Read Devil of Delphi: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery for Free Online

supply chain than the guy you’re following, you’ll still end up with a list of places dealing in untaxed liquor to pass on to the tax boys.”
    “Yippee,” said Kouros.
    “Hey, be happy with whatever little fishes you catch. You could starve waiting for a big one to bite.”
    Kouros gave Andreas a puzzled look. “What’s with you and all these fish references?”
    “Like I said, Lila has me on a diet. So I’m thinking fish. Would you prefer, ‘A bird in the hand is worth more than trampling through a field full of bullshit chasing ghosts’?”
    Petro wrinkled his brow. “Am I missing something?”
    Kouros nodded. “Yeah, a twisted sense of humor. But don’t worry there’s no known vaccine against it for cops. It will come to you, too, in time.”
    “Why don’t you guys come over for dinner tonight? Lila would love to have you.”
    “What’s the matter, you hoping if we come to dinner Lila might relent and let you eat our kind of food?” said Kouros.
    “Hope springs eternal, but I doubt she’d fall for that. I just thought it would be nice to introduce Petro to Lila and Tassaki.”
    “Thank you, Chief, I’d love to come,” said Petro.
    Kouros turned and stared at Petro. “I’m going to have to teach you how to handle these situations. Rule one. Don’t rush in. We could have held out for the right to bring our own chocolate cake. Now we’re at diet man’s mercy.”
    “Out of here, both of you.” Kouros and Petro headed for the door. “And no chocolate cake. You’ve got to be subtle if you want any chance at getting by the pastry-detector. Go with chocolate chip cookies. See you at nine.”
    ***
    Petro craned his neck up and out the car window. “The chief lives here?”
    “Yep.” Kouros eased the police car over a curb onto the cobblestones separating the roadway from the sidewalk running alongside the National Gardens toward the old Olympic Stadium at the end of the street. “That’s why I drove a blue and white. We couldn’t park here otherwise. With November 17-like terrorist crazies back in business, internal security won’t let just anyone park so close to the Presidential Palace.”
    “Close? He lives right next door.”
    “At 30 Irodou Atikou, to be precise.”
    It was arguably the most exclusive street in Athens. Only a few blocks long and filled with money.
    “Wow.”
    “I had the same reaction the first time I came here. Chief’s wife comes from one of Greece’s oldest, most prominent families.”
    “Isn’t her last name Vardi? I didn’t know that was a big-time Greek family name.”
    “It isn’t. That was her late husband’s name. He made his money in shipping.”
    Petro shook his head. “The rich always seem to marry the rich.”
    Kouros smiled. “Though some do manage to marry a second-generation cop and find true happiness.”
    “I guess there’s hope for us working class stiffs.”
    “Not here, my friend. I already asked. She has no sisters.” Kouros opened the car door. “Don’t forget the cookies. You carry them. Lila doesn’t know you, and she’s too much of a lady to tear you a new asshole for bringing them. But if I brought them…” Kouros waved his hand in the air as he got out of the car. “Don’t worry, man. She’s not what you might expect.”
    They walked across the street into the immaculately maintained lobby of a six-story, pre-World War II Athens apartment building. The doorman directed them to an elevator, and the operator took them to the sixth floor.
    The elevator opened directly into a large entry foyer. Kouros stepped out and led the way toward a pair of French doors at the far end. He pointed, “There’s a bell to the right.”
    Before either had the chance to press the bell, the doors opened and a young woman dressed in a black maid’s uniform and starched white apron stood smiling at them. “Good evening, Detective Kouros. The doorman said you were on your way up.”
    “Hi, Marietta. How are you?”
    “Fine, thank