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

let the conversation drop there?”
    The Brigadier nodded.
    â€œIt doesn’t fit with you being a general. Generals are by nature suspicious and used to getting answers to their questions.”
    The Brigadier smiled. “So are chief inspectors.”
    â€œI know,” said Andreas, “which leads me to think the reason you didn’t ask was because you thought you already had the answer to what he planned on telling you.”
    The Brigadier stiffened in his chair. “And what are you suggesting that was?”
    â€œThe identity of your daughter’s killers.”
    The Brigadier’s expression turned grim. “That’s preposterous.”
    Andreas shook his head. “I think you have a very definite idea of who killed your daughter, and thought the minster did too. The part I haven’t figured out yet is why you didn’t want to hear him say the names?”
    â€œYou’re way off.”
    â€œAm I?” Andreas leaned in toward the Brigadier. “You know as well as I do this wasn’t a case of your daughter being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was a designated target, and your mind’s been racing over a list of her possible killers since the moment I told you she’d been assassinated.”
    The Brigadier bit his lip. “I’m not going to deny any of that. Of course, it’s consuming me…” he closed his eyes and let out a breath, “when I’m not worrying about how my wife will bear up at the funeral tomorrow. But I have no one in mind.”
    â€œI wish we didn’t have to put you through this now,” said Andreas, “but we have no choice.”
    The Brigadier nodded and opened his eyes. “And, yes, when the minister called acting so coy, I thought he wanted me with him as window dressing for some dramatic announcement he planned on making to the press to quell the demonstrations. I had no idea that he and…” his expression twisted into anger, “your Prada guy planned on using me to set you up as the political fall-guy for their PR disaster with the rioting.”
    â€œFair. I’ll accept all of that except for the ‘no one in mind’ part. Even I could have people in mind.”
    â€œFine, then. Chase after them, and leave my thoughts to me.”
    Andreas leaned in closer. “I wish it were that easy, Brigadier, but I’ve got the distinct impression something’s going on here that’s a lot bigger than you’re letting on. In fact, I’m pretty well convinced that the only reason your daughter was a target was because she was your daughter.”
    The Brigadier sprang to his feet. “How dare you suggest she was murdered because of me?”
    Andreas waved for the general to sit. “Please. You’re disturbing their coffee break.” Andreas nodded at two nearby tables filled with customers all staring at the Brigadier.
    He drew in and let out a deep breath as he clenched and unclenched his fists. He sat down and leaned in toward Andreas. “We both know there are a hell of a lot of people out there willing and capable of doing seriously bad things. That’s why you and I have jobs.”
    â€œAnd all I want to know is whether any of those people spring to mind as a likely candidate for going after your daughter?”
    He gestured no.
    â€œCome on, work with me on this. There’s got to be somebody out there you can finger as a possibility.”
    â€œYou mean like terrorists?”
    â€œI mean like anyone.”
    The Brigadier closed his eyes for a moment. The grim look took over his face again as he opened them. “There are some I know who are quite accomplished at violence and have no love for the path our current government is following. I do not share their views, but I still can’t see them going after my daughter because of me.”
    â€œWho are they?” said Andreas.
    The Brigadier gestured no. “I