The Cylon Curse

by J. Robert Kennedy

  “Give me a couple of minutes.” Tommy reappeared, nodding. “Make that a few seconds.” He leaned closer to Reading, lowering his voice. “Mind the door, would you?”

  Reading’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, instead walking casually to the no longer guarded door.

  Acton stepped into the middle of the boisterous group, noting Major Nicolo sitting near the window, probably wondering why Acton had asked Reading to make sure he was there when he arrived. He raised his hands slightly, quieting everyone. “Okay, I think we’re ready to clear this up.”

  The seriousness of his tone had everyone settling down immediately.

  “Tommy, can you play it on the big screen so everyone can hear it through its speakers?”

  Tommy’s tone was muted. “Yes, sir.”

  Acton turned to the room, keeping Juno in sight, though not staring at her directly. “What we are about to hear is a recording of a conversation between the fence, Damos, and the person responsible for the previous thefts, and for arranging the theft of Cylon’s urn.”

  If there had been any noise in the room, it was gone now, as everyone turned their attention to the television.

  Including a clearly nervous Juno.

  Leather headed slowly for the door, apparently picking up on what was going on.

  Acton turned to Tommy. “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  He tapped a key and the audio started, even Acton on edge with anticipation, as he too was hearing it for the first time.

  “I have a more valuable item.”

  “What?”

  “An urn, with a curse written by Cylon himself. I’ll want seven figures for it.”

  “That’s too rich for me.”

  Antoniou’s jaw dropped. “Wait! I know that voice!” Acton signaled for Tommy to pause the recording as Antoniou turned on his wife. “It’s you!”

  Juno slowly backed away from her husband, shaking her head. “How could you think such a thing?”

  “There’s no doubt! I know my own wife’s voice!”

  Juno’s eyes were wide, her chest heaving as her cheeks flushed. She looked from side to side, for some means of escape, finding none. She bolted for the door but both Reading and Leather stopped her, each taking her by an arm and placing her in a chair.

  She collapsed, gripping her head in her hands as she sobbed, her shoulders shaking. It was enough to soften Acton’s heart, though only slightly. Too many were dead. Too many innocent people were dead. And no matter how he had felt about her even just earlier today, she deserved prison.

  For life.

  She stared up at her husband. “I’m so sorry! It’s true. But you have to believe me, I never meant for anyone to get hurt. It all started so simply. I was at the market and spotted something on a table that shouldn’t have been there. I knew it had to have been stolen. I asked the man, Damos, if he had any other items. I fully intended to have him arrested, but then it occurred to me that we had many items, many duplicates of items, that I might be able to sell, then use the money to help with our funding problems.”

  “Juno!” whispered Antoniou. “What were you thinking?”

  “We were desperate! Every night in bed you’d be complaining about the funding, you were stressing out about how we could continue without more money. We were putting our own money in, and it was destroying our lives, destroying our marriage. I did it for you. I did it for us. To save our marriage. We were going bankrupt, and you were oblivious to it. And…” Her shoulders shook as she gasped out a cry. “You were losing me,” she whispered.

  Antoniou dropped to his knees in front of her, his cheeks stained with tears, and grabbed his wife, holding her tight as they both sobbed together. “But why these men, my love? Why these killers?”

  She gently pushed away from him, staring at him with bloodshot eyes. “I didn’t know. When we found Cylon’s urn, with his curse written on it, I knew that this would be worth millions. If I sold it, I would have enough money to keep us going for years.” She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I had no idea the type of men they’d send for it.”

  Nicolo stepped forward. “Professor Galanos, I’m placing you under arrest. Will you please stand?”

  Juno rose, giving her husband one last hug before Nicolo handcuffed her. She turned to the others. “I’m so sorry, so sorry for everything. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

  Acton stepped forward. “And your student, Cy Pulos. Did she have anything to do with this?”

  Juno shook her head. “No, nothing. She was telling the truth. I knew she was taking items home with her to process, then bringing them back the next day. In fact, it was when she didn’t get caught by anyone else, that I realized I could do the same thing, but sell them.”

  Antoniou sighed. “So that’s where all the anonymous donations were coming from.”

  “I’m so sorry. I guess now you’ll have to give the money back.” Her shoulders shook once again. “I’ve ruined everything. They’ll shut us down for sure.” She stared into her husband’s eyes. “Can you ever forgive me?”

  Antoniou stepped forward and gave her one last hug. “I already have.”

  Nicolo led her out of the room, Antoniou following.

  Reading turned to Acton. “I’m going to go with them, just to tie up some loose ends.”

  Acton nodded. “Let us know when you’re done. We’ll give you a lift back to London.”

  Reading chuckled. “You say that like it’s a short hop in a car.” He sighed. “Sorry, I just don’t have any humor left in me.”

  Acton knew how he felt, and watched his friend leave, Leather securing the door out of habit.

  Tommy broke the awkward silence. “You, umm, wanted me to trace where this phone has been?”

  Acton’s heart drummed with renewed vigor, the events of moments ago pushed aside. “What did you find?”

  “It’s a burner that’s been active for about a week, so it hasn’t been in too many places, but it has traveled.”

  Acton’s slumped shoulders squared. “Where?”

  “Before here, it was in Saudi Arabia, and before that, Monaco, where it was activated. That’s it.”

  Acton smiled at Laura. “Saudi Arabia.” He turned back to Tommy. “Where?”

  Tommy pointed at the screen and a satellite view from Google appeared showing a red dot outside of Riyadh. He zoomed in and they were soon looking at an impressive estate, a palatial estate, its grounds a vibrant green, in stark contrast to the arid desert surrounding it.

  “That has to be the place!”

  Laura stared at him. “What are you talking about? What’s this all about?”

  Acton jabbed a finger at the screen. “I think that’s where the Amber Room is!”

  72 |

  Leroux/White Residence, Fairfax Towers

  Falls Church, Virginia

  “I thought the acting was great, except for that one guy. He just didn’t fit the role.”

  CIA Analyst Supervisor Chris Leroux’s eyes narrowed at his best friend’s comment. “You mean the guy playing Han Solo?”

  CIA Special Agent Dylan Kane shook his head. “No, he was fine once you got past the fact he wasn’t Harrison Ford.”

  Leroux grabbed another slice of sausage and onion Chicago style from the box. “Then who?”

  “Chewbacca.”

  Agent Sherrie White snorted her Pepsi out her nose while Lee Fang, unfamiliar with American pop culture, looked on confused.

  “Wasn’t he the walking dog?”

  Kane laughed, giving his girlfriend a hug. “Actually, George Lucas said his dog was the inspiration for Chewbacca.”

  “Who’s George Lucas?”

  Kane gave her a mock glare. “You call yourself my girlfriend? That’s it. We have to give you a crash course in all that’s important. Next weekend, all nine other Star Wars movies, then all thirteen Star Trek, then all six seasons of Battlestar including the original series, then all seventeen seasons of Stargate.”


  Leroux grinned. “Sounds like a dream.”

  Sherrie shook her head. “I think I’m scheduled to assassinate someone that weekend.”

  Fang, a former Chinese Special Forces operative, now in exile, looked at her with envy. “I wish I could come. I think Dylan just booked up the next two years of weekends.”

  Kane leaned back on the couch and patted his stomach. “Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it.”

  Leroux finished his slice, then took a drag on his drink. “Pizza and sci-fi, with two beautiful women.”

  Kane chuckled. “Sounds like a nerd’s fantasy.”

  Leroux frowned. “Fantasy is right. In real life, that never happens.”

  Sherrie patted him on the cheek. “And it still won’t, hon. Like I said, I’ll be off killing someone.”

  “Who?”

  “Anyone, as long as it gets me out of eighteen hours of Star Wars.”

  “You like it, and you know it.”

  “Skip the first three, and maybe.”

  “Episodes four to six? Are you nuts?”

  “No, one to three.”

  Leroux shook his head. “You have so much to learn.”

  Sherrie smiled. “And I have no intention of learning it.” She took another sip. “I will say this. I did enjoy Solo.”

  Leroux nodded. “So did I. I don’t know why it got such bad press. The reviews are actually good, and the movie was fantastic. The effects were amazing, the acting was great, the story was great, awesome twist at the end.” He shrugged. “What’s not to love?”

  “That they didn’t digitally alter Harrison Ford and put him in it.”

  Leroux groaned at Kane’s joke. “Can you imagine? That was the only thing I didn’t like in Rogue One. They should have just shot her from behind. Showing that digital face was just terrible.”

  Kane’s phone vibrated and he checked the message. “Huh. Secure.” He tapped on the display a few times then held the phone up to his face to unlock it. “It’s from Professor Acton.”

  Leroux shook his head. “What now?”

  “Let’s find out.” Kane dialed, putting the call on speaker.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Doc, it’s Dylan. You’re on speaker with my friends and colleagues, Lee Fang, Chris Leroux, and Sherrie White. Is everything okay?”

  “Actually, for once, I’m not in mortal danger.”

  “Just calling to say hi?”

  Acton laughed. “No, I do need something from you.”

  Kane chuckled. “I thought you might. How can I help?”

  “Remember the Amber Room?”

  “That big ass gold and amber room that the Nazis stole, you found, then the Russian art thieves stole back?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let me guess. You found it?”

  “Possibly.”

  Kane exchanged an excited glance with Leroux, and Leroux knew why. Neither of them liked a mission failure, and when they were tricked into thinking the Amber Room was aboard a ship, when all along it wasn’t, they had failed in retrieving it.

  A black mark on all their records.

  “Where is it?”

  “Outside Riyadh. I’ve got exact GPS coordinates I can send you.”

  “Send them to my secure email.”

  “Will do. Do you think you can retrieve it?”

  Kane shook his head. “In Saudi Arabia? No chance.”

  The disappointment was clear in Acton’s voice. “But we have to do something.”

  Kane nodded. “Let us discuss it. I’ll get back to you.”

  “All right. Please, Dylan, you have to do something. This thing is priceless, and shouldn’t be in some thief’s private collection.”

  “I’ll call you back.” Kane ended the call then leaned forward. “So, how do we retrieve it?”

  Leroux shrugged. “Well, we can’t go in. That would cause an international incident that could destabilize the entire region if we were caught.”

  Sherrie placed the crust of her slice back on her plate then wiped her mouth with her napkin. “If we can’t go in to get it, then we have to have it come out.”

  Kane’s eyes narrowed. “You mean make them move it out of the country?”

  “Exactly.”

  “How?”

  Sherrie smiled. “By making them think we’re coming for it.”

  Kane grinned. “I like it!”

  73 |

  Outside Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  Tankov stared at the urn that had been the cause of so much pain and suffering—with an intact lid its new owner had no intention of opening. It was incomprehensible to him. In fact, he was tempted to take his blade and pry the blasted thing open right now, payment for services be damned.

  But he wasn’t a connoisseur like the sheik, who had been pacing around the pedestal the urn now occupied for the past five minutes, saying nothing.

  “So, you’re not going to open it?”

  Khalid stopped in mid-step and stared at him, aghast. “Are you insane? This will never be opened. Why would I spoil the surprise? The wonder? The excitement of possessing it is theorizing over the endless possibilities of what it contains. Not knowing is more exciting than knowing.”

  “And you aren’t dying to find out what’s inside?”

  “Of course I am. That’s the fun of it.”

  “And when you tire of the fun?”

  “Then I’ll sell it to someone else.”

  “Without opening it first?”

  Khalid shrugged. “Who knows? Perhaps I’ll open it to satisfy my curiosity, then reseal it so that the next owner can have the same enjoyment I have had.”

  “But he’d know you knew.”

  “Oh, I’d never tell him. Why deprive him of the satisfaction? After all, he could be a friend of mine.”

  Tankov shook his head. “I think you’re all a little insane.”

  Khalid glared at him. “Don’t let your ignorance interfere with your good judgment. Insulting me can be dangerous for your health.”

  Tankov regarded him for a moment. “I’ve insulted far more powerful men than you, and I’m still here to do the same to you.”

  Khalid seethed, his face red and his fists clenched. It was clear the man wasn’t over having been betrayed by the Suqut Brigade, something Tankov hadn’t bothered to set him straight on, and was still pissed about having had to call in his team, despite having told him they were finished doing business together less than a week ago.

  And Tankov didn’t care. He was tired of the sheik, and he had proven he was now a dangerous man by his dealings with the Suqut Brigade. Perhaps it was time to end things.

  “You dare insult me in my own home? Do you have any idea who I am?”

  Tankov smiled. “I think all the inbreeding in your royal line has caught up to your branch of the House of Saud.”

  Khalid roared in anger then pointed at the door. “Get out! I never want to see you again! And be thankful that I don’t kill you where you stand!”

  Tankov bowed his head slightly. “As you wish.” He headed for the door then paused, thinking of Professor Acton, who had undoubtedly deciphered his hint when handing over the phone. He took in the Amber Room one last time, then decided to give Acton one last bit of help. “I’m going to give you a friendly warning, for old time’s sake.”

  Khalid glared at him, saying nothing.

  “In all the confusion, I lost my cellphone that I had here last time.”

  Khalid’s eyes narrowed. “So?”

  “So, if it fell into the wrong hands, they might find out about this place.” He smiled slightly. “Something to think about.”

  Tankov left the room, closing the doors after him as a roar of rage erupted.

  Now let’s see if the professor’s contacts are watching.

  74 |

  Operations Center 2, CIA Headquarters

  Langley, Virginia

  Sonya Tong expertly manipulated the cameras on the drone deployed over Sheik Khalid’s compound outsi
de of Riyadh. “Well, whatever happened in that meeting sure rattled him.”

  Randy Child, the whiz-kid on Leroux’s team, spun in his chair, staring at the ceiling of the Operations Center. “Or he’s just moving to a bigger palace.”

  Leroux stared at the screen, scratching his chin. After receiving Acton’s call, he had tasked his team to gather intel on the location, and begin monitoring it, while he put together a briefing for his boss. They had been given approval for a surveillance operation, and were quickly rewarded with a visit just hours ago by a lone man carrying a package that could be large enough to contain the urn Acton had described to him in a follow-up conversation. That visitor had left minutes later, without the package, then a flurry of phone calls were made from the estate. Soon, large transport trucks arrived with packing materials and crews that had been working for hours, each truck leaving after it was loaded.

  “I wish there was some way we could know if it was the Amber Room,” muttered Kane, standing beside him. “Like Randy said, he could just be moving.”

  Leroux pursed his lips. “The crates being used match the type and size that the Nazis used. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re the same ones.” He snapped his fingers. “Zoom in as close as you can on one of those rectangular crates.

  Sonya complied and brought up a freezeframe of one of the crates.

  With a Nazi swastika on full display.

  Leroux grinned at Kane. “I guess that settles that.”

  Kane shook his head. “The professor is going to love this. Do we know where those trucks are headed?”

  Sonya brought up the feed from another drone, an airfield displayed with a large transport aircraft sitting on the tarmac, crews loading it with the contents of one of the trucks.

  “Okay, he’s not moving to a new palace. At least not in Saudi.” Kane scratched his chin. “Any flight plan filed for that thing?”

  Child shook his head. “Not that I’ve been able to find, but there will be if he’s leaving their airspace.” He pointed at a large crate being loaded. “You know, some of this stuff doesn’t match the Amber Room crates. I’m thinking he’s moving his entire collection, not just the room.”