but fast on his way out of this world. Katerina turned to Aristo.
‘Aristo, I saw some rope in a secret room off the study. I’ll go get it. Here, hold this tight to the wound.’
She came back with the rope and gave it to Aristo. They exchanged places beside Iakovos. Aristo tied up the man’s legs and feet and arms to his side and left him cross-legged on the floor. He stood up and turned to Katerina.
Her bloodshot eyes were now turning into pools of iridescent hues of aquamarine and turquoise, and she could not hold them in. Wet tears started running down her cheeks and she lowered her head that her long slender swan-like neck looked strained to hold. Then with all the effort her neck could master she looked up, her eyes boring deep holes into Aristo.
‘I think I’ve stopped the bleeding but he’s lost a lot of blood already. We need to get him to a hospital.’ Iakovos was losing consciousness. ‘Iakovos, where’s the closest hospital?’
Iakovos struggled to shake his head and to speak through the haze clouding his mind. ‘It’s just over two hours away. I don’t have that long.’
Aristo thought hard. ‘There’s a military base twenty minutes from here. And it has a hospital. Just give me a minute.’
He got out his mobile and dialled a number a very selected few people had access to. A few hundred miles away in Athens, the private line of General Tomasakis rang. He ignored the man sitting opposite him and picked it up.
Within minutes, a military helicopter was landing on the lawn outside the house. A pair of paramedics emerged with a stretcher and moved quickly towards the house. Aristo was at the door.
‘In here. Hurry.’
Iakovos was given first aid, put on the stretcher and rushed to the helicopter.
‘Katerina go with them. I’ll stay here to interrogate our friend and find out who he is and what the hell he’s doing here. And we need to find and warn Iakovos’ father. I hope he’s still alright. He could have been followed as well.’
‘OK. I’ll ask Iakovos when he regains consciousness and I’ll call you.’ They kissed and hugged and she turned to walk towards the helicopter. Aristo remembered something and turned.
‘Katerina, make sure you get DNA samples from Iakovos for the comparison with ours.’
‘Will do. I’ll talk to you later.’
She walked to the helicopter, which had kept its blades turning. Aristo waited while the helicopter lifted off and flew away and then he went inside the house. He walked straight to the sitting room, but the man was not there.
How the hell did he manage to untie himself? Was there another intruder previously hidden or, perhaps, someone who arrived here in the last few minutes that they had been busy dealing with Iakovos? Was it that that person had decided that their mission had failed and he was biding his time to intervene and help his associate to get out to fight for another day? Yet they could still be here.
He had decided to go on a search of the house when he heard a car outside and a door opening. That should be Iakovos’ father and, if the man or men were still there, he might be in danger. Aristo ran to open the front door and without a thought for introductions shouted at the man standing by the car.
‘Take cover. There are some people after you.’
The man stared at him white as a sheet. Aristo could see no fear but defiance in the man’s eyes that were darting in different directions around him. He knew the other man was checking for more unknown attackers or intruders, trying to make sense of the situation and was perhaps looking for a way out.
Konstantinos Palantis, Iakovos’ father, cursed himself for not having his gun with him. But how could he have known? He had had nothing but peace and tranquillity so far in his life. Those happy days were now, no doubt, behind him.
‘What are you talking about? Who are you?’
‘Are you Konstantinos Palantis, Iakovos’ father?’
‘Yes. Where is my son?’
‘We were attacked. He’s in hospital.’
‘Where? I have to go to him.’
‘Don’t worry. He’s at the nearby military base. He’s well looked after.’
‘Military base? But how? Who are you?’
‘I’m Aristo Symitzis. I’m a friend.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to talk to you about something important.’
About what? What could we possibly have to talk about? I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you before in my life.’
‘Look it’s a long story. Not now. Just get here close to me. I’ll cover you. Or on second thought just get back into your car and drive off. Go to somewhere safe.’
‘I’m not going anywhere. This is my home. This is unbelievable. I still cannot understand what the hell is going on. I leave for a few hours, I come back and a stranger is giving me this amazing story and tells me to drive off. What would you have done in my place? Would you have believed him? How do I know you are not the one who’s here to harm me? You say you came here to talk to me. But how do I know? Look, just get out of here. You are not welcome here. This is private property. If you are not out of here in two minutes, I’ll call the police.’
‘And they won’t be here for at least twenty minutes. And by that time you may be dead and there would be nothing for them to find. And if I am lying and I want to harm you, you don’t have enough time to do anything and the police won’t be here soon enough to do anything about it. And, besides, I would have harmed you by now. So you have no choice but to trust me.’
Konstantinos Palantis thought about what this man was saying and realised the sense in it. His expression changed and his demeanour indicated to Aristo that he had got through to the man.
Aristo relaxed but only briefly. They were still in danger. ‘Come on let’s get inside.’
This was no time to be polite and Aristo went in first with Palantis following behind. At the moment Aristo entered the entrance hall he heard a shot and he turned to see Palantis collapsing to the floor with half of his head torn off and Aristo found himself staring straight into the eyes of the man he had tied and straight into the barrel of the gun he held in his hand. And there was another man behind him.
Aristo was holding a gun as well, but he knew he did not have enough time to use it. He knew he was a dead man walking.
CHAPTER 40
Elli’s private island retreat, Mount Ellothon Aegean Sea, Greece
The scene could not be more contrasting. One of the most powerful women in the world next to one of the most powerful men in Australia. They were sitting at a wooden table that wouldn’t have been out of place in a monastery with its Spartan air and what you would call minimalistic luxury.
They were luxuriating in the creature comforts of Elli’s compound in the paradise of Mount Ellothon, both pityingly oblivious to their impressive surroundings that were changing as their conversation was developing to show the images of what they were talking about. To the untrained eye it was a surreal roll of film.
Andrew barely gave it a glance, and yet it kept distracting him and irresistibly drawing him in. He tried to shut it out and concentrated on what Elli was talking about.
‘Anyway, it’s good to have you here. You made it at last. I’ll be honest with you. I had my reservations. I know you are a busy man, Andrew, and I didn’t really think that you would bother to make an appearance. You do understand why I wanted you here. I wanted us to have a few days alone before we launched you back into the family bosom.’
‘I agree with the wisdom of that decision.’ Andrew paused. When he continued the tone of his voice was soft and nostalgic. ‘Elli, there’s been so much history between us. Why don’t we give it another go and try to recapture the magic of our first years together?’
