this world, doing the unimaginable in the most unlikely locales. Who knows what could have happened here, who she met, what she said or did, even innocently, that triggered a response otherwise incomprehensible to rational, sane people?”

“That’s not the answer I was hoping for.”

“I truly wish I had a different one.”

“Do you know anyone who might?”

“Sure, speak to the activist folks.”

“Where would I find them?”

“Some of the island’s most vigorous activists call Halki home, or at least consider it friendly territory. Besides, it’s a cool village to visit.”

“I can see why you represent so many disparate interests. You only have nice things to say about everyone.”

He gestured no. “No, not everyone. But my disputes with them are unrelated to any of this, and even with my worst enemy, neither of us would go so far as to physically harm the other. It’s just not our way.” He smiled. “At least not when sober.”

“On that note, thank you, I’ll be on my way.”

“Not yet, please. Dimitri sent a pickup truck to take you and your motorbike to your next appointment.”

“Did he say why?”

Marco smiled again. “No, but my guess is that after your experience getting here, he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for you to be wandering about the island alone looking for whatever village it is you want to see.”

“It’s marked on a map. How difficult could it be to find?”

“What’s the village’s name?”

“Siphones.”

Marco lost his smile. “Oh.”

“What’s that mean?”

“That village has been abandoned since the 1950s.”

“It can’t be the only abandoned village on the island.”

“It’s not.”

“So, then what’s with the oh?”

Marco hesitated. “Locals claim it’s haunted.”

“Oh.”

Chapter Six

Yianni stood alone outside the hotel entrance, speaking on his mobile with Andreas.

“So, how did your Naxos friendship tour work out with the head of the hotelier association? Better than with the mayor, I hope.”

“A lot better.” Yianni described his conversation with Marco in detail, leaving out only the parts about his trouble finding the hotel.

“What did you think of him?”

“Came across as a nice guy. He sounds like a politician, always trying to find middle ground.”

“Always seemingly trying to find middle ground, but as you pointed out, his middle ground allows his hotel business to expand while cutting out potential competition from other beaches.”

“But it does make sense, Chief. It might just be a matter of working out satisfactory compensation for those restricted from building on their property.”

“I don’t even want to contemplate what that process would be like, how long it would take, or the sorts of shenanigans it would bring into play. If Marco thinks getting an international airport on Naxos would be politically difficult to achieve in the face of opposition from other Cycladic islands, imagine what his middle ground proposal would involve. I assure you getting individual islanders to give up their property rights so that their neighbors can profit from land they’re allowed to use will require nothing short of a political miracle.”

“Okay, I get your point. But nothing Nikoletta could’ve written struck Marco as a reason for a local to kill her.”

“So he says. He prefers the random crazy attacker scenario or, if not that, perhaps a cabal of vigorous village activists.”

“What do you think he’s hiding?”

“I’ve no idea if he’s hiding anything. But I do think he’s trying to take the heat off like-minded Naxians by suggesting we concentrate on crazies and activists. To me the bottom line is simple. He may not like the mayor, and certainly the two men have very different styles, but they share a core principle: Above all else, protect the reputation of the island.”

“In other words, I should continue doing what I’m doing. Question everyone, believe no one, and be ready for your arrival tomorrow.”

“I’ll let you know what flight. By the way, what are you driving?”

“Funny you should ask. I think I see my new ride headed this way.”

“Come again?”

“I’ve been using a motorbike, but it’s not good for the terrain I have to cover next, so Dimitri is sending me new wheels and a driver who knows the island.”

“What kind of wheels?”

“Give me a minute; it’s almost here.” Yianni paused. “My oh my, you’re not going to believe this.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Then I guess I should start humming the tune to that Eagles song about a girl in a flatbed Ford, because that’s precisely what’s headed my way.”

Andreas groaned. “Call me later.”

* * *

Officer Popi Sferes was twenty-three, two years out of the police academy and freshly married to a local. She wore her dark-brown hair in a tight bun, no makeup, a