AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jasmine’s gaze went to Ace and Fearghas.
“If you’re not out of Athens, you might want to get out quickly,” Dmytro warned. “If my casino source is discovered, he might be forced to point me out. I sent my wife and daughter to Switzerland on vacation. They left on the last commercial flight out of Athens.”
“I’m so sorry, Dmytro. I didn’t mean to bring this down on you and your family,” Jasmine said. “And, though I hate to ask, I need one more favor from you, Dmytro.”
“It is okay,” he said. “I understand. My wife and daughter agreed that it is more important that you get your son back. Now, what is it you need me to do?”
“Athanasios Demopoulos was on an archeological dig a couple of years ago with a man named Louis Bertolli or Bertolini. I need to know if he’s as interested in the copper scroll as Demopoulos.”
“Do you think this man might be the one who took your son?”
“Maybe. And if he is, Demopoulos knows I’ll be taking that scroll to trade for my boy.”
“He’ll try to intercept you before you can make that trade,” Dmytro concluded. “I’ll see what I can find out before I leave to join my family.”
“I thought you said your family left on the last flight out?”
Dmytro snorted. “Who said I was flying commercial? I have my own helicopter and earned my pilot’s license years ago.”
Jasmine shook her head. “You are a man of many talents, Dmytro. I’m proud to call you my friend.”
“You are a good person, Jasmine. You don’t deserve to lose your son. If there’s anything else I can do to help, I will.”
Jasmine’s heart swelled with her love for this man and his family. “Thank you.”
“It’s not safe in Athens,” he said.
“I know,” she said. “I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest with the Greek crime organization.”
“Get out as soon as you can,” he said and ended the call.
Jasmine slid her cell phone into her pocket and met Ace’s gaze. “Demopoulos is looking for Francesca and you.” Her gaze shifted to Fearghas. “He’s also looking for the players at the game for questioning. My contact sent his wife and daughter on vacation to Switzerland to keep them safe. He will ask around about Louis Bertolli and see what he can learn, but then he’s leaving Athens as well.”
Ace nodded. “With Demopoulos’s people out looking for us, there’s no use in trying to get out of Athens until we know where we’re going.”
“You might as well get comfortable,” Fearghas said. “You can shower, sleep and eat. My refrigerator is stocked.”
“This is where you live?” Jasmine asked, looking around the garage.
Fearghas smiled. “My living quarters are upstairs. The garage is a good cover. No one knows that there’s an apartment above it. You both are more than welcome to make yourselves at home.”
“I don’t know if I could sleep,” Jasmine said, “but it would be nice to take a shower.”
Fearghas led them up a set of rusty-looking stairs to an ugly metal door. He produced a key from his pocket, unlocked the door and held it open for them to enter.
Jasmine stepped into what appeared to be a closet or very small office with a metal desk and an old metal chair.
Fearghas stepped in behind them and pulled the door closed,
“I don’t understand,” Jasmine said, looking around the small, cramped room.
Fearghas grinned. “Hold on.” He locked the door from the inside, then squeezed around Jasmine and Ace. He grabbed the string hanging from the ceiling and pulled it once. The light switched on. He pulled it a second time, and a panel on the wall slid to the side, exposing the room beyond.
Fearghas stepped to the side and waved an arm. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
The contrast between the garage below and the room in front of her left Jasmine speechless.
Ace grinned and stepped into the room. “I never expected this.”
