“I think somebody should put us in for a Nobel Prize,” Giordino said with a smirk.
“I heard they found the body of Celik this morning,” Lazlo said.
“Yes, he was apparently strangled, then pitched into the Golden Horn,” Pitt said.
“Did you beat me to the task?”
Pitt smiled. “Not this time. A police detective told us they are pretty certain Mufti Battal is responsible. An undercover cop at Battal’s mosque reported seeing a man matching Celik’s description and dress in the building about the time of his estimated death.”
“A pair of devils, in my book,” Lazlo said.
An attractive nurse came into the room momentarily to check Lazlo’s medication, then left under his watchful gaze.
“Anxious to get home, Lieutenant?” Giordino asked.
“Not particularly,” Lazlo replied with a grin. “And by the way, it is now Commander Lazlo. I’ve received word of my promotion.”
“Let me be the first to congratulate you,” Giordino said, slipping him a bottle of whisky he had smuggled into the hospital. “Perhaps you can find someone around here
to share it with,” he added with a wink.
“You Americans are all right,” Lazlo replied with a wide smile.
“How is the prognosis?” Pitt asked.
“I’m scheduled for surgery in Tel Aviv in another week, then will be subject to several weeks of therapy. But the recovery should be full, and I hope to report back to duty before the end of the year.”
They were interrupted by the entrance of a man in a wheelchair, who rolled in with his leg in a cast.
“Abel, there you are,” Lazlo greeted. “It’s time you meet the men who helped save your life.”
“Abel Hammet, master of the Dayan. Or ex-master, I should say,” he said, greeting Pitt and Giordino warmly. “Lazlo here has told me everything you did. You really put yourself out on a limb, and my crew and I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’m sorry your tanker was still lost in the end,” Pitt replied.
“The Dayan was a good ship,” Hammet said wistfully. “But the good news is that we’re getting a brand-new vessel. The Turkish government has committed to building us a replacement, apparently using the appropriated assets of one Ozden Celik to pay for it.”
“Who says there’s no justice in the world?” Giordino quipped.
As the men laughed, Pitt glanced at his watch.
“Well, the Aegean Explorer is due to shove off in about an hour,” he said. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to be on our way.”
He shook hands with Hammet, then turned to Lazlo.
“Commander, I’d be glad to have you by my side any day,” he said.
“It would be my honor,” Lazlo replied.
As Pitt and Giordino moved toward the door, Lazlo called out to them.
“Where are you headed? Back to your shipwreck?”
“No,” Pitt replied. “We’re sailing to Cyprus.”
“Cyprus? What’s waiting for you there?”
Pitt gave the commander a cryptic grin.