Page 135 of Dagger in the Sea

I pulled out a chair and sat at the table across from her. “What’s going on?”

She blew out a long, thick plume of smoke like an experienced smoker. “He’s in debt to the wrong people. First of all, he’s always in debt. But this time was supposed to be different. He’s always asking me for money. I used to give him here and there when he couldn’t make his rent or he needed a new car, a new motorcycle, a vacation with a girlfriend. I always felt bad for him. He’s never had what I have, and I wasn’t a real part of his life. His reality is quite different from mine. But I always felt that as his daughter, why shouldn’t I share some of what I have with him?”

“That’s good of you. Generous,” I proceeded carefully.

“My mother caught on and told me to stop, that I was only feeding the monster.”

“She’s right.”

“But then he started owing money to the wrong sort of people.”

“A lot of money?”

“Yes. He had this great idea to start a sailboat rental company with two other friends. He needed startup money and asked me for it. It was a lot but I thought yes, it’s a good idea, this is perfect for him. The tourist trade is what he’s good at, talking with people, teaching sailing, water sports. Perfect fit. And his own business.

“But then Grigori got killed and I was a mess and went back to Geneva and kept to myself. He was impatient, very impatient. And annoyed with me. He borrowed the money from a loan shark. There are many, many loan sharks here in Greece. And he knows a few personally from his days at the hotel and the nightclubs he frequents. The point being he owes money.” She sucked on her cigarette, the end burned brightly.

“How much?”

Her hand gripped the plastic cup tightly as she sucked on the straw, swallowing juice. The sum must have danced a polka in her head.

I wrapped my fingers around her wrist. “Baby, how much?”

She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure. He wouldn’t say. But it’s got to be over eighty-thousand euros at least,gamóto.”

Fuck, was right.

And it all made sense.

I lifted her chin. “They’re after you now, aren’t they? You think they’re the ones that shot at you, don’t you?”

She nodded slowly, putting out her cigarette. “I think so, yes.” Her eyes widened. “It’s not a secret that he’s my father. Now he tells me they’ve been threatening him and used my name last week. They called him again just after the shooting.” Her voice was hushed, strained. Her face pale.

Saying it out loud, sharing it, had finally made it real.

“Didn’t he warn you?” I asked.

“I haven’t been answering his calls lately,” she said. “I was busy with Alessio’s party, and I just wanted to avoid him and his mess for a little while longer.” She made a face and took another hit of smoke. “This is where my hiding got me. Foolish girl.”

“Stop. Do your mother and Petros know?”

“No. But my mother always suspects him whenever anything goes wrong.”

“Smart woman. So what did he say now? How does he feel about you almost getting killed on his account?”

She squashed the cigarette butt in a small ceramic ashtray. “He was upset.” She didn’t sound convinced.

“Adri, did he ask you for money?”

“Of course he did, but I don’t have that much cash available at the touch of a button. Maybe half if I liquidate my…but even then—”

“Don’t panic.”

Her head knocked back and she laughed. “All I do is panic. I panic on a constant basis, but I’m good at covering it up. Now, my mother will be livid, and Petros will be hurt and disappointed in me.”

“I doubt that. You have a good heart, Adri. You were trying to help your father.”

“Reporters will find out soon and make a mockery of all of us. And the men he owes money to will be pissed off with the publicity.”

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