the man if any new artifacts were discovered. He told Patrick that if the information led him to valuable artifacts, Patrick would be richly rewarded.
Patrick was well aware that there was a huge black market for Maya artifacts in Mexico and Central America, and this hombre looked and sounded like he was from that region. The man would not reveal his name, but he gave Patrick $100 and a card containing a phone number. Patrick took the card and the money, thanked the man and left. “Freaking bandito,” Patrick thought as he walked away.
Now it was time to cash in. Patrick left the campus around 7:00 p.m. and drove south into rural Albemarle County. He wound his way down the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, and then turned onto a curvy country road that led to a secluded bluff overlooking the Rivanna River. Patrick parked his car and approached the meeting point with trepidation. He saw that Señor Bandito was already there, holding a brief case. My money!
Patrick told the man everything he knew about the find. He gave the location of the dig and explained that this particular Maya artifact had to be a significant discovery since the best archaeologist from UVA had been invited to examine the relic.
“Tell me, Mr. Jones,” Delgado said while over-exaggerating his Spanish accent, “tell me about this archaeologist of whom you speak?”
“Her name is Ixchel Cobán,” Patrick replied. “She’s a Guatemalan of Maya descent, and because of that she has brainwashed the entire faculty into believing that she is some kind of archaeology genius. She’s the first person they consult whenever an unusual artifact is discovered. Personally, I think she’s a big ol ’ lesbian.”
“This is very interesting, Mr. Jones,” Delgado said. “I appreciate the work you have done for me.” Delgado extended his arm and held the briefcase in front of Patrick. “This is for you,” he said.
Patrick smiled. Mine all mine! As he reached for the briefcase, he saw a shadow move on the ground before him. That was the last thing he ever saw. Agent Dolan, who had sneaked up behind Patrick as he talked to Delgado, had a good follow-through as he crashed his billy club across the back of Patrick’s skull. Patrick’s body became slack and hit the ground with a thud.
Delgado looked at the crumpled body at his feet and smiled. He looked up at his friend and said, “Toss him in. Be sure you put lots of his blood on one of the rocks down there.”
As Dolan grabbed Patrick’s ankles and dragged his unconscious body down to the riverbank, Delgado said aloud, “I’m sure the president will be thrilled when I tell him about this artifact.”
Chapter 28
Late the next morning Ixchel and Daniel headed out to the airport. It was a two-hour haul to Dulles International from Charlottesville, but Ixchel didn’t mind since it gave her plenty of alone time sitting close to Daniel in the back seat of the airport shuttle. When they first entered the vehicle, she noticed that Daniel seemed to be deep in thought. Once they were on the highway, she turned to him and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“I have known Professor Jameson for a long time,” he replied. “I get a sense that he is somehow agitated by the discovery of this artifact. I can’t explain it. The more I think about the webcam conversation we had, the more I realize he seemed nervous or something.”
“What do you think could be bothering him?” asked Ixchel.
“I don’t know. He’s normally a down-to-earth guy, but I know he doesn’t write off ancient Maya legends as mere myths. And I think he believes that there is a spiritual connection between the ancient world and the present world. He’s been studying archaeology for years and has been on dozens of digs. He lives and breathes Maya culture and history.” Daniel paused then said, “Something about this artifact has spooked him.” Ixchel took Daniel’s hand and squeezed it tightly, and for the rest of
Patrick was well aware that there was a huge black market for Maya artifacts in Mexico and Central America, and this hombre looked and sounded like he was from that region. The man would not reveal his name, but he gave Patrick $100 and a card containing a phone number. Patrick took the card and the money, thanked the man and left. “Freaking bandito,” Patrick thought as he walked away.
Now it was time to cash in. Patrick left the campus around 7:00 p.m. and drove south into rural Albemarle County. He wound his way down the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, and then turned onto a curvy country road that led to a secluded bluff overlooking the Rivanna River. Patrick parked his car and approached the meeting point with trepidation. He saw that Señor Bandito was already there, holding a brief case. My money!
Patrick told the man everything he knew about the find. He gave the location of the dig and explained that this particular Maya artifact had to be a significant discovery since the best archaeologist from UVA had been invited to examine the relic.
“Tell me, Mr. Jones,” Delgado said while over-exaggerating his Spanish accent, “tell me about this archaeologist of whom you speak?”
“Her name is Ixchel Cobán,” Patrick replied. “She’s a Guatemalan of Maya descent, and because of that she has brainwashed the entire faculty into believing that she is some kind of archaeology genius. She’s the first person they consult whenever an unusual artifact is discovered. Personally, I think she’s a big ol ’ lesbian.”
“This is very interesting, Mr. Jones,” Delgado said. “I appreciate the work you have done for me.” Delgado extended his arm and held the briefcase in front of Patrick. “This is for you,” he said.
Patrick smiled. Mine all mine! As he reached for the briefcase, he saw a shadow move on the ground before him. That was the last thing he ever saw. Agent Dolan, who had sneaked up behind Patrick as he talked to Delgado, had a good follow-through as he crashed his billy club across the back of Patrick’s skull. Patrick’s body became slack and hit the ground with a thud.
Delgado looked at the crumpled body at his feet and smiled. He looked up at his friend and said, “Toss him in. Be sure you put lots of his blood on one of the rocks down there.”
As Dolan grabbed Patrick’s ankles and dragged his unconscious body down to the riverbank, Delgado said aloud, “I’m sure the president will be thrilled when I tell him about this artifact.”
Chapter 28
Late the next morning Ixchel and Daniel headed out to the airport. It was a two-hour haul to Dulles International from Charlottesville, but Ixchel didn’t mind since it gave her plenty of alone time sitting close to Daniel in the back seat of the airport shuttle. When they first entered the vehicle, she noticed that Daniel seemed to be deep in thought. Once they were on the highway, she turned to him and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“I have known Professor Jameson for a long time,” he replied. “I get a sense that he is somehow agitated by the discovery of this artifact. I can’t explain it. The more I think about the webcam conversation we had, the more I realize he seemed nervous or something.”
“What do you think could be bothering him?” asked Ixchel.
“I don’t know. He’s normally a down-to-earth guy, but I know he doesn’t write off ancient Maya legends as mere myths. And I think he believes that there is a spiritual connection between the ancient world and the present world. He’s been studying archaeology for years and has been on dozens of digs. He lives and breathes Maya culture and history.” Daniel paused then said, “Something about this artifact has spooked him.” Ixchel took Daniel’s hand and squeezed it tightly, and for the rest of
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