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

closed. “We left Siphones and were driving to Koronos for lunch. Everything was going smoothly, until we went into that curve.” He drew in and let out a deep breath, and opened his eyes. “This red Fiat came whipping round the curve on its side of the road—”

Dimitri cut in. “A red Fiat knocked you off the road?”

“No. Right behind it, almost up against the Fiat’s bumper, was a white straight-job. I thought it was preparing to pass the Fiat once it got around the curve. Instead, as we were opposite the Fiat the truck swerved into our lane, and…” Yianni shut his eyes again and shook his head.

“What’s a straight-job?” asked Lila.

“A truck about the size of a small bus,” said Dimitri.

Yianni opened his eyes. “How bad off is Popi, really?”

Andreas answered. “They may have to remove her spleen.”

Yianni winced. “How’s her husband holding up?”

“He went with her on the airlift to Athens,” said Dimitri. “That’s all I know.”

Yianni squeezed Toni’s hand. “Good. I’m glad he’s there.”

Andreas bit at his lip. “Do you think it was an accident?”

Yianni stared at him. “Not a chance. The bastard was looking straight at us when he swerved into us.”

“Can you describe the driver?”

“Dark eyes are all I remember.”

“How do you think the attacker knew you’d be on that road to Koronos?”

Dimitri interrupted, “From Siphones, there are only two ways to go. Perhaps he just guessed right.”

“Or he was virtually certain where we’d be headed,” said Yianni.

“How would he know that?” asked Andreas.

“Popi told me that every time she’s in the area she eats at a particular taverna in Koronos.”

“That means your attacker knew Popi’s routine,” said Maggie.

“I know.”

“Or, assuming a hit team, they were prepared to catch up with you from behind if you’d turned the other way,” said Andreas.

“Why do you say team?” asked Dimitri.

“We’ve heard nothing from the Fiat driver, for one thing. Also, a big truck roaring along a curvy two-lane mountain road likely raises a caution flag in most drivers’ minds, but seeing one hugging the bumper of another vehicle makes you more concerned for the other driver than yourself. It slows you down just enough to make you an easier target.”

“In other words, we’re dealing with an orchestrated hit,” said Dimitri.

“Seems like it to me,” said Andreas.

“Then we were damn lucky to have survived. According to what I read in Nikoletta’s notebooks, that hacker doesn’t miss a target.”

“Which kind of makes you wonder,” said Andreas.

“About what?” asked Toni.

“Our man’s trademark has him making deaths look like accidents. What happened here checks that box, but he always works alone and doesn’t take risks that might come back to haunt him. In this case, at least two people were likely involved, a truck driver and a car driver, and the paint on Popi’s pickup and the straight-job don’t quite match. Yes, it might have been overlooked by investigators if the pickup had rolled all the way down the mountain, but the clear paint differences would be just the sort of mistake our man takes pride in avoiding.”

“So who else could it be?” said Maggie.

“Anyone.” Andreas looked at Dimitri. “Any luck yet on identifying that dead tourist?”

Dimitri gestured no. “Like I said before, identifying tourists is difficult.”

“Have you tried our Greek databases?”

“For a foreigner?”

“Maybe he wasn’t a foreign tourist?”

Dimitri exhaled. “Will do.”

Andreas turned to Yianni. “What were you planning on doing next?”

“Having a big meeting with all the activist leaders Nikoletta interviewed. Popi was going to set it up using her local connections.”

“So much for that, I guess,” said Dimitri, quickly adding, “at least for now.”

“Not necessarily,” said Andreas. “Tassos Stamatos’s boat arrives in less than an hour. He has local connections everywhere and might just be able to set up that meeting.”

“If anyone can, it’s Tassos,” said Maggie. “Everyone in the Cyclades seems to owe him favors.”

“Or worries about what he has on them,” said Yianni.

Andreas looked at Dimitri and nodded toward Yianni. “He’s Yianni’s hero.”

“Can’t help it; he’s my Greek version of John Wayne.”

“A shorter, stockier Rooster Cogburn version, no doubt,” said Andreas with a smile.

“Easy there, that’s my guy you’re talking about,” growled Maggie.

“Enough already,” said Yianni. “Just set up the meeting for tomorrow so that I can make it.”

“But you’re all bandaged up,” said Lila.

“It’ll generate sympathy. And make me look like a tough guy.”

“Not as tough as the guy who put you here,” joked Andreas.

“You’re staying right here until the doctors say you can leave,” said Toni.

“Then I want to talk to the doctors.”

“Fine,” she said.

“Alone.”

“Why?”

“You intimidate them.”

“That’s not a good reason.”

“Okay then, because you intimidate me.”

Toni patted Yianni’s hand. “Get used to it.”

* * *

Andreas and Maggie were waiting for Tassos when the massive Blue Star ferry docked at the port. Andreas had used his badge to park next to the Harbor Police post by the end of the pier, saving Tassos a three-hundred-meter walk lugging baggage.

Tassos hugged and kissed Maggie. “Great to see you, my love.”

He looked at Andreas. “Good to see you, too, fella.” They embraced and slapped each other on the back.

“You look terrific. Slimmer than I can ever remember.”

“I owe it all to my prison warden here. Maggie keeps everything I’d like to eat under lock and key, leaving me to battle rabbits for food.”

“That visual works for me. You out in your garden on all fours, hopping around after lettuce and carrots.”

“Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.” Tassos looked inside the three-row SUV. “Hey, where’s Lila?”

Andreas picked up Tassos’s bag and put it in the far back seat. “She’s at the hospital keeping Yianni company while Toni takes a break to shower and catch a bit of a nap in Yianni’s hotel room.”

“How’s the kid doing?”

“He’s almost as tough as you.” Andreas smiled. “I’m not worried about him. Come on, jump in the car, and we’ll go see him.”

Maggie opened the passenger side rear door and stepped inside. “Sit up front,” she said to Tassos. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”

“Don’t we always,” said