Andreas wore that glazed look so often seen on those waiting for a politician to get to the point.
“At least that nastiness in Tinos is resolved,” said Spiros.
He’d regained Andreas’ attention. “You solved the murders?”
Spiros jerked his head up in the Greek gesture for no. “They’ll never be solved. You know how blood feuds are among tsigani. No one talks to outsiders. Besides, as long as they keep the killing to themselves…” he shrugged.
The tsigani were notorious for many things and victimized for far more. They were the objects of Nazi extermination efforts in World War II and a conundrum to the European Union today. Andreas knew that the behavior of a very few had irreparably branded the image of the many, but a solution for that sort of bigotry was not in his hands. He had to accept the reality caused by the few and deal with it.
“Is that what Odysseus thought happened?”
“Tinos police are no longer in charge of the investigation.”
“Why is that?”
“It doesn’t matter. And their chief is now officially on vacation for two weeks.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to close the case.”
“And how do you propose I do that?”
“By stating the obvious. They were clan-motivated tsigani revenge killings and those who were behind it have fled Greece.”
“You’re the minister, you can close it.” Fat chance of that, thought Andreas. Spiros never put his neck on the line; he always wanted someone to blame if things went wrong. Odysseus must have passed on being his fall guy and I’m his runner-up choice.