Shane again glanced at his watch then looked once more in his rearview mirror. That had been his routine for the last fifteen minutes, ever since the patrol car pulled him over for speeding. Shane had contemplated showing his ISA badge and disclosing he was on official business but decided against it. The last thing Shane needed was one of Salem's finest going back to the precinct and telling others about an ISA agent in Salem. He knew that would arouse Bo's suspicions. No, a low profile was better, Shane decided, even if it meant waiting.

Finally, the uniformed officer stepped from his car and ambled back towards Shane's car. Did police intentionally move slowly when they stopped someone for speeding, Shane wondered. Reaching Shane's car, the police officer leaned in the window and handed Shane the ticket. "Let's slow down there Mr. Donovan. There are a lot of children in this neighborhood."

Shane tried to sound contrite and hide his impatience as he took the ticket from the officer. "Yes, of course, officer. I'll keep a better eye on the speedometer."

"You do that." The officer tipped his hat and then headed back to his patrol car.

Shane tossed the ticket in his glove compartment and turned the ignition, then slowly crept back into traffic. It was only a few more blocks to Victor's estate and Shane knew he needed to go the speed limit. He couldn't afford another fifteen-minute delay.

Shane glanced at his watch once more and figured Kim was now heading to the airport herself. If he limited his conversation with Victor and didn't have any more unexpected delays, Shane knew he'd still get to the airport in time for his flight.

That was the problem. Anything Victor might say could cause an unexpected delay. That was what most concerned Shane as he drove up the drive and parked in front of Victor's home. He didn't like entering a conversation without a clue of where it might lead but this time he had no choice. Shane knew the minute Victor called, he had to meet with him even if it meant missing his flight. Shane just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

As soon as Shane pulled the key out of his ignition, a man from Victor's security detail quickly appeared. He was a muscular fellow in an expensively-tailored suit and Shane remembered how all Victor's bodyguards were always well-dressed. He gave Shane the once-over, as if realizing he didn't need to frisk him before saying, "Mr. Kiriakis is waiting for you in the library." He led the way into the house and Shane followed.

"Ah Shane, I'm so glad you could make time to meet with me." Victor's tone was smug as he greeted Shane. "Can I get you a drink?

"You know I don't have much time. So why don't you tell me what information you have that you're so sure I'll be interested in." Shane was trying desperately to have the upper hand with Victor.

A small smile crept across Victor's face. "Of course. Now let's see. The last time we met you rushed in accusing me of contacting your daughter," Victor reminded Shane, as if making certain Shane would know that he, Victor Kiriakis, would always be in control. "That was when I surprised you with the fact that I knew your father."

"Nothing you say ever surprises me."

"Well we'll see, won't we?" He motioned toward an oversized damask covered wing chair and Shane reluctantly sat down. Victor settled into the sofa opposite him before continuing. "As I said, I met your father in Greece, during the Civil War th-."

"There is no record of my father being in Greece during the Civil War," Shane interrupted.

Victor ignored Shane's comment. "I was just a teen and had decided to return to Greece, to help my homeland in their fight against communism."

"That was very noble of you," Shane said sarcastically, knowing Victor never did anything if there wasn't something in it for him.

Victor ignored Shane's comment and continued. "I had no money, no attachments to keep me here in Salem. In Greece, I was assigned to a small town in the Peloponnese that had been a Nazi stronghold during the war. My contact was a Greek nationalist named Stavros Augustopolos but the British were the ones still in command. They hadn't entirely abandoned Greece yet."

Victor noticed Shane stiffen when he mentioned the British. "There was fierce fighting between the forces of the Greek government and the communist fighters, both intent on having this small insignificant town. I didn't understand it. There seemed to be no strategic purpose until Stavros took me to a cave in the mountains outside of town. There I saw what all the fighting was about."

Shane leaned forward, intent on not missing a word of what Victor had to share. "Hidden in this cave was $10 million in Nazi gold along with some very valuable artifacts and antiquities the Nazi's had pillaged from surrounding towns. One particular artifact, Apollo's Orb, had caught my eye. I looked at my friend Stavros and now understood why this town was so important. Three days later the Greek nationalists defeated the communists."

Shane was growing impatient realizing there was barely any time left to make his flight. "Again, what does this have to do with my father?"

"He's the one who took the gold." Victor replied matter-of-factly.

Shane's eyes grew wide at this accusation. "As I said, he wasn't even in Greece. There is absolutely no record of him being there."

"No ISA or British MI6 record," Victor conceded as he reached for a manila folder. "But I have my own record." Victor pulled an old photograph from the folder and handed it to Shane. "I suspected you would question my account so I contacted my friend's family. That was what took so long. Stavros has died but his son still lives in that same little town." Nodding at the photograph, now in Shane's hand, Victor remarked triumphantly, "That is my record. We took the picture after our victory. The church in the background is St. Gregory of the Peloponnese. Any geography book will confirm the location."

Shane turned the aged black-and-white photograph over in his hands. It was grainy and the edges were tattered but the images were unmistakable. His eyes widened in disbelief. There were about 20 men grouped together, most Greek peasants with rifles slung over their shoulders. They were gathered in front of what was obviously a Greek Orthodox Church. Shane immediately recognized Victor, squatting near the edge, a red bandana tied around his neck. There in the back, surrounded by these triumphant peasants, standing tall and erect in his British uniform, was his father.

Sensing that Shane had identified his father, Victor added with a sneer, "And of course, we insisted our commanding officer be in the picture."

Studying the photo further, Shane noted Reggie Sinclair standing next to his father and then was surprised to see a figure squatting near Victor.

"Ah, I see you have found George Nickerson in the photo." Again, Victor's tone took on a triumphant air. "Yes, Miami was not the first time Nickerson and I were on the same side. Of course, from your perspective it was the wrong side. But then, we all have different points of view."

Shane tried to shake the sinking feeling that was now settling over him. "This only proves my father was in Greece. It is a huge leap to conclude he took the gold. Many people must have known about that gold. As you said, that was why this little village was so important."

"True. But only Stavros and your father knew where it was hidden."

"And you," Shane corrected accusingly. "Maybe the entire Kiriakis Empire was started with that gold?"

Victor laughed sinisterly. "I was very poor back then. It would have taken enormous resources to move that gold, resources I did not have. Anyway, why would your daughter contact me, hinting about possessing this gold if I had it all along?"

Shane looked up at the mention of his daughter. So Eve knew about the gold. And if Eve knew, did that mean Drew had the gold? It all didn't make sense but something in Shane's gut told him Victor was not lying. As much as he hated acknowledging that, Shane knew he had to go with his instincts. "All right. My father was in Greece. You knew him. Now why are you so sure he took the gold?"

"Three days after the victory over the communists, your father was called back to London."

"The British were pulling out of Greece around that time."

"Yes, that's true," Victor conceded. "But the timing of your father's departure cannot be overlooked. That, plus he knew where the gold was hidden. Then, all record of your father being in Greece disappears. And now your daughter contacts me about the gold. A coincidence? I don't think so."

Looking once again at the photograph, Shane asked, "Can I keep this?"

"Of course. I have copies."

As Shane tucked the photograph into his breast pocket, Victor added, "I don't care about the gold. I have all the money I need. What I want is Apollo's Orb. My friend Stavros died never being able to return the Orb to Greece. I want to return it for him."

Shane patted the pocket he had just tucked the photograph in and looked at Victor as a realization struck him. As much as Shane despised the thought, he knew he would have to work with Victor, or at least form an alliance with him, if he was ever going to discover the mystery of his father's role in Greece. As this thought settled over him, Shane looked at his watch and realized he had very little time to get to the airport.