Clive Cussler - Inca Gold

Matos tilted his head and shrugged. "I was about to say nothing of the sort."

"I'd say your superiors have turned a blind eye to a deep conspiracy," said Sandecker.

"There is no conspiracy, Admiral. I'll take an oath on

"What you're broadcasting," said Gaskill, leaning across the table, "is that officials of the Sonoran State government have struck a deal with the Zolars to keep the Peruvian treasure."

Matos lifted a hand. "The Peruvians have no legal claim. All artifacts found on Mexican soil belong to our people--"

"They belong to the people of Peru," Shannon interrupted, her face flushed with anger. "If your government had any sense of decency, they would invite the Peruvians to at least share in it."

"Affairs between nations do not work that way, Dr. Kelsey," replied Matos.

"How would you like it if Montezuma's lost golden treasure turned up in the Andes?"

"I'm not in a position to judge outlandish events," Matos answered imperviously. "Besides, rumors of the treasure are greatly exaggerated. Its true value is really of little consequence."

Shannon looked flabbergasted. "What are you saying? I saw Huascar's treasure with my own eyes. If anything, it's far more substantial than anyone thought. I put its potential value at just under a billion dollars."

"The Zolars are respected dealers who have a worldwide reputation for accurately appraising art and antiquities. Their evaluation of the treasure does not exceed thirty million."

"Mister," Shannon snapped in cold fury, "I'll match my credentials against theirs any day of the week in appraising artifacts of ancient Peruvian cultures. I'll put it to you in plain language. The Zolars are full of crap."

"Your word against theirs," Matos said calmly.

"For a small treasure trove," said Ragsdale, "they appear to be mounting a massive recovery effort."

"Five or ten laborers to carry the gold out of the cavern. No more."

"Would you like to see reconnaissance satellite photos that show the top of Cerro el Capirote looking like an anthill with an army of men and helicopters crawling all over it?"

Matos sat silently, as if he hadn't heard a word.

"And the Zolars' payoff?" asked Starger. "Are you allowing them to remove artifacts from the country?"

"Their efforts on behalf of the people of Sonora will not go unappreciated. They will be compensated."

It was an obvious fish story and nobody in the room bought it.

Admiral Sandecker was the highest American official in the room. He stared at Matos and gave him a disarming smile. "I will be meeting with our nation's President tomorrow morning. At that time I will brief him on the alarming events occurring in our neighbor to the south, and inform him that your law enforcement officials are dragging their feet on the investigation and throwing up a smoke screen on the kidnapping of our high-level representatives. I need not remind you, Senor Matos, the free trade agreement is coming up for review by Congress. When our representatives are informed of your callous treatment of one of their colleagues, and how you cooperate with criminals dealing in stolen and smuggled art, they may find it difficult to continue our mutual trade relations. In short, senor, your President wild have a major scandal on his hands."

Matos's eyes behind the glasses were suddenly stricken. "There is no need for so strong a response over a minor disagreement between our two countries."

Pitt noticed thin beads of perspiration on the Mexican official's head. He turned to his boss from NUMA. "I'm hardly an expert on executive politics, Admiral, but what do you want to bet the President of Mexico and his cabinet have not been informed of the true situation?"

"I suspect you'd win," said Sandecker. "That would explain why we're not talking to a major player."

The color had drained from Matos's face, and he looked positively sick. "You misunderstand, my nation stands ready to cooperate in every way possible."

"You tell your superiors in the National Affairs Department," said Pitt, "or whoever you really work for, that they aren't as smart as they thought."

"The meeting is over," said Starger. "We'll consider our options and inform your government of our actions this time tomorrow."

Matos tried to retrieve a shred of dignity. He stared balefully and when he spoke his voice was quieter. "I must warn you of any attempt to send your Special Forces into Mexico--"

Sandecker cut him off. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to send Congresswoman Smith and my deputy director, Rudi Gunn, over the border crossing between Mexicali and Calexico unharmed. One minute later and a lot of people will get hurt."

"You do not have the authority to make threats."

"Once I tell my President your security forces are torturing Smith and Gunn for state secrets, there is no telling how he will react."

Matos looked horrified. "But that is a total lie, an absurd fabrication."

Sandecker smiled icily. "See, I know how to invent situations too."

"I give you my word

"That will be all, Senor Matos," said Starger. "Please keep my office apprised of any further incidents."

When the Mexican official left the conference room, he looked like a man who had stood by and watched as his wife ran off with the plumber and his dog was run over by a milk truck. As soon as he was gone, Ragsdale, who had sat back and quietly absorbed the conversation, turned to Gaskill.

"Well, if nothing else, they don't know we knocked over their illegal storage facility."

"Let's hope they remain in the dark for another two days."

"Did you take an inventory of the stolen goods?" asked Pitt.

"The quantity was so great, it will take weeks to thoroughly itemize every object."

"Do you recall seeing any Southwestern Indian religious idols, carved from cottonwood?"

Gaskill shook his head. "No, nothing like that."

"Please let me know if you do. I have an Indian friend who would like them back."

Ragsdale nodded at Sandecker. "How do you read the situation, Admiral?" he asked.

"The Zolars have promised the moon," Sandecker said. "I'm beginning to believe that if they were arrested, half the citizenry of the state of Sonora would rise up and break them out of jail."

"They'll never allow Loren and Rudi to go free and talk," said Pitt.

"I hate to be the one to mention it," Ragsdale said quietly, "but they could already be dead."

Pitt shook his head. "I won't let myself believe that."

Sandecker rose and began working off his frustration by pacing the floor. "Even if the President approves a clandestine entry, our special response team has no intelligence to guide them to the location where Loren and Rudi are held captive."

"I have an idea the Zolars are holding them on the mountain," said Giordino.

Starger nodded in agreement. "You might be right. The hacienda they used as a headquarters to conduct the treasure search appears deserted."

Ragsdale sighed. "If Smith and Gunn are still alive, I fear it won't be for long."

"We can do nothing but look helplessly through the fence," said Starger in frustration.

Ragsdale stared out the window across the border. "The FBI can't launch a raid onto Mexican soil."

"Nor Customs," said Gaskill.

Pitt looked at the federal agents for a moment. Then he addressed himself directly to Sandecker. "They can't, but NUMA can."

They all looked at him, uncomprehending.

"We can what?" asked Sandecker.

"Go into Mexico and rescue Loren and Rudi without creating an international incident."

"Sure you will." Gaskill laughed. "Getting across the border is no trick, but the Zolars have the Sonoran police and military on their side. Satellite photos show heavy security on top and around the base of Cerro el Capirote. You couldn't get within ten kilometers without getting shot."