Constitution Square is a park filled with a variety of trees and shrubs. Tall railings fence off the park from the pavement beyond. Walking rapidly in the opposite direction from the one he had previously taken, Giorgos slipped inside a phone booth. Again he dialled the same number. Again he had to wait for it to be answered.
He glanced at his watch. His off-duty period was almost over. At least the chief receptionist had gone home, the bullying bastard. The same heavy-timbred voice came on the line.
'Giorgos here. More news. I discovered the names of those two men. Newman and Marler . . .' He spelt them out. 'I think they will be going somewhere in a Mercedes with a Greek driver. The registration number of the car is . . .'
'Any sign of them leaving immediately?' the voice enquired.
'No. The driver is still cleaning the Mercedes. But they may leave at any time. A silver-coloured Mercedes.'
'I can have a car following them in ten minutes.'
'Let us hope they are in time. Oh, there is one more thing.'
'Yes?'
This is hard work for me. Maybe a little dangerous. More money would be welcome.' Giorgos swallowed, then stiffened. 'Another twenty thousand drachmae would be welcome - if I am to continue this work.'
'Be at your place in the Plaka at nine this evening.' The connection was cut before Giorgos could say 'thank you'.
He was surprised at how easy it had been.
S8°F. 31°C . They were driving down Syngrou Avenue, sitting in the back of Nick's silver Mercedes. It was early evening and the scalding sun shone out of the azure sky as clear as a sea without ships. Nick used a handkerchief tc wipe sweat off the back of his hand, his forehead.
'Syngrou is the longest avenue in Athens,' he remarked. 'As you can see, it's mainly car showrooms. BMW, the lot.'
Newman glanced back again through the rear window. Marler, wearing the lightweight linen suit he'd changed into, was careful not to look back.
'Some problem?'
'I think we may be followed,' Nick replied.
'The black Mercedes with amber-tinted windows?' Newman suggested.
That's the joker. We'll know more when we fork for Piraeus. Someone may have been on the lookout for you coming into the city.'
Ruler-straight, Syngrou Avenue, lined with dusty poplar trees, stretched away forever into the distance. Nick maintained the same speed, kept glancing briefly in his rear-view mirror.
'What facts have you to back up that statement?' Marler demanded.
The fact that one of the temporary staff at Grande Bretagne took an interest in your arrival. Followed us up the stairs when we used the elevator. He was peering round the corner when Mr Newman was shown into his room. The fact that later when I left the room he was hanging around in the corridor, pretending to fool with a window. The fact that he came and tried to get information out of me when I was cleaning the car ready for this trip. The fact that he made a note of my car's registration number. Which may explain that big black Mercedes keeping the same speed and distance behind us now.'
'Any idea who this character might be?' asked Newman.
'Name is Giorgos. Don't know his second name. He's a
all creep with a small dark moustache.' Nick made a quick stroke above his upper lip. 'Dark hair. Now, let us see what that black Mercedes does. Here we take the right fork to Piraeus. Left for Cape Sounion.'
He swung the wheel and grinned. 'Still with us. If he stays with us to Zea we shall know.'
'How far from Syntagma to Piraeus?' asked Marler.
'Ten, twelve kilometres. We are entering Piraeus now . . .'
The buildings lining the street were lower than in Athens. Nick pointed out derelict sites between them, the legacy of the wartime bombing of Piraeus. They crossed the main city square with the imposing town hall on their right built like an ancient Greek temple. Then they were swinging round the curve of the waterfront of the main harbour.
They passed large car ferries with their doors open, exposing yawning caverns. Nick
He glanced at his watch. His off-duty period was almost over. At least the chief receptionist had gone home, the bullying bastard. The same heavy-timbred voice came on the line.
'Giorgos here. More news. I discovered the names of those two men. Newman and Marler . . .' He spelt them out. 'I think they will be going somewhere in a Mercedes with a Greek driver. The registration number of the car is . . .'
'Any sign of them leaving immediately?' the voice enquired.
'No. The driver is still cleaning the Mercedes. But they may leave at any time. A silver-coloured Mercedes.'
'I can have a car following them in ten minutes.'
'Let us hope they are in time. Oh, there is one more thing.'
'Yes?'
This is hard work for me. Maybe a little dangerous. More money would be welcome.' Giorgos swallowed, then stiffened. 'Another twenty thousand drachmae would be welcome - if I am to continue this work.'
'Be at your place in the Plaka at nine this evening.' The connection was cut before Giorgos could say 'thank you'.
He was surprised at how easy it had been.
S8°F. 31°C . They were driving down Syngrou Avenue, sitting in the back of Nick's silver Mercedes. It was early evening and the scalding sun shone out of the azure sky as clear as a sea without ships. Nick used a handkerchief tc wipe sweat off the back of his hand, his forehead.
'Syngrou is the longest avenue in Athens,' he remarked. 'As you can see, it's mainly car showrooms. BMW, the lot.'
Newman glanced back again through the rear window. Marler, wearing the lightweight linen suit he'd changed into, was careful not to look back.
'Some problem?'
'I think we may be followed,' Nick replied.
'The black Mercedes with amber-tinted windows?' Newman suggested.
That's the joker. We'll know more when we fork for Piraeus. Someone may have been on the lookout for you coming into the city.'
Ruler-straight, Syngrou Avenue, lined with dusty poplar trees, stretched away forever into the distance. Nick maintained the same speed, kept glancing briefly in his rear-view mirror.
'What facts have you to back up that statement?' Marler demanded.
The fact that one of the temporary staff at Grande Bretagne took an interest in your arrival. Followed us up the stairs when we used the elevator. He was peering round the corner when Mr Newman was shown into his room. The fact that later when I left the room he was hanging around in the corridor, pretending to fool with a window. The fact that he came and tried to get information out of me when I was cleaning the car ready for this trip. The fact that he made a note of my car's registration number. Which may explain that big black Mercedes keeping the same speed and distance behind us now.'
'Any idea who this character might be?' asked Newman.
'Name is Giorgos. Don't know his second name. He's a
all creep with a small dark moustache.' Nick made a quick stroke above his upper lip. 'Dark hair. Now, let us see what that black Mercedes does. Here we take the right fork to Piraeus. Left for Cape Sounion.'
He swung the wheel and grinned. 'Still with us. If he stays with us to Zea we shall know.'
'How far from Syntagma to Piraeus?' asked Marler.
'Ten, twelve kilometres. We are entering Piraeus now . . .'
The buildings lining the street were lower than in Athens. Nick pointed out derelict sites between them, the legacy of the wartime bombing of Piraeus. They crossed the main city square with the imposing town hall on their right built like an ancient Greek temple. Then they were swinging round the curve of the waterfront of the main harbour.
They passed large car ferries with their doors open, exposing yawning caverns. Nick
Similar Books
