THE MAHABHARATA QUEST:THE ALEXANDER SECRET by CHRISTOPHER C. DOYLE

has just reported a major fire at the medical facility that’s our target.’
    Imran gritted his teeth and prayed they would reach in time. 

9
    Thessaloniki, Greece
    Alice sank onto her bed, exhausted and glad to be alive. The police escort had met her as promised and accompanied her to a hotel where she had been checked in under an assumed name. She didn’t know what they had been told about her situation, but it was obvious that they had instructions to ensure that her true identity was not revealed to anyone.
    The police would open a case file and investigations would commence immediately with a manhunt to apprehend Stavros and Peter. Though, somehow, she had a feeling they wouldn’t be caught.
    The consulate had called to say that the documents that would help her leave the country would be ready before noon the next day. They had reassured her that she was under their protection and would be completely safe now. Wallace had certainly pulled a whole lot of strings and she was grateful for his help.
    Only one thing remained now. She needed to book her ticket out of here. She would do that tomorrow. But she wouldn’t go back home to the US. It wasn’t a good idea anymore. Stavros and Peter knew where she was from and probably had her home address as well. While she felt safe and protected here, who would protect her in the US? She couldn’t possibly keep going back to Wallace for help. He had done his bit and more in getting her out of this mess.
    Where could she go? She had pondered over this question as she showered. Now, even as she relaxed with a glass of Chardonnay, she didn’t have any answers.
    She switched on the television. It was a local channel, in Greek, but she didn’t have to know the language to understand the images accompanying the headlines which announced that two freak accidents had occurred on both carriageways of the highway to Thessaloniki, blocking off traffic. The accidents had been reported by anonymous callers and no one was on the scene when the police had arrived in both cases. The people involved had, apparently, deserted the accident scenes.
    A cold fear gripped her as she heard the news.
    What had she got herself into?
    This was no ordinary conspiracy. Whatever was going on, it was big. If they could plan on something as crazy as blocking off the highway for a few hours just to ensure that no one from the excavation site made it out alive, there was something really big at stake here.
    But what was it? She racked her brains but could come up with no explanation that made sense.
    Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts.
    ‘Alice?’ Wallace’s polished accent came over the line.
    ‘Mr Wallace, I don’t know how to thank you.’ Alice was overcome with gratitude. ‘I’m in a hotel in Thessaloniki.’
    ‘Yes, I know,’ Wallace replied. ‘I was told. And, by the way, I do think that I have asked you before to call me Kurt. Anyway, I’m just glad you’re safe.’
    ‘I’m glad to be safe,’ Alice responded. ‘But I’m still scared.’ She told him about the accidents on the highway being reported on television. ‘I’m going to book my ticket first thing in the morning. I think I need to get out of here really fast.’
    ‘Ah, that’s why I called. I didn’t want to promise anything until I was sure. I don’t think you will be able to get a seat on any commercial airline out of Greece for at least a week. But I’ve managed to speak to a few people I know and you will have a private jet ready by noon tomorrow to bring you back to the US.’
    Alice’s mouth fell open. A private jet? Kurt Wallace definitely had friends in high places. She pulled herself together as she realised that he was planning to ship her back home.
    ‘I’ve been thinking about that, Kurt.’ Alice suddenly knew exactly where she wanted to go. She explained to Wallace her apprehensions about returning to the US, gently and politely but firmly brushing aside his offer to help her find a safe