Sons of Sparta: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery Read Online Free PDF

want me to go after their competition. The trouble is, in something this big everyone in the hunt has powerful friends asking me to do the same thing to everyone else.”
    “In other words, you’re caught in the middle.”
    Spiros put his hand to his forehead. “Tied to a spit like an Easter lamb waiting to be slow-roasted the moment any of the losers starts shouting ‘government corruption.’”
    “Because their corruptors weren’t as good as the winner’s?”
    “The reason won’t matter. They’ll point to our investigation, find something we missed, and say the other side obviously bought me off. The corrupt in government who actually were part of it all will righteously agree and make me their sacrificial scapegoat.”
    “Isn’t that the way it’s always been? Set up the good to protect the bad? If you think everyone’s corrupt and an investigation won’t make a difference, why bother to open one? Just say no.”
    “Everyone may not be corrupt, and even if they all are, I still can’t say no. If I refuse, the big players demanding I act are powerful enough to drive me out of office and put someone in this chair that they can control.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re doing this out of loyalty to country.”
    “Is that so hard for you to believe?”
    Andreas studied him. “What do you want from me?”
    “I want you to look into this and come up with something I can use to get everyone off my back.”
    “Do you have any idea what that ‘something’ might be?”
    “No.”
    “You do realize, Spiros, that you’re sounding a bit crazy?”
    “No, ‘desperate’ is the word. I don’t want to end my public life under a cloud. If I can’t find a way out of this I’m ruined.”
    “You could resign before this goes any further.”
    “If I resigned now, the media would say it’s because of that bank account in Switzerland.”
    Andreas shook his head. “I wish I could help you, but if anywhere near a trillion euros is involved, I have about as much a chance at finding the lost city of Atlantis as that ‘something’ to get your alphabet list of world powers and who-knows-how-many connected Greeks off your back.”
    “All I can ask is that you try. You’re the only one I know who might be able to pull it off.”
    Andreas fixed on Spiros’ eyes. “Spare me the Vaseline. Just don’t forget two things. One, if I start, there’s no going back, no matter who’s involved.”
    Spiros nodded. “Understood.”
    Andreas leaned forward. “And, two, if I find out you’re trying to set me up to take a fall for you…” Andreas let his voice trail off.
    Spiros did not look away. “No need to say it. I understand that, too.”
    Andreas leaned back in the chair. “Fine. I need a copy of your files on this mess.”
    “There are no files.” Spiros picked up a pencil, wrote something on a piece of paper, and handed it to Andreas. “But here’s whom you should speak to.”
    Andreas read the name, looked up, and stared at Spiros. “You weren’t kidding about who’s involved.”
    Spiros nodded. “As you said, ‘Big money attracts big players.’”
    ***
    Kouros was in his office when the call came through. “Detective Kouros here.”
    “It’s me.” The voice sounded strained. It was Uncle’s oldest son, Mangas, successor to his father’s criminal enterprises.
    “You sound gloomy,” said Kouros. “What’s the matter, did I leave my toothbrush at your father’s house?”
    “I’ve bad news.”
    Kouros’ heart skipped a beat.
    “My father’s dead.”
    Kouros held the phone, frozen, and didn’t speak.
    “Did you hear me?”
    Kouros nodded at the phone. “Yes.” He drew in a deep breath. “What happened?”
    “He was driving back alone from morning coffee with his friends at the taverna in Marmari on the road to Cape Tenaro…”
    Kouros listened to his cousin struggle against tears. Cape Tenaro sits at the southernmost point of mainland Greece where the Ionian and Aegean seas meet and