by Alehandro
“I guess I should get used to it since I’m going to be your secretary until I hire one. Yes, I will make that choice since I certainly don’t want some cute young thing running around the office flirting with you.”
“Miranda! Shame on you, you should know me by now.”
Miranda glared at Gustavo. “I do.”
Though it was late, Gustavo looked once more through the documents his client had given him. He put the hotel business card with Octavio’s cell phone number in his wallet.
Next was a business card for Raul Martinez, proclaiming him to be an “Appraiser of Antiquities and Archaeological Artifacts.” Gustavo jotted down the address, phone number and e-mail address on the card. The next business card was for “Antonio Barrios, Realty, Sales & Auctions.”
The final item was a photograph of Octavio with two other men. The tall thin man with a hawk-like nose and beady eyes had to be Antonio Barrios. The third man, by far the youngest, was quite a bit darker than the others, revealing a life spent outdoors in the tropical sun. This, then, was Raul Martinez.
Gustavo stared at Raul’s face. There was something familiar.
The picture was a pleasant one, set against the backdrop of a large hacienda. The three men had their arms across each other’s shoulders like the best of friends.
Gustavo grunted. If only Octavio knew what they had been planning when this photo was taken.
The long shadows cast by the rising sun found Gustavo hard at work on his computer.
Miranda walked in to announce that his breakfast was ready. Seeing that he was furiously typing an e-mail, she asked instead, “Who are you writing to, Gustavo?”
“Chauncy Rollock.”
“Who?”
Gustavo stopped typing, deep in thought, and stared at the monitor for a few seconds before answering her. “This case I’m working on has a strange connection to Chauncy Rollock, remember him? He was the American kidnapped by Jose Padilla Madrid.”
Forgetting the breakfast, Miranda slowly sat down on a chair next to Gustavo. “Oh, yes! Now I remember, the archaeologist, the one who helped capture Mr. Hawkins. How is he connected to this?”
Gustavo slowly swiveled his chair around to face her, and leaned back. “Chauncy Rollock and Dr. Sova collaborated on a book about the Mayan king whose treasure map was stolen by Octavio’s associates. Since Dr. Sova is presumed dead, Chauncy Rollock is the only one alive who can shed light on it. He knows Yucatan; he knows where Martinez and Barrios are headed.”
Miranda looked doubtful. “That sounds like a shot in the dark.”
Gustavo nodded. “I know, I know. But my gut tells me that I shouldn’t leave him out of the equation.”
After sending the e-mail and eating breakfast, Gustavo set off for Mexico City to locate Mr. Barrios and retrieve the map. Miranda spent the rest of the day in the office directing the contractors.
It was late again when Gustavo returned home. Miranda heard his slow footsteps and could tell that there was trouble.
“What’s the problem?” she asked.
He walked into the bedroom and threw his keys on the bed.
“Mr. Barrios,” he said in a grim tone, “has left his place of residence, closed up his office and shut down phone service. None of his acquaintances knows where he’s gone. Mr. Barrios has vanished into thin air.”
Chapter Three
A cool wind whipped up a considerable amount of dust on the embankment overlooking Jerusalem”s old city, where Chancy Rollock was standing. He and a fellow archaeologist were engaged in a recent excavation of an ancient fortification that dated back to 3000 B.C. The company that hired the men wanted them to prove as fact the Bible narrative about King Solomon. Apparently there was debate among scholars and historians about the king’s ability to build large-scale fortifications so long ago. Some had even argued that the monarchy of Solomon’s father, King David, was mythical.
To help set the record straight, Chauncy and his colleague were studying a recently excavated wall that dated to the time of Solomon. The dig had revealed a seventy-seven yard section of the wall and a monumental portion of a gatehouse, thus proving the Biblical account of the buildings to be true. The ruin also revealed that both King David and King Solomon had the resources and manpower required to build such massive structures. Jerusalem had been home to a strong central government.
Chauncy wiped the dust from his clothes and smiled at his companion. “It’s getting late. I suppose we had better shut things down for the day.”
“I agree Chauncy. Let’s do the digital imagery tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Chauncy replied as his cell phone began to buzz. He looked at the caller ID display and exclaimed, “It’s my wife!”
Anita and Troy were visiting Chauncy in Jerusalem. They were staying in a hotel in Tel Aviv.
Chauncy answered the phone. “Hello sweetheart.”
Anita sounded excited. “Chauncy, I was checking our e-mail and you received something from Gustavo De Leon!”
Chauncy’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean the Gustavo De Leon from Mexico?”
“I can’t think of any other,” Anita sarcastically remarked.
“What does he want?”
“I don’t know. The e-mail is addressed to you. Do you want me to open and read it?”
“Yes, please do,” Chauncy said.
While cradling the telephone on her shoulder, Anita used both hands to bring up the e-mail on her laptop. She then read aloud:
To: Chauncy Rollock
From: Gustavo De Leon
Greetings amigo! I hope that all is going well with you.
I shall be brief in explaining the purpose of this email.
As you know I have just started my new business as a private investigator. I received my first case and what a strange one it is! Apparently my client bought the late Dr. Sova’s hacienda and purportedly found a treasure map that leads to a Mayan treasure. Anyway, I figured you, of all people, would have knowledge about these matters. My client says that two of his former associates have run off with the map. This not only poses a financial loss for my client but it also means Mexico”s national treasures are at risk of being plundered. Any assistance that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I will see to it that my government will compensate you. I respectfully await your kind reply.
“What do you think of it?” Anita asked. There was a moment of silence. “Chauncy, can you hear me?”
Chauncy was stunned. “Sorry love, wow, that sure was rather shocking news! I thought all this Mexico stuff was behind me.”
“So did I.”
Chauncy swallowed hard. “I suppose this is a big problem and not one I can ignore.”
“What do you want to do?”
With his free hand he ran his fingers over his head. “Let’s discuss this over dinner.”
The waves of the Mediterranean Sea lazily broke on the Tel Aviv beach as Chauncy and Anita dined at the restaurant adjacent to their hotel. A fine feast lay before them that included roast lamb, stuffed grape leaves and a large bowl of hummus. But Chauncy was not as interested in the meal as he was in the e-mail from De Leon.
He pushed the hummus around with his spoon and remarked, “This is crazy. The thieves who stole the treasure map are probably going to destroy the site once they find where the treasure is hidden and loot it, just as De Leon surmised,” he said.
“What’s your gut feeling, Chauncy?”
He drew in a deep breath. “I am an archaeologist, so my first concern is with the possible destruction of the antiquities.”
“And what is your second concern?”
“De Leon saved my life. I do owe him something.”
Anita looked away. “Why don’t you just e-mail him the information he needs?”
Chauncy slowly shook his head. “I can’t. The information I have cannot be emailed, it has to be delivered in person.”
Anita’s eyes misted. “Oh Chauncy, after all we went through, with you se
questered and everything.”
“I know, I know. But this time no drug lords are involved. I should be dealing exclusively with De Leon. Once I give him the information I can quietly take my leave.”
“With you nothing is ever quiet, Chauncy!”
Chauncy grinned sheepishly. “I know.”
“So, I suppose you will be going to Mexico?”
Chauncy didn’t verbally answer; he simply nodded.
Anita knew better than to argue. “You must promise me that you will not go on any jungle expeditions!”
He chuckled. “Why would I? I simply need to deliver some information.”
Chapter Four
The sleek silver Jaguar fought its way through the congested traffic of downtown Mexico City. The powerful vehicle entered the business district, skyscrapers reflected in its immaculate finish. A few turns later the car eased into an exclusive parking garage.
After turning off the car, Luisa Morales took out a makeup case and applied a few final touches. Satisfied, she stepped out of the car and took one last look at her reflection in the shiny surface of the Jaguar before activating the alarm.
The clicking of her heels echoed through the parking structure as she walked toward a large multi-storied luxury hotel. A short ride in an elevator brought her to the main lobby, and she made her way gracefully across the marble floor toward the elegant restaurant.
“Good morning, Senora. How may I help you?”
She took a business card from a jewel-encrusted holder and handed it to the attendant. “My name is Luisa Morales. I’m here to see Mr. Barrios.”
The attendant glanced at the card in his hand, then back at her. He nodded once, sharply. “I will page him. Please wait here.”
Minutes later he reappeared, smiling. “Follow me, please.”
He led her past private booths until they came to one where a man sat alone.
“Mr. Barrios, Ms. Luisa Morales has arrived,” the attendant stated with a gracious bow before leaving the two alone.
Mr. Barrios stood, smiling broadly. Pretty and rich, he thought to himself. “Oh, Ms. Morales, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He gently guided her to the chair he had pulled out for her.
She sat down and waited for him to do the same before speaking. “Mr. Barrios, do you realize how difficult it has been to locate you?”
“Yes, yes,” he said, after taking a sip of coffee. “Let’s just say that I am making some bold new strategic business moves that I have not yet revealed to the public.”
“Interesting. My sources tell me you are the best in the business and that you are, shall we say, discreet.”
“Really?” Barrios asked, staring. This was getting better and better. “And who are your sources?”
“Oh, they don’t like to be named. Isn’t it enough that I moved heaven and earth just to find you?”
Barrios smiled. “Well, how can I assist you, Ms. Morales?”
“Please, call me Luisa.”
“Splendid! I hope you will call me Antonio.”
“Certainly. Permit me then, Antonio, to tell you my story. Ten years ago I met a man in Acapulco. His name was Ricardo Morales. We lived in Miami where he operated a very successful import/export business until his death three months ago.”
“I am very sorry.”
Luisa waved it away. “Don’t be. It was a marriage of convenience: he desired me, and I, his money. We both got what we wanted.”
“Ah, I see. Please, continue.”
“My part of the inheritance, including life insurance, amounted to - ” she paused, pulled a leather case from her large purse. From within the case she extracted a bank statement that she placed on the table, pointing to a figure on it, “three million dollars.”
Barrios’ eyes widened. “Well, that is a very generous inheritance, indeed!”
“But there is more,” she said. “You see, after he died, I discovered that he had a hidden bank account. The scoundrel was holding out on me! My lawyer helped me retrieve the money and close the account. The employees filed a lawsuit claiming that their retirement funds had been stolen. Apparently, he had indeed been embezzling from his own company. The truth is, I don’t care. I had to put up with that idiotic man and his foul temper for ten years. As far as I’m concerned, that money is mine.”
“And how much was there, Luisa?” he asked, trying to sound disinterested.
Luisa pulled two more bank statements out of the leather case and presented them. “I put the money in two separate accounts,” she said as she directed Barrios’ eyes to a line on the statements. “Add them up and you have…”
“Six million dollars!” he blurted almost snorting the coffee in his nostrils.
Luisa glanced around nervously and lowered her voice. “Add that to my existing account and the total comes to nine million.”
Barrios took a deep breath and another sip from his coffee. “And how exactly do I fit into this picture, Luisa? Why are you telling me this?”
“The employees in my late husband’s company have already started a class-action suit against me. My lawyer advised me that in three days a court order will be issued to freeze my bank accounts. But I am not going to hang around that long, I plan to leave the United States for good. I have three days to take my money and sink it into Mexican real estate. Hah! They will never find the money. I trust that you can help me.”
Mr. Barrios cleared his throat. “Luisa, Luisa, of course I can help you. It will be a pleasure.”
“I’m not offering you pleasure, Antonio.” She paused, smiling. “I’m offering you one million dollars if you can invest five million in three days.”
Barrios’ eyes twitched. Then he smiled. “I don’t think that should be a problem.”
“Ah! But there is a problem Antonio.”
His face clouded. “What is it?”
Luisa lowered her voice again. “I think I’m being followed. Six million dollars is a lot of money and there are two hundred angry employees after it. I know I can’t go back to the States. But I’d prefer that no one knew where I was, even here in Mexico, so I don’t want anymore public meetings. Although, of course, I trust you implicitly, you’ll forgive me if I don’t invite you to my hotel room. What do you suggest, Antonio?”
He thought for a few moments, his black eyes darting around. “My home would be perfectly safe for you. No one knows I live there and the guards at the gate are extremely discreet.”
He wrote his address and gave it to Luisa. “My address. Trust me. I am as interested in confidentiality as you are.”
She slipped the address into her leather case and stood. “Your guards can watch for a silver Jaguar - and you can watch for me,” she said. She walked away, leaving him smiling smugly.
“What a lovely meal ticket. Tonight we will have dinner, a little bit of wine, and she will melt into my arms. Then I invest her five million dollars in bogus real estate and take her for all she has!”
He walked from the restaurant, chuckling to himself. With the Mayan business, and now this, he could barely believe his ingenuity. Whistling softly, he began arranging his plans.
“Marcelo? How is dinner coming along?” Mr. Barrios asked as he entered the dining room, adjusting his collar.
His butler was busy setting the dinner table in Mr. Barrio’s lavish home. A wrought-iron chandelier cast soft shadows over the thick wooden table and beautifully carved chairs.
“Oh, Senor, the meal will be perfect!”
“Ah, excellent. Here Marcelo,” Barrios said, taking out his wallet and then handing the butler a wad of bills. “Take Graciela out to dinner. Take the evening off,” he said patting Marcelo on the shoulder.
“Oh gracias, Senor. Goodnight!” Marcelo answered with a knowing smile, and then he was gone.
Moments later the intercom buzzed, and the voice of the security guard crackled through the speaker:
“Mr. Barrios, the silver Jaguar has entered the grounds.”
“Excellent,” replied
Barrios. He walked over to a mirror and double-checked his reflection. Ah Antonio, you handsome devil.
The doorbell rang. “Coming my dear!” Antonio said as he walked over to the door, humming a romantic melody. Opening the door, he stopped cold. “What the - ? Who are you?” he demanded.
“Good evening, Mr. Barrios,” the man at the door said with a smile as he flashed his badge. “I am Gustavo De Leon, private investigator.”
“What?” Antonio raged. “Who let you in?”
“Why, your guard did of course. I came in the silver Jaguar.”
“But…but…!”
“Luisa Morales will not be joining you for dinner, I’m afraid, since her real name is Miranda De Leon; she is my wife.”
Antonio was momentarily stunned, then he regained his posture. “Ah, sheesh! I was fooled by an old trick.”
“Yes - you were.”
“Then, I have nothing to say to you!” Antonio snarled.
“Ah, but I’m sure you’d rather discuss a certain Mayan treasure map with me than with the police.”
Barrios took a step backward, stunned. His brain was working rapidly, examining his options. The very idea of having the police snooping around was enough to make him sick. “Very well, come in. But when I tell you my story, you will see that I have nothing to hide, absolutely nothing!”
Chapter Five
Gustavo sat down on a comfortable sofa, his smile fixed on his face. It had taken him longer than he had anticipated, but he had managed to locate his prime suspect. Gustavo was confident that soon the whole case would be resolved and that Mr. Barrios would produce the map.
Barrios sat down on a large chair across from Gustavo. De Leon could tell that he was suffering from the idea that he had just lost a wonderful financial opportunity.
Barrios shook his head. “I should have taken the time to do a background check on her, but she seemed in such a hurry, and those dollar bills were dancing around in my head. Well done, Mr. De Leon. Well done.”