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

sensed she was in shock after I told her what happened, and I haven’t heard from her since. Have you spoken to her?”

“No. I keep trying her on her mobile, but there’s no answer.”

Andreas bit at his lip. “I sure hope she’s okay.”

“She’s a tough cookie. Lord knows what she’s up to.”

“I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.” He walked to the refrigerator, opened it, and took out a beer. “Want one?”

“Since when have you switched to beer?”

“I read it’s healthier than wine.”

“And more fattening.”

“Are you suggesting I’m fat?”

“No, but ask me again after you’re on this beer kick for a month or so.”

“Mommy, Daddy, come see what I did,” shouted Tassaki from the living room.

“Dare we imagine?” said Lila, leading the way.

Tassaki sat on an Oriental rug covering part of the room’s white marble floor. Spread out on the marble in front of him was a completed jigsaw puzzle depicting the Acropolis.

“Wow,” said Andreas. “You did all that by yourself?”

“Yes, and it looks just like the real one.” Tassaki smiled as he pointed out the window at the apartment’s unobstructed view of the Acropolis.

“We’re so proud of you,” said Lila.

Sofia gurgled.

“Sofia is too,” smiled Andreas.

“Now run off and get ready for bed. Then daddy will come read you a story.”

“Yay!” Tassaki jumped up and ran off to his room.

“How many pieces are in that puzzle?” asked Andreas.

“Two hundred fifty.”

“I couldn’t do it.”

“I wouldn’t have the patience.”

“Maybe you should bring one of his puzzles to Naxos,” smiled Andreas.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“Just that I’m going to be very busy there.”

“We’ve been married long enough for me to have already figured that out.”

“Just saying.”

She stared at him. “I certainly hope you don’t think I plan on getting in your way. I’m going to see Yianni and be there for Toni. Maggie and I—and if she’s up to it, Toni—are more than capable of hanging out together and taking care of ourselves.”

Andreas cleared his throat. “To pick up on your point, we’ve been married long enough for me to know your capabilities. I just don’t want you doing something that attracts the wrong kind of attention.”

“And just what’s that supposed to mean?” Lila’s hands now rested in fists upon her hips.

“Like drifting over into my line of work.”

“That’s just your cop brain talking.” She waved him toward Tassaki’s bedroom. “Go read your son a story. You won’t be seeing him for a few days.”

“I wish it were only my cop brain.”

“What makes you think it isn’t?”

“A journalist is missing and two cops are in a hospital, the apparent common connection being questions asked that someone didn’t want asked. I don’t want your healthy curiosity turning unhealthy.”

Lila sighed. “Go read your son a bedtime story.” She paused. “You both could use one.”

Chapter Nine

The morning flight out of Athens had Andreas, Lila, and Maggie in Naxos by eight. After picking up their rental car, they made it to the hospital by nine. Dimitri was waiting for them outside Yianni’s room, unsmiling.

“What’s wrong?” asked Andreas.

“Is Yianni all right?” said Lila.

He faced Lila, but his expression did not change. “I’m Dimitri.”

“Excuse me, Chief, I should have introduced my wife,” Andreas nodded at Lila, “and our police colleague, Maggie Sikestis.”

“Better known as his administrative assistant,” said Maggie, extending her hand.

Dimitri shook their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I just wish it were under better circumstances. Yianni is fine. It is my officer who’s not. She’s still in a coma, but an infection has set in, and they may have to remove her spleen.”

“Oh, my God,” said Lila.

Andreas’s head sagged and he exhaled deeply. “I can’t wait to catch the bastard who did this.” He looked up at Dimitri. “Have you spoken to Yianni?”

“No, I was waiting for you to get here. But he’s awake and talking.”

“Talking to whom?”

“His girlfriend.”

“Toni?” said Lila. “What’s she doing here?”

“That’s a story no one seems willing to tell, but she’s here. Been with him since late yesterday afternoon and hasn’t moved from his bedside.”

Lila smiled. “That sounds like our Toni. Can we see him?”

Dimitri shrugged. “You’ll have to ask Toni. It seems the hospital has ceded all decisions to her.”

Andreas opened the door to Yianni’s room and motioned for Lila, Maggie, and Dimitri to step in ahead of him.

Toni jumped up from her chair and hurried around the bed to embrace Lila, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Lila hugged her tightly. “I’ve been trying to reach you since I heard what happened.”

“I know.” Toni released her grip and stepped back from Lila. She took Andreas’s hands and kissed him on both cheeks. “I turned off my phone. I didn’t want to speak to anyone. I just wanted to focus on Yianni.” She hugged Maggie.

“Any chance of me getting included in this party?”

Andreas looked down at Yianni. “Would you please not disturb us while we’re commiserating over how worried you had us?”

“Yeah, at least let us get to the really tearful parts we rehearsed on the plane,” said Maggie.

Lila walked to his bedside and touched Yianni’s hand. “Your buddies over there are all macho now, but you should have seen them on the plane. Never saw them so worried.”

“It was a tiny plane and a lot of wind,” said Maggie.

Andreas moved in next to Lila. “Good to see you back to your lousy sense of humor self.”

“Glad to be seen. When we went off that road, I never thought we’d be seen again, except at the funeral.”

“You don’t have to talk about any of that now,” said Andreas.

“How’s Popi?”

Andreas glanced at Dimitri.

“She’s fine,” said Dimitri.

“Where is she?”

Dimitri paused. “Athens.”

Yianni’s face tightened. “Then she’s not fine. Stop bullshitting me.”

Andreas stared at him. “She’s still in a coma, but stable.”

Yianni shut his eyes. “That poor kid. I can’t wait to get my hands on the bastard who did this.”

Toni went back to her seat by Yianni’s bedside and took his hand.

“There seems to be a consensus on that point,” said Maggie.

Yianni’s eyes remained