located outside of town. None of the police at those churches had a thing to report. There was nothing in or under the churches and no sign of the woman or a potential suspect. Andreas wondered if the men sensed how wound up he was. Tassos didn't seem much better. They barely spoke as they drove from church to church. Now they were headed to town.
The crackle on the police radio made them both jump. Andreas answered, 'Kaldis here.'
'Andreas, where are you?' It was the mayor and he sounded panicked.
'About five minutes from the harbor.' Andreas put the radio on speaker so Tassos could hear.
'I am at the taverna in Ano Mera. Get here as soon as you can. We have a problem.'
Andreas looked at Tassos. 'What sort of problem, Mr Mayor?'
'The missing woman's mother is here, and her brother — the deputy minister — is on his way from Athens by helicopter. He's supposed to be here by now.'
Andreas' voice was flat, though his blood pressure must have soared. 'Thank you. Tell them I'll be there as soon as I can.'
'But-'
Andreas switched off the radio.
'Guess we should get over there,' said Tassos.
'First we have to check out the churches in town. Getting reamed out by the deputy minister isn't going to help find his niece.' Andreas seemed in a trance.
'Okay, but let's do it quickly. No reason to piss off our executioner — His Honor the deputy minister — any more than we already have.'
Annika felt the cold in the wind off the sea. The sky was black except for the stars and a bit of moonlight. She'd been curled up on her side on the floor of the boat for what seemed forever, but she knew it was only since he'd raped her — or tried to rape her. She wasn't sure. She'd been groggy and had no strength when he'd pulled her to the floor, but she tried to resist — at least she thought she had. Now she felt bloated — pain too — everywhere down there, and couldn't breathe through her nose. Her wrist was hurting again too. The good news was her senses were back.
She was facing forward and knew he was somewhere behind her. Her instinct was to turn and confront him, but she could hardly move, let alone fight. Besides, she was still alive and untied; probably because she'd been unconscious. Things can only get worse once he knows I'm awake, she thought. She considered pulling herself overboard but doubted she had the strength to do it and certainly not enough to make it to shore — wherever that was. She decided to lie quietly and listen. She'd make her move when she had more strength — or no other choice. It had taken about an hour in the dark to get the boat from Panormos Bay to where they now sat. She'd never woken up, even when they crossed in front of the frenetic Mykonos harbor in full view of two idling police boats. He'd gambled on a lot of small boats heading in the same direction at the same time, making him just another anonymous little duck on the pond. He had been right.
His voice was very soft when he began talking to her. He spoke in Greek as if he knew she was conscious but wouldn't understand a word of what he was saying. He was wrong about that. There was nothing in the town's churches. Now it was all wait and see. As they pulled up to the taverna, Andreas wondered what the hell he was going to tell her mother. He wasn't even thinking about what to say to her brother, his boss.
Tassos was the first one out of the car. Andreas looked at his watch: ten-thirty. A woman was walking quickly toward them. She had to be the mother. Andreas got out and walked over to meet her.
He could tell she'd been crying. 'I'm sorry to be late, Mrs Vanden Haag,' he said, trying to sound confident and professional, 'but I had to make sure everything was ready.'
She grabbed his arm. 'Please, tell me what's happened.' She didn't have to say she was worried to death.
Her brother and the mayor walked over, and Andreas nodded an acknowledgment. 'I'm sure the mayor has told you-'
She squeezed his arm. 'No, please, you tell me. Tell me everything.'
He looked into her eyes, then down at the ground for a moment before looking at Tassos. It was just the five of them. 'Sure,' he said, and looked her straight in the eyes. It took about fifteen minutes. He told her everything, as if he were confessing. No one interrupted him, and when he finished, Catia was silent.
It was her brother who spoke, his voice rising. 'You think my niece is being held by a serial killer who's been murdering tourist women on Mykonos for almost twenty years?!'
'Yes,' Andreas answered crisply.
'I think you're insane!' Spiros screamed. He stared at Tassos. 'I suppose you're going to tell me you agree with him.'
Tassos looked straight at him. 'Yes.'
He turned to the mayor. 'Is every cop on this island crazy? Greece has never had a serial killer.' He looked back at Andreas. 'What you're saying is impossible!'
'There are eighteen dead bodies saying it's not,' Andreas said, an edge in his voice now.
Catia spoke softly. 'Spiros, I don't think this is the way to talk to people who are trying to help us.'
Spiros struggled for control as he glared at Andreas. 'I want the names of every suspect. I want them rounded up and interrogated immediately.'
'Can't find them, except for one who showed up on his own — with a lawyer,' Andreas said calmly.
'I don't give a damn about lawyers. I want his name!' He was screaming again.
The mayor blurted out Manny's name.
Andreas shook his head in disgust and looked at Spiros. 'What are you going to do, have somebody blowtorch him so you can make yourself think you're doing something?'
Spiros was a bureaucrat not used to challenges from subordinates. 'You're way out of line, Chief.' He was shaking with anger. 'I want your men out of those churches and rounding up suspects for interrogation. That's how we'll find my niece. And no more of this rubbish about ritual killings or serial killers. Do you understand?'
Andreas' look was deadly serious. 'Yelling doesn't make your thinking any clearer, sir. Watching those churches is our only chance of finding her.' He paused. 'Alive.'
'That's it, Kaldis, you're off this investigation.' Spiros raged. He turned to Tassos. 'You're in charge.'
'I won't be doing anything differently, sir.' But Tassos' tone was deferential.
Spiros' face was red. 'Fine.' He gestured to a man standing just out of earshot. He was one of the men who'd accompanied him on the helicopter from Athens. 'Mayor, this is Captain Leros of Special Operations in Athens. He'll take over the investigation. I expect you to give him your complete cooperation.'
'Certainly,' said the mayor with a smile.
Spiros barked at Andreas and Tassos, 'I want the two of you out of here now. And I mean now!'
Andreas looked at Catia. 'Sorry, Mrs Vanden Haag,' he said, and walked away with Tassos.
Catia waited until they were out of earshot. 'Spiros, I know how upset you are.'
'Damn right I am.' He was biting at his lower lip.
'And those men weren't respectful or appreciative of your ideas,' she said softly.
He drew in and let out a breath. 'I'm only trying to help you and Annika.'
She hugged him. 'I know. I know you'll do everything possible.' She paused. 'My only thought is, it's almost eleven and probably you won't be able to find those suspects tonight, unless they're home in their beds — which means they couldn't be with Annika.'
He nodded. 'That's right.'
'So.' She hugged him again. 'What's the harm in leaving the policemen at the churches for the rest of the night? There's nothing more for them to do until tomorrow.'
He looked at her and smiled. 'You've always known how to work me.'
'And it wrecks any claim by Andreas or Tassos that their plan might have worked if you'd listened to them,' added the mayor in a solemn voice. The others seemed to have forgotten he was there.
Catia glared at him coldly. 'Sir, I really don't like you,' she said and walked away.
Spiros watched her leave. Both men let Catia's remark pass. 'Do you realize what would happen to Mykonos — to all the islands — if those two are right about a serial killer?' Spiros was using his professional voice.
