Mayan Murder

by Martha Brack Martin

  Copyright © 2018 Martha Brack Martin

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Martin, Martha, 1967–, author

  Mayan murder / Martha Brack Martin.

  (Orca soundings)

  Issued in print and electronic formats.

  ISBN 978-1-4598-1960-3 (softcover).—ISBN 978-1-4598-1958-0 (PDF).—ISBN 978-1-4598-1959-7 (EPUB)

  I. Title. II. Series: Orca soundings

  PS8626.A77253M39 2018 jC813'.6 C2017-907690-6

  C2017-907691-4

  First published in the United States, 2018

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018933737

  Summary: In this high-interest novel for teen readers, Tom and Kat get caught up in a kidnapping while in Mexico on spring break. A free teacher guide for this title is available at orcabook.com.

  Orca Book Publishers is dedicated to preserving the environment and has printed this book on Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.

  Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

  Cover images by iStock.com/grandriver (front) and Shutterstock.com/Krasovski Dmitri (back)

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  orcabook.com

  Printed and bound in Canada.

  21 20 19 18 • 4 3 2 1

  Orca Book Publishers is proud of the hard work our authors do and of the important stories they create. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it or did not check it out from a library provider, then the author has not received royalties for this book. The ebook you are reading is licensed for single use only and may not be copied, printed, resold or given away. If you are interested in using this book in a classroom setting, we have digital subscriptions that feature multi user, simultaneous access to our books that are easy for your students to read. For more information, please contact digital@orcabook.com.

  For Michael, Mac and Emma.

  You will always be my favorite companions—in travel and in life.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Acknowledgments

  An Excerpt from “River Traffic”

  Chapter One

  Chapter One

  A spear sliced the air—an inch from my face!

  I gasped for breath. I had to get off this path. But which way?

  There was no time to think.

  I threw myself to the right. The jungle swallowed me. Roots and branches became a wall trying to block me.

  I tripped.

  Another spear flew over my head. If I hadn’t fallen, I’d be dead.

  I looked up from the jungle floor.

  The Mayan warrior was looming right over me. A new spear was aimed at my heart. There was no way he could miss.

  His arm thrust downward. I braced myself for the feel of the wood piercing my chest.

  Wait a minute. This all feels like a bad Indiana Jones movie. I mean, how many spears can one guy carry?

  I woke up in a blood-pumping rush. My heart was racing like I really was fighting for my life in the Mexican jungle.

  That’s what I get for watching Apocalypto on the plane.

  When I’d seen that a movie about the Maya was a choice on the flight, I’d gone for it. I thought I’d get a crash course on Mayan history. Instead, I’d fallen asleep and gotten a nightmare!

  I checked the time. We’d be landing in Cancun in thirty minutes. This was my first flight anywhere, and I’d slept through most of it. Probably because I’d been too excited to sleep the night before. Having to get up at five in the morning hadn’t helped either. I was so pumped to see Kat, it was a miracle I’d slept at all.

  A whole week—spring break—with the super-smart, super-beautiful Kathleen Waters. In Mexico, no less. We’d only seen each other once since we met last September. A couple of days over Christmas holidays wasn’t nearly enough. Thank god for cell phones and laptops. I couldn’t wait to hang out with Kat in person for a whole week in the Riviera Maya. It was amazing that her dad had invited me to join them. Even more amazing that my dad had let me go. The plane ticket had been his birthday gift to me.

  Now I just needed to relax and enjoy it.

  When Kat and I first met, we’d been thrown into danger. We’d been lucky to survive. Ever since, I’d felt like I was always on high alert. Watching for trouble—and expecting to find it.

  Take today at Detroit Airport. I kept bumping into this short guy in a red shirt. While I was checking in, going through security—even at the gate. It took me a while to realize we were probably on the same flight. So it was a no-brainer that we’d be in the same places. Still, there was something intense about him. Like the way he watched me as I walked up the aisle to my seat.

  Give your head a shake, Tom. You’ve only got one job—to enjoy your first-ever tropical vacation with your fabulous girlfriend. Relax. Leave worrying about bad guys to Kat’s dad. He’s the FBI agent.

  The pilot came on the PA to say we would be landing soon. That made me forget everything but Kat. Seven whole days. Bright blue water. A fancy all-inclusive resort. And Kat in a bikini. Paradise.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  Chapter Two

  Kat was somewhere in the airport. It was torture waiting to get off the plane. I was behind three college guys who’d started their spring break early. They were drunk even though it was only about eleven AM Detroit time.

  I finally lost them when I got off the plane. Kat was here last year, and she’d told me exactly where to go. I raced to the lower level.

  The Immigration area was as nuts as Kat had said it would be. People were everywhere, filing into rows and rows of lineups like a maze. Instead of looking for the shortest line, I looked for Kat and her dad.

  My phone dinged. A text from Kat. R u here? We r far right

  I spotted Kat’s dad, Mike, right away. Kat saw me coming and ran to meet me. I forgot all about the crowds (and her dad) when she gave me her usual Southern welcome. A hug to start. Then a kiss that made me really glad I’d popped gum during the landing. I could have kissed her all day, but she dragged me over to her dad.

  “I see you made it, Tom,” Mike said. He had a serious look on his face. I remembered that scary look from the first time we met. Then his face broke into a grin. He put out his hand to shake mine. “Great to see you again! Kathleen has been driving me crazy talking about you. Now she can finally stop!”

  “Daddy!” Kat blushed. Then she just laughed. “He’s right though. I have been talking about you a lot. Iʼm just so excited.” I’d forgotten how much I loved her Southern accent. “This is going to be the best week ever!”

  I grinned at her like an idiot. I couldn’t help it. I turned to her dad. “Thanks again for inviting me, Mike.” Mike waved away my thanks.

  “How was your flight?” Kat aske
d. “Ours was late. We got in just before you. Did you have fun?”

  “I tried to watch a movie, but I fell asleep.” I spared her the details. “I was too excited to sleep last night.”

  Kat gave me a little squeeze. “Me too. There’s so much I want to do this week! Last year we stayed right in Cancun. It’s all high-rises and traffic. Not like in the Mayan Riv. You can’t snorkel off the beach in Cancun. And we only saw one ruin.”

  “Slow down and breathe, Kathleen.” Mike looked at Kat with a raised eyebrow. “This is a holiday. I rented a car from the hotel, and yes, we’ll do a few trips. But we’re going to enjoy the resort too.” We moved up farther in line. “This resort is supposed to be top of the line. There’s lots to do there. And I am OFF DUTY. I want to snorkel. Lie by the pool and drink a cerveza—or three. Read my book and relax. I’m sure you and Tom can keep yourselves busy.”

  I could think of lots of ways Kat and I could keep busy. To distract myself from thinking too much about that, I scanned the airport walls. There was a giant poster with big gold letters announcing the Rap in the Riv Fest. I knew some of the rappers listed. Big names. “We could go check that out,” I said, pointing. “It’s happening this week. Is Playa del Carmen nearby?”

  Mike spoke before Kat could answer. “You aren’t going anywhere near that. Not after what happened in January.”

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “There was another big music festival in Playa, called the BPM. Big-name producers and artists from all over the world. With that kind of crowd, you get some serious drugs and crooks. One night it went bad. Five innocent people were killed.”

  “Now I remember. Didn’t a drug cartel take credit?”

  “Yeah, the Zetas hung up one of their ‘banners.’ But that wasn’t all. The next day there was a shootout in Cancun. A group hit the office of a top lawyer working against the gangs. He survived. They got the gunmen.”

  “I thought the Mayan Riviera was supposed to be the safe part of Mexico. Aren’t the drug cartels on the other side of the country?” I asked.

  Mike shrugged. “For the most part you’re right. The drug cartels are mainly based in the west. But lately there have been rumors that they’re pushing into the Mayan.” Mike moved forward in line. “Cancun’s like any big city. There’s always been some organized crime here. Where there’s money, there’s crime. Most of it you’d never know was going on. Tourists have usually been pretty safe here, as long as they weren’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or doing something stupid.”

  We were almost at the front of the line. Finally.

  “Things have been heating up lately,” Kat added. “But the good guys are on it. Daddy’s old training buddy, Jack, is the head investigator for all this recent stuff,” Kat said. “He told him not to worry.”

  “I wouldn’t have brought you kids down here if I thought it wasn’t safe,” Mike added. “Jack says they’ve got it under control.” He pulled Kat into a hug. “And we’re going to be regular tourists, enjoying our resort and staying out of trouble. But, sorry, no rap festival in Playa. There are shows each night at the resort. Even a disco, in case you want to get your moves on.” Mike pretended to dance. Kat rolled her eyes.

  It was finally our turn. We approached the immigration officer. Mike handed him his paperwork and Kat’s. I slid mine over as the guy picked up Mike’s.

  Mike kept talking to Kat and me. “I’m just a regular tourist dad having a nice holiday with my kids,” he said. “I don’t want any drama.”

  The immigration guy at the booth was gesturing to someone behind us. Another guy came up. He was wearing a different uniform. One that came with a very big gun. He looked all business—and not good business. He took Mike’s passport from the guy in the booth.

  “Señor, you will have to come with me,” the other guy said.

  “Is there a problem?” Mike asked. Kat and I looked at each other.

  “Not if you come with me now.” The guy pointed at a side office. “Follow me, please. And bring your bag.”

  Mike turned to Kat and me. “You two finish up here. Then go get our suitcases. I’m sure this is nothing.” He walked away.

  So much for no drama.

  The guy in the booth gave us back our passports. “Have a good stay,” he said.

  I wasn’t so sure anymore.

  But Kat grabbed my hand and gave me a big smile.

  “We are going to have a great stay!” She leaned in and pulled me close. “We’re together, and we’re in paradise. It’s going to be awesome.”

  Then she gave me a kiss that almost made me forget all about drug cartels and danger.

  Almost.

  Chapter Three

  By the time Kat and I had grabbed our bags, Mike was back. I was about to ask him what theyʼd wanted. Then I saw his face.

  “I could really use a beer,” Mike said. “Let’s get out of here.”

  I looked at Kat. She shrugged.

  We walked through the rows of people selling time shares. Kat had warned me about them. They looked like travel agents and pretended to offer deals on trips. What they really wanted was to get you to listen to their sales pitch. I kept my eyes down and walked fast. Big glass doors led us into the sunshine.

  The warm air and bright sun hit me. A big change from the winter I’d left behind. I stopped to take it all in.

  Everything was lush and green. Trees in the parking lot were covered in flowers. They probably smelled amazing. I couldn’t tell because of the diesel wafting from the waiting buses and vans. People were swarming like ants. A small group stood off to the side. Each person held a sign with someone’s name on it.

  Kat saw me looking at them. “Those are private drivers. For the VIPs and rich people.”

  Mike led us over to two short guys with matching shirts and clipboards. He gave them our names.

  “These guys will take us to our resort. We’ll pick up our rental car at the hotel. Easier than getting one here,” Mike said. We climbed into a van while the driver loaded our bags.

  When he came back, he offered Mike a beer—a cerveza—from his little cooler on the floor of the front seat. Mike took a big gulp. “Ahh...that hits the spot!” he said. The driver laughed as he pulled away.

  As the van turned to leave the parking area, I spotted the guy in the red shirt again. I hadn’t seen him since I’d boarded the plane. He walked out the glass doors and headed straight toward one of the private drivers. I tried to see the name on the driver’s sign, but it was turned away from me. Red Shirt was followed by a couple of guys with baggage carts loaded to the top with big black bags. The bags were different shapes—not suitcases either. Red Shirt looked up as our van went by. We locked eyes again with another one of those intense stares. We kept staring at each other until our van rounded the corner.

  Red Shirt checked in when I did, back in Detroit. He didn’t have all those bags then. So where did he get them? And what’s inside?

  “In about twenty minutes we’ll be at our resort!” Kat’s voice distracted me from my overactive imagination. She was almost bouncing up and down on the seat beside me. “This highway pretty much runs from Cancun all the way south. We’ll know we’re getting close when we see signs for Puerto Morelos. It’s the closest town to our resort.” She turned her guidebook to show me. “It started as a little fishing village.”

  Mike chimed in. “It’s supposed to be safe to walk there from the resort. But right now I’d feel better if you didn’t go off on your own.”

  Kat was still reading the guidebook. “You can hire local tour guides in town to take you snorkeling on the reef. We are definitely doing that. The reef is the second-longest barrier reef in the world. It’s why tourists started coming to the Mayan area.”

  “We can get a ride out to the reef at the resort too, Kathleen.” Mike turned to me. “The resort has its own marina.”

  I had to laugh. “I go on vacation and still end up at a marina!” I said.

  “I’
d rather go from town with the local guides, Daddy. Prices are probably cheaper, and we want to check out the town anyway.” Kat turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Though I have to say marinas are pretty awesome. We wouldn’t have met if you didn’t have one.”

  “True.” I grinned.

  “We’re almost there,” Mike said, pointing as we passed a sign for Puerto Morelos. There was one for our resort right beside it.

  We turned off the highway. The resort had its own laneway. Both sides were lined with crazy twisty-rooted bush-type things sitting in water. Kat saw me looking.

  “Those are mangroves. Nature’s nursery for baby birds, fish—even alligators,” Kat explained. “The resort is eco-friendly. They had to get permission to build here. It’s a protected area.”

  The mangroves opened to a big fancy entrance with flags flying. We unloaded fast and went to check in. In minutes we were handed pretty drinks, room keys and plastic bracelets. Kat’s and mine were white. Mike’s was bright orange.

  “Don’t lose these bracelets,” the front-desk lady told us. “They prove you’re guests at the resort.” She called over the bellhop and gave him our room number.

  “And no booze,” Mike added. “Your bracelet shows you’re underage, so you won’t be served any alcohol. Some resorts don’t pay attention. But this one does.” His pulled us aside and lowered his voice. “I want you to promise me that you two will make smart choices. I know spring break is a thing, and you’re teens. But there’ve been some crazy news reports lately. Part of what we were talking about earlier. Stories of tourists drinking only a few drinks, then blacking out. People being drugged at resorts. Kids your age even.” He looked me in the eye, then Kat. “I’m serious. One young girl died.”

  “Well, thanks for that happy start to our vacation, Daddy,” Kat said. She turned to me. “This is what happens when your dad is FBI. You hear all the horrible stuff.” She cut Mike off as he started talking again. “Okay, okay. We promise we’ll be safe and danger free. Now no more doom and gloom.” She grabbed my hand. “Let’s go check out our suite.”