by Kim Baldwin
They tied off the Zodiac, and Switch led the way to the below-deck offices via a freight elevator used to transport food to the galley. Manos’s tour and her rounds aboard the Pegasus had given her ample time to scope out the lesser-used avenues of transit on the ship, where they were less likely to encounter anyone who might challenge an unfamiliar face.
The crew offices were all dark and the hallway deserted. Switch picked the lock on the chief steward’s door in a few seconds, and it took Allegro only another couple of minutes to get inside his safe for the keycard to the master suite.
“I hope the big-boy version is more of a challenge,” Allegro said as she handed the blue plastic to Switch with a grin. “I could have phoned this one in.”
They headed to the family’s quarters via the crew stairwell that the maids and stewards used. After slipping into Lykourgos’s suite undetected, Switch led the way into the bedroom.
Allegro let out a low whistle when Switch opened the panel that hid the massive wall safe. “Now you’re talking.” She set to work and had it open in less than ten minutes. “Voilà. Save the applause, please.”
The wall safe contained enough gold and jewels to finance a small country, along with a wealth of other treasures. But the Theotokos wasn’t one of them.
“It’s got to be here,” Switch insisted as they stared at the safe. “Where else could it be?”
Allegro took a couple of steps back and started looking the room over, meticulously scanning the walls. “My guess? A yacht this size? Some kind of hidden room, maybe. You know, in case of pirates.”
“I didn’t keep searching after I found the safe,” Switch said. “I was just so sure it would be in there.”
“You start over there.” Allegro pointed to the opposite wall. “I’ll take this side.”
They focused on the myriad of large art panels that ringed the room, since one had hidden the safe, and after much searching, Switch found the subtle trigger to the one that hid Lykourgos’s safe room. When they swung back the panel, they found a solid-steel door, with an electronic panel beside it that looked much more complex than the one Allegro had just cracked.
“Three for three, coming right up,” Allegro said. “Stand back, and watch a genius at work.”
Despite the boast, Switch began to get nervous when twenty-five minutes had passed with Allegro still sweating over the high-tech electronic lock. “Problems?” she asked.
“Why? Got somewhere else to be?” Allegro shot back with annoyance.
“Someone’s touchy about their less than successful attempt at showing off.”
“Look who’s talking, Ms. ‘I can’t help but screw Lykourgos’s daughter in public for the world to see.’”
“I didn’t screw her,” Switch said.
“Came close enough.”
“Hey, I—”
“Really slick,” Allegro said. “With one of the country’s public figures? I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up in the papers. You just know someone taped it. I’m sure Lykourgos is going to be thrilled when he finds out the bosun is banging his daughter. Not to mention Pierce.”
“He won’t find out.”
“I sure as hell hope not. You know how he is about discretion and publicity.” Although all ops’ identities were protected, Pierce was strict about his people avoiding the media because you never knew who your next client or what your next job would be, and being made on the job was a big no-no.
“If someone had taped us,” Switch said, “it would be out there by now.”
“Maybe you got lucky this time, but I’d stay away from her if I were you.”
“We’re out after tonight, so enough with the oration.”
“Shhh.” Allegro hushed her as the decoder ran another number. “You guys looked hot together,” Allegro said when the code failed again. “She’s got it bad for you, too.”
Switch’s heart fluttered. “You got that from a kiss in a dark hallway?”
“Hell, yeah. You mean you didn’t feel it?”
“I…I did, I guess.” Switch looked out the large window at the blue sea.
“Hey, hey. Stay focused.” Allegro ran another algorithm. “I need your head here, not between Ariadne’s legs.”
What a sweet image. “I wasn’t—”
“The hell you weren’t. I know that lo—”
Both of them froze when they heard the loud click.
“Bingo.” Allegro stood and bowed. “I present to you, the virtuoso that is me.” The lights to the safe room were connected to the code, because the room lit up as soon as the door slid back. Switch entered while Allegro stayed behind as lookout.
The safe room contained boxes of food and a large supply of water, as well as other emergency essentials, but she spotted the Theotokos at once. It was hard to miss, with the shrine built around it. The gold icon was centered on a pedestal, surrounded by candles, other smaller icons, and a picture of Lykourgos and his family. A kneeling bench had been placed in front.
“The dude really believes in all this,” Allegro said from the door.
“Hey, whatever gets you through,” Switch replied. “At least his drug of choice is harmless.”
“There’s nothing harmless about religion.”
“You mean there’s nothing harmless about the bull crap around it. Religion without the circus of church and politics is nothing more than faith and a source of strength for those who choose to believe in it.”
Allegro shrugged. “Whatever. It’s not my choice, anyway.”
Switch carefully lifted the icon from its stand, surprised at its weight. “I’m sure this came in something.” She looked around and found a hardcover case on a shelf. She placed it in there and secured the case. “Part one is done,” she said. “Part two, confront Lykourgos.”
Allegro closed the door to the safe room and they left everything as they found it, then made their way back to the transom where they’d tied off the Zodiac.
Allegro got in and Switch handed over the icon. “Be careful with it. It’s priceless.”
“Hey, if I can find and return a huge-ass diamond, then I can handle a piece of gold.” Allegro was never shy about touting past accomplishments, and her recovery of the famed Setarehe Abi Rang, or Blue Star Diamond, was one of the EOO’s finest achievements.
Switch jumped into the Zodiac, too, and started the engine. “Let’s get it away from here before someone sees us.”
As they beached the inflatable on shore, Switch’s cell vibrated. The caller ID told her it was Pierce.
“We have the icon,” she told him as soon as she answered.
“Good job,” he replied. “But we’ve got a hitch. TQ’s in the wind. Dilbert lost her when she switched hotels in the middle of the night, and we haven’t managed to track her down yet. I’ll let you know when we do.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Off Santorini Island, Greece
Kostas waited until his guests had all left the festivities, the older generation retiring to the rooms he’d booked for them at the Ambassador, and his children and their friends to their nightclubbing after parties. Then he escorted his wife to the suite he’d reserved for them both.
As he slipped his keycard into the lock, Christine said gently, “You needn’t bother with seeing me inside and comfortable, darling. I know you want to get back to the Pegasus. Go on. I’ll be fine.”
“I love how you know me so well.” He kissed her.
“As long as she’s your only mistress.” She laid her hand on his chest and smiled up at him with such love and trust that his heart warmed. “I can live with that.”
“You are my greatest treasure, now and always.” Kostas kissed her again and opened the door for her. “Sotiris will be outside, if you need anything.” He’d arranged a room for the family’s bodyguards on the same floor they were staying and had notified Christine’s to stand watch until he saw her lights go out. He beckoned the man over before heading to the hotel’s helipad.
As he and
his own bodyguard flew back to the ship, he stared up at the clear night, full of stars. He always preferred sleeping aboard the Pegasus to anywhere else, even his ornate, comfy bed in suburban Athens. He was born to be at sea and felt most at home there, but tonight he was especially eager to get back aboard his yacht.
He’d awakened this morning with a vigor and robustness he hadn’t experienced in many months; the Theotokos was healing him. When he’d dressed for dinner, he’d seen color in his cheeks again, and even after many hours entertaining his guests, he wasn’t tired at all. Oh, his cough was still there, but that was better, too. He’d had just two minor episodes all evening.
He needed only to continue venerating the icon even more fervently than before, and soon all of his cancer would be eradicated. Then he could return the Theotokos to the monastery.
As soon as the chopper landed on the upper deck, Kostas headed to the master suite. “I won’t need you any more tonight,” he told his bodyguard when they reached the door. “It’s been a long day. Get some rest.”
“Thank you, sir. Good night, Mr. Lykourgos,” the man said, and headed away toward the crew quarters.
Kostas hurried to his bedroom, his heartbeat accelerating with anticipation. He opened the panel and punched in the code, and the door slid back.
It wasn’t there.
The pedestal was just as it was, and the rest of the room was the same as he’d left it.
But the Theotokos was gone.
In disbelief, he ran to the pedestal and searched frantically behind and around it.
Then he noticed the case for the icon was missing, too.
Either Fotis had gotten back on board or someone else had been here.
He hurried to the shipboard phone and rang his head of security. “Seal off the ship immediately,” he shouted. “Don’t let anyone leave. There’s been a theft from my suite.” His hand shook from anger and frustration, and he gripped the phone tighter. “Assemble all personnel immediately on the aft main deck.”
“Sir, I believe some of the stewards are ashore on leave,” the voice on the other end said.
“Get them back here, now! I want answers!”
Kostas searched the safe room again after he hung up, though he knew it was futile. He just still couldn’t believe the icon had been stolen.
Almost as an afterthought, he opened his wall safe to see if the thief had gotten in there, too, but the contents seemed to be just as he had left them.
How? And who? He hurried up to the aft deck, praying some member of his crew had a clue that could tell him what had happened.
After all the staff on board had gathered, he told them about the theft and asked them all loudly whether anyone had seen someone near the family’s quarters that night, or a stranger on board. No one stepped forward. He then asked, even louder, whether anyone had seen anything at all suspicious or unusual. More silence.
So, he spoke to each of the assembled deckhands, stewards, engineers, and other staff in turn, one by one. He studied their faces and mannerisms as he did, trying to find some sign of deceit, though he’d been blind to Fotis’s betrayal until he caught him in the act.
Every face he talked to was familiar. Long-time employees, most of them. Trusted. No one seemed uneasy under his questions. If a new traitor was on board, he couldn’t tell who it was.
“Someone has to know something!” he shouted after he’d questioned everyone present. But no one, apparently, had information to help him.
He hoped that when all the staffers on shore leave had returned, one of them might be more helpful. But two hours later, when all crewmembers but one had been accounted for and questioned, he was no closer to finding out who was behind it.
“Where is Alex?” he asked his security chief when informed about the missing bosun. “Why hasn’t he returned to the ship?”
“He didn’t answer the cell number he gave us,” the man replied. “We left a message to return to the ship ASAP, but he hasn’t responded, and he didn’t tell anyone where he was going.”
“Let me have that number. I want to call him myself.”
*
Akrotiri, Santorini Island, Greece
Next morning
Ariadne rose early, edgy and in need of distraction. She’d humored her friends the night before and barhopped with them in Fira again after her father’s banquet, though she’d really been in no mood for loud music and busy clubs. Not that they’d noticed. She’d ended up spending most of her time in quiet corners chatting with her bodyguard, while her friends danced and flirted. Melina seemed to be enjoying the much-needed ego boost and was feeling a lot better with all the attention she was getting.
Ariadne’s only amusement had been when she’d run into the blonde again from the previous night of clubbing, a woman whose name she’d completely forgotten. She’d been so preoccupied with Alex at the time that she couldn’t focus on what Niki was saying, though she’d been about to leave for a quieter bar Niki had suggested when she ran into Alex outside the ladies’ room.
Niki was pleasant and attentive both nights, and obviously interested in her, so Ariadne took her up on her offer for breakfast the next morning. She was in no hurry to return to the yacht and could use the flirty diversion.
This morning she’d gotten up at six thirty and, too restless to wait for her friends to awaken, wandered down to the hotel’s restaurant for coffee and found Melina having breakfast.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Ariadne asked when she approached.
“I’m depressed.” Melina rested her head against her hand. “I’m not ready for the summer to be over.”
“In other words, you’re not ready for reality.”
“Why do guys flock to gay women? It’s not fair.”
“Now I understand where the depression is really coming from,” Ariadne said. “It’s because we’re not interested. Straight women try too hard, and guys need a challenge.”
Melina mulled over that for a few seconds. “Hey, let’s get out of here.” She perked up. “Just me and you, and you can tell me all about how your breed lures our men.”
“I have a breakfast appointment at nine.”
“Oh, yeah. That Niki woman.”
“Yup.”
“Are you into her?” Melina asked. “Or is this a quest for redemption?”
“Redemption?”
“You know, for kissing a guy.”
“Neither,” Ariadne replied. “I thought it would be nice to chat over breakfast. She’s fun.”
“If it were a nice chat and fun you were interested in, you’d be having breakfast with me. You’re not fooling me, Lykourgos. You want redemption.”
What if she did? There was nothing wrong with spending a few hours with someone interested in her, and she could surely use a break from Alex. “Yeah…maybe I do.”
“Okay, so I’ll leave when she shows up.”
Ariadne liked the idea of some time alone with Melina. “I’ll call Lambros, tell him to get ready.” She always notified her bodyguard. Not because she wanted to, or thought it necessary, but because it was father’s orders.
“Just me and you, please?” Melina stuck out her lips in a pout. “Just this once?”
“But Dad—”
“Call Lambros when you get to your appointment. But let’s just have an hour alone.”
“You’re right. Come on, let’s go.”
Melina got up. “Maybe I need to try for faux lesbian,” she said. “I think that should be my strategic approach.”
They walked around the small village with its picturesque tavernas and quaint shops. Ariadne had her first cup of coffee at one stop, and around eight thirty, they headed to the Seagull café at the harbor for her breakfast date with Niki.
They were early, so Ariadne plucked a complimentary newspaper from the stand and chose a table close to the water, around the corner from the entrance so they wouldn’t have to deal with the noise of tourists and traffic passing by.
“Could we get
any farther away from the waiter and everyone else?” Melina asked.
Ariadne looked around. “Who’s everyone else? You mean the only other couple here?”
They settled in, and Ariadne lost herself in the financial page while Melina talked to herself about the earrings she’d bought that morning and which dress she planned to wear them with.
Both women looked up when they heard a speedboat approach. Niki and her brother waved at them.
“She brought her brother.” Melina pouted.
“He’s probably dropping her off.”
The boat pulled up to the seawall, close to the table where they were seated.
“Hi there,” Niki’s brother Phaidon said. The tall young man had hit on Ariadne at The Koo Club, but had been gracious when he’d found out she was gay and instead introduced her to his sister. “Is Melina your new guard?” he asked, looking around as if searching for someone.
“Hi, Phaidon.” Melina smiled. “And yes, she’s my responsibility today.”
“I hope you don’t mind. Big brother wanted to join us for a bite,” Niki said.
“Not at all. The more the merrier,” Ariadne replied.
“See, good thing I came along.” He grinned at her. “Or you’d be filled with regrets for rejecting me.”
Niki spread her arms and twirled. “So, how do you like her?” she asked, indicating the shiny Sunseeker Comanche they’d ridden up in.
“She’s a beauty,” Ariadne said.
“Looks fast,” Melina added.
“Want to go for a spin before we settle for breakfast?” Niki asked.
“Yes!” Melina exclaimed. “I love speed.”
Ariadne didn’t respond. The siblings looked benign and sweet, but she wasn’t crazy about the idea of getting into any kind of contraption with someone she didn’t know, let alone a boat with that much horsepower.
“Just a short ride. I promise not to go fast,” Phaidon said as though he’d read her mind.
