Halfway to the Truth (12 page)

Nikolaus stuck his head outside his office door. “Dimitris? When is the next shipment of electronics due from Clean Tech Industries?”

Dimitris picked up a ledger, opened it, and thumbed through the pages until he found an entry. “Not for four more days.”

“Damn!” said Nikolaus and disappeared.

Back at his desk, he picked up the remote phone receiver and walked to his window. Looking out at the Athenos berthed at the dock, he pushed a button and spoke into it, “We won’t be shipping anything to you this week. Our suppliers have been slow to move materials to us.”

He paced nervously back and forth as he listened to the party on the other end.

“I understand,” he said. “We’ll fix whatever is broken and get those shipments back on track.”

Some more words came from the other end.

“Don’t threaten me Salomon,” he said with conviction. “You have far more to lose than I do. You just see to it that the stuff doesn’t sit around the port when it arrives. I’m not paying a penalty to keep my ships docked because you can’t find the trucks to move the waste to your dumping site.”

Nikolaus became silent, then ended the call by saying, “I don’t care how you do it just get it done.” He terminated the call.

Dimitris entered the room pushing open the ajar door and closed it behind him.

“I’ll bet I can tell what that was about,” he said.

Nikolaus moved to a map on the wall pointing with frustration.

“We could move three times as much E-waste to the Ivory Coast as we do now if we could do business with more state-side recycling companies.”

Dimitris sat on a corner of his desk and looked over Nikolaus’ shoulder at the map. “You know your father recently changed his mind about expanding in that direction, so why are you beating yourself up?”

“Because, that’s where the money is! More and more third-world countries are vying for the junk we send them, and the prices they pay keep going up. There’s a fortune to be made shipping to them and we’re missing out.”

“He’s made his billion,” answered Dimitris, “and he seems content to keep things the way they are. If he ever turns the reins over to you, then you can do what you want.”

“I’m not going to wait that long.”

Turning toward the window, Nikolaus re-engaged the Athenos adding, “I’ll have another talk with him and make him understand why we need that expansion. Bring me that file on G&D Recyclers.”

Dimitris got fidgety and stood up. Looking at the back of Nikolaus he spoke with doubt in his voice. “I don’t think we want to do business with them Nikolaus, they’re dirty.”

“Did I ask your opinion?” he said, turning to face Dimitris.

Dimitris didn’t bother to respond knowing that Nikolaus was serious. He left the room to locate the file on G&D Recyclers. It wasn’t long before he returned with a folder and handed it to Nikolaus.

“I’m going down to the dock,” Dimitris said. “One of our loading cranes has been acting up. I’ll have my walkie-talkie if you need me.”

Nikolaus took the folder from him knowing full well that Dimitris was only making an excuse to get out of his way. Dimitris was a loyal employee of Drakos Shipping, but Nikolaus also knew his loyalty lied more with his father than with him.

“
Everybody is expendable
,” he thought. Then, “Alright Dimitris, I’ll let you know if I need anything else,” and turned his attention to the contents of the folder.

G&D Recyclers was one of the largest recycling companies in the Midwest. They processed a wide variety of recyclable materials from paper to plastic and reusable metals most of which were sent to China. There, they turned the waste into new products shipping them back to the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and many European countries. But in spite of a slew of complaints and fines, G&D’s E-waste business had continued to grow and they were continually seeking new markets in Asia and Africa.

Nikolaus had previously given the folder to one of the Drakos’ company lawyers a few months ago to check them out. The report he got back was that they were ruthless in the manner they handled their business but, with the exception of numerous fines and some bad publicity, they were able to skirt the few laws that regulated E-waste commerce.

Nikolaus dialed a number that the lawyer had handwritten on one of the papers inside the folder. Two rings later his call was answered.

“This is Nikolaus Drakos, am I speaking with Mr. Thompkins?”

“Ah-h-h, Mr. Drakos, I’ve been wondering when you were going to call me. I guess your lawyer finally cleared you to talk with me?”

“Let’s cut to the chase. I’m sure you’ve checked up on us as well. I’m eager to do business with you, but I need some assurances.”

“
Okay
? What kind of assurances?”

“I need to know where you get your electronic waste from, and can you keep me supplied?”

“On your second point, I can send fifteen trucks today and keep them coming. On your first question, why does it matter where I get it from?”

“It matters,” snapped Nikolaus, “because I don’t want to get involved with stolen items. It seems G&D has a history with that sort of thing and I wouldn’t want to be put in a position of having to explain it to the news media. Like you, they’re looking at us all the time. I can handle some shortfalls in following state and federal regulations because there are so many loopholes, but not outright criminal activity.”

“You don’t have to worry about that Mr. Drakos, that’s all in the past. When we were a smaller company we did some things that were, let’s say questionable, but we don’t have to do that anymore. I’m sure your father did a few unscrupulous things ….”

“I’m not interested in your assessment of my family’s history, but I am interested in how you’ve cleaned up your act. I have a copy of your year-end report and it shows you doubled capacity from the previous year. How did you do that?”

“We did it by filling the needs of smaller communities that wanted to start recycling projects. You see, just about everybody has old electronics stored in their homes that they want to get rid of but don’t know where to take them. So we work with community sponsors, like churches and schools, by offering our trailers to take the scrap off their hands. It’s all legal. Those well-intentioned citizens can fill a truck in one afternoon. In the end, we get their junk for free, take out most of the silver, gold, and some copper, and then sell the remainder overseas.”

Nikolaus quickly became bored with his discussion and intervened. “I’ll have my legal department fax a contract to you. Make sure you’re good with it. As soon as you sign it, start sending those trucks.”

“Yes sir, will do,” he replied. “You won’t be disappointed Mr. Drakos. We’ll both make a lot of money ….” He heard the phone go silent on the other end.

Nikolaus then dialed his father’s number.

“Hello Nikolaus. You never call me just to say hi, so what is it you want?”

“Are you going to be home this afternoon? I have something I want to discuss with you.”

“Yes, I’ll be here. Make it by two o’clock. My barber is coming at three and I have a function to attend this evening.”

It was difficult to tell who hung up on who first.

Nikolaus arrived five minutes before two and let himself into the residence. He met Viktor’s manservant in the entrance hall.

“Good afternoon sir, your father told me you were coming. He’s in the great room. Could you please do me a favor and take this bowl into your father? I haven’t been feeling well, and think I’m going to be sick.”

Nikolaus eyed the bowl of grapes and then observed the sign of distress on the servant’s face. “Sure, I understand. You go take care of yourself.” He chuckled to himself on the way to the great room.

Viktor was sitting at a desk and writing something on letterhead paper when Nikolaus placed the bowl near him.

“Seems your manservant is having issues and asked me to bring this in to you.”

Viktor finished what he was writing and got up to engage his son. He came around to the front of the desk and sat on a corner. He folded his arms across his chest before speaking.

“How are things down at the docks Nikolaus?”

“They’re okay but that is what I want to discuss with you. We can make some things better. You know I’ve been pushing you to expand our shipping of electronic scrap. We have the Athenos in port now and we’ll be sending her out without a full load of cargo. I have nothing for our people on the Ivory Coast this trip. We’re depending too much on Clean Tech Industries and they can’t keep us supplied.”

Viktor leaned sideways and grabbed a hand full of grapes from the bowl saying, “I see. But their business is such a small part of our business; it’s not a money maker for us.”

He popped a few grapes into his mouth and while chewing on them offered Nikolaus the bowl.

Nikolaus waved him off. “But that’s my point, it could become a larger share of our shipping profits. I know another larger supplier that can provide a steady delivery of E-waste….”

Viktor held up his hand for his son to stop speaking. “No, Nikolaus we aren’t going to do any of that. We particularly aren’t going to do any business with G&D Recyclers.”

Nikolaus was taken aback by the speed in which Dimitris betrayed him. “Why,” was all he could get out of his mouth?

“Because everything is going good for the company right now,” said Viktor, “and I don’t want to do business with a company like them. I applaud your efforts but the answer is still no.”

Nikolaus threw his hands up in the air and started to pace frantically back and forth.

His father calmly grabbed another handful of grapes while watching his son squirm. He threw a grape into his mouth inhaling at the same time, but the grape got stuck in his windpipe. Viktor immediately grabbed his throat and tried to cough it out.

Nikolaus ran over to him and pounded him hard on the middle of his back using the heel of his palm. He could see his father start to turn colors and was on the verge of panic.

Viktor fell to the floor taking one hand off his throat directing Nikolaus to get help.

His son started to dart out of the room, but then stopped short. He turned and watched as his father struggled to breathe while writhing on the floor. A sudden change came over Nikolaus.

He calmly walked to the doors of the great room and closed them. He then returned to his struggling father and spoke softly. “Remember I once said that there will come a day when you will really need me and you better hope I’m in a better mood? Well that day is here father, and I’m not in a very good mood thanks to you.”

Viktor’s eyes started to bulge as he was slipping away from consciousness. His lips and fingernails had started to turn blue.

Nikolaus paced back and forth next to his father but at a much slower pace than before.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer father,” he said as though he were trying to comfort him. “I see you’re slipping away already. Before you die though, I just want you to know that I’ve always hated you. I hated everything about you and was ashamed to be your son. But I think now with you gone, I’ll be a happier man.”

He leaned over and looked down into his father’s tortured face. “And don’t worry father, I’ll see you have a nice burial in Bonaventure Cemetery. There’s no way I’d ship your body back to Greece even if it is what you always wanted.”

Viktor’s hands suddenly became relaxed. His skin color was dark and his eyes and mouth were open.

Nikolaus looked at his watch; it was 2:24. He waited two more minutes to be sure there was no chance of reviving his father, and then opened the doors and yelled for help.

The sky was threatening to shower the whole of Savannah as the funeral procession reached Bonaventure Cemetery.

Reese looked out the window to her right and caught a look at the cemetery administrative building just before they drove through the gates at the main entrance. She squeezed Nikolaus’ hand, but his lack of reaction suggested he was in his own world at that moment.

It was the first time she had visited the cemetery since coming to Savannah. She remembered asking Doug if there were any places he’d recommend for her to visit. While he never directly mentioned Bonaventure Cemetery, he alluded to it asking her if she was into ghosts, and he did advise her to visit Colony Park Cemetery. She never walked the grounds there either but did drive by it on many occasions.

The hearse leading the motorcade and containing Viktor’s body soon came to a stop, causing the snake of cars behind to bunch up. Nikolaus’ driver was the first to disturb his thoughts when he opened the car door for him. It took a few seconds for Nikolaus to fully emerge from his trance-like state before he could exit the Town Car.

Reese let herself out, then joined Nikolaus linking her arm with his as they moved to the gravesite. Everything she had read about the cemetery proved to be accurate. Old, twisted oak tree branches formed the framework for a natural canopy of leaves and Spanish moss. The moss, anchoring itself to the branches of the trees, hung in long, muted silver-gray lengths that seemed to reach for the souls buried below. Reese’s usual impression of the moss in the trees was that it added to the charm of Savannah. But here, it looked like teardrops and gave her the feeling that the trees themselves were crying.

Nikolaus was led over to the grave site where he, Reese, and a few other dignitaries were seated. The casket was then brought over and carefully placed on a lowering system that would guide the box to its final resting place. Bouquets of flowers were placed on top of the casket before the ceremony got underway. The sounds of muffled crying and blowing of noses came from the funeral participants behind them just as the Greek Orthodox Bishop stepped forward and began his prayers.

Reese stole a few glances at Nikolaus during the ceremony, but could not get a clear reading of his emotions. Knowing that he had been there, watching his father die, certainly could not have been easy for him. Yet there was something gnawing at her, telling her that there was more to Viktor’s death than Nikolaus would share. All she could do now, was to be patient and let him know that she was there for him.

When the service concluded, Nikolaus thanked the Bishop for his presence and then made his way through the assembly of people. He shook hands with several of Viktor’s closest business associates, thanking them for their attendance. He also thanked the deputy mayor and a number of city councilmembers for attending. Continuing his way toward the back of the crowd, he tried his best to comfort a gathering of Drakos Shipping employees, while receiving their condolences as well.

Trailing slightly behind Nikolaus, Reese thought it particularly odd that he avoided the extended hand of Dimitris who was the last one standing in the group. But it had been a long morning for him, and she thought maybe he had reached his fill of sympathy and needed some quiet time for himself.

Finally, Nikolaus reached for Reese and pulled her in the direction of the limousine while signaling to the driver they were leaving.

As they pulled away, the threat of imminent rain caused the remainder of the visitors to make their way to their own vehicles.

One lone figure however, approached the gravesite unnoticed. Picking up a single tossed red rose in the process, the person watched the workmen busy themselves with lowering the casket into the ground and then dismantle the supporting mechanical system.

When they carried the pieces to a nearby pickup truck, the stranger threw the rose into the hole saying, “Here Viktor, I doubt it will do you any good but you may want to give this to Evelyn when you see her in hell. I think I can let that ghost go now.”

Doug Williams turned and walked a separate route back through the cemetery while listening to the sound of a small backhoe put an end to his misery.

“That was a very nice ceremony,” said Reese attempting to break the silence.

“Um-huh.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah!”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

She grabbed his hand in hers. “Alright Nikolaus, you don’t have to talk about it. I’m sure the last few days haven’t been pleasant. But can I tell you something?”

He didn’t acknowledge one way or the other whether he was interested in what she had to say, so she continued.

“For what it’s worth, I think your father loved you. He was very proud to have that newspaper article about you swimming in the Tarpon Springs cross dive hang on his wall. I sensed real joy when he told me about it.”

Nikolaus fidgeted in his seat. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“Now that I’m in charge of Drakos Shipping ….”

“Doesn’t the board have to ratify you taking over your father’s position?”

He gave her an insulted look.

“I’m sorry, of course you’re going to be the head of the company. It’s only a formality.”

He settled back in his seat. “Viktor’s will is complicated, so his lawyer says it will be about a month before we’ll have the reading of it. In the meantime, everyone understands that I’m the temporary CEO.”

“That’s good Nikolaus.”

“You know I never wanted you to work for the company, don’t you?”

“Yes, I suspected that. Why? Are you going to remove me?”

“I thought about it. But it hasn’t interfered with our relationship and you have been doing an amazing job. The lawyers said you handled yourself quite adequately at the D.C. committee hearing.”

“Thank you for saying that. I was proud of myself.”

“Here’s the thing though,” he said, turning to look at her, “are you totally on my side? Are you willing to support all my decisions?”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at Nikolaus but, yes, I fully support you.”

“You once were concerned about our shipping E-waste overseas. My father and I decided to grow that part of our business. Are you going to be okay with that?”

“Of course Nikolaus! You’ve shown me that you want to be a responsible participant in cleaning up the environment, so I’m okay with it. Why would you think otherwise?”

“I don‘t know,” he said awkwardly, “I guess I needed to know for sure you would be okay with it. You’ll be the one deflecting our detractors.”

“You mean Doug Williams don’t you?”

“Yes, and all those ‘
do-gooder
’ organizations that will likely come out to protest our actions.”

“I can handle it Nikolaus. When do you plan on starting?”

“Things are in motion now. Before my father died, he established an agreement with a larger recycling company, and their trucks are on the way to us. The company is G&D Recyclers.”

Nikolaus turned away from Reese and looked out the window. He didn’t want her see his face when he lied.

“I was concerned at first because they had a tainted past, but my father assured me he wouldn’t do business with them unless they had turned themselves around. After meeting with my father, I had one of our lawyers check on them and he cleared them to do business with us. I’m telling you this because their past is going to come up.”

“Thanks for being honest with me,” she said, hugging his arm. “I’ll do everything I can to see that this will be a successful venture.”

“Good! I have to go by my father’s house and take care of a few things. I’ll drop you off at home and call you later.”

Neither of them spoke much more on the way back to her apartment.

“There they are!” said Shelley, as the limousine pulled into the apartment complex. They watched as Reese was let out of the vehicle and went into the building. As soon as the limo had rolled out of sight, they made their move.

Reese had barely gotten into her apartment when there was a knock on the door. She thought Nikolaus had forgotten something and opened it. Her mouth practically hit the floor.

“What are you doing here?” she asked surprised. “Come in!”

She stepped aside allowing Shelley and Chief Daniels to enter.

“We have something to tell you,” Shelley said. “You better sit down.”

Reese took a seat on a gray and white, floral-pattern, swoop-arm chair while Daniels and Shelley sat together on a solid gray sofa.

“I don’t know why you are here Chief, but it must be important to bring you all the way to Savannah. Something happen in New Harmony?”

“No. It’s about the Drakos family. I wasn’t going to do this, but when Shelley called and told me about Viktor dying ….”

Shelley cut him off. “It was my idea Reese, don’t be mad at us.”

“Alright, now I am getting worried. What’s going on?”

“We only care about you, which is why when I last went to New Harmony I asked Robert to do some checking on the Drakos family. You were getting close to Nikolaus and his father and I was worried that you might get hurt.”

“You’re not making any sense Shelley,” said an agitated Reese. “Hurt by what?” She looked to the Chief for an answer.

“Shelley found out the reason for Doug Williams’ animosity toward Viktor. Here, I want you to read these. He pulled two folded pieces of paper from his back pocket and handed them to her.

She unfolded them. One was a copy of a two by two inch news article dated November 16, 1989. It read:
The body of 29 year old Evelyn Williams was discovered by her brother, Douglas Williams, yesterday afternoon in her home. When authorities arrived, they discovered an empty bottle of sleeping pills and a half-empty bottle of alcohol on the floor next to the bed. A note was found on a nightstand, but police haven’t released the details. They are calling it a suicide pending the outcome of an autopsy
.

Reese looked up at the pair sitting on the sofa with disbelief. “Doug had a sister?”

“Yes,” said Shelley. “And what’s more, I heard Doug and Viktor arguing in Doug’s office last week and he accused Viktor of killing his sister. From what I could gather, she was in love with Viktor but he wasn’t in love with her. It appears she took her own life because of a broken heart. Kind of explains the relationship between Viktor and Doug doesn’t it?”

Chief Daniels looked into Reese’s stunned face. “There’s more.” He pointed to the other piece of paper.

She read a 1999 Savannah police report that detailed a twenty-year-old Nikolaus Drakos had attacked his father for no apparent reason, causing multiple bruises to his face and a concussion. He was initially admitted to Georgia Regional Hospital but later transferred to the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts and treated for bipolar condition.

When he saw she had completed reading the report he spoke again. “He spent four months at McLean. The guy is unstable Reese and we don’t want you to get hurt. That family had troubles and Nikolaus is still a wild card. You need to get away from him.”

“These don’t prove anything,” she said, waving the papers. “It doesn’t say Viktor killed anyone — that’s Doug’s interpretation. And
I’ve
never seen Nikolaus behaving strangely.”

“Honey, medications can help with a bipolar condition,” said Shelley, “but it never goes away. What if he ever quit taking them?”

“You both are out of line here and making a lot of assumptions about a lot of things. Look, I appreciate your concern for me but you wasted your time. Nikolaus needs me now more than ever and I’m not abandoning him.”

“But ….”

“No ‘buts’ Shelley! You both need to leave,” she insisted, and got up to show them out. “I’m sorry Chief you came all this way for nothing, but you both need to stay out of my personal life.”

On the other side of the closed door, Shelley gave an exasperated look to Robert.

“She wants us out of her business, so we’re staying out of her business,” he said. “I told you this wasn’t going to work, she’s too headstrong. She’ll have to figure it out on her own.”

Before their feet hit the first stair of the second floor, Shelley looked over her shoulder at Reese’s door praying she would come to her senses.