Underneath the table, Thea pulled out her phone and stared at a photo of their father holding today’s paper. Real contact from the kidnapper instead of those Latin texts. About time. Christos looked as if he’d taken a few hard knocks, but the tough bastard still projected insufferable arrogance.
Nikos caught Thea’s attention and pointed to his own cell. She nodded. Seconds later, the photo appeared on his iPhone. He was tempted to make it his new screen saver so he could bask in Christos’s distress any time he wished. He texted the image to his team, hoping for a clue that would lead to his father’s location. Then he could make his final move.
It had to be an inside job, or the perpetrator had deep pockets and powerful, widespread connections. Abducting a billionaire with iron-clad security was no mean feat. He had a grudging respect for Christos’s kidnapper. It had taken years for Nikos to find a vulnerable spot; whoever it was had pulled off quite a coup.
Still, Nikos knew he would triumph in the end. He’d questioned Alec Floros, the man who’d held the helicopter pilot’s debts. And now, using his contacts in Greece’s Customs Control, his men were pinpointing the destination of the plane that had taken off from Corfu. They were closing in.
Prime Minister Kimweri’s head bobbed up and down like a PEZ candy dispenser in the hands of a five-year-old. Christ, this was boring. Chi was finally wrapping up his presentation, or so it seemed. He found the Chinese team’s constant droning vaguely irritating and predictably open ended. Nikos had conducted enough negotiations in China to know that nothing was ever cemented, even after the ink on the contracts was bone dry.
He smiled at the memory of the endless negotiations he’d weathered to secure Xi-Ping as his arms supplier. She was as intelligent and ruthless as she was beautiful. He’d shared his dual identity with her but wondered if it had been a sage choice. There was a clock on the relationship, but the massive stockpile of weapons and ammo she had access to had kept it alive.
The gavel slamming down jolted him back to the present. About fucking time. Lunch break. He touched Thea’s back and steered her out into the hall. Time to pump her for information.
And it looked as if his stalker from HRFC had the same idea, as she was headed straight for them. He hoped Gabrielle was paying attention. Ares was about to reveal himself.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Thea studied the image of her father on her phone. No doubt about it, Papa was sending her a signal.
Gabrielle approached her and Nikos. “Shall we find a quiet spot?”
“This way.” Thea led them to the airy alcove she’d discovered while familiarizing herself with the hotel. Recon always paid off, and, given the situation, she needed any edge she could find. The three of them stood behind a large column so they wouldn’t be visible to the crowds milling about in the main hallway.
“Christos is alive.” Gabrielle’s dark eyes emanated compassion.
“If the photo is real. Your team will also be authenticating the picture?”
“Already on it.”
Thea considered her options. She could keep the information in the photo to herself, knowing the government analysts would eventually discover it. She inhaled deeply. Gabrielle had been patient, helpful. Maybe Thea should explore if they could be more effective working together.
“My father used to be in the military, so he’s familiar with hand signals. He also attended a Quantum International Security kidnap seminar. All top-level Paris Industries executives have been instructed to share clues in photos and videos while being subtle enough not to get caught.” She expanded the image on her phone so that only her father’s hands were visible. “See his fingers? He’s using military hand signals for the numbers zero and five. Now we just have to figure out what they mean.”
“Any thoughts? You two know him best.” Gabrielle stared at the photo.
Nikos’s mouth tightened. Thea’s heart ached for him.
“Five, zero—or is it zero, five? A clue to GPS coordinates? A lead to where the kidnappers are holding him?” Papa was trying to tell her something. She just needed to figure it out.
“Does the number somehow correlate to this oil deal?” Nikos asked.
Thea considered the reams of paper she’d gone through. “I don’t think so, but I’ll review the documents again.”
“I’ll get my people on it right away. Keep me posted if you figure out what Christos is trying to tell us.” Gabrielle nodded to them both and strode down the hall.
Thea turned to Nikos. “Could Papa be referring to something that happened when he was fifty, ten years ago?”
“Nothing comes to mind. The fiftieth state, the fiftieth country?”
“We might not even be reading it the right way.” Her head throbbed. Well, now was as good a time as any. “Are you sleeping with Quan Xi-Ping?”
He studied her for a long minute. “You never have to worry about my loyalty to you.”
“Nikos, she’s Papa’s opposition in the negotiations.”
“That part didn’t bother me.”