Read Online When Dead in Greece by L.T. Ryan - Free Book Online Page B

still,” he said.
    “Mind making a few of those for me?”
    He lifted the pan and tipped three eggs with their yolks intact onto a plate. Steam caught a band of sunlight and rose in swirling wisps.
    “These are for you.”
    I poured a cup of coffee and grabbed the plate off the counter while the ceramic mug burned my fingertips. I set both on the table and eased into a chair. A few sips of the brew and the fog lifted. A couple bites of food and the ache in my stomach faded. The rest of my pains remained.
    Alik sat down and buried his face in his hands for a moment. Then he looked up at me and asked how the food was. I nodded and grunted as I took a bite. Alik nodded in response.
    “I’m worried about Esau,” he said.
    “Me too,” I said, perhaps with too much egg in my mouth. I felt a piece hit my chin on the way to the table.
    He was shaking his head as he looked away for a moment. “What if they were out there, Jack?”
    “Where? The house?”
    “The road. Just far enough away we wouldn’t see them, but they could watch the car. Watch us. See us changing the tire. Then follow us back to his house.”
    “Crossed my mind, too.”
    “And now Esau’s not here. He’s always here early.”
    “Situations dictate behavior.” I washed my mouth with coffee, set the mug down. “I’d say things are different now. His focus is on Isadora, not his business.”
    “Think we should check on him?”
    Scooping the final scraps of eggs into my mouth, I nodded. “I need to change first.”
    Alik rose, grabbed the keys. “Hurry.”
    I splashed some water on my face, then changed into a pair of tan cargo shorts and a blue and white checkered shirt. Alik was waiting in the hall when I exited the bathroom. I slipped on a pair of sandals. We hurried downstairs, checking the cafe to see if Esau had made it in. The lights and equipment were off. The office empty.
    We ducked out the side entrance. I glanced over. There were a few old guys waiting outside the cafe door. They smoked, joked, leaned back against the glass and appeared relaxed. Sometimes schedules were discarded in the small town. They knew that. They were OK with that. It’s one of the reasons they had remained when their siblings and friends had left for opportunities elsewhere.
    The car sat where we had left it, one corner lower to the ground due to the spare tire. But at least all the tires looked full of air. Alik hopped in and started it up. Esau’s house wasn’t situated far from town, so the drive only took a couple minutes. The warm air rushed in the car and washed over me. Was as close as I was getting to a shower for a while.
    Gravel crunched underneath the wheels as we turned onto the driveway. The old man opened the door before we were out of the car.
    “Was wondering when you would show up,” he said, slamming his front door behind him. He spun and inserted a key then limped across the yard.
    I got out and slid my seat forward so he could get in back.
    “Everything OK?” I said.
    “Huh?” he said.
    I looked down at his leg. “You’re limping.”
    “Ah, yes, it flares up, time to time. Old injury from the war.”
    “One day you’re gonna have to tell me all about that war.”
    He nodded and said nothing.
    I said, “After we get Isadora back, of course.”
    Esau stopped and stared at me with a weak smile plastered on his face. Then he got in the car.
    “I’ve made some arrangements,” Esau said.
    “What kind?” I said.
    “Weapons for the two of you. Things are just crazy here. And while I’d prefer to get you off the island, I need your help too much. Obviously, I can’t do this alone.”
    “When will they be here?”
    “Later today. Worst case, tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow might be too late.” I looked back at him. “Hell, right now might be too late.”
    Esau looked away. His lips drew tight. None of us wanted to think about it, but it was there. Alik and I had seen it, and we’d told Esau about it, and that was all there was to