‘She’s done it. She’s told me what I needed to know. I know where she’s been taken. We’re going to Limassol in Cyprus. That’s where her family came from originally. They were Greek-Cypriot. I don’t know why the kidnappers would take her back there, but that’s where we are heading. You, me and Maddie.’
Hedge looked horrified. ‘There’s no way Cole! I’m pleased that Maddie has helped, or rather, pleased that maybe she has helped. But there’s no way I’m going on any more of your trips. The last one nearly got me killed. It’s not going to happen. Not me and definitely not Maddie. She is the only family I’ve got. Get some of your MI5 buddies to help. We are not going, no way, not now, not ever.’
Chapter Sixteen
The Cyprus Airways flight landed at Paphos airport just after ten o’clock in the morning. Cole, Hedge and Maddie were met just outside the terminal by a smart looking driver in a dark grey suit.
Hedge looked fed up. He didn’t want to go on this trip. In fact, he wanted nothing to do with it. He wasn’t the right sort of person for this kind of thing. He was a financial advisor, not a police detective. Worse, he certainly didn’t want Maddie caught up in this escapade. Who knows what sort of trouble they were going to get themselves into.
However, shortly after his visit to see Cole, he had been telephoned by a man saying that he was a senior civil servant at the British Home Office. The official had been quite blunt.
‘Mr Hedge, the British government would like to offer you a short term contract to assist one of our operatives on an overseas assignment. We understand that you have some experience in this area. The offer is also extended to your sister. Should you accept this offer then the Home Office is happy to overlook the incorrectly filed application for the UK visa extension by Miss Madeleine Millar. I can assure you that the British government does not wish to fill its prisons with female American citizens. Not good for Anglo-US relations, you know. Unless otherwise advised I will assume that you accept the terms. Good day to you.’
The pompous man had hung up before Hedge could even draw breath, let alone reply. He appeared to have no choice in the matter. The reference to his sister’s visa application was bullshit, of course, but he could never fight the Home Office on that one. They would easily find a mistake due to the complexity of the application form.
He was still angry with Cole, who he blamed for putting the official up to making the call.
‘What are you planning to do now then Cole?’
There was a trace of annoyance in Hedge’s voice. He didn’t like being forced into something he didn’t want to do. As he spoke, he checked the front compartment of his flight bag. He kept all his documents in there, including his passport, boarding pass, travel insurance and health card. He moved the wallet with his travel money so that it was next to his passport. It was important to keep all the items in size order. Somehow it seemed more comfortable that way.
‘First of all, we are heading to Limassol to meet with one of Alice’s uncles. Then I’m hoping to meet up with a friend of mine who is based at the British High Commission in Nicosia, the capital of the island. I’m not sure what we are looking for, but any information I can glean at this stage will be useful.’
Hedge looked across at his old friend. He wasn’t happy to be here, not at all. Wherever Cole went, danger quickly followed. But, for all that, part of him was glad to be able to offer some help. Cole looked tense still, and his expression conveyed a deep anxiety.
They drove out of the busy town of Paphos and onto the A6 main road towards Limassol. It was now late morning and the sun was high in the sky. Hedge sat beside Maddie in the back of the car. To his left, he watched the dry, rocky landscape go past. The barrenness of the scenery was interspersed with many plants, shrubs and trees, including wild olive trees which speckled the landscape. On the right he glimpsed views of the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It was calm and flat, and on a clear day like this, you could see for miles.
They passed small villages with names like Pissouri, Avdimou and Paramali, each with signposts directing holidaymakers to enticing sandy beaches. They turned off the main road onto the B6. In a previous life, Cole had served in the British army, with much of his time involved with Special Forces. He had been based for a while at a garrison known as Episkopi, and he wanted to drive past it for old time’s sake.
The road wound its way through a forces recreation area known as Happy Valley. There were football and hockey pitches laid out, and roads leading to secluded beaches.
Cole pointed out a few areas of interest as they passed by Episkopi Garrison. There were lots of low level buildings on the base, along with a substantial number of residential dwellings. The whole complex was completely surrounded by a high razor wire fence.
The smaller road rejoined the A6 and they drove on towards Limassol. As they approached the outskirts of the town, the traffic started to slow down. Hedge noticed small fields of orange trees, and neatly laid out olive groves. Occasionally, at the side of the road, there were makeshift stalls selling all kinds of fruit, but especially popular were the large watermelons.
The town was busy with traffic, and they all sat quietly as the car crawled through the streets lined with shops and cafes. They eventually pulled up in front of a large building calling itself the Palace Beach Hotel. The driver agreed to meet them again at nine o’clock the following morning.
The next day the three of them were driven to a small house on a road called Agiou Andreou. The dwelling was two doors down from an old looking Taverna, which boldly signposted that it specialised in serving Meze – the traditional Greek meal consisting of many different courses.
They were greeted warmly at the door of the house by a small man named Barnico. He sat them down and then poured them each a cup of strong, dark coffee.
His English was good, and he spoke quietly.
‘I haven’t seen Athena for many years, in fact she was still a young girl when we last met.’
Cole passed him a recent photo of his wife.
‘She has grown into a beautiful woman,’ Barnico said.
‘What can you tell us about her? Anything you can offer may help us to find her.’ Desperation had returned to Cole’s voice.
‘I’m very sad to have heard of her kidnapping. It must be a hard time for you Mr. Cole. I don’t know what I can tell you that may be of any use. It’s been so long now.’
‘What do you remember of her family when she was a young girl?’
‘My brother was a good man, and a loving father, god rest his sole,’ started Barnico.
Alice’s father had died several years ago from lung cancer. He had been a heavy smoker. Strangely, her mother had then died around nine months later, also from lung cancer, although she had never touched tobacco. ‘Passive smoking,’ many people said, although some had said it was the Lord working in mysterious ways.
Barnico continued. ‘I recall the day he brought Athena home. Both parents were delighted. They had a child at last, after years of trying. They were both so happy.’
He stopped speaking for a moment. His toothy smile was suddenly replaced with a worried expression. A dark shadow passed across his eyes, almost as if he was remembering something.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Cole softly, ‘it must be very difficult thinking about those days, with your brother no longer with us. It’s a sad loss to us all.’
‘Yes, my brother, yes indeed,’ said Barnico.
He looked nervously around at each of his visitors. Cole and Hedge had been listening to him, and each of them smiled as he looked in their direction. Then he looked at Maddie. She was staring back at him with a quizzical expression on her face. Barnico quickly looked away from her, and continued his story.
‘They didn’t have any more children. Athena was the only one. She arrived shortly after the troubles began.’
‘Troubles?’ asked Hedge.
‘1974,’ said Barnico. ‘It was the year of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. All h
ell broke loose. It was a difficult time for us. Many Greek people fled abroad. The country was never the same again, and when Athena was about ten years old, my brother took his family to live in London. I didn’t see very much of them after that. I couldn’t afford to visit England, and my brother rarely came to visit his old homeland.’
They chatted a little longer before leaving Barnico in peace.
They walked down the road and took a seat on the balcony at the front of a Taverna. They ordered cold drinks, and sat discussing what Alice’s uncle had just told them.
‘Anything useful?’ said Hedge.
‘I’m not sure yet. I need to see what my colleague from MI5 can tell me when we meet him tomorrow. Are you alright Maddie?’
Cole and Hedge looked across at Maddie. She had been quiet ever since they had arrived at the uncle’s house. She still had the strange, quizzical look on her face.
‘This isn’t right,’ she said. Her voice was quiet and without any trace of emotion. ‘Athena doesn’t belong here. This is where they took her, but ...’
Her mouth closed slowly, and her voice trailed off.
‘But what? What are you saying?’ Cole was slightly annoyed.
‘I don’t know,’ Maddie said softly. She bowed her head.
‘I don’t know,’ she repeated.
‘It’s just not right.’
Chapter Seventeen
The following day they met Cole’s old army friend at a quiet bar overlooking the sea, just outside Limassol. Although they had first met when they were in the forces, Cole’s ex colleague was now working for MI5, and was currently on an assignment in Cyprus.
The four of them found a shady parasol on a side terrace, and ordered some cold drinks. It was late morning and the sun was high overhead. The temperature must have been approaching thirty degrees centigrade. The MI5 man wore dark glasses to shield his eyes from the sun, or maybe to look the part, Hedge thought to himself.
The bar they had agreed as the rendezvous point was quiet and informal, and it was just a few minutes’ drive from the outskirts of town.
‘This is my old buddy Charles Docherty,’ said Cole, as he completed the introductions.
‘I’m really sorry that we have to meet again in these circumstances my friend,’ responded Docherty. He had a soft voice, with a hint of a public school accent. ‘How are you holding up?
‘Not too bad at the moment,’ said Cole. ‘It helps if I keep myself occupied. I was hoping you may be able to assist in some way. I know you have a lot of contacts over here.’
‘I’ve asked around the local intelligence community, but they have come up with nothing so far. What have you been able to find out?’
Cole had a doubtful expression on his face. He looked over at Maddie as he spoke. ‘We think that Alice may have been brought to Cyprus, but it’s just a hunch. We tried to find out if her local relatives could give us any help, but nothing much has come of that. We think there is a Limassol connection.’
‘So, you are focussing on the Greek sector then. Can we eliminate the Turkish north?’ Docherty lifted his shoulders as he asked the question. He raised his hand and adjusted the sunglasses that perched on the end of his nose.
Hedge looked over at the man from British intelligence. He was a little puzzled. His knowledge of this country was limited. ‘How come the Turks live in the north?’
‘Good question, young man. Let me give you a quick overview.’
Docherty talked for several minutes on the history of the island. He was clearly an expert. Cole had told them that he worked on the Eastern Mediterranean desk at MI5, partly in London, but also out in the field.
He explained that the country had been given independence from Britain in 1960, but there had subsequently been tensions between the Greek and Turkish populations that made up the island. In 1974 there was a military coup, and the president of the country was overthrown. To protect the Turkish citizens of Cyprus, so they said, Turkey invaded the north of the island and established a Turkish zone.
There was a lot of chaos in the country at that time, with Greeks attacking Turks, and vice versa. Eventually though, after talks between the British, Greeks and Turks, the population were split. It ended up with Greeks occupying the south of the island, and Turks in the north.
There were stories of serious atrocities being carried out during this period, with accusations from both sides of rapes, torture and killings. However, it proved impossible at the time to distinguish between real incidents, and those that were simply invented.
‘It’s sad to think what people are capable of doing to each other, especially in times of war,’ said Maddie.
‘That’s the time when ordinary folk behave the worst,’ replied Docherty. ‘What’s so awful is that many of the dreadful things that happened during that period, were carried out by people who had been friends and neighbours for many years previously. I remember reading the file of a Greek family living near Famagusta. They were attacked by Turks from the same village who they had known for over twenty years. The children had gone to the same school as all their neighbours’ children.’
‘That’s unbelievable,’ said Maddie shaking her head. ‘Were they hurt badly?’
‘It was very unpleasant. The father was dragged into the back garden, beaten with wooden clubs, and then had two bottles of household bleach poured down his throat. He died the next day, after an agonising twenty four hours. The mother had her hands tied behind her back, and was forced to lay head down in the bath until she drowned. The daughter, who was only thirteen, was raped eleven times. At least, that’s all she could remember.’
Docherty sensed that Maddie had heard enough, so he cut short his story.
‘That’s just horrible,’ she said.
There was silence at the table for a while. It was hard to imagine such horrors occurring in such a beautiful place.
Eventually Hedge broke the silence. ‘So Limassol was in the Greek south?’
‘Yes, and still is,’ said Docherty. ‘Cole’s wife’s family were Greek, but they moved to the UK when she was a young girl, so I believe.’
Cole nodded in response.
They chatted for a little longer. Docherty promised to keep Cole informed if he heard anything. He pointed out that he thought it was highly unlikely that the kidnappers had managed to get his wife out of the UK. That would be quite risky. He suggested they return to London and wait until they heard from him, or one of his colleagues.
Cole wasn’t happy with that idea, but he couldn’t think of a better plan at the moment. Hedge was pleased to be returning home, but felt very sad for his friend. He had hoped they may have discovered something more about his friend’s missing wife.
Maddie didn’t know what to think. Hearing about the atrocities that had been committed had unsettled her. But there was something else nagging at her. She wasn’t sure what it was. Cole had come to Cyprus looking for his kidnapped wife. And part of that felt like it was true. But another aspect of it felt wrong. What was it? She didn’t know.
But something didn’t make any sense to her.
Something definitely didn’t feel quite right.
Chapter Eighteen
It felt cold when they eventually arrived back in London. Hedge had agreed to go and spend a few days with Cole in Bury St Edmunds. They dropped Maddie off at Hedge’s house, and then the two men headed for Suffolk.
Cole drove. Hedge had tried to talk him out of it, but he had insisted. He wanted to keep his mind occupied, he explained.
‘I’m really concerned about Alice,’ Cole said. ‘It’s starting to drive me nuts. I have no idea who would have taken her. And why haven’t they made contact yet? It’s all very worrying.’
Hedge was listening quietly. It was a difficult time for his friend, and he felt for him. Being in the company of this man gave Hedge mixed emotions. On the one hand, they had been through quite a bit together, and Cole had the ability to make those around him feel quite safe. He was normall
y a strong character.
On the other hand though, Cole made Hedge very nervous. He was an anxious person at the best of times, but being with this ex-army guy made Hedge feel like he was constantly in danger.
There was a selection of music CD’s in the side pocket of the door next to Hedge. He shuffled through them, not really taking in any details relating to the artist or the song, but rather just organising them so that they looked tidy. He turned them so that the picture cover on the front of each CD was facing towards him, and then he made sure the plastic cases were all lined up neatly.
Cole looked across at him. ‘Why do you do that stuff,’ he said.
‘What stuff,’ Hedge replied sheepishly.
‘All that tidying and lining things up, you do it a lot. I’m always seeing you messing about with teaspoons or cups, or something.’
Hedge looked a little embarrassed. He stared out of the front window of the car, and sat silently for a moment, before he replied.
‘Anxiety the doctors said. Mainly related to some experiences I had at boarding school. Most of the time at Upperdale College was great fun, but there were some bad experiences as well.’
‘You should have a go in the army some time,’ Cole said. ‘There are some pretty shitty things that you have to put up with.’
‘I should imagine there are.’
Cole nodded. They fell silent for a few moments. Perhaps both lost in worlds that now only existed in their minds. The past can be a funny thing. Sometimes it seems like it never actually happened, or if it did, it must have happened to someone else.
Eventually Cole ended the spell. ‘On the flight back, when you were dozing, you kept mentioning the word “Prem”. What is that about? It must be bad as your breathing was very erratic each time you said it.’
Hedge smiled. ‘Not what. You mean who. Prem was a particularly unpleasant senior boy at my school.’
The Terminate Code: A gripping, page-turning, action adventure revenge thriller, with a fast pace, and a terrifying twist in its tail ! (Hedge & Cole Book 2) Page 7