by Kim Baldwin
“The fact that you almost died doesn’t bother you, but a one-inch scar does?” Ariadne smiled.
“Let’s go, girls.” Lykourgos got in the driver’s seat.
“I’m getting there.” Melina was moving exceptionally slow because of the drugs they’d given her, but Ariadne got her comfortably situated and then slipped into the front passenger seat beside her father before anyone took notice of them.
“So, what was that all about?” Melina asked after a few moments of silence.
Ariadne knew immediately what Melina was referring to. “You mean the fact that Alex is a woman or that she’s a private contractor?”
“You knew?” her father asked, looking over at her in surprise.
“I knew about the first,” she replied. “I found out when I walked in on her a few days ago.”
“Jesus, why didn’t you tell us?” Melina punched her playfully on the shoulder from the backseat.
“She asked me not to, because she desperately needed the job.”
Lykourgos shook his head. “She was there to keep an eye on me.”
“But why? What’s going on, Dad?”
“How did I not see she was a woman?” Melina mumbled from behind them. “No wonder she’s so attractive and soft.”
Lykourgos lifted an eyebrow and eyed her through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, she had a crush on him,” Ariadne told her father.
“Maybe I still do.” Melina laughed. “What do I care if the dude’s a woman?” She laughed again. “I guess I’d probably miss—”
“We’re not alone, Mel.”
Melina sighed. “Not that it matters, anyway. It’s obvious she’s into you and not me.”
They remained silent after that, and within a scant few minutes, Melina started to snore.
“Why was Alex watching you, Dad?” Ariadne asked. “You never answered.”
“Because I did something.” He glanced up at the rearview mirror, apparently to confirm that Melina was indeed out cold.
“What did you do?”
“I took something that wasn’t mine.”
“So, you stole something?”
“I had it stolen.”
“What is it?”
“It was an icon,” he replied. “Alex found it and took it back.” He told her the whole story and Ariadne listened without interrupting.
“But why would you steal the Theotokos, Dad? Why was it so important to add to your collection? I mean, you already have so much.”
Lykourgos didn’t answer and Ariadne turned to look out the window. How could her hero, the man she admired and had always considered ethical, both as a family man and a businessman, be a thief? She wanted to understand and was willing to forgive a lot when it came to family, but to steal from a church was just low. “I don’t know how to respond,” she finally said without looking at him. “You have so much. You need nothing, so why…” Ariadne rubbed her tired eyes. “We were almost killed because of you, Dad.”
“I know,” her father whispered, his voice tinged with regret. “I know.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I can’t…I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Seriously?” Ariadne pounded her fist on the dashboard. “We were abducted, almost killed, and you don’t want to talk about it?”
The loud thump woke Melina. “Pink bunnies everywhere,” she said groggily before immediately drifting off again.
“And what’s going to happen when this hits the news?” Ariadne asked her father in a low voice. “It’s going to destroy us.”
“It won’t. Alex and I have an agreement.”
“Dad, tell me why this was important enough to risk so much?”
“I did it for me. For selfish reasons. I can’t explain better than that,” he replied vaguely. “Not now, anyway.”
“That’s so fucking ridiculous.”
“Your language.”
“A thief has no right to criticize me or how I speak, so fuck my language.”
Her father pulled over at the harbor, and Ariadne jumped out to assist Melina.
“Let me,” Lykourgos said, getting out of the car.
“I don’t need your help.” She waved him off. “It’s because of you she almost got killed in the first place.”
Manos drove the Zodiac slowly from the marina to the yacht to minimize Melina getting bounced around in the bottom of the inflatable. She didn’t seem to feel any pain at the moment, but God help them all when the drugs wore off. No one spoke. Melina was drifting in and out, the tension between her and her father was palpable, and Manos was smart enough not to ask any questions, though he was clearly curious about what recent events had brought them to this.
All the way to the Pegasus, Ariadne questioned what possible motive her father could have had to have risked so much to get this particular treasure, and why he was being so evasive about it all. She decided that if he wasn’t going to tell her the truth, she’d get it from Alex.
After Ariadne helped Melina into bed, she caressed her hair until Melina was out cold again. Then she pulled out her phone and dialed Alex’s cell. She had no idea if the number still worked, since it belonged to Alex the bosun, but after it rang several times, Alex finally answered.
“Yes?”
“It’s Ariadne.”
“Are you all right?” Alex sounded concerned.
“I’m fine.” Ariadne bit her lip. “I need to talk to you.”
“What about?”
“My father.”
“I don’t think it’s my place to discuss him.”
“I need to know why he stole from a church.”
“Ask him,” Alex said.
“He won’t tell me.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Do you know why he did it?” Ariadne asked.
After a very long while Alex answered. “Yes.”
“Then tell me why this damn icon was important enough to risk my life.”
“That was never the intention. Had he known it would come to that,” Alex replied, “he would have never taken it.”
“It’s still theft.”
“He had his reasons.” Alex’s tone was surprisingly sympathetic.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Not at all, but…” Alex sighed. “He’s a good man, Ariadne.”
“He’s a thief and a liar.”
“Maybe some day you’ll understand.”
“No, I…” She didn’t want to do this on the phone. The conversation was getting her nowhere. “I want to see you.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible right now.”
“Then when?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you going to leave?” Ariadne asked.
“Yes. Probably tonight.”
“Will you be coming back?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You were just going to leave without so much as a good-bye?” Ariadne couldn’t catch a break. She was sinking deeper into despair by the minute. “Did you pretend to like me just to get close to my dad?”
“No!” Alex blurted the word out with conviction. “You just happened.”
“Just happened? What is this, screw-with-Ariadne’s-sanity day?”
“I never expected to…”
“To what?”
“I really can’t do this right now.” Alex took a deep breath. “I really can’t do this at all.” She sounded upset. “I’m sorry. I have to hang up.”
“Where are you?” Ariadne had to go see her. She had to talk to her and see in person what Alex wanted to but couldn’t say.
“I can’t talk about that.”
“Because you’re some kind of big-shot private contractor on a mission?” Ariadne shouted. “Well, screw that, and screw all of you for lying to me!” She hung up.
*
Fira, Santorini Island, Greece
Switch and Allegro had walked along the coast and around the harbor to stretch their
legs and kill time, occasionally checking the transponder to make sure the tracking device on the icon hadn’t moved. No one gave them a second glance. They blended in like locals with their dark complexions and dressed in jeans and trendy summer T-shirts. Allegro had talked nonstop about Kris and their relationship and life together. Switch had mostly nodded and offered polite responses when necessary.
Now that the sun was soon going to set, they had resumed their positions at the café / bar that overlooked the marina. Allegro ordered a small array of Greek appetizers since they hadn’t really eaten all day, but though she dug in with gusto, Switch had no appetite and stuck to her espresso.
She looked at her watch. “I hope we don’t have to wait much longer.”
“Especially since sulking seems to be your favorite pastime,” Allegro replied as she munched some fried calamari.
“I’m preoccupied.”
“You had plenty of time to meet with her. You know that, right?”
“And say what?” Switch replied with irritation. “Do what?”
“Depends. Do you really not want to see her again?”
“Of course I do, but what’s the point? The faster I remove myself from her life, the easier it’ll be for both of us.”
“You’re not a Band-Aid. And besides, saying good-bye even if you never want to see her isn’t a bad thing.”
“It’s unnecessary grief.”
“Maybe it is for you, but it doesn’t work like that for everyone,” Allegro pointed out. “Some people need closure.”
“We hardly knew each other.”
“That apparently doesn’t matter to her. And regardless of what you say, I think the same applies to you.”
“Yeah, well…” Switch didn’t know how to respond. It was true that though they’d spent only a few days together, Ariadne had made a deep and lasting impression on her in a way no woman had before.
“You’re being selfish.”
“Look, I’m fine without attachments and whatever comes with caring for another. I don’t have the time and don’t need the distractions.”
“But you like her…a lot.”
“So, what’s that got to do with it?”
“Everything.” Allegro shrugged and speared a grilled anchovy with her fork. “But hey, you want to spend the rest of your life alone lamenting a previous relationship, then that’s fine, too. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a well-paid, retired op who spends her remaining years with a grudge and what-ifs.”
Surprised, Switch turned to look at Allegro. “How do you know about my previous relationship?”
“Because only someone who’s been burned bad runs the way you do.”
“I gave her my heart, and she…” Switch played with her zipper. “Why does one of the two always love more?”
“I don’t know that that’s true. I think the difference is, one is willing to repair what’s broken, while the other simply wants to buy something new.”
“Same thing.”
“Kinda, but not really. It could be that the one leaving or giving up doesn’t have letting-go issues and prefers to leave before the love turns to hate. Why drag what used to be beautiful through the mud if you can avoid it?”
“She dumped me for someone else,” Switch said. “Had been seeing another woman for weeks when I found out.”
“That’s always tough,” Allegro said sympathetically. “But you gotta focus on the fact that cheating is a consequence, never the reason.”
“I thought I made her happy. I mean, I know my job isn’t easy, and I made mistakes, but I loved her so much.”
“She probably needed different things from you.”
“She said she needed more of my time,” Switch said. “I gave her as much of it as I could. It’s just that I was setting up the gallery, meeting with lots of people, and so on. I so wanted the gallery to work, and it does. But regardless of my work and job and long days—weeks, even, I loved her to pieces.”
“Quit with the ‘I loved her,’” Allegro said. “Love alone is never enough. You wanted different things. It’s that simple. So it didn’t work out. It’s not the end of the world.”
“No, it’s not,” Switch mumbled.
“So, do yourself a favor and give Ariadne—or any Ariadne—a chance. Maybe it works out, maybe you crash and burn. But either way, you get to love again, and sure, who knows, maybe feel pain again, too, but at least you get to live. Love is intense stuff. Don’t miss out on it because of fear. You need to learn from past relationships, not use them as an excuse to avoid future ones.”
“How many did you have, before Kris?” she asked.
“Women? I don’t know. Plenty.”
“I meant relationships.”
“None.”
Surprised, Switch turned to Allegro. “So, where do you get off telling me to just get over my hang-ups and give someone else a chance?”
“I don’t know. It just sounds right.” Allegro smiled.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“In a good or bad way?”
“Not sure.” Switch smirked.
“Finally, a smile.” Allegro applauded.
“Whatever.”
“But you know I’m right,” Allegro said seriously.
“I don’t know. I guess.”
“Of course I’m right. Because I’m wise, and smart, and good looking, and I have—”
“Shut up, egomaniac. Here they come.”
TQ’s two men seemed in no hurry as they ambled from the parking lot toward the dock. But the men surprised them when they passed the small skiff they’d previously used in favor of a much larger rental boat, a yacht with two engines and built for rough waters and longer trips.
“They’re leaving the island by boat after they get the icon,” Switch said.
One of the men started to pull on a diving suit while the other took his place behind the yacht’s wheel.
Allegro fished something out of her rucksack. “Be right back.” She fluffed her hair and sashayed over to the men. Switch couldn’t hear what she was saying, but both men went from looking wary to smiling within a matter of moments. Allegro leaned against the yacht, and Switch saw her discreetly place a tracker under the boat’s rim. Then, she giggled loudly like a schoolgirl and sashayed away.
“That was creepy,” Switch said as soon as Allegro came back.
“Nah. Piece of cake.”
“I meant the cackling and funny walk.”
“Scary movie, right? But hey, they bought it.”
They watched as the boat took off in the direction of the icon’s tracking device.
Allegro and Switch kept watching the radar, and fifteen minutes later, the yacht’s tracker stopped right above the icon. After another forty-five minutes, one of the two signals disappeared, which meant they had retrieved the icon. Then the lone, remaining signal started to move again.
“Let’s see where they’re going,” Switch said.
An hour into the men’s journey it was clear they were bound for the mainland.
“Athens,” Allegro said.
“Let’s jet.” Switch pulled out her cell as soon as they got in their rental car. “Switch 140369.”
“What’s going on, Switch?” Pierce asked as soon as he picked up.
“They’re headed to Athens by boat with the icon and we’re en route to the chopper. They won’t reach Pereas before roughly 0500 hours. We’ll be there waiting.”
“Keep me posted.” Pierce hung up.
“I’ll bet he’s happy,” Allegro said.
“He didn’t sound as though he was.”
Allegro checked her watch. “He couldn’t have been sleeping.”
“He sounded…I don’t know, wheezy.”
“Maybe the old fart was getting it on with Grant.” Allegro shivered. “Geriatric sex freaks me out.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Pereas, Greece
Next morning
“And there they come,” Switch sa
id when the yacht got near enough to see it clearly. One of TQ’s men was behind the wheel, and the other was on the bow, ready to tie off as soon as it pulled up to the dock.
She and Allegro had reached the harbor south of Athens hours earlier and had opted to pass the time in their rental car. All the time they’d spent waiting around—both at this marina and the one in Fira—had exhausted them. Empty coffee cups littered the floor of the rental.
“About damn time,” Allegro replied. “I think I nodded off at least twenty times.”
“Lucky you.”
“Hey, I suggested we take turns.”
“I can’t sleep. Can’t stop thinking long enough to rest.”
“Ariadne?”
“Yup.”
“Well…you know how I feel about it.”
“Okay, they’re getting in a car,” Switch said, happy they could finally move again. She needed to stop thinking about Ariadne. All these hours of waiting, combined with the conversation she’d had with Allegro, had given her cause and time to relive every word and every smile they’d shared. She couldn’t take the thoughts and memories any more. She needed to do something before she drove herself crazy.
“They have the case with them,” Allegro said.
They waited until the men were well ahead of them before they followed on the still, quiet road. They’d been driving for a quite a while when Switch realized they weren’t headed to Athens, but to Thessaloniki, which was another five hours farther by car. She didn’t relish the further delay in confronting TQ, but at least it confirmed that the bitch hadn’t gone far once she’d checked out of her hotel and lost Dilbert.
“All the fuss over an icon,” Allegro said. “I mean, come on.”
“Miraculous icon,” Switch said.
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“It doesn’t matter what you or I believe,” she said. “It’s what someone wants to believe that makes it miraculous.”
“It’s all between the ears.”
“And if some people need an icon, crucifix, or statue to help reinforce their hopes, then so be it. Now, the church is a whole different matter.”
“I’m with ya. It’s all political cover.”
“Always has been.”
“More wars have been fought in the name of religion and church than for any other reason,” Allegro said.
