by Nick Vellis
Nikko Solaris looked out over his vineyards from his balcony. The harvest was going well. It did his heart good to see the people sweating and struggling in the vineyards. It reminded him of what he did not want to do in life and why he had made the choices he had. The fact these people depended on him for their livelihood wasn’t lost on the man, either. He thrived on being in control.
Karl, Executive Assistant and bodyguard to Mr. Solaris, appeared in the French doors and officiously cleared his throat, “Excuse me, sir. There is a telephone call for you,” the strapping Austrian body builder said.
Solaris turned away from the bucolic scene and returned to running his multinational business, saying, “I’ll take it in the office.”
Solaris turned his back on his serfs to enter his private sanctum. Karl closed the French doors behind him. His office, previously a sitting room, had stone floors that bore thick oriental rugs, the old man’s favorite. High ceilings, leaded clerestory windows, and dark oak paneling created a setting for one of the world’s finest private baroque art collections. The ultra high-tech gear in the room however overshadowed the nineteenth century opulence. Banks of plasma screens arrayed in front of an immense desk streamed continuous stock data from New York, London, Hong Kong, and Berlin. Multiple computer monitors crowded the desktop. Two multi-button phones competed for space with stacks of portfolios and file folders. A dozen multimillion-dollar deals crossed Nikko Solaris’ desk each week. The master of a $17 billion empire demanded knowledge at his fingertips and he got it.
Taking a seat behind his desk, Nikko glanced at the red light blinking on his phone and took a deep breath. He flipped the switch for the scrambler and snatched the phone from the cradle. “Report,” he said forcefully.
“This is Dobos, sir. We were unable to locate the notebook. The target was not in the hotel,” the Romanian said. He waited for a barrage of curses, but Nikko Solaris continued to listen. “We tried to take the man in the room out of the hotel, but we were discovered.”
“Did you get anything out of the man?” Solaris asked, already knowing the answer. This man who had worked for him so many times before, had obviously lost his edge.
“No, sir. He was older than the man you had described and was unconscious when…”
“I don’t need the details. What I need is for you to complete an assignment without bungling it,” Solaris said. “Did you learn anything?”
“Yes, sir,” Dobos replied. “The name of the man we’ve been following is Ajax Pantheras. The name of the man in the hotel room was in the newspaper this morning. It’s Ceres Savas. Both are Americans,” Dobos said.
Will I never be rid of Pantheras? And the one from the Boston bookstore, he had surfaced again, too. “You searched the room I suppose and found nothing?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I must have that book. Follow Pantheras. Choose your approach more carefully next time, and get me that book,” Solaris said. “This is your final chance. Anything else?”
“The American is working with a private investigator.”
“Who?”
“Gianna Donatella, offices here in Milan.”
“You recognize the name?” Solaris said, rubbing his brow. He was getting a headache. This had to end.
“Yes, sir. I eliminated a man by that name about a year ago,” Dobos replied.
“Well, you appear to have a lot of unfinished business,” Solaris said.
“See that this is wrapped up quickly. If you cannot get the book, close the contract with the Americans and the girl. Make it look like an accident.”
“Yes, sir,” Dobos said, but his employer had already hung up.
Solaris leaned back in his plush leather chair, his chin resting on his outstretched fingers. Three generations. The name Pantheras had been the bane of his existence now for three generations. Why could he not get rid of these people? Why were they so hard to kill? Solaris would need his network. Everyone was needed now. He did a quick name search on his iPhone. He found the name he wanted and hit dial. Luis Echeverra answered on the third ring.
AJ stretched and yawned as he slowly came awake. He was stiff and sore from another night on the convertible chair in Ceres’ room. The contraption folded from a chair into a sort of chaise. It wasn’t comfortable as either a chair or a bed, but AJ wasn’t concerned about his comfort. He wanted to be near his friend.
“Ciao, Mr. AJ,” the cheery nurse said as she slipped into the room. Nurse Mary Burnsnell was a sixtyish matronly woman. She was rotund and officious but warm and pleasant in a motherly way, even if she talked insistently. Mary, a traveling nurse from London, had worked at San Raffaele for two years and was due to move to Lister Hospital, a private facility in Chelsea.
“How are you this morning, dear?” she asked as she smiled and went to the computer in the corner.
AJ was never sure if she was asking him how he was or if she was talking to Ceres. “I’m fine, I guess,” AJ said, just in case.
“Did Mr. Savas wake in the night? There’s no record of it at the Nurses Station if he did. I keep hoping he’ll wake soon. I’m leaving the first of the month, you know, and I just have to talk to him, him being so handsome and all. You know it’s just terrible what happened to him. The police here are just terrible. People beaten half to death with no one ever found responsible. The police are just terrible. They arrested that pretty American girl, what’s her name, Amanda something? …”
“Whatever. Can we get on with it,” AJ said.
“Yes, her, they arrested her and then to let go because …”
AJ tuned out Nurse Mary. It was the same litany every morning. Now that he was hearing it for the third time, he had it memorized. Mary may have worked in hospitals all over Europe, but the poor thing was still just a gossiping busy body. Still, though, AJ thought, she was a good nurse and she was taking wonderful care of Ceres.
AJ watched her as she clacked away at the computer in the corner oblivious to her prattle. He was startled to full wakefulness though when he looked at Ceres. Unless AJ was hallucinating, Ceres’ eyes were open.
Mary’s grating voice came back into focus, and she was saying, “Right, we have some meds to dispense and vitals to take and …
“Nurse, his eyes are open,” AJ said. He had to say it two more times before she heard him, and by that time, AJ was at Ceres’ bedside holding his hand, talking to him.
“Ceres, can you hear me?” he asked softly.
His eyes blinked, and his head moved slightly.
“Ceres, can you hear me?” he asked again.
“Yes. What happened?” Ceres said in a weak voice.
“You’re in a hospital. Someone attacked you. You were beaten up.”
“I remember. There was a knock on the door and I thought it was you.” Ceres was very weak and hoarse.
“The hotel security cameras caught both of them. It was the same two men from Athens,” AJ said.
“What? The notebook, I must check on the notebook ….”
“Calm yourself. I will get it for you, but you need to rest now, get better,” AJ said. “Where is the notebook?”
“I put it in the hotel safe,” Ceres said.
“I’ll get it and bring it to you. For now, you need to rest. Rest,” AJ said softly.
Ceres relaxed in the bed and closed his eyes.
AJ looked at Nurse Mary, who had witnessed the whole scene and smiled. “He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”
“All right and then some love. It’s the sight of you that brought him back, dear. I’ll find Doctor Ponzio,” Nurse Mary said then bolted from the room.
Within the hour, three different doctors and a phalanx of police had been to see Ceres. He answered questions about the attack, endured a physical exam from each doctor, and was more patient than AJ would have been. When Nurse Mary came in again and started checking him over AJ had had enough.
“Nurse, this has to stop,” AJ said. “He’s answered all the damn questions, put up with all the poking
and prodding …”
“What questions?” the startled Nurse said. “Oh, the doctors. They’re just so pleased Mr. Savas is back among us.”
Turning to Ceres, she said, “Keep making progress, dear,” she patted his arm. “Doctor says you may have solid food in a few days. The food here is wonderful. I love Italy.”
While the nurse kept on talking, Ceres turned his head away to look out the window.
AJ shifted in his chair, and Ceres looked at him and smiled. AJ went to the bed and sat down lightly.
Ceres tried to raise his hand to touch AJ, but constrained by an IV and a cascade of monitor wires, he couldn’t move. AJ reached for his hand, squeezed it, and smiled.
“You gave me quite a scare,” AJ said. “I can’t lose you, Ceres. You’re the only family I have.”
Ceres smiled and closed his eyes. He fell asleep still holding AJ’s hand.
“Sleep is the best thing for him, you know,” Nurse Mary said, seeing AJ sitting on the bed. “Why don’t you take a break dear? You haven’t eaten proper in days. The little café in the lobby is good. I love Italy, such good food.”
“Maybe you’re right. I’ll go get something,” AJ said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Will you stay with him?”
“He’s sleeping, and I have plenty to do. I’ll be right here with him, dear,” the nurse replied. “It’s a good sign, you know, his waking and his speech coming back. It’s all very good, isn’t it?”
“I guess it is,” AJ said. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all, AJ thought.
He walked slowly down the quiet white corridor, got on the elevator, and pressed “T.” The old elevator hummed, and the lights flickered. The ride down was slow and jerky, but AJ, head down and lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice. When the elevator door scraped open on the ‘Terra’ level, he stepped out without looking up and walked right into Gia.
“Hey, watch where you’re going, mister,” Gia said, a lilt in her voice and a broad smile on her face. She was genuinely glad to see him.
“Oh, damn. I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” AJ said, relieved to see her.
She had been at the hospital twice a day. She had forced some food and coffee on him while he sat Shiva and tried to convince him his friend’s condition wasn’t his fault.
“How’s he doing, any better?” she asked.
“He opened his eyes this morning, and he’s speaking a little. I think he may have turned the corner,” AJ said, realizing for the first time how significant the morning’s developments may have been.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Have you talked to him yet?” she asked, excited for both Ceres and AJ.
“A little, not much. The doctors have been in and out pestering all morning. Some police detectives were in, too. If I were him,” AJ said, “I think I’d go back into a coma just so they’d leave me alone.”
Gia laughed, and AJ felt the sparkle in her eyes.
“That’s great news,” she said.
“Yeah, it is. He dropped off to sleep again, so I was going to get some coffee. Want to come with me?” AJ said.
“Sure. There’s a place here or we could go to a café down the street. You could use some real food, you know. You haven’t eaten a decent meal in days,” Gia said.
“Let’s try the place outside the hospital,” AJ said, looking around at the sterile walls. “I could do with some fresh air.”
Once they were on the sidewalk, AJ took a deep breath. He didn’t even notice the car exhaust, the honking, and the rumbling of the morning traffic. If only I could clear my head, he thought, maybe I could work out what’s going on. Gia, walking beside him, took his arm, her hand on the inside of his elbow. Now I’ll never clear my head, he thought. He felt her warmth as her shoulder nudged into his body. They walked the two blocks close together. AJ wished it were ten miles.
Once they were seated and had ordered, Gia leaned in close and said, “I’m so very glad Ceres is improving. I know you’ve been worried out of your mind.”
“I have, and I’m afraid it’s not over,” he said.
“I know what you mean. Uncle Alessandro has been checking for us. He sends his regards, by the way.”
AJ nodded.
“He’s been in touch with the Athens police. He passed on the information you gave him about the men at the Athens hotel.
Video footage from the night of the attack here shows two men who fit your description from Athens.”
“Dobos?” AJ asked.
“Yes and the other one is Anton Petru, a Corsican,” Gia replied. “He’s wanted in three countries. Make that four the Greeks want him now, too. He’s a bad customer according to Uncle Alessandro.”
“You said the police were watching the hotel. Is there anything new on that?” AJ asked.
“They were watching you and Ceres, as you suspected,” she said. “The Greek police contacted Polizia Provinciale and asked you be shadowed. They said you were under investigation for murder. That wasn’t quite right, of course. They were trying to track Dobos and Petru, and the best way to them was through you.”
“I guess I’m glad they were there. Ceres could be dead now if those cops hadn’t been on the ball,” AJ said. “I wonder if they were in Boston in July.”
“Uncle Alessandro called the detectives in Boston you told him about. They are still checking that, but it looks good. Two men fitting Dobos and Petru’s descriptions arrived in Washington, D.C., on June 30.”
“That’s only 450 miles from Boston, just over an hour flight time. I’ve flown it many times,” AJ said. “What’s with Dobos? Why’s he after us?”
“Well, now that we know who they are we can protect you and find out who’s pulling the strings,” Gia said, reaching her hand across the table.
AJ took her hand gently in his and smiled up at the glowing Italian girl.
They chatted amiably over breakfast. AJ hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the food arrived. He had two helpings of eggs, cheese, and fruit, much to the chagrin of the waiter. Gia said he was an American, and that seemed to explain everything. Gia, an early riser, who had her protein shake after her morning run, watched AJ put away more then she ate in a week.
“I was famished,” AJ said as he finally pushed the plate away. “Italians traditionally have a very light breakfast. I’m afraid these people may need counseling after seeing you eat,” Gia laughed. “More coffee?”
“No thanks. I should get back to the hospital,” AJ said, looking at his watch. Despite enjoying Gia’s company, he wanted to be there when Ceres woke. He owed him that.
“Very well. Let’s get going,” Gia said.
There were few people on the street despite the hour. The two headed down the sidewalk, arm in arm, glancing in the store windows and chatting like old friends. A block behind them, a dark blue Citroen van cruised slowly as if looking for a place to park. Behind his dark glasses and fake beard, the driver was thankful for the light traffic. It would make the job easier. The two were easy to spot among the hurrying pedestrians. They walked more slowly.
AJ and Gia stepped between two parked cars to cross the street. They looked for oncoming traffic then stepped into the street. The blue van accelerated hard, and its tires squealed as they lost traction on the cobbled street. The engine roared as the driver took careful aim. They’re not even looking this way, he thought.
AJ sensed it more than he heard it. They were both looking left and he turned his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the van and took action. Gia was on his left, the van to his right. AJ pivoted to face Gia and launched himself into her, throwing them both onto the hood of a parked Fiat.
The van sideswiped the car. It’s side mirror broke off against AJ’s back as the vehicle whizzed by. AJ landed on top of Gia, knocking the wind out of them both.
A crowd gathered around the two people sprawled on the hood of a severely dented Fiat Spider. AJ took a deep breath and regretted it. The pain in his back and side stabbed straight through him.
“You all right?” Gia said. “Ah, I think you saved our lives.”
“Does everyone in Italy drive like the devil is chasing them?” AJ said, as he tried to get up.
“Only the good drivers,” Gia said, “Now shut up and kiss me.”
She put her hands on AJ’s cheeks, pulled his face to her lips and kissed him.
CHAPTER 22 OCCUPIED GREECE 31 OCTOBER 1944
George’s words burned in Christos’ ears. ‘We couldn’t find him. He’s gone.’ There had to be some trace. There just had to be. They missed something. I know it, he thought. He remembered his own words to the American colonel too. There’s still much to do here. First, he had to find his friend, even if it was just to bury him.
Christos watched the last American plane disappear into the orange western sky. He was back to where he and his small band had started, fighting the Germans alone. There were other American and even British commandos still in Greece, but the man assigned to help him was gone.
Turning, Christos surveyed the pack animals loaded with supplies. “Check those ropes. I don’t want to lose anything,” he said. “That’s food, ammunition, and bandages we need. We don’t know when we might get more.” The Andartes were always short of everything but courage. “Spiro,” he called to the youngest member of the group, “careful with that radio.” The young Greek hefted the heavy box radio onto a donkey’s back. “It’s more valuable than you are.”
The men laughed as the boy blushed. They knew the benefit of having the radio. It was a lifeline, an advantage and tool they had never had before.
“Lead that animal carefully Spiro. We can’t replace that thing.”
Spiro smiled back at him and said, “Yes, Christos. I will lead her gently, like my little sister.”
One of the older men laughed and said, “I’ve seen your sister. Be careful that she doesn’t bite you.”
The three men laughed, and Christos was glad to see they were relaxed. He had chosen the men well.
Having supplies meant a great deal to the resistance fighters, but having a radio gave them the ability to call for more, a major improvement in their situation. Soon the small caravan of three men and a dozen animals set off for the Andartes base camp.