Shadow Zone (31 page)

More than perfect. He hadn’t realized that he would also get Anna in his bed. He should have suspected that she always had to be in control of the situation, and sex was the logical weapon. He would have been a fool to refuse that particular manipulation when performed by one of the most skilled courtesans in the world. As long as he didn’t lose his head and kept focused, it was an unbelievably satisfying arrangement.

“Gadaire hasn’t indicated that he suspects you’re dealing with me?”

She chuckled. “Gadaire suspects everyone. But I’ve made sure he needs me in such a multiplicity of ways so that he’s reluctant to think me anything but loyal.”

“I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’m touched.” She smiled. “It’s always good to have a man like you taking care of me.”

She needed taking care of about as much as a cobra ready to strike. But there was something vaguely erotic about risking that bite. He touched her cheek with his forefinger. “You’re valuable to me too. And I don’t have to worry about your loyalty. Everything you do for me, you do for yourself.”

“I wish you’d let me do more.” She took his finger and brought it to her lips. “Digging out information is so boring. I’m a woman who likes action. What did you tell Mendoza to do about Hannah Bryson?”

“Just to keep a close watch. When Kirov surfaces, we’ll gather them both in and put them away until they won’t be a threat to the operation.”

“Is that safe? As I told you, Gadaire knows that Kirov is the one who staged the heist of those samples. You wouldn’t want him to reach Kirov before you do. It would complicate your plans if there was a conflict. This project is enormously important to Gadaire, but he could back off if he believes Kirov could cause it to blow up in his face.”

“That’s not going to happen. Mendoza is a trusted member of my team. He’s been in my confidence from the beginning. He knows how important it is to move carefully.”

“I hope you’re right.” She gave him a quick kiss. “But you’ll find a way to fix the situation if it does.” She headed for the door. “I’ll call you as soon as I hear more about the results of Lampman’s experiments. That could be the goad that puts everything in motion. Gadaire was supposed to meet with him this morning.”

“I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

Baker might hear from her or he might not, Anna thought with annoyance as she got into her Lamborghini. He was being too casual about Hannah Bryson, trusting her to Mendoza’s surveillance. He’d lost her once before at that hotel when he should have closed in immediately and forced her to tell him where Kirov was. He was a fool who had too many rules and scruples with which to contend.

She had no such worries. She was not yet sure which way she was going to jump, but she had to protect the option that Baker had opened to her. It might be the best way to gain her independence and still be rich as Midas. But Gadaire had the potential for being much richer, and that was alluring. Why be queen of the world when you could be queen of the universe? It might be wise to stay with him and shave off more from his bank accounts than she had already. She was walking a delicate line until she made her decision.

At any rate, Hannah Bryson and Kirov had to be removed from her path.

She reached for her phone and dialed Charles Ames, Gadaire’s security chief. Ames was smart, had contacts, and could be manipulated. “Charles, Hannah Bryson and Kirov have surfaced in Athens. I need you to arrange for them to disappear.”

He hesitated. “Mr. Gadaire’s orders?”

“Not this time.” She’d had Ames do private kills for her before in past years. She’d paid him well and found him to be very discreet. “I prefer not to bother him. We both know that he’d approve.”

“Then why not tell him?”

“Well, you see, there’s a question of just how I knew where Bryson and Kirov were to be found. I have to protect my sources. You understand. You have sources to protect too. I just want Bryson and Kirov to be discreetly put down and not bother Gadaire again. No trouble for you. No trouble for me. No trouble for Gadaire.”

“Discretion is expensive.” He paused. “So is confidentiality.”

“Double your usual amount. I wouldn’t think of trying to cheat you.”

He was silent a moment. “The other jobs I did for you had nothing to do with Gadaire. This could be more dangerous.”

“But the money is wonderful. And I’d be very grateful.”

Another silence. “Where are they?”

“Hannah Bryson is staying on Melis Nemid’s boat near the Marinth Museum. I’m not sure about Kirov. I’d bet he’ll be near Bryson.”

“I’ll have to hire men in Athens. I won’t risk my men here talking to Gadaire. That will be more money.”

He was going to do it. “Whatever it takes.”

“Right away?”

“As soon as possible. Tell me when it’s done.”

“Oh, I will.” He paused. “I like doing favors for you, Anna. It makes me feel close to you.”

He had never called her Anna before. That could mean a sexual advance he might feel confident she couldn’t refuse. Or it might mean that she must be wary of a lack of respect that could lead to possible blackmail. She could deal with either, but not until he was finished with the job she’d given him. “I know you’ll do a good job, Charles.” She hung up the phone and started her car. It hadn’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped, but she would get what she wanted. Bryson and Kirov would die, and she would be one step closer to where she wanted to be.

That was all that was important.

Athens, Greece
Plaka District

“What is this thing I’m eating?” Ronnie asked as he took another bite of his lunch. “It tastes fishy, but good.”

“I have no idea,” Hannah said as she took a sip of her coffee and glanced up at the ruin of the Parthenon on the hill above them. “But I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s probably not as healthy as your mom would like, but there’s always an exception.”

“It’s
gavros.
Baked anchovies.” Melis looked around the outdoor café where they were sitting. Red-and-white umbrellas shaded the white tables, which were occupied almost exclusively by tourists. “I thought you’d enjoy a taste of Greece.”

“Mom took me to a Taste of Boston festival once.” He chuckled. “It wasn’t anything like this.”

“Well, Boston doesn’t have ancient ruins as a backdrop,” Hannah said. “We’re still a young country.”

“Yeah.” Ronnie took out his iPhone and took several pictures of the café on the Plaka, an area packed with restaurants and small gift shops. “This place is awesome.”

“It’s a tourist trap,” Melis said. “But it’s fun. You’d better stop taking pictures and finish your lunch. You’ve been snapping shots all morning. You must have enough to fill an album.”

“I thought I’d e-mail them to Mom and Donna. But some of them are pretty lame.” He started to view the photos. “I’d better go through them and blow some of them away.”

“Technology.” Melis shook her head. “Kids these days are amazing. They just accept the miracles. That phone camera would have never been possible when I was growing up. I had an old Brownie. Is that iPhone one of your gifts to him, Hannah?”

She shook her head. “Cathy and Conner gave it to him. I usually opted for sports equipment.” She smiled as she watched Ronnie’s intent face as he flipped through the photos. He had enjoyed himself this morning. For this brief time, he seemed to have returned to the boy she had known before Conner’s death. “Where to this afternoon, Ronnie? Another museum or back to the
Fair Winds
?”

He didn’t answer immediately and when he looked up his expression was absorbed. “I don’t know. Why don’t we ask Kirov what he wants to do.”

“Kirov?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah, I called and asked him to come and meet us here when we were at that last museum. We were having so much fun, I thought he’d like it too. He said he’d come as soon as he finished going through some test results with Aziz.”

“You didn’t tell me,” Hannah said.

“A surprise.” He glanced back down at his photo gallery in the phone. “I knew you’d be happy to see him. You like—” He frowned. “Here’s another one.”

“Another what?”

“Wait a minute.” He made some adjustments to the photo display. “Isn’t this weird? Practically everywhere we went this morning, this guy was there too.”

Hannah stiffened. “Really?” She said casually, “Probably a tourist hitting the same sights. Let me take a look.”

He pushed his phone across the table to her. “Some of the pictures are of him inside the museums, but a couple of them are shots outside on the streets.”

She looked down at the gallery and enlarged the photos. A, burly man in his forties with sandy hair and a weathered, freckled face. He was dressed casually, wearing khakis and a navy Windbreaker. Nothing threatening about him. He looked like the tourist she’d told Ronnie he probably was.

Probably. The museum shots appeared very innocent. He was never looking directly at them, but at a vase, a painting, a sculpture.

The two street shots were more suspicious. He looked . . . intent.

“Well, he evidently is on the same tour circuit we are.”

Ronnie nodded. “And he likes the same restaurants.”

“What?”

“Look at the last photo.”

A sandy-haired man sitting at a table beneath a red-and-white umbrella.

Her gaze flew to Ronnie’s face. “Where is he?”

“Two tables behind you. By the bar.”

She forced herself not to turn around, but she felt a prickling on the back of her neck.

“He’s having the same kind of food I’m having,” Ronnie said. “That
gavros
thing.”

“Then he has good taste.” She handed Ronnie his phone back. “But I think we should make a decision about what we’re going to be doing.” She got to her feet. “Finish your lunch. I think I’ll go out on the street and see if I can see Kirov. If he’s not in sight, I’ll give him a call and get his estimated time of arrival.”

“That might not be a bad idea.” Melis was looking at Ronnie’s phone. “Ronnie and I will be with you as soon as we finish.” She smiled. “You know, Ronnie, you didn’t get a chance to see the Marinth Museum yet. It’s my pride and joy. Why don’t we go back to the boat, then go up to the museum later?”

“We’ll ask Kirov.” He was sipping his lemonade. “He may want to go somewhere else.”

“By all means, we wouldn’t want to do something Kirov wouldn’t like,” Hannah said dryly. “We’ll certainly check.” She made her way through the tables toward the low wrought-iron gate that bordered the street. She carefully didn’t glance at the table beside the bar.

Not yet. Not until she was at an angle that wouldn’t be obvious to the man at the table.

By the time she had reached the street, she’d reached the correct angle.

Navy Windbreaker, sandy hair. But he’d stopped eating and was watching her.

Not good.

She went out beyond the wrought-iron barrier and casually looked up and down the street. She shook her head and waved at Ronnie and Melis. Then she pulled out her phone.

Kirov answered immediately. “Hannah?”

“I’m at an outdoor restaurant in the Plaka. It’s on Adrianou Street. Don’t come anywhere near here. Something’s happening.”

Kirov muttered a curse. “I’m already on my way. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“No, we’re being followed. Heavyset man, khaki pants, and navy Windbreaker. Looks like a tourist. He hasn’t made a move toward us, but he may be waiting for you. Baker’s man?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Are there lots of people around?”

“Yes, the café is packed.”

“Then all of you stay there until I get there.”

“No way.” She smiled and waved again at Ronnie. “I’m not running any risk to Ronnie and Melis. They’re out of here. I’m putting them in a cab and sending them back to the
Fair Winds
. I’ll try to distract our tail until they’re away from the café.”

“Dammit, stay where you are.”

She hailed a cab. “I don’t want to chance anyone following their cab. I want all his attention on me. I’ll try to lose him in the streets. I’ll meet you at Melis’s boat.” She hung up and motioned for the cab to wait. She walked quickly back to the table. “Kirov said that he’ll meet us at the
Fair Winds
. Come on, the cab’s waiting.”

“Right.” Melis got to her feet. “Finished, Ronnie?”

He nodded and jumped to his feet. “But he said he was coming here.”

“Change of plan.” Hannah herded them to the cab. “He definitely wants to show you the Marinth Museum. He said he’d become an expert while he was waiting for Aziz.”

“I believe I know a little more about it than he does,” Melis said as she got into the cab. “And I think I can fill in the gaps.”

Ronnie nodded. “You know everything. Is there anything about the dolphins at—”

Hannah glanced over her shoulder.

The sandy-haired man had gotten to his feet and was moving toward them.

She slammed the cab door. “Oh, darn it, I forgot those souvenirs I was going to buy for you, Ronnie. I’ll go pick some up at that booth across the street and take the next cab.” She motioned to the driver to go. “See you at the ship!”

“Hannah!” Melis said, as the cab left the curb. Then she quickly recovered. “Fine, get a souvenir mug for me.”

Hannah turned quickly away with a lightning glance behind her.

He was still in the café, but talking or pretending to talk on his mobile phone. The cab was turning the corner and was out of sight.

Move!

She turned and hurried down a narrow passageway between restaurants. She cut through to the back alley and turned left, resisting the urge to look behind.

Garbage cans lined the deserted alley, and window-mounted air-conditioning units roared and dripped water onto the cobblestones. Tubs filled with animal fat lined the back of several of the restaurants; fish scales were scattered on the ground behind others. She started to have doubts. What if the guy didn’t follow her? What if he had circled around and was waiting for her ahead in any one of the many narrow passageways between buildings?

A sound behind her. Metallic clattering, then the sound of scuffling. She spun around.

Kirov and the man in the navy Windbreaker had knocked against a pair of garbage cans as they fought over Kirov’s gun.