"Five moves ahead"
The Ancient Historians Club
London, England
Kronos read the telegram from Staniek for the third time. It thanked him for the warning about DuBois, who had been duly despatched. He had arrived in the United States two days ahead of schedule, and was ready to proceed to the next stage of the operation. He anticipated few obstacles in tracking down the target and would keep him informed of his progress.
The job needed more than a simple street thug who thought that getting information out of someone was achieved by use of blunt instruments and brute force. It needed someone with a reasonable degree of intelligence, a sharp inquiring mind who could find out what he needed to know without arousing too much suspicion.
Kronos knew Staniek by reputation. Although he was always for hire, he still had some scruples. There were things that he would not do, lines that he would not cross. Would he have taken the on the job if he knew who Ivan Krannix really was? More to the point, if he knew what the reasons behind it were?
Kronos shrugged. It didn't matter. It really didn't matter.
Picking up a piece, he moved it forward, and then set it down.
"Checkmate," he said, and stopped his clock.
His playing partner slumped back in his chair.
"I don't know how you do it Krannix. Four times in a row now, I'd thought I had you beat, and then seemingly from nowhere you win."
"What can I say? It's all about strategy and thinking several moves ahead. You could say I had some very good teachers, or that I learned from the best. Another round?"
He too sat back in his squat leather chair. He smiled. It didn't matter if Staniek did find out the truth.
He was just another pawn.