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

thinking of living there, you definitely had too much to drink,” said Maggie.

“I’m just curious.”

“Yes, the heirs of the family come for a month in the summer.”

“And the rest of the time it’s empty?” said Lila.

“Sort of.”

“What’s that mean?” asked Toni, sipping from her water glass.

“The man who looks after it makes special arrangements for villager friends, and friends of friends, who wish to stay there.”

“For a price?” said Maggie.

“Of course,” smiled the waitress. “Everything is for a price.”

“Could we possibly get in to see it?” asked Toni.

“I’m afraid not. It’s rented at the moment.”

“Oh well, just a thought.”

“What sort of services does it offer?” asked Lila.

“Don’t tell me you’re interested too,” said Maggie.

“Just asking.”

“Whatever the client wants. The one in there now orders every meal from us. Doesn’t even squeeze her own orange juice.”

“I’d like that kind of life,” said Maggie.

“I wouldn’t,” said the waitress. “She never leaves the tower, and every time I suggest she walk across the road to our place for a meal, she gives me the same answer: ‘Why should I? My view’s better than yours.’”

“That sounds like behavior symptomatic of a melancholic mind,” said Maggie.

“More like clinical depression,” said Lila.

The waitress gestured no. “I don’t think so. I think it’s more a function of her work.”

Toni put down her glass. “What kind of work?”

“Writing away on a computer.”

“What is she writing?” said Lila.

“A biography.”

“Who is she writing about?” said Toni.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t like to talk about it. The most she ever said to me was that her book is about someone she met here.”

Maggie picked up her nearly empty wine glass. “Is she a famous writer?”

“She looks vaguely familiar, but unless she were a TV, movie, or music video star, I wouldn’t have a clue to her name. I try not to pay attention to what else is happening in the world. It keeps me from getting aggravated.”

“Not a bad plan,” said Toni.

“What do you know?” said Lila.

“I saw the title once.”

“What is it?”

“A crazy-sounding one.”

“How crazy could a biography title be?” asked Maggie, finishing off her wine.

“You tell me. It’s titled The Life and Times of My Black Hat Protector.”

* * *

When Andreas saw the caller was Lila, he almost didn’t take it. He sensed she’d know something was bothering him, but by the fifth ring he answered.

“Hi, my love.”

“Hey, where are you?”

“In Moni, sitting under a big pine tree, breathing in the sharp, fresh scents of wild mountain herbs as we wait for our lunch to come.”

“You’ve got to get over to Apeiranthos immediately.”

Andreas sat up. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Lila repeated what the waitress had told them about the mysterious female guest in the tower. “And she’s been here since last Thursday.”

“Tell me again the name.”

“The Life and Times of My Black Hat Protector. Nikoletta’s hacker calls himself a ‘black hat.’”

“I know, but what I missed was the name of the taverna you’re in.”

She told him.

“Don’t move an inch. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Please drive safely; we don’t need another accident.”

Andreas smiled. “Yes, dear.”

He pushed back from the table and stood. “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in the next twenty minutes.”

Yianni raised his eyebrows.

“What are you talking about? We just ordered,” said Tassos.

“Lila said they think they may have found Nikoletta holed up in Apeiranthos. I’ll tell you all about it on the way, but it’s on the other side of the mountains from where we are, so we’ve got to hustle.” He canceled the order, left a twenty-euro tip on the table, and raced out the door, followed by Yianni and Tassos.

They drove south past Halki and through Filoti before turning north, lights flashing all the way until a kilometer before Apeiranthos. Andreas parked in the plaza next to Lila’s SUV.

“The taverna’s just past the tower. Let’s try to look casual so as not to spook the townsfolk.”

“Spook them over what?” asked Yianni.

“No idea,” said Andreas, “but in this village I’m sure there are more than enough guilty consciences to get some folks thinking raid anytime they see a cop, let alone three.”

The men sitting at the tables lining the cops’ way to the taverna turned away as the trio passed by.

“What do you think?” said Andreas.

“I smell lookouts,” said Tassos.

“For what?” asked Yianni.

“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Andreas pointed ahead to the left. “There’s the taverna.”

As they entered, Lila jumped up from her table and waved for them to come out onto the veranda. Maggie and Toni remained seated, talking to a young woman Andreas assumed was the waitress who’d set off their mad dash across the mountains.

Andreas smiled and extended his hand to the woman, “Hi, I’m Andreas, Lila’s husband.”

The woman stood and shook his hand. “A pleasure to meet you.” She waved to Tassos and Yianni. “And you, too. Please, come sit, we’ll pull together another table.”

Andreas motioned for her to sit down. “No reason to bother. We won’t be staying long.”

She looked surprised. “I don’t understand.”

Andreas sat. “I’m a chief inspector with the Greek police, and these gentlemen are also with the police.”

Her face blanched but she said nothing.

“Don’t worry; you did nothing wrong, and we’re not here to arrest anyone. We’re here to find a missing woman.”

“What missing woman?”

Andreas reached into his pocket, pulled out a photo of Nikoletta, and showed it to her. His eyes fixed on hers, searching for any sign of emotion.

She jerked back in her chair. “Oh, my. It’s the woman in the tower.”

Andreas didn’t bother to wonder what emotion his face betrayed at hearing those words. His rapidly beating heart had answered that question.

“What is your name, Miss?”

“Sofia.”

“Ah, a beautiful name, the same as our daughter’s. There are a few things I need to know that perhaps you can help me with. First of all, is there anyone else in the tower besides the woman?”

“No, not that I’ve noticed. That is, aside from Christina, who’s the housekeeper. But she’s only there in the mornings.”

“Have you seen anyone other than Christina