Karen Pappas

**Karen Pappas** (Bellamy Young) is the hidden main villainess of "The Czech List," episode 1.02 of *Whiskey Cavalier* (March 6, 2019). She is the estranged wife-turned-widow of Greek shipping magnate and notorious international smuggler Stavros Pappas.

## Introduction

Early in the episode, Stavros was shot dead by a mercenary named Hana Novak while he was being pursued by FBI agent Will Chase and his CIA partner Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge. Accompanied by former NSA analyst Edgar Standish, the duo was able to copy Stavros' retinal scan; they needed it in order to obtain his ledger, which listed his criminal clients. However, it was uncovered that Karen's retinal scan was also required.

Aliased as Peter "Pete" Hewson, Will was sent to meet Karen as part of a "honey trap," with the latter introducing herself as a University of Newfoundland professor who was teaching Eastern European Literature in Prague as part of her ongoing six-month sabbatical. She made an impression on him by unveiling her capability with photographic memory, and he offered for her to eat dinner with him that night—which she accepted. Later on, during said dinner, Karen admitted to feeling guilty over her lack of sadness when it came to Stavros' passing, with Will's response being to mention how his ex-fiancée Gigi Debrosse cheated on him with FBI Special Agent Ray Prince.

Additionally, Hana (who escaped from a grenade explosion unharmed and had an unknown employer) resurfaced during the date alongside her team of three men, holding Will at gunpoint. He subdued the sinister group with Francesca's help, allowing for him and his date to escape the scene. It was then that Will revealed his true identity and his mission to Karen, which was followed by her agreeing to help him open a vault in a bank where the ledger was stored.

## Reveal/Arrest

The next day, he and his joint CIA-FBI team took her to said bank, only for Hana and her faction to track them down. Intimidating Will, Karen, and Francesca with their guns, the quartet demanded their American rivals' guns and the ledger (which was kept in a safe deposit box in the vault). Doing as they were told, Karen apologized to Will, with the latter promising the former that they would get the ledger back.

However, in a twist, Karen revealed herself as Hana's employer and illicit girlfriend—indicating that she was the true mastermind behind Stavros' murder and the acquisition of the ledger. The ruthless villainess kissed the mercenary and complimented her for doing a "good job," after which she used a lighter to burn the book. Stating that the ledger would have "caused [her] a world of trouble," Karen thanked Will for his unwitting assistance before having her subordinates lock Will and Francesca inside the vault.

After the two escaped, they went after the nefarious couple at a train station. Will pursued Karen and caught up with her, having deduced beforehand that she had memorized the ledger's contents prior to its destruction. She claimed that if she were to go with him, she was "as good as dead" to "the people [she did] business with." Will replied by trying to reassure her that they would protect her, only for Karen to declare that "[there was only] one way" it would end, as she was planning to let herself be fatally run down by an oncoming train.

However, he foiled her suicide attempt, and when she asked him why he did that, he answered that he needed to know everything about the ledger. Karen also mockingly queried whether he thought they were to "run away together," only for Will to threaten to "put her in a hole so deep [that her business associates would] never be able to find [her]" if she didn't comply. She was then arrested offscreen, and it was disclosed that she "spilled everything" about the ledger's contents.