“The case is dead, Andreas, and no one cares any more. Let’s just officially end it.”

To Andreas that translated as the victims weren’t anyone who mattered and lacked relatives with political or media clout, so press interest in their murders had evaporated.

“Sorry, Spiros, but Tinos is not within my jurisdiction.”

Anger flashed across Spiros’ face but he did not raise his voice. “We both know you have jurisdiction across Greece for something like this.”

“Yes, but only if it’s a matter of national concern or potential corruption. Don’t you think the press might start to wonder why GADA’s Chief of Special Crimes made a special appearance to take a case away from local police only to announce that it’s closed?”

Spiros paused a few seconds and cleared his throat. “Perhaps I wasn’t making myself clear. I’m not asking for you to take personal responsibility, I just thought you might be able to use your influence with your friend to convince him to help us out with this.”

I guess we’re on to fall guy candidate number three. “What friend?”

“Tassos Stamatos. As chief homicide investigator for the Cyclades, Tinos falls within his jurisdiction and what we’re asking him to do isn’t something he hasn’t done before.”

“I can give you his mobile number it you don’t have it. I’m sure he’ll take your call. After all, you are his boss.”

Spiros forced a smile. “I think that suggestion might be better received coming from you.”

Andreas couldn’t argue with that. Andreas and Tassos met when Andreas was police chief on Mykonos, another Cycladic island, and they’d become fast friends with similar views on many things, including the abilities and ways of their minister. But Spiros had even less leverage with Tassos than he did with Andreas because Tassos was well beyond retirement age and possessed secrets and connections from both sides of the law that guaranteed him lifetime job security for as long as he wanted.