Elpida

by C. Kennedy

  “Thanks, Dr. S.”

  “Michael, let’s have a look.”

  Michael traded seats with Jake, and Bobbie pointed to Michael’s arm. “Take a look at that cut first.”

  Mac examined it closely and issued an archetypal hmmm. “I’m going to have to numb your arm to clean this.”

  Michael shrugged a shoulder. “Do it.”

  Detective Davis slapped his notebook shut, and Nero shook his hand. “Thank you, Detective.”

  Mac paused in his efforts, reached over Michael’s arm, and shook the detective’s hand. “Thank you for looking into this.”

  “I’m sorry we haven’t resolved it yet.”

  “In time,” Nero said placidly.

  “I’ll be in touch.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Anna said.

  Once the detective departed, Michael looked at Nero. “Smitty said something about the fire being extremely hot. Do you know what he was talking about?”

  Nero sipped the wine. “I haven’t any idea. But the crime is that of attempted murder now, which allows Detective Davis to put more men on the case.” He looked at his watch. “You need to be at Christy’s in four hours. Perhaps you should reconsider going to the city.”

  “No,” Michael said quickly.

  Jake met his dad’s dark eyes and gestured to Michael. “We’ll sleep in the car on the way down.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  MICHAEL AND Jake rode with security to Wellington, something Michael knew was sure to elicit questions from Christy, the answers to which would only further upset him. Tad parked next to the waiting limousine and the eight—get that, eight—security guards who stood sentry.

  Michael and Jake waited, overtired and irritated, until Tad unlocked the doors and gave them the all-clear sign. Michael’s entire body ached, and Jake looked as bad as Michael felt.

  Christy came down the steps to meet Michael, Rob close on his heels. His limp was more obvious than it had been, and Michael became more concerned.

  “Moro mou, you look terrible. Did you not sleep?” Then he noticed the bandages on Michael’s arms. “You said you are not hurt!”

  Michael pecked Christy’s lips. “It’s just a few stitches, babe. We’re okay.”

  Christy looked at Jacob and the bandages on his arms. “You were at the fire as well?”

  Jake glanced at Michael before meeting Christy’s eyes. “Let’s get in the car and we’ll tell you the whole story.”

  “Okay. Give me the few minutes with Thimi.”

  Thimi looked devastated that Christy was leaving, and Michael watched as Christy spoke to him in reassuring tones. “I will return tonight. You will have the good day with Melos and Rob and Dr. Jordanou.”

  Thimi’s lower lip jutted and quivered, but he remained strong, seemingly unwilling to shed a tear.

  Michael offered a small wave, and Thimi waved in return.

  Rob turned to Jake. “Does Sophia know about the incident at your house?”

  He shook his head. “She didn’t call again, and Dad was able to keep it out of the news.”

  Rob looked at Michael. “You’ll probably want to explain it to Christy.”

  Michael nodded in agreement. “Does General Sotíras know?”

  “Nero called me,” General Sotíras said as he approached behind Michael and Jake.

  “Good morning, General,” Jake said as he shook his hand.

  “Nicos, please. Good morning.” The general shook Michael’s hand. “Are you prepared for the task?”

  Michael smirked. “Not much sleep, but we need to do it.”

  Rob almost smiled. “I appreciate you going along for Christy and Sophia.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Jake teased.

  “Michael, here’s a sedative for Christy. Ask him to take it if he becomes upset.”

  Michael accepted the small baggie containing one pill and shoved it into his pocket. “Is he good about taking it?”

  Rob was honest. “Not usually.”

  “I’ll deal.”

  “Michael?”

  Michael turned to the sound of Christy’s voice, and Christy motioned him over. “Yeah, babe?”

  “Thimi asks if you have more of the bears.”

  Michael grinned. “No, but we’ll get you more on the way back. Can you hang until tonight?”

  Christy quickly translated, and Thimi nodded.

  “Tell him to eat the carousel and we’ll make another one.”

  Christy translated again and Thimi looked horrified. “He does not wish to eat the gift.”

  Michael smiled again. “Tell him to eat it, and we’ll make a bigger one.”

  Christy translated again, and Thimi looked dubious.

  “We’ll make a better one,” Michael promised.

  Darien barreled out the front door heading straight for Christy, and Mel swept him into his arms before he made contact. “Whoa there. Where are you off to?”

  Darien reached for Christy with both arms. “I didn’t get a hug!”

  Christy hugged him briefly. “I will be back tonight. You will help Thimi with the drawings for me?”

  Darien looked down at Thimi. “Okay, but he can’t use the red paint.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s mine.”

  Christy laughed softly. “I’m sure Mel will get the red paint for him if he needs it. Use the very good manners with Thimi? He is still afraid.”

  Darien turned owlish eyes down to Thimi again. “Okay. I will help with the safe.”

  “Very good.”

  Christy grasped Thimi’s hand and squeezed it. “I’ll return this evening. Call if you need something?”

  Thimi looked dejected as hell as he nodded, and Michael felt for the guy.

  Christy followed Michael down the steps to where everyone waited and waved one last time before climbing into the car.

  “TELL ME, Michael,” Christy said softly.

  Michael sighed. He didn’t want to tell this story, so he cut it ultrashort. “Jake’s car and the security vehicle went up in flames when we got to his house.”

  “There was no damage to the house,” Jake interjected quickly.

  Christy looked stunned. “Only the injury to the arms?”

  “We were already out of the car,” Michael clarified.

  “Why is this happening?” Christy demanded through gritted teeth.

  Michael and Jake exchanged worried looks before Michael turned in his seat to face Christy. “Do you remember Rich, Jason’s best friend?”

  Christy’s one-brow frown deepened, and he nodded. “Rich and Tony.”

  “Right. We think Rich is hanging out with the motorcycle club that’s been hassling us.”

  Now Christy’s entire brow contorted. “He is with the people who give Jason the bomb for the car?”

  Christy was brilliant and had no trouble putting two and two together.

  “We think so.”

  “And together they make the firebomb of your house and Jake’s car and the security vehicle?”

  “Maybe. Detective Davis is looking into it.”

  “What is Tony’s job in this?”

  Jake and Michael exchanged worried looks again before Michael continued. “Tony died in a car accident last Saturday night.”

  Christy looked horror-stricken. “How does the accident happen?”

  “Looks like the motorcycle club ran him off a bridge.”

  If at all possible, Christy looked even more horrified. “You did not tell me this?”

  Jake stepped in for a save. “We just found out.”

  “This news is terrible. The police are checking this?”

  “Yep. So is Uncle Smitty,” Michael reassured.

  Christy turned to Nicos and said something harsh in Greek.

  “I am looking into it as well,” the general assured.

  Christy launched into a tirade in Greek. His words came fast and furious, and the only words Michael understood were Petros’s and Yosef’s names.
/>   Nicos calmly shook his head. “I don’t believe so, but I will carefully consider the evidence.”

  “What did you say, babe?”

  Christy took a deep, calming breath before he turned to face Michael. “I believe Yosef is helping this.”

  “How could he? He’s in jail. Not to mention he has no access to money.”

  “This does not matter. Many people will help him.”

  “Do you want to hear what I think?”

  Christy sighed deeply. “Yes, filos.”

  “Rich blames me for Jason’s death, is pissed off, and picked up where Jason left off. He went back to the same motorcycle gang for help so he could get even with me.”

  Christy considered him for a long moment. “Then what of Tony?”

  “Maybe he went to talk some sense into Rich and pissed him off too.”

  “You do not kill people for the argument, Michael!”

  “You’re right, but Tony was run off the road by a bunch of motorcycles. We’ve been hassled by the same bunch of motorcycles. Now Smitty is trying to deal with this Chase guy who runs the gang. This whole thing has been out of control since Jason was alive. You know that. I don’t think it has anything to do with Yosef or Petros.”

  Christy rubbed his forehead in frustration. “How will you be safe?”

  “Right now neither of us has a car, so we’re riding with security wherever we go. Mr. Santini has doubled security for Wellington, my parents, and us. So we’re as safe as we can be.”

  “Where is your car?”

  “It was in the garage when the house caught fire. There’s nothing left of it.”

  Christy rolled his eyes and let his head loll back against the headrest. “You are right. This is out of the control.”

  “We agree, little buddy, but everyone who can do anything about it is working on it,” Jake said firmly.

  Christy looked at him and gestured to his arms. “This is safe? What happened with the arms? How do you get this if you are not in the car?”

  Jake smiled at Christy’s demand. “We had just gotten out and got hit with flying pieces of the car.”

  “How many are the stitches?”

  “I didn’t count ’em, but I guarantee they aren’t deadly.”

  Christy turned back to Michael.

  “I didn’t count mine either, but Jake’s right. They’re just stitches.”

  They rode in silence for a few minutes as Christy fumed, his hands fidgeting in his lap. Michael reached over and held his hand. “We’re all right, babe. We’ll do everything we can to stay safe.”

  “Jacob, is the security of your house good?”

  Jake nodded. “Very. The house alarm woke the entire neighborhood last night.”

  “There is damage to your house?”

  “Only the portico where the car was parked.”

  Christy rubbed his forehead again. “I will ask Rob to make the extra alarms for Wellington.”

  “I’ve taken the liberty of asking Nero to have security install perimeter alarms. They should be installed by the time we return this evening,” Nicos said.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s an alarm system around the edge of the property. This way you know when someone has crossed onto the property before they reach the house or cabins.”

  “The land is very big, no?”

  Jake turned from looking out the window. “That’s good. It’ll alarm long before anyone can get to you.”

  “I travel four thousand miles to be safe and we must live in a fortress!” Christy said angrily.

  No one had anything to say to that.

  TAD ROLLED the privacy window down. “We’re heading onto the GWB, sir.”

  “Thank you,” Nicos responded. He leaned forward and jostled Michael’s knee.

  Michael woke with a start, having fallen into a deep sleep in the car. “Are we there?”

  “I believe we are near. Tad tells me we are heading onto the GWB, though I do not know what it is.”

  “George Washington Bridge,” Michael answered through a yawn. He nudged Jake’s foot. “Wake up, bro. We’re crossing the bridge.” He looked down at Christy, who’d fallen asleep with his head in Michael’s lap, and stroked the thick blond curls back from his face. “Hey, babe. Wake up. We’re almost there.”

  Christy’s eyes fluttered open, and he sat up so fast his head bumped Michael’s chin.

  Michael stifled a grunt. “Ow. You okay?”

  Christy rubbed his head and held his ribs at the same time. “Yes. We are at the city?”

  Michael looked out at the glassy water made ever bluer by the clear bright sky, and pointed out the window. “We’re crossing the bridge into it.”

  Christy turned to Tad. “How much more time?”

  “Bridge traffic is moving, and I estimate half an hour,” Tad answered.

  “Impressive,” Nicos said as he looked out over the Hudson River at the city.

  “Too many people crammed on an island, if you ask me,” Jake said as he stretched. “Do you want me to call Sophia?”

  Christy nodded sleepily. “Ask if she will please have the food for us.”

  Jake smiled as he put the phone to his ear. “You got it.”

  Michael put his arm around Christy when he leaned against him. “You okay?”

  He nodded and rubbed his eyes. “It is the first time I sleep more than two hours since Thimi comes here.”

  Michael’s heart went out to him. “Can’t Dr. Jordanou give Thimi something to help him sleep?”

  “I ask for this. Thimi is not sleeping, and the dreams are worse. The worse dreams make no sleep and then more worse dreams. It is the bad circle.”

  “I think that’s smart. You can’t keep going like this.”

  “This is true.”

  Jake pocketed his phone. “She isn’t answering.”

  Christy frowned. “Did you call the number of the apartment?”

  “No, her cell.”

  Christy dug the phone from his pocket, scrolled through the numbers, and hit Send. “Is this Celeste…? Oh, yes, Celeste, this is me, Christophoros. I wish to speak with Sophia.” Christy’s one brow dipped. “Do you know what is the argument…? Oh…. Oh…. Okay, we are near. Approximately thirty minutes. … Okay. Please order the food. … Oh, okay, this is good, thank you.” Christy terminated the call.

  “Argument?” Jake queried.

  “Celeste is the maid. She hears the argument with Ariel in the room of Sophia, but she does not wish to make the interruption.”

  “Did she say what it was about?” Michael asked.

  “She says she does not know, but the glass is breaking.”

  Michael and Jake exchanged apprehensive looks.

  “Do you think we should hang back while you speak with Sophia?” Jake asked.

  Christy’s eyes went wide. “No. I do not wish the glass to break against me.”

  Jake snorted. “Smart man.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Michael said through a laugh.

  “Yes. I wish this.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  TAD DROVE into the valet at The Pierre, and Michael looked up at the towering hotel. “She has an apartment in a hotel?”

  Christy nodded. “Sophia explains it is the stuffed-up hotel for the photography ritzy clients. Very French. Many perfumes and much small food. I do not like this, but Sophia likes the very good soupe à l’oignon gratinée and baguette with fromage.”

  “Stuffed-up?”

  “The snob people.”

  Michael fought not to burst into laughter. “I think you mean stuck-up, babe. And Sophia likes what?”

  “The soup of the onion and the baguette with the cheese.”

  Nicos chuckled. “I’ll be certain to consult you before I stay in a New York hotel.”

  “Yes. I am good with this. I check the hotels for Sophia.”

  AS THEY entered the lobby, Christy clung to Michael, and he put an arm around him quickly. “You’r
e okay,” he whispered as Christy trembled beneath his arm.

  “It is the big place with many people.”

  “Huge.”

  “We must find the elevator for the apartment.”

  Michael looked around and spotted the concierge. “Stay right here with Jake and the general.” He trotted across the lobby. “Excuse me. Where is the elevator to the apartments?”

  The concierge held a finger up, indicating he should wait until he finished a ledger entry. “Yes, sir? What may I help you with?”

  Michael repeated the question.

  “Your name, sir?”

  Michael didn’t think the arrogant guy needed his name but gave it to him anyway. “Michael Sattler. We’re here to see Sophia Antoniou.”

  “Who is ‘we,’ sir?”

  Irritation prodded Michael’s otherwise good mood. “Christy Castle, Jake Santini, and General Nicos Sotíras.”

  “Ah, yes. You’re on the guest list. Please sign here.”

  Michael quickly scribbled his name where Mr. Snooty Pants pointed in the ledger.

  “I’ll be happy to call and announce your arrival. Here is your elevator key. If you’ll walk down the hallway to my left and make a right at the end, you’ll reach the apartment elevators. Once you board the elevator, insert the key, and it will take you to her floor.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mr. Snooty Pants held Michael’s gaze for an extended moment.

  Jake reached past Michael and slid twenty dollars across the counter.

  “Thank you, sir,” Mr. Snooty Pants said with a tight smile.

  “Thank you.” Jake guided Michael away.

  “I didn’t know I was supposed to tip him! Now I know!” Michael whispered.

  Jake only shook his head. “Oblivious.”

  “Twenty bucks? He’s making one phone call!”

  “Shut up, bro.”

  “Is there a problem?” Christy asked.

  “No,” Jake said quickly. “Which way to the elevator?”

  Michael turned on a heel. “Hallway to the left of Snooty Pants.”

  Christy’s brows shot up. “What is the snooty pants?”

  “Don’t listen to him, little buddy. Lead the way, Michael.”