Spiros held up his hands. “Andreas, I think of us like brothers. I am having this conversation with you because of that. If you’re going to be your normal belligerent self it will only make things worse.”
Andreas squeezed the arms of the chair. “Make what worse?”
“The maid told the police chief there was a second safe in Christos’ house. Tassos’ report made no mention of that second safe. And the maid said he told her to ‘keep that second safe just between us.’”
Andreas’ hands froze to the chair.
“Does that come as a surprise to you?”
“I repeat my question, Spiros, ‘What does this have to do with Tassos?’” He paused. “And me?”
“Come on Andreas, if Tassos emptied that safe and didn’t report it…” Spiros waved his hand in the air. “Everybody knows the rumor that Christos was blackmailing a lot of important people, and if Tassos found what Christos had on them, why wouldn’t he use it to do the same?”
Andreas wanted to defend Tassos, tell Spiros the truth about what he’d found and why they hadn’t disclosed it. But Spiros could be a tricky bastard. No telling how he might play that. He could keep the files for his own use, make himself look good by telling the press that he’d uncovered corruption in his own department and purged it, or just hold Andreas’ admission of complicity over his head for the rest of his life.
“Andreas, did you hear me? Do you have anything to say?”
Perhaps I should just say the obvious, he thought. That it was Tassos’ word against the maid’s as to whether she ever told him about a second safe.
“I think there are some nuances here that you’re missing, Spiros. For example-”
Spiros yelled, “You and your buddy are in deep shit, Andreas! Don’t lecture me about ‘nuances.’ Yes or no, did the maid tell Tassos about that second safe?”
An alarm went off in Andreas’ head. It was time to play defense. “I think you should ask Tassos.”
“Why can’t you answer that question?”
“Because I don’t know.”
Spiros shook his head. “I’m so sorry you said that. I’d hoped to help you. But I see you’re just as guilty as Tassos.”
Andreas said nothing.
“The police chief had the safe opened. It was empty.” He paused as if waiting for Andreas to say something.
Andreas sat quietly.
“You have nothing to say?”
“Just listening.”
“Well maybe you’d like to read something instead.”
Spiros handed him a forensic report. It described what was found inside the safe. No contents and no prints, except for a thumb at the inside top of the door and a partial on fingers along the door’s top edge.
“As you’ll see, the safe was wiped clean except for where it appears whoever wiped it down held onto the top of the door, perhaps to help himself up.”
Spiros handed Andreas a second report. “This ID on the prints came in this morning just before I called your office. Guess whose they are?”
Andreas didn’t have to ask.
“We have your buddy tied up in a neat little bundle all ready for the prosecutor. And you, too, if you don’t cooperate and tell me all about this scam you’re running.”
Andreas stood. “With all due respect, Minister, I think I’ll leave now.”
“Don’t you dare leave. I have you on tape saying you knew nothing about the second safe.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Minister. You asked if ‘the maid told Tassos about the second safe.’ How would I possibly know that? I wasn’t there. I think you owe me an apology.”
Spiros’ face turned bright red.
“You better take another pill. You don’t look well.”
“Kaldis, you are suspended as of this minute!”
Andreas stared Spiros directly in the eyes and spoke without emotion. “You’re the minister, you can do that. Just be careful what you say to the press. There may not be enough pills in your drawer to cover what could happen if you said the wrong things.”
***
Andreas walked out of Spiros’ office and through the ministry’s halls as if alone in a soundless tunnel. He heard none of the hellos or saw any of the waves of those he passed. His focus was on reaching the car, getting inside, and driving. Anywhere. Just driving.
He tried not to think about his father. He thought about his mother, about his wife, about his son, and about his sister. But not about his father.
A half hour passed until he pulled over and parked. It was a quiet street and Andreas sat staring straight ahead for a few minutes before opening the door. He got out and walked to a tree-shaded knoll. The sun was brilliant yellow and the sky ablaze in blue. Andreas dropped his head and stared down at a grave.
“I never forgave you for taking your life, for leaving us alone. I blamed myself for not being able to stop you. But what could I have done as an eight-year-old? But now I’m a man. And I’ve failed you again.”
He drew in and let out a deep breath.
“Is this how you felt, Dad? Set up and called corrupt for bribes to someone else when all you’d ever tried to do was the right thing for your country and family?
“Is this how you felt when betrayed and destroyed by your own? Does it matter that your assassin was a crooked, scheming minister, while mine is just an arrogant, disloyal coward? I’ll end up in the same place as you, destroyed by the press in a rush of ‘LIKE FATHER LIKE SON’ headlines.”
He drew in another deep breath. “How will mother be able to stand it again? How will Lila…Tassaki.” Tears welled up in his eyes.
“I tried so hard to make you proud, Dad. To redeem your name.” He struggled to contain the tears, but they came just the same. “I’ve failed you. I’ve failed everyone.”
***
Andreas stood by the grave staring off toward the horizon when his phone rang. He didn’t want to answer it. There was no one he wanted to talk to. He let it ring until it went into voice mail. It rang again. He ignored it again. Once more it rang and once more he ignored it, but this time he pulled it out of his pocket to shut it off. It rang in his hand. It was Maggie. He paused, and pressed ANSWER.
“Yes.”
“Andreas, I don’t know what’s going on, and there’s no time to ask you. Three goons just showed up to take possession of all our files on the Christos Vasilakis murder investigation.”
Andreas felt his heart sink. Spiros was doing what he had to do to crucify him. I’d do the same thing.
“Andreas, are you there?”
“Yes.”
“I told them no one gets access to anything in Special Crimes’ files without your permission. They said they had the permission of the minister and that you were suspended. I said,‘I didn’t give a shit, I wasn’t suspended and without permission from Chief Kaldis, no one gets to see those files.’”
Andreas almost felt a smile. “What happened?”
“They tried to get into your office but I blocked the door and yelled at them to leave.”
“They left?”
“No, they tried to push me out of the way.”
“Are you okay?”
“Me yes, them no.”
“What happened?”
“Yianni heard me yelling and came out of his office like a bull. I almost felt sorry for the three assholes. Two of them had to carry the third one away. They said they’d be back with warrants.”
“How’s Yianni?”
“Fine. He told them real cops don’t push women around. And if they come back they better know how to fly out a window.”
Andreas did smile. “Maggie-”
“Don’t bother saying a thing. We figured it out. It’s all taken care of. Take care of yourself. We know you’ll straighten things out. You’re our chief and we’re all behind you one hundred percent, no matter what you decide.”
Tears welled again in Andreas’ eyes.
“Thank you.”
“We love you. Now call your wife.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lila was waiting for Andreas when the elevator door opened in their apartment’s entry foyer. “I told the doorman to let me know the moment you were home. Maggie called. Are you okay?”