The Grey Falcon

by J. C. Williams

  The Prime Minister picked up the explanation. “The third event was the threatening letter sent to Minister Brajkovic that initiated your work for him. We wonder if that threat was carried out. Mihajlo was a young man. Was it really a heart attack?”

  The President added, “Mihajlo was the future of Serbia. He was young. And, popular. He took his dual citizenship with Croatia seriously. He was the advocate for tolerance. He was anxious to move us ahead with the other Balkan countries, not against them.”

  “But, you disagreed with him?” Chad asked out of curiosity from what he had heard about the two of them and their refusal to support recognition of Kosovo.

  “No. Only the timing,” the Prime Minister said.

  “He will be idolized as a martyr for that cause,” the President said. “Now, can you tell us more about all of this?”

  Chad answered, “I think you should watch the video recording on this flash drive, and then the audio recording of a conversation from last night.”

  A few minutes later, their faces grimaced as they watched Brajkovic’s presentation. They were alarmed at the implied assassination. Then they listened to Chad’s visit with the Minister.

  “I had no idea,” the President said.

  Chad then showed them the two photos from the Bosnian War and identified the Minister and Zevic. He explained the photographer’s role, the blackmail, Zevic’s pursuit to get the photos back, and the UK police and Interpol’s investigation. He told them of the death s of Zevic , Alton and Millet in the pub , Zevic and Millet shooting each other. Zevic’s death supplied the police with a cell phone. The police determined the contact that set up the assassination. That was where the lead came from to stop it.

  They asked who Minister Brajkovic really was. Chad gave them opinions and conjectures from Interpol, but told them the investigation was still in process. Personally, and he kept this thought to himself, he expected there was a body of a young boy and his mother buried someplace in Croatia, known only to Zevic and the Minister.

  “If this information becomes public,” the President started to say and caught himself. “It will definitely come out. There are too many people who know. At least eleven others at the presentation know of this plan of his. Maybe not so many know about his true identity and his past.”

  “We have to deal with the eleven,” the Prime Minister said. “Those in government and the military will be asked to resign and there will be an investigation for criminal charges.”

  The conversation altered back and forth between the two politicians, and between English and Serbian, as they considered the ramifications of the events.

  “This will be devastating for his followers, the ones that are adamant for the eradication of bigotry, radicalism, and separation.”

  “His family will be devastated. His poor wife and children.”

  “His plot to use a Muslim to incite an invasion will anger our neighbors.”

  “And the world. They will point fingers at us and attribute his views to all of us.”

  “We will still be considered an unstable region for investment.”

  This went on for several minutes. All that they thought and said were things that Chad had considered as well. He felt sad if these events resulted in a setback to equality and humanitarian progress for this region.

  Eventually, they exhausted their immediate feelings and the fallout.

  “Dr. Archer,” the President said, remembering he was in the room. “It appears that you have been thrust into the middle of Balkan politics and history. You have played an important part in these events. Your individual courage and persistence has no doubt saved lives, and not just the two sitting here in front of you. Thank you.”

  The Prime Minister added, “You are a smart man. We, of course, had a quick review of who you are before this meeting. What is your opinion of this mess?”

  “With all due respect, sir, I am not qualified to give you an opinion. I cannot begin to feel what you feel. Or what Serbians, Bosnians, and Kosovars feel. What you have gone through in your lifetimes is unimaginable to me. There is probably not one citizen in the countries that I mentioned that were not personally affected, or had family affected, by the wars and displacement and the racist or religious bigotry that still exists.”

  The President responded. “We appreciate that you do not claim to know what is best for our people. However, give us a view as an outsider. Perhaps, for all those reasons that you mentioned, we sometimes only see things through filtered eyes. And, after all you are the grey falcon.” For the first time today the President smiled.

  Chad took a deep breath. “I have met some wonderful people in both Serbia and Kosovo that are tired of the relationship between two countries that is impeding progress. I think they want leadership to move them forward, even if there is a sizable portion of the population that doesn’t want that. I have learned a little of your history. My view is that Prince Lazar fought for freedoms. True, he fought the Ottomans at that time, but they were invading and would suppress freedoms. It was Christian against Muslim. But, what he really fought for was to defend a way of life that people can make choices and not have a religion thrust upon them or a ruler thrust upon them. Wouldn’t he still advocate that today? Wouldn’t he support independence and religious choices? Wouldn’t he have thought of all of these countries, as one people? Wouldn’t he ask what is best to advance everyone? He ruled the Morava Valley, but he fought for the kingdoms of Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. You have his sword and cloak to share with the people of the entire south Slavic region. Independence with coexistence is what he would advocate. From an outside view, I don’t see why you and the other countries in the region cannot embrace recognition of differences between people without imposing second class citizenship that result in a push back, war, and a fight for independence. I hope that does not sound condescending or pompous. I know that America is not a good example. We still cannot universally get past the bigotry between black and whites. But people keep trying. In general, his plan for stability, investment, and joint economic growth had some merit, if it was inclusive, instead of being excluding.”

  “Thank you for that. Your perspective is objective. And, thank you again for your contribution. I hope you come back sometime and enjoy a more relaxing visit.”

  June 28

  Vidovdan

  Chapter 78

  Chad and Sandy carried the five beers from the bar to their table. They handed them out to Dickie, Adrien Tellier, and Harry Barrison.

  “Hey, what is this?” Harry gasped. He looked down at the half pint in front of him and then the full pints for the other four. “I thought you were above short jokes, Archer. Are you calling me a half-pint? I am disappointed.”

  “Awfully small minded of you, mate,” Chad retorted.

  “You and your bloody attempt at being British,” Harry said disgustedly. He raised his glass. “Happy Vidovdan.”

  Cheers resounded around the table.

  “Ziveli,” Chad added. Cheers.

  “Ah, you are still learning Serbian, Chad. Good for you,” Harry said with sincerity.

  “Here is to all of you and the closure of the museum robberies,” Adrien said and they toasted once again.

  Sandy commented, “We never expected Millet’s intention was to kill both Alton and Zevic. We thought he was satisfied with obtaining criminal evidence for us.”

  “He got his revenge on Zevic, just as Zevic tied up his last loose end. Shooting each other probably saved the Crown the cost of prosecution,” Dickie said, satisfied with the outcome.

  Sandy asked Harry, “Do you always start Vidovdan celebration before noon?”

  “Usually it starts at midnight,” Harry answered. “Good thing we commenced this early. If I have to drink beers of this size, it will take a while to catch up to you blokes.” He used his thumb and forefinger to illustrate the small height of his glass.

  “What is Vidovdan celebrating?” Dickie asked.

  Harry told t
hem the story. Just as he finished, the BBC station on the television announced breaking news in Serbia.

  “Can you turn that up?” Chad asked.

  A news reporter stood in front of the Presidential Palace in Belgrade.

  “Breaking news today. The Serbian President and the Kosovo President just made a joint announcement. Serbia’s President has recognized Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo’s President in turn will propose to their legislature the creation of a Serbian state in north Kosovo. She hinted that the ultimate outcome for that area might eventually be a referendum to become a part of Serbia. They both declared a commitment to the economic improvement of, not only their countries, but Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, and Montenegro as well. They said that they would form an economic alliance and invite those countries to join them. In an initial step for economic growth for the region, Serbia has the commitment of five leading industrial companies to donate and invest in road building across Montenegro, Bosnia, and Kosovo that will enable transportation from their regions. There is sure to be opposition to the recognition of Kosovo and a Serbian state, but this Serbian reporter, for one, applauds the courage and leadership shown today by the Serbian government.”

  The news anchor asked her reporter, “We understand that there was a show of artifacts that belonged to Prince Lazar, also known in the Orthodox religion as St. Lazar, who fought against the Ottomans in 1389?”

  “That is correct, Jennifer. Recent archeological quests have resulted in the location of Lazar’s sword, cloak, and buckles. The President said that Prince Lazar fought for the protection of freedom and tolerance, values desired by all the Balkan countries. And today, Vidovdan, is a celebration of those values and it is not a remembrance of Christians fighting Muslims.”

  “Thank you,” the news anchor said. “And this coming the day after Minister Brajkovic’s dead body was discovered and the rumors that are swirling on social media regarding his death and his life.”

  The television was turned down. Harry raised his glass one more time.

  “Veliki dan. Pocetak. A great day, a beginning.”

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