extent of the conversation.
‘Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm him?’
Another no.
Andreas looked at Kouros.
‘
Yaya
,’ Kouros called her by the Greek word for grandmother and smiled at her as if she actually were his
yaya
. ‘Can you think of anything that might help us find who did this to Kalogeros Vassilis?’
The old woman spread her arms wide, turned her palms up, closed her eyes, and shrugged toward the heavens.
They thanked her and walked back to the car. Kouros drove. He said, ‘That was helpful. Wonder if she can speak?’
‘She probably speaks only Greek and is so used to communicating by gestures with tourists who don’t speak her language that she does it with everyone.’
‘Why do you think he bought that cross?’
Andreas shrugged. ‘Add that to our what-the-hell-is-going-on list.’ He stared out the side window at the lights down below in Skala and on the riggings of ships in the harbor. They all fit together quite nicely against a sky alive with stars. ‘I have to call Lila.’
‘Mavros said the hotel’s about five minutes from here.’
At the final right-hand bend on the mountain road back to Skala they headed down a narrow road marked HOTEL THIS WAY . A few blocks later they stopped in front of a white, three-story stucco building adorned with concrete slab balconies and the brightly lit sign, HOTEL . It was a style reminiscent of forgettable holidays.
‘Too bad he couldn’t find us anything in Chora,’ said Kouros. ‘He said everything’s booked solid for Easter. This place belongs to his cousin.’
Andreas shrugged. ‘It’s only for one night.’ At least he hoped so.
The lobby was about as interesting as the architecture,but clean and tidy. The receptionist handed them keys to their rooms and an envelope. ‘Sergeant Mavros left this for you.’
Andreas opened the envelope and peeked inside. It was photos and the videotape of Vassilis’ body at the scene. ‘You look at these Yianni, I’ll check them out later.’ Photos of a body lying dead in a street would change his mood; remind him of how close Lila came to ending up like that. She was in a coma for a week after being clubbed in the head. That was almost nine months ago. Thank God she was all right.
Andreas’ room was small and had a view of parked cars. No matter, as long as it was quiet. He called Lila from his cell phone.
‘Hello, my Prince Charming.’
‘Damn caller ID takes away all the mystery.’ Andreas was smiling.
‘But not the romance, lover boy. So, how goes your island holiday off alone with Yianni?’
‘Terrific, nothing but beautiful beaches, fine food—’
‘And the bodies?’
Andreas paused. ‘I thought we agreed not to talk about that sort of thing.’
Lila laughed. ‘I meant live ones. Find any to rival mine?’
‘Sorry, I’m a bit edgy. No, none like yours. That person doesn’t exist.’
‘Perfect answer. It’s just what an almost nine months pregnant woman wants to hear. You’re learning, Kaldis.’
‘I have a great teacher.’
Lila laughed again. ‘So, when do you think you’ll be back?’
‘I’m hoping tomorrow.’
‘I hope so, too. I saw the doctor today and he said, “Any day.”’
‘Should I come home now?’
‘No, it’s not that close, but if you’re planning to be away for more than a few days I can’t guarantee the little one will wait.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back.’
‘I know.’
Neither spoke. It was one of those ‘should we marry’ silences, or at least that’s what Andreas thought. He was the son of a working class cop; she was from one of Greece’s oldest, wealthiest families, and the young, socially prominent widow of a shipowner. Things had just happened between them. And the attack made him her protector. His move from his walkup apartment into her penthouse on the chicest street in Athens he saw as temporary, until the baby was born. Sooner or later Andreas knew she’d come to her senses and he
‘Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm him?’
Another no.
Andreas looked at Kouros.
‘
Yaya
,’ Kouros called her by the Greek word for grandmother and smiled at her as if she actually were his
yaya
. ‘Can you think of anything that might help us find who did this to Kalogeros Vassilis?’
The old woman spread her arms wide, turned her palms up, closed her eyes, and shrugged toward the heavens.
They thanked her and walked back to the car. Kouros drove. He said, ‘That was helpful. Wonder if she can speak?’
‘She probably speaks only Greek and is so used to communicating by gestures with tourists who don’t speak her language that she does it with everyone.’
‘Why do you think he bought that cross?’
Andreas shrugged. ‘Add that to our what-the-hell-is-going-on list.’ He stared out the side window at the lights down below in Skala and on the riggings of ships in the harbor. They all fit together quite nicely against a sky alive with stars. ‘I have to call Lila.’
‘Mavros said the hotel’s about five minutes from here.’
At the final right-hand bend on the mountain road back to Skala they headed down a narrow road marked HOTEL THIS WAY . A few blocks later they stopped in front of a white, three-story stucco building adorned with concrete slab balconies and the brightly lit sign, HOTEL . It was a style reminiscent of forgettable holidays.
‘Too bad he couldn’t find us anything in Chora,’ said Kouros. ‘He said everything’s booked solid for Easter. This place belongs to his cousin.’
Andreas shrugged. ‘It’s only for one night.’ At least he hoped so.
The lobby was about as interesting as the architecture,but clean and tidy. The receptionist handed them keys to their rooms and an envelope. ‘Sergeant Mavros left this for you.’
Andreas opened the envelope and peeked inside. It was photos and the videotape of Vassilis’ body at the scene. ‘You look at these Yianni, I’ll check them out later.’ Photos of a body lying dead in a street would change his mood; remind him of how close Lila came to ending up like that. She was in a coma for a week after being clubbed in the head. That was almost nine months ago. Thank God she was all right.
Andreas’ room was small and had a view of parked cars. No matter, as long as it was quiet. He called Lila from his cell phone.
‘Hello, my Prince Charming.’
‘Damn caller ID takes away all the mystery.’ Andreas was smiling.
‘But not the romance, lover boy. So, how goes your island holiday off alone with Yianni?’
‘Terrific, nothing but beautiful beaches, fine food—’
‘And the bodies?’
Andreas paused. ‘I thought we agreed not to talk about that sort of thing.’
Lila laughed. ‘I meant live ones. Find any to rival mine?’
‘Sorry, I’m a bit edgy. No, none like yours. That person doesn’t exist.’
‘Perfect answer. It’s just what an almost nine months pregnant woman wants to hear. You’re learning, Kaldis.’
‘I have a great teacher.’
Lila laughed again. ‘So, when do you think you’ll be back?’
‘I’m hoping tomorrow.’
‘I hope so, too. I saw the doctor today and he said, “Any day.”’
‘Should I come home now?’
‘No, it’s not that close, but if you’re planning to be away for more than a few days I can’t guarantee the little one will wait.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back.’
‘I know.’
Neither spoke. It was one of those ‘should we marry’ silences, or at least that’s what Andreas thought. He was the son of a working class cop; she was from one of Greece’s oldest, wealthiest families, and the young, socially prominent widow of a shipowner. Things had just happened between them. And the attack made him her protector. His move from his walkup apartment into her penthouse on the chicest street in Athens he saw as temporary, until the baby was born. Sooner or later Andreas knew she’d come to her senses and he
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