Halfway to the Truth (5 page)

Two days later…

“You summoned me?” questioned a slender dark-haired man.

“I don’t like you’re attitude Nikolaus,” replied an older, slightly shorter figure who was standing in a doorway. “And I don’t like to be kept waiting either. Get in here and take a seat.”

The younger man moved past his would-be host entering a room that showed opulence in every corner. He went over to an ornate, glass-covered bar, grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. Looking over his choices, he picked up a bottle of
Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch
and filled his glass. He immediately drained its contents while looking up at a large Degas painting hanging on the wall above his head. Turning toward the old man who had taken up residence on one of two facing gold velou
r
sofas he spoke. “Alright
father
, why am I here?”

“Well you’re
not
here to drink $60,000 a bottle booze. Take a seat,” he ordered pointing to the opposite sofa.

Nikolaus put down his empty glass and did as he was commanded. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and folded his hands into his lap. The only thing that was between the men was a long, gold-trimmed, glass coffee table supporting a rare
Barbedienne bronze and bisque French centerpiece bowl
.

“I have a proposition for you,” said his father. “You’ve been wanting to take a greater role in the company, so I’ve decided to make you head of our longshore operations.”

“And what do I have to do in return?” he asked knowing there was a ‘but’ in his father’s voice.

“You have to quit acting like a spoiled brat and stop being reckless. You wrecked your BMW outside a night club last week, no doubt drunk as hell. That’s got to stop! I don’t like seeing your exploits all over the newspaper. It reflects badly on the company.”

“You mean your empire, don’t you?” Nikolaus answered back.

The old man leaned forward pounding a fist on the table. “Dammit Nikolaus, grow up and be a man! This is all going to be yours someday. At least it
will
be if you show me your worthy of it. You’re my only heir, but so far I’m greatly disappointed in you.”

Unshaken by the display of anger, the young man answered back. “Perhaps if you’d been more of a father, I wouldn’t be so
disappointing
to you. You kept me away in Athens for most of my life and never have given me a meaningful position within the company. If it weren’t for the financial support provided by my mother …”

“Enough,” said his father sitting back trying to gain control over his emotions. “We aren’t going to go over old ground. I’m offering you a chance to show me you’re worthy to take over the shipping company. You stand to inherit far more than I did from my father, but you’re going to work for it. And, you’re going to stop running around with whores and find yourself a wife. I want grandchildren. I want to be assured the Drakos legacy will live on.”

That last two sentences caught Nikolaus by surprise. It showed a weakness that he had never seen in his father. He gave a wry smile.

“Is that what this is all about, Grandchildren?”

“No, it’s more than that,” replied his father. It’s about you showing respect. If not for me, then for yourself, or for your mother if
that
matters. I don’t care which. It’s high time you did.”

“Okay father,” he said, his mind working on the proposition set before him. “We’ll call a truce and see what happens. I’ll take over the longshore operation and prove to you I’m up to the challenge. As for that wife thing? I’m not making any promises. The last thing I want is to father children just to make
you
happy. If I meet the right woman, then we’ll see.”

Without acknowledging Nikolaus’ reply his father said, “Go down to the docks tomorrow. I’ll call Dimitris and let him know you’re coming. He’ll give you a tour and introduce you to the men. Take this seriously Nikolaus,” he added with a stern look.

As he got up to leave, Nikolaus said to his father. “I saw Shelley Steward the other night in Bistro Bistro. I gave her your regards and told her to tell the same to Doug Williams.

The old man just grumped under his breath in response as Nikolaus departed.

Reese’s meeting earlier that morning with Doug Williams went well. He had provided the name to her first lead to learn what was going on at the docks of Drakos Shipping. She was to meet with an informant who went by the moniker ‘Scratch’ at 11
A.M.
outside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Reese was to tie a piece of red cloth around her handbag for identification.

She had been waiting twenty minutes and was about to leave when a man, wearing a green T-shirt and black Dockers jeans, walked up to her and made a query.

“Miss Summers?” he inquired.

She turned toward him. His dirty blonde hair was cut short and he had a dragon tattoo wrapped around his right forearm. “Are you Scratch?” she asked in return.

“That’s my street name,” he said, looking her over. “Mr. Williams never indicated that you’d be pretty. Kind of young too, aren’t you?”

“Look fella,” she said, “hasn’t anybody ever told you not to judge a book by its cover? And what do my looks have to do with anything? I’m here to listen to what you have to say about what’s going on at the Drakos piers. I don’t have time for your male fascinations. Do you have something for me or not?”

“Alright lady, you made your point,” he said, pausing. “Got any cigarettes? I’m trying to quit but I suddenly got an urge.”

“No, I don’t smoke,” she said, losing her patience and sarcastically suggested. “You want a candy bar instead? I’ll get you one if that will get you talking.”

Reeling backwards a little he answered, “You think you’re cute, don’t you? I mean with the attitude and all. Well you’re going to need all that and more if you start snooping down at the docks. Those guys don’t talk to strangers but they sure would enjoy taunting a pretty woman. You know what? I don’t need your shit! See you around.”

Reese thought she better check her impertinence quickly or she was going to lose the only lead she may have. It wouldn’t reflect very well on her if she had to tell Doug she blew it.

“Scratch,” she said, grabbing at his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m a little impulsive sometimes. Please don’t go! I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

He stopped and took measure of her again.

“Let’s have a seat over there,” said Reese, indicating a nearby bench seat. “I’d like to start this conversation all over.”

He followed her lead and sat down. She sat next to him.

“Why are you called Scratch?”

He ran a hand over his head as if questioning himself why he used that name. “Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with my personal hygiene,” he replied, still sulking. “I like to doodle.”

He saw the puzzled look on her face.

“You know, doodle, like draw things on paper,” he motioned with his hands. “It helps me think. Nobody could ever see a picture that made sense to them, so they called them scratches. The name just sort of stuck after that.”

“Are you from Savannah?” she asked trying to relax him.

“Nah, I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida. Came here about three years ago. I’m a welder by trade and got hired by Drakos Shipping to help fix those large metal containers you see stacked up in the rail yard and on those large container ships.”

“Interesting,” said Reese. “Do you know what goes into those containers you build?”

“Anything and everything,” he replied.

“Anything unusual? Like, that would make you question, why are they doing that?” she asked.

“That’s why I contacted your newspaper. Because there
is
something that’s been disturbing me lately. I think it’s been going on for a while, but I never paid much attention to it.”

“And, that would be…?” she solicited.

“Some of those containers have been getting special liners put inside them. I think they’re made of lead. I see them being moved to an area called the
red
zone. Now why would you have a
red
zone unless it contains something dangerous or secret? Anyway, even with my ID badge, I can’t get near that area. There’s only a select group of dockworkers who can access that location to load whatever it is they’re putting inside those containers.”

“Any ideas how I can get more information?”

“Just one, a man named Greenfield. He drives a fork lift. I see him down in that zone regularly. He doesn’t talk to anybody, but maybe he’ll talk to you. Be careful though, he looks a little squirrely. Either that or he’s scared all the time.”

“Anything else you can think of that may help me?”

“No, that’s about it. But if you should see me anywhere down there, act like you don’t know me.”

“Thank you for your time Scratch,” she said, shaking his hand getting up to leave. “And again, I’m sorry I got so snippy with you.”

“It’s all good,” he replied looking up at her. “Hope you can learn something. If I think of anything else, I’ll call you. Can I have a number?”

She took out a pen and small pad of paper and wrote 555-4343. “You can leave a message. Do you need a lift anywhere?” she asked.

“No thanks, I have a Harley around the corner. Think I’ll just sit here and enjoy the shade.

“Here,” she said, and offered her pen and pad, “you might want to do some doodling while you’re sitting here. Nice to have met you.” She turned and walked away.

“Reese, how did your meeting go with our dear Mr. Scratch? And… here are a few photos I had one of our photographers take with a long-range lens,” he said, plucking down several prints.

She picked them up and shuffled through them saying, “He was alright I guess. Gave me the name of a Mr. Greenfield. That might be him driving this fork lift,” she said, calling attention to one of the photos. “Is this warehouse in the red zone?”

“Yeah, it appears to be located in a special area on the dock,” he said, looking over her shoulder at the picture. “No one can get in there without identification. That’s going to present a problem for you.”

“Maybe?” she said.

He stood up and walked around to the front of her desk and sat down on its edge. “So what does
maybe
mean?” he said, leaning forward placing a hand over hers and the photos.

Reese looked up at him. “I think I can get a private tour of the docks.”

“Oh?” said Doug with suspicion that he wasn’t going to like her answer.

“Nikolaus Drakos. I met him a few nights ago. He’s going to give me that private tour. I sensed he liked me. I’ll confess to him I’m new to the
Savannah Daily
and that you wanted my first assignment to be a human interest story on the hard-working dock workers of Savannah.”

Doug leaned back and clasped his hands into his lap while giving her statement some thought. After a brief pause, “Well, can’t say I like the idea, but it does have merit. I’m just wondering if he’ll see through to your real intentions. He’s no dummy that one, even if his father never gave him much credit for having sense. Viktor only ever thought of him as weak and a spoiled brat, and now that he’s older, just a worthless womanizer. You be careful around him and don’t lead him on more than you have to in order get on his good side. I don’t trust the man and, if truth be told, he’s probably more ruthless than his father.”

“Wow, Doug!” she said, looking into his chiseled face. You don’t like that family very much do you? What happened between you and Viktor Drakos?”

He got up from her desk and looking angrily into her eyes said, “Just stick to the story you’re assigned. Anything between me and Viktor is history and not pertinent to your investigation. You keep me informed, you hear?”

“Yes Doug, I will.”

He walked away but Reese couldn’t get it out of her mind that her hiring was part of a plan to get revenge on Drakos.

Thumbing through the photos again, she said to herself, “I better be really careful. I don’t know any of these people or what motivates them. I surely don’t want to get caught in the middle of a feud.”

Within a few minutes after meeting with Doug, Reese found Shelley and asked her how she could get in touch with Nikolaus. Her only recommendation was to call the Drakos Shipping Company. “After all,” Shelley said, “people like them don’t leave their contact information in the telephone book.”

Reese also had thought to leave a note with Gino at Bistro Bistro in the event Nikolaus returned there for dinner. Luck was with her when her desk phone rang and she received a call from Nikolaus.

“Hello Miss Summers. I understand you’ve been trying to get in touch with me?”

She listened to his voice which was soft and inviting but, at the same time, she was nervous and unsure about continuing her quest. With some reluctance she replied, “Yes Mr. Drakos, I have been looking for you. Any chance we can meet? Please don’t think I’m too forward, but I’d like to get to know you better.”

“Please,” he answered, “call me Nikolaus. Mr. Drakos sounds so formal and too much like my father and I’m nothing like him. Look, I just arrived here at the restaurant and I’m alone. Why don’t you come join me as my guest? I’d like nothing better than to see you again.”

“Alright,” she impulsively responded, “I can be there in about fifteen minutes. Twenty tops.”

“Fine Miss Summers. Or may I call you Reese?”

“Yes, I’d prefer it if we were on a first-name basis,” she said.

“Then I’ll be waiting for you Reese. If memory serves me correctly, you like Vodka Cosmopolitans. I’ll have one ready when you arrive.” He hung up his phone.

She returned her receiver to its cradle. She was quite impressed with his recollection of their short, first meeting. And, he seemed to have a way to calm her fears about meeting with him.
Maybe this will all work out
, she thought grabbing her purse and dashing down the hallway.

The news building was only about five miles from the historic district where the restaurant was located but, being new to the area, Reese misjudged her drive time. Her route took her along Ogeechee Road which turned into West Victory Drive. She turned north along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard running into a series of lights which caused her delays. She finally made a right turn onto West Congress arriving at Bistro Bistro, but had to wait to find a parking spot nearby.

When she entered the restaurant, Gino met her and escorted her to Nikolaus’ table.

“So sorry I am late Mr., uh, Nikolaus,” she caught herself saying as she slid into the booth across from him.

He raised a glass of red wine in a salute to her arrival. “Not a worry, some women are like a fine wine, they’re worth waiting for. Plus I never met a woman yet who was on time, so I factored in a few extra minutes. The important thing is that you’re here. Let’s toast to a new friendship.”

She raised the glass that was conveniently sitting in front of her and clinked it with Nikolaus’ glass. “To a new friendship,” she said and then took a sip.

“How do you say a toast in Greek?” she invited.

“We usually say ‘stinygiasou’ which simply means to your health,” he replied holding up his glass again.

“Uh, right. I’ll go along with that.” They clinked glasses again.

“So Reese,” he said, putting his drink back on the table. “I suspect you’re wanting to see me involves more than friendship?” He gave her a wide smile turning the conversation back her way.

Reese recalled her earlier conversation with Doug about Nikolaus seeing through her, but decided to play the cards in hand.

“I’m new to Savannah,” she started, “and I need to make new friends. Our last meeting you made quite an impression on me. I thought you were charming and, of course, not bad looking either. You must have thought the same about me, because I noticed you couldn’t take your eyes from me. Shelley told me a little about you, so I feel it’s only fair you learn something about me.”

She could feel her mouth going dry, so she grabbed her drink and took another sip. He quietly continued gazing at her with his dark, beautiful eyes and she started to get nervous.

He could see that she was becoming uncomfortable and reached for her hand. “It’s alright Reese. I don’t mean to make you uneasy, so let me ask you how you how do you know Miss Steward?”

“Well, that’s kind of what I was getting to. I was recently hired as a reporter for the
Savannah Daily
. She was helping me to get settled and we came here after putting my apartment in order. I’ve only known her a little while; I hope you’re not mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad?” he said. “I’m delighted that you’re here. And, being a new reporter for the newspaper, you must be very proud to be here.”

“I was just a little worried you might think different of me when you learned I was a reporter.”

“Nonsense!” he said, patting the back of her hand. “Shelley undoubtedly told you that Mr. Williams and my father have had some differences, but that has nothing to do with me or you. Does it?”

“No, no. Of course not. I’m glad it’s out in the open. But…”

“Ah-h-h! There’s the word ‘but’,” he interjected, pulling away from her. “You think I must be like my father don’t you?”

“Oh no, nothing like that! It’s that I need to ask you for a favor.”

Intrigued, he said, “Okay, ask. Then we’ll see if I want to grant it. But before you do, let’s order dinner.” He signaled for Gino.

“Yes Mr. Drakos, what may I do for you?”

“Gino, see that we get two more drinks. I’ll be having my usual for dinner and Miss Summers will give you her order. If you’ll excuse me,” he said, looking over to Reese, “I put my phone on vibrate and I’m getting a call that I’ve been waiting for. I’ll be back in a minute.”

She acknowledged with a head shake that she would be okay, then turned her attention back to the menu as Nikolaus left the table.

After a few minutes, he returned and sat down. “Sorry to leave you like that. Did you order?”

“Yes, I got eggplant rollantini.”

“Excellent choice. I always get the veal parmesan. I’ve tried other things and they’re good, but I usually regret that I didn’t get the veal instead.”

“You’re a man that knows what he likes,” she said, raising her freshened drinking glass.

He raised his in return. Anyone who really knew Nikolaus would know that the look on his face belied what his mind was thinking. “Yes Miss Summers, I do know what I like.” He clinked her glass, took a sip, and put it back on the table.

“Now, tell me the favor you wanted to ask of me.” He folded his hands together and placed them on the table to listen to her request.

She looked at him intently. “Because I’m the new reporter, I know I’m employed only as long as I do my job well. And, I have my first assignment. I’m supposed to do a human interest piece on dock workers. I thought seeing as how your family is into shipping, you could get me a pass to go onto the docks and interview some workers. I’m really a novice at boats and such, so any help would be greatly appreciated.”

“Is that all?” he feigned surprise.

“Yes, really. That’s all I wanted to ask you to do for me. If it’s too much, or too forward of me…”

“Please,” he said, waving his hands trying to put her at ease, “I’d be happy to escort you myself. We have plenty of dockworkers who will give you a great story. But, you’ll have to do something in return for me.”

Reese tried to keep a smile on her face but her insides were in panic mode. “And what would that be?” she asked with suspicion.

“That you agree to have dinner with me another time. I know a cute little place out on Tybee Island that you’ll fall in love with. Is it a deal?”

Feeling relieved she said, “Deal!”

Gino arrived with their meals and Reese dug in thankful that her plan worked and that she didn’t have to give up more than agreeing to another meal.

Nikolaus put a fork into the food on his plate and gave Reese his best smile of assurance just before he took in a mouthful of veal. As he chewed, she was oblivious to the wheels turning inside his head.