Sons of Sparta: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery by Jeffrey Siger Page B

nine?
    “They thought you might show up this morning.”
    “Did they say why?”
    She shrugged. “Said you might have more questions about your uncle.”
    So much for the element of surprise, thought Kouros.
    “They left a message for you if you showed up.”
    “What’s the message?”
    “‘The trick is to have water in the glass with your whiskey.’”
    Kouros burst out laughing.
    The girl laughed, too. “Coffee?”
    “Yes, please.”
    He watched her walk toward the kitchen. Tight black jeans, tight white t-shirt, dark hair, dark eyes, great butt. Front not bad either. Kouros’ blood started to pulse. Watching her walk seemed likely to sober him up a hell of a lot faster than coffee.
    She came out of the kitchen with a coffeepot in one hand and a cup and plate of cookies in the other.
    Kouros smiled. “My name’s Yianni.”
    She smiled back. “Stella.” She put down the coffeepot, cup, and plate.
    He held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
    She took his hand and he gripped hers. Neither made an effort to let go of the other. They smiled at each other and he withdrew his hand.
    “How well did you know my uncle?”
    She looked down at the floor. The smile was gone. “Very well. He was a nice man and always kind to me.”
    “Do you know anyone who might have wanted to harm him?”
    “Harm him?” She looked up and seemed surprised. “Do you think it wasn’t an accident?”
    Kouros shook his head. “No, I’m just used to asking those sorts of questions. It comes from being a cop.”
    “You’re a cop?” She seemed afraid.
    “Don’t worry. I know about your incident with immigration. I’m not going to hassle you. You were a friend of my uncle, and that’s good enough for me.” He patted her on her bare forearm.
    Stella smiled and touched his shoulder. “Thank you.”
    “Now will you answer my question?”
    She looked down at the floor. “I only knew him from his mornings here. He always sat with his friends and I never heard anyone say a bad word about him.”
    “Did you ever overhear any talk of threats against him?”
    “No, I never listened to their conversations.”
    Kouros knew she was lying. But, that was to be expected. He was an outsider, and a cop on top of that. She’d be crazy to tell him what her customers talked about, especially those customers.
    “How did my uncle get his morning newspaper?”
    She looked up. “The man who owns the minimarket at the bottom of the hill on the other side of Vathia always delivered it here.”
    “When?”
    “Around eight.”
    “Who’d he give it to?”
    “He’d put it on the table at the place where your uncle always sat.”
    “Did he ever give it to him personally?”
    She gestured no. “He’d have a quick coffee and leave before they got here.”
    “Did anyone ever look at my uncle’s paper before he arrived?”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t. Maybe Babis did once or twice, but I don’t know for sure.”
    “Who’s Babis?”
    “He’s my…my boss.”
    “Where is he?”
    “Right here,” said a booming voice behind Kouros.
    Kouros turned his head and saw a dark, burly Greek of about Kouros’ height, but heavier, standing in the doorway between the two dining rooms.
    “Hi, I’m Yianni Kouros.”
    “What do you want?”
    Kouros smiled. “We met here yesterday after my uncle’s funeral.”
    “Like I said, what do you want?”
    Kouros swung his body around so that he was facing the man head on. “That’s a very inhospitable Maniot way to act.”
    “I’m from Pirgos.”
    Kouros smiled. “That explains it.”
    The man stepped toward Kouros. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Kouros now forced a smile. “Ease up there, Babis. It was a joke.”
    “I don’t like jokes about my hometown.”
    “I have a question for you, Babis. With this hair-up-your-ass attitude how did you ever end up in the hospitality business?”
    Babis took another step toward Kouros. “Listen, malaka , I don’t need your horny sort sniffing