Jeffrey Siger - Sons of Sparta

“What’s a pretty good living?”

“Around a million a year, after expenses.”

Tassos cleared his throat. “What about Niko’s brothers, aren’t they jealous?”

“Could be, but it’s not their area of expertise, they’re into agriculture.”

“What sort of agriculture?”

“All kinds. Legit and otherwise. Though I hear they stopped growing the sort of stuff that led to their father serving time and dying in prison.”

“What’s Niko’s last name?”

Tassos listened to the name. “Would Niko happen to be from Pirgos?”

“Yep, that’s right. But his operation’s based out of Kalamata.”

Tassos shut his eyes and stroked his lids with the thumb and index finger of his left hand.

“Does the silence mean you’re through with me or is there something else you’d like to know?”

“Yeah, how can I make a million a year?”

“Why are you asking me? You’re a Greek cop. I should be asking you.”

“ Malaka .”

“Love you too, Tassos. Bye.”

Tassos put down the phone. He picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and put it down. He picked up the phone and dialed.

“Hello, my love. Is your daytime boss available?”

“I hope you’re not implying I have a nighttime boss,” said Maggie.

“The thought would never dare cross my mind. But we can talk about it when you get home.”

“Hold on.”

A few seconds later Tassos heard Andreas say, “What did you find out?”

“It seems our skunk is reeking with one hell of a motive for revenge against both Yianni’s uncle and Babis.”

“Meaning?”

“His name is Niko, and his father was the guy set up by Babis to take the fall planned by the uncle.”

“But that was years ago. Why go after the uncle and Babis now?”

“The only one alive likely to know that answer is Niko. And I doubt he’s going to tell us.”

“Maybe the girl knows something?” said Andreas.

“For her sake I hope no one else thinks that way. This guy Niko sounds like the type that doesn’t like loose ends. But, yeah, I agree Yianni should talk to her. At least to warn her.”

“I’ll talk to him about it in the morning. He sounded exhausted. Good thing she seems the type who can take care of herself.”

“Just like my Maggie.”

“Why do I sense you want me to tell her you said that?”

“No need to, she’s probably listening in on the line.”

Click.

***

The room was hot, the cot uncomfortable, the woman beneath him. They’d been at it for hours. She’d cooked dinner, they’d eaten quickly, made love, drunk wine, made love, drunk more wine, made love.

“I’m too hot,” Stella said when Kouros paused to adjust his position on the cot.

He pushed himself up and off the cot and opened the tiny window facing the road. “Is that better?”

Stella gestured no and stood up, holding out her hand to him. “Come.”

She led him from the storeroom, though the kitchen and small dining room, down into the large room, and over to the windows looking out upon the water. Two nudes covered in silver moonlight, surrounded by the sounds of the sea. Kouros kissed the nape of her neck and she turned to him. He slid his hands down her back and pulled her close. But she stepped back and he moved with her.

Her bottom brushed against a tabletop and she lay back upon it lifting her legs onto his shoulders. He leaned into her. She reached out and gripped the edge of the table with her fingers as his arms clasped her legs to his chest and his body rocked in and out.

The grunts and moans of their lovemaking filled the room.

Until the EXPLOSION .

Closely followed by the crash of glass bottles shattering on stone floors and an orange glow flickering into the room.

Kouros scooped Stella off the table and ran with her to the doorway. He peeked around the corner. The glow came from beyond the small dining room and past the kitchen; from a fire burning in the storeroom they’d just left.

Kouros put her down just inside the doorway. “Stay here and don’t move until I wave for you,” he whispered.

Barefoot and naked, Kouros crept toward the kitchen listening for any human sound. He pulled a fire extinguisher off the kitchen wall and made his way to the open storeroom. What remained of the cot and anything else that could burn was in flames. He stepped back and waved for Stella to come.

He handed her the extinguisher and whispered. “When I point to you, pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the flames, and squeeze the handle.” He patted her on her butt. “Then stay out of the way.”

Kouros undid the lock to the outside kitchen door and pointed at Stella.

The swoosh of the extinguisher swept away the sound of the flames almost as quickly as its contents did the fire.

Kouros heard a pair of feet running toward the kitchen door. He braced himself as the door swung in and a giant of a man wearing a ballistic vest and carrying an AK-47 came storming down the steps into the kitchen. A hard palm thrust to the man’s right ear jerked his head back, distracting him long enough for Kouros to strip the weapon out of his hands and drive its butt up under his chin, sending him reeling back against the open door. He stumbled off the door, aiming a wild kick at Kouros’ genitals, but Kouros pivoted away and took out the man’s knee with a sweeping kick that sent him crumbling to the floor. Before he could move, Kouros had the muzzle of the gun planted firmly against the downed man’s right eye.

“Move and you die.”

The man froze.

“Who’s with you?”

“Nobody.”

“I see this is set for full automatic. If I just squeeze a little harder-”

“No, no. He gone.” The man spoke rapidly, in badly broken Greek. “He ran when he saw flames go out. He told me to come back.”

“And do what?” Kouros pressed the muzzle harder against the man’s eye.

“See if she still alive.”

“Stella, turn on a light and come here.”

She walked over, flicked on a light switch, and stood above the man.

Even with a gun pressed against one eye, the man struggled to see Stella’s naked body.

“Do you recognize him?”

“He’s one of the three who came to see me. The bear.”

“Where are the mole and the skunk?” said Kouros.

“I not understand.”

Kouros kicked an ammo clip on the bear’s vest. “Ahh. Ukrainian. What were you trying to do here? Perhaps, make it seem like a certain somebody else did in the lady who slept in that room you just torched? How about the bottle you used for your little Molotov cocktail? I bet it traces back to the Ukraine, too.”

The bear’s eyes kept darting between the gun and Stella’s body.

“Stella, find something to put on so that I can get our guest to concentrate on what’s about to happen to his miserable life.”

She opened a cabinet, pulled out a tablecloth, and wrapped herself in it.

Kouros leaned in over the bear, pressing on the gun butt as he did. “I’m really hoping you’ll try something crazy right about now. It will help make up for all the bullshit paperwork and explanations I’m going have to give my boss and cousins over this.”

He pulled the gun muzzle off the bear’s eye. “So, like I said, where are your buddies, the two who helped you set Babis up to kill my uncle and then got Babis to kill himself?”

“I not murder your uncle.”

“Convince me.”

Silence.

“Would you like me to get my cousin Mangas in here to ask the questions?”

The bear gestured no. “Only Niko part of your uncle’s murder.”

“The one with the white streak in his hair?”

“Yes, Urich and I not know anything until after your uncle dead.”