by Nick Vellis
So this is death, he thought. He took a deep breath and realized how much his chest and head hurt. He coughed, What is that oily burned smell, he thought. He reached up into the darkness. From his position, face down his hand brushed a seamless surface, crusty with debris that fell on him. He reached to the back of his head and felt a sticky the wetness. Blood? “Wait,” he said aloud, “you don’t have a headache or bleed when you’re dead. Where the hell am I?”
He tried to push up to a sitting position but immediately clanged his head on a hard, unseen object. Feeling around, he discovered it surrounded him. He couldn’t sit up because he was entombed on all sides by a solid, warm shield. The ground, John thought. Whatever it was, it was on the ground. John turned on his side and felt along the curved surface toward the ground. When he found where his prison met the dirt, he began to dig.
“Wish I had an entrenching tool,” he said aloud. Wait, he thought, I’ve still got my knife. John scrunched up to reach his right leg, freed his Fairbairn-Sikes fighting knife from its scabbard, and began to dig. He stabbed blindly in the dark at the rocky earth then scooped the loosened dirt away.
Again and again, he stabbed the ground, freeing small rocks and soil. Forced onto his chest by his prison, John found the effort fatiguing. He was panting from the effort. Then it came to him- air.
He was running out of air. Would he escape before the air was gone? John redoubled his efforts. His hands bled. He cut and stabbed the ground, going ever deeper toward the edge of his tomb.
At last, he was able to work the knife sideways. He had found the edge nearly six inches down. John widened and lengthened the slot he had dug then began digging up on the other side. He reached under and around the jagged edge of his mysterious coffin.
It cut the inside of his forearm as he reached under the unseen edge. He was running out of energy, maybe it was the increasing carbon monoxide or the decreasing oxygen, but John knew he was in trouble. He kept digging, twisting his arm, reaching to clear more dirt from the far side of his prison wall. Damn, my arm’s not long enough, he thought. I’m never going to make it.
John thrust up with his knife trying to reach for the air. His knife broke through the surface just as John slumped to the ground unconscious. As John’s useless hand released the knife, the hole he’d excavated collapsed in on itself. A tiny shaft of light followed by an equally small draft of air seeped into John’s sarcophagus.
CHAPTER 19
Gia’s information surprised AJ, but Ceres was stunned.
“How could I have missed this?” Ceres said, his jaw slack.
“We don’t know if the Solaris who lives in San Marino is your man. He’s a secretive private man and very wealthy,” Gia said. “I found a few newspaper references to his name, but no pictures or articles about him. Other than a few tenuous connections to some high profile investigations, there is nothing on him.”
“What kind of investigations did you find?” AJ asked.
“Smuggling, arms dealing, money laundering. People who seem connected to him are connected to these sorts of activities, and quite a few of them disappear or die.”
“What’s he into most recently?” AJ asked.
“The most recent case concerns a shipment of centrifuges to Iran. It’s apparently a dead end. Europol is very interested in him, but they can’t get a toehold. Guardia di Finanza has had him on their high value target list for, years too.”
“What’s illegal about centrifuges?” AJ asked.
“Apparently high-speed industrial ones are used in enriching uranium for atomic weapons. There’s an embargo on sending certain types of equipment to Iran,” Gia replied.
“Oh, great,” AJ said.
“No, it’s a good thing. We may be able to follow the money. You came to me because of my contacts, remember?” Gia said, smiling.
AJ wanted to see more of that smile. He hoped he would get a chance to be alone with the stunning Italian woman.
“Signorina, you have learned more in an afternoon than I have uncovered in years of research. I stand in awe of your abilities,” Ceres said, raising his wine glass. “Saluda!”
AJ and Gia joined him in the toast.
Across the street, a pair of eyes hidden behind dark glasses in the center of his nearly round face watched the actions of the two men and the woman in the reflection of a store window. He made careful mental notes on their appearance and their actions. His report would be important.
Twenty feet away from the lone watcher, two men in tee shirts and shorts sweltered in a windowless Fiat Ducato van. The white van reflected some of the afternoon heat and two exhaust fans blew hot air out through the roof, but summer surveillance was a hot, miserable duty. They’d been fortunate to park almost directly across from their targets. The video cameras and directional mics trained on the trio at the café produced a quality recording. The sound was very clear. The tip to Polizia Provinciale from the Greek National Police about two suspicious men entering Italy had panned out. The Polizia sergeant who’d followed the two on the train texted in a preliminary report the time they’d arrive to Milan. Information on Nikko Solaris was a top priority to every agency in the country.
Gia motioned to their waiter for more wine. As he poured, she searched her thoughts. Her new clients were pleased. That was to be expected. The good-looking American was watching her closely. She liked his attention. Gia knew better than to get involved with a client and she only met him this morning, but…
Gia’s chiming and vibrating iPhone startled her out of her scattered thoughts. “I should take this call,” she said, holding up a delicate finger.
“Ciao!” Gia said, answering her phone. “Yes Alessandro. Thank you for calling back so quickly. Yes, I need to see you. Would tomorrow morning be suitable? Tonight?”
Gia looked pointedly at AJ, who shrugged.
“Si, Alessandro, we can meet this evening. Would nine o’clock be suitable? May I bring my clients as well? Very well Alessandro, around 9. Ciao!” Gia ended the call with a flourish.
“That was Alessandro Moretti. He is a detective I know, a good friend of my father’s. He’s done some work for the Justice Center, you know, the Nazi hunters? I thought he might have some useful insights.”
“We came here to get answers. You have worked wonders today, and Moretti sounds like someone who could help. Ceres,” AJ said turning to his companion, “you said you wanted to turn in early. A late appointment won’t work for you will it?”
Ceres was about to protest when AJ raised his eyebrows and tilted his head toward Gia. Ceres immediately understood. AJ wanted to be alone with this woman.
“It has been another long day,” Ceres said. “I think after a little dinner, I will be ready to call it a night.”
Gia laughed and said, “You two should take this act of yours on the road.”
Almost on cue, the waiter brought dinner menus. They selected a variety of Northern Italian delicacies and enjoyed every bite. When their early dinner ended, they walked around the corner to Gia’s car. Gia walked around to the driver’s door.
“What is this Gia? It’s sharp,” AJ, said admiring the red two-door.
“It’s an Alpha MiTo. Alpha Romeo came out with it in 2008. I got it used, but it had low mileage. You like it?” Gia said her smile radiant.
“It’s a good-looking car. It fits you. High style, not too much flash,” AJ said.
Ceres rolled his eyes and shook his head as he squeezed into the back seat of the little two-door Alpha. AJ settled into the leather passenger seat and watched Gia’s long, bare legs until they pulled out into the street.
Gia drove the short distance to the hotel like a lap at the Indy 500. The experience was ten times worse than AJ’s frightening Athens taxi ride. Seat belt buckled and holding on to the handle above the door, AJ said, “We have plenty of time Gia. You can slow down.”
“What? You don’t like my driving?” Gia said grinning.
“I don’t know what you’re com
plaining about, Ajax. I think Signorina Donatella is an excellent driver,” Ceres said from the back seat, his eyes tightly closed.
The little Alpha squealed to a stop in the hotel’s entrance court. AJ got out and after pulling his seat forward, offered Ceres his hand to help him out of the back seat. As Ceres emerged from the tiny back seat, firmly holding on to AJ’s hand, he said, “Are you sure you want her to drive you to this appointment? You can take a taxi.”
“I’m not sure which I’m more afraid of at this point,” he said. Then looking at Gia in her hot car and eyeing her long legs, he turned back to Ceres and said, “I think I can manage. What will you do this evening?”
“I have that book I got for the train and never started,” Ceres replied. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll be here when I come back won’t you?” AJ said.
“Where would I go?” Ceres replied, slapping AJ on the back.
Ceres put his arm on the car’s roof, ducked down to peer into the car and said, “Good-bye, Signorina Donatella. Thank you for a lovely evening. I hope to see you soon.”
“Ciao, Signore,” Gia replied.
AJ got back in the car and pulled out his cell phone as he watched his friend enter the hotel. Emiliano’s phone went straight to voice-mail, so AJ left a message saying he was OK and in Milan for a few days.
Gia fired up the engine and gave AJ a mischievous smile. The G force of the car’s sudden acceleration into the street plastered him to the seat. He looked over at Gia, and her grin melted his apprehension.
Even with Gia’s NASCAR driving style, it took over an hour to reach Villa di Milan, Alessandro Moretti’s place in the foothills north of the city. After ninety minutes of hairpin turns and heart palpitations, they arrived at the villa. AJ stepped out of the car and his first breath rejuvenated him.
The sweet mountain air was heavy with the aroma of earth and grapes. Row upon row of trellised grape vines surrounded them. Only the crickets and the sound of someone walking on the gravel drive broke the stillness.
A figure approached from the house in the yellow light of carriage sconces. “Ciao il mio Tesoro! So good to see you,” Alessandro exclaimed, taking both Gia’s hands as they exchanged kisses on each cheek. “And this is…?”
AJ stepped forward and offered his hand. “AJ Pantheras, Signor Moretti, thank you for agreeing to see us,” he said.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Alessandro said, shaking AJ’s hand, “and I get to see Gia. I have known her since she was a little girl. Look at her now.”
AJ agreed. She was something to look at.
“You have a beautiful home, Signor Moretti,” AJ said. “I can’t imagine living in such a beautiful place.
“Thank you, but call me Alessandro. It is lovely. Wait till you see it in the daylight.”
“Uncle Alessandro bought this place for his retirement,” Gia added.
“It’s quite a find, sir. Congratulations.”
“A family made private label wine for generations here in the villa with these vines,” Alessandro said indicating the dark fields around them.
“When the owners died, their children, unfortunately, wanted no part of the wine business. They had their jobs in the city. They found a buyer for the vineyard, but he didn’t want the villa. The bank and I own it now.”
“Uncle Alessandro spends his weekends here, and when he retires, he will be an inn keeper,” Gia said giving Alessandro a hug.
“Every room has a view of the vineyard. There is a wonderful kitchen where I can indulge my passion for cooking. It will be a nice supplement to my pension,” Alessandro said. “But come, come in. I will be a poor innkeeper if I keep my guests outside all night.”
Turning to Gia as they headed to the villa, Alessandro said, “Gia. You never visit me anymore. I miss you. Where have you been keeping yourself?”
“Busy. You know work. But I promise to come for the weekend soon,” Gia said.
“Come, come inside both of you, and tell me what you have been doing. We will have a little wine, and you can tell me how I can help.”
Ceres considered the meaning of what he’d learned during the day while he got ready for bed. Ajax seemed less manipulative, maybe more serious, but that could be wishful thinking. Solaris or someone using his name was alive. What could that mean? Ceres sat down at the desk and in his obsessive block printing put some thoughts down on a piece of hotel stationery.
Lt John dead?
How? Where? Why? - money, war casualty
Christos- Dead Gus, Chris, George, Costa, Nick, Darrian -Survived the war but all dead. How? Ask Gia to check
Solaris- alive? Who could be using his name?
Connection to Andreas?
What connections are known?
What could have triggered Andreas’ death- research?
Who did he contact?
To do
Go over notebook with Ajax
Follow the money- Gia
Determine connections
Note from LT John
List of letters?
Call Anna - letters
Ceres stared at his meager notes. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was more than he had when he last went to Greece ten years ago. He couldn’t afford a private investigator, so there was one more reason to work through his suspicions about Ajax. Andreas had said Ajax was a good man. Ceres would have to see.
Turning his thoughts to his other problem, Ceres tried to recall his last conversation with Andreas. What was it he had said? The answer was in Lieutenant John’s notebook, if he could decipher it. What did he mean? Decipher what?
“I’m going to have to trust him,” Ceres whispered to the empty room, “if I’m going to find answers.” He folded the paper and slipped it into his paperback.
Ceres crawled into bed, paperback book in hand. He’d left the bathroom light on so AJ could see when he came back. Ceres chuckled to himself remembering AJ leering at Gia and noticing the Italian girl was leering right back. Ceres liked the Gia. She was fun, tough, and smart.
He dozed off, book on his chest and reading glasses scrunched up on his face. He was startled awake by a knock at the door. He looked at the clock, 1 a.m. Had AJ forgotten his key? He went to the door and opened it without checking the peephole.
Ceres held the door open and said, “What’s wrong, forget your.” ….” But there was no one there. Ceres took a step toward the open doorway. Nothing. He craned his head into the hall, nothing to the right.
“Who’s …?” A violent blow to the back of his head cut off Ceres’ words and sent him reeling into the opposite side of the hall. Fists pummeled his right side. He tried to twist left to avoid the rain of blows, but he was pinned against the wall. Punch after punch hit his ribs, back, and head. He couldn’t see his attackers who had him pinned to the wall. Unable to resist any longer he began sliding to his knees, he croaked out, “Stop…”
His attackers weren’t going to stop, though. A final vicious blow hit him just above the right ear. He dropped face first to the floor, unconscious.
CHAPTER 20
AJ was having more than a good time. Gia seemed to be warming to him. She laughed and smiled. She even touched his arm. Signor Moretti, Alessandro, turned out to be a delightful man and remarkably well informed.
“Gia’s father, Giorgio, and I started out together in Guardia di Finanza. The GdF is the Italian law enforcement agency responsible for financial crime, smuggling, and anti terrorism activities,” Alessandro explained. “We have hundreds of ships and planes that patrol the coast and analysts, that's what Gia did for us, who monitor banking activity. There are enforcement agents like Giorgio and me who do a little of everything. It’s a good place to work. It’s important work,” Alessandro said with obvious pride.
“So it’s sort a combination of the U.S.’s Coast Guard and Secret Service?” AJ said.
“And Homeland Security, too,” Alessandro replied.
“Uncle Alessandro is Deputy Director,” Gia add
ed.
“I’ve been with Guardia di Finanza twenty-eight years,” Alessandro said.
“So you are more than just a detective,” AJ said.
“He’s much more than a detective.” Gia smiled and shrugged and AJ was captivated.
“What can you tell us about Nikko Solaris, Uncle Alessandro?” Gia said. “AJ is looking into connections with his family and some very old crimes.”
“I’ll tell you what I can, but I hope you will return the favor and give me what you know. You will see why it’s important,” Alessandro began.
“I don’t know much. My friend Ceres Savas has most of the information, but we will share what we have,” AJ said.
“Thank you. We’ve had people identified as primary targets, like your FBI’s Most Wanted criminals, for years.
Solaris is the only one ever identified as primary target we haven’t taken down,” Alessandro said.
“The man’s into everything, black markets, smuggling, money laundering, illegal immigration, drugs, counterfeiting, and even terrorist financing. But he’s also made a fortune in legitimate businesses like oil, shipping, and commodities speculation.”
AJ looked at Gia. She was indeed well connected, he thought, and well put together.
“Why couldn’t you get him?” AJ asked.
“He didn’t become a billionaire by being stupid. He keeps transactions at arm’s length, further if he can,” Alessandro said. “He uses one of the biggest banks in the country, too, Banco Media Roma. It’s all very respectable, on the surface.”
AJ thought about some of his criminal defense clients, the smugglers in particular. Could there be a way he could get an insight into how Solaris conducted his business through them? This guy does the same things, AJ thought.
“His place is a fortress. He has the best high-tech security, a small army of bodyguards, and the local police are, well protective. We tried electronic surveillance on him once from a hilltop overlooking his compound. The local police were on us inside of twenty-five minutes. Our Italian government credentials didn’t impress them at all. It took three days to get us out of the country. San Marino is an independent principality, very independent.”