“That makes Crete a no go?” asked Tassos.
Strip smiled. “Except for those who’d like an up-close and personal firsthand experience as a target.”
“So where else might he be looking?”
“Somewhere customs can be greased not to look too closely at the cargo. And with a runway long enough to accommodate the planes they’d need,” said Strip.
“How long would that be?” asked Tassos.
“Seven thousand feet,” said Dimitri.
Strip gestured no. “You’re thinking of a C-5. That sort of runway attracts way too much attention for an arms smuggler. Guys like this use Ukrainian-made Antonov birds that can land on short, uneven runways. An AN-70 can land on two thousand feet and the bigger ones on five thousand.”
“So where would he want his runway?”
“As close to his customers as possible,” said Strip. “It’s the same principle small-time smugglers on the Peloponnese follow with their gunrunning boats.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They run boats out of Kalamata with enough range to reach Africa. Can’t get to every market they’d like, but it’s still profitable.”
“Why don’t they use planes?”
“Because they’d need an airstrip, and the only ones in the southern Peloponnese capable of handling even short-runway Anatovs are Kalamata International, a military base in Sparta, and a closed airport at Triodos. No way they could operate out of any of those without being noticed.”
“What if they built their own runway?” asked Tassos.
“It would cost a fortune,” said Dimitri.
“Depends,” said Strip, “if they wanted to build a half-mile runway the right way, using big name contractors, it would cost five or six million. But if the land doesn’t require much preparation and you don’t have to worry about complying with environmental and other legal niceties, you could build one in six months for around a million. And arms dealers can make that much on one delivery to the right buyer.
“But even assuming money’s not a problem, building a private runway of that size screams, ‘Arms smugglers here.’”
Dimitri nodded. “Even in Greece, one can’t just build an airstrip in the middle of nowhere and expect it to go unnoticed.”
“Hard to imagine the cover story they’d need to come up with to mask that sort of operation,” said Strip.
“Hard to imagine indeed,” said Tassos. He couldn’t wait to get back to Andreas’ office.
***
Twenty minutes after making a hasty good-bye to his coffee mates, Tassos burst into Andreas’ office.
“I’ve got news.” Tassos looked around the office. “Where’s Yianni?”
Andreas leaned back in his chair. “For the sake of appearances we maintain separate offices. Though you might not think that. Shall I call him?”
Tassos nodded.
“Mag-”
The door swung open and in walked Kouros. “Maggie said you wanted to see me ASAP.”
“How the hell did she know that?”
“She said if you asked that question it’s because her boyfriend didn’t even say hello to her, just rushed right into your office. She figured it must be important.”
“I’m in trouble,” said Tassos.
“She also said, ‘Tell Tassos flowers will work.’” Kouros dropped onto the couch. “‘Roses.’”
“I’m glad she’s on our side,” said Andreas.
“‘Two dozen.’”
“Enough with the flowers. I caught up with an old friend who knows just about everything nasty that’s gone on in our part of the world since Vietnam, and he recognized Ugly Guy.”
“You got a name?” said Andreas.
“He wouldn’t say, but from all the deep shit he’s involved in, we shouldn’t have any trouble getting an ID from Europol. But that’s not the big story.”
Tassos turned to Kouros. “That hotel project you mentioned your uncle was setting up…Did I hear you right about it including an airstrip?”
Kouros nodded. “Yes. Without direct air access, the developer didn’t think he could lure high-roller Russian and Middle Eastern tourists into the Mani. It’s too hard for them to get there any other way.”
“What’s the land like for the project?”
“A relatively level plateau set back away from the mountains.”
Tassos nodded. “What if I told you the only reason for the deal was that airstrip? I bet the plans called for the runway to be built first. The hotel and golf course later.”
“I wouldn’t know. But what are you getting at?”
Tassos sat down in a chair in front of Andreas’ desk. “The Ukrainian is an arms and drug dealer, possibly into human trafficking, too. He needs the airstrip to expand his operations. Or maybe as a hedge against things getting worse with the Russians in the Ukraine than they already have.”
“How the hell did you come up with that?” said Andreas.
Tassos repeated the substance of his conversation with Strip and Dimitri. “It all fits.”
“But why the hell is Orestes involved?” said Andreas.
“My guess is Yianni’s uncle’s death cost the Ukrainian not only the deal, but the political grease he needed to make certain things happen.”
“Like cooperative customs folk?” said Kouros.
“Precisely. And until he knew for sure that he had the political cover he needed, he wasn’t about to try and resurrect the deal.”
Kouros sat up. “That might explain why my uncle’s friend is involved. Alexander is trying to make the right political connections to keep the Ukrainian interested, and if he still is, try and sell the deal to the family. My cousins probably don’t even know what Alexander’s doing. I sure as hell didn’t.”
Andreas picked up a pencil. “But that means Alexander must know the true purpose behind the deal.”
“Which means my uncle did, too. But he never mentioned any of that to me.”
“Does that surprise you?” said Tassos. “Let’s not forget what he was. In fact, this might be one of the cleaner deals he’d ever done. He sells off his property-”
“Rents,” growled Kouros.
“And has nothing further to do with the dark side of the transaction.”
“Aside from bribing government officials,” added Andreas.
“No, he’d only be doing introductions. The rest would be between the Ukrainian and bad guys with badges.”
Kouros shook his head. “And I’d have been profiting off it all. Son of a bitch.”
“Not your fault your inheritance comes with a history,” said Andreas.
Tassos nodded. “As Balzac wrote, ‘Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.’”
“I want no part of it.”
Tassos smiled at Andreas.
“But why would the Ukrainian be involved in the murder of my uncle if he needed him for the deal?”
Tassos shrugged. “Maybe your uncle reneged? Wanted more than the Ukrainian was willing to pay. Or maybe someone came to the Ukrainian with a better offer than your uncle’s, with guarantees the deal would still go through.”
“Who? Alexander? I don’t see him having the balls to cross my uncle,” said Kouros.
“Well, one thing’s for sure. Alexander is involved. The only question is on whose behalf?” said Tassos.
“Are you suggesting one of my cousins?”
Tassos shrugged. “Who knows? Family members cutting each other’s throats over property isn’t unheard of. Not in Greece and certainly not in the Mani.”
Kouros sat back on the couch. “I just can’t believe…” His voice trailed off.
“There is another possibility,” said Andreas tapping his pencil on the desk.
“What’s that?” said Tassos.
“That it’s someone we haven’t thought of yet. Someone with a real motive.”
“And who would that be?” said Tassos.
“Don’t know yet. But so far we have anonymous death threats tied to a stale generations-old vendetta, a jealous lover who killed himself, and a Balkan arms dealer in search of a home for his birds.”
“Sounds like the perfect cover for the Ukrainian. Whether it’s pinned on an old vendetta or an angry lover, he couldn’t care less as long as he doesn’t end up with Yianni’s cousins coming after him.”