“That walkway connects to the municipal parking lot at the far end. So does the path running along the front of the monastery and behind the tavernas on this side of the square. Vehicles aren’t supposed to use them, so let’s make sure we keep them out.”
“Yeah, but locals drive where they want.”
“Not tonight,” said Andreas
“What about people who want to get inside the church?”
Andreas shrugged. “No ticket, no laundry. If they’re not on the list they don’t get in.”
“I see, you’re planning on doing everything you can to piss off the locals,” said Tassos.
“I’m not running for mayor, I’m trying to keep my family alive. Which reminds me. I want a metal detector. Put it over there,” Andreas gestured with his hand toward an archway containing a brass-trimmed red door. It was the only door on the monastery’s four-story front wall. “And make sure to put it on the outside of the archway, before anyone can get into the courtyard and anywhere near the church.”
“How the hell are we going to find a metal detector, get it here, and up and running in time for the wedding?”
Andreas looked at his watch. “When is Yianni arriving?”
“On the noon boat.”
“Good, tell him that as soon as he lands to see the director of airport operations and borrow a metal detector.”
“The airport can’t do that, it needs the detector to screen departing flights.”
Andreas shook his head. “We’ll borrow one that they use for charter flights heading out of Greece. They fly out of a different gate than domestic flights.”
“I get it, let’s just delay and piss-off the tourists, not the Greeks,” smiled Tassos.
“No, wiseass, charters use two detectors, domestic only one.” Andreas waved toward the monastery. “And let’s make it obvious security is tight. I want to discourage as many bad intentions as I can, or at least force an uncalculated risk that might give us an edge.”
“Things could be set to happen when you come out of the church service.”
Andreas patted Tassos’ forearm. “I’m trusting you to make sure there aren’t any snipers out there. We don’t want another Syntagma.”
Tassos pointed to the sky. “If we want to get really paranoid, there could be a drone, one of those unmanned aerial vehicles, drifting around up there just waiting to take out the whole village.”
Andreas smiled. “Let’s just hope whatever might be planned is of human rather than divine proportions, and that nobody’s perfect, which should make the bad guys as worried as we are that something might go wrong.” Andreas stood up. “Come on, let’s take a look inside the monastery.”
“I already checked it out, and three of my Syros cops are stationed in the courtyard under orders not to allow anyone in without personal clearance from the abbot. Even then, no one gets to go anywhere in the monastery without one of my guys for company.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.” Andreas looked at his watch. “I guess I better get back to Lila’s. Our families are expecting me. Last chance to bust my you know what before the wedding.” He grinned.
Tassos nodded toward the monastery’s front door. “Come on, let’s take a quick look inside anyway. You won’t get a chance to appreciate the beauty of the place later. That’s what happens when it’s your own wedding.”
Or funeral.
The whitewashed rectangular monastery of Tourliani, with its blood-red dome, soaring intricately carved marble bell tower, and fortress-like perimeter walls cutting it off from the rest of the village was the architectural highlight of Ano Mera.
Andreas and Tassos stood in the stone and marble courtyard between the archway and the church. Stairs and doorways off that cloistered space led to the warren of rooms so common to monasteries. There seemed an endless number of places to hide.
Andreas waved his right hand at the doorways. “You’ve checked them all?”
“Every single room, nook, and cranny. The abbot assured me we saw places even the Germans didn’t find during World War II, and I don’t have to tell you how hard they looked. Whoever and whatever is in here belongs here.”
Andreas drew in and let out a breath. I hope so, he thought.
Tassos pointed at the church. “Let’s go take a look inside.”
Andreas followed Tassos the few steps to the church’s central doorway, but stopped just outside.
It was a Byzantine church at the center of the monastery, built upon eight slabs of marble. Three front doors opened onto three aisles draped with silver incense holders and crystal chandeliers. Each aisle led to the massive, elaborately carved, 18th Century baroque iconostasis separating the main part of the church from the altar area. The iconostasis was covered in icons and gold, and painted with red, green, and gold leaf flowers. Carvings of the apostles ran along its top and above it all loomed the elaborately painted dome of the church-with its four small windows.
Tassos pointed up at the windows in the dome. “We checked, and the only thing that could get an angle on anyone inside is a bird. And if one craps on you that’s good luck.”
“Thanks, I could use it,” said Andreas.
“Why are you standing outside?”
Andreas grinned. “For sort of the same reason you want a bird to target me. It’s bad luck to go inside your church on your wedding day without your bride.”
“Never heard that one before.”
“Probably because I just made it up.” Andreas laughed. “But doesn’t it seem an unlucky thing to do?”
Tassos laughed. “No argument here. If that’s your instinct, go with it. Mine is to light a candle.”
Andreas nodded. “Make it a big one.”
They were almost back to Lila’s parents house when Andreas’ phone rang.
Andreas looked at his phone. “It’s Yianni.” Andreas put his phone on speaker. “I’m here with Tassos. What’s up?”
“I found three cameras that were operating during the period of time we’re interested in. I’ve been looking at tapes non-stop since four this morning.”
Andreas looked at this watch. It was almost ten. “You must be bored to death by now.”
“Not really, amazing the things that go on outside bars at night. Especially in parked cars.”
Andreas looked at Tassos. “I’m sure you’re not calling just to chat about how easily you get turned on.”
“I’ll take that to mean you want me to get to the point. I’ll make it simple. About fifteen minutes ago, my time, the two Carausii brothers exited the bar with two women.”
“Could you make out their faces?”
“And just about everything else. The guys could hardly wait to get them to their motorbikes.”
“Spare me the details. Do you think we can get an ID?”
“I’ve sent the tape off to Athens to see if any of our vice guys recognize the girls as pros or can find someone on the streets who knows them.”
“I want a copy, too,” said Andreas.
Kouros laughed. “On your wedding day? It might tarnish your view of ‘love ever after.’”
“Just bring it, wise-ass.” Andreas looked at Tassos. “I’ll look at them tomorrow.”
“Will do. See you in a few hours. Bye.”
Tassos smacked his hands together. “Things are looking up. We finally got a break. Today’s our lucky day.”
Andreas smiled, “I sure as hell hope so.”
Chapter Fifteen
Andreas made it back with Tassos from the monastery in time to spend most of his Sunday morning playing with Tassaki and reminiscing with Lila’s mother and father, his mother, sister, brother-in-law, two nephews, and niece. It seemed the best stories were those that made Lila blush and Andreas threaten to start shooting if another word were said. Maggie, Kouros, more friends, and family started showing up around two in the afternoon. It was fast approaching show time.
Traditionally, when two locals married, several hours before the service the bride, her family, and friends gathered at her parents’ home, and the groom did the same at his parents’ place. Amid singing, drinking, and nuts symbolizing fertility, everyone pitched in to make sure the groom was readied and the bride prepared. The groom and his entourage, accompanied by musicians, always arrived at the church first, to cool his heels waiting outside for his bride to arrive.