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

“I know,” said Yianni. “I spoke to them on their way back to the house.”

Toni poked Yianni in the arm. “This one kept waking up all night to check his messages.”

“They promised to message me once the raid was over. How could I sleep?”

“There’s a bedroom waiting for you two whenever you’d like it,” said Lila.

“I’ll take you up on that offer,” said Toni. “After two days of dozing on a hospital chair, I could use a bed.”

“What time do they plan on leaving for the meeting?” asked Yianni.

“We’re leaving at two thirty,” said Maggie.

Yianni perked up. “You’re going with them?”

“So am I,” added Lila. “Each of us read a different notebook, so we all have to be there.”

“I read two,” said Maggie. “Besides, the restaurant we’re meeting at is terrific.”

“It’ll be like a family outing,” said Maggie.

“Well, I guess that settles it,” said Yianni.

“Settles what?” asked Toni.

“We’re all going.”

“No you’re—”

Yianni cut Toni off. “Nonnegotiable. As Maggie said, it’s a family outing, not a police action. Besides, I’m the only one who’s read all of the notebooks and spoken to people named in two of them. I have to be there.”

“Your health is more important. And need I remind you again: You just got out of the hospital.”

“And now I’m going to take a nap. I’ll be fine.”

Toni shot him the middle finger and glared. “Fine, but if that meeting puts you back in the hospital, get yourself another nursemaid.”

Yianni leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Never.”

* * *

Yianni sat in the front passenger seat next to Andreas, while Lila and Toni occupied the far rear seats and Maggie and Tassos had the middle row.

Andreas glanced at Yianni. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?” asked Maggie.

“Yes,” said Yianni. “Please stop worrying about me. I’d be more concerned about how we’re going to play this. If we’re not careful, it could turn into the opening line to a bad joke. ‘Three couples walk into a restaurant…’”

“Or a caper movie starring Charlie’s Angels and the Three Stooges,” quipped Maggie.

“Okay, children, behave,” said Andreas. “This is how we’re going to play it. I’ll introduce each of you and explain why you’re there. Yianni, Tassos, and I will do most of the questioning. If any of you have a question or think there’s something we missed, don’t just blurt it out. Let me know what’s on your mind. There may be a method to what you see as our utter stupidity.”

“Or there may not be,” added Yianni.

“As I can attest,” said Tassos.

“Thank you, gentlemen, for demonstrating another point I want us all to keep in mind. The key to this afternoon is to remain serious. That means, staying on message. The message being: We need your help to save a young woman’s life.”

“I guess we’re done with denying she’s disappeared,” said Yianni.

Andreas nodded. “That’s a secret I think it’s safe to assume is long out of the bag among many Naxians and certainly is with those we’ll be meeting. Besides, it’s Sunday afternoon, and we only have until noon tomorrow before the whole world knows.”

Yianni adjusted himself in his seat. “I know you’ve been talking among yourselves about the notebooks, so it would be helpful to me if you’d each give a quick rundown on what you found significant in whatever notebook you read. That way, I’ll know if I missed something or have something to add to your take.”

“Sure,” said Andreas. “Maggie, since you read the notebooks covering Nikoletta’s interview with the hacker, and with the mayor and hotel association guy, why don’t you start?”

One by one they described their respective notebook’s high points and what they thought significant. When they’d finished it was close to two thirty, and they were less than a kilometer from the taverna.

“Well done, class, and we’re right on time. Now remember what I said: Stay serious, and stay on message.”

Chapter Fourteen

Andreas parked behind the taverna at the edge of an olive grove. His party entered single file through an open back door and found their way onto the veranda, where three men and two women sat on the far side of a long table spanning the rear of the space.

Timeliness was not a traditional Greek trait, yet the five they’d come to meet were all there, and from the number of bottles, plates, and cigarette butts in front of them, had been there for quite a while. Andreas took that to mean they’d been meeting among themselves in preparation for their meeting with him. A prudent thing to do.

“Welcome,” said Chef from his seat between two men and two women. “Please excuse us for not standing, but we’re sort of wedged in here.”

“No problem,” said Andreas, walking up to a chair directly across from Chef’s extended hand. “Sorry we’re late.”

“You’re right on time.” They shook hands and Chef turned first to the women seated next to him to Andreas’s left and then to the men seated to Andreas’s right. “This is Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis, head of GADA’s Special Crimes Unit. He requested this meeting.” Chef turned back to Andreas. “Perhaps you’d like to introduce your colleagues to us, some of whom I’ve already met.”

“As very satisfied customers,” added Andreas. “My pleasure, but before I do, please allow me to express my gratitude to each of you for taking the time to come here today. We truly need your help, or rather the reporter to whom each of you spoke, Nikoletta Elia, needs your help.”

He paused. When no one asked why their help was needed, he knew they were indeed already aware that Nikoletta had disappeared.

“I’ve brought five colleagues with me, because the situation we’re facing is serious and urgent. I trust you’ll keep what we talk about this afternoon in strict confidence, as the safety of the reporter may depend upon our discretion.”

He pointed at Tassos. “This is Tassos Stamatos, chief homicide investigator for the Cyclades. And this is Detective Yianni Kouros, who works with me at GADA.” Both men nodded