"Okay. We're here, where the spring and two rivers cross. What now?"
"There used to be a public bath where the springs are. It's a museum now. The only other clue we've got is the reference to Erinys."
"Erinys?" Ronnie went to the mini-fridge, took out a bottle of water, sat on the bed.
"The destructive side of Demeter. Not someone you wanted to meet."
"How do we track it down? You have an idea?"
"It's research, like always. That inscription is from around 146 BCE or so. A lot of Greeks lived in Bulgaria then."
"Not now?"
"Not anymore. The culture is Slavic. Records from that time are lost but there must have been a shrine or temple for Demeter or Erinys. Maybe we can find out where it was. Whoever wrote that inscription would have known about it, assuming it really is a message about the urn."
Nick sat down. "What do you want to do first?"
"Try the libraries and museums, starting with the springs. You and Ronnie can take in the sights."
"Better if we stay together. The bad guys found you in Greece. They could find you here."
"They're not going to go after me in a library or a museum."
"No? Why not?"
"Well, too public?"
"Public doesn't matter. These kind of people don't worry about public."
She knew he was right.
"So we all go to the museum. I hope you're ready to get bored."
"Hey," Ronnie said. "I like museums. Maybe they'll have a Bulgarian dinosaur."
CHAPTER TWENTY
Alexei Ivanovich allowed himself a smile. Korov had displayed his usual efficiency. Zviad Gelashvili was enraged by the death of his brother. Rage and anger were desirable. People who allowed their anger to control them made mistakes.
Alexei had informants inside Zviad's organization. Gelashvili had learned a man had joined the woman, Connor, in Greece. He was convinced it was the same man who had killed Bagrat. Zviad had vowed to skin him alive. He would, if he found him.
Alexei knew Connor's partner was Nicholas Carter, Director of Special Operations for the Project. He knew something about all of the personnel at the Project. He assumed they knew about him. When you reached his level in the world of covert intelligence, many things about you were known. Vysotsky's job as head of Department S meant there were detailed files about him somewhere in Washington. Certainly in the Project.
Intelligence agencies the world over still followed a few unwritten rules. Members of one agency didn't attack their opposite numbers, unless there was a direct and immediate reason to do so. It was a kind of gentlemen's agreement between people who were anything but gentlemen. It provided some security. It wouldn't do to have the various agencies at war with one another, not openly. Deaths brought retaliation. No one wanted a repeat of the bad old days of the cold war.
On the other hand, there was no rule about protecting the competition if someone else went after them. That wasn't his business, unless it was to his advantage. At the moment, Alexei saw no advantage in letting Carter know Gelashvili was stalking him and his partner. Carter was experienced. He would have considered that possibility. It was his lookout.
The two Americans had gone on to Bulgaria and been joined by a third member of their team. They'd registered at a hotel in Sofia. They were making no effort to hide their identity. Alexei found that unusual, even refreshing. It made sense, in an odd way. Carter was well known. Connor was certainly known to Gelashvili. So why hide who they were? He wondered if they were trying to draw Gelashvili into the open. Bulgaria wasn't that far from Moscow. It wasn't like trying to get Zviad to a Western city. It was what he would do in their position. Get him somewhere and talk with him. Forcefully.
Gelashvili might seek his revenge in person. Alexei wanted Korov to be on hand if that happened. He'd ordered Arkady to follow the Americans into Bulgaria. They were the perfect bait to draw Gelashvili away from his Moscow fortress. They could do the work and he could reap the advantages. It was time to eliminate Gelashvili. He would die on foreign soil and no one would suspect Alexei's hand behind events. The more he thought about it, the more he liked it.
If the Americans died as well, it wasn't personal.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
They'd rented a car at the hotel, a Peugeot. They parked in front of the museum.
"More domes." Ronnie gestured at the roof.
The old public baths had a high, arched doorway and paned windows under a large dome. Two more domes at the ends balanced the central mass. The exterior featured horizontal bands of white and brown and accents of yellow under a red roof.
The museum was closed.
"Where to now?" Nick said.
"The National History Museum. It was next on my list."
They'd rented a GPS along with the car. It guided them through the confusion of Sofia traffic and indecipherable street names until they found the National Museum.
The building was modern in a 70s way, low and clean, a study in simplicity. The central foyer was cool and light. The floor was of polished gray stone. A wide flight of stone steps led up to the second and third floors. Exhibition galleries branched off on the sides. Selena consulted a guide printed in English and Bulgarian. The Greek antiquities were on the second floor.
The room with the Greek and Roman exhibits was to the left. White platforms of varying height supported glass cases for the displays. The floor was tiled with more broad squares of polished stone, under a ceiling with repeating squares of dark wood.
The room was quiet and cool. They were the only visitors. Selena walked among the cases looking for anything relating to Erinys or Demeter. The exhibits were arranged chronologically. She moved through the centuries and stopped in front of a case about three feet tall, set at waist height.
"Here's something."
The case contained statues and pottery.
"That's Erinys." She pointed at a damaged statue of a woman in a flowing robe wearing a braided wreath. The sculptor had given her strong, unforgiving features. The corners of her mouth were pulled down. She was looking at something and wasn't happy about it.
Selena read the card below the figure.
"This wasn't found in Sofia. The card says it was dug up in Bankya at a temple dedicated to Demeter."
Nick studied the statue. "Could fit the inscription. Where's Bankya?"
"I don't know."
In the car they consulted the GPS.
"It's about ten kilometers from here." Nick looked at his watch. "Getting late. Let's save it for tomorrow."
They headed back to the Hilton.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Zviad lay naked on his back, Bedisa on top of his huge belly. Both were slick with sweat. Zviad had his eyes open. He was thinking. Usually after one of their sexual bouts he would fall into a short sleep. Not sleep, really. More like a ten minute escape from reality. A ten minute escape for her.
Not today. Bedisa waited. She knew better than to say anything. Her body rose and fell with Zviad's breathing.
"Iosif called."
She waited.
"The Americans went to Bulgaria, to Sofia. Iosif has gone after them."
"Why Bulgaria?"
"Who knows?" He pushed Bedisa roughly onto the bed and stood.
He pulled on one of the red satin robes he favored. She watched in relief as the robe covered his massive buttocks. It was getting harder to pretend. Zviad's body disgusted her. He smelled. His skin had a greasy quality to it that made her feel dirty. His large penis was about his only redeeming physical quality as far as she was concerned. Iosif wasn't as well endowed, but he could be manipulated in ways impossible with Zviad. If all went well, she wouldn't have to put up with Zviad much longer.