And then Jack left breadcrumbs leading to the truth, to take the very last thing away from Lysander — his mask.
62
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
‘Wait here,’ said Amparo. She stood, her expression intent. ‘I’ll be back.’
She returned with a box and sat with it on her lap, a frown clouding her features.
‘Before Rodrigo de Vivar died,’ said Amparo, ‘he summoned all his children and grandchildren together and told them about this special clause in his will. Rodrigo made each of them swear — on their honour — to uphold it. That vow has been passed down through the family … I swore it myself when I reached twenty-one and my parents first showed me what was in this box.’
‘Should I leave?’ said Seymour, rising.
‘No,’ replied Amparo. ‘Not if you will also take the vow. If you will promise that what you hear and see today is never revealed to anyone else.’
Seymour placed his right hand over his heart. ‘I so swear.’
Amparo nodded. ‘Good.’
‘Should I swear as well?’ I said, confused.
Amparo shook her head. ‘No. Because you are the subject of Rodrigo’s codicil.’
‘What do you mean?’ I replied. ‘How could that be —’
‘Because you found Hector … or rather, Lysander Kershaw’s body. That is what the codicil is about.’
I shut up.
Amparo reached into the box and took out an old letter. ‘This was written to the person who found Kershaw’s body.’ She handed it to me.
It was the old and yellowed letter I’d seen in Rodrigo’s safe the first time I’d come to this house.
I went to open it.
‘No!’ she said. ‘You are to open it when you have met the other conditions of the codicil.’
‘What conditions?’ I said with suspicion.
‘If you meet the conditions you will receive this, free and clear, as your own property.’ Amparo reached into the box and handed me a long container. I’d also seen it before.
I opened it.
Seymour gasped.
It was Isabella’s Cross.
But, according to Father Angelo, it was really Isabella’s Ankh.
It was solid gold and the piece above the cross bar was an oval shape painted with floating angelic figures. It was a great golden thing, surrounded by a nimbus of light … And, except for the painted oval piece above the cross bar, looked as ancient as the Earth itself.
I felt drawn to it … and picked it up. The ankh was warm … inviting … benevolent. Now I could understand why Emperor Theodosius and Isabella had wanted to keep it by their sides.
I put the ankh back in the box, confused by my reaction.
Amparo watched me. ‘It feels good, doesn’t it?’
I nodded back, bemused.
‘Did I tell you that Lysander couldn’t stand to be in the same room with it?’
I gazed down at the golden ankh. So Lysander had hated the very thing he’d spent years trying to find?
‘You mentioned the codicil had conditions …’ I said. ‘What are they?’
‘According to the codicil, you must take Isabella’s Cross to Spruce Tree Mesa and place it in its rightful resting place.’
Spruce Tree Mesa?
‘Once you’ve done that, you must open the letter and follow the instructions. Then Isabella’s Cross is yours, free and clear — to do with as you will.’
I gazed at her in dismay. ‘But why Spruce Tree Mesa?’
Amparo shrugged. ‘This was our dear Rodrigo’s last request. I don’t know why he wanted it done, but I trust that it was for a very good reason.’ She eyed me fiercely. ‘Will you do it?’
I picked up the old letter. Apart from anything else, I couldn’t resist the pull to read what my wily friend, Coyote Jack, had written. ‘Yes, I will.’
Amparo exhaled in relief. ‘Good, but you must leave now. The will stipulates that the cross must be immediately returned to Spruce Tree Mesa following the discovery of Hector’s … I mean Lysander’s body. It has to be there, and in place, no later than the following dawn.’
‘Okay,’ I agreed. I could do that — but I didn’t know if I could wait that long to open Coyote Jack’s letter.
‘You cannot know how relieved I am,’ said Seymour to Amparo. ‘To be in no way related to Lysander Kershaw.’ Seymour looked up at the portrait of the grinning boy hanging above our heads. ‘Now him I could like.’
Amparo patted his hand. ‘I’m so glad to meet another relative.’ She sighed. ‘But I’m sorry that I didn’t get to know Jackson River … That day he was here — he gave me such a shock. He looked so much like our dear Rodrigo … but now it’s too late to talk to him.’
I’d told them Gideon Webb had murdered River.
‘Yes, I’m sorry too,’ I said. ‘Jackson River has been vindicated completely. What he set out to do — prove the truth about Dry Gulch — has finally happened.’
Seymour gazed warmly up at the portrait … now his ancestor too. ‘Jackson River looked so much like Coyote Jack …’
I frowned, remembering Honeycutt’s words … The question of River’s real identity was yet to be answered. But he had to be related to Coyote Jack somehow.
‘Why did River wear those horrible hair streaks?’ asked Seymour. ‘And those ridiculous bright blue contact lenses?’
‘What?’ I felt a sharp stab in the pit of my stomach. ‘How do you know River wore contact lenses?’
Seymour shrugged. ‘I saw him putting them in the day I went to his office at Berkeley. His real eye colour was so unusual, a yellow … almost gold. But surely you knew that bright blue couldn’t be real?’
My jaw hung open while I tried to think of an answer … one that didn’t involve the outrageous one that’d sprung to mind.
It couldn’t be … It was impossible.
‘Amparo, how did Rodrigo de Vivar die?’ I asked.
‘A heart attack, I believe. Why?’
‘So his body was buried … where exactly?’
‘Well, there is a gravestone, but he died while fishing. He just dropped into the water. His body was never found.’
‘Coyote Jack just dropped into the water. His body was never found,’ I repeated mindlessly.
I raced back to my beach house, south of Half Moon Bay, booked a plane ticket and began hurling things into a backpack as fast as my tender thumb would allow. I’d managed to squeeze onto the last flight to New Mexico, which meant I’d get a plane to Albuquerque then rent a four-wheel-drive and head north, past Santa Fe, to Big Sun Canyon.
As long as I got on that plane, I could make my destination on time. But it was going to be tight; I’d have to floor it to the airport.
Coyote Jack’s will was clear. It expressly ordered that I have Isabella’s Cross back on Spruce Tree Mesa before the dawn following the discovery of his business partner’s body. It must’ve seemed impossible for such a stipulation to be fulfilled in the nineteenth century … but it was certainly possible now.
Standing under her ancestor’s portrait, Amparo had pleaded with me to meet his demands to the letter. ‘Rodrigo wasn’t a fool. If he made these stipulations, Kannon … then it was for a very good reason.’
I knew she was right — so I’d sworn I would do as he asked no matter what.
I had my backpack ready and was standing in the hallway when my dog, Spud, gave a warning yip and charged over to the front door. I’d just phoned a neighbour and arranged for them to look after her while I was gone.
A knock sounded.
Spud stood guard at the door, sniffing for hint of friend or foe.
Whoever it was, all they were going to see of me was a flash as I raced for the car. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and told Spud to let me deal with it. She relaxed and sat.
I opened the front door, ready to brush past … But instead I came to a shocked halt.
It was Honeycutt.
‘Daniel …’ He was a little pal
e. ‘What are you doing here?’ I said with concern. ‘You should be resting.’
He shook his head. ‘I’m fine … don’t worry.’
Daniel seemed okay — a little tired but almost back to normal. He was a mountain of a man and just as hard to break. I’d seen that at close quarters before.
We eyed each other a little warily … as though we each held the only key to the other’s defences.
But all I really knew was that when I looked up into Daniel’s archangel face I wanted to dive on him and never let him go … and run as fast as I could in the opposite direction — both at the same time!
Damnation! How was I going to handle this? There was so much to say … so much to work out … and I didn’t have time to do it right now. Not to do it properly.
‘Kannon?’ He was waiting for me to step aside and invite him in.
Spud pushed past me to nose his legs. She started wagging her tail. That was strange, she was usually stand-offish around strangers.
‘Er … Daniel, I’m sorry but I have to get to the airport straight away —’
‘Where are you going?’ He frowned. ‘What’s wrong?’ He could see I was agitated.
‘I’m sorry … I don’t have time to explain!’ I shoved Spud back in the house and locked the front door. She had a dog door in the rear for access to the yard.
Honeycutt followed me out to the car. ‘What’s going on, Kannon! Why are you running away?’
‘I’m not running away!’ I insisted. Damn, I didn’t want to stuff this up! But how could I explain everything I’d just learnt about Lysander Kershaw and Rodrigo de Vivar in the thirty seconds I had left before I had to race for the airport? ‘Look, I’ll come and see you as soon as I get back.’
‘Back from where?’ Daniel was getting angry. ‘What could possibly be this urgent?’
I stared at him, unable to even start answering that question. ‘Daniel, you just have to trust me … I’ll —’
‘But, Kannon … you don’t trust me,’ he replied softly. The hurt was raw in his jade-green eyes.
I gasped with pain at the sight …
Last night I’d almost lost Daniel. Now I wanted to grab him and bury my head against his chest … just to make sure his big heart was still beating.
He read my face like a book … my naked longing. ‘Kannon, you can’t do this.’ He grabbed my shoulders. ‘You can’t just pick a fight with me and run away every time I get too close.’
‘Daniel …’ I shook my head, tears slipping down my cheeks. ‘I didn’t mean to —’
‘I know you’re afraid to let me in.’ He moved closer. ‘I’m scared too. I’ve never felt this … this … out of control.’
It was all there in his gorgeous face. He loved me with all his heart.
My chest hurt; I moaned from the aching.
As he drew me closer his sleeve pulled up, showing his watch.
Holy hell! If I didn’t leave now, I’d never make the flight.
I resisted his embrace and moved back. ‘Daniel … I have to go.’
He shook his head. ‘It’s all right, Kannon, you don’t have to pull away this time. I understand. I just talked to Des. He told me about your childhood … and about the other guy. This Alex … The one who left you.’
‘Des told you what?’ I gasped at the betrayal. I felt stripped bare … cornered … afraid.
The fear was immediately replaced by rage. It ripped through me. ‘Bloody interfering Des!’ I spluttered. The rage cut straight through every other emotion like a razor through flesh.
I coldly dismissed Daniel’s bewildered expression to glance down at my watch. ‘Look … I don’t have time for this now —’
I turned my back on him, opened the car door and slung my backpack onto the passenger’s seat. I had to get away … before I went up like a volcano and blew apart any chance that Daniel and I would ever have.
But Daniel wouldn’t give up. ‘You won’t ever have time for this, Kannon, unless you stop running!’ Now he was angry. ‘Because you’re too damned scared!’
Now I was furious. All the stupid fights we’d had in the past few days flooded back to me with a vengeance. ‘Daniel, I can’t live with you trying to put a protective bubble around me —’
‘That’s not what scares you, Kannon — and we both know it!’
There was just enough truth in that to make me see red. ‘Look, my work is dangerous,’ I growled. ‘It requires a great deal of skill … and I love it!’
Honeycutt raised his hands in surrender. ‘But, darlin’, that’s who you are. I have no problem with that. And don’t make out as though I do!’
‘Arrrgghh!’ That made me crazy. ‘I give up!’ He couldn’t see that he’d spent every moment since he’d come back trying to wrap me in cotton wool.
I got in the driver’s seat.
Daniel leant in the doorway, equally furious, but still determined. ‘Kannon, you want me and I love you … Stay!’ he challenged. ‘Give us a chance!’
Tears flooded down my cheeks again. My whole body ached from the stress of having so many totally conflicting emotions rip through me like a tornado. ‘Please, Daniel …’ I leant my forehead on the wheel. ‘I have to go. Please don’t do this … not today!’
‘But when, Kannon? You spend all your time rescuing other people.’
‘I can’t do this, Daniel! Not now.’ I got the car door shut, started the engine and backed out.
‘Kannon, don’t be such a coward!’ yelled Daniel. ‘You know we’re not finished yet … not by a long shot.’
I left with Honeycutt standing square in my rear-view mirror. He was staring after me with the fixed determination of a ballistic missile right on target.
63
DAWN ON SPRUCE TREE
MESA
I screamed into San Francisco airport well past boarding time, abandoned my car at the kerb, and ignored the cursing security patrol that’d been watching. They raced after me. I was fast enough to outdistance them to the boarding gate but there was no one there and it was already barred.
I glared through the airport windows — I could see my plane taxiing out, getting in position for take-off.
Security arrived and tried to take me into custody. I flipped out my NTA licence and started talking fast … This was a national emergency, I told them, and I just had to get on that plane!
Gob-smacked by my shiny new licence and unwilling to make a mistake that I threatened would most certainly end in their own arrest, they dropped me like a ticking bomb on their boss. He listened but refused to do anything unless I could tell him on exactly whose authority I was acting.
I knew the NTA wouldn’t back me up so I gave him an unlisted number — one I’d only acquired earlier today.
He rang, gave his position and name — then a shocked look sharpened his blunt features.
Even from across the desk I could hear the almighty tones of Balthazar Ruttle, the politically well-connected mayor of San Francisco, blasting an unauthorised official for using his so-very-private line. The boss of airport security started spluttering about me, received one curt order in reply, and then handed me the phone. Balthazar was no fool, so we got down to business quickly. Then I handed the phone back …
Like I told Des — Mayor Ruttle owed me big time for not giving the media every tiny detail of the Gideon Webb attacks on his precious investment-hungry city … Well, so far I hadn’t.
Oh, and for saving his life too …
I don’t exactly know what Ruttle said — but after that Air Traffic Control was contacted and the plane held while everyone negotiated. Ruttle had too many friends in high places so it wasn’t long before they ferried me out to the runway and I was hauled aboard.
The bemused passengers and crew left me strictly alone while I studied my maps of New Mexico and tried to work out how the hell to get to Big Sun Canyon on time. The plan was I’d collect my four-wheel-drive in Albuquerque and use every back road and goat track necessary to get me
into Big Sun Canyon well before dawn.
But when I got to Albuquerque and was on the road north, I realised my mission was going to be almost impossible to fulfil.
I listened to the radio on the drive north. Depending on the radio station tuned, the local airwaves alternately crackled with ire or cackled with glee. The Coyote Alliance had finally failed in their last legal attempt to ensure that Steven Blix could not sell Big Sun Canyon to Geiger Mining Corp.
Elated, the CEO of Geiger Mining had called a press conference, saying he was pleased to announce that the massive uranium deposit that lay under the canyon was the largest single occurrence of top-grade ore ever found anywhere on the planet. Then Steven Blix spoke. He said that he was deeply saddened to sell Big Sun Canyon, which had been in his family for over one and a half centuries, but he didn’t feel it was right to stand in the way of progress.
I snorted, remembering the Big Swede berating his son, Tiny, about there being gold in them there hills. There hadn’t been gold, but something just as lucrative and far more deadly …
Still … as I listened to Blix speak about Big Sun Canyon, I got the feeling that he was genuinely sad at the thought of losing it. I shook that thought off. It was hard to imagine a relative of the Big Swede having a particularly sensitive side.
Steven Blix ended by stating that he would make one final visit to the canyon before signing the contract.
The smug press conference had maddened the Coyote Alliance and sent them into overdrive. They’d called for all supporters to blockade both north and south entries to Big Sun Canyon. They said that a lying conman like Steven Blix should not be allowed to set foot in the sacred canyon his family had stolen and now betrayed.
Protestors from all over New Mexico, and beyond, had answered the call. But they’d been met by busloads of Geiger Mining security troops — there, the company said, to ensure Blix safe passage onto his own land.
As a result it took me most of the remaining night to find a way into Big Sun Canyon — one that avoided both the embattled blockades and the spotlights from the circling Geiger choppers — and then get up onto the mesa.
Coyote Page 44