Assassins of Athens

Maggie stuck her head in the office. 'Yianni, those cops from up north called, the ones you had following the guy you tailed to the airport. They said he's on the move again. He's back over the border into Greece and headed to the airport. They'll call you as soon as they know where he's headed.'

Kouros turned to Andreas and smiled. 'Care to bet where Demosthenes' old buddy is headed?'

Andreas clapped his hands together. 'Let the games begin.' The message was 'Be outside Kato Patissia metro, 9 a.m.' Another metro ride to another tough neighborhood. Probably another unpleasant car ride, too.

Demon's mind wandered to thoughts of his future and of private drivers to whisk him to such places. He knew he could never put these sorts of meetings behind him. He would always need these types. Now, to convince them they still needed him.

He looked at his watch. Nine-fifteen. Where is he? The answer came in the form of a taxi pulling up beside him. 'Taxi, mister?'

'No, I'm wait-'

Demon got in the back seat. 'Didn't recognize you. Nice touch, no one notices a Balkan taxi driver these days.'

'What the fuck did you do?'

'Beg your pardon.'

'You heard me. Sardinia.'

'Oh, yes. Well, you left me with no choice. What was I supposed to do? The gentlemen I report to made me do it. I wanted you to get the job but-'

'Enough of your bullshit. You've cost us a lot of money. Kostopoulos killed the deal. Thinks we tried to kill his wife and kids. You asshole.'

Demon sounded calm, but his heart was racing. He expected Sardinia was the reason he was here, even anticipated the anger, but expecting something and facing it eyeball-to-eyeball, even through a rearview mirror, were very different things.

'I understand you're angry. But, you've profited quite handsomely over the years from my relationships with very powerful people, people who want to continue working with you, through me, making you more money than you can imagine. This is just a slight bump in the road.' He paused and waved a hand as if swatting away some minor distraction. 'To continue with the analogy, my friend, you cannot imagine the extraordinary opportunities that await us if we just stay on the road we've traveled together for so long, and so prosperously. Trust me.'

'Trust you!' He laughed. 'I'm a simple man, so let me put it to you in simple terms. I don't care about your buddies or connections. You're the one we deal with, you're the one we know, and you're the one we no longer trust. Either you straighten out this shit storm you created with Kostopoulos or — to continue the analogy…' he paused to smile in the rearview mirror. 'It's the end of the road for you. Asshole.'

He pulled over to the curb and told Demon to get out. 'Forty-eight hours to get Kostopoulos talking again.' He drove away without voicing another threat. He didn't have to. He'd let Demon off in front of one of the few funeral parlors in Athens.

25

'It's Yianni.'

'What happened?'

'I followed the guy from the airport. A taxi picked him up and drove him to Kato Patissia. The driver got out at a coffee shop and the guy took his cab. He drove to the metro and picked up Demosthenes. They rode around for five minutes, Demosthenes got out, and the guy went back to the coffee shop. The guy and the driver are having breakfast together. Probably cousins.'

'Any idea what Demosthenes and he talked about?'

'No way of telling. Didn't seem to be arguing. When Demosthenes got out, he just looked around and walked back to the metro. Angelo's with him.'

'Damn it. If they didn't put some real heat on him, nothing's going to happen. No pressure from Demosthenes on the Old Man to meet Kostopoulos, no meeting with Kostopoulos-'

'No recording of the Old Man's confession.'

'Shit.' Andreas tried sounding calm.

'Should we bust the guy?'

'For what, borrowing his cousin's cab? Wish we could, but it's too risky. If he gets busted so soon after meeting Demosthenes, his buddies might get nervous, think things are getting out of control, and decide to blow Demosthenes away. What the hell, odds are guys like that don't live very long, anyway. Occupational hazard.'

'I still don't like letting him get away.'

Andreas smiled. 'Glad to hear that. Me, neither.'

'Hold on, Chief. It's Angelo.'

Andreas tapped a pencil on his desk. Keep your fingers crossed, he thought.

'Demosthenes came out of the metro at Evangelismos.'

Andreas' heart skipped two beats, then started racing. 'My god. That's the stop for the hospital. He's going after Lila!'

Kouros spoke quickly. 'No, no, Chief, he's headed in the other direction.'

Andreas didn't say anything for a few seconds. He let his breathing return to normal. 'I guess I'm more anxious than I thought.'

'Who wouldn't be? If it makes you feel better, I think Demosthenes' taxi ride may have done the trick.'

'Why?'

'Because… sorry, it's Angelo again.' Ten seconds went by. 'Uhh… yeah, because that metro stop is also the one for Kolonaki. And guess where our little Demosthenes is now.'

'Heading for the Kolonaki Club.'

'No, actually he's inside, as of thirty seconds ago.'

'Yes!' and two double fist pumps. 'I'm sorry, if you're not on the list you cannot come in, sir.'

'But I know he wants to see me, please call him.'

'I'm sorry, sir, but the rules do not allow us to do that.'

'Do what?'

'Disturb a member when someone appears unannounced claiming to be invited.'

Demon wanted to kill the pretentious bastard. Didn't he realize he was from the servant class? But Demon needed the idiot. 'I understand. Is there a phone I may use?'

'Certainly.' He pointed to the one on his desk. 'Dial nine first.'

Demon dialed without saying thank you.

An operator answered. 'Kolonaki Club, how may I help you?'

Demon asked for the Old Man and waited.

'Yes.'

'It's me, I'm downstairs. Your doorman won't let me in. Speak to him, please.' Demon handed him the phone without waiting to hear the Old Man's reply.

'Yes, sir. Right away, sir.' The man didn't look happy at Demon making him look stupid. Sorts like him believed people who looked like Demon should know their place — somewhere far beneath his. 'Third floor, second door to the right off the elevator.'

Demon nodded and walked to the elevator. He would take great pleasure in watching that guy kiss his ass someday.

'By the way, I'm not a doorman. I'm the club's concierge.'

Demon didn't bother looking back. 'Don't worry. Soon you will be.'

In the elevator Demon closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. This was the most important performance of his life. He must remain calm. He must stay focused. The doors opened, he walked to the second door to the right and knocked.

'Come in.'

Another quick breath and Demon pushed open the door.

'Welcome, Demosthenes.'

Demon gave a quick look around. He couldn't care less about how the room looked; they all looked the same to him here, anyway. He wanted to make sure they were alone.

'I assumed you wanted privacy. We have it.' The Old Man pointed to the chair beside his. 'So, what has you so bothered, my boy?'

Don't let his patronizing get to you. Stay focused. 'We have a very serious problem.'

'Every day brings serious problems.' The Old Man smiled. 'They are what make life interesting.'

Demon nodded. 'Well put. That's why I came to you for advice.'

He patted Demon's knee. 'So, what's bothering you?'

'The operation in Sardinia did not go as planned. The family got away and all of the kidnappers were killed or caught.'

The Old Man just stared.

'Kostopoulos knows we were behind it. The Albanians and their new Greek mob buddies know we tried to go around them. I just received a very unpleasant personal message giving us forty-eight hours to straighten things out with Kostopoulos or we're all dead.'