Dig Two Graves: Revenge or Honor (21 page)

“I just met you,” she said softly, putting a hand on his chest then gently pushing him away. “We have a business relationship here, Mr. Pantheras. Stop now before you get yourself slapped,” she said playfully, but regretting she had to reject him.

“All right, but I hope we can conclude our business soon. I would like you to get to know how interesting I can be.”

“I’m sure you can be very…” she stopped short and reached for her iPhone.

“Ciao. Yes. What! When? How bad is he?” Gia said as she sat down on the terrace’s brick wall. “I can be there in two hours. Tell the damn Provinciale I will, we will be there as soon as we can. Thanks for calling Marco. Ciao.”

AJ looked at Gia, questions written all over his face.

Gia put the phone down, put her fist to her mouth, and pressed her index finger knuckle to her teeth.

“What?” AJ said.

“Your friend Mr. Savas was attacked in his hotel room. It’s bad.”

“Is he… dead?” AJ said, tears coming to his eyes. Was everyone close to him going to die? AJ thought.

“No, he’s at the hospital, but it sounds bad. That was my friend Marco, the hotel manager,” Gia said. “Some Provinciale, the local police, saw two men pushing a laundry cart out of the hotel service area. They called for them to stop, but they ran. They got away, but the Provinciale checked the cart and found a man, Ceres, who had been beaten unconscious. They got him to the hospital. I’m sorry, that’s all Marco knows.”

“We have to go,” AJ said. “I know it’s late, but I have to go. Now.”

“I understand. I’m so sorry. If we’d brought him with us….” Her voice trailed off in sadness and frustration.

“There are a lot of ifs. If he came with us, he wouldn’t be hurt, I know. I was thinking the same thing. It’s my fault. I wanted to be alone with you. I was selfish,” AJ said, looking into her dark eyes.

“I have to get to him.”

“We can leave immediately. Let me find Alessandro,” Gia said, a forced smile creeping over her flushed face as she sprinted away.

AJ sighed. He wondered when this would all be over and thought about Ceres and when or if he would be with Gia again.

AJ didn’t object to Gia’s driving on the trip back to the city. He hardly noticed the bends and switchbacks that made his butt pucker on the earlier drive on this same road. He saw lightning over the mountains. Here and there, powerful shafts of light, some at steep angles, slashed through to the ground as light struggled to overcome dark. It appeared the moon light and the lightning were battling each other. The stormy horizon loomed ever larger in front of him as they raced on, and AJ wondered how he would face it.

San Raffaele Hospital was less than a mile off the A 51 highway and reminded AJ of Miami’s Jackson Memorial. Staff rushing, waiting room overflowing, and ambulances lined up- the nighttime trauma center dance was apparently universal.

Gia took charge once they hit the hospital doors. She was formidable, dark eyes flashing. She dismissed the uniformed police at the door with a wave of her hand and a single curse, bowled through the waiting room, and soon had the doctor in charge, a young, dark haired man, under hot cross-examination in loud, rapid Italian.

After several minutes’ interrogation, Gia turned to AJ.

“Your friend is in serious condition. He was bleeding from his right ear and his nose when they brought him here,” she said, taking AJ’s hand.

“How seriously is he hurt?” AJ asked.

“He took at least two blows to the head. He has a skull fracture behind his right ear, four broken ribs, and he is unconscious. Doctor Ponzio has him in a drug-induced coma and on a Mannitol drip to reduce the swelling in his brain. The doctor says his brain activity is good and he is stable for now, but Doctor Ponzio worries about brain swelling. Your friend is not a young man, and these are serious injuries.”

“Is there anything I can do? Is there anything he needs?” AJ asked. The fear he’d fought during their silent, frantic drive to the hospital crept into the back of his mind now that he knew the seriousness of Ceres’ injuries. “Can I see him?”

Gia turned back to the doctor with the question, and he responded in halting English to AJ.

“No. Not yet. Your friend needs rest,” the doctor said. Then he spoke to Gia in Italian again, shook hands with her and AJ, then headed down the corridor.

The two watched the doctor walk away. AJ flashed back to his mother’s death, the plane crash. She had survived the impact and the fire, but she died in a place exactly like this, alone on a gurney in a sterile room. His father, the great Andreas Pantheras, never even came to the hospital.

“AJ, Doctor Ponzio is chief of neurosurgery here. This is a good hospital, a teaching hospital. Doctor Ponzio is one of the best in the country. They called him in to see Ceres.”

AJ looked at Gia and said, “I’m going to see him, and I’m going to hold his hand until he wakes up. Understand?”

“AJ you can’t … of course, he’s in room 9,” she said, nodding in the direction the doctor had disappeared.

“I’ll try to answer the questions from the police. Is there anything you don’t want me to tell them about what you’re doing?”

AJ thought. What was he doing? Good damn question. “Ceres and I are here on vacation. That’s all they need to know. You and I are just friends, but don’t you believe that,” AJ said, gently squeezing Gia’s hand. “You are more than a friend, and thank you for… for dealing with the doctor. For everything. Oh and you should call Alessandro and let him know what’s happened.

“You’re welcome. I’m so sorry this has happened. I will deal with the police. Go see your friend,” Gia said.

She turned and headed toward the clutch of three police officers eyeing her from the far end of the hall.

AJ crept into Treatment Room 9. He had steeled himself for what he expected to see, but was still shocked when he saw the old man. He felt the clutch of his terror grab his mind and his gut. Ceres’ head was lost in a mass of bandages. Tubes and wires, beeping monitors and gauges surrounded the bed. Gauze, papers, and blood were all over the floor. Stuffing down his rising fear, AJ pulled a stool over to the gurney and took Ceres’ hand. AJ looked at the tiny bit of his friend’s face not covered by bandages. Four years ago in a room just like this one, he held his mother’s hand. For the first time since that night, he closed his eyes and began to pray. AJ hoped this time his prayer would be answered.

The tiny Republic of San Marino is pinned between the Adriatic and the Apennine Mountains and is surrounded by Italy. Of its nine municipalities or Castellios, Castellio di Montegardine in the northeast corner of the country is the smallest. In the smallest municipality in the smallest country, sits Bella Vista, and nothing about it or its owner is small.

The villa’s vineyards comprise four hundred fifty acres in a country that is only twenty-four square miles. Robust vines produce Sangiovese, a strong red wine, and Biancale, a dry white wine, and bring their owner a tidy profit every year. The vineyards, barns for cattle and cheese making, and various other utilitarian buildings are but a backdrop to an enormous reconstructed 17th century castle. The medieval structure, completely revamped with every modern luxury is Bella Vista, the private enclave of Nikko Solaris, reclusive billionaire, self-proclaimed financier, commodities expert, and captain of industry. The place is anything but small.

Nikko Solaris looked out over his vineyards from his balcony. The harvest was going well. It did his heart good to see the people sweating and struggling in the vineyards. It reminded him of what he did not want to do in life and why he had made the choices he had. The fact these people depended on him for their livelihood wasn’t lost on the man, either. He thrived on being in control.

Karl, Executive Assistant and bodyguard to Mr. Solaris, appeared in the French doors and officiously cleared his throat, “Excuse me, sir. There is a telephone call for you,” the strapping Austrian body builder said.

Solaris turned away from the bucolic scene and returned to running his multinational business, saying, “I’ll take it in the office.”

Solaris turned his back on his serfs to enter his private sanctum. Karl closed the French doors behind him. His office, previously a sitting room, had stone floors that bore thick oriental rugs, the old man’s favorite. High ceilings, leaded clerestory windows, and dark oak paneling created a setting for one of the world’s finest private baroque art collections. The ultra high-tech gear in the room however overshadowed the nineteenth century opulence. Banks of plasma screens arrayed in front of an immense desk streamed continuous stock data from New York, London, Hong Kong, and Berlin. Multiple computer monitors crowded the desktop. Two multi-button phones competed for space with stacks of portfolios and file folders. A dozen multimillion-dollar deals crossed Nikko Solaris’ desk each week. The master of a $17 billion empire demanded knowledge at his fingertips and he got it.

Taking a seat behind his desk, Nikko glanced at the red light blinking on his phone and took a deep breath. He flipped the switch for the scrambler and snatched the phone from the cradle. “Report,” he said forcefully.

“This is Dobos, sir. We were unable to locate the notebook. The target was not in the hotel,” the Romanian said. He waited for a barrage of curses, but Nikko Solaris continued to listen. “We tried to take the man in the room out of the hotel, but we were discovered.”

“Did you get anything out of the man?” Solaris asked, already knowing the answer. This man who had worked for him so many times before, had obviously lost his edge.

“No, sir. He was older than the man you had described and was unconscious when…”

“I don’t need the details. What I need is for you to complete an assignment without bungling it,” Solaris said. “Did you learn anything?”

“Yes, sir,” Dobos replied. “The name of the man we’ve been following is Ajax Pantheras. The name of the man in the hotel room was in the newspaper this morning. It’s Ceres Savas. Both are Americans,” Dobos said.

Will I never be rid of Pantheras? And the one from the Boston bookstore, he had surfaced again, too. “You searched the room I suppose and found nothing?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I must have that book. Follow Pantheras. Choose your approach more carefully next time, and get me that book,” Solaris said. “This is your final chance. Anything else?”

“The American is working with a private investigator.”

“Who?”

“Gianna Donatella, offices here in Milan.”

“You recognize the name?” Solaris said, rubbing his brow. He was getting a headache. This had to end.

“Yes, sir. I eliminated a man by that name about a year ago,” Dobos replied.

“Well, you appear to have a lot of unfinished business,” Solaris said.

“See that this is wrapped up quickly. If you cannot get the book, close the contract with the Americans and the girl. Make it look like an accident.”

“Yes, sir,” Dobos said, but his employer had already hung up.

Solaris leaned back in his plush leather chair, his chin resting on his outstretched fingers. Three generations. The name Pantheras had been the bane of his existence now for three generations. Why could he not get rid of these people? Why were they so hard to kill? Solaris would need his network. Everyone was needed now. He did a quick name search on his iPhone. He found the name he wanted and hit dial. Luis Echeverra answered on the third ring.

AJ stretched and yawned as he slowly came awake. He was stiff and sore from another night on the convertible chair in Ceres’ room. The contraption folded from a chair into a sort of chaise. It wasn’t comfortable as either a chair or a bed, but AJ wasn’t concerned about his comfort. He wanted to be near his friend.

“Ciao, Mr. AJ,” the cheery nurse said as she slipped into the room. Nurse Mary Burnsnell was a sixtyish matronly woman. She was rotund and officious but warm and pleasant in a motherly way, even if she talked insistently. Mary, a traveling nurse from London, had worked at San Raffaele for two years and was due to move to Lister Hospital, a private facility in Chelsea.

“How are you this morning, dear?” she asked as she smiled and went to the computer in the corner.

AJ was never sure if she was asking him how he was or if she was talking to Ceres. “I’m fine, I guess,” AJ said, just in case.

“Did Mr. Savas wake in the night? There’s no record of it at the Nurses Station if he did. I keep hoping he’ll wake soon. I’m leaving the first of the month, you know, and I just have to talk to him, him being so handsome and all. You know it’s just terrible what happened to him. The police here are just terrible. People beaten half to death with no one ever found responsible. The police are just terrible. They arrested that pretty American girl, what’s her name, Amanda something? …”

“Whatever. Can we get on with it,” AJ said.

“Yes, her, they arrested her and then to let go because …”

AJ tuned out Nurse Mary. It was the same litany every morning. Now that he was hearing it for the third time, he had it memorized. Mary may have worked in hospitals all over Europe, but the poor thing was still just a gossiping busy body. Still, though, AJ thought, she was a good nurse and she was taking wonderful care of Ceres.

AJ watched her as she clacked away at the computer in the corner oblivious to her prattle. He was startled to full wakefulness though when he looked at Ceres. Unless AJ was hallucinating, Ceres’ eyes were open.

Mary’s grating voice came back into focus, and she was saying, “Right, we have some meds to dispense and vitals to take and …

“Nurse, his eyes are open,” AJ said. He had to say it two more times before she heard him, and by that time, AJ was at Ceres’ bedside holding his hand, talking to him.

“Ceres, can you hear me?” he asked softly.

His eyes blinked, and his head moved slightly.

“Ceres, can you hear me?” he asked again.

“Yes. What happened?” Ceres said in a weak voice.

“You’re in a hospital. Someone attacked you. You were beaten up.”

“I remember. There was a knock on the door and I thought it was you.” Ceres was very weak and hoarse.

“The hotel security cameras caught both of them. It was the same two men from Athens,” AJ said.

“What? The notebook, I must check on the notebook ….”

“Calm yourself. I will get it for you, but you need to rest now, get better,” AJ said. “Where is the notebook?”

“I put it in the hotel safe,” Ceres said.

“I’ll get it and bring it to you. For now, you need to rest. Rest,” AJ said softly.

Ceres relaxed in the bed and closed his eyes.

AJ looked at Nurse Mary, who had witnessed the whole scene and smiled. “He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”

“All right and then some love. It’s the sight of you that brought him back, dear. I’ll find Doctor Ponzio,” Nurse Mary said then bolted from the room.

Within the hour, three different doctors and a phalanx of police had been to see Ceres. He answered questions about the attack, endured a physical exam from each doctor, and was more patient than AJ would have been. When Nurse Mary came in again and started checking him over AJ had had enough.

“Nurse, this has to stop,” AJ said. “He’s answered all the damn questions, put up with all the poking and prodding …”

“What questions?” the startled Nurse said. “Oh, the doctors. They’re just so pleased Mr. Savas is back among us.”

Turning to Ceres, she said, “Keep making progress, dear,” she patted his arm. “Doctor says you may have solid food in a few days. The food here is wonderful. I love Italy.”

While the nurse kept on talking, Ceres turned his head away to look out the window.

AJ shifted in his chair, and Ceres looked at him and smiled. AJ went to the bed and sat down lightly.

Ceres tried to raise his hand to touch AJ, but constrained by an IV and a cascade of monitor wires, he couldn’t move. AJ reached for his hand, squeezed it, and smiled.

“You gave me quite a scare,” AJ said. “I can’t lose you, Ceres. You’re the only family I have.”

Ceres smiled and closed his eyes. He fell asleep still holding AJ’s hand.

“Sleep is the best thing for him, you know,” Nurse Mary said, seeing AJ sitting on the bed. “Why don’t you take a break dear? You haven’t eaten proper in days. The little café in the lobby is good. I love Italy, such good food.”

“Maybe you’re right. I’ll go get something,” AJ said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Will you stay with him?”

“He’s sleeping, and I have plenty to do. I’ll be right here with him, dear,” the nurse replied. “It’s a good sign, you know, his waking and his speech coming back. It’s all very good, isn’t it?”

“I guess it is,” AJ said. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all, AJ thought.

He walked slowly down the quiet white corridor, got on the elevator, and pressed “T.” The old elevator hummed, and the lights flickered. The ride down was slow and jerky, but AJ, head down and lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice. When the elevator door scraped open on the ‘Terra’ level, he stepped out without looking up and walked right into Gia.

“Hey, watch where you’re going, mister,” Gia said, a lilt in her voice and a broad smile on her face. She was genuinely glad to see him.

“Oh, damn. I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” AJ said, relieved to see her.

She had been at the hospital twice a day. She had forced some food and coffee on him while he sat Shiva and tried to convince him his friend’s condition wasn’t his fault.

“How’s he doing, any better?” she asked.

“He opened his eyes this morning, and he’s speaking a little. I think he may have turned the corner,” AJ said, realizing for the first time how significant the morning’s developments may have been.

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Have you talked to him yet?” she asked, excited for both Ceres and AJ.

“A little, not much. The doctors have been in and out pestering all morning. Some police detectives were in, too. If I were him,” AJ said, “I think I’d go back into a coma just so they’d leave me alone.”

Gia laughed, and AJ felt the sparkle in her eyes.

“That’s great news,” she said.

“Yeah, it is. He dropped off to sleep again, so I was going to get some coffee. Want to come with me?” AJ said.

“Sure. There’s a place here or we could go to a café down the street. You could use some real food, you know. You haven’t eaten a decent meal in days,” Gia said.

“Let’s try the place outside the hospital,” AJ said, looking around at the sterile walls. “I could do with some fresh air.”

Once they were on the sidewalk, AJ took a deep breath. He didn’t even notice the car exhaust, the honking, and the rumbling of the morning traffic. If only I could clear my head, he thought, maybe I could work out what’s going on. Gia, walking beside him, took his arm, her hand on the inside of his elbow. Now I’ll never clear my head, he thought. He felt her warmth as her shoulder nudged into his body. They walked the two blocks close together. AJ wished it were ten miles.

Once they were seated and had ordered, Gia leaned in close and said, “I’m so very glad Ceres is improving. I know you’ve been worried out of your mind.”

“I have, and I’m afraid it’s not over,” he said.

“I know what you mean. Uncle Alessandro has been checking for us. He sends his regards, by the way.”

AJ nodded.

“He’s been in touch with the Athens police. He passed on the information you gave him about the men at the Athens hotel.

Video footage from the night of the attack here shows two men who fit your description from Athens.”