Read Online Santorini Caesars by Jeffrey Siger - Free Book Online Page A

café tables into the cafenion.
    â€œPick out some of those too,” said Andreas pointing at an array of Italian cookies and assorted sandwiches inside a glass display case.
    â€œI’ll have to report you to Lila.”
    Andreas waved an open palm in Yianni’s direction as he stepped out onto an awning-covered patio. He headed toward an empty table tucked away in a corner behind the patio’s lone tree.
    He wondered how real his risk of arrest was. It made no sense, but if this government truly represented the left wing coup so many accused it of being, anything could happen. Tassos had told him many stories of how the Colonels ran their right wing junta. No reason to think these guys on the left would be any different. After all, Stalin wasn’t a pussycat. But he couldn’t worry about that. Prada might be hoping to make him a symbol of police aggression, but that would be hard to pull off if the parents of the murdered girl didn’t go along with it, and impossible if the Brigadier spoke out in Andreas’ defense.
    â€œScrew ’em all,” Andreas muttered under his breath as he sat down. If they wouldn’t take his advice on how to deal with the demonstrations, that was their loss. He had enough other things to worry about. From here on out, the demonstrators were their problem, not his.
    The Brigadier arrived just as Yianni showed up carrying coffees and a plate of cookies and brioches.
    â€œSorry I’m late, I had to take a phone call.”
    â€œI figured you like your coffee black,” said Yianni.
    â€œThat’s fine, detective. Thank you.”
    â€œHere’s your fat-free cappuccino, Chief.”
    Andreas looked at the Brigadier. “My wife has everyone around me trying to keep me on a diet.”
    The Brigadier patted his slight belly. “It’s a Greek curse once we pass a certain age.”
    â€œSee,” said Andreas, picking up a biscotti and waving it at Yianni before taking a bite, “the Brigadier’s on my side of the pastry issue.”
    Yianni smiled. “From the way you tossed that Prada guy into the minister’s lap, I’d say you stay in pretty good shape.”
    â€œAdrenaline helps,” said the Brigadier. “Why did you call him Prada?”
    â€œI named him after his sports jacket. It seemed more respectful than asshole.”
    The Brigadier shrugged. “One of you called him that too.”
    â€œGuilty as charged,” said Andreas putting the biscotti down on the edge of his coffee saucer. “What’s your take on our little get-together with Babis?”
    â€œI was hoping you could tell me,” said the Brigadier.
    â€œIf Prada actually wanted to pin what he said on me, and needed your help to pull it off, I’d have thought he’d be smart enough to run it by you first.”
    â€œIf that’s your way of asking whether I knew anything about what went on back there before it happened, the answer is no.”
    â€œNot at all,” said Andreas. “In fact, I apologize for not thanking you sooner for standing up for me in there. I’m just trying to figure out why they thought you would lie for them.”
    The Brigadier shrugged. “No idea.”
    â€œAny idea who Prada is?” asked Yianni.
    â€œYou heard what I heard.”
    â€œHow’d you end up in the meeting?” said Andreas.
    â€œThe minister called me to say there’d been a crucial development in the case and that he wanted to talk to me about it in person.”
    â€œDid you ask him what it was?”
    â€œNo.”
    Andreas blinked. “Why not?”
    â€œI had no reason to.”
    â€œNo reason?” Andreas leaned back in his chair and fixed his eyes on the Brigadier’s. “With all due respect, sir, from out of the blue the head of the Greek police personally called to tell you there was a crucial development in your daughter’s murder case, and you simply