An Aegean Prophecy - Jeffrey Siger [70]
‘Just an old friend.’
‘Thank God it’s not a wife. They make such scenes.’
Kouros looked at his feet.
Tassos smiled. ‘I think I should come back later.’
A flash of blonde raced into the room headed toward the front door. ‘No need to, old friend. I have to get to work. Kisses.’ Another dazzling quick smile, a single blown kiss, and gone.
‘What was that?’
‘Four-thirty in the morning on Mykonos.’
‘I think I arrived just in time.’ Tassos laughed again.
Kouros yawned and walked into the kitchen. ‘Coffee?’
‘Sure. Tough break about the minister shutting you down.’
Kouros shrugged. ‘I’m past that. With all the juice involved in this case, we’re lucky they let us catch the bastards who cut the monk’s throat. No chance of getting to Zacharias; he’s too wired into the right people.’
‘Christ, Yianni, you’re too young to be as cynical as I am.’
Kouros shrugged. ‘So prove me wrong.’
‘Wish I could. As I said to Andreas, “The only ones I see likely wanting to hang his ass are the Russians.”’
‘Have any Russian friends we can talk to?’
‘None who’d believe us. We’re just cops, claiming everybody but us is involved in a coverup. No way the Russians are going to take our word for it without checking everything out first. And that means whatever we say gets back to someone involved in keeping things quiet, and bye-bye pension for me.’
‘And a career change for me. Directing traffic if I’m lucky.’
‘In the middle of the National Highway.’
‘So, like I said, “Prove me wrong.”’
Tassos shrugged. ‘I’m sure the Russians know all about the bad press they’re getting here, and the rumors that they’re behind everything that’s gone wrong on Mount Athos. But Russians are a naturally suspicious sort, born and bred on intrigue. So, for working-level Greek cops to appear on their doorstep out of nowhere with a story about some war criminal Mount Athos monk being behind it all smells just too much of setup. They know damn well how much the Greek Church would love to link them to a church politics plot involving Mount Athos. It would make every smoke and mirrors press story and rumor instantly fact.’
Kouros picked up two cups of coffee, handed one to Tassos, and started drinking from the other.
‘Thanks, Yianni, but there’s no way the Russians will believe us. People just don’t confide such serious stuff to total strangers out of the blue without a motive. Unless, of course, they’re insane.’
Kouros paused in mid-sip. ‘I have an idea. Let’s call Andreas.’ He put down the coffee, picked up the landline phone, and dialed.
‘What kind of idea?’
‘A good one, I hope.’ He waited for someone to answer.
‘Hello, Vardi residence.’
‘Chief Kaldis please, it’s Yianni Kouros.’
‘One moment please.’
Kouros looked at Tassos. ‘I think this has a speaker on it.’ He pressed a button on the handset and a few seconds later both men heard, ‘Yianni, what’s up?’
‘Chief, I’m here with Tassos and he filled me in on your conversation about the Russians.’
‘You’re on holiday, Yianni, forget about it. It’s dead and buried.’
‘I have an idea. What if we get the Russians to think they figured out on their own who Zacharias was and what he was up to? And that it was something we didn’t want them to know.’
Andreas did not sound impressed. ‘I think you’re forgetting something. We’re the good guys. Not vigilantes. Nor are we supposed to be helping foreign powers.’
Kouros sounded offended. ‘Who’s talking about helping a foreign power? We’re talking about a known war criminal behind the assassination of a Greek monk. His interest in screwing the Russians is incidental, but it’s a convenient hook to use to hang the bastard.’
Tassos said, ‘Look, I’m not a big fan of the Russians, but I see Yianni’s point, and if he has an idea that works, it might be our only hook.’
They could hear Andreas letting out a breath. ‘So what’s your idea?’
‘You remember Mario. He’s now a sergeant here. I’m staying with him, and he told me that there are a hell of a lot of private jets in for the weekend, including a huge beauty belonging to one of the richest men in Russia.’
‘I know