“Why the bloody hell would they want to do that?”
Acton shrugged. “I don’t know. Buyer’s remorse?”
Antoniou shook his head. “My wife is safe. There’s no reason for anyone to put themselves at risk anymore. It’s just an artifact. It’s not worth dying for.”
Laura patted the man on the knee. “I agree.”
“I don’t think they mean to harm me.”
A burst of static erupted from the phone. “Are you clairvoyant now?”
Acton chuckled. “Think about it. This Suqut Brigade is now dead. We know the message isn’t coming from them, it’s coming from the group that was watching them.”
“Right, the same group that shot up the dig site a few hours ago, and put some Taser thing in my chest.”
“Exactly. They didn’t kill you. And you said the man knew me.”
“They didn’t kill me, but they wounded some of the others.”
“Only because they fought back.”
Antoniou shook his head. “You’re defending these people!”
Acton’s eyes widened at the misunderstanding. “No, not at all! Hear me out. This Suqut Brigade attacked the site, killed some innocent people, and a bunch of them were killed. This other group tried not to kill people. I agree, this is horrible, and they should all go to jail for the rest of their lives. But they didn’t even try to kill Hugh or anybody else they didn’t have to. That means they went in with the intent of not killing. There’s no reason to think these people mean me any harm, and there’s every reason to believe they have the artifact. They might have retrieved it for any number of reasons, and maybe that reason fell through. That could mean they’re willing to give it back.”
Reading was having none of it. “This is insane.”
“I agree, but we need to know who was behind all this.”
Laura stared at him, shaking her head. “But we do know. The Suqut Brigade.”
Acton shook his head. “No, I mean the inside person.”
“And we know that. Cy Pulos.”
Acton frowned. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Antoniou’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean? They found it in her car.”
Acton jabbed at the air between them. “Exactly! Why would she put it in her own car trunk? It makes no sense. She had to know that it could be searched eventually, and it would point directly at her.”
Laura still wasn’t on his side. “She might not have had a choice. Bullets were flying everywhere. She would be in a hurry, probably a panic.”
Acton shook his head. “You’re forgetting one thing. She knew they were coming. She was expecting the bullets. She would have taken it to exactly where they had agreed to exchange it, and would likely have had a backup plan because of Korba’s men being there. I think whoever took it never intended to put it in Cy’s car, but when things went wrong, decided it was time to go to Plan B.”
Antoniou’s head slowly bobbed. “We did have a custom of leaving all the cars unlocked. Too many car alarms kept going off. It would be an easy thing to just reach in and pop a trunk.”
Laura looked at him. “Don’t tell me you’re buying into this now?”
Acton reached out and took her hand. “I think she’s being framed.”
Laura sighed, staring into his eyes, worry written in the creases around her eyes. “By whom?”
“I’m not sure, but maybe these guys can tell us. They knew about the car too. We still have questions that need to be answered, and they might be the only ones with those answers.”
“But why risk your life?”
“I’m not. Something else is going on here. That message is directed at me specifically. Why? Why not you, Basil? Or a generic ‘you?’ How did they know it was me that was watching, and why do they want to speak to me?” He shook his head. “No, there’s something more going on here, and I intend to find out what.”
Laura stared at him, her eyes wide. “You’re mad!”
He chuckled. “Madly curious, but not mad.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“You’re mad.”
Leather stepped forward. “If she’s going, I’m going.”
Acton rose, checking the time, precious minutes having ticked away. “No, nobody’s going except me. They said alone. If anyone else shows up, then things could go south quickly.”
Laura stood beside him. “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”
“No.” He looked at Leather. “I need a car.”
Adelaide tossed a set of keys at him. “I rented one.” She shrugged. “I was bored.” Her jaw dropped, aghast at what she had just said. “I’m sorry, hon, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Leather smiled. “We’ll discuss how I bore you later.” He looked at Acton. “We should wire you.”
Reading replied. “Absolutely not. They obviously know you have the ability to tap into their signals. They’ll be looking for anything out of the ordinary. If you’re going to be a moron and do this, then do it right and follow their instructions to the letter. And if you get yourself killed, I’ll beat the living daylights out of you the next time I see you.”
Acton grinned. “That could get you kicked out of wherever I’m going.”
“Don’t be so sure that’s where you’ll end up.”
Acton laughed and gave Laura a hug. “Wish me luck.”
“You’re an idiot,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. She gave him a gentle kiss. “Don’t die on me.”
His chest tightened as he was about to depart on what was, a moment ago, merely an idea. “I’ll try not to.”
69 |
Outside the Suqut Brigade Safe House
Athens, Greece
Reading ended the call, cursing the stupidity of his friend, though he understood the reasoning. Acton was a man who had to have all the answers. He was the same way. And Acton’s logic was sound, though Reading didn’t think it was worth betting his life on. He had no idea who the second team was, but there was one piece of information he hadn’t revealed to Acton and the others as it would have just encouraged his friend.
Someone had intervened here, ending the standoff, and likely saving Juno’s life.
That someone had to be the same people who had positioned the cameras, and because they had sent their message directly to Acton, and the second team that had hit the dig site also claimed to know him, they had to be one and the same.
There was no way he was about to believe a third team was involved.
If they were truly bad people, why help save the wife?
I wish I was going with him.
He walked over to Major Nicolo as he spoke to Juno, the woman being tended to by a paramedic, appearing in reasonable condition, though she had clearly been punched in the face at some point.
Nicolo looked at him, then held out a hand. “Professor, may I introduce Agent Hugh Reading of Interpol. My understanding is that he is good friends with Professors Acton and Palmer.”
Juno’s eyes widened at the mention of their names. “Have you spoken to my husband?”
“I just told him the good news. He wanted to come here, but I told him not to, just in case the area isn’t secure. You’ll see him very soon, don’t worry.”
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed, eyeing a gurney with a body bag being pushed past. “How did you find me?”
Reading exchanged a quick glance with Nicolo, then replied. “An anonymous tip.”
“Thank God.” She reached out, grabbing his forearm. “Did you find it? Cylon’s urn?”
Reading nodded. “We did.”
She sucked in a quick breath, her eyes wide, then exhaled slowly. “Thank God. I feared the worst. These men kept insisting my husband had it.”
“He didn’t. Unfortunately, the urn was stolen before we could secure it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “By these…men?”
Reading shook his head. “No, we think it was another group.”
“My God! How many pe
ople are after it?”
“At least three, by the looks of it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Three? Who’s the third?”
“Your grad student, Cy Pulos. We arrested her earlier for stealing artifacts from the dig site.”
“Impossible!”
“We found them in her apartment. And we found the urn in the trunk of her car.”
Juno shook her head. “She’s such a wonderful student.” She squared her jaw. “I don’t believe it for a second.”
Reading eyed her. “Neither do I.”
70 |
The National Garden
Athens, Greece
Acton stepped out of the car, taking a moment to enjoy the view surrounding him. He had never been here before, though from what little he could see from the street lights, it was beautiful. The greenery on the other side of the gates signaled an oasis from the chaos of modern life. He would have to come here with Laura at some point, to take it all in.
But he had a specific purpose today, and was already two minutes late.
He approached the closed gates, nobody in sight, and frowned.
Am I supposed to climb the fence?
On a whim, he tried the handle, and the gate swung open.
Immediately raising the hairs on the back of his neck, for once he entered, he was absolutely alone with whoever had brought him here.
He committed, and walked deeper into the garden when a voice echoed from the shadows.
“That’s far enough, Professor Acton.”
Acton stopped, his heart hammering, though happy to have heard words rather than gunshots upon his arrival. “Okay, I’m here. What do you want?”
“To talk.”
Acton’s eyes narrowed. “About?”
“About the truth.”
“Who are you? Hugh said that you claimed to know me.”
“I’m someone you wouldn’t recognize.”
Acton took a chance. “Then why not show yourself?”
A figure stepped out of the shadows, though only his silhouette was revealed, his face still obscured.
“I can’t see your face.”
There was a chuckle. “It wouldn’t matter. Like I said, you wouldn’t recognize me.”
Acton tensed, something familiar about the voice. “But I know you, don’t I?”
“Yes, Professor Acton, you know me.”
His heart hammered, now certain he knew the voice.
Yet he couldn’t place it.
If only I could see his face.
Yet the man insisted he wouldn’t recognize him. What did that mean? Was it someone he had only ever heard on the phone?
“You’re aware that Professor Antoniou’s wife was successfully rescued.”
“I am.” He smiled slightly. “And the fact that you are aware, means you were somehow involved.”
“We were, though not with the kidnapping.”
“No, but you stole Cylon’s urn.”
“We did in the end.”
“Where is it now?”
“Somewhere safe.”
Acton shook his head. “It will only be safe if it is returned.”
“Not true, Professor, not true. There are collectors who will take very good care of it.”
“So, you’re thieves.”
Another chuckle. “I prefer to think of us as precious artifact acquisition experts.”
Acton grunted. “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
Acton paused, peering into the shadows. “Your voice. I know it from somewhere. You say we know each other. From where?”
“If I told you everything, what would be the fun in that?”
Acton was getting frustrated. “Then why am I here?”
“Let’s just say that we have turned over a new leaf.”
Acton frowned. “Something tells me you don’t know what that means either.”
Laughter rolled across the garden. “This one, I do.”
“Then again, why am I here?”
“As I said, to discuss the truth.”
“Then please, tell me what truth you’re talking about.”
“The police have arrested a graduate student named Cy Pulos for the thefts.”
Acton’s stomach flipped, finally realizing why he was here. “Yes.”
“Are you convinced she’s behind everything?”
Acton paused, debating on what his answer should be. He decided truth was the way to go. “No, I don’t.”
“Then who do you think is behind it?”
Acton pursed his lips, staring at the silhouette, deciding the complete truth wouldn’t necessarily be wise. “I hesitate to say, but I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”
The man chuckled. “I’ve missed you, Professor.” He took a step closer, his face still lost in the shadows. “If I were the young woman’s lawyer, I’d be asking what Professor Antoniou’s wife was doing during the attack on the dig site.”
Acton pulled in a quick breath, his heart hammering. “Why do you say that?”
“Watch the footage you tapped into, carefully. All of it. I think you’ll be able to figure it out.”
Yet he already knew what the man was talking about. The fence had recognized somebody, and it could only have been Juno. They knew from the overheard conversations between the Brigade members that the inside person was a woman.
And he had never believed that the grad student would have been stupid enough to put the urn in her own trunk.
It had to be Juno, and the very idea was sickening, so much so that he couldn’t believe it.
Yet it had to be.
But how could he prove it? The footage wouldn’t be enough. A man reacting to something seen off camera meant little, and that man was now dead. Juno would deny it, and Cy had the artifact in her trunk, and even more at her apartment.
“I need proof.”
“I have it. My client had a recording of a meeting between his contact, and the woman on the inside. I’m confident that this conversation is between Karan Damos, the other man who had been taken hostage, and Professor Galanos.”
Acton felt faint. “Do you have this recording?”
“I do.”
“And you can hear her voice on it?”
“Yes. You should be able to perform voice recognition analysis on it and confirm the identity.”
Acton drew a quick breath. “And you’re going to give me this recording?”
The silhouette bent over and a cellphone slid from the shadows, coming to rest at Acton’s feet. He picked it up. “It’s on here?”
“Yes.”
The man turned and began to walk away. “Say hello to your wife for me.”
Acton’s eyes narrowed. The man had met both of them, yet they wouldn’t recognize him if they saw his face. He spoke excellent English, but wasn’t American. A special ops type team had hit the dig site.
His stomach flipped as he finally recognized the voice.
And it terrified him.
Yet he couldn’t resist confirming it.
“You’re the one who stole the Amber Room.”
The silhouette stopped then turned back to face him. “So, you’ve finally figured it out.”
Rage mixed with the terror he felt. “Where is it?”
The man took a step closer. “You expect me to tell you?”
“You’ve turned over a new leaf, haven’t you?”
The man laughed. “You know what, Professor, I’m feeling generous.” A finger was raised. “To a point. My employer betrayed me by giving an easy job to butchers. People died, and there was no need for that. I think he deserves to suffer a little, don’t you?”
Acton tried to control the giddiness he now felt. Could he be about to find out where the fabled Amber Room had ended up? He inhaled deeply. “I do.”
“Then follow the phone.”
And with that, the man turned, disappearing into the shadows, his footfalls fad
ing to nothing.
Leaving Acton to wonder what he could possibly mean.
71 |
King George Hotel
Athens, Greece
Acton forced a smile as he entered the hotel room, a happy reunion taking place between Juno and her husband. Laura rushed into his arms, hugging him hard.
“Thank you for not getting yourself killed.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“So, what was it all about? You didn’t really say anything when you called.”
“Give me a moment, will you? I’m still a little wound up.”
“Then you need champagne!” cried Antoniou, bringing him a glass then giving him a thumping hug. “Thank you for saving my wife!”
Acton smiled, holding up his glass in acknowledgment, though not taking a drink. “I think we should be thanking Tommy. If it weren’t for him, we never would have been able to track down where Juno was, or monitor the cameras.”
A round of cheers went up for Tommy, who blushed, then blushed even further when a proud Mai gave him a kiss that had the room urging them on. Finally freed of his partner, Acton motioned for him to join him near the door.
“What is it, Professor?”
Acton handed him the phone given him earlier. “There’s an audio recording on this between a man and a woman. Retrieve it, and let me know when you’ve got it.” He stared into the young man’s eyes, emphasizing his next point. “Make sure you don’t damage it. We’re going to need to track everywhere it’s been.”
“Consider it done.” Tommy grabbed his laptop, disappearing into the bedroom, Mai following him.
Acton had had almost half an hour to think about what the man said. Follow the phone. It hadn’t made any sense to him at first, but as he thought about it with the clarity that only came from calm, he realized the man had to have meant for him to track the phone.
He could only pray that he was right, for if he were, he had a feeling the phone would lead them to one of the greatest stolen pieces of art of all time.
Reading walked over to him, drink in hand. “So, you’re alive.”
“I am.”
“Are you going to tell us what happened?”
The Cylon Curse Page 19
