Davos placed a hand on Alexander’s shoulder. “Stavros, I once thought as you do. However, things change and we need to change with them. Our country is bankrupt, unemployment is at an all-time high, and illegal immigration threatens to overwhelm our social services. We have to act now before it is too late and the country collapses into anarchy, or perhaps even civil war.”
“Sir, you are correct in that these are all important issues facing the country. However, at this time, the brewing confrontation with Turkey is the greatest threat to our country. Would you not agree?”
Davos inclined his head. “That is something we, the men in this room, can and will manage without a full-scale war breaking out. Now please, take a seat at the table and all will be explained.”
Alexander’s head was swimming. He had known Davos for close to thirty years. It was Davos who had steered Alexander’s career. He had even recommended him for command of the nation’s Special Forces. Not once had he suspected that Davos had harbored plans to seize power for himself. Reluctantly, Alexander sat down and looked over at the faces of the men planning the unthinkable. He recognized the two civilians in the group. Both were former military men. One man ran Greece’s largest bank and the other a national media outlet. The two other military men were from Greece’s navy and airforce.
“Gentlemen, I have asked General Stavros Alexander to join us this evening, so that he can judge for himself the righteousness of our struggle,” Davos said.
“Good evening, Stavros. It is good to see you again,” said Rear Admiral Tarakas, the commander of the Greek naval forces in the Aegean Sea.
Alexander nodded his head in greeting. He had never liked Tarakas. He found the man overly ambitious and pigheaded.
Davos continued. “Things are unfolding just as we had expected them to. Prime Minister Kouris has all but gone into seclusion. He is either unable or unwilling to deal with the ever-growing crisis between ourselves and the Turks. A situation, I might add, that is totally under our control.”
“People all across Greece are clamoring for leadership…real leadership,” said the banker, a slender man with thick glasses perched on his hawk-like nose.
“And we will supply them with that leadership,” replied Davos. “Unfortunately, the old guard has seen fit to turn their backs on us; therefore, we will move forward without them.”
“How do you propose to do that?” asked the admiral. “We need their support and financing if we are to succeed.”
“The Teutonic fools think they are invulnerable. Well, I say they are not,” said Davos firmly. “It is time for a change in Europe and I intend for Greece to be at the forefront of that revolution. Like Greece, all across the continent, economic instability combined with mass immigration from the Third World has created a climate ripe for us to exploit. We are not alone; there are like-minded people all across Europe and the Americas ready to bring about change, violently if need be.”
“What did the Germans say when you spoke to them?” asked the media mogul, a man with short, black hair and several gold chains hanging around his thick neck.
“The same as they always do,” said Davos. “They told me to be patient. They still don’t believe the conditions required for this kind of change are out there. They are wrong and I’m going to prove it to them. Since they won’t help us, we will take their money and do things ourselves. After Greece comes under our control, we’ll help finance revolutions in Bulgaria, Romania, and the Balkans. Within a year, an axis of steel will be established in southern Europe. General Kaba is an old and trusted friend. He sees the same opportunity for renewal in his county as well, that is why he is helping us. ”
All the men in the room, except Alexander, tapped their hands loudly on the table in applause at Davos’ declaration.
Alexander felt a shiver go down his spine. “General, please excuse the interruption, but I have no idea what you are talking about. Who is the old guard?”
“The old guard, Stavros, are the people your grandfather helped escape to South America,” replied Davos.
“Sir, you’re talking about the Nazis. Surely they have all died or are feeble old men by now.”
“Correct. However, some of their descendants have clandestinely carried on the legacy of their forefathers.”
Alexander could not believe what he was hearing. “You honestly can’t mean that there are modern-day Nazis living in South America.”
“That is precisely what I mean,” replied Davos. “Right after the end of the Second World War, the men who had fled Germany to avoid prosecution for their war crimes began to plan for their return. They knew that it would not happen right away. In fact, they knew that it would probably not happen in their lifetimes. However, once the conditions were right, their offspring would return to claim what was rightfully theirs.”
“And just how would they do that?”
“With over twenty billion dollars’ worth of stolen treasure still in their hands, they can easily afford to buy their way back into power. You see, Stavros, times have changed. In today’s world, a good PR firm is more powerful in shaping public opinion than a hundred angry protest rallies. Modern day national socialism is not men in military uniforms decorated with swastikas, it is a worldwide movement of highly influential men and women with a common vision of how the world should be led.”
“The problem, General Alexander, is that the Germans have become set in their ways,” said the admiral. “They rebuffed us when we asked them for financial support to overthrow the government.”
“Unbelievable,” muttered Alexander.
“Sir, that begs the question. How do you propose to get your hands on the Nazis’ treasure?” the air force general asked Davos.
Davos looked over at Alexander. “Stavros will deliver it to us.”
“I will?” blurted out Alexander.
“Yes, you will. I know this will come as a bit of a surprise to you, but I knew your father and he knew more about your grandfather’s activities then he ever told you. Your father was a loyal Greek and an ardent supporter of the national socialist movement. When he died and you inherited his and your grandfather’s possessions, I had one of my men bug your house. He also hacked into your computer. That is how I found out about your grandfather’s diary and more importantly, the secret bank account in Madrid.”
“My God, you’re the person who sent me that message threatening my sister and the peace conference, aren’t you?”
Davos grinned. “Correct. It wasn’t me on the tape; however I did give the order for it to happen. Please understand that the Germans know who we and our men are, it was necessary to bring in an outside party to obtain what we need.”
“My housekeeper, Mrs. Karezi, what have you done with her?” said Alexander, his tone becoming angry.
“She is on holiday in England. I’m not a monster. I just made sure that any messages she tried to send you were deleted, giving you the false impression that something sinister had happened to her.”
“What about my friend, Lorga? I was told he committed suicide. It’s not true, is it?”
Davos shook his head. “You sent him to the bank before we were ready to act. He had to be stopped.” He took a drink of water, then continued. “Gentlemen, in the next few days, thanks to the people Alexander hired, we will get our hands on a fortune that will turn all of our dreams into reality.”
“Sir, are you still planning on attending the conference in Portugal?” asked the admiral.
“Oh, most definitely,” answered Davos. “The Prime Minister had asked me to attend. Besides, it is there that the revolution will begin, and with the help of the media, I will be catapulted into the limelight and the Prime Minister’s office.” Davos turned his head and looked into Alexander’s eyes. “Stavros, as the commander of our nation’s Special Forces, I—we—need your support when we make our move. Can we count on you?”
Alexander was still trying to understand everything he had been told. He knew that the people si
tting around the table were powerful men who were used to getting what they wanted. His gut told him to be wary. “Sir, you’ll have to forgive me if I respectfully decline your offer.”
“Will you oppose us, Stavros?” asked the admiral.
“I am a loyal Greek soldier. Unless I am given an order to stop you, I will not,” replied Alexander, giving the answer he knew Davos wanted to hear.
“Then none shall be given,” Davos said, smiling. “Now gentlemen, please leave everything to me. I want you all to go home and await my next call. Stavros, could you please stay awhile? There are a couple of things we need to discuss privately. It shouldn’t take long. Your helicopter has been told to wait for you.”
One by one, all of the men except for Alexander stood and shook Davos’ hand before leaving. Alexander remained in his seat, feeling drained. He wished that he hadn’t been brought to Corfu in the first place. He was tired and just wanted to get home.
When the last man left, the door to the room closed. One of the guards remained in the room with his back to the wall, his gaze fixed squarely on Alexander.
Davos stood and walked over by Alexander. He had a serious look on his face. “Stavros, I have known you for a long time. I wish you would have joined us, but I respect your decision. What I didn’t tell the other men here tonight is that the men you hired to obtain the information in the safe-deposit box in Madrid somehow escaped a trap that I had set for them.”
Alexander’s heart began to race. “Sir, I don’t understand.”
“I sent a team of men to recover the book the instant your men stepped outside of the bank. It would appear that the old guard took exception to my plan and tried to intercept the Americans when they left the premises. The only thing I can think of, is that someone in the bank must have tipped them off. A firefight between Spiros’ men and some old-guard Germans ensued. Whatever happened after that is unclear. I am still waiting for a report from one of the survivors.”
“Sir, with all due respect, this is utter madness,” said Alexander.
Davos leaned forward, his expression suddenly cold and menacing. “Also, I have been informed that your traitorous sister has gone missing. Do you know anything about that?”
Alexander was no stranger to fear; however the evil glint in Davos’ eye made his skin crawl. He knew there was no point in lying. “Sir, she is under protective custody until the UN conference begins.”
“Why did you do that?” Davos snapped. “She is a whore and a traitor. She must be eliminated if we are to succeed. She, of all people, is capable of rallying the public to her side and stopping our revolution before it begins. Social media is an unbelievably powerful tool these days. We’re not the Chinese. There is no way we could shut down the Internet, even if we wanted to. If she gets in front of a single camera, she will finish us.”
Alexander was stunned at Davos’ declaration. Instantly, his back was up. “My God. It was you who tried to kill her in Oregon, and on board her flight to Ottawa, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was, and if you hadn’t hired a new bodyguard for your sister, she’d be dead already and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Alexander stood up and glared down at Davos. “Elena is the only family I have. You may be my superior officer, sir, but I am warning you to leave my sister alone.”
In the back of the room, the guard cocked the charging lever on his submachine gun and pointed the weapon at Alexander.
Davos was quiet for a moment, and then he gently placed a hand on Alexander’s shoulder. His face softened and his tone became cordial. “Stavros, I’ll make you a deal. If you join us, I promise to leave your sister alone. She can be your problem until the coup is over. Just keep her mouth shut.”
Alexander was torn. He could not turn against his country, nor could he risk losing his sister. “General, let me think about your offer. I’ll call you in the morning with my answer.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear. Come walk me out,” said Davos.
Outside, Davos embraced Alexander. “Stavros, I need your support. Failure is not an option.”
Alexander did not reply. He waited until Davos was comfortably seated in his car before closing the door on the general’s BMW. He stepped back and watched the car pull away, leaving through the fort’s arched front gate. A chill colder than a winter’s day ran through his body. He knew Davos all too well. He was not going to give in. He wanted Elena dead.
13
Safe House
Alberta, Canada
Elena Milos turned her face up toward the cloudless sky and felt the warm rays of the sun on her skin. She took a deep breath of fresh air and smiled. For the first time in ages, she felt relaxed. The tall Rocky Mountains in the distance reminded her of summers back home as a child, when her parents would take her and her brother camping in the Pierian Mountains.
Sam walked over, carrying two cups. She smiled and offered one to Elena, who readily accepted the green tea.
“It was very kind of Mister Cardinal’s uncle to offer us the use of his cottage for a few days,” said Elena.
“I think he likes the cheque he’ll be getting more than our company,” replied Sam. “I heard him tell Gordon that he’s going to drive to Calgary for a few days. He’s a lifelong bachelor and a bit set in his ways. I suspect he’ll head to town and visit with some of his retired friends until we’re gone.”
Built on one hundred and eighty acres of land, the picturesque cottage had access to a mid-sized lake full of trout. Deer and other wildlife roamed the surrounding woods. A dirt road was the only access to and from the property. The nearest town was a ten-minute drive away.
Elena looked around. “Have you seen Mister Makris this morning?” she asked, enquiring about her new bodyguard.
“He’s taking a walk around the farm with Gordon. I suspect he wants to acquaint himself with the layout of the place.” Like Michell, Sam had her reservations about Mrs. Milos’ bodyguard, but kept her opinions to herself.
“Have you heard how things went in Madrid?” queried Elena.
Sam shook her head. “I’ll give Mike a call in a few hours and see if he’s heard.”
A horse neighed in the nearby stable. Elena smiled and walked over to the animal. She had seen it earlier and had brought along an apple to feed it. With the apple held out for the horse to see, Elena gently ran her hand along the horse’s jet-black head before she fed it the snack.
“I’ve always liked Josephine,” said Sam, who had followed Elena to the stable. “She’s my favorite.”
“How many horses are there on the farm?”
Sam looked about. “I think there are eight or nine. Gordon will know for sure.”
“Do you think anyone will mind if I take her for a ride?”
“I doubt it. When Gordon and Makris make their way back to the farmhouse, we can ask him.”
“Do you ride?”
Sam scrunched up her face. “Lord, no! I was bitten by a horse when I was a kid and have shied away from them ever since.”
Elena patted Josephine on the neck. “I love riding horses. I find it quite relaxing.”
An hour later, with Josephine saddled, Elena went for a ride around the farm, never straying far from her companions.
“A few days of rest and relaxation will do Mrs. Milos a world of good,” said Cardinal, as he placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder.
“A death threat is not an easy thing to live with,” she replied.
Makris walked towards Sam and Cardinal, with an unimpressed look on his face. “We should have stayed in the States. Your country’s gun laws are as bad or worse than most of Europe.”
“Not everyone needs to be armed north of the border,” countered Cardinal. “Besides, we’re in my backyard. I know this property like the back of my hand. If there’s any trouble, we have plenty of hunting rifles and shotguns in my uncle’s home to keep a small army at bay for weeks.”
Makris’ face told Cardinal that he didn’t like that answ
er. “Will Mrs. Milos be able to access her email out here?”
“Yes, but for her own safety, she shouldn’t use her personal account,” said Sam. “If anyone is trying to track her down, her email account would be the easiest way to do it. I have set up an account back at Polaris for her to use. All of the correspondence coming in regarding the upcoming conference in Portugal will be there. She can use my personal laptop to read, but not respond to, her email.”
“A good idea,” noted Makris. “I don’t use computers very much and wouldn’t have thought of such a thing.”
“Unfortunately, the world is full of wannabe hackers. Look at what happened to General Alexander. It doesn’t take much to find out everything about a person. Anything from where they live, to their personal bank records.”
Cardinal looked down at his watch. “Do you think Mrs. Milos would like to go fishing this afternoon? I know a great spot on the lake where we could sit and fish the rest of the day away.”
“Sounds like a plan,” responded Sam. “However, let’s not rush her off her horse. She could use the time to unwind.”
“I’ll get the fishing gear ready, just in case she agrees,” Cardinal said, before heading back to the cottage.
Makris grumbled something presumably unpleasant in Greek to himself as he followed after Cardinal.
Sam stood there, watching Elena as she made her way past a couple of other horses who joined in the fun and began to trot beside her and Josephine. She wasn’t sure how she would feel if someone had threatened to kill her. She doubted that she would be planning on attending a peace conference shortly thereafter, and giving the criminals the opportunity to fulfill their threat. Sam had to give Mrs. Milos credit, she had more courage than most other people. She silently prayed that their time at the cottage stayed under the radar, and that no one found out where they were, or they were in trouble. Cardinal may have sounded confident, but the fact of the matter was that they were essentially on their own. The nearest detachment of Royal Canadian Mounted Police was thirty minutes away. By the time they got a call and responded, everyone on the farm would be dead.
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