An Aegean Prophecy - Jeffrey Siger [37]
The abbot stood up. ‘Kalo Paska, my son.’
The captain stood up. ‘Then so be it. And Good Easter to you too, Your Holiness.’
When Andreas walked into his office Kouros was sitting on the couch next to the window, reading.
‘Maggie finished the transcript. Interesting stuff. There’s a note—’
‘Can’t wait to see what’s on this.’ He held up the flash drive. ‘I found it inside that cheap cross Vassilis bought the day before his murder.’
‘Amazing. What’s on it?’
‘Don’t know. Didn’t dare do anything with it until one of our computer guys tells me if it’s booby-trapped to delete something if the wrong person tries accessing it. Maggie!’ He didn’t bother with the intercom.
The door swung open before he’d reached the other side of his desk.
‘You rang?’
‘Get one of our computer geniuses up here. I need to know what’s on this flash drive, and tell him it might be tricky. Could be booby-trapped. And make sure it’s somebody with a top-level security clearance who can keep his mouth shut.’
She nodded. ‘Right away. I assume that means your morning helicopter jaunt to Patmos was successful?’
He nodded yes.
‘I’m glad to hear that. Anything else you need from me?’
‘Maggie, please, I’m in no mood to chit-chat. Just get that computer guru up here now. Please.’
She didn’t seem the least bit offended at his brusqueness, just smiled and winked at Kouros as she closed the door behind her.
Kouros burst out laughing.
‘What so funny? Doesn’t she get how important this is?’
Kouros laughed again. ‘Oh, I’m sure she gets it, Chief, and - may I speak freely?’
Andreas waved him to continue.
‘She’s got your number, too.’
‘What the hell are you talking about?’
Kouros leaned forward and slid a piece of paper across the desk toward Andreas. ‘This was clipped to the transcript.’ It was in Maggie’s handwriting:
In case you’re interested, I know who the mystery man is on the tape. Just ask. I don’t dare put it in writing.
Andreas stared at Kouros. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this before?’
He smiled. ‘I tried, but you cut me off, then launched into Maggie before either of us could tell you.’
‘Bastard, both of you are bastards. Maggie, get in here.’
Five seconds later, ‘You rang again, master?’
‘Okay, okay, so shoot me. I apologize. I’m just wound up about that flash drive.’
Maggie nodded. ‘I spoke to our resident computer whiz. He’s like a modern doctor, won’t make house calls. Said you’ll know if there’s a potential problem when access requires a password. Otherwise, just use it. If it’s password protected, you’ll have to bring the drive down to him because that’s where the equipment is that he needs to get around it.’
Andreas let out a deep breath. ‘Thank you, Maggie, that was very efficient of you, as always.’
‘Keep going, I love it when you kiss my butt.’
Kouros laughed again. Andreas shot him a glare, and Kouros laughed some more.
Andreas put up his hands. ‘Enough already. I give up. Now, please, tell me who’s the other guy on the tape?’
‘Fine, just be patient, okay?’
Andreas nodded. ‘Okay, promise.’
She looked out the window. ‘I just pray he’s not a bad guy.’ She turned back to Andreas. ‘You know how interested I am in our church’s history.’
Andreas nodded.
‘I don’t think I’ve missed a lecture in Athens on the subject in years, unless I’ve heard it before or know the speaker will bore me to death.’ She let out a deep breath.
‘One speaker in particular fascinated me. I never missed one of his lectures, even went to Thessaloniki twice to hear him. He didn’t speak very often, possibly once a year, at most. But he was mesmerizing.’ She nodded. ‘Yes, he’s your man.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘The