“Anybody involved in his uncle’s murder, not just the Ukrainian, would want to avoid that,” said Andreas. “What bothers me is that if Yianni’s uncle were the target of either a vendetta or a jealous lover’s rage that would make sense. But not both.”
“Like I said, it sounds like whoever was behind this didn’t give a damn about consistency just as long as whatever story played didn’t point back at him.”
“What bothers me is that with all the money the Ukrainian stood to make once that airstrip was operational, why take the risk of killing my uncle even if it meant a better deal for him? It wasn’t as if he’d be getting rid of a problem once and for all. He planned on setting up shop in my cousins’ literal backyard. They’d destroy his operation in a heartbeat if they ever came to suspect he’d played a part in their father’s murder.”
“And nail his head to their tower,” said Tassos.
Andreas began tapping the pencil on his desk. “I think it’s time we pay a visit on your uncle’s friend, Alexander. Yianni, find out if he’s still in Athens. I want to make it a surprise, something we can’t do in the Mani.”
Kouros nodded. “Do you really think my uncle was betrayed?”
Andreas shrugged. “I don’t know. But I wouldn’t bet against it.”
“Me either,” said Tassos.
Kouros shook his head. “Jesus.”
Tassos nodded. “Yep, happened to him, too.”
Chapter Sixteen
Alexander never drew attention to his extramarital affairs. He kept a nondescript studio apartment in a low-profile Athens neighborhood, and unlike his buddies back in the Mani, never talked about his conquests, though he’d had many. He saw discretion as the key to success in every aspect of his life, be it public or pubic.
At the moment he was enjoying his newest lover, a lithe young thing, barely seventeen. His hands squeezed the smooth, taunt cheeks of his lover’s bottom as he thrashed on the edge of orgasm with each new deep thrust of hard flesh between arching, open buttocks. He’d never expected it to remain this exciting with each new lover.
Nor did he expect what happened next.
Alexander didn’t hear the deadbolt lock on the front door click open. Nor did he see the doorknob turn. But he did hear the exploding kick that tore the security chain away from the doorjamb and the two men coming straight at him.
Alexander tried twisting himself out from under his lover, but he got his legs tangled in the boy’s and they both rolled off the bed onto the floor at the feet of the two men.
“My, my, what do we have here?” said Andreas.
“Looks like buttfuckus interruptus to me,” said Tassos.
Alexander pushed himself off the floor and grabbed a pillow to cover his genitals. “How dare you break into my home? Do you have any idea who I am?”
Andreas nodded. “A one-time member of Parliament and full-time, full-of-shit crooked politician.”
“If you’re blackmailers, you’re wasting your time. Get out of here now or I’ll call the police.”
“That won’t be necessary,” said Kouros, stepping through the doorway. “We’re already here.”
Alexander’s mouth dropped. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you at coffee the other day, just thought I’d drop in for a quiet chat about my uncle’s murder. Sorry about the door, but I guess your neighbors are used to noise in here.”
Alexander leaned back against the edge of the bed, still clutching the pillow.
“By the way, your building owner asked me to tell you that he apologized but it was either opening your door for us or his books for a tax audit.”
The boy cowered on the floor by the end of the bed. “I’ve got nothing to do with whatever shit this old queen’s got himself into with you. I just took his money to fuck him.”
Andreas crouched down next to the boy. “I bet.” He looked at his watch. “You’ve got thirty seconds to get out of here before I change my mind.”
The boy jumped up, grabbed his clothes off a chair, and ran out of the apartment without bothering to dress. Kouros closed the door behind him.
Alexander looked at Kouros. “Are these your cousin’s friends?” He gestured with his head at Andreas and Tassos.
“Does it matter? We’re all family. If you screw with one of us, you screw with us all.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Answers, a lot of them.” Kouros stepped between Andreas and Tassos and sat next to Alexander on the edge of the bed. “And frankly, I don’t give a damn who or how you fuck. Unless it’s me or my family.”
Alexander pulled the pillow closer.
Andreas made a fist and stuck it in Alexander’s face. “Let me at the old pusti. I’ll get him to tell us what he’s up to with Orestes.”
“Orestes? How do you know…?” He stopped himself.
Kouros shook his head. “The question isn’t how we know, it’s why you didn’t tell me. Or better yet, why you didn’t tell my cousin Mangas.”
“There’s nothing to tell. Just business.”
Kouros patted Alexander on the knee. “Come now, Alexander. I’m giving you a chance to explain. Something you’ll never get from Mangas.” He made a tsk-tsk sound. “Especially if you make it necessary for me to tell him that you were involved in his father’s murder.”
Alexander’s right eye started twitching. “I had nothing to do with your uncle’s death.”
Kouros shrugged. “But I promised Mangas I’d let him know if I found anyone I thought might have played a part in it.” He spread his arms apart, hands facing up. “And after your meeting last night with Orestes and your big, ugly Ukrainian buddy, how can I not think of you as a suspect?”
Now both of Alexander’s eyes were twitching. “I don’t know how you know about that, but you’re fishing. You have nothing to tell Mangas. That meeting had nothing to do with his family. Now, why don’t you get out of here and leave me alone?”
Kouros laughed. “Leave you alone? My friend, we’re way past that. Your meeting was all about the hotel project the Ukrainian planned on doing with Mangas’ father. Good luck on selling your ‘nothing to do with his family’ bullshit to him once he hears the tape.”
Kouros grabbed Alexander’s thigh and squeezed hard. “Knowing him as we both do, there’s no upside in this for you but to tell me what I want to know.” He released his grip. “Otherwise, my friend over there beats the shit out of you until you tell us, or, if by some miracle you don’t talk, I tell Mangas what I know and he slices and dices you until either he believes you or you die.”
Kouros patted Alexander on the shoulder. “Your choice.”
Alexander brought his hands up to his face and rubbed at his eyes. The pillow didn’t move. He talked between his hands, his fingers pressing hard against his eyes. “Your uncle asked me to help get whatever approvals were necessary to build the resort project. I told him no problem. He introduced me to the Ukrainian. Told me to deal with him directly. Never said why. But once I realized who the Ukrainian was, I knew this involved a lot more than just a hotel. And I also understood your uncle wanted nothing to do with any of that. He left the political maneuvering to me.”
“You mean the bribes,” said Kouros.
Alexander dropped his hands to the pillow. “Yes. At least he didn’t want to think he was involved. But all I had to do was mention I was acting on your uncle’s behalf and any favor I wanted was a done deal. Everybody owed your uncle.”
“And now what?”
“Now nothing. When your uncle died, his influence and the deal died with him.”
“Then what the fuck were you doing playing footsies with Orestes and the Ukrainian?” asked Tassos.
Alexander studied Tassos’ face and shrugged. “Trying to resurrect it.”
“For yourself?” said Kouros.
“How could I? The property isn’t mine.”
“Maybe you were looking to sell him another property?” said Andreas.
He gestured no. “That property was the only one the Ukrainian was interested in.”