The Stone of Archimedes Read Online Free Page A

the ocean at his yacht, thinking he could just forget this whole affair. But that was the problem. He had all the money any one man could spend in dozens of lifetimes, but that which could not be reasonably purchased, those things that had value beyond what could be appraised, were even more cherished by Petros Caras. Which is why he began collecting items that no others would have, or could obtain. “What about those who came looking for her?”
    Zendo smiled now. These were things he could control. “Athens and Rome can both be dangerous places.”
    â€œPerhaps not as bad as New York or Houston,” Caras reasoned. He noticed a shift in disposition on Zendo’s face, from his normal incertitude to something bordering on concern—a characteristic Caras had never seen on the man. “What’s the matter?”
    Clearing his throat, Zendo said, “I’ve heard they have hired a new man to find the American woman.”
    â€œSo.”
    â€œSo, this is not a simple cop like the others,” Zendo explained. “He’s a dangerous man.”
    Caras smiled. “Like you and your men?”
    â€œI wish I had a dozen men like Jake Adams.”
    â€œI’ve never heard of him.”
    â€œYou probably wouldn’t have. He’s former Air Force Intelligence, and then he worked for the CIA for years before opening his own security consulting firm in Austria.”
    â€œAnd he’s that good?”
    Zendo nodded his head. “He once took down an entire Kurdish terrorist group single-handedly.”
    Caras was impressed, which didn’t happen often. He wondered if the American would consider finding his way into his bed. He might make this one exception to his anti-American aversion. “What do you suggest?”
    Smiling, Zendo said, “I’ve already taken steps to see if my intel is correct. I sent two men to simply follow him.”
    â€œGood plan. If he’s as good as you say he is, you should be able to follow this Adams to the American woman.”
    â€œThat’s the plan.”
    â€œGood. Why don’t you head back out and coordinate the effort personally.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Zendo took that as his sign to leave. He got up and smoothly strut away, his ponytail swishing side to side across his back like a metronome.
    Sitting by himself now, Caras thought about this crazy American who could take down a terrorist group by himself. Now he would have to go upstairs and take that Czech woman, whatever her name was, from behind and consider the American spy as he did so.
    â—
    Still naked, high heels kicked to the side of the bed through the balcony doors, Svetla Kalina had listened carefully to Petros Caras and his fixer discuss some woman who they sought. Her Greek was nearly native, since her maternal grandparents had spoken almost nothing else to her while she grew up in Prague. They even sent her off to spend her summers with her cousins on the island of Crete. This language knowledge was one of the reasons she had been chosen for this assignment. The other, of course, was the well-known fact that the billionaire Petros Caras had a special place in his heart for Slavic women. But she also got the feeling that he would prefer a man instead. And this was her first assignment that involved her actually sleeping with someone. Sure she had used her body to seduce suspects for the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), but she had never had to go this far. The BIS had been asked by some other world organization, she wasn’t sure which one but she suspected the Americans, to get close to Petros Caras. She could get used to this life, the Santorini villa, the amazing yacht, the great food and drink, if it were not for her requirement to sleep with an old fat man. She had to put her mind in a special place when he entered her, trying her best to think of anyone but him as she faked multiple orgasms. Perhaps her only saving grace was