Marjorie Thelen - The Hieroglyphic Staircase

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said as she joined them.

“You look nice,” Dominic said, standing to greet her. “I hope you’re feeling better.”

“Yes, love, you look fabulous,” said Susanna.

“I took some time to freshen up. I had to catch my breath a bit after the conversation with the minister.”

The three looked at her in expectation.

“He asked me to be acting director of the Museum until they could get someone here from the capital. And I agreed.”

“This is a great honor,” said doña Carolita.

“Yes, Elena, dear,” said her mother. “But what about your work on the Hieroglyphic Staircase? And won’t you have to leave in August to go back to teach?”

“It’s just for a week. Things are in turmoil with the director gone. Someone has to ensure the doors open every day and keep the maintenance people on task. The research staff is at another site farther inland. Maybe someone from that group will return to help. I don’t know. I want to help, and this is a way to do it. I can do some of the computer work on the glyphs from my office, and maybe get the field workers to check things at the Staircase, that is, if they come back to work.”

Dominic said nothing. She wondered what was going on in his head. He was following the conversation but he didn’t look happy.

“I’m concerned for your safety,” he said at last.

That’s why he didn’t look happy.

Doña Carolita put a glass of chilled papaya juice before Elena and refreshed the other glasses. Elena toyed with the glass and studied Dominic. The gruesome death of the director concerned her, but she had never felt physically threatened by events. Not like the employees who didn’t show up to work.

“I don’t see any danger,” she said. “What do you think can happen?”

“I think we all agree that something sinister is going on out there. You may be in real danger if you take his place.”

Dominic held up his hand when Elena tried to interrupt.

“Hear me out. The murderer of the stranger you found is still at large, maybe tied to the director’s demise. My gut tells me there’s a pretty clever group of people behind all this. Stealing the hieroglyphs may be the tip of the iceberg. These people don’t stop at thievery, they kill. That’s what concerns me.”

“He’s right, Elena,” Susanna said. “You need to be careful. Maybe you should reconsider the job. This is too dangerous. I think you should come back home with me and take the rest of the summer off.”

Elena sipped the juice and thought about what they said. She hadn’t felt seriously threatened. The ghost she thought she saw spooked her more. Dominic’s concern touched her. But she still saw herself as a neutral bystander, not involved in whatever stakes were in this game. A week of fielding questions from reporters and keeping the Museum open so that things could get back to normal wouldn’t hurt. She couldn’t imagine leaving and spending the summer with her mother.

She made up her mind. “I’m not leaving. I’m taking the job. Dominic, I appreciate your concern, and I promise I’ll be careful. I’m not afraid, and I do want to help.”

Dominic said, “I understand about helping. I feel the same way with the clinic. But please be careful and don’t take unnecessary chances.”

“I promise,” she said. “Not to change the subject, but I’m hungry, is anyone else?”

“Not me, thank you,” said doña Carolita. “I go to care for my sick friend now.” She rose and started clearing empty glasses from the table.

“I’m game,” said Susanna. “Let’s go to my hotel and have a quiet dinner. Maybe the news people have given up.”

Dominic rose. “I’ll check and see.”

Elena’s mother put her hand over her daughter’s. “You will be careful, won’t you?” she said. “I’m always nervous when you do your field work, do you know that?”

Elena smiled and nodded. “It’s pretty obvious from the instructions and advice you load me down with every time I leave, although I’ve been on my own for years. You know, I am a grown woman.”

“I do? You are?” Susanna smiled her Loretta Young smile. “I guess I didn’t realize it. Or don’t want to face it. I’m sorry if I come across as overbearing at times, dear. You’re my only daughter, and I know you can handle your life quite capably without me. Still, I have to give advice, or I wouldn’t be a mother, would I?”

Elena laughed. “It wouldn’t be you without thousands of operating instructions and tips and advice and books to read and people to meet, food to eat, clothes to wear.”

Susanna laughed, too, and patted her daughter’s hand. “You know me so well. I should butt out, but I can’t. You seem so young and vulnerable to me.” She paused. “Dominic is a good man, and I’ve only known him for an afternoon. How long have you known him?”

“Three days.”

Susanna’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “So short a time. You seem comfortable with each other. Maybe something lasting is in the making for you two.”

“Dominic has become a pillar for me over these trying few days. But, please, no matchmaking. That’s not in the cards for this career lady.”

“All right, dear. Let’s see to dinner.”

They met Dominic in the living room, coming in from outside. “No one in sight, I’m happy to say. Maybe the news people have gone to dinner. Let’s drive to the hotel. This is going to be a real special evening, having dinner with not one but two beautiful women.”

Elena could see her mother melting over Dominic’s complimentary words. But she didn’t need any more complications.

Susanna retired soon after dinner, but Dominic and Elena lingered over coffee. They were seated in an alcove of the dining room located on the second floor of the hotel overlooking the pool area. Underwater lighting in the pool below accentuated the soft blue of it and made dim outlines of tables with umbrellas scattered to one side of the pool area. A Jacuzzi with splashing waterfall added a tropical note to the setting.

“Elena, promise me you’ll be careful with this new assignment. I hate to keep after you about your safety, but I’m really concerned. You don’t think you might be a target, but by being involved in all three, the thefts, the murder, the suicide, makes you vulnerable. I’d hate to see anything happen to you.”

She smiled. “Me, too. I promise. I’ll report for duty tomorrow morning and see what happens. I don’t think I’ll have much of a staff. Maybe I’ll be cleaning floors. Who knows? I’m sure it won’t be long before the minister has someone else in place.”

“I hope so,” he said, but somehow he still wasn’t convinced. “Miguel and Gordo still missing worries me. I hope the people behind this aren’t looking for them.”

“Me either. Should we send out a search party?”

Dominic half smiled. “That might not be a bad idea. I’m going to talk to some of the townspeople and see if someone can check on the bridge more often, put some kind of word out that I need to see the boys.”

“Good idea,” she said. “I can ask around at the Museum. Diego in the gift shop is good at keeping up on gossip. I’ll ask him.”

“Good. Now we should go,” he said. “You’ve a big day tomorrow.”

But she didn’t move to get up. She seemed as reluctant as he to leave the intimacy of their quiet interlude together. Before he could act on his suggestion, from the corner of his eye he caught someone approaching.

“My, what a cozy setting we have here. You two seem to be enjoying each other’s company.”

“Hello, Felicia,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. “How are you?”