CHAPTER ELEVEN
The good news for the Greek team was that there were no lights to give away their position on the side of the island where they were coming ashore. In fact, there were no lights at all. No businesses glowing with neon. No streetlights. Nothing.
The only sign of life were the construction lights glowing on the opposite side of the island.
“I don’t see anyone,” whispered Frank.
“Luke said that the old woman’s house is at the top of the hill. White with blue shutters,” said Bodhi.
“Dude, they’re all white with blue shutters. It’s a Greek thing,” smirked Frank.
“Whatever. Let’s just walk that way.”
With the submersible safely anchored offshore, they stowed their dive gear inside specially created stealth storage bags. Hidden between two large boulders on the beach, no one would be the wiser.
“It’s eerily quiet except for the hum of construction equipment,” said Devin. The others nodded then Ian gripped their arms, holding up a finger. Before they said anything, they saw what he saw. Two men. Armed. Walking the perimeter.
When they were a safe distance away, the men moved along the path toward the house up on the hill.
“What the fuck are they guarding?” asked Frank. It was rhetorical. None of them knew what they were doing yet. Ahead, they saw a small house, the last house on the hill.
Approaching with caution, it was Bodhi that spotted the old woman in the window, leaning back slightly out of view behind a white curtain, blowing in the wind.
“Are you Marguerite?” whispered Bodhi.
“Come in, come in,” she said waving them inside. They quickly entered the small home and nodded at the woman.
“My name is Bodhi. That’s Ian, Devin, and Frank.”
“Are you hungry?” she asked. They all smiled at her and shook their heads.
“We had a late meal. We’ll be hungry at breakfast,” smiled Frank.
“That’s only a few hours away. Come. I will show you where you can sleep. No one knows that it’s even up there other than those on the island.”
As she began to climb the creaky wooden steps, the men were a bit concerned that she might fall. But Marguerite was a woman of strength and she’d obviously made this climb her entire life.
In the cramped attic space, there were two open windows on either side of the roofline. It provide two very important things for the men. A breeze that would keep them cool during the day and a pretty damn good view of some of the activity on the cliff.
“It’s not much but you’ll be safe up here. Do not show yourself during the day. They know exactly how many people are here and what they look like.”
“We’ll be sure to stay undercover,” smiled Frank.
They thought it best not to tell her they would be using their own stealth suiting and covers to wander the island freely tomorrow. For now, they needed rest.
“I’ll leave you,” she said. “I will make extra for breakfast and you can come down. Just be careful of the windows.”
“We will. Thank you, Marguerite. Remember, don’t risk yourself or anyone else for us. We can handle whatever these men want to dish out,” said Frank.
Marguerite stared at the men for a moment and then stepped forward. She pushed on their chests, then felt their biceps. Each one smiled, nodding at the woman.
“You are big strong men but you cannot stop bullets.”
“We have a few bullets of our own, ma’am,” said Bodhi. She stared up at Bodhi’s face, looking up and up.
“You four will be difficult to hide from view. I will do my best to keep the neighbors away.”
“Perhaps you could tell them you’re sick with a cold or the flu,” said Frank. She frowned at the man, shaking her head.
“Young man, I haven’t been sick since I was twelve. The beauty of an island like this is that we keep all the sickness away from us. No one would believe I was sick with anything. Just stay hidden if possible.”
She left them alone, making the treacherous climb back down the rickety steps. Frank closed the door, making it flush with the floor and they found a spot to stretch out and relax, hopefully getting some sleep.
“We can try to see what’s happening over there in daylight tomorrow. For now, get some sleep.”