She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry Thanos Kalamidas She Said: adultery he Said: i’m hungry A She SAid: crime he SAid: food myStery Thanos Kalamidas An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C Ovi ebooks are available in Ovi/Ovi eBookshelves pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: ovimagazine@yahoo.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry She said: adultery he said: i’m hungry Thanos Kalamidas Thanos Kalamidas An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry i. “Looks so Victorian,” he said. “Dark walnut, long windows and dark maroon curtains? Looks more like a Victorian whorehoue.” She said. “Whorehouse?” He asked with a chuckle. “Tried to sound Victorian,” she said back. “And here comes the ...madam!” he said in a whisper. She giggled. “Carlotta Berg,” she introduced herself with a soft handshake to both of them. “I should have put a tie,” he said. “Please follow me,” Carlotta Berg said and started moving towards a tall dark double door. “Yes you should,” she said while following Carlotta Berg. Thanos Kalamidas “Please, do sit” Carlotta Berg said pointing at to two heavy wooden chairs, with high solid backs and total lack of comfort. Then she moved around a heavy wooden desk, totally bare, minor a white paper and a pen and sat on a chair straitening her custom tailored jacket. A blindening white brooch on her right side was the only decoration in the room including the empty dark walnut bookcases. Carlotta Berg slowly swivelled her chair from him to her and after looking somewhere beyond the closed doors she decided to focus on her and ignore him. He didn’t mind. He liked more the greyness of the sky coming through the windows behind Carlotta Berg. “Are you two married?” Carlotta Berg asked still looking at her. “We try to avoid disturbances in our work.” He answered still looking at the gray clouds. She smiled in her most friendly smile, her eyes on Carlotta Berg. Carlotta Berg ignored his answer and continued looking at her. “And you are a private eye,” Carlotta Berg stated the obvious. “We are,” she said back still holding at her friendly smile. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry He looked at her; she definitely didn’t like Carlotta Berg. “I never heard of a private eye in the area,” Carlotta Berg said. “Neither have we,” she said with the emphasis on the ‘we’. “I’m sure there are in Stockholm, perhaps in Goteborg,” Carlotta Berg continued like she hadn’t said anything. “We have security companies though.” Carlotta Berg added. “I’m sure you have.” She said. He was practicing his favourite, be-silent-yoga. “Do you carry?” Carlotta Berg asked quit suddenly. “That’s personal.” She said. “I was asking about guns, private eyes and all that...” Carlotta let her sentence unfinished. “We are not on television and it is illegal in this country,” she said. “But I carry him,” she added after a bit. Charlotte Blair looked at him like she saw him for the first time. First his face and then he big arms. “Right,” Carlotta Berg said with a meaning. “I can cook,” He said. “He sometimes quotes Paul as well,” she said. Thanos Kalamidas “Paul Éluard?” Carlotta Berg seemed socked. “No, Paul McCartney. I love you yeah yah and things like that.” She said and crossed her eyes at him. He smiled at her and there was silence in the room for a while. “Private eyes,” Carlotta Berg said again looking back at the universe beyond the closed double doors of her office. “And here we are,” she said in a tone that started betraying her slowly boiling annoyance. She was never good with small talk. Something to do with her Finnish upbringing. “My position ...hum...” Carlotta Berg started saying. “Is private and we are strongly private,” He felt it was time to speed up things a bit. “Right, right...” Carlotta Berg said again. She gave her one of those looks only women can read and be scared. “I think somebody embezzles capitals from the institute.” Carlotta Berg finally said. “Right,” he said. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry ii Carlotta Berg was quiet; the walnut walls were quiet; she was quiet and the clouds outside were getting darker. He stood, reached the notepad in front of Carlotta Berg and straightens it in level with her chair. “Not to worry,” she said to obviously disturbed Carlotta Berg, “When he concentrates he gets randomly and erratically compulsive.” “It’s a gift that keeps giving,” he said. Carlotta Berg remained silent. “So,” she said slowly, “when you said somebody embezzles capitals from the institute, to be clear, you mean that somebody steals from the purse? Funds?” “Precisely!” Carlotta Berg said without looking at either of them. Thanos Kalamidas “How much?” He asked feeling that it was his turn to contribute. “Not sure.” Carlotta Berg whispered. “One krona, ten krona? Fifty krona? One thousand? Ten million?” He asked again. “Not sure...” Carlotta Berg answered even more quietly. Rain started falling outside and that made the office feel even gloomier than it already felt. Both, she and him remained silent while Carlotta Berg seemed to gather any dignity her office and position gave her and started talking about the need for secrecy, trust and discretion. “No need to worry Ms, discretion is my middle name,” he said using his best smile. The one he uses with waitresses and barmaids. “No, is not,” she whispered making sure Carlotta Berg didn’t hear her. “I sincerely hope that you can feel my position,” Carlotta Berg finished ten minutes vocalization of her position. “Yes indeed,” she said. “It’s all matter of utmost delicacy.” Carlotta Berg said putting both hands on the top of her desk. “Don’t.” She said to him. He was ready to say something. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry “So, you need us to find the money and the ...hmmm embezzlers,” he interrupted the delicate exchange. “Please,” Carlotta Berg said looking at her so well manicured nails on top of her table. “OK. Let me ask you one thing,” he said, “when did you find out?” “A week ago,” Carlotta Berg said. “A week ago and you haven’t called the police or anybody else? A private security for example? You use a private security here, don’t you?” He continued. “Yes, we do...” Carlotta Berg whispered. “But we don’t really ...trust them.” Carlotta Berg added a bit louder. “So they are part of the suspect list.” He said. Carlotta Berg didn’t answer making her look at him with a huge question mark on her face. “Why?” She said still looking at him. “The owner of the security company is member of the directors’ board and one of the three people with access to the treasury.” Carlotta Berg answered in one breath and pulled her hands room the top of her desk. “Let’s try a different alley, shall we?” he said. “You Thanos Kalamidas must know how much was in the treasury and how much is missing.” “Well, how do I explain that,” Carlotta Berg hesitated a bit, “I have absolutely no idea how much was in the treasury before, or how much it is now.” They both looked at her in surprise. “How come?” she asked. “You see not all donations are through the banks, some are ...cash.” “Not through the banks.” “No.” “OK.” She said, “But at least you know the three members of the board with access to the treasury.” “Two,” Carlotta Berg whispered again. “You said three...” “Yes three, but I know only two.” “Ms Carlotta Berg, let me ask something really important,” he said and for the first time she looked at him straight in his eyes. “Are you sure you are the boss in here?” She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry iii “I’m hungry,” she said. “Already?” He said. “Too early?” She said. “For you it’s never too late or too early, you are hungry all the time.” He answered with a smirk on his face. While this exchange between her and him was going on, Carlotta Berg was looking at them in a combination of shock and fascination. “Somebody stealing MY money...” Carlotta Berg said after a minute of silence. “Oh,” she said briskly. “Your money?” “Now we are talking...” He said with a smile. Thanos Kalamidas “Fine,” Carlotta Berg seemed suddenly broke with all the attitude lost. “This is my institution, funded with my money and somebody is stealing from me.” Her voice came hoarse like somebody talking from a grave. This was a different Carlotta Berg unveiling in front of them. “And how you found out?” She asked trying to put something in order. “A telephone call...” “More details?” “He said that my husband has put his fingers in the money jar.” “The money jar?” “His words exactly.” “Somebody you know?” he asked. “Definitely not!” Carlotta Berg answered fast making her and him looking at each other in a fast exchange. “Is you husband ...loyal?” She asked. “Loyal? How Swedish of you darling,” He said side- looking at her with a smile. “Yes, he is loyal!” Carlotta Berg answered a bit angry, looking at him. Again they exchanged the look. “And he is far from any kind of suspicion of course,” she said. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry “Of course,” Carlotta Berg answered with a defeated whisper. “May I ask what this institute is doing?” “We help young immigrant artists.” Carlotta Berg voice had strengthened from her defeated tone a few minutes ago. She was feeling back in her element. “How?” He asked again. “Scholarships, courses, exhibitions, mentorship from known artists, space to work and of course materials.” “No problems?” She asked. “Absolutely no problem,” Carlotta Berg answered somehow insulted. “No complains, no funny incidents...” it was his turn to ask. “Not in my guard.” Again the insulted tone. “Yet, somebody is stealing and we are here.” “Yes,” Carlotta Berg whispered and moved her hands inform the breast like protecting her chest from something invisible. “And despite telephone calls, your husband is ...loyal and innocent.” The look Carlotta Berg gave him made obvious that she didn’t like him. “And you don’t know how much is stolen,” he kept the questioning going. “No!” Thanos Kalamidas “But you know that money missing and stealing is going on,” he didn’t stop. “Yes!” “But you have no suspect.” “No!” “Definitely not your husband.” He insisted. “Definitely not.” Carlotta Berg was getting angry. “And he is loyal, never cheated.” And Carlotta Berg pauses for a moment. “He is loyal.” “Right!” She said quietly. “Right.” He said. “We will ask questions.” She said. “Question that might make people feel ...uncomfortable,” he added. Carlotta Berg didn’t say anything. “We are not your private security company...” She continued. “No security company with a bite in your organization,” she added leaving the hint hang in the air. “Actually we are not a security company.” He said with a sardonic smile. “We will look for your missing money and the crook who took them.” She said. The word ‘crook’ seemed to bother Carlotta Berg but she didn’t say anything. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry “This is the only thing we are loyal to.” She said. “And this is why you pay us.” He said and they both looked at Carlotta Berg. She was playing with her fingers. “This is the other thing we are loyal to.” He said. “And we’ll report when we find something worth to report.” He said and another look from Carlotta Berg verified that she didn’t like him at all. “Our fee is exactly what our common friend told you and we can start immediately.” She said. “Well, not immediately,” he said. “Now I’m hungry as well.” “Hot dog, babe?” she said. “What else.” He said. Thanos Kalamidas iV “I hate it when they do that,” he said while picking all the greens from his focaccia sandwich. She ignored him. “There is more green than cheese in this damn cheese sandwich,” he said while finding another leaf of something to take out of his sandwich. She looked out of the window. “You ignore my needs again, he said. “I try to ignore you winning again,” he said! “The fruits of love,” he said. “Right!” She said. “To another issue,” he said, “why did we take this job?” “Because you eat too much,” she said obviously irritated. “What’s wrong?” He looked at her. “They make really bad coffee in this place,” she said. “Right!” He said. She said: adultery – He said: I’m hungry “She didn’t say much, did she?” He said. “Carlotta Berg?” “Carlotta Berg!” “No, she didn’t say much truth in what little she said either,” she said. “No she didn’t.” “So why hire us?” “she was overtaken from our reputation?” He said. “Do we have a reputation?” “I have?” “What reputation? “Natural born stand up comedian.” She didn’t laugh. Not even a smile. “She could shut down the institution and make an official investigation with accountants, police and everything.” He said. “Yet she didn’t.” She said. “She could make an internal investigation; after all she has a trusty lawyer, as she said.” He said. “Yet she didn’t.” She said again. “But she called us,” he said. “Indeed she did,” she said. “A not security company,” he added. “Have you finished with your sandwich?” “I don’t want any more, I didn’t like it.” He said. Thanos Kalamidas “Too much green?” She said with a smile in her eyes. “No bacon,” he answered. “Let’s go home.” She said. “Why?” “I’m hungry.” “Again?” He said but he followed her outside the cafe, all the way to public parking lot behind the church and in the car. She was driving like always. “By definition all institutes and all NGOs like that, lose money,” he said. “No they don’t,” she said loud for him to hear over the sound of the car engine. “They come with balanced income-expenses. I earned a hundred, I spend a hundred, nothing in the treasury by the end of the year. That’s why they are called non profit.” “I thought it was non-governmental,” he said. “Same different,” she said and they stayed quiet for the rest of the drive. “There is another problem,” she said while chewing something invisible. “Do you have to tell me? Can’t it be a surprise?” He said. “Her husband,” she said. “Cherchez l’homme.” He said while looking in the