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

“Toni texted me that everything’s looking good,” said Lila. “They might release him as early as tomorrow morning.”

Maggie crossed herself again.

“What about Popi?” said Andreas.

“No word yet, other than hopeful.”

Andreas exhaled. “Bastards.”

Ring.

“That’s mine,” said Lila. “It’s my father.”

“Hi, Dad.”

Pause.

“I’d put you on speaker but the reception’s a bit sketchy here, and Andreas is driving, so tell me what you have for him and I’ll pass it on.”

She listened intently for several minutes.

“Thanks, Dad. Love you too.”

Lila put her phone back in her bag. “He said you can call him later if you like, but here’s what he’s learned. Years after the Belgian entity that owned the project declared bankruptcy, a Lichtenstein company claimed ownership of the Belgian’s shares and the right to continue the project. The person behind that claim was a Greek shipowner known to my father. He got tied up in court for years on any number of grounds and ultimately got nowhere with it. My father has no doubt that if someone offered him the right deal in cash, a partnership, or some combination thereof, he’d take it in a heartbeat. My father also said that whoever tries to develop that site faces serious public opposition from both local and national community activists on the order of what’s stymied the redevelopment project at Athens’s old international airport.”

“Do you mean there actually are people out there who dare distrust the intentions of our elected leaders?” smirked Tassos. “Next thing you know, they’ll be losing faith in God to deliver us from evil.”

“Tassos,” said Maggie, “how dare you equate God’s love to those minions of the devil who deceive and mislead us with false promises?” She crossed herself three times. “Especially after being spared who-knows-what horrible fate back on that beach.”

Silence.

“Is everything okay?” said Lila softly. “I’ve never seen you act so seriously.”

“I’m not acting.”

Lila leaned in toward Maggie. “You’re calling out to God and crossing yourself far more than I’ve ever seen you do before.”

“How dare you criticize my right to practice my religion as I see fit?”

Tassos and Andreas glanced at each other.

“Maggie. I repeat: Is everything okay?”

Maggie shut her eyes, drew in a breath, and exhaled. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Lila nodded. “Okay.”

Maggie looked out her side window.

Not a word was spoken for more than a minute.

“Beautiful sunset,” said Tassos.

“A beautiful, blinding sunset,” said Andreas, pulling down the sun visor as he turned west at Vivlos, aimed straight into the setting sun.

Maggie coughed. “Sorry I raised my voice.”

“No need to apologize,” said Lila. “You’re among friends.”

“I know.” Maggie dabbed at her eyes. “And I love you all dearly.” She turned back to the window. “I think I had too much to drink.”

She said nothing more.

* * *

When they reached the house, Maggie hurried inside ahead of the others, closely followed by Tassos.

Lila and Andreas hung back, as if admiring the fading sunset.

“What do you think?” said Lila.

“She’s definitely edgier than I’ve ever seen her.”

“Do you think it’s her health?”

Andreas shook his head. “I don’t know, but I pray not.”

“Maybe she’s worried about Yianni?”

“I wouldn’t think so. He’s out of danger. But, again, I don’t know.”

“She needs someone to talk to about whatever it is.”

“Greeks aren’t big on that sort of thing.”

“I know that. I meant a friend, not a psychiatrist.”

Andreas took Lila’s hand and headed toward the door. “She has you, she has me, and most of all she has Tassos. When she wants an understanding ear, she’ll have it.”

* * *

Tassos closed their bedroom door and spoke softly. “What’s bothering you, Maggie?”

She sat on the bed, looking at the floor. “Nothing.”

“That’s reassuring. I thought it might be something serious, like you’ve given up on your plan for achieving world peace.”

“It’s not funny.”

He sat down next to her. “I know.” He put his arm around her shoulders, drew her to him, and kissed her on the forehead.

Maggie leaned in against his chest and cried uncontrollably, finally sniffling to a stop after a succession of deep breaths. All the while, Tassos never uttered a word or softened his embrace.

“Thank you,” she sniffled.

“No reason to thank me. I’m here for you the same as you’ve always been for me. All that matters is that something serious is bothering you. Do you want to tell me what it is?”

Maggie shut her eyes. “Perhaps I’ve been on the job too long. Seen and heard too much.”

“Is this about Yianni or the other cop?”

“No.” She opened her eyes and sat up straight. “It’s about you.”

“Me?”

Maggie paused. “You’ve been a bit down since your heart incident. The doctors say you’re fine, and you’ve been following their instructions better than I ever hoped, but your mood worries me. You’re not back to your old self. It’s as if you’re counting down how many years you have left, rather than living them.” She sighed, followed by a deep swallow. “On the beach today when those three animals were ready to hurt you, I felt helpless to protect you.”

“There was no need for you to protect me.”

“I didn’t know that. All that I knew was that the one person on earth who means more to me than my own life could have been killed today over loud music on a beach.”

“This does not sound like you at all.”

“I know. As I said, perhaps I’ve seen too much and realize how, in an instant, a fit of temper can wreck more lives than just the victim’s.”

“What do you want me to do? Resign from the force?”

“No, that wouldn’t change you. You’d still be the same aggressive grump you’ve always been, just without a gun and a badge.”

“Well then, what is it you want me to do?”

Maggie grabbed his free hand. “Promise me you’ll learn to let these lesser offenses to your sensibilities slide by. You can find a reason to get into a fight these days almost anywhere you look, and that’s before anyone even begins talking politics.”

“You’re saying you want me to be more laid-back?”

She sighed. “Yes, I guess that’s right. I miss