Read Online Devil of Delphi: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery by Jeffrey Siger - Free Book Online

Kharon liked that. It lent him anonymity, invaluable in his line of work.
    His mobile rang. It could only be one person, but he wasn’t calling from the secure landline. Kharon answered and waited to hear the voice on the other end.
    “Kharon?”
    “Did he show?”
    “Yes, and with all the money.”
    Silence.
    “Kharon, did you hear me? He showed with a hundred thousand euros!”
    “Yes, I heard. So did all the world by now.”
    “Come on, this isn’t the United States, no one’s listening in on calls from my shitty little taverna in Athens.”
    “Where is the meeting?”
    “You’re to be at the foot of the Acropolis at two. At the start of the path up to the top.”
    “Who am I looking for?”
    “He said they’d initiate contact.”
    “Bye.”
    “Wait a minute. What about all this money?”
    “Hang on to it for me.”
    “Until when?”
    “Until I ask for it.”
    “You definitely are nuts.”
    Kharon hung up. Jacobi was too cavalier about surveillance. These days everybody listened in on mobile phone calls. The only privacy you could hope to find was in the wilderness. Assuming no satellite or drone happened to be watching you.
    With his friend broadcasting one hundred thousand euros to the Exarchia world, he’d better be ready for uninvited guests showing up at the meeting. That kind of money made Kharon a kidnapping target, a rising business among enterprising bad guys in Greece. He looked at the clock on the nightstand. The Acropolis was only a couple of Metro stops away from his hotel, but he needed to get moving. He had a lot to do before two.
    Hoping for the best was fine, as long as you prepared for the worst.
    ***
    “What’s this?” said Andreas staring at the large box Tassos had dropped on his desk. It bore the name of Syros’ most famous pastry shop.
    “What’s it look like?” Tassos, dressed in his customary dark suit, white shirt, and bland tie, dropped into the leather chair in front of Andreas’ desk.
    “Hey, easy on my furniture, I’m not sure that chair’s rated to handle the extra weight you’re carrying.”
    Tassos waved his hand in front of his face. “It’s an old suit. It makes me look heavier than I am.”
    “Yeah, sure. I’ll have to remember to try that line on Lila. At least unbutton the jacket. It looks like it’s going to explode wide open any second.”
    Tassos waved him off. “I’m fine, it fits perfectly.”
    Kouros, sitting next to Petro on the couch beneath the windows, pointed at the box. “Speaking of Lila, you’re going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble with her when she finds out what you brought the chief.”
    “He’s right. She’ll kill you.” Andreas lifted the lid and peeked inside the box. He looked up at Tassos and laughed. “Bastard,” and turned the box upside down, spilling the contents on his desk.
    “Carrots?” said a disappointed looking Kouros.
    “Syros’ best. I may have been willing to risk Lila’s ire, but not that of my beloved Maggie.”
    Andreas picked up a carrot and pointed it at Tassos. “They’re in cahoots?”
    “Of course.”
    “How come they haven’t teamed up on you yet?” asked Andreas.
    “Because they undoubtedly recognize that with age comes plumpness. It is nature’s way of compensating the body for the thinning of other parts.” He patted the top of his head with one hand.
    “Can’t wait to see what you pat with the other hand,” smiled Kouros.
    “Yianni, stop encouraging him.” Andreas bit into the carrot. “Hey, this is good.” He looked at Kouros and Petro. “Have one.”
    “I prefer mine in cake form,” said Kouros, gesturing no.
    Andreas picked up a carrot and tossed it at Petro. “Don’t listen to him, eat your vitamins.”
    Petro caught it and dropped it onto his lap.
    “Great, now I’ve got all my wacky wabbits together in one place—”
    “I just bet you’re dying for me to say, ‘What’s up, Doc?’” said Tassos.
    Andreas aimed his carrot at Tassos. “That’s a