Dig Two Graves: Revenge or Honor (9 page)

“Yes. Just call me Dranias. Everyone does.”

He spoke in sharp, jerky bursts as his head continued its slow side-to-side movement. It was more than a little unnerving.

“What is it I may do for you, Mr. Jones?” he said.

“I’m working with a family doing some genealogy research. I was going to be traveling, so I said I would help. My friends are searching for their Greek relatives and are researching contacts they may have had with some men during the war. Records are scarce, as I’m sure you know, so I need someone with local knowledge and resources. It may be a long search, but these people are willing to pay,” AJ said, trying to sound slightly unethical, but he didn’t want to lay it on too thick.

“Yes, Dranias could help with this,” the PI said. “I’ve done such work before,” he responded. “What are the names, and where did the family originate?”

AJ took a piece of folded paper from his sport coat pocket and started to slide it across the table toward the private detective, but as he reached for it, AJ quickly pulled it back, saying, “We work together on this. You don’t try to contact the client. If you do, you don’t get paid.”

“Dranias understands, we work together, but I work for you. I get sixty Euros a day plus expenses. I will, no doubt, have to travel to the places these people have been.”

“I’m not some tourist you can rip off. You can have thirty Euros a day, IF you get results.”

“All right, Mr. Jones, thirty. How will I contact you?”

“Leave a message for me here, for the moment,” AJ replied.

“Is there any special type of record I should look for?” Dranias said, his head still slowly moving.

“The usual, I think. You should look for birth, death, military and financial records. These are wealthy people we are working for,” AJ replied.
That should get his attention
, AJ thought.

Dranias’ head momentarily stopped its side-to-side movement as he stared at AJ, letting this last bit of information soak in, then the slow head motion began again.

AJ offered the paper once again, and this time when Dranias reached for it slowly, AJ let him take it. Dranias said “What part of the country?”

“The Northern provinces, Macedonia, Thrace, and Thessaloniki in particular, I would start in Thessaloniki, but there may be small hill towns too. When can I expect to hear from you?”

“I can leave tonight. Three to four days, Dranias should know something.”

“Call here in two days. Leave a message for Mr. Jones. We can speak on the telephone or meet again, but not here.”

“Very well, Mr. Jones, we will meet again soon. Thank you. Oh, there is the small matter of the retainer and, say four days in advance?”

“Let us say, two days in advance and you get the retainer when you report back to me,” AJ said.

Exasperated, Dranias said, “Two days, in advance, but the retainer up front. That is how I work.”

“Very well, I’ll find someone else. Thank you for your time, Mr. Dranias,” AJ said and stood to leave.

“No, wait,” the detective said, putting a hand on AJ’s arm.

AJ gently peeled Dranias’ hand away.

“Two days in advance will be satisfactory but I need expense money, too. It is costly to travel north,” Dranias said.

“No, it’s not costly, you thief. You aren’t dealing with any fool.”

“All right,” the detective said, admitting defeat. “Two days in advance.”

“Very good. I think we understand each other now,” AJ said as he counted out the detective’s sixty Euros.

Dranias motioned for the waiter, saying, “We should have a drink together to celebrate our partnership” he said.

“I don’t think so, and to be clear, we aren’t partners. You’d better get going,” AJ responded. 

Dranias frowned, “Very well, we will talk again in four days. Good day, Mr. Jones.”

“You will call me in two days. Good-bye Mr. Dranias.”

Dranias got up, and left the bar without looking back.

Dranias left the American behind without another thought. He walked purposefully eight blocks to a taverna on Themistocles Avenue where he knew the bartender. He had to make a call.

Dranias walked into the Taverna Diana. The music was loud and bar stools were empty. Dranias walked over to the bartender and said, “I need to use the phone.”

“You owe four hundred Euros. Pay up and you can use the phone, the men’s room, anything you want, but not before,” the bartender replied, leaning on the bar.

“Look, it’s for a job. I need to report in. I’ll get paid and then I’ll pay you,” the PI replied.

“You’ve told me that a hundred times. Get out of here, you stinking leach.”

“I just need to make one call. I’ll be paid, and then I can pay you. There’s a big tip in it for you, too.”

“I’m going to let you do it one last time. If you don’t pay up by Friday, don’t bother coming back here,” the bartender said, banging a phone on the bar in front of Dranias.

Dranias, focused on his task, took a scrap of paper from his pocket, and dialed the scribbled number on it. He didn’t notice the man who had quietly taken a place near him at the end of the bar and ordered ouzo.

“This is Dranias in Athens,” he said forcefully into the phone. “Is he there?”

“You were told not to call here.”

“Listen. Tell your boss the American is here, in Athens. The boss told me to listen and watch for some names. One of those names is on a list the American gave me. The American called me. Can you believe it? What luck!”

“Not luck. He no doubt called you because you’re the most disreputable detective in Greece.

What name did he give you to check?”

“There’s a list. Do you want it now, over the phone?” Dranias said.

“No. It can wait. What name is the American using?”

“He calls himself Jones, an alias I am certain,” Dranias replied.

“Where are you?”

“Taverna Diana on Themistocles.”

“Wait there. Someone will pick you up.”

Dranias coaxed a drink out of the bartender. He chatted with him about his big client, the payoff he would get for finding a man and how he was sure to get more work from this important client all in earshot of the stranger seated at the end of the bar.

Thirty-five minutes later, a black Mercedes pulled up in front of the Taverna Diana. With a wave to the bartender, Dranias headed out the door to the waiting car.

Forty-five minutes after Dranias finished his phone call, Ceres watched as his quarry paid for his drink, walked outside, and after speaking to the driver, sped away. Ceres, dejected, had nothing to do but finish his drink and walk the eight blocks back to the hotel.

“Did he say a name? Could you tell who he was talking to?” AJ asked, after Ceres described his surveillance and the little bit of the phone conversation he had been able to overhear.

“No, not who, but I feel it was someone in authority. He made it clear they were looking for an American, though. He mentioned the list you gave him. I had the impression others were looking as well. Looking for you, again an impression,” Ceres replied.

“Who was he talking too?” AJ said.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

“What about the car? Could you tell anything about it?” AJ asked.

“It was new. I think it had only the driver inside. The windows were closed and dark, so I didn’t see anyone else,” Ceres replied.

“So he spoke to the driver and got in?”

“I think it was the driver, but I’m not sure. Remember, I was inside the taverna,” Ceres replied.

“What about his conversation with the bartender?” AJ asked.

“He was bragging about working for some big client, and how he expects to be paid a lot for finding ‘the American’, you, I’m guessing,” Ceres replied.

“Did he give any clue why they were looking for me?” AJ asked.

“No, he didn’t say,” Ceres said.

“Whew,” AJ said trying to catch his breath. “You’re sure you didn’t hear him say anything else?”

“I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t do very well,” Ceres said.

“No, you did great. It’s very helpful,” AJ, said, hoping to smooth things over with the Ceres.

“I was just hoping for more. You were certainly right about one thing though. It was careless of me to reveal our location. Telling Mr. Dranias about the hotel was a mistake. We should leave here, don’t you think?” AJ said. “And Ceres, you did an amazing job following that guy. I can hardly believe the amount of information you did get. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” After a few moments’ thought, Ceres continued, “We should leave yes but we should use this new knowledge to our advantage. Whoever Dranias called is obviously interested in you but they couldn’t know about me yet, or that Dranias was followed. They also don’t know your name. We should consider how best to use these advantages,” Ceres said.

“You’re a good man to have around. You see advantage where I see a mess. Do you think your friend Tinos could recommend a place for us? He didn’t want you to stay here, anyway. We should get out of here right away.”

“I should have thought of that! Yes, I’m sure he would help us,” Ceres said.

“Maybe we could bribe the desk clerk or the manager to let us know who comes looking,” AJ added.

“Why don’t you see to the hotel manager while I call Tinos,” Ceres said.

Ceres used the lobby pay phone to call Tinos. “Tinos, this is Ceres Savas. I rode in your taxi from the airport today,” Ceres said, speaking in Greek.

After a moment’s hesitation the cabbie said, “Aha! Yes, my friends from America. How are you?”

“Fine, fine, thank you, but I must ask a favor, if I may.”

“Anything for a countryman, how can I help you?”

“My friend and I like the Metro, but I would be happier with something less extravagant. Can you help us find something tonight?”

“Certainly my friend,” Tinos replied. “I will check to see what is available. I will pick you up at say … nine.

We can get some dinner, and you can tell me how else I can help you,” the Greek driver said.

“That would be wonderful. Thank you. We appreciate your help but let’s meet at the Metropolitan Cathedral. We’re going there now for a tour. See you at nine,” Ceres said.

AJ went to the front desk and asked for the manager. When a portly little man, in a three-piece suit at least a size too small, appeared, AJ asked if they could speak in private and they went into a claustrophobic office behind the front desk.

“My friend and I are leaving tonight, now in fact,” AJ said once they were both seated.

“Is there something wrong with your room, the service?” the flustered manager said.

“No, no there’s nothing wrong. Your beautiful hotel doesn’t fit our needs as well as I had hoped. We’ve decided to take an island tour,” AJ lied, not knowing how far he could trust him.

“We’re leaving right away, but I need a favor,” AJ said, holding ten folded one hundred Euro notes between his fingers for the man to see. The manager was immediately all ears.

“My friend and I are leaving. We’re paid up through the end of the week, but no refund will be necessary.

The manager smiled, realizing he could rent the room again, keeping the new rent for himself.

“I want you to act as if I am still here. Call it an additional service of the hotel,” AJ said, smiling brightly. “You’ll have to take my word it’s nothing illegal.”

The manager sat silently, and didn’t ask any of the dozen or so questions he had.

“I’m registered here under my own name, but those who may look for me know me as Mr. Jones. I know I can count on you to be discreet, can’t I?”

“This hotel is renowned for its discretion sir. Kings, heads of state, celebrities have…”

“That’s OK. I believe you,” AJ said, holding up his hand to stop the effusive manager. “If anyone comes looking for Mr. Jones, you’ll say he is out,” AJ continued. “You won’t mention he has a companion. If anyone calls for Mr. Jones, you’ll take a message, and hold it until I come to pick it up or call. Can you do that?” AJ said, looking earnestly at the manager and then at the cash in his hand. “Finally, you’ll not reveal Mr. Jones’ real name.

Gently taking the bills from AJ’s hand, the manager said, “We’re here to serve our guests, Mr. Jones. I believe I’ll need a little more for the desk staff, however. There are so many of them, five in all,” he said, rubbing the thumb and first two fingers of his right hand together, “say an additional two thousand Euros?”

“Let’s say two thousand for you, and you take care of the desk staff with that,” AJ responded, pointing to the five bills already in the man’s hand. He was surprised how easily he had slipped into successful bribery.

AJ wasn’t sure how long the 2,500 Euros would hold the manager. Cash had easily influenced him, and AJ was sure he could be influenced that way again. The manager nodded and said, “That’s satisfactory. Thank you for staying with us Mr. Jones.”

By the time Ceres and AJ met back in their room, and had filled each other in, it was 7:45 p.m. They packed their minimal belongings, and left the room. They had to stay out of sight until nine.

The two men took the service elevator to the basement and left through the deserted loading dock. They climbed a steeply inclined driveway enclosed by high walls. AJ wondered if they had gotten away without being seen.

“I’m impressed you thought to have your friend pick us up at the cathedral,” AJ said once the hotel was behind them.

“I thought it wise to escape the hotel sooner than later. Our pursuers could be watching. The cathedral’s a big place, but first let’s see what happens at the hotel,” Ceres replied as he headed for a café across the street.

“You think we’re being pursued?” AJ asked.

“Let’s see,” Ceres replied.

AJ and Ceres went into the café and took the only seats available, which fortunately were in full view of the window. Tantalizing aromas of coffee and fresh baked goods filled the small narrow, storefront. The two men sipped frappés, the Greek summer drink of choice. The froth-topped iced coffee made from instant was very strong. Nearly everyone in the place had a tall, cold glass of coffee in front of them, along with a game of backgammon.

After nearly an hour, AJ asked “How long should we wait?” He looked at his watch for the hundredth time. The caffeine he was sipping didn’t help his nerves.

“I don’t know. It only takes a few minutes to walk to the cathedral. I’m sure it’s closed to visitors in the evening anyway,” Ceres replied. “Let’s have something to eat.”

Ceres caught the eye of a white-aproned waiter and called out his order. “Two baklava and two more coffees, please,” Ceres said.

Ceres had nearly finished his baklava and his second frappe when he noticed a dark four-door Mercedes approaching the hotel. He nudged AJ and nodded toward the window. Despite its dark color the highly polished car shone bright under the strong lights of the hotel’s entrance.

Nudging AJ again, Ceres said, “That could be the car I saw earlier.”

While the two men watched from the café, across the street, three men got out of the car. The last one was Spiros Dranias.

“I think we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?” AJ said, sliding out of his chair back.

“I believe we should find the cathedral now,” Ceres said, picking up his bag. Ceres and AJ left the café through a back door and quickly covered the three blocks to the cathedral.

They entered the outer courtyard through the cathedral’s three distinctive arches off Mitopoleas Avenue. A sign in Greek said the last tour of the day began at five o’clock, and they found the door locked. Ceres saw a man at the far end of the courtyard and waved to him. As the man approached, Ceres spoke to him in Greek. The man at first shook his head no, but soon nodded, smiled, clasped Ceres on the shoulder, and after unlocking the door, ushered him into the church. Ceres turned to AJ with a smile and waved for him to come on in too.

“How did you do that?” AJ asked as they made their way into the cavernous sanctuary. “What you did say to him?”

“Nothing much. He was sympathetic to a countryman’s desire to light a candle and say a prayer. He’s the night watchman, and he said we could look around on our own.”

“How did you get him to do that?” AJ asked. “I thought the place was closed.”

“I told him the truth. I said I was a Greek returned to my country after many years away,” Ceres replied.

“I guess the truth works sometimes,” AJ replied. “I’m glad to be inside someplace.”

“No better place than a church to seek protection,” Ceres replied.

Memories flooded Ceres’ mind. The frescoed ceilings, the aromas of sweet incense, and bee’s wax candles reminded him of home and his youth. AJ, who was more focused on staying out of sight, looked furtively about the huge space. The narthex glowed with the light of a hundred candles, their fragrance nearly overpowering but soothing too. Ceres put ten Euros in a collection box, took three honey-colored candles from a rack, and one by one lit them and placed them in a sand table with the other candles.

Ceres stood, head bowed, for a moment and then opened his eyes and made the sign of the cross three times touching, his forehead, chest, and each shoulder.

“What’s that for?” AJ asked.

“I was lighting a candle in remembrance of my family and yours.

“Oh. Thank you,” AJ said, unsure how to react.

“Come, Ajax, let’s look around,” he said.

As the minutes passed, AJ breathed more easily and began to see the beauty around him.

Ceres scanned a sign, then translated for AJ, “The cathedral’s official name is The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation. King Otto I dedicated it on May 21, 1862. It’s a three-aisled, domed basilica, and inside is the tomb of Saint Philothei.”

AJ could care less about the church or the displays, but he wanted to humor Ceres, so he went along with the tour guide routine. He’d been surprised by the man’s resourcefulness, though. He needed to rethink his plans.

 Ceres led the way toward a huge glass case.

“These are the remains of the Saint Philothei,” Ceres said, and then he translated the signs next to the cases. “Saint Philothei built a convent but was martyred in 1559. I guess that means she was killed,” Ceres said.

“How do you know she was a she?” AJ asked.

“Greek feminine names end in “i,” Ceres replied, “and the next line of the sign says ‘her’ bones are still visible in this silver reliquary.” Both men peered into the case and could see what could have been bones.” The sign says she’s honored for ransoming Greek women enslaved in the Ottoman Empire's harems.”

“Okey … dokey. That’s depressing,” AJ said slowly.

“Greece has always been a place plagued by violence. It’s as big a part of Greece’s history as the classics, politics, or art,” Ceres said looking at his watch. “It is time to meet Tinos. Let’s go.”

A Mercedes pulled into the Hotel Metro’s reception court just before 8:30 p. m. Three men quickly got out. The eldest, dressed in an expensive black suit, turned his weathered face up to look at the building. He admired the climbing bougainvillea. Its fragrance filled the night air. He put his black fedora on just as a young man, also in a suit, joined him. Spiros Dranias brought up the rear as the men headed toward the hotel entrance.

The stocky younger man’s suit didn’t fit quite as well as his companion’s. Stubble that matched his scruffy facial hair covered his round head. A long bulbous nose separated a pair of close-set steel eyes with lids permanently at half-mast. A bulge under his left arm hinted at a large caliber weapon in a shoulder holster. The left coat pocket sagged and pulled, apparently from poor tailoring, but the actual cause was the 20-gram sap sitting loosely in the pocket. His right front pocket also bulged, this flaw the result of a slender stiletto in the pocket resting comfortably against the man’s thigh.