Santorini Caesars Read Free Page B

front door.
    A half a minute later, the door opened just wide enough for them to see a petite Filipino woman in a pale blue housecoat peeking out at them blank-eyed and silent.
    â€œUh, are Brigadier or Mrs. Sigounas at home?”
    The woman nodded yes.
    â€œCould you please tell them that Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis and—”
    â€œLena, who’s at the door?” came a shrill woman’s voice from down a marble staircase off to the left of the entrance foyer.
    So much for living the simple life in a small apartment , thought Andreas. They probably owned the entire building.
    â€œPolice, madam,” said the housekeeper in a voice not much louder than a whisper.
    â€œWhat?” came the same loud voice accompanied by the sound of high heels clicking up marble steps. “When will you ever learn to speak up?”
    A trim woman in her forties appeared behind the housekeeper. Her blond hair and makeup looked freshly done, and she stood dressed in what looked to be a pink Chanel suit. No matter the designer, she definitely wasn’t dressed for hanging around the house, especially with an alligator Chanel handbag slung over her shoulder by a gold tone chain. Andreas made a mental note to ask his wife if she knew Mrs. Sigounas.
    â€œCan I help you gentlemen?”
    â€œAre you Mrs. Sigounas?” said Andreas.
    She gave a tight smile. “This is my home, so why don’t you first identify yourselves to me.”
    â€œCertainly,” said Andreas pulling out and showing her his identification card. “Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis, and this is Detective Kouros.”
    Yianni showed his ID.
    The woman cursorily glanced at their identification. “So, what do you want with my husband and me?”
    â€œIs your husband home?”
    â€œNo. He’s at work.”
    â€œMay we come inside?”
    Mrs. Sigounas looked at her watch. “I’m already late for an important event.”
    â€œIt won’t take long. And I can assure you what I have to tell you is more important.”
    She sighed and waved for them to follow her into what most would call a living room, though from its marble appointments, slew of gaudy decorative objects, and gilded red-velvet furniture, a better description might be the sitting room of an upscale brothel. Mrs. Sigounas dropped onto a gold damask Louis XIV settee. She did not invite her two visitors to sit.
    Andreas stopped directly in front of her. “Mrs. Sigounas, I think it would be a good idea if you called your husband. He should hear what I’m about to tell you.”
    â€œChief Inspector, neither my husband nor I have time for any of your police dramatics. If it’s something about Penelope, just tell us and we’ll find a way to work out whatever trouble she’s in.”
    The suggestion of a bribe was obvious from her tone of voice, but Andreas kept his own voice under control. “Your daughter has been in trouble before?”
    â€œMy daughter’s past is none of your concern. Just tell me what she’s done, and what you want to make it go away.”
    Andreas swallowed hard and sat in the chair across from her.
    â€œI didn’t say you could sit.”
    â€œMrs. Sigounas, I’m here on a very serious matter, one that isn’t going to go away.”
    She smirked. “Oh, is that so? My husband is a very important man. It would be unwise to cross him.”
    â€œI really think you should call your husband.”
    â€œIf I call him, it will be to have your head on a platter.”
    â€œPlease make the call.”
    â€œHave it your way.” She glared at Andreas as she pulled a mobile phone from her handbag and pressed a speed dial button. She held it to her ear. “Honey, I’m still at home. I’ve been delayed by a most obnoxious cop sitting uninvited in front of me who’s insisting on talking to us together about some tiff Penelope’s undoubtedly got herself