Jeffrey Siger_Andreas Kaldis 02 Read Online Free Page A

identification again. When he asked the purpose for their visit, Andreas told him, “It’s a personal, family matter.”
    The man took out his cell phone and called someone.
    Andreas’ eyes scanned the front of the three-story building. Hard to imagine it was only a house. “I could live here,” he said to Kouros.
    “I’d never find my way home at night.”
    “Who said I’d ever leave?”
    “Gentlemen, please, come with me.” The man gestured toward the open front door. He showed them into a room most would call a living room but, between the front door and where they stood, they’d passed through so many others Andreas would call a living room that he couldn’t guess what this one might be called.
    “Please, wait here. Would you like something to drink?”
    “No, thank you,” said Andreas. He felt out of place in these surroundings, or maybe it was the purpose of his visit, but whatever the reason he sensed his hand might shake slightly if he held a glass. Adrenaline could do that. He preferred his hands free.
    The man left, leaving Andreas and Kouros standing in the middle of the lavishly decorated room, facing a doorway, and looking conspicuously ill at ease. Andreas was still struggling to think of the right words to say. All he could think of was, “Yianni, you tell them.” Andreas smiled at the thought of the deer-in-the-headlights look that order would get from his taciturn partner.
    “Chief Kaldis?” The question came from behind them. He and Yianni turned to face the voice. A couple was standing in another doorway. The man looked much older than the woman.
    “Yes, sir, and this is officer Kouros.”
    Kouros nodded hello.
    “We understand you have a personal matter to discuss with us.”
    Andreas drew in a breath. “Yes, sir, I do.”
    “I hope it’s not something we should have our lawyer here for.” He was smiling as he said it, but it showed Andreas this man knew his way around police. For if he did need a lawyer, Andreas must tell him now.
    “No, sir, absolutely not.”
    The man’s smile was gone.
    “What’s wrong? What’s happened? Are the children all right?” It was the woman. She was squeezing the man’s arm.
    Andreas hoped it wouldn’t come up this way, so abruptly and directly to the point. But that’s how most mothers reacted to police appearing at their homes unexpectedly: had something happened to her children or her husband? And usually in that order.
    He must now give these people probably the worst news they’d ever hear. He hoped his voice wouldn’t crack. “Yes, I’m afraid it’s about Sotiris.”
    “What’s happened? Is he all right, did he wreck the car, did he hurt someone, did—” Before she could finish the man cut her off.
    “Please, dear, let me handle this.” He looked at Andreas. “Whatever trouble he’s in I’m sure we can work it out. I have a lot of friends.”
    Andreas knew how to handle this sort of approach, but not today. No matter how obnoxious or pretentious this guy might be, he would get a free pass on this.
    “I’m sure you do, sir, but it’s not that sort of situation.”
    The man started to say something else, but Andreas put up his hand and said, “Please.”
    Perhaps it was the look of anguish on Andreas’ face or a paralyzing, simultaneous chill felt in each one’s spine, but each stood perfectly still, quietly waiting for Andreas to speak.
    Andreas only paused long enough for them to look directly into his eyes. “A terrible thing has happened, Sotiris has been killed.” Unconsciously, he crossed himself.
    No one moved, not a word was said. It was an eternity. It was three seconds.
    “ Noooooooooo …” The word went on forever. The mother kept pitching it higher and higher, twisting her hands about the man’s arm, then grabbed her face in her hands. Still struggling to scream, but without the breath for it, she started pounding on the man’s chest. He did not move. He did not blink.
    Andreas did not know what more