“Wisliceny doesn’t have a clue.”
“And now Andros pops up in Piraeus like nothing’s happened.”
“What do you want me to do now?”
“Nothing yet. According to your observations, Andros also met with Aphrodite yesterday atop Likavitos Hill. What did Helmut have to say about his negligence?”
“He was quite speechless, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer.”
“And now?”
“Quite lifeless.”
Von Berg sighed and looked out the French doors to the gardens, where orderlies were setting up tables and lights for the Red Cross reception that evening. He was furious that Aphrodite could still love this man. “What do you suppose they talked about, Werner?”
“Who can say, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer?”
“We might try Aphrodite. Bring her to me.”
Werner went out. Von Berg walked over to his safe and removed some photos and looked at them. A few minutes later, Aphrodite came in. Werner ushered her to a chair.
“Please make this quick, Ludwig,” said Aphrodite. “There’s so much to do before the reception and so little time.”
“Yes,” von Berg responded coolly, “of that I have no doubt.” He walked over to the French doors and turned around. “You saw Herr Andros yesterday.”
She seemed too shocked to deny it and said nothing.
“What did he say to you, my love?”
“He wishes to marry me, Ludwig.”
“Still? How faithful of him. What did you say?”
“I…I didn’t know what to say.”
Von Berg paused, photos in hand. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to show you these. But I thought you should be informed of your former fiance’s behavior before you make a wrong decision.”
He spread the photos before her. They showed Chris with a blonde at dinner in Switzerland, on the streets, in bed.
“It seems your fiance is not as faithful as he pretends, Aphrodite. I can only wonder what his true motives are for coming back to Athens. Perhaps you could tell me what he’s told you. I couldn’t bear to see you get hurt.”
She looked up at him with angry, confused eyes. She seemed painfully aware, as he was, that the time to choose sides had come.
71
T he reception for the Red Cross delegation was in full swing when Andros arrived at the Vasilis estate at half past eight. He looked for Aphrodite as he strolled about the gardens filled with diplomats and dignitaries, but he could not find her. The host of the party, however, was at his elbow instantly.
“Ah, there you are, Herr Andros,” said Baron von Berg, once again sporting his decorated naval dress uniform and aristocratic air. “For a moment I doubted your arrival.”
“Why, I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Baron von Berg. Things in Piraeus kept me busy all afternoon.”
Von Berg nodded. “Where is the rest of the Andros family?” he asked, looking about. “They are noticeably absent.”
“Yes, well, my uncle doesn’t approve of all this, you know. His archaic political views cloud any civilized perspective of the modern world.”
“And business sense, perhaps?” Von Berg smiled.
“Yes, and business sense.” Andros laughed. “Speaking of which, I’d like to conclude the deal we outlined in your office yesterday and propose to Aphrodite tonight. I suppose I should have the ring. Then I can find a private place to pop the question. That’s if I can find her. Have you seen her?”
“Oh, she’s up and about somewhere. Be careful which place you choose. You no doubt heard what happened in the Royal Gardens last night?”
“Who hasn’t? I was there myself when the commotion started, but I quickly jumped back into my car and ordered my chauffeur to drive us away. Dreadful, that such thugs should be running about Athens. Why, that could have been me they killed. Any leads?”
Von Berg looked at him keenly. “None, unfortunately.”
“Communists, you know, all of them. They-”
Andros stopped as Aphrodite appeared at the top of the steps overlooking the garden. Her hair was down tonight, falling gracefully behind her bare bronze shoulders and outshining her elegant black dress. The orchestra struck up a waltz, and Andros excused himself from von Berg. “You’ll pardon me, Baron, but I’d like this waltz.”
“But of course,” said von Berg with an understanding smile. “I’ll get your ring.”
Despite her impeccable glossy exterior, Aphrodite seemed nervous as Andros took her hand and they danced beneath the sparkling lights in the twilight. He caught von Berg watching them before the Baron went up the steps inside the house.
“You have the uniform?” Andros asked her.
“Upstairs, in the lower right-hand drawer of my dresser.”
“Good. And you’ll take care of Hans?”
She nodded. “I’ve already promised him a dance and have been delaying him as long as I can. He’s waiting by the buffet table.”
They turned in a circle, and Andros glimpsed the reproachful Hans, immaculately dressed, impatiently looking at his watch.
“Excellent,” Andros said. “It’s eight-forty-eight, so I should be making my way to your bedroom and be back a little after nine. In and out in just a few minutes.”
“Christos,” said Aphrodite, “I don’t think I can go through with this.”
“Of course you can,” he told her firmly. “Now is not the time for second thoughts.”
“Ludwig knows something’s up. Maybe not about the safe. But he suspects you want to take me away from him.”
“You think he’s a genius because he figured that out?”
“Please, Christos. Don’t do anything foolish.”
“What do you want me to do, Aphrodite? Run away?”
“Yes,” she said. “Forget whatever is inside Ludwig’s safe. Go home tomorrow morning on the Turtle Dove. You’ve brought food to Greece. You’ve freed my brother. Isn’t that enough?”
“No, it’s not.” He was aware that time was slipping away. By now he should have been on his way to the Baron’s study. “I came here on a mission, and I’m going to fulfill it.”
“I’ll get into the safe,” she told him, squeezing his hand with unmistakable determination. “Tell your British friends that I’ll give them what they want after you and Kostas are safely away.”
“And leave you behind?” He groaned inside. “Why the hell do you think I came back to Athens? To see the sights?”
She looked confused, as if she couldn’t believe him. “Just tell me one thing, Christos. Did you love her, or was that business, too?”
He looked into her curious amber eyes and felt his heart miss a beat. He prayed to God she wasn’t talking about Elise.
“The woman in Bern,” she said. “Ludwig showed me pictures of you two.”
“She was a spy, Aphrodite, one of von Berg’s, to test me and my love for you. I hate myself for what I did. But I had to do it.”
“That makes two of us.”
Before he could ask Aphrodite what she meant, Andros saw von Berg standing at the top of the steps. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned.
“May I?” asked Hans.
“Of course.”
Andros handed off Aphrodite, who looked back at him helplessly as Hans led her toward the center of the dancing. Andros walked up the steps to join von Berg. Together they watched Aphrodite and Hans waltz gracefully under the stars.
“Quite a charmer, that Hans,” Andros told the Baron, trying to sound a bit flustered.
“Isn’t he? I’ll have to talk with him about his manners. To think that he would cut in on one of my honored guests.”
“Oh, it’s my own fault. I won’t have a chance down there with Aphrodite. I’ll have a word with her later, if I can find the right time and place. Would you happen to have the ring?”
“Certainly.” Von Berg handed Andros the blue box.
“Thank you,” said Andros. “In the meantime, I think I’ll try some of that fresh fish inside.” With that, he excused himself and went into the house.
72
T he clock in the hallway by the bar said it was two minutes to nine. Andros walked to an island of food, looked it over for a few seconds, and then went past a sentry up the stairs to Aphrodite’s bedroom, the second door to the right down the corridor. But when he walked in, he found her mother sitting on the bed.