Stella came out of the kitchen with two cups and a pot of coffee. “Yes, I felt I should clean the place before I left.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, for Athens. Tomorrow. I have a cousin I can stay with there.”
That was the smart move for illegal immigrants. Athens still offered the best opportunities for those willing to work hard, and a place to lose yourself among the hundreds of thousands of other illegals hiding in plain sight from immigration authorities.
He glanced around the room while Stella leaned over to pour the coffee. At least he tried to convince himself he was looking around the room and not struggling to ignore the breasts inches from his face as she filled his cup. “Have you ever thought of staying here?”
“What’s here for me? A horny local guy. Or an even hornier passing tourist? No, I have no future here.”
Kouros wondered if he should tell her the truth. But the truth took away a lot of leverage if he wanted her to talk. “You’re worried about your immigration status, aren’t you?” he asked.
She looked up at him, anger flushing her face. “What are you getting at?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You’re an Athens cop who shows up out of nowhere at the place where I sleep, you can’t keep your eyes off my tits, and just happen to raise the subject of my immigration status when you already knows it’s illegal. What’s the matter, Detective? Are you the type of predator who prefers your victims to beg you to fuck them so you won’t turn them in? You think that makes you any better than a fuck-me-or-I’ll-beat-you-to-death rapist?” She stood up. “I thought you were different. You want to fuck me? Here, fuck me.” She had already pulled off her t-shirt and was working on her shorts when Kouros grabbed her hands.
“You’ve got it all wrong.”
She twisted away from his hands and turned away from him.
Kouros stayed where he was. “Put on your top and come back here.”
She didn’t move. He could hear her crying.
“Like I said, you have it all wrong.”
A minute passed. She reached down, picked up her t-shirt, put it on, and turned around, eyes red and nose running.
He handed her a napkin.
She took it, blew her nose, and sat down across the table from him. “I’m sorry. It’s just that since Babis’ death practically every man through that front door has tried getting in my pants. I can’t stand it.”
“I can imagine. I’m sorry.”
“I’ve always had guys hitting on me. But it’s sickening to have to face a line of Babis’ supposed friends coming by to see if they can be the first to console me with their dicks.”
“I can’t believe everyone who’s come to see you was like that?”
“No, but enough to make me sick of them all.”
“Who for instance?”
“I don’t want to talk about them.”
Kouros nodded. “Locals?”
“I said I don’t want to talk about them.”
“Anybody I know?”
“You’re not going to stop, are you?”
He smiled. “No. Because I can help you.”
She shut her eyes, drew in and let out a deep breath. “His friends from Pirgos.”
“What friends?’
“Three guys stopped by yesterday. Real nasty bastards. They said they hadn’t seen Babis in a very long time and drove down from Pirgos to pay Babis’ ‘widow’ their respects.”
“They thought you were his wife?”
“They said the words, but I didn’t believe anything they said.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I saw one of them with Babis a little more than a week before your uncle died.”
“Where?”
She pointed at the front door. “He came in after lunch, spoke to Babis at the door, and left. I thought Babis had told him we were closed, and when I said I didn’t mind waiting on the guy he told me, ‘Mind your own fucking business,’ and left. I guess to meet him.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because I heard Babis yelling at someone outside. I couldn’t make out what he said, but I could tell he was angry.”
“You’re sure it was one of the same guys who came by to see you yesterday?”
“Positive. He had jet-black hair with a white streak running straight down the middle, front to back. Like a skunk.”
“What did they want?”
“It certainly wasn’t to make me comfortable. One looked and smelled like a bear, another kept licking his lips and staring at my breasts.”
“So we’ve got a skunk, a bear, and a…uh,” Kouros stared at Stella’s breasts.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it.”
Kouros smiled. “But he needs a name.”
“Fine. Malaka.”
“Too common.”
She shut her eyes. “He had a big mole on the back of his right hand.”
“Terrific. A skunk, a bear, and a mole walk into a taverna.”
“Are you trying to be cute, Detective?” She smiled.
Again Kouros almost blushed. “What did they want from you?”
“From their looks, to the extent it involved me it had nothing to do with my mind. But their questions were all about your family’s reaction to Babis killing your uncle.”
“What sort of questions?”
“The kind designed to learn who, besides Babis, that Mangas and your family might be blaming for the murder. They said they were concerned the family might somehow be blaming me as Babis’ wife, but I knew they didn’t give a damn about how the family felt about me.”
“What did you say?”
“As far as I could tell everything was fine and no one was blaming me for what Babis had done.”
“Did you tell them anything else?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Her face turned very serious. “That I wasn’t Babis’ wife, but engaged to one of your uncle’s nephews.”
“You what?”
She smiled. “I was alone in here with them. I had to come up with something to make them think twice before trying anything.”
“Smart.”
“Aren’t you going to ask which nephew?” She smiled.
Kouros felt himself flush. He swallowed before speaking. “Did Babis ever mention anything to you about a Ukrainian?”
Stella’s smile vanished. “I don’t believe you asked that question.”
“Why?”
“They asked me the same thing.”
“What did you tell them?”
“The truth-no-but the bear kept pressing me on it. Scared me a bit. The skunk had to tell him to cool it. Then they left.”
“That’s it?”
She nodded. “But their visit made up my mind for me. That’s when I called your cousin Mangas and told him I’d be leaving tomorrow.”
“What did he say?”
“‘No hurry, take your time.’”
“I agree with him.”
“Between immigration and those guys from Pirgos, there’s no upside to my staying here.”
“I wouldn’t worry about the boys from Pirgos. As for immigration, well, I think that’s going to work itself out.”
She leaned across the table and stared into Kouros’ eyes. “If telling me that you’ll cure my immigration worries is your revised technique for getting into my pants, I have two words for you.”
“No, you’re wrong again. My uncle made all the arrangements before he died. He wanted to surprise you. You’ll have your ID card any day now.”
She put her finger to Kouros’ lips. “Like I said, I have two words for you.” She paused. “Not necessary.” She leaned farther across the table. “I’ve wanted to make love to you since the moment we met.”
Kouros blinked.
Stella stood up, came around, and took his hand. “Come along with me, Detective Kouros.”
And he did.
***
Brown, chestnut, soft, flowers, light, dark, smooth, touch, taste, hold, press, grasp, turn, bury, release, cling, stroke, kiss. Straddle, lift, fall, reach, touch, squeeze, race, harder, finish. Caress. Sleep. Awake. Watch. Speak.
“I’m glad you came back.”
“I’m glad you didn’t leave.”
Stella kissed Kouros on his shoulder.
He lay on his belly, his arm across her chest.
Neither spoke a word.