Curse of Atlantis Read online

  Abruptly, he turned on his heels and left the room. Moving swiftly to his desk, he grabbed his phone and dialed.

  "Dimitri... my office, NOW!" Nicolae roared into the mouthpiece.

  "Yes, Boss,” Dimitri replied straight away.

  Nicolae walked to his window and stared out over the city of Moscow. As he watched the bustling metropolis busy itself in its daily routine, he contemplated his next move. With fists clenched, he struggled to control his rage. Moments later, he heard a loud knock at his door.

  “Enter,” Nicolae responded instantly.

  Dimitri quickly opened the door and entered the room. Sighting Nicolae by the window, he slowly positioned himself behind the couch, giving him an imagined barrier of safety between him and his boss.

  “Yes, Boss?” Dimitri asked.

  Nicolae turned and held his position by the window. He knew if he moved closer, he would be tempted to act.

  “I’ve been patient. Where’s my treasure?” Nicolae asked coldly.

  Nervously clearing his throat, Dimitri replied, “We’ve had complications. The Nizhny refinery has been giving us trouble again. I completed that business as you ordered.”

  “Hmm, the Maganov affair. Most unfortunate,” Nicolae said, softening momentarily.

  “He was a hard man to deal with… unbending, stupid,” Dimitri said, his tone turning contemptuous.

  “So where’s my treasure?” Nicolae repeated, now moving closer.

  “Igor and I have been managing the Transneft problem as well as the Sateco trucking deal. Before that, we purchased Danone, MSC, and Amur River. And then we had the issue with…”

  “ENOUGH!” Nicolae roared.

  Staring back at Dimitri, he seethed with anger.

  “Dimitri, you are my number one, but you’re testing my patience. What have you done about my treasure?” Nicolae demanded.

  Dimitri swallowed hard. He knew he needed to choose his next words carefully.

  “Trubachev is handling this matter. I’ve been overseeing his progress. He tells me the archeologist refused his offer. He’s currently tracking down the American, but is having trouble,” Dimitri responded, trying to cover for his colleague.

  “Tracking down the American? It doesn’t take two months to track a man. I can do that myself in a day… get him in here immediately,” Nicolae demanded.

  “Yes, sir,” Dimitri replied simply.

  He quickly left the office and returned moments later with Ivan Trubachev strutting confidently behind him. Tall, brawny, and arrogant, in his earlier years he preferred muscle over mentality when dealing with those that stood in his way. Now, in his early fifties, he’d grown lazy living off his reputation, and his work began to suffer.

  “Ivan, where’s my crystal globe?” Nicolae demanded.

  “I’m working on it,” Ivan responded matter-of-factly.

  “Specifically, what have you done?” Nicolae asked, desperately trying to control his anger.

  “I called this Dr. Arista in Caicos and offered him one hundred thousand American dollars for it, but he refused. I called back later and offered him one hundred and fifty thousand American dollars, warning him of the consequence of refusal, but he simply laughed at my offer,” Ivan said.

  “Laughed? He laughed at you?” Nicolae asked, somewhat shocked by Ivan’s lack of concern.

  “Yes boss, he laughed. I thought about taking him out, but he’s been in the news a lot lately and I didn’t want to create an international incident. So, I decided to offer the money to the American who found the crystal ball in the first place. He’s young and probably greedy, so I’m sure I’ll have better luck with him. I’ve got someone trying to locate him now and I’ll call him in a couple of days to check on his progress,” Ivan said.

  “I see,” Nicolae said simply.

  Nicolae turned and quietly walked to his desk. With his back to the two men, he opened a large humidor. He pulled out a Beretta .22 caliber pistol and a plastic bag and quickly stuffed them in his pocket. Reaching in again, he pulled out a long Cuban cigar and turned around. Forcing a smile across his face, he made his way over to the two men.

  “Ivan my friend, would you care for a cigar?” Nicolae asked, his tone softening a bit.

  “Sure, why not,” Ivan responded, feeling comfortable in his arrogance.

  Nicolae clipped the end of the cigar and handed it to Ivan. Looking to Dimitri, he asked, “Could you light it for him? I seem to have misplaced my lighter.”

  Dimitri stared back at Nicolae with dread. He knew what was coming next. As he reached in for his lighter, Nicolae casually walked behind the two men. Quickly, quietly, he pulled out the bag and pistol from his pocket.

  Instantly, Nicolae lunged and pulled the plastic bag over Ivan’s head and synched the drawstring around his neck. Before he could react, he placed the gun to the base of his skull and pulled the trigger. As the inside of the bag filled with blood, Ivan collapsed to the floor, guided by Nicolae as he fell.

  “Quickly, grab me another plastic bag from my desk,” Nicolae ordered.

  Dimitri sprang to his desk, opened a drawer, and retrieved another bag. Nicolae grabbed the bag, slid it over Ivan’s head, and synched the drawstring tightly, completely sealing off any possibility of blood dripping on the floor.

  “Did you hear what he said? ‘I’ll call him in a couple of days to check his progress.’” Nicolae spat out in disgust, mocking the now lifeless Ivan. “…Like he was on holiday.”

  He stared at Ivan’s body and continued to mock him.

  “Hello Mr. Trubachev. Would you like some tea while you’re on holiday? How about a nice relaxing message? I’m sure we could have that arranged for you.” He paused a moment, then added, “Oh, and by the way, don’t worry about your job interfering with your holiday… because you’ll be DEAD!”

  Nicolae pulled his leg back and unleashed a savage kick to the groin of the lifeless corpse. Looking up at Dimitiri, his eyes appeared black and evil. Dimitri swallowed hard, but held his ground.

  With a firm and controlled voice, Nicolae spoke:

  “Get this pile of shit out of here… and find me that crystal.”

  Dimitri nodded grimly and quickly left the room.

  ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

  Caicos Island: Home of Javier Arista

  The drive from the airport was short and scenic. While Serena drove along the coastal road, Jack sat in the passenger seat and enjoyed the salty air that rushed in from the sea.

  “You know, it’s really strange. Even though I spent a month drifting out there, hating the water every minute of the day, here I am, three months later, enjoying it like nothing ever happened. I must be mad,” Jack said as he pensively stared far out to sea.

  “It’s just your natural defenses, burying the horrors you experienced out there. Probably the only way your mind could cope with such a tragedy without you turning into a basket case. Let’s face it, the memory of taking on a shark with only a knife could easily mess a person up for years,” Serena responded. “By the way, are you having any nightmares from that experience?”

  “Nothing… not a one.”

  “That’s amazing. If that happened to me, I’d be in therapy for years,” Serena commented.

  “Eh… therapy’s way overrated. Nothing like a bottle of whiskey and a quality cigar to cure what ails you, I always say,” Jack joked.

  “Yeah, that oughtta go over well with the clients… seeing me in a business suit with a stinky ole cigar clenched in my teeth, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and an ancient artifact in the other,” Serena said, sarcastically.

  “With a pair of high heels strapped to those beautiful legs, I really don’t think anyone would care,” Jack replied, now flirting.

  “You really think my legs are beautiful?” Serena asked, now flattered by Jack’s compliment.

  Jack looked at Serena for a moment, then responded with light teasing, “Why Miss Arista, I’m detecting a slight reddening in your face. Do you have extra
blush on today?”

  “It’s just the sun heating up my face,” Serena replied with a feeble attempt to cover her embarrassment.

  “Right… must be the sun,” Jack responded, letting the topic die a happy death.

  The two sat in silence for a moment as they passed along a deserted stretch of road. Jack continued to look out at the sea and every few seconds glanced at Serena’s beauty. Then, quite unexpectedly, Serena broke the silence.

  “So you really think my legs are beautiful? Everyone says I look like my mom. You should see what she looks like. If I look half that good at her age, I’ll be happy,” Serena said, reigniting the topic once more.

  “I’ll bet she’s hot,” Jack blurted out with characteristically tasteless humor.

  “Eww Jack! That’s my mom you’re talking about,” Serena responded with feigned disgust.

  “I can’t help it. I’m a hot-blooded American guy. Woman of Latin descent turn me on,” Jack shot back.

  “She’s Swedish,” Serena said.

  “Swedish? Really? I never would have guessed that. You don’t have that rugged look the Swedish have,” Jack responded, not somewhat surprised.

  “Jack, not all Swedes have that look about them. Many have very soft, very beautiful features,” she informed.

  “Well, whatever they have, it’s working for you,” Jack said, now flirting again.

  Serena smiled at the compliment, her face turning red once more. Avoiding her embarrassment, she quickly changed the subject.

  “By the way, did my dad tell you about the Russian dude that wanted to buy the crystal globe?” Serena asked.

  “No… no he didn’t,” Jack replied, now curious about the new topic. “Was there a price thrown out there at all?”

  “Yeah, but it was laughable… the guy offered a hundred thousand dollars for it,” Serena replied, matter-of-factly.

  “ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS?!” Jack blurted out in surprise. “Holy Crap! That’s a butt load of coin.”

  “Jack, that’s pocket change for a piece like the crystal globe. It’s a priceless work of art.”

  “It’s not priceless ‘cuz someone put up a big fat stack of cash for it… Damn, I could sure use that kind of money,” he responded.

  “Jack, I’ve told you before, when this is all said and done, you won’t ever have to worry about money again,” Serena reassured.

  “Good looks, smart and now loaded. I knew there was a reason you’re flirting with me.”

  “Don’t forget modesty too,” Serena added.

  “Ah ha, so you admit it. You have been flirting with me,” Jack teased.

  “What you call 'flirting,' I call patronizing,” Serena returned.

  “Aw, you always tell me the sweetest things,” Jack countered.

  Serena slowed the car as she approached her father’s seaside home. She flashed Jack a warm smile and for a moment, two hearts were frozen in time.

  Chapter 4

  Caicos Island: Home of Javier Arista

  “Well, well, Jack, you’re looking healthy,” Javier said, as he gave Jack a large bear hug. Pulling away, he added, “And what’s that fuzz on your chin?”

  “I was bored up there in Connecticut so I figured I’d grow some hair,” Jack replied with a great smile, happy to see Javier after three months.

  Stepping forward, Serena said, “And Jack, this is my mom, Berta.”

  Tall, slender, with an athletic build, Berta Arista extended her hand in greeting. “So nice to meet you Jack. I’ve heard so much about you. After your ordeal at sea, it’s good to hear you’re doing ok.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Arista. Fortunately, I bounced back from it all pretty quickly,” Jack replied.

  “Oh, please call me Berta,” she replied with a warm smile.

  Turning to Serena, Jack said, “Now I see where you got your good looks.”

  As Berta blushed, Javier cut in, “She’s a real looker, eh Jack? Bet you’re wondering what a short, fat, bald guy is doing with a gorgeous woman like this, huh?

  “Javi, you’re embarrassing me,” Berta said, politely scolding her husband.

  “I heard you talk about your devilish good looks, so I’m assuming it must be that,” Jack said, diplomatically.

  Turning to Serena, Javier said, “He's a sharp one. Keep an eye on him.”

  “Maybe a little too sharp for his own good,” Serena responded, now turning to Jack, she said in a low voice, “Suck up.”

  Jack smiled back approvingly, then looked around the room. Looking through the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the back of the house, he admired the view of the ocean in the distance.

  “Wow, what a view,” he said, now mesmerized by the sight. “It must be so nice sitting out there enjoying the sound of the surf.”

  “It’s wonderful, Jack. We live in heaven,” Berta said proudly. “Can I show you around the house?”

  “Absolutely.”

  As the four moved from room to room, Berta showed off their quaint home by the sea. Large and ornately decorated, Jack was impressed by the ancient artifacts that added perfect accents to the furniture. As Berta talked about their years of living on the island, Jack slowly turned and absorbed the history.

  Suddenly, a loud crash sounded as Jack’s backpack bumped into an ancient piece of pottery, knocking it off a stand and smashing on the hardwood floor below. Looking down at his feet, he felt sick as he realized his mistake.

  “I am so sorry, Javi. I can’t believe I did that. Please tell me it wasn’t that valuable. I promise, I’ll pay you back for it,” Jack spouted in quick succession.

  “Whoa, slow down there Jack,” Javier responded. “Don’t give it another thought.”

  “But that looks like an ancient urn. It must be worth a fortune,” Jack said, the sound of his own words deepening the quilt.

  Javier looked to Serena and smiled. “You want to tell him?” he said.

  “Tell me what.” Jack said, his face wracked with guilt.

  “Jack, it was probably worth about twenty-five dollars,” Serena said with a sly smile.

  Cutting in, Javier explained, “Jack, it’s a fake.”

  A wave of relief instantly spread across Jack’s face. He looked down at the pieces and smiled.

  “A fake? Phewww, that was close. Can you imagine what I’d owe you if it were real?” he said.

  “A lot,” Serena said, now teasing. “The fact is, Jack, everything around us is fake… from the old T-Rex metatarsal to the Ming vase you just broke. Do you see that golden headdress on the shelf over there?” she pointed.

  Jack looked over and noticed the exquisite crown shining on the top shelf of a display case, then nodded.

  “That’s a fake too. As I said, it’s all fake,” Serena said.

  “Amazing, it all looks so real,” Jack marveled.

  “That’s the idea, Jack. We decorated our home with the reproductions for the very reason you saw here today. They’re replaceable. If something falls and breaks, it didn’t cost us much and we can have another made quickly and cheaply,” Javier explained.

  “So where did you get these? Ebay or some specialty site on the web?” Jack speculated.

  “Neither. These are reproductions of pieces we either own or we worked on. Once we’ve completed our task, we sent them off to a local artist here on the island and he makes us a copy for practically nothing. We pay for the materials and he just charges us his time,” Serena said.

  Jack reached down and picked up the bottom piece of the broken clay pot. He looked at a tiny sticker that was pasted to the outside surface. Reading the label, he smiled at the heading: Reginald’s Reproductions.

  “So this Reginald guy did all this work?” Jack asked, now surprised by the man’s talent.

  “Yup, sure did. Basically, he makes a cast of the artifact, then pours ceramic material into the cast. He bakes it, then removes the cast, leaving a perfect reproduction of the original. After that, he paints it and sends it on its way,” Javier said.
r />   “Phew, what a relief. That shrunken head in the room I’ll be sleeping in, kinda freaked me out. Glad to see that’s not someone’s real head,” Jack said. He thought for a moment, then added, “but if it was made from something real, who has the real shrunken head. Oh no, don’t tell me it’s buried away in your freezer somewhere, ready to spring out at me when I reach for a popsicle?”

  “Don’t worry Jack. No one has the original,” Javier said with a grin, “It’s a true fake. I bought it on Ebay... as part of my Halloween custom last year.”

  “I’m afraid to ask… what were you?” Jack asked.

  “A witch doctor,” Berta said, grinning ear to ear.

  Jack placed his hand on Javier’s shoulder. Pretending to be upset, he shook his head and replied simply, “Disturbing… very disturbing.”

  ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

  Jack strolled down the empty beach, listening to the morning waves and collecting tiny shells as he walked. Every few minutes he stopped, sipped his coffee, then continued. The previous three months had been hectic as he struggled to balance his job, and the upcoming excavation in Greece. Now with all that behind him, he simply walked along and let his mind wander.

  Nearly an hour had passed and Javier's house was well out of sight. He stopped for a moment and looked around him, taking in the natural beauty of the landscape. With the coffee mug filled with shells and nothing of interest to his front, he turned around and headed back.

  As he walked, he occasionally looked up, keeping track of his location from the house. In the distance, he began to see movement along the beach. He stared intently at the figure that was now growing larger by the second. Moments later, he smiled.

  "She's a jogger... should have guessed with legs like hers," Jack said to himself.

  Moments later, Serena's tiny image became large and distinct as she neared. In less than a minute, she closed the distance and now began to slow down.

  "Nice morning for a jog," Jack shouted out.

  "Beautiful, isn't it?" Serena responded, slightly out of breath, now less than twenty feet away.

  "Do you jog every day?"

  "Almost... but only a couple of miles when I do," she replied, now stopping in front of him. "So, what are you doing out here all alone?"