Jeffrey Siger - Sons of Sparta

“Why should I believe you? And even if I did, how could I ever get my family to agree?”

“I’m sure you can figure out a way,” said Andreas.

“Yeah,” said Tassos. “Like getting one of your ‘second cousins’ on the force up in Sparta to check out what a certain currently incarcerated employee of Niko had to say about Niko’s plans for your family.”

Mihalis bit at his lip. “Is there anything else you’d like from me?”

“Yes, sir,” Andreas handed him his card. “A call when you know where we can find Niko.”

***

“How did it go?” asked Kouros as Andreas got back in the car.

“Not bad,” said Tassos from the rear. “I think we got him thinking about his cousin’s choice in husbands.”

“Does he know where Niko is?”

Andreas shook his head. “No way to tell. But if he wants to find him, he will.” Andreas pointed toward the road. “Let’s get out of here before he starts wondering what we’re gabbing about.”

Kouros started the engine, turned around and started back down the hill toward the main road leading back to the port.

“In the old days, if a family thought they had a traitor in its midst they’d take care of him themselves,” said Tassos.

“We don’t want that,” said Kouros.

“I know,” said Tassos.

“Let’s just hope they’re more civilized these days,” said Kouros.

“It will be close,” said Andreas. “Not sure it mattered keeping you and the Kouros name out of this, but no reason not to follow your cousin’s advice.”

“Yeah, Niko’s wife might make a big fuss about turning her husband over to Yianni’s cousins, but might not if it’s to the police,” said Tassos.

“Why’s that?” asked Andreas.

“My buddy’s boat got me into Gytheio early and I had some time to kill waiting for you guys to pick me up, so I put in a call to an acquaintance of Niko’s. I’d put him away a few years back for drug running into Mykonos but he got out early because of prison overcrowding. I asked him what he knew about Niko.”

“Why would he talk to you?” said Kouros.

“Because when I was asked for my opinion on whether or not he should be released early, I didn’t object. He knew he owed me.”

“Strange you’d be so nice to a drug dealer,” said Andreas.

“It was either he or a lot worse types getting out. Besides, if I hadn’t, we wouldn’t know what a true dirtbag we’re dealing with.”

“So tell me, already,” said Kouros.

“Niko has an irresistible appetite for very young girls and his wife is about fed up with him.”

“How young?”

“Very. But he only goes after foreign girls. That way the locals don’t worry about their own children.”

“Nice understanding folks up in his neighborhood,” said Andreas.

“He’s a big customer of the sex traffickers.”

“Do you think she’s pissed enough to turn on him?” said Kouros.

“Let’s hope she’s just pissed enough not to object to us busting him.”

“I think it’s time for lunch,” said Andreas.

“Took the words right out of my mouth,” said Tassos.

Kouros smiled. “No doubt to make room for a lot of other things.”

They parked at the southern end of the harbor close to port police headquarters and strolled beside a seemingly endless row of two- and three-story buildings painted various shades of ochre. Tavernas, bars, hotels, and rooms-to-let lined the landside of the harbor-front road for as far as the eye could see.

“My rule is to try the busiest taverna,” said Tassos.

“But not if there’s a hustler outside pulling in tourists,” said Kouros.

“I accept that modification.”

“I prefer the one recommended by the harbormaster. It’s up there on the left.”

“You take away all the fun of the hunt,” said Tassos.

“Don’t worry, I’m paying.”

“Do I have to remind you again that we’re cops and cops-”

“Don’t pay.” Andreas nodded. “But today we’re trying to be inconspicuous.”

“Fine, pay.”

“Here we are,” said Andreas.

They entered the sort of place where all you’d remember about the décor would be the general concept of chairs, tables, windows, and a kitchen somewhere out back, but you’d never forget the food.

Fresh made taramasalata, melitzanosalata , and skordalia. Rigonada of the Cretan sort made with nuts, tomato, and feta, locally grown fried potatoes, Greek salad with caperberries, grilled calamari, sardines, and local sausage. All accompanied by locally grown and produced olive oil and Peloponnesian wine. Yoghurt with local honey and handmade spoon sweets made from reduced cherries and apricots would come last.

For twenty minutes everyone concentrated on the food and kept the conversation to small talk.

“Any word from Stella?” asked Andreas.

“As far as I know she’s taken off for Athens.”

“Can’t blame her,” said Tassos spearing a tiny deep-fried fish with his fork. “Things don’t seem too hospitable for her down in that part of Greece. Which brings me around to asking what you guys have in mind if we actually get a lead on Niko’s whereabouts?”

“Catch him,” said Andreas.

“And then what?”

“Get him to talk,” said Kouros.

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“Threatening him with a visit from my cousin ought to work.”

Tassos shook his head. “I don’t think so. Not with this guy. He’s got his own family looking out for him. Besides, he had to know there was a risk of going to war with your uncle’s family when he decided to go after him. But he still did it. He must have something up his sleeve. Or else he’s expecting a very sweet deal to talk.”

“He’s not going to get one,” said Kouros.

Tassos rocked his head from side to side. “Unless he’s offered something better than taking his chances at trial, I don’t think Niko cooperates. Let’s not forget, the only firsthand testimony we have directly tying Niko to a possible murder charge is the word of that muscle guy who tried torching Yianni. Assuming we find Urich and he corroborates his accomplice’s story, it’s still going to be tough getting a murder conviction in connection with Babis’ death without physical evidence of more than ‘talk’ on Niko’s part getting Babis to take his own life.

“As for Niko implicating himself in the uncle’s murder with what he said to Babis in front of those two guys, to me that’s an even tougher case. At least with Babis’ death we have Niko at the scene, standing around watching it happen. We have no physical evidence whatsoever directly tying Niko to your uncle’s murder.”

Tassos picked up another two gavros with his fingers. “It’s going to be a tough sell to the court on the evidence we have. My guess is the current odds favor him walking.”

“He won’t live long if he does,” said Kouros.

“Who’s to say? As long as he’s breathing he’s ahead of the game. No telling what might happen. He could disappear and never be heard from again. It’s romantic to think vengeance will hunt down the wicked no matter where, no matter how long it takes, but most often things don’t turn out that way. Even in the Mani, memories fade, life events intervene.”

“Not with my cousins.”

“What I think Tassos is trying to say is that catching Niko may not give us the answers we’re looking for.”

Tassos nodded. “Talk only implicates him, and without a deal, why say a word?”

“I’ve lost my appetite,” said Kouros.

“My God, don’t do that,” said Tassos. “I’ve given you the worst possible scenario. Speculation on what’s going through a wanted man’s mind. Thoughts of freedom and escape are the most common, but until we find this guy we don’t know what makes him tick.”