The Vampire and the Virgin(33)

He nodded. "You must be Olivia and Eleni Sotiris."

Olivia detected a slight accent. "Yes, we are. Robby told you about us?"

His grin widened, showing off very white teeth. "Menina, everyone on the island knows about you."

Menina. Not quite Spanish, but close. "You're...Portuguese?"

"Brazilian. From Rio." He winked. "If you ever want to samba, I'm your man."

"Ah. I'll keep that in mind."

He sniffed, and his gaze shifted to Eleni's tote bag. "Is that lamb? It smells delicious."

"It is delicious," Eleni announced. "My granddaughter is an excellent cook."

"Excellent timing. I'm starving." The man stepped back and motioned for them to enter. "Please come in."

"Thank you." Olivia stepped into a narrow foyer, followed by her grandmother. She noted a large icon of the Apostle John, patron saint of Patmos, on the wall. "Are you on vacation, Mister...?"

"Panterra. But call me Carlos. And no." He led them into a large family room. "I'm working here like Robby."

Olivia glanced around the empty room. "Where is Robby?"

"He's not available right now. He...had to go to Horos on business."

It was a lie. Olivia stiffened and glanced at her grandmother. By the look on Yia Yia's face, she'd caught it, too. "When do you expect him back?"

"This evening. Sometime after sunset."

That was the truth. Olivia wondered what Robby was doing that took all day. The family room was tastefully furnished, but not filled with expensive artwork or anything else that warranted extra security. "You work for the same company as Robby? MacKay Security and Investigation?"

"Yes. Are you investigating us, Olivia?" He looked back, his amber eyes twinkling.

"I was just hoping to see Robby."

"Believe me, menina. He will be very sorry he missed you." Carlos escorted them into a roomy country kitchen, decorated in blue and yellow.

Eleni plunked the tote bag on the kitchen table, then began removing foiled-wrapped packages. "These should go in the refrigerator, and when you're ready to eat, you should heat it up properly in the oven."

"Yes, ma'am." Carlos bowed his head, and his long black hair fell forward, obscuring his face. "We will follow your instructions exactly."

"Hmm." Eleni leaned close to her granddaughter and muttered, "I've never seen so many security guards in need of a decent haircut."

Olivia winced, but Carlos simply chuckled and hooked his black shoulder-length hair behind his ears. A gold stud gleamed in each earlobe.

He picked up the food packages and began stashing them in the fridge. "Is there a message you'd like me to pass on to Robby?"

"Not really." Olivia grabbed the empty tote bag. "I'll come back this evening."

"Good." Carlos smiled as he closed the refrigerator door.

Olivia could sense a great deal of amusement coming from him, but there was something more. Excitement. Anticipation. And underlying it all, a hint of deception.

She and her grandmother left and headed back home. Eleni was unusually quiet as they walked, and Olivia felt an aura of concern radiating from her.

"Are you tired, Yia Yia? I could call a cab."

She shook her head. "I walk like this every day. It's good for me." She grew silent again, frowning at the road.