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the abbot said nothing. He didn’t have to. Andreas said it for him, ‘Perhaps he was
too much
of a “confidant.”’
    The abbot stared off into the middle distance. ‘God help us if that’s the answer.’
    Andreas nodded. ‘Amen.’

4

    It was nearly sundown by the time they finished interviewing those they could find on the abbot’s list. A few visiting monks were out wandering about the island. The abbot said he would arrange for them to be available in the morning. Dozens of interviews had yielded two things: a mound of praise for a revered man, and zero leads. No one saw the monk leave, knew why he left, or had any idea of who might be involved in his death.
    They were standing in the
piazza
by the monastery’s gift shop. It was closed and the
piazza
virtually deserted. ‘No way some local did this,’ said Andreas.
    ‘Way too professional,’ said Kouros. ‘But why?’
    Andreas shrugged. ‘My guess is vengeance or fear. But it had to be a hell of a motive to lead to this.’
    ‘You think it might be tied to Vassilis’ past, from before he became a monk?’
    Andreas shook his head. ‘I doubt it. Can’t imagine whatever drove this taking forty years to come to a head.’
    ‘Maybe one of the visiting monks noticed something?’
    ‘Maybe,’ said Andreas, looking at his watch. ‘Jesus, I never called Lila to tell her I wouldn’t be home tonight.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I spoke to Maggie and told her to call.’
    Thank God for his secretary. Maggie ran Andreas’ office. Most thought she ran all of Athens General Police Headquarters, better known as GADA. She’d been there longer than the building. Maggie’s long-time boss had retired a few weeks before Andreas was promoted back to GADA from Mykonos, and when the human resources director suggested she retire with him, the political buttons she pushed had the director staring at his own retirement. That’s how the legendary Maggie Sikestis came to report to Andreas - or, as it so often seemed to Andreas, vice versa.
    Andreas let out a breath. ‘Thanks, Yianni.’ They started toward the stone path leading back to the town square.
    ‘No problem.’ Kouros smiled. ‘But to be honest, Maggie said she’d already called her.’
    Both laughed.
    ‘
My friends, please, come join me
.’ It was Dimitri shouting to them from his open front door.
    That guy doesn’t miss a thing, thought Andreas. ‘Thanks Dimitri, but—’
    ‘You haven’t eaten yet, have you? And if they fed you inside,’ he pointed toward the monastery as he spoke, ‘you must be even hungrier.’
    Andreas looked at Kouros, shook his head, and smiled. ‘Okay, we give up.’
    They followed Dimitri into the restaurant and out onto the balcony. It was packed with tourists staring off into a pink, blue, and silver sunset.
    ‘Here, please sit, I’ve been saving your table.’ He waited until they sat, then hurried back inside.
    Kouros whispered, ‘Can’t be too careful around that guy. I wonder if he’s a spook.’
    ‘Wouldn’t bet against it. Greece is full of spies. It’s part of our history. The question is, a spy for whom?’
    ‘The church?’
    ‘If he is a spy, that would be my guess. That’s who’s most likely to want to know what’s going on inside.’ Andreas gestured toward the monastery with his head. ‘And this guy has the best location on the island. He sees everyone going in and out, and between the restaurant and his personality, has the perfect cover for starting conversations with all of them.’
    ‘Who in the church do you think he’s working for?’
    ‘I don’t even have an idea of
which
church. Is it the church in Greece, the church in Constantinople, the church somewhere else?’
    ‘Like Rome?’
    ‘Anything’s possible, especially with all the power, money, and influence involved with this place. Then again, it could be just some political rival from another island or monastery. Who knows?’
    ‘Here you are, something to start.’ Dimitri plunked