‘They want us to know that they have him. They want to show us how powerful they are and that we could have the same fate. And they must be confident that Giorgos is in such a safe place that there is not even the slightest chance of finding him unless they want us to do so.
‘They want us to stew in our inability to do anything about it or even force our hand to act rashly by concentrating on finding him and being distracted from our main quest. Then again perhaps they want us to act rashly and reveal what we have found out regarding the quest. Vasilis, we have to continue as planned, but be extra careful.’
They had just parked outside the castle and were getting out of the car when Katerina’s mobile went off. She took it out of her bag. She could not tell the identity of the caller, but it was clear that it was from abroad.
‘Hello?’
A small and faint female voice barely came out through the other end of the line. ‘Is that Katerina Markantaskis?’
‘Yes, who’s that speaking, please?’
‘You are Giorgos’ sister?’ Katerina tightened her grip on the mobile expecting the worse, blackmail perhaps or news of her brother’s death. She could not decide which was worse. She could not begin to contemplate what she would do upon receiving the bad news.
‘Yes.’ She made it sound like a question, but she meant for the caller to continue.
‘I am sorry to trouble you. I tried to contact Giorgos, but there was no reply. Could you please tell me how to contact him?’
Katerina felt guilty relief wash over her, but it would prove to be short-lived. She wondered whether to tell the caller about her brother’s disappearance. It was on the news already and it was only a matter of time before this woman found out, if she didn’t know already. ‘My brother is missing.’
‘Missing? What do you mean missing?’
‘I’ve just found out myself. It was on the news. Excuse me, but you haven’t told me your name.’
‘I’m sorry. It’s been a very difficult few hours. My name’s Naomi. I am the sister of James Calvell, the deputy director of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. James was your brother’s best friend. They were at university together.’
‘Yes, I know.’ Katerina paused. There was something the other woman said that triggered the concern part of her brain and then she picked up on it. ‘Did you say “was'?’
‘My brother was found dead this morning in his office. I believe it was murder, even though whoever killed him went to great lengths to make it appear like a suicide. That would be preposterous. He’s never in his life shown the slightest sign of wanting to end his life. On the contrary, he’s never been depressed.
‘Furthermore, he was the most optimistic person I knew. And when I spoke to him earlier this morning he seemed absolutely normal, his usual cheerful, determined and efficient self. There was nothing in his voice to ring alarm bells, not in the least. I’ve told the police all this. But they refuse to treat it as anything else but a suicide.
‘The detective in charge of the investigation is an idiot who is clearly in a rush to wrap the whole thing up, close the file and bury it in a storehouse somewhere, or wherever it is they put their closed files or files of cold cases, which in itself is strange as you would think that he would welcome the publicity of such a case, the benefits to his career, fast-track promotions and rise to the top, running for political office and all that. That’s how things often work here in the States.
‘We are talking about the death of the deputy director of one of the world’s greatest museums after all. And there is another thing. John Halland, a restorer at the museum specialising in Byzantine icons is missing too.’ She paused.
Katerina could tell she was rolling something in her mind and decided not to interrupt her train of thought. When Naomi’s voice next came down the line, the unmistakable signs of fear came down the line with it. ‘Do you think my brother’s death could be connected with your brother’s disappearance? Do you think the restorer was involved in my brother’s death in some way and has fled? Or perhaps he has been kidnapped? Were our brothers, and maybe that restorer as well, working on something together?’
‘It could be. Did they find anything, any clue on the scene? Was there anything missing?’
‘Forensics haven’t found anything, but yes, some items may be missing. The secret door in his office that led to a secret tunnel and his safe was ajar. Someone had been inside. The only sign that items may be missing comes from the fact that there were marks left on one of the shelves to indicate that something had been there recently.
‘We cannot tell whether whatever items were there were taken by the intruder and murderer or whether the items had been removed before then for some reason, be it for restoration, research, an exhibition or something else, perhaps. Has your brother told you of any items that might have been there? Items they had found and were studying? Something of significance?’
Katerina thought hard, racked her brains for a memory. And then she remembered the icon and the ring found inside it. They had been kept at the Metropolitan where they were supposed to have been safe.
She decided not to divulge the information to this woman she didn’t know whether she was James’ sister or not. She could be an enemy or rival or a journalist fishing for information for all she knew.
When she answered Naomi’s question she didn’t hesitate. It was a strong confident voice travelling down the line to Naomi in New York. ‘No, I cannot think of anything. I’m sorry.’
‘It’s alright. I hoped… Could you please tell your brother when you see him?’
‘I will, of course. Naomi, I’m very sorry for your loss. Please let me know if there is anything we can do for you.’
‘Thank you. Please, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.’
Katerina had to hang up, but she had to end this conversation as gently as she could, without appearing insensitive and abrupt. Getting on with the mission was now more urgent than ever. She assumed an apologetic tone. ‘Naomi, look, I’m sorry, but I really have to go.’
‘Yes… yes, of course. I understand. I know, you are busy. I’m keeping you from something. I’m sorry again for troubling you. Thanks for listening. Good-bye.’
‘Goodbye, Naomi.’
Katerina hung up and looked at Vasilis. He got her drift. ‘The plot thickens.’
‘Giorgos will be devastated. He and James were very close while at university and they have stayed so since leaving university. They used to go on climbing and other extreme expeditions together.’ She paused. ‘And now there’s the icon and the ring to find as well. The Ruinands are definitely behind this. Do you realise that they now not only have the ring, but both Likureian icons and possibly the third one that was stolen from the auction, as well?’
Vasilis shook his head and a series of expletives stayed in his throat unsaid. ‘Damn, my mother will be furious.’
Vasilis’ boiling anger sharply contrasted with Katerina’s calmness. It was she who now spoke, giving Vasilis some time to recover his composure and reenergise his brain and put it back to good use.
‘Thankfully the media haven’t yet connected the death and the raft of disappearances and kidnappings, but it can’t be a coincidence. Too many coincidences make a truth. It is starting to look like a pattern. Wait till the Cypriot media get wind of the New York events. They are bound to see a connection. They’ll have a field day.
‘Vasilis, we’ll have to make it quick. I can’t afford to be trapped inside the castle after it closes, especially tonight. On any other night I wouldn’t mind. I cannot miss dinner at my parents’ tonight, especially with the news about Giorgos. Let’s have a quick look at the spot shown on the plan and get out of here.’
Vasilis nodded his assent. ‘OK. I understand. We can come back tomorrow. But we cannot postpone it for longer than that. Time is just too critical here and we need to stay ahead of the Ruinands and anyone else, a gravedigger or whatever, that may be after this tomb. You remember that huge publicity blitz only a few weeks ago after the charity auction?
‘It died down, because it just seemed to people too extraordinary to be true. But not everybody felt the same. Some people are still looking; archaeologists, journalists, quick rich opportunists are scouring the width and breadth of this world for information, for clues.’
Across town Elli had seen the news too. She suspected that it was a matter of time before they publicised
