Jeffrey Siger - An Aegean Prophecy

She was the only woman sitting amid a group of men gathered around a small table. Some were on chairs, some sat on cushions on a low, smooth, white concrete wall, others stood. Three of the men wore black combat fatigues. Andreas wasn’t sure if dressing bodyguards like that helped achieve their intended purpose, unless of course attracting attention was what you wanted.

‘Come here, please, I want you to meet a very good friend of mine.’ She’d switched to English and was nodding toward a man on her right.

Andreas smiled. The man was about Andreas’ age, looked fit, with sandy hair, brown eyes, and a ‘why are you bothering me’ look. Andreas stepped up to the table, extended his hand, smiled, and said in English, ‘Hi, Andreas Kaldis.’

The man did not stand, just reached up, gave a perfunctory handshake, and said in clearly Russian accented English, ‘Nice to meet you, Vladimir Brusko.’

Andreas nodded, then leaned down to Katerina, kissed her on both cheeks, and said in English, ‘Katerina, my love, you look as fantastic as ever,’ making sure to sneak an obvious peek at her breasts.

‘I’ve missed you, there is so much to catch up on.’ She slid along the cushion on the wall to make room for Andreas to sit between her and the Russian.

‘Thank you. I’d love to, but I’m meeting someone and can’t stay. Maybe we’ll bump into each other later. Kisses.’ He patted Vladimir on the shoulder. ‘Nice meeting you, bye.’ And off he went, quickly lost in the Vengera crowds.

Andreas’ phone rang almost immediately.

‘What the hell was that?’ It was Tassos.

‘I had no choice, no bait to fish with. Until I hear from Barbara it’s a waste of time. That guy’s about as interested in talking to me as you are in going on a diet.’

‘Kiss my ass. When do you think you’ll hear from her?’

‘Wish I knew. Just have one of your boys keep a loose eye on him so we know where they are when she calls. I’m sure she will, just not sure when her spaceship will land on this planet. But tell them to be careful, he probably has bodyguards under-cover keeping an eye out for anyone watching him. Guys with camo-cops usually do.’

‘I cannot tell you how pissed Katerina must be at this moment,’ said Tassos.

‘Serves her right. Only reason for her being pissed is if she told him all sorts of things she shouldn’t have.’

‘Yeah, makes sense, but I’ll let you explain that to her.’

‘Got to go, must find Barbara.’ Andreas hung up and dialed Lila.

She answered on the first ring. ‘Hello, daddy-to-be. Miss me, or are you just calling to verify your instructions?’

‘Why aren’t you sleeping?’

‘Hard to sleep, what with my imagination running wild at what might be going on. Besides, you knew I’d be awake. That’s why you called.’

Andreas wasn’t in the mood for banter. ‘Yes, I miss you, but it looks like you have nothing to worry about. Barbara is a no-show.’

‘You’re kidding me.’ Her tone was serious.

‘Wish I were. She was out when I got to her house a little past midnight. She left a note that she’d be out to dinner, her phone would be off, and she would call me later. It’s now way past later and the whole plan is about to crash.’

There was a long silence before Lila spoke. ‘At times she’s a real airhead, with the attention span of a gnat. Let me try to find her.’ Her voice now was angry. ‘I’ll get her to call you, or let you know if I can’t find her. But I will. Love you.’ She hung up.

Andreas was standing between two churches, really three, just beyond the Nautical Museum. Time to say a prayer and light a candle. Make that three candles.

‘Your friend seemed really excited at meeting me.’ The sarcasm was clear.

Katerina’s nervousness was obvious. ‘Vladimir, I don’t understand. He said it was important. Honest.’ That bastard Tassos, wait until I get my hands on him.

‘Don’t worry about it.’ He patted her bare knee. ‘He’s just a poseur and not a very good one at that. “I’m meeting someone and can’t stay.” I just bet he is, some fuck-me-for-a-drink mindless little tourist slut. Now he’s just one less nobody looking to waste my time.’

Vladimir gestured for a bodyguard to pour them more champagne, then raised his glass and stared into Katerina’s eyes.

Her face lit up in a smile.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, ‘To no more urgent meetings. Ever.’

Katerina’s smile vanished.

Lila called a dozen people before she found one who knew where to find Barbara: she was sitting across from him, naked in a hot tub. Lila thought, thank God he’s gay, because no straight man in that position would ever have answered the phone. Staring at arguably the world’s most perfect set of tits would be far too much of a distraction.

‘Christo, let me speak to her.’ Christo was the most sought-after and prominent hairdresser in Athens.

‘Not sure she’s in any condition to talk, kukla. Thank God I was there to save her.’

‘ Christo, let me speak to her.’ It was a non-negotiable tone.

Lila heard a muffled few words followed by ‘Hellllo.’

‘Barbara, what the hell are you doing?’

‘Lila, darling, I’m here with the most gorgeous, blond-haired, blue-eyed, naked man… are you here? I mean I miss you. I-’

‘Barbara, get out of that hot tub, get yourself dressed and get into town. You’re supposed to be meeting Andreas.’

‘But it’s still early.’

‘It’s almost three o’clock in the morning.’

‘Oh. I lost track of time. There were so many people, we were having such fun, Christo said, “why leave,” and you know how convincing he can be, and-’

‘Let me speak to Christo.’

She heard the phone drop.

‘Hi, kukla, thank God she missed the water.’

‘Listen carefully. I want you to get her dressed, made up to look perfect, and into town, now.’

‘But-’

‘ No buts! No buts at all. Do you hear me? Barbara was supposed to meet Andreas over an hour ago. I’m hours away from giving birth, and you do not want to imagine how crazy I can be if you don’t do me this simple favor and get her ass in town in the next twenty minutes!’

As independent and important as Christo liked to think he was, they both knew his business depended upon staying in the good graces of powerful Athenian women, and Lila was at the very top of that list. She hoped her tone would sober him up enough to do the same for Barbara.

‘Will do. Sorry. Didn’t know how important this was.’

‘Twenty minutes. Call me when she’s on her way.’

Lila hung up. She kept shaking her head. I can’t believe Barbara did this to me. What can I tell Andreas? I wish I could have a drink. She let out a deep breath. I’ll just tell him she’ll be in town in a half hour and ask where should she meet him. No reason to tell him the rest. It only would upset him. Besides a tipsy beauty might be more appealing to the Russian. Na zdarovye.

Andreas kept looking at his watch. It was nearly four and still no Barbara. Lila said she’d be here by now. What a rat-fuck this was turning out to be. Come Sunday morning, when Zacharias finds out what happened to his three boys, either he vanishes to another part of the planet or presses the right political buttons and shuts us down cold. Either way, he gets away with murder, and all because some airhead doesn’t know how to stop partying long enough to do what she promised. The devil must be laughing.

‘So, what do you think the Chief’s doing?’

Tassos shrugged. ‘Same thing we are, killing time.’

‘At least he doesn’t have to do it in a garbage truck.’

‘You really don’t get it, do you? He isn’t meeting any Russian, we’re not waiting for some hot woman to show up, this all was set up as an opportunity for you to receive life lessons from a master.’