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

the time being, at police headquarters in Chora.”

She gestured no. “Despite what happened to those men, with all due respect, I feel safer here than in ‘don’t know yet.’”

“I don’t think your newspaper is going to be happy about this. Your publisher has convinced my minister to fire me if I don’t find you by midnight.”

“You never told me that,” said Lila.

Nikoletta looked at her phone. “We’ve got time left before midnight, so why don’t you come around to this side of the table?”

“What for?” asked Andreas.

“For a selfie we can send to my paper and your minister. Proof of life, as they say. Proof you found me.”

“You do have style,” said Andreas.

“And it beats a sketch,” said Yianni.

“For sure.”

“May I see your sketchbook?”

“It’s next to the computer.”

Yianni went to look for the sketchbook while Nikoletta and Andreas posed for their selfie.

“Why do I have the distinct feeling that I’m going to regret this?” said Andreas.

“Because having salt rubbed into your wounds is painful and inspires a desire for retribution,” said Tassos.

Andreas settled on what he considered a non-gloating photo, and after adding all the necessary recipients’ email addresses, watched Nikoletta hit send.

“Excuse me, Nikoletta,” said Yianni, holding the open sketchbook. “Does Soter know about your sketchbook?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re very good. I recognize many of the faces.” Yianni put the book down in front of her and pointed to a face. “Who’s this?”

She bit at her lip. “I don’t know.”

“I know him. In fact, I believe we both met him at the same place.”

“I don’t recognize him.” Now she was chewing her lip.

“Well, what about this one?” He pointed to another sketch of the same face, “Or this one?” turning to another page. “How many more pages showing this face do you want me to turn to before you tell me what we both know?”

She lowered her head. “He saved my life. And I protect my sources. I promised myself I’d destroy those sketches, but they were my only companions here. They made me feel safe.”

Andreas and Tassos came around the table and looked at the sketches.

“So this is Soter?” asked Andreas.

“Yes,” Nikoletta murmured.

“Where did you meet him?” Andreas asked Yianni.

“At the bar where she first met him. That snug little place down from the Kastro, where this guy kindly made me a pizza my first night in town.”

Andreas pressed his finger on the sketchbook. “You mean Soter’s the owner of the bar?”

“That’s what he told me.”

“Is that true, Nikoletta?”

“He never said anything like that to me, and he didn’t act like the owner when we were there.”

Andreas turned to Lila. “Ladies, it looks as if our night is just beginning. I suggest the three of you head on home and not wait up for us.”

“Why do you have to do that?” said Nikoletta. “It’s very late, the roads are tricky, you’ve had too much to drink, and this place has a zillion bedrooms. Please, ladies, stay here, at least until it’s light out.”

“I don’t like that idea,” said Yianni.

“Don’t bother to tell us why; we already know,” said Toni. “You’re afraid an assassin will show up tonight and do us all in.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“I didn’t mean it as one,” Toni said.

Maggie jumped in. “Why don’t you get Dimitri to send a couple of cops to watch over us until morning? He’s going to owe you big-time for all the great publicity his department will get for finding Nikoletta. Besides, this is a fortress.”

“I’m not going to get involved in a losing battle trying to convince you otherwise, my love,” said Tassos, reaching into his waistband. “But here, keep this.” He handed Maggie his pistol and kissed her on the cheek. “I know you know how to use it.”

“Isn’t that overkill?” said Nikoletta.

“Only until you need it,” said Maggie. “Now get out of here, guys, so we can get some sleep.”

“What do you think we should do?” said Yianni looking at his partners.

Tassos smiled. “My vote is for leaving, because from what I’ve heard so far, I’d say we’ve likely got a better chance of winning the lottery than convincing these ladies that they need us keen-minded men to protect them from the bad guys.”

Yianni glared at Tassos, “Soter, where are you when I need you?”

“With any luck,” said Andreas, “we just might get your question answered tonight.”

Chapter Nineteen

Andreas, Yianni, and Tassos made it to the bar by one a.m. The place was packed, with most of its customers focused on a guitarist playing a mix of American folk songs and old French chansons.

As their eyes scanned the room, Tassos said, “I can see why Nikoletta called this place Bohemian.”

“Do you see him?” said Andreas.

“No.”

“Me neither,” said Yianni. “Let me ask the bartender.”

Yianni made his way through to the bar and waved for the bartender.

“Yes, sir.”

“Is Stelios here tonight?”

“Stelios? Stelios who?”

“The owner.”

“The owner’s name is Aris. And he’s standing over by the door.”

Yianni turned to see a short, pudgy clean-shaven man with long white hair wearing an “I adore Edith” T-shirt, rocking side-to-side in time with the music.

“I was in here a few nights ago, just after the kitchen closed, you were working at the bar, and a guy named Stelios told me he’d make me a pizza. I thought he was the owner. Maybe he was the manager?”

The bartender frowned, then smiled. “Oh, that guy. Yeah, I remember him. He tipped me big-time to let him make the pizza. Also a salad and fruit, right? Nice guy, but he’s not the owner. Or the manager.”

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“If five years behind this bar six nights a week is new, then I’m new.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I must be confused, but tell me, did you ever see the man who called himself Stelios here before the night he made that pizza?”

“Yeah, maybe a week before. He’d tipped a waiter to invite a woman passing by to come inside for a drink. He struck up a conversation with her, and they spent hours together talking at a table