Jeffrey Siger - Target - Tinos

“Is there any part of life on Tinos not touched by the Foundation?” said Andreas.

“You mean that matters?” she smiled.

“ Touche.”

“The Foundation tries to be low-key. Its purposes are good works. And everyone connected with the Foundation knows that everything we have we owe to the Holy Virgin.”

“You mean the Megalochari,” said Andreas. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but without the holy icon Panagia Evangelistria would be just another church, impressive yes, but no longer a major draw for pilgrims and their offerings.”

Eleni started to say something, but Andreas put up his hand to stop her. “Honest, I respect what the Foundation does, but it’s all based on one very real and portable holy icon.” Andreas cleared his throat. “And that makes your church the target for what we have reason to believe is some very serious harm planned by some very bad guys.”

Eleni raised her voice, “What are you talking about?”

Andreas looked at Tassos. “Can we trust her?”

“Stop being cute, Chief Inspector.”

“I stopped being cute years ago. I just want to know if you feel obligated to tell your boss or the commission what I’m prepared to tell you?”

“Depends.”

“‘Depends’ doesn’t work for me. I need an absolute ‘no,’ at least until we get a better handle on what’s going on.”

“How can I agree to keep a secret like that from my boss if it’s as important as you say?”

“Trust me, it is important. But if you tell your boss, he’ll tell my boss, and that will end any chance your uncle and I will find out what’s supposed to happen before it does. All I can tell you is that whatever is planned is serious enough to get two men incinerated.”

“Are you saying the murder of those two tsigani brothers was related to a plot against our church?”

“I certainly wouldn’t bet against it.”

Eleni looked at Tassos. “What should I do, uncle?”

“I’ll tell you what I always say when someone asks me that question. But this time I actually believe it. ‘I think it’s best for you and everyone who might get hurt that you tell us what you know before it’s too late for us to help.’”

Eleni bit at her lower lip. “Do you really think there’s something to this?”

“Enough for us to be here,” said Tassos.

Eleni ran her fingers through her hair. “Okay, Chief Inspector, I promise not to tell anyone, including my boss, until you say it’s okay.”

Andreas looked at Tassos. Tassos nodded.

Andreas said, “We understand that recently an unusually high number of metanastes have come here looking for work and are willing to do so for whatever wage gets them the job.”

“There are a lot of new faces working on the island these days but I have no idea what they’re paid. At the Foundation we employ mostly Tinians in our office but there are many metanastes working on our construction projects. After all, it seems they’re the only ones willing to do hard labor these days.”

Andreas smiled. “For the time being. So, how are offerings to the church holding up in these times of crisis?”

“Not sure why that’s relevant, but I can tell you that in hard times many seek out the Megalochari who otherwise might not.”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me numbers. After all, it doesn’t take a genius to count the people crowding daily into Panagia Evangelistria, multiply that by an estimated average value per offering, and conclude that there’s serious wealth passing to the church every day. And since much of what’s being offered is in the form of precious metals and gems, there has to be a place to store it all. Not every offering can stay draped around the Megalochari. The pile would reach the roof. And then there are all those offerings of oil and candles to contend with.”

Andreas shook his head. “Remember that transient foreign thief you talked about who took a shot at stealing the icon?” Andreas tapped his right index finger on the table. “At this very moment you have an island filled with transient bad guys who I can assure you are lot worse than that first Megalochari thief ever was. And I can also promise you that whatever escape plan they have in mind won’t have them hanging around Tinos waiting to make a deal with local sailors.”

“What do you want from me?” said Eleni.

“I need to know what’s valuable enough in your church to get two human beings who claimed to know about a plan to rob Panagia Evangelistria murdered in a way that made a very public point.” Andreas decided not to mention the third dead brother. The woman was already alarmed enough.

“What point?” said Eleni.

“Wish I knew. Then I wouldn’t be bothering you as much as I am for help.”

“The Megalochari is, of course, our most priceless treasure but it is also worthless to anyone trying to sell it.”

“Not so,” said Tassos also gesturing no with his head. “There are mega-rich collectors out there holding priceless missing treasures in secret collections. They’d pay a fortune for the holy icon.”

“Plus any number of rich nuts out there, religious and otherwise, who’d love to have the power of the Megalochari all to themselves,” said Andreas. “And let’s not forget ransom. Can you imagine what the Foundation would pay to get the holy icon back?”

“I can assure you all of that has been considered and appropriate safeguards are in place.” Eleni sounded defensive.

“And in case you’re wrong?” said Andreas.

Eleni stared away. “There is also the Foundation’s art collection of icons, relics, paintings, sculpture…so many priceless things that I cannot possibly put a value on them.” She turned back to Andreas. “And, yes, places where the offerings and treasures are stored. Some are kept until they’re sold to help fund the Foundation’s purposes and others are saved for the true treasures they are.”

“In other words,” said Andreas, “the Foundation has a lot to steal.”

Eleni nodded.

“Can you think of any other potential targets on the island?” said Tassos.

“Many. There are some very wealthy families on Tinos.”

“Let’s just stick to the churches,” said Andreas.

“The Catholic Church’s presence here is more significant than almost anywhere else in Greece. Its Cathedral of Saint Nicholas sits down by the harbor, just below Panagia Evangelistria, and half of the more than one hundred-twenty formal churches on Tinos are Catholic, plus a third of the hundreds of others. There is also a Jesuit monastery.”

“But I assume none of those other churches, Catholic or Orthodox, has anywhere near your church’s wealth,” said Andreas.

Eleni nodded. “There are miracle-working icons in other churches, but none as sacred and revered as the Megalochari.”

“Have you noticed anyone or anything unusual recently?” said Tassos.

“Not that I can think of. But the island’s in the midst of preparing for the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin on August 15th. It’s Tinos’ busiest day of the year by far, all in honor of the Megalochari. There’s so much happening around this time that even the unusual seems usual.”

“Would that be a likely day for a robbery?” said Andreas.

Eleni gestured no. “I can’t imagine a worse one. Tinos is a madhouse on August 15th. The population swells to such unmanageable levels that Tinians have virtually ceded that celebration to visitors and treat July 23rd, the anniversary of Saint Pelagia’s third vision of the icon, as their time to celebrate the Megalochari. ”

“What happens on the 15th?” said Andreas.

“The holy icon is paraded from Panagia Evangelistria down Megalochari Avenue to a marble rotunda at the base of the hill where a service is conducted. Then it’s carried back up the hill to the church along the same route. It’s a procession filled with religious dignitaries, government officials, military, and police surrounding the holy icon. Frankly, if you’re looking for a festival on which to pull off a robbery, July 23rd would be a far better choice.” She smiled.