Jeffrey Siger_Andreas Kaldis 02 by Assassins of Athens Page A

painful demise.”
    “Who?”
    “Wish I knew.”
    “But why come to us now? I mean to you, Chief.”
    “Don’t know, and until we do, let’s assume the worst possible motive. But, my guess is because we ,” he pointed to Kouros and back at himself, “already were on to something.” Andreas finished his cigarette and crushed it out on the ground instead of the flick-it-away-burning-live method used by so many others. “Let’s get back to the office. I want to check out this woman Marios wants us to meet before calling her. We already have too many intrigues and big-time players’ fingerprints all over this investigation. All I know for sure is we better watch each other’s back, assume nothing, and tell no one what we learned today.”
    Kouros pursed his lips and nodded. His look was serious. “Can I say it now, Chief?”
    “Say what?”
    “‘ Here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into. ’”
    ***
    Maggie delivered what she had to say to Andreas leaning over his desk and waving her finger. She ended with, “So, if you’re going to leave me to run all the other cases we have in this office while you’re off at the movies with big-time celebrities, fine, but at least answer your phone when I’m trying to reach you. I can’t make every decision. Not at my pay grade.” She had a gift for putting just the right amount of humor into her assaults on her boss.
    “I get your point.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. So, what do you have on the Kostopoulos family?”
    “Like Marios said, their plane left first thing this morning. The flight plan said Rome. Not sure who was on it, though.”
    “Why’s that?” Andreas sounded puzzled.
    “It was a flight within the European Union, and being a private plane…” she shrugged.
    Andreas nodded. “Anyone back at the Kostopoulos’ house?”
    “I had a cruiser stop by, and they were told the family had left the country. No idea when they’re coming back.”
    Andreas exhaled. “Christ.” He looked at Kouros standing next to Maggie. “Could he be right about all this?”
    “About what?” asked Maggie.
    “Nothing. Yianni, start going over those files with Maggie, I’m going to see what I can find out about Lila Vardi.”
    “ The Lila Vardi?”
    Andreas stared at Maggie, shook his head, and smiled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? Okay, tell me what you know.”
    “She comes from one of the oldest families in Greece. Vardi is her married name. You’ll find her maiden name on at least one product on practically every dinner table in Greece.”
    He knew the name; everyone who ate did.
    “Her husband died in a car crash about three years ago. She kept her husband’s name. The papers said as a memorial to him.”
    “What does she do?”
    “Not much. She has her family money, and her husband was a successful ship owner, not one of the biggies or from one of the old families, but successful.”
    Andreas rolled his eyes. “You mean annual income only in the mega-millions as opposed to multi-mega millions?”
    She smiled. “Stop with the stereotypes, I’m sure they’re just like you and me.”
    “Yeah, right.” It was Kouros.
    Maggie shook her head. “Okay, guys, enough with the revolution.”
    “What else do you know about her?” asked Andreas.
    “She’s around thirty, attractive, educated in the US, involved in a lot of charity and museum work, with a reputation as a real lady.”
    “Too bad, Chief.” Kouros spoke with a lilt of humor to his voice. Andreas shot him a look that was anything but humorous. The blood drained from Kouros’ face; he stared down at the floor.
    “What else, Maggie?” Andreas’ voice was tight, but if Maggie wondered what was going on, she didn’t show it.
    “No kids, no steady boyfriend, no scandals, a dog, six cats, and a parrot.”
    “Blood type?”
    “Probably.” She always was quicker than he.
    Andreas smiled. “Okay, so where can I find her?”
    “I’ll get it for you.” She turned