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

made a joke,” said Toni. “But whatever they’re thinking, at least they’re keeping it to themselves. On Mykonos, by now I’d have heard a dozen not so interesting proposals yelled out in a remarkable variety of languages.”

“Amazing isn’t it, how men have the same thing on their minds no matter where they come from?” said Lila. “Though I must say, these men have been respectful, aside from where they fixed their eyes.”

“I’m past the age where I need worry about that sort of thing,” said Maggie. “But before you get too enamored of their gentlemanly behavior, allow me to remind you that vendetta is very much part of this village’s heritage. We’re strangers to these men, so until they’re sure we’re not somehow related to one of their neighbors, they wouldn’t dare insult us.”

“Oh well, I guess that’s a good side to vendetta,” said Lila.

“Until the shooting starts.”

“Wow, look at that,” said Toni, staring up at a looming fieldstone tower surrounded by matching stone terraces and verandas. It sat anchored above the west side of the lane on a base of solid rock, framed at the level of the lane in complementing stone arches and the limbs of a massive plane tree.

“It looks like a fortress,” said Maggie.

“I think the taverna we’re looking for is named after that tower.”

“I wouldn’t mind living up there,” said Toni. “It’s only two stories, but the view must be terrific.”

“Yeah, but just think of the heating bills,” quipped Maggie.

“I’d only use it in summer.”

“I think we’ve found lunch.” Lila stopped in front of a taverna bearing a sign with an image of the tower. “Yep, this is it.”

The place wasn’t crowded and Lila told the lone waitress they had a reservation. She showed them to a table at the edge of a long veranda spanning the rear of the taverna that overlooked a valley dappled gray-green from the shadows of passing clouds. “I’m the one who took your reservation. Welcome to my village.”

Toni stared down into the valley. “It’s beautiful. I can’t get over how green this island is compared to Mykonos.”

“I can’t get over how hungry I am,” said Maggie.

“Don’t worry, ladies. When my friend called to make the reservation, she said to treat you like family. And my family likes to eat. So, unless you’d prefer to order from the menu, I can start the food coming and keep it coming until you say stop.”

Three hungry women exchanged shrugs. Maggie said, “Go for it.”

“What about wine? We have wonderful local wines.”

“Why not?” said Maggie.

“But only two glasses,” said Lila. “I’m driving, and these roads and wine don’t mix.”

The waitress nodded. “There are far too many memorials along these roads attesting to the wisdom of your thinking.”

“I will take a ginger beer, though. Nonalcoholic, please.”

“Done.”

She left, headed to the kitchen, and returned with a liter carafe of wine, a bottle of ginger beer, a bottle of water, and glasses. “Enjoy.”

“I like this place,” said Toni, looking around. “Not old, not modern, just right.”

“Let’s face it, in places like this it’s all about the view,” said Maggie.

“And, we hope, the food,” added Lila.

Five minutes later the waiter arrived with platters of taramasalata, tzatziki, melitzanosalata, Greek salad, grilled octopus, shrimp saganaki, zucchini fritters, and pita bread. “How’s this for starters?”

“Starters?” said Lila. “This is enough for lunch, dinner, and tomorrow’s breakfast.”

“Well, save room. The goat and lamb are in the oven.”

By the time the main courses arrived, they’d insisted the waitress join them at their table, and soon had her sharing tales about the village and the wild and crazy people who lived there.

“I’ve heard it said that living and working in the mountains is what makes us crazy,” she said. “If you’re a fisherman, you’re surrounded by the sea, and that’s calming. But the wildness of all this,” she waved her hand at the vista, “takes hold of your spirit and makes you just as untamed.”

“I don’t know if I wholeheartedly agree,” said Toni. “At least insofar as this village goes. Frankly, I’m picking up a distinctly melancholy vibe. From what I can see, many of its magnificent homes look neglected, and as lovely as this view is down into the valley, it’s an eastern-facing village, meaning no sunsets. Over time, that must play on the villagers’ minds as a disappointment, for there’s no visible, sensual closure to the day.”

The waitress stared at Toni. “Where’d you learn to think like that? I mean, reading people so well.”

Toni shrugged. “I guess from playing piano for tips in a gay bar.”

“Perhaps that melancholy is why so few people live here year-round,” said Sofia. “Most come only for the summer, and once they’re gone, there’s very few of us left to deal with the winter.”

“Which I assume puts more stress on you?”

“You learn to deal with it. Life is hard.”

“Let’s change the subject,” said Lila. “What can you tell us about that fortress across the lane?”

“The Tower? It’s been in the same family since our Greek Revolution in 1821, but a Venetian family built it in the seventeenth century and the symbol of Venice still stands above the entrance.”

“What is it with coats of arms?” said Toni. “Europeans seemed obsessed with them.”

“Coats of arms and all that heraldry stuff is beyond me,” said Lila. “All I know about them is that long before any of that became fashionable, ancient Greek Hoplite soldiers individualized their shields. Perhaps that explains why some modern Greeks create their own coats of arms.”

“To me, all that’s nothing more than another ego trip, this time to create a corporate logo for a family.” Maggie lifted her glass of wine. “To pretensions, long may they perish.”

“More wine?” said the waiter.

“Thank you, but I think not,” said Lila. “My friends must stay awake on our ride home in order to keep me awake.”

“Nicely played, Lila,” said Maggie, waving her glass in salute. “Instead of saying ‘cut her off,’ you said help her save a life.”

Lila laughed.

“Does anyone live in that tower?” asked Toni.

“If you’re seriously