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

street artist who lives in Athens.” She pointed to a doorway leading into a skeletal maze of unfinished rooms and hallways. “There are more inside.” She headed toward the doorway.

Andreas yelled, “Remember, be careful where you step.” He watched her disappear inside. “I feel like I’m talking to Tassaki,” he muttered. But at least with him I have a shot at being listened to.

He stood alone on the concrete, staring first one way and then another. He had no idea what he was looking for here that might tie into Nikoletta’s disappearance, nor even a hint of where he should start to look for inspiration. He decided to take his mind off the investigation and just tag along with Lila. He followed the path she’d taken inside through an archway now doubling as the gaping, wide-open mouth of a sea monster. Perhaps that’s what happened to Nikoletta—she was swallowed up by some mysterious creature.

So much for putting the investigation out of his mind.

He wandered from room to room, taking care not to step too close to the many holes, some of which promised to the inattentive a fall of a story or two. With all the tourists this artwork must draw, he was surprised no efforts had been made to repair or at least cover over the holes. But, then again, with the entire country still in the midst of financial crisis, there wasn’t enough money available for far more pressing crumbling infrastructure projects directly affecting the daily lives of everyday Greek voters.

He stopped to look at a small mural obviously painted by a different artist trying to pass himself off as the original. An awkward impersonation, to say the least.

Impersonation…? Andreas stared straight ahead. What if whoever attacked Yianni and Popi was trying to impersonate Nikoletta’s mystery man?

That could mean the telephone calls to Nikoletta and her editor were made by the man Nikoletta interviewed, and everything he told the editor was legitimate. The hacker is keeping her safe from impersonators trying to harm her.

Andreas felt he was onto something but needed more than instinct before pushing his theory. If his hunch was correct, then Nikoletta faced no danger from her “captor,” but if wrong, she could die. Or already be dead.

Maybe the answer will come from what the Americans have to say about Peter Zagori. Given the calls from Zagori’s phone, Andreas had no doubt he’d been killed by the hacker. But why? Certainly not for his mobile.

He nodded to the mural that had sparked his possible epiphany. “Thanks for the inspiration whoever you are. Keep up the good work.”

* * *

After another half hour of wandering through the ruins, Lila agreed it was time to rejoin Maggie and Tassos on the beach. They walked along the path past the church, every so often catching a glimpse of the beach below through a break in the cedars.

“I could use another swim,” she said.

“I’m in need of one too. It’s a warmer day than I thought.” Andreas turned his head to glance at the beach and came to an abrupt stop.

“What is it?”

“Three men are surrounding our umbrellas, and Maggie’s standing between them and Tassos.”

“Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll meet you there.” Andreas jumped into the brush, slipping and sliding along the rocks until he’d made it down to the beach. He kicked off his sandals and broke into a trot, aimed straight for his friends and some very loud music. The closer he came, the louder the music. He watched one of the men grab Tassos’s umbrella and throw it toward the sea.

“Whoa, there,” yelled Andreas. “Let’s calm things down, fellas.”

The man who tossed the umbrella responded in English. “Fuck off, mate, unless you want some of what this old asshole’s gonna get.” The man stood about as tall as Andreas and had the bull-like build of Yianni.

Andreas changed course to pick up the umbrella, saying in English as he did, “You’re obviously not from around these parts, but that’s not the way we talk to strangers in Greece.” He collapsed the umbrella and wrapped it tightly shut as he walked toward the men.

“I said fuck off.” The man pointed to his two friends, each the size of a professional rugby player. “Take care of him. I’ll take care of the old fart and his pig of a woman.”

Maggie swung around to face Tassos, saying in Greek, “Don’t you dare let him goad you into a fight.”

“Yeah,” said Andreas, in English, “give me a chance to reason with these fellas.” He stopped five meters from the men. “Why don’t you go back to your blanket and sleep off whatever has you all fired up? Honest, that’s a much better choice than what you’ll face if you insist on taking this route.”

“I said, take care of him,” growled the man. “Do it now.”

“Oh, so you’re in charge. Just for the record, permit me to explain whom you and your friends are about to assault. We’re both Greek policemen, so no matter how what you have in mind turns out, you and your buddies are in for a mass of hurt.”

“Cops? I love beating up cops.”

“Nah, be honest, you like your buddies to beat up cops. You only have the balls to go after old men and women, and only then when you’re drunk enough to think you have the courage. Like now. You’re a…uh what’s the word?” He looked at Maggie.

“Pussy.”

The leader swung around toward Maggie.

“Hey!” Andreas put a little heat into his voice to catch the guy’s attention. “Like I said, no balls, only guts when you’re high enough to go after easy targets. Why don’t you try me, asshole?”

The leader paused for an instant to look at his friends, then charged at Andreas as if headed into a scrum, arms spread wide and eyes glaring. A pace before the raging man reached him, Andreas slipped to the man’s right, causing the man to stumble and giving Andreas the opportunity to drive the pointed end of