Jeffrey Siger - Assassins of Athens

'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.

Demon wondered why. 'Really? From how well you knew your way around the metro I thought you were a native.' He smiled.

Efisio laughed; it was forced. 'I have friends who do. They're the ones to thank. I only got on the metro when you came back to Omonia. They waited for me to find you on the platform before sending you the last message. The hat was their idea, too. Made it easier for me to spot you by that Arch and for them to keep an eye on you. It was my idea to toss it. For the same reason.'

He smacked Demon once on the thigh. 'So, my friend, let's talk about the down payment.'

Demon expected that, too. 'You still haven't told me how quickly you can do it.'

Efisio nodded. 'We're fast. The moment there's an opportunity, we take it. Figure within twenty-four hours after we locate the ship. Sooner, if it's in port.'

'That works.'

'Good. So, I think 10 percent up front is fair.'

'I'm sure you do.' Demon paused to smile. 'But I want you to do the job, not just take four million and maybe decide the rest isn't worth the risk.'

Efisio didn't react angrily. He must be used to this sort of negotiation. 'I have an alternative offer. No money down. Just give me Anna.'

Demon knew she would come up; he just didn't expect it this way. It was a tempting offer: if he turned her over, he wouldn't have to raise the down payment. Too tempting in fact. If he went for it, Efisio was likely to think he was full of shit. All talk and no money behind him. Efisio was likely to take Anna and do as he promised — to her. Then simply disappear. No, Demon had to keep these negotiations confined to money. Just enough to show he's for real, not enough to show he's desperate.

'Like I promised before, in due time. We're talking now about money.' Demon's tone was all business.

Efisio stared, more like glared, but did not change his tone. 'So, how much?'

'Two hundred thousand.'

Efisio shook his head no. 'That's not even one percent.'

'What's the going rate for a one-day snatch?'

Efisio smiled. 'So, you know about our business?'

Demon nodded. He didn't, but he'd read about European businessmen kidnapped in the morning and back home in time for dinner. Assuming the ransom was paid.

'Okay, three hundred thousand.'

'Deal. How do you want the money?'

Efisio reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. 'The address on the back is in Athens. You deliver the down payment there. As soon as you do, we get started. On the other side is a bank account. Wire the balance in and we let the kids go. Simple.'