Jeffrey Siger - Target - Tinos

“The worst he could have done was tell me to ‘fuck off.’ But we lucked out. He had a guilty conscience.”

“I call it good police instincts,” said Andreas.

“It comes with thinking like a crook.”

Andreas laughed. “I’ll get Yianni to make sure Punka is covered 24/7 and that we pull all his phone calls and messages.”

“What do you the think the chances are of him coming up with a name?”

“Who knows, but he’s our only lead,” said Andreas.

“Maybe not,” said Tassos. “If somehow Albanians from Menidi are involved in this, I might be able to set something up with them.”

Tassos had been making influential friends since his days as a rookie cop in Greece’s dictatorship years guarding political prisoners at an island prison. Those prisoner friendships were his hedge against the inmates’ return to power and had served him well. If anyone could set up a meeting with the Albanians it was Tassos.

“I’m not exactly thrilled at the thought of sitting down with those guys if they’re behind the murders.”

“Why? The worst thing that could happen is they refuse to meet,” said Tassos.

“No, the worst thing that could happen is they agree to meet and then try to whack the cops who are trying to prove they did it,” said Andreas.

“Stop worrying. Once they know you’re involved they probably won’t agree to meet anyway. You have a reputation as a straight shooter. They don’t trust guys like you.”

“As opposed to…”

“Hey, what can I say? I’m old school.”

Andreas rolled his eyes.

Tassos smiled. “Ingrate.”

It was nearly midnight, and for most civilized people past their bedtime. But for many Greeks it was just the beginning of their evening. Andreas was lying on top of the bed covers watching the news. Lila sat at her dressing table looking through some sort of chart for the wedding. Andreas couldn’t believe that in four days they’d be married. It was almost Wednesday.

Andreas’ cell phone rang.

“Who would be calling at this hour?” said Lila.

Andreas looked at his phone. “Tassos. Hopefully with good news.” He pressed to answer.

“I told Lila you’d only be calling at this hour with good news. If not, please hang up and call back tomorrow.”

“All I can say is that it’s news. Whether it’s good or bad depends on your view of things,” said Tassos.

“What are you into, Zen or something? Just tell me.”

“I was able to set up a meeting with the Albanians. But they’ll only see us tonight. It’s now or never.”

“You’re kidding.” He instinctively looked at his watch.

And Lila looked at him.

“It looks like our only chance to meet.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll pick you up in front of your building in fifteen minutes. Bye.”

Andreas put down his phone.

“Honey…”

“Try not to stay out too late.”

“I don’t want to go but there’s no choice. It’s very important.”

“I’m sure. Just remember. Sunday.”

Andreas kissed her on the cheek and left the room to get dressed to meet Tassos. He didn’t want her to see him putting on his ballistic vest.

Tassos pulled up alone in front of Andreas’ building in a blue and white police cruiser.

Andreas got in next to him. “We’re taking a marked car to this?”

“The ones we’re meeting know we’re cops. I want to make sure everyone else in the neighborhood knows it, too, and that we’re there on official business.”

Andreas shrugged. “It’s your call, but I wouldn’t think the Albanians would appreciate the idea of other bad guys in their neighborhood knowing they’re entertaining cops. Might start too many rumors.”

“Not a problem tonight. They picked a place in Athens, outside their neighborhood. A club in Gazi. The cruiser will get us a parking space.” Tassos grinned.

“Which place?”

“Dionysios’ Sin. How do they come up with those names?”

“I never knew that place was connected to the mob?” said Andreas.

“It isn’t, that’s why they picked it. And at this hour it’s just getting busy. We’ll be lost in the crowd.”

Andreas stared out the window. Any meeting with that sort was dangerous, but picking a club in the heart of Athens’ busiest nightlife district was about as safe a place as he could have hoped for them to choose. And it was quantum levels safer than a meeting on their home turf in Menidi. Cops rarely went there, and rarer still in a marked car. Andreas let his mind wander to other things, not pouncing on any one thought in particular.

“Here we are,” said Tassos. It was a narrow street jammed with cars parked on both sides. Tassos pulled into a space cleared for the entrance to the club. An attendant held his hand out for the key.

“Get serious,” said Tassos as he locked the doors and pocketed the key.

Andreas scanned the street to see if anyone was watching them. Everyone was. No wonder, with that grand entrance.

“Where are we supposed to meet them?”

Tassos shook his head. “Don’t know. We’re supposed to find some guy named Robert and ask for the ‘White party.’”

The place was mobbed, the music loud, and the decor classic French bordello from that country’s glory days of its greatest decadence. Not bad if you liked that sort of thing. Tassos whispered something in a waiter’s ear. The waiter turned and pointed to a man by the end of the bar studying the room. He had to be at least seven feet tall and as broad as the back of a truck.

“That’s our Robert,” said Tassos.

“Oh boy. They win, I quit,” said Andreas.

“He’s probably quite gentle.”

“Let’s hope we don’t get the chance to hear him say, ‘I’ll be gentle.’”

Tassos laughed.

Andreas patted his crotch. His nine-millimeter was right where it should be. “Okay, let’s go.”

Tassos walked over to the giant and motioned for him to lower his head. Tassos whispered in his ear and Robert’s face lit up in a broad smile. He waved one of his huge hands at Andreas to follow and began moving through the sea of people. It was like two caiques following the Queen Mary. He led them to a doorway at the rear, opened it, and pointed down the stairs.

“Down there, they’re waiting for you.” He smiled, patted Tassos and Andreas on their backs as they passed, and closed the door behind them.

“Christ, it’s like a tomb in here,” said Andreas. “Can’t hear a thing from outside or downstairs.”

“And vice-versa I’m sure. Probably not even a gun shot,” said Tassos.

“Stop making me feel better.” Andreas touched his holster again. “Just how sure are you of the guy who set up this meeting?”

“He’s a friend of a friend.”

“Great. Like I said, stop making me feel better.”

At the bottom of the stairs stood two bulky guys, obviously Albanian. They didn’t smile, just stared at the new arrivals.

Tassos stared back. “We’re here for the White party.”

The two men pointed to a door at the end of the hall.

As they walked toward the door Tassos whispered, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.”

Andreas smiled, but braced for the worst. Just then the door swung open and a tremendous shout came roaring out of the room.

“SURPRISE!”

It took about an hour of hugged congratulations, gotchas, backslapping, and svenaki shots of vodka from what seemed every guy he’d ever known before Andreas could corner Tassos. “You son-of-a-bitch, this was supposed to be tomorrow night.”

“You mean your ‘surprise’ bachelor party.” Tassos was smiling from ear to ear. “We knew you’d be expecting some sort of party so it was Lila’s idea to misdirect you into thinking it was tomorrow.”