Assassins of Athens

They saw Demosthenes running toward the metro entrance and followed him to Omonia. That's where they almost lost him. He was headed out of the station but unexpectedly turned and went back in, trapping the two cops on a crowded, ascending escalator. By the time they started back down, Demosthenes was out of sight. They split up to look for him and, when the message came through that he was headed to Piraeas, only one cop was close enough to catch the train.

Andreas kept his fingers crossed they wouldn't lose him in Piraeas. No way to get more people from his unit there in time, and he couldn't risk involving local cops. They weren't trained for this sort of thing. Then he saw the next message: Larisis. What a break. Demosthenes was headed back north and into their waiting arms.

A new team picked him up at Larisis and followed him to Omonia.

There was no new message at Omonia. Demosthenes was in the middle of the platform looking around. Maybe the meet was here? Finally, a new message, Kifissia was the next destination. Perfect. They followed him to the new platform. One cop walked to where the car behind Demosthenes would board, the other to where the car in front of him would be. Neither wanted to risk spooking him by getting too close. There would be plenty of time to move closer later. Kouros stuck his head into Andreas' office. 'We lost him.'

'What!'

Kouros stepped inside and closed the door. 'He got off at Victoria.'

'Victoria? I didn't see Victoria on any message.'

'Me either.'

Andreas smacked his fist on the desk. 'Someone must have made contact with him on the train.'

'That's what Angelo thinks. He saw a man bump into him while the train was stopped at Victoria. Seconds later, Demosthenes was gone.'

'Why didn't someone follow them?'

'Christina tried. It all happened so fast. She'd just moved into his car from one in front when she saw Demosthenes trying to get off. She tried getting to the door but he pushed her out of the way, she tripped and… well, by the time she got to her feet the doors were closed.'

'And what the hell was Angelo doing while all this was going on?'

'He was in the car behind, watching Demosthenes through the door.' Kouros looked down at the floor. 'Said he'd been watching the hat. When he didn't see it he got out and pushed into Demosthenes' car. By the time he found the hat on the floor and figured out what happened, the train was moving.'

Andreas stared out the window. He was angry but didn't want to show it. 'Pretty slick.'

'More like plain dumb luck.'

Andreas gestured no. 'I'd call it something else. Old-fashioned, simple magic. He got them focused on the hat, not the man, and into the rhythm of expecting both to show up exactly as they'd been conditioned to expect. All it took was an instant of distraction and-' Andreas slammed his hands together. 'Poof! Surprise, all gone.'

Andreas leaned back in his chair. 'I can guess why they called you and not me.'

'They know you don't kill the messenger.'

'Not until now. So, what do we have on the mysterious man on the train?'

'They didn't get a good look at him. There wasn't any reason to notice him.'

Andreas put up his hand. 'If you know what's good for you, stay as the messenger. The guy who bumped into Demosthenes was the first person to have any contact with him since he showed up across from the Arch — and you're telling me that's not a reason to notice him.' His anger had escaped.

Kouros looked away from Andreas and started biting at his lip. 'I get your point.'

Andreas picked up a pencil and tapped it against his cheek. 'Good. Now, as you were saying.'

Kouros swallowed hard. 'All Angelo remembered was that the guy was very short.'

'How short?'

'Less than five feet and very broad-shouldered, but not like a dwarf or a midget, more like a Sardinian.'

Andreas tapped the pencil to his forehead and shook his head. 'What the fuck are you talking about?'

Kouros looked at Andreas but started shifting weight from one foot to the other. 'I had an Italian girlfriend. She was from Sardinia. She was short, less than five feet, but I'm not that tall, so it was fine and-'

Andreas snapped the pencil in half. 'Yianni! Please, get to the goddamned point.'

Kouros took a quick breath. 'She told me she wasn't used to being with such a tall man. Most of the men she knew from Sardinia weren't much taller than she. She said it's a national trait.'

Andreas rubbed his eyes. No reason to be taking his frustration out on Yianni. This mess was no more Yianni's fault than his own, or just as much. 'Okay, let's assume your old girlfriend was right and they've made contact. Now what? They could be bombing Parliament for all we know.'

'We're covering all the apartments. When he shows up we might hear something.'

'You mean if he shows up.'

'Why, do you think he knows we're on to him?'

'I doubt it. But this Efisio is one cautious son of a bitch. My guess is this metro tour was all his idea. If he feels threatened, no telling what he might do.'

'So, what do we do?'

'Not much we can do but wait to see what turns up. Demosthenes or his body.' Demon got into the Fiat, Efisio slid onto the seat beside him, and the car pulled away. Demon's heart was racing. He wondered what this little man with the burning black eyes would do next. His size was deceptive. Efisio was at least twice the size of a massive pit bull and larger than a giant rottweiler. Efisio held out his hand. 'Give me the phone.'

Demon did as he asked. 'Why?'

Efisio tore off the back, pulled out the battery and SIM card, rolled down the window, and tossed out the parts piece by piece. 'In case someone's tracking you. Now, take off your clothes.'

That didn't surprise Demon. He'd do the same thing. Can't be too careful about a stranger asking you to do something nasty. He pulled off his shirt. 'I'm not wired.'

'We'll see. Now the pants, shoes too.'

A few minutes later Demon was dressed again. He thought to keep track of where the driver was headed but decided it didn't matter.

'So, tell me about the forty million.' Efisio had switched to English, Demon assumed so the two in front wouldn't understand.

'Your English is very good.'

'The forty million.' Not angry, not pleasant either.

Demon decided not to waste more time on grease. 'I need you to kidnap very valuable property.'

'Must be very important to be so valuable.'

'They're children, two, of a very rich man.'

He nodded. 'How much do you want of the forty?'

'Me?' Demon sounded surprised. 'Nothing. It's all yours.'

Efisio stared at him for a full minute. 'If you don't want money, it must be power.' He stared some more. 'Or you're crazy.'

Demon shrugged. 'How soon can you do it?'

'Depends whether you care how sloppy we are.'

'As long as the mother is left behind alive.'

'To convince the father to pay?'

Demon nodded. 'You should know that they're expecting something like this.'

'Most today are.'

'This one particularly so.'

'I see. Is that why you're not using your people?'

Demon could tell he was guessing. 'Yes, I cannot risk any of mine getting caught. Too politically sensitive.' That was bullshit but seemed what Efisio wanted to hear.

'Where are the targets?'

'They're with their mother. On a boat.'

'Where's the boat?'

'Don't know, somewhere in the Mediterranean.'

'How big is the boat?'

'Two hundred forty feet.'

'We'll find it. What's the name?'

'The people or the boat?'

'Both.'

'The family's Kostopoulos, the boat's the Ginny Too, named after the mother.'

'Never heard of them, but I never paid much attention to Greece. First time here.' Efisio had turned chatty.