finding their killers,” said Andreas.
“As if you’d ever find them.”
“We found you, didn’t we, asshole?” said Tassos.
Andreas shook his head. “Here’s the deal, Punka. It’s a one time take it or leave it opportunity for you to live longer than a week. Get us the name of whoever ordered the hits and if we find that you’re right you walk. If you don’t come up with a name, you’re the one who goes inside for the murders.”
“And by the way, don’t try to run,” said Tassos. “We’ll find you again and next time…you’ll simply disappear.”
Punka looked at the ground.
“Do you understand?” said Tassos.
“Yes.”
“Good,” said Andreas. “Now, I want you to tell us everything you know about your brothers and Tinos, starting from the beginning. And I mean everything.”
It took an hour, but Punka didn’t tell them anything more than he already had or was in the Tinos police reports. Nor did he tell them anything that conflicted with what they knew. It was just a more embellished telling of the same message: I told my brothers not to cross the Albanians.
When they finished they drove Punka back to the taverna. He didn’t say a word this time. Not even a goodbye when they dropped him off.
“I think he’s scared,” said Andreas. They were back on the highway heading toward Athens.
“Yeah, when the Albanians want revenge against one part of a family, they don’t care who else they take out to get it.”
“No, I meant of you,” said Andreas. “You practically scared the hell out of me. That was some chance you took going after him for his brothers’ murders.”
“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.”
Chapter Five
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
