Part 12 (1/2)
”You can't even say who they are?”
”I'm sorry.”
Milo said, ”That was a civil agreement, this is criminal.”
”Lieutenant, I would truly love to help you, but the terms are absolute and the stakes are sizable.”
”Big money.”
Silence.
Milo said, ”You sued DSD for a substantial unpaid balance. They settled but are paying in installments, will use any excuse to stop payment.”
Kotsos sighed again. ”It is not simple.”
”Is there any reason we should suspect DSD-or anyone connected to DSD-of criminal behavior?”
Kotsos thought awhile, brightened and clapped his hands together. ”Okay, I tell you this because I do not want you thinking I am hiding anything important. In terms of murder, I cannot honestly point a finger at anyone. Absolutely not, if I could, I would, no one likes murder, life is precious. If, on the other hand, you are investigating financial ...” Smiling and running a finger across his mouth. ”I have said enough.”
Milo produced his notepad. ”Homicide, Mr. Kotsos. Financial doesn't interest me. Now, how about some names of people who worked for DSD?”
Kotsos's head shake seemed genuinely rueful.
”Here's another name for you, Mr. Kotsos: Helga Gemein.”
”Who is that?”
”Desmond Backer's boss. The firm is Gemein, Holman, and Cohen.”
”Never heard of them,” said Kotsos.
”They're into green architecture.”
Kotsos snorted. ”Silly stuff.”
”Green is silly?”
”Isolating green as a profound concept, as if it's new, Lieutenant, is pretentious and idiotic. The Greeks and the Romans-and the Hebrews and the Phoenicians and the Babylonians-every civilization of note has integrated natural elements into design, from Solomon's Temple to the Mayan pyramids. That is the natural human way. It is in our chromosomes. And shall we discuss the Renaissance? Would you consider the tri-level church in Rome anything other than deliciously synchronous and organic, despite the unexpected turns of events that led to its sequential nature?”
”You took the words out of my mouth.”
Kotsos said, ”What I am saying, Lieutenant, is that everything good about design relates to harmony. All this flabber about natural materials is ... air.” Waving pudgy hands. ”Cement is natural, it comes from sand. Sandstone is natural. Does that mean cement and sandstone are the optimal materials for every purpose? Shall we use sandstone for our pylons in Dubai?” Throaty laugh. ”Any architect deserving of his degree considers his surroundings and attempts to integrate.” Leaning toward us. ”Do you know what 'green' has become, Lieutenant?”
”What, sir?”
”A cult of the ignorant. Using recycled cardboard as if it is platinum. Exposing ducts, planting gra.s.s on the roof, subst.i.tuting raw wood for fine finishes. Reprocessing sewer water ent.i.tles one to a badge of ascetic honor? A cult, Lieutenant. Self-consciously ironic and aesthetically phony.”
”Smog doesn't bother you?”
Kotsos said, ”Ugly will not solve smog. There is nothing new under the sun. The only meaningful question is who gets to hold the reflective lens.”
Pa.s.sion had propelled him closer to the edge of the chair. Pink had spread under his tan.
Milo said, ”So you've never heard of Gemein, Holman, and Cohen.”
”I have not. Where are they located?”
”Venice.”
”I go to Venice, Italy. Now, if you'll excuse me-”
”You're a large firm,” said Milo. ”How many partners do you have?”
”I have never counted.”
”There are no names listed on your door.”
”This,” said Kotsos, ”is not a primary office.”
”What is it?”
”We interview clients from the West Coast here.”
”Would dozens of partners worldwide be a fair estimate?”
”Quite fair.”
”Toss in a bunch of a.s.sistants and we're talking a lot of people, Mr. Kotsos. So if Desmond Backer applied for a job, you wouldn't necessarily be aware of that.”
Kotsos laced his fingers. ”If he was hired by this office, I would know.”
”What if you turned him down?”
Kotsos tugged at his caftan. ”One moment.”
Six minutes later, he was back. ”There is no record of anyone named Backer applying for anything. However, in all honesty, I cannot eliminate the possibility. We don't keep paper records of rejects.” Crooked smile. ”All in the interest of saving trees, so that we may slice them up for veneer. Now if you'll-”
”Do any of your international projects include Germany, Mr. Kotsos?”
”It's all on the website. I really need to go. There is a plane to Athens departing tonight and I have not yet packed.”
”Rebuilding the Acropolis?”
Kotsos guffawed. ”That would be a nice challenge, but no. I am traveling for Mama's cooking. Tomorrow is her birthday, she hates restaurants.”
”Spanakopita, keftedes, skordalia?”
Kotsos's eyelids half lowered. ”You are a gourmet, Lieutenant?”
”More like a gourmand.”