“He suggested we waste no time. He wants to lay a trap.”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

CHAPTER SIX

 

The doorbell chimed and the maid hurried to answer it. She let in one of the prettiest pretty boys Heinrich had ever seen. He had no doubt that this was Detective Adonis Whatshisname.

The man looked to be in his late twenties – quite young to be a full detective. He had a slim and athletic figure, curly black hair that fell down to his shoulders (was that regulation?), and the kind of darling face that women swooned over but that to Heinrich looked like the face of a fifteen-year-old boy who was just realizing that he was gay. Not that Heinrich had anything against gay guys; he just didn’t understand why women found them so attractive. At least he didn’t mince. Heinrich hated the mincing types. There was a gay guy named Otis at Heinrich’s boxing gym who threw a killer left hook. Otis did not mince.

Oh, and Adonis was a perfect dresser, as was everyone else in the room. Heinrich felt like a college kid in his t-shirt and jeans.

Heinrich cut off the rich guy to be the first to shake the hand of the real-life Adonis.

“I’m Heinrich Muller. I’ve been hired to help with this case.” He said this in perfect Greek and added, “I’m still learning your language, so go easy on me.”

Heinrich realized he had just revealed the fact that he spoke some Greek, though he had previously been hiding this information. His rush to impress and one-up this guy had overstepped his natural caution.

Adonis arched a perfect brow and replied in Greek, “You speak our language very well. Mr. Montaine told me you are a hyperpolyglot.”

Heinrich had to guess at the meaning of the last word. Luckily the word in English had a Greek origin so it came out almost the same.

“I speak German, Italian, French, Spanish, Latin, and ancient Greek fluently. Xenophon is awesome. I know a few hundred words and basic grammar in several more languages.”

“Including our own. We’ll have to get you fluent,” the detective said with a smile. The smile tightened. “So why are you here?”

Heinrich detected a delicate conversation approaching, so he switched to English. In his travels, he found it was rude to ask intelligent, educated people if they spoke English. They almost always did and took exception to being asked. Only Americans were mostly monolingual.

“I’m sure Mr. Montaine told you I had been assigned to the case. I witnessed the murder of Professor Christodolou and I’m the only one who can identify the murderer.”

“Then you’ll be of some use,” Adonis replied. “Good to have you on my team.”

The four of them sat. The conversation continued in English. Heinrich wasn’t offended. This was work and everything had to be clear to everyone involved.