“I see the two mountains you guys investigated,” Burt called out, looking through his binoculars. “I can see why you picked them, Javi. Their structure and position are perfect. If I were King of Atlantis, that’s where I’d build them too.”
“My exact logic, Burt,” Javier replied. “I put myself in the shoes of the King and realized that those first two locations were perfect. Unfortunately, they weren’t perfect enough.”
“Yeah, that IS disappointing, but I see a couple of other spots over there that I think have potential,” Burt said.
“They’re on the map,” Javier responded, already pointing to marks on the map.
“Sorry, we discussed so much last night, it’s hard to keep track of everything,” Burt explained in a softened tone.
“Perfectly understandable. I know where this stuff is and I’m still having trouble keeping track,” Javier joked mildly.
As the three men scanned the area, they spotted the main valley that traveled inward. Searching in that vicinity, more targets were confirmed and added to the growing list. Satisfied they had accounted for every possibility, they left the Kapsali region and continued toward the west, up and around the rest of the island.
Four hours later, after the exhaustive search came to an end, the captain docked his boat back on the northern shore. Waiting patiently for them was the beat-up old Ranger Rover and a smiling Darrien.
“Your search was successful, yes?” he asked, as he loaded the small packs into the back of his car.
“We didn’t find the pyramid just yet, but we did find other locations that looked promising… so yes, it was successful,” Jack replied.
“Will you be making a trip to the mountains again today?” he asked, now looking at his watch.
“Well, we didn’t come here for a suntan, so I suppose we will,” Jack replied, half joking.
“The suntan I give to you for free,” Darrien responded back in humor.
Chapter 13
Nicolae’s office:
Nicolae sat in his Italian leather, high-back chair and rocked impatiently. Fidgeting with his pen, he tapped it repeatedly on his marble desk top. He scanned the header of a manila folder and frowned at its contents spread across his desk.
He shifted some papers and found a ledger underneath. Grabbing a bookmark inserted between the pages, he instantly pulled it open and began to record data into it. Scanning from papers to ledger, he worked purposefully, transcribing the numbers.
He paused momentarily and searched through the paperwork, frustrated by the interruption. Unable to locate the answer, he left the entry blank and continued. Several minutes later, he encountered more areas of missing data.
He sat back in his chair and shook his head in frustration.
“Bullshit!” he spat in anger as he reached for the phone.
He tapped out a number and listened for the other end to connect.
“Yes, Boss,” Dimitri sounded through the receiver.
“Dimitri, I’m running the data on the Novechek file. They’ll be here tomorrow and there’s a lot of data missing. This was supposed to be completed by now. What the hell is going on?” Nicolae said, trying not to lose his temper.
“Sorry, Boss. I’ve been working the Schezustokov pipeline contracts as well as monitoring the progress on the pyramid. I guess I must have overlooked a few of the figures,” Dimitri defended. “But I did give the file to Alexi. I’m sure he finished up the work on that by now.”
“Overlooked? Dimitri, we don’t overlook details like this in our business. You should have insured Alexi got me the data before you left. How am I to negotiate this deal without the numbers? This is completely unacceptable,” Nicolae shot back, nearing his breaking point.
“I’m sorry, Boss. I’m making flights twice a day, back and forth between Moscow and Kythera. There’s a lot to stay on top of.”
“Those damn Americans are taking too long. My business is suffering. I need you here. This is what happens when you mix business with pleasure. Kill ‘em all and let’s get back on track,” Nicolae ordered.
“Boss, we’ve invested a lot of time in this. They’ve found the pyramid and are excavating it now. Shouldn’t we wait a little longer when we’re this close to a discovery?” Dimitri explained, then added, “If we kill them and someone else continues on, they could find unimaginable treasures that you would no longer have access to.”
Nicolae thought about Dimitri’s words. His personal desire for ancient treasure was now creating trouble in his business, but with success so close, he knew it would be foolish to close down the operation. He searched within himself for greater patience.
“Ok, Dimitri, status quo… proceed as planned, but push the Americans harder,” Nicolae ordered. “Any more delays, I want to know immediately.”
“Understood,” Dimitri responded.
Nicolae hung up the phone and immediately dialed a new number.
A man’s deep voice answered on the other end.
“This is Alexi.”
Alexi was in his mid-thirties, strong and confident. He had ascended through the ranks of Nicolae’s organization through determination and nerve. Working under Dimitri, he typically ran his affairs when he was away on business.
“Alexi, this is Nicolae. What’s the status on the girl?” he asked.
Nicolae heard the receiver being covered and some muffled voices exchanging shouts back and forth. A moment later, the receiver cleared and Alexi spoke.
“Boss, the boys are watching her and they say she is doing fine,” Alexi responded.
“Hmm, keeping her fed?”
“Yes Boss, although she doesn’t eat much. Should we worry?”
“Stupid American. If she gets hungry enough, she’ll eat what’s in front of her,” Nicolae spat.
“Yes Boss.”
“Anyway, I’m having trouble with the Novechek contract. Did you finish the work on that job?” Nicolae asked.
“I did, Boss. Do you need it now?”
“Right now,” Nicolae shot back. “Drop what you’re doing and get over here with that file right away.”
Alexi could hear the strain in Nicolae’s voice. He’d heard it many times before and knew not to disappoint him.
“I’m on my way now. Give me an hour or so,” Alexi responded quickly.
“I’ll be waiting,” Nicolae snarled.
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
“The Boss wants to see you, Alexi?” Sergei asked.
Lounging back on an old office chair with the two front legs lifted off the ground, Sergei smoked his cigarette and sipped his stale coffee. He took another drag, then flicked the butt across the room. Reaching behind his ear, he pulled another cigarette out from under his black greasy hair and lit it. In his early twenties, he was muscular with many tattoos.
“Yeah, should be back in a couple of hours… if everything goes alright,” Alexi replied, he voice betraying his fears.
“One of those moods again, eh Alexi? Bring your vest,” Misha said jokingly.
Misha was middle-aged, slightly overweight, with a full head of prematurely gray hair. He’d worked for Nicolae for many years and knew his disposition well.
“A vest won’t help a head shot,” Sergei said, with a sick laugh.
“Alright you two, knock it off. Keep an eye on the girl. Under no circumstances do you let her out of your sight. Is that clear?” Alexi ordered.
“She’s already out of our sight. Should we open the door and stare at her?” Misha teased.
“Maybe while I’m discussing business with Nicolae, I should request for you two morons to be replaced,” Alexi shot back in turn.
An eerie silence fell across the room as Sergei and Misha considered the proposal.
“Don’t you just love Alexi’s sense of humor?” Sergei said in uneasy tone to Misha.
With a quick wink to Alexi, then back to Sergei, Misha replied, “He wasn’t joking.”
Sergei looked nervously between the two. A bead of swea
t developed on his forehead. He shifted in his metal office chair and tried to gauge the seriousness of the last response.
“I’m joking, you idiot,” Alexi finally blurted out loud, now laughing with Misha.
Sergei joined in with the laughter, pretending not to be offended.
“Ok, I’m off. Make sure you keep a close eye on the girl,” Alexi reiterated.
As he headed for the exit, he turned and walked to Serena’s room and checked her door. Satisfied it was locked, he flashed a short wave to the other two and left.
Turning to Misha, Sergei said, “Cards?”
“You still owe me from last time, you slag.”
“I’m good for it,” Sergei protested.
Rotating his chair down on all four legs, Misha stood up and dragged it over to an old office desk.
“I’m keeping track,” Misha smirked, then said simply, “Deal.”
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
As the two played cards, they talked and laughed, with Misha continuing to increase his winnings. An hour later, Misha broke out a bottle of vodka. Without cups or glasses, the two drank straight from the bottle, passing it between them. Within the next hour, their loud voices carried through the dingy office and into Serena’s room at the back of the building.
“Useless drunks. I’ll bet their parents are so proud,” she said to herself angrily. “Hey, you morons, how about some real food?”
Serena got off the musty old couch and walked to the door. Bending over, she lined her eye up with the keyhole. Through the tiny opening, she could just make out two figures playing cards on the far side of the room, thirty feet away. As she watched, the two passed a clear bottle between them.
“Just as I thought… hard at work,” she snarled. “Hope you choke on that bottle, jerks.”
A moment later, Misha took a long slug from the bottle. As the fiery liquid seared the back of this throat, he coughed, knocking himself off balance. Still leaning back on the rear two legs of his chair, the sudden shift in his weight pushed him beyond the center of gravity and he toppled over on his back.
Serena laughed quietly and said, “Serves you right, genius.”
With a loud roar of laughter from Sergei, Misha rolled his heavy frame over onto his knees, then stood quickly, trying to mitigate his embarrassment. He casually straightened himself out and took another sip of vodka.
“I was getting up anyway,” he growled.
“Yeah, and so was I… off your mother,” Sergei shot back in tasteless humor, still laughing at the spectacle.
Misha ignored the young thug’s comment and replied, “I’m hungry.”
He turned and grabbed his musty tweed sport jacket and slung it over his shoulder. Looking back at Sergei, he said, “You stay here. Watch the girl.”
“Uh uh, I’m coming with you old man. Last time you brought back food, I ate the cardboard box instead. Your taste in food sucks… just like your taste in woman,” Sergei teased.
Drunk and humiliated, Misha had had enough. He drew his Glock 19 from his jacket and pointed it in Sergei’s face. Suddenly, the laughing stopped.
“You’re getting on my nerves. I’ve killed people for less. Don’t push it,” Misha spat out acidly.
Sergei froze. Misha’s cold stare told the story. One slip of the tongue and he’d be a statistic before he hit the ground.
Quickly he forced a laugh.
“Hey, relax, friend. I was just kidding,” he said, trying to schmooze his way out of the jam. “How ‘bout we get some food. I’ll buy.”
Misha’s cheap nature detracted from his drunken anger.
“You give me the money and I’ll bring something back.”
“Nah, I’ll go with you. Besides, I need to pick up more vodka,” Sergei replied, trying to entice him with alcohol.
“We can’t. One of us has to stay with the girl. Remember what Alexi said?”
With a look of indifference, Sergei responded, “Eh, don’t worry about him. He’ll never know. Where’s she going to go anyway? The door’s locked and there are no windows in there.”
Misha thought about it for a moment.
“And we can stop off for some Cuban’s. I’m getting tired of these cheap cigars we’ve been smoking,” Sergei offered.
“Ok,” Misha said simply, too drunk to think of a better reply.
Sergei leaped to his feet and grabbed his jacket. Leading the way out, he flashed an unconcerned look toward the back room, then left.
Serena lost sight of them as they moved past the keyhole. She heard their voices fade, then the door slam shut. She was alone… alone for the first time since her capture. For a moment, she felt relief.
“Finally, some peace,” she said. “Take your time, idiots.”
She stood up and headed back to the foul smelling couch.
Suddenly, she stopped. The quiet in the room seemed conspicuous, out of place. She walked back to the door and squinted through the keyhole once more.
“Wow, I really am alone,” she said aloud, in amazement.
She placed her hand on the doorknob and tried to turn it.
“Locked,” she said under her breath.
She rattled the doorknob, and pushed on the door, hoping it would somehow spring open.
“Nothing,” she said, disappointed.
In one coordinated move, she rotated the doorknob and thrust her shoulder into the door. Suddenly, the crack between the door and the doorjamb widened. Again, she slammed her shoulder into the door.
“Hmm, wider,” she remarked.
Serena took a deep breath, moved away from the door, then quickly thrust her weight back at it with all her energy, turning the doorknob at impact.
Instantly, the lock broke through the old wooden frame and the door burst open.
She stumbled forward, caught her balance, then stood for moment and surveyed her surroundings.
“No way!” She whispered. “I’m out.”
Looking back at the broken doorjamb, she immediately felt fear.
“When they see this, I’m dead,” she said to herself nervously.
Looking around the old dirty office building, the reality of her situation finally struck her.
“I’m free,” she said aloud.
She mind concentrated on one thought: Escape!
Instantly, she ran to the door. Turning the handle, she opened the door and looked down a long hallway.
“Empty.”
She immediately stepped into the hall and quietly moved toward a stairwell at the end. Moments later, she leaned over the railing and listened for any signs of humanity.
“Nothing. I’m completely alone,” she said excitedly under her breath.
Tiptoeing down the stairs, she stopped every few feet and listened. Hearing nothing, she worked her way lower. Descending through several flights of stairs, she reached the bottom. Stepping into a small foyer, she looked out through the windows of the main doors to the building.
“Well, it’s now or never,” she said to herself, anxiety now causing her to shake slightly.
She pushed the door open slightly, trying to minimize the sound and slipped into the open air. For the first time in a month, she felt the sun’s rays on her skin. The deep warmth felt good.
Outside the building was the main parking lot. Rundown from lack of use and upkeep, large weeds grew up through the cracks in the tarmac. She looked around for cars, but found none.
Just beyond the parking lot, she saw an old road and heavy forest that lined both sides. With one last look, she darted across the parking lot and headed for the road. Seconds later, she hid behind a large tree and scanned the road for traffic. Closing her eyes, she listened intently for any sounds of life.
“Nothing, the area’s deserted,” she said, her body shaking slightly from nervous tension.
In a split second decision, she ran to her left up the street. Running along the grass between the shoulder of the road and the trees, she made continual sweeps for traffic. A minute later, she st
opped and listened.
“Shit, a car,” she said in frightened tone.
She leaped into the woods and lay on her stomach. In seconds, an old car drove by. She listened closely. Farther down the road, she heard it drive by her captor’s old building. Standing and listening once more, she heard nothing. Immediately, she raced back along the grass, continuing to look over her shoulder every few steps.
Nearly fifteen minutes had passed and the trees thinned out. Panting heavily, she stopped and listened for cars. There were none. Far up ahead, she saw signs of civilization. Rows of apartment buildings lined the horizon, their tops showing just above the distant treetops, two miles away.
She listened again, then sprinted along the grass. Moments later, she saw movement up ahead. Quickly, she darted back into the wood and lay motionless behind a tree. With her heart pounding wildly, she watched as an old work truck drove slowly by. She breathed a momentary sigh of relief, then heard another car approaching. Lying perfectly still, she saw the large modern sedan drive by.
Suddenly, she froze. In the front seat, she saw Misha’s unmistakable profile.
“Oh my God, this is it. They’ll be looking for you shortly,” she said to herself.
As the car rounded a bend further down the road, she instantly sprang from the trees and ran toward the distant apartment buildings.
Running at full speed, she panted wildly, her lungs desperate for air. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she overheated from exhaustion. Minutes later, she began to slow as the trees now disappeared and the land opened up into large fields. Exposed and vulnerable, panic raced through her body. With over a mile to go, she searched for anything she could use as cover along the way. There was nothing.
Up ahead, another car approached. Franticly, she looked for somewhere to hide. With the open fields flat and featureless, she had little choice: she continued on.
The car slowed. Serena held her stare straight ahead, pretending to be a jogger. As she ran out of wind and finally stopped, the car continued on by. Relief swept over her, but only for a moment. Farther up ahead, another car approached.
Serena took several large breathes, clearing out her lungs. Digging deep, she began to run once more.
Curse of Atlantis Page 12