“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
Ambassador Garcia took out his phone. “I’ll call him now.”
While Chris and the others watched the video again and reexamined the photos and files, Ambassador Garcia called Xander Metaxas. The ambassador put the call on speakerphone.
“Bob, what can I do for you?” a man’s voice asked.
“I have three legal attachés from the States who were wondering if they might meet you and talk about Michael Winthrop and his kidnapping,” the ambassador said.
“I saw that story on the news and was shocked. Is Mr. Winthrop okay?” Xander asked.
“I haven’t heard anything more.”
“Yes, I will give them all the information I can,” Xander said.
“When would be a good time for them to visit you?”
“Well, right now I am preparing for a cocktail party at my house tonight, so now would be difficult…”
“Could they attend the party?” Ambassador Garcia suggested.
“Wonderful. That is a splendid idea. It is semi-formal. There will be lots of hors d’oeuvres, so tell them to come with empty stomachs. It starts at seven o’clock.”
The ambassador turned to face Hannah. She nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell them. Thanks, Xander.”
“If there is anything else I can do to help, just let me know,” the voice on the line said. “Anything.”
3
After finding no more clues at the embassy, they parted ways with the ambassador and drove several more minutes to their hotel. Once they checked in and got their rooms, the three met in Hannah’s room to discuss their next steps.
“What’s our plan to find out about Michael Winthrop’s disappearance when we visit Xander Metaxas’s estate?” Hannah asked.
“I can talk to Xander,” Chris offered. “And you and Sonny can try to gain information from others at the party.” His teammates nodded in agreement.
“And if we find ourselves on the wrong side of an unfriendly welcoming committee, what will our E & E be?” Sonny asked, moving on to their escape-and-evasion plans. “I’m not expecting such a committee, but just in case.”
“If the threat is nonlethal,” Chris said, “Hannah can use some of her MMA to drop some bodies, and you and I can use our bags of dirty tricks.” For Chris and Sonny, dirty tricks meant exploiting any weakness on the enemy’s body to subdue him. And that weakness dictated using the weapon that was most readily available, whether it be a fist, a drinking glass, or whatever. In turn, the weapon influenced how Chris and Sonny would move. For those lacking experience in violent confrontations, such a process might seem complex, but for Chris and Sonny, dirty tricks had become a natural extension of their being.
Hannah raised an eyebrow. “And if the threat is lethal?”
“We’re all armed with pistols,” Sonny said, patting his firearm. “So unless I’m in close and my knife is quicker…”
“That’s a last resort,” she reminded him. “If it gets too hairy, we can E & E to Olympus. Or if that isn’t practical, we can make the journey to Minotaur.”
Chris nodded. “If we get split up, I’ll head for the water and try to lose them that way. Then I’ll catch up with you two at Olympus. Or Minotaur. Whichever comes first.”
“Why doesn’t it surprise me that you’ll head to the water first?” Sonny said.
Chris smiled.
“Okay, then,” Hannah said. “Sounds like we’ve got ourselves something of a plan. I’m going to get ready.” She waved the backs of her hands at them, shooing them back to their room to do the same.
Shortly before 1900 hours, they exited the hotel, got in the BMW, and headed toward Xander’s. They passed the Parthenon as they drove, and Chris wanted to take a longer look at the classical Greek building perched high on the rocks, but there was no time. On the opposite side of the road stood the Temple of Olympian Zeus. No time for that, either.
Hannah sat in the front passenger seat, navigating as they cruised through the streets of Athens. “Did you enjoy being a diplomat’s son?” she asked when there was a lull in the directions.
Chris flicked a glance in her direction. “I enjoyed the different people and their languages and food — the countries. The dressing up and the parties were just something that went with it all.”
“Do you miss the dressing up and the parties?” she asked. He noticed her taking in his Agency-issued suit as she waited for his answer.
He smiled. “It’s nice to wear a good suit once in a while. But at parties, too often I find myself against the wall not knowing what to do. How about you?”
“Why are you two talking about such boring shit?” Sonny piped up from the backseat.
“And what would you like to talk about?” Hannah shot back. She clearly didn’t appreciate Sonny interrupting their conversation, either.
“I don’t want to talk about anything right now,” Sonny said, “but listening to you two talk about boring shit is denting my skull.”
“Maybe you should stick your head out the window, Sonny,” Chris said sharply. “You might see some birds.”
“That’d be a hell of an improvement,” Sonny mumbled.
Minutes later, they reached a white stone mansion perched on a bluff with a spectacular view of the setting sun. Below, the the dark-blue waters of the Aegean Sea contrasted the light-blue sky. Chris parked on the street behind several luxury cars, allowing enough space for their SOG team to make a quick getaway if necessary.
Walking onto Xander’s property, they traversed a cobblestone pathway, past olive trees and grapevines, until they reached a thick oak door. Chris pulled out his cell phone and tapped it until his audio recording app came on, and he pressed Record before returning his phone to his pocket.
Sonny knocked.
Chris did a quick scan of their surroundings. If shit hit the fan and they were split up, the ocean was within walking distance, and he’d take to the sea and kick-stroke-and-glide while Hannah and Sonny escaped through the city.
There was no answer at the door, so Sonny knocked harder.
Finally, a tall man opened the door. Chris sized him up as being fit and about his same height, but the gray in the man’s beard marked him as older. Chris introduced Hannah, Sonny, and himself.
“Ah, yes, the legal attachés. I’m Xander Metaxas,” he said, his voice like honey. “Ambassador Garcia told me you were coming. I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Winthrop. Please, come in.”
Inside the entrance hall, the high wooden ceiling was finely carved, and a grand piano stood to the side. The black marble floor looked somewhat dated, but it was shiny and clearly expensive.
“Nice floor,” Chris said.
“Thank you.” Xander led them across the hall. “This house has seen a fair amount of remodeling since the eighteenth century, but the floor is original. It is called Ashford Black Marble, imported from England, but it is actually limestone.”
“It’s beautiful,” Hannah said as Xander gestured them into a spacious main room where a cluster of guests stood next to a grand fireplace and a butler served drinks to the guests standing under a crystal chandelier.
“A house as fancy as this,” Sonny said with a snort, “and I’d think you’d at least be able to afford a new floor.”
Chris clenched his teeth, and Xander gave Sonny a quizzical look. The New Yorker was going to get them into trouble before they could find anything out. Chris needed to find some way to build a rapport with Xander. And fast.
Xander was wearing what appeared to be a Yale ring. “I see you’re a Yale grad.” He pointed to the man’s hand.
Xander nodded. “Did you graduate from Yale, too?”
“Harvard, actually,” Chris said.