Jeffrey Siger - Target - Tinos

Dancing toward them in the oncoming lane, wearing a black tee shirt, black running shorts, a black waist pack, and black tennis shoes, was Trelos. He seemed oblivious to everything but what was coming through the earphones from the white iPod in his right hand. He did a pirouette-like move at the edge of the road closest to the cliff before backing across the road toward the hillside in a style that would make Michael Jackson fans proud. He seemed to catch a rhythm that had him strutting up to the police car. He stopped in front and spun around twice, almost like an ant searching for a way around an unexpected obstacle in its path.

Andreas opened his door. “This should be interesting.”

Trelos didn’t move from in front of the police car when the three cops got out and surrounded him. Nor did he stop moving in time to his music.

“Pandeleis, good morning.” Andreas thought it better to call Trelos by his given name.

Trelos kept spinning and dancing in front of the police car.

“I said, ‘Good morning.’”

Andreas thought he saw a slight nod, but beyond that nothing to indicate Trelos heard a word Andreas had said.

“We want to talk to you about your sister.”

More dancing.

“Get in the car.”

He didn’t move from his spot.

“Yianni, put him in the back seat.”

Kouros stepped forward, gently put his hand on Trelos’ elbow, and led him back to the car. Kouros opened the rear door on the driver side and steered him into the car, taking care not to hit Trelos’ head on the roof pillar. Kouros closed the door and went back to the front of the car.

“I thought you were going to rip off his earphones,” said Tassos.

“No reason for that, he seems a gentle soul.”

“Inspires your protective instincts, does he?” said Andreas. “That’s quite a gift to have. His brother, Petros, said something about it being his obligation to ‘protect’ him. I wonder if his sister feels the same way.”

“What are you getting at?” said Kouros.

“From the way things seem to be going with this guy, I’d say nothing,” said Tassos.

“Let’s take him back to his house,” said Andreas. “Maybe we’ll find some way to get through to him there. Because we sure as hell aren’t getting anywhere with him here.”

When they arrived at the house a Tinos police car was parked in front.

Andreas turned to look at Trelos in the back seat. “They’ve been waiting for you to come home. You put many people to a lot of trouble to find you.”

Kouros got out of the backseat on the passenger side and went around to get Trelos out the other side.

“By the way, since you obviously didn’t come home last night, where were you?” said Andreas. “You’re clean shaven, so don’t tell me you were out dancing on the streets all night.”

Andreas got out of the car when Trelos did. “I’ll take him from here, Yianni. Please thank the Tinos cops and tell them they can leave now. And check to see if any of them know anything about you-know-what.”

Andreas pointed in the direction of the house and said to Trelos. “Walk.”

He didn’t move.

“I didn’t think you’d listen. That’s your hustle isn’t it? I don’t buy your Peter Pan routine. So, move.” Andreas pushed Trelos toward the front door.

Trelos paused.

Andreas pushed him again. “Keep moving or I’ll ram that iPod so far up your ass you won’t need earphones.”

Tassos stepped in next to Andreas and whispered. “I see Yianni’s playing good cop and you’re playing Attila the Hun cop.”

“He’s moving, isn’t he?”

Once inside, Trelos walked over to the mantle and touched a photograph of a man and a woman.

“Are those your parents?” said Andreas.

Trelos said nothing. He went over to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water, opened a cupboard, took out a glass, filled it with water, drank it all, refilled the glass, and drank that, too. Then he put the bottle back in the refrigerator, took the glass over to the sink, washed it, dried it, and put it back in the cupboard.

“I see you clean up after yourself. Is that because you have no help here? Does your sister help when she’s here? Or isn’t she here that much? Or maybe you’re the one who’s not here that much? Funny, isn’t it? Such a tiny place for two grown-up people, especially for someone with your peculiar habits.”

Trelos went into the bathroom and started to close the door. Andreas stopped the door with his foot.

“Uh, uh. No private time for you. Don’t worry, I won’t watch. Just make on like you’re back in the army. You were in the army, weren’t you?”

There was the unmistakable sound of a stream hitting water.

“Good boy.”

Andreas waited until Trelos came out of the bathroom. “You know what has me wondering. Here you are, a big time music fan, into computers for sure and there’s not a computer or audio devices to be seen anywhere in here. Not even a radio. I hope you’re not going to try and convince me that your only link to all the music you love in this world is that tiny little thing in your hand.

“All of which makes me wonder whether you have another place for your music. Maybe even a whole house somewhere else. Is that where your sister is now, at your other place? You know we’re going to find it sooner or later. So why don’t you just tell me now. It will save us the bother of ripping up this place looking for clues. It would be a shame to make a mess so unnecessarily?”

No answer.

Kouros stuck his head inside the doorway. “Chief, may I speak with you?”

Andreas looked at Tassos. “Keep an eye on him,” and went outside.

He was back in two minutes, walked over to the mantle, and picked up the photograph of Trelos’ parents.

“Lovely looking people. Your mom and dad?”

No answer.

“You know, my own father died when I was very young. I never really got over it. But I did get on with my life. Why, I wonder, haven’t you?” Andreas smiled.

No answer.

“I just found out that it could have been a lot worse for you. Your sister was with them the night they died. She went with them to dinner in Pyrgos, but she didn’t come back with them. Said she wasn’t feeling well and stayed over at a relative’s house. My, weren’t you lucky? You almost lost your only sister and your parents in one night.”

Trelos didn’t move.

Andreas studied the photograph. “Interesting, looks like it was taken right around here.” He walked over to the window on the north wall and held the photo up to the light. “You know, the church in the background of the photo looks an awful lot like that one over there.” He pointed at the church in the distance. “Could that, by chance, be your family’s church? Perhaps where your parents are buried?”

No answer.

“Tassos, why don’t you and Yianni take a walk over to that church and check it out. And while you’re at it, take a look inside the other structures in the area.” He stared at Trelos. “Just in case his sister might have gotten lost in one of them.”

Trelos hadn’t moved from where he’d stopped after coming out of the bathroom, but his eyes trailed after Tassos leaving the house.

“You know, Pandeleis, all this talking to myself has given me a mighty thirst.” Andreas put the photograph down on the kitchen counter by the window. “I assume you won’t mind if I help myself to some water?” He reached for the refrigerator door handle.

“Not at all, Chief Inspector Kaldis. But please, call me Trelos, everyone else does. By the way, your friends are wasting their time. They won’t find a thing.”

Trelos walked across the room to where Andreas was standing, took off his earphones, and put them and the iPod down on the counter. He picked up the photograph of his parents, kissed it, and carried it back to the mantle.