At Any Cost by Jeffrey Siger

Author:Jeffrey Siger [Siger, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2023-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Dittos had convinced himself that his meetings with the Minister and Kaldis had provided a golden opportunity to destroy them both, and he’d spent much of his time consumed by concocting how best to achieve that goal.

But every plan required him to find a sponsor capable of bending the Prime Minister’s ear to his way of thinking. That would not be easy, for not only must his sponsor be a person of influence, but one who shared his passion to rid the government of the pair.

It was not the sort of palace intrigue one could casually raise in an internet chatroom and then ask whether there were any takers. He needed to find the right environment to subtly test the waters for possible takers.

He sat in his office asking himself over and over: Where can I find such a place … and quickly?

He was about to leave for the day when he saw a message from his secretary asking whether he planned on attending an event described in an invitation attached to the message.

A eureka smile formed on his face, and he quickly scribbled across the message:

A DEFINITE YES!

Lila could sense that her husband didn’t want to talk about his rough week at the office. Instead, as they got ready for bed, she raised what she thought a neutral subject.

‘Are you excited about meeting Anna’s fiancé tomorrow?’

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’

So much for that ploy.

‘Then what are you excited about?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Thank you for the compliment.’

‘I didn’t mean you.’

‘Then prove it. Tell me what plans you’ve made to show Jack around Athens.’

‘There won’t be any time for that. We’ve got to head straight off to Syros.’

‘What do you mean there won’t be any time? He’s a native-born Greek who’s not been back since he was a child.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll see that he’s not arrested for failing to serve in the army.’

‘I’m not kidding. How can you not at least show him the Acropolis, the new Acropolis Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the view from the top of Lycabettus Hill, the …’

‘Stop right there. I think you’re missing the motivation behind my decision not to show him those sites the first day he’s in Athens.’

‘This should be a good bedtime fairy tale,’ said Lila, plopping down on the bed.

Andreas sat next to her, taking her hand in his. ‘You’re right, this is the first time he’s been back in Greece since he was a child. He’s about to experience emotions he could not possibly have anticipated, and …’

‘And you’re denying him that opportunity.’ She crossed her arms. ‘For selfish police business reasons.’

‘You’re really worked up over this.’

‘Of course I am. Jack deserves the opportunity to explore his heritage. These are moments he’ll remember for the rest of his life.’ She freed one arm and poked him in the chest with a finger. ‘And you’re denying him those memories.’

‘That’s precisely why I’m not taking him on a tour.’

Lila blinked twice. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘As you said, these are birthright moments he’ll remember for the rest of his life.

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