Philip Kerr - Hand of God

Dr Christodoulakis answered him quietly but firmly. ‘Just to clarify the matter. It’s my understanding that my clients — by which I mean every one of the London City staff and players who were staying at the hotel on the night that this young woman met her death — are forbidden to leave the country until the following has occurred: first that they have been questioned by the police as to what they might know about this young woman and Bekim Develi’s involvement with her; and second that an autopsy shall have taken place to determine whether there is any forensic evidence linking her with anyone other than the late Bekim Develi.’

Chief Inspector Varouxis lit a cigarette and nodded. ‘That is correct.’

Like everywhere else in the EU Greece had banned smoking in indoor public spaces back in 2010, but that didn’t seem to matter at police headquarters.

‘Given that the pathologists at the Laiko General Hospital are on strike,’ argued Dr Christodoulakis, ‘would it not be fairer if the return of the whole team to Athens from London was secured with the payment of bail, this sum to be set by a judge in chambers? That way the team might fulfil its own contractual arrangements which its continued detention in Greece could seriously damage, thus leaving the Greek government open to a civil action in the courts.’

Konstantinos Miaoulis was a fit-looking man, with a military bearing, and while he may not have resembled a politician, he certainly sounded like one: ‘I disagree. It’s the government’s opinion that to bring so many people back to Greece would prove enormously difficult. Suppose that one of the City team players is sold to another club before the transfer season closes? What guarantees could London City give the Greek government that they could make such an individual return? We take the pragmatic view that it’s better to try and resolve this matter now, while everyone is here to assist the police. It’s to be hoped that the strikes in the courts and among our medical profession will end very soon, enabling Chief Inspector’s investigations to proceed with all possible speed.’

‘Might I remind you,’ said Toby Westerman, ‘that as a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, the Greek government is technically in breach of its obligation not to observe any border or passport controls between this country and other member countries. Strictly speaking, the team don’t need anyone’s permission to leave the country. Legally, they’re within their rights just to go to the airport and leave.’

‘I wouldn’t put that to the test if I were you,’ said the Police Lieutenant General. ‘The United Kingdom is not a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. The British government’s complicity in the practice of extraordinary rendition hardly gives its representatives the right to lecture Greece on proper legal procedures.’

‘On behalf of the British government,’ Toby Westerman said, ‘I protest the decision of the Greek police to detain the London City team, in the strongest possible terms’; but after that he remained silent for the rest of the meeting, which we all took to mean that the British government intended to do nothing.

‘With the permission of Mr Manson, Mr Hobday and Mr Sokolnikov,’ said Varouxis, ‘I should like to question the players and playing staff at the earliest opportunity. And take their fingerprints.’

‘Very well,’ Dr Christodoulakis agreed. ‘However, I must insist that the police keep us fully informed of any and all developments in this case, as soon as possible.’

‘Of course,’ said Varouxis. ‘I should also like to take possession of Mr Develi’s mobile phone, and any computers he might have. To help us identify the dead girl.’

These were still in Bekim’s kitbag, now safely back in my room, but I wasn’t in a hurry to hand these over.

‘No, that won’t be possible,’ I said, ‘but I’ll be happy to let you have sight of them in my presence. Although, I don’t think his laptop or phone will help you. I had a look at them myself last night when I got back to the hotel. I can assure you that the only calls he made and received on his mobile were to his girlfriend, Alex.’ This was true; Bekim hadn’t called anyone other than Alex. Nor had he sent or received any emails from anyone in Greece either and I explained this to the police. ‘I even checked what websites he browsed. I was searching for escort agencies he might have looked at. But I drew a blank there as well. I should say you’d be better off seeing what calls came through the hotel switchboard. Or perhaps having a look at the PCs in the business centre.’

‘Did you check those, too?’ There was a note of sarcasm in the Chief Inspector’s voice.

‘No,’ I said. ‘Although I would have done if I’d thought of it at the time.’

Varouxis sighed irritably and lit another cigarette. By now I wanted one myself. My normal rule of just one fag a week was beginning to weigh rather heavily on me.

‘This is a murder investigation, Mr Manson,’ he said, stiffly. ‘I’m well within my rights to force you to hand them over.’

‘I understand that, Chief Inspector. However, there may be confidential information on those devices. We shall need to check this first. For the sake of his family. Perhaps you’ve seen the news? His girlfriend is in hospital. She took an overdose of cocaine and is now in a coma.’

‘I’m afraid that is not acceptable, Mr Manson.’

‘Then I suggest you get a court order,’ I said. ‘Perhaps at the same hearing we can petition the judge to leave the country. That is, if you can find a judge.’

Varouxis looked at Lieutenant General Zouranis as if seeking further guidance.

‘I could order your arrest for this,’ said Zouranis. ‘I wouldn’t need a judge for that. Obstructing the police is a serious offence.’

‘I don’t think Mr Manson is obstructing your investigation,’ said Dr Christodoulakis. ‘He didn’t say he wouldn’t let you see Mr Develi’s electronic devices. Only that he wanted to be there when you did it.’

‘Correct,’ I said. ‘How about this afternoon at three o’clock? We’re currently using the royal suite at the Grande Bretagne Hotel as our office.’

Now Lieutenant General Zouranis looked at his minister for guidance; the minister nodded.

‘Very well,’ said Lieutenant General Zouranis. ‘It shall be done as you have suggested.’ He looked at Varouxis who shrugged his own compliance.

‘In an attempt to help you identify the dead girl, Mr Sokolnikov intends to offer a reward for any information that leads to an arrest,’ said Dr Christodoulakis.

‘Good idea,’ said General Zouranis.

Dr Christodoulakis looked at me and shrugged as if she too had done all she could. Recognising that we were stuck in Athens until further notice, I tossed onto the table my idea about playing the home leg of our draw with Olympiacos at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, which Dora Maximos, the Minister of Culture and Athletics, took up with alacrity.

‘That is also a good idea,’ she said.

‘Yes and no,’ said the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection. ‘It’s fair to say that by playing your home leg across the road you’ll be perceived to have made yourselves the allies of Panathinaikos. You will have put yourself into the middle of the two eternal enemies, with all that this entails. It’s a match that will require some very careful policing.’

‘If they can handle it,’ said the Police Lieutenant General, ‘so can we.’

‘Christ,’ said Phil when he and I and Vik had got rid of the embassy guy and our lawyer and were back to the Grande Bretagne Hotel. ‘You were a bit leery with that Chief Inspector, Scott. I’d forgotten how much you dislike the police.’