'I'm working on it.'
Andreas was not about to offer an exchange of information.
'What I do know, aside from what Marios told you, is-'
'You told Marios to speak to me?'
Tassos smiled. 'He owed me big time, he's the one who filled me in on the potsherd bit, too. I know how Marios comes across, but the bottom line is he's also worried about what's threatening our country. He just feared that getting involved might get him dead, and not just career-wise. I convinced him there were many ways to die. And not telling you would bring on one of the worst he could imagine.'
Andreas rolled his eyes.
'Despite what you think, I like you. Liked your father too. And I didn't want you wandering around in the dark, not knowing what might be out there waiting for you.' He waited for Andreas to respond.
'Go on.'
Tassos shrugged. 'You're welcome. Anyway, when Zanni said you told them about their son, I knew I had to let you know what you were dealing with, even though you won't talk to me. Zanni doesn't know about Marios talking to you, and certainly not about this little meeting, but screw him. Besides, you and I are on the same side in this.'
Andreas wasn't about to take his word on that.
'Here's what I have. I was a rookie cop working in a Junta prison for political prisoners…' Andreas knew that part of Tassos' story, and of how he took great care to befriend all the politicians in there as a hedge against Greece's return to democracy. 'That gives me an interesting perspective on our current situation. You see, I have friends some might call outright fascists and others who are definite to-the-core communists. 'And never the twain shall meet,' or at least you'd think so.'
Tassos liked his little riddles. Andreas hated them; they always led to lectures.
'What the hell are you talking about?'
'Since a year or so before the 2004 Olympics, things have been relatively calm as far as Athens goes. Demonstrations and strikes yes, but certainly not the sort of terrorist violence and assassinations of the prior thirty years. Many have prospered, a lot more haven't. The media sees corrupt ion everywhere, the people accept it as a way of life. Everyone argues over whether government is out of control and politicians out of touch. Most see both as inevitable consequences of power.'
Andreas was getting antsy. 'It's like that most everywhere, not just Greece.'
'True, but we're living here. And that's all I'm concerned about.'
Andreas gave a hurry-up wave.
'Are you going somewhere?' Tassos sounded a touch angry. 'There are people who still believe the best thing for Greece is a return to dictatorship. With them, of course, in charge. They have all the answers for Greece's problems, and there's no need to waste time listening to another point of view. Especially from the 'wrong sorts' of people.' Tassos paused. 'Then we have the other fringe, the ones who want to return Greece to a time that never existed… except in a university coffee shop.'
Andreas thought Kouros and Tassos would get along nicely.
Tassos shook his head. 'I even heard an Athenian taxi driver complain the other day that 'there's no one to keep the politicians in line since they broke up 17 November.' Think about that: middle-class Athenians speaking openly to strangers of a twisted sort of admiration for the effect of terror on bettering their government?'
'Where the hell are you headed with this?' Andreas was happy the pilot announced they'd be landing shortly.
'I think there's more than one group involved in this. We've got different ideologies working together.'
'But why?'
'I don't know, but for as long as I can remember, each generation of Athenians has bitched about the nouveaux riches coming out of the next, and all the targeted families have one thing in common, new money. The left wouldn't be so selective. And this potsherd stuff… it's way too esoteric for revolutionaries. They go for symbolism tied directly to their cause.'
'Sounds to me like it's just your old fascist buddies at play.'
Tassos ignored him. 'But they don't, or rather didn't, have the horses they needed to get their crazy ideas moving. Something's happened. They have some real muscle behind them.'
'I still don't see why you think that means fascists are working with leftists.'
Tassos patted the arm between their seats. 'Because, associates of the guy trying to get money out of my principal used to blow up people for nuts on the left.'
The plane touched down on the runway.
'Kostopoulos said you didn't know the negotiator.'
Tassos grinned. 'You believed him? Let's put it this way: some of his playmates were on watch lists in the days of 17 November.'
'What's his name?'
'Not a chance, at least not until Zanni says it's okay.'
Andreas wasn't surprised. 'So, why are they working for the right?'
'Probably for the same reason they worked for the left. Money. They're not ideologues, just muscle working for a payday. Not uncommon. But something, or someone, has brought them together. And I think the link is from the left.' He paused and let out a breath. 'Like I said, 'who would have thought?'
The plane was taxiing toward the arrivals area.
Andreas thought whoever could bring right and left Greek extremists together in common cause must be one hell of a statesman. Greek leftists were demonstrating against the government with ever-increasing ferocity, and the right was clamoring for the government to crack down much harder on those responsible for the violence. The country was polarizing at the extremes. If there were someone who could bring those two groups together, that guy would get Andreas' vote for sure, unless he was some general roaring in on a tank. Or responsible for the murder of Sotiris Kostopoulos.
The plane stopped, and people started pulling things out of the overhead bins.
'So, what do we have?'
Andreas shrugged. 'Don't know. You tell me. You're the only one who seems to know the players.'
'Am I?' Tassos studied Andreas' face, then stood and stepped out to block the aisle. He gestured for Andreas to step in front of him.
'Aren't you getting off?' Andreas asked.
'No, the plane is going back to Mykonos.'
'Rather not be seen with me?' Andreas grinned and stepped in front of him.
Tassos smiled. 'Stay in touch.'
The door opened and Andreas headed for it.
'And say hello to Maggie for me.'
She hadn't slept. She no longer slept at night. She barely slept at all. The beautiful, always coiffed and bejeweled Ginny Kostopoulos no longer cared. She hadn't showered in a day, or touched a brush to her hair in two. She just sat with her children while they played, while they ate, while they slept. Never letting them out of her sight. She sat through each night watching them dream, checking their breathing, and whispering memories of her childhood, her first loves, and the birth of her son. She stopped at that point and rewound the loop. Not a word about her husband or her horrid present. She wanted her daughters to hear only happy thoughts.
Ginny looked at the porthole on the other side of their beds. It was sunrise. The children would be up soon. She must speak to the captain about the course. She trusted only herself to set it.
She stared, looking for the horizon. Her husband had promised to protect them; to keep them safe from harm. She believed him, trusted him with her children's lives.
She looked at her sleeping babies. She'd never trust another with their lives. Never. Maggie rarely got to work on time, and Andreas usually didn't care. Today he looked at his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes.
A quick knock and immediately opening door meant Maggie was here.
'Hi, Chief, understand you're looking for me.'
