Aztec Gold

TWELVE

Crouch knew exactly what was at stake. Wasting no time he placed a fast call to Armand Argento, the Interpol agent.

“We have a major problem.” Crouch quickly outlined the situation, unaware of the hour where Argento was and knowing it would not be an issue. “We don’t know the name of the South African. But we do know he’s employing local muscle, one part highly mediocre and the other part highly skilled. That many men, someone’s gotta know something. Plus,” he described the tattoo and attached it to an e-mail. “On its way.”

Argento, speaking through an open line, said, “Got it, amico mio. Ah, but you owe me yet again. That is five is it not? Or six? No mind. What it is, is what it is. No?”

Crouch thought it best not to interrupt the man known as the Jabbering Venetian in full flow.

“So again we go off the book. You and your friends. You would not win so well without me, no?” Thankfully Argento always worked as he talked, which was one of the reasons he got an awful lot done. “But Caitlyn, you must help her, Michael. I feel guilty, mortified, even dirty to have sent her into the hands of the enemy.”

“It’s not your fault, Armand. If any it’s mine.”

Alicia stopped herself from chiming in. They could sort out the blame game later. Right now, both men needed to concentrate on what they were doing.

Argento renewed his flow. “So fair, so English. I felt sorry for her after what happened between her parents. The whole of MI6 found out — somehow, but we will say no more on that, eh? Shocking. Shocking.”

Crouch fielded a return call from the Mexican police. “Thank you,” he said after a minute, hanging up. “Armand, listen. The Mexicans know of this tattoo, but more importantly they know the scars that surround it.”

Alicia leaned forward, now seeing an array of tiny white scars surrounding the distinctive inking of a green dragon wrapped around the turret of a castle, spitting fire. “Knife wounds?”

“Something like that.” Crouch pointed at the screen. “Has to be self-inflicted. There’s too many and they’re too small for anything else to make sense.”

“Could be what gets him and his girl off,” Alicia proposed.

Healey turned to her. “Now that sounds sick.”

“Takes all sorts, kiddo.”

Crouch addressed Argento. “The man is locally known as Dragon Teeth. He’s some kind of ex-military enforcer, paid by the hour. Real name—”

“I have it.” Argento was fast. “Rodriguez. Major war dog. Visited all the worst places you can name and many you can’t. Commonly runs with a local gang they call the banda, which I believe is the Spanish word for gang. So, not very imaginative. But they are feared because of their skills. Their military background. It could be the group you are seeking, Michael.”

Crouch paused and called the Mexicans back. “Please run a check on a local gang, the banda. I realize it’s probably unusual, but we’re wondering if they have recently been contracted to anyone.”

Argento’s voice sprang from another phone. “When Caitlyn returns you tell her Armand helped. You tell her that or we will speak no more. And inform me. The moment you know.”

“I will.” Crouch thanked Argento and hung up. The room fell into silence as they waited for the Mexicans to call back. Alicia checked her guns again, not liking the old weaponry but knowing it was better suited to her proficient hands than most others. Thinking that way made her slip out to check Russo’s surveillance net, just to double-check they were safe, but the gnarled, watchful warrior was in full control.

When she returned Crouch was talking to the Mexicans. He covered the speaker, looking up at her. “The banda are working for an outside contractor. We’re just waiting for Intel updates.”

Alicia eyed Healey and Lex. “You ready?”

“Can’t wait.”

“Damn stupid question.”

Alicia could have matched the answers to the men with her eyes and ears covered.

Crouch pursed his lips, listening. “Is that it? That’s all you’ve got?”

Alicia swallowed. “Don’t leave me hanging, Crouchy. What the hell?”

The ex-soldier looked up. “The banda have a hideout. A place of business. Of course, like any gang’s HQ it’s extremely well known to all and sundry. The authorities can give us no confirmed sightings of gang members in the last two days but say there is activity inside the HQ right now.”

“Then let’s go get ‘em.” Alicia picked up her guns.