Aztec Gold

TWENTY NINE

Crouch spurred the team through the darkness, their way lit only by the barren moon. Caitlyn tracked the choppers even as they thundered overhead. Crouch burrowed through his pack for his satphone, then contacted his best hope.

“Armand? We’ve been fucked, my friend.”

“Ah. If I had a silver dollar for every time I hear that… ”

“Who do you have in Vegas?”

A pause and then, “It is all good. I have one or two assets as does almost everyone. It all depends on what you want them to do, eh? Tour guide? Traffic cop? Dancer? What do you want with them?”

“I don’t want a party planner. I want… ” he paused. What did he want? Even at this stage he wouldn’t risk an innocent’s life.

“I need a spotter,” he said. “We can track a chopper from this end but when it lands I need somebody to follow it and whatever emerges.”

“I have a girl who is not Interpol. Is that good? I have her available at a moment’s notice but where do you want her to go? Last time I checked, amico mio, Las Vegas was a big place.”

“Truly, I have no idea, Armand. This is a last gasp scenario, but everything depends on this girl and you.”

“Ah, another time honored phrase that I love. And ‘off book’, that is another of my favorites. The Americans won’t be pleased if they ever hear of my involvement, Michael.”

“They won’t hear it from me. And besides, it is somebody in America that is trying to destroy everything we have worked for.”

“Well then, in that case… leave it with me. Do you have battery enough to keep this line open?”

Crouch checked. “I’ll ring you back in five. Oh, and try to find me a man in authority to help secure the rest of our treasure.”

“Hmm. Make it ten.”

Crouch urged them on, Paria Canyon showing them its multitude of colors even in the gloom, at length becoming the marvel known by the Aztecs as wave rocks. Beyond the canyon and time felt like it was speeding by, propelled by a desert storm. Alicia caught up with them but didn’t feel like talking. Her own urgency spurred them to even greater speed.

Crouch shouted up as they ran for the cars. “We have Armand’s asset ready to go in Vegas. She’s stationed herself behind the Strip, pretty central I imagine. As soon as you get a fix, Caitlyn, let her know.” He passed her the phone.

Caitlyn’s face was scrunched with the heavy responsibility of it all, her gaze never once lifting from the tablet screen she held rigidly in front of her. Crouch gunned his vehicle out of the parking lot and headed up the track toward a highway; this time nobody complained about the cramped conditions. As they sped, the landscape flashed past, the vault of the night now just another hindrance to their quest.

Caitlyn kept them apprised. “Still on the same heading. Straight for Vegas.”

“How far out are we?” Healey asked.

“Too bloody far,” Crouch complained, coaxing the vehicle to even greater speeds.

As the miles passed and the tension grew, Caitlyn watched the chopper inch ever nearer Las Vegas. Their asset — a woman called Kate Stanton — promised she was ready to go, her M V Augusta warmed up and her body encased in black leathers.

Lex immediately perked up. “Damn. She’s hot.”

Alicia opened her mouth to rebuke him, then thought about what had been said. “Actually yeah, she’s hot. When do we meet?”

The critical time soon approached. Coker’s chopper winged its way over the mountains that surrounded the desert city, dropping fast. Caitlyn took a chance and told Kate Stanton to head immediately east. She reported that she was leaving South Valley View Boulevard and heading up West Flamingo to East Flamingo. Her progress was fast, too fast, as both she and the chopper passed like speeding wraiths in the night, one hurtling through the air and one racing across the ground, prompting Caitlyn’s screech of warning.

“Go back!”

Kate’s voice was muffled. “Back where?”

“The way you came. The chopper’s starting to slow. It’s really close to the Strip.”

“I can’t use the Strip. Too much traffic and too many idiots. Find me a clearer route.”

“All right.” Caitlyn surveyed the helicopter’s wind speed and position even as Crouch found a long stretch of open road and stamped on the gas pedal.

“Use Koval to Sands Avenue. Is that okay?”

“It’ll do.” Kate grunted. The sound of her revving the bike’s powerful engine could be heard by everybody in the car. Lex’s face was split into a permanent grin.

Speed dominated the moment. Three vehicles vied for the right to win, to take home the spoils of victory. Caitlyn reported on the helicopter’s flight, almost squealing as it slowed and began to lose altitude. Kate’s dulcet tones filled the car.

“Give it to me, honey. I can’t follow those squeals to a destination.”

Healey, leaning over Caitlyn’s shoulder shouted directions. “It’s the Venetian. D’you see? Treasure Island opposite, LAVO’s nightclub there.” He jabbed at the screen. “My best guess is they’re landing at a helipad, one reserved for guests.”

Crouch swore. “Blood money wins again.”

“They haven’t won yet,” Alicia growled, seeing the road dip ahead and a great bowl filled with glittering golden light appear. The city of Las Vegas, a flaming bastion against the dark.

“Somebody will notice all those soldiers climbing out, surely,” Lex put in.

“My guess is, they changed clothes,” Crouch said without even a hint of sarcasm. “Healey, tell her where the helipad is. Fast. Even narrowing it down to the Venetian means it’s still a bloody huge search area.”

“Around the back,” he said. “The altimeter says they’re landing at ground level, so it’s not a roof. Is there a road that leads off Koval?”

“On it.” Kate revved the Augusta, the result a melody of pure power and exquisite engineering.

“Look to your right. The chopper’s down but only just.”

“I’m seeing nothing. Shit! Nearly took out a goddamn tourist couple wandering across the road. Wait! I have them.”

Silence filled the interior. Crouch jammed his foot hard to the floor. The car twitched in protest. “We’re twenty minutes out,” he said hopefully. “If I can find a way to navigate the worst of the traffic. Make that forty.”

“I can help,” Kate whispered back, no longer astride her bike. “I’m standing on the seat, watching over a wall. They don’t seem in a hurry. Nobody has surfaced yet. Oh wait, a Venetian security team is approaching them. Now, stay on 95 until you reach Tropicana. Head down there but don’t go all the way. Turn at South Maryland, don’t let McLeod tempt you — there’s a mess of roadworks up there.”

As Crouch followed Kate’s directions, the rest of the team prepared. Ammo was low, they had a back-up stash in the car and reached for that now. Alicia took a moment to speak.

“Coker and his men are the targets, guys, but be careful. The very people we’re sworn to protect will quite probably get in our way out there. Don’t hurt them. The damage to your soul and theirs, as well as their families just ain’t worth it.”

Kate’s voice interrupted. “All right. Men dressed in jeans and t-shirts are climbing out. They’re all carrying backpacks, except for one man who’s pulling one of those suitcases on wheels. A big one. Sucker looks heavy too. He’s a big guy… and he’s puffing like a steam train. Identical. Strapping on and seem to be waiting for someone. Oh, hang on, here’s a dude now, kind of stressed looking, waving his arms and barking orders. Yup, they’re heading out.”

“Where to?” Crouch swung into South Maryland. “We need to know where they’re going.”

“Damn, this is gonna cost you extra,” Kate murmured with a slight grunt.

“What are you doing?”

“Climbing over the friggin’ wall. What do you expect?”

Alicia nodded in appreciation. Argento sure knew how to pick his assets.

“Don’t get caught,” Lex said encouragingly.

“Thanks dude. I really needed that.”

Minutes passed. Crouch, following Kate’s earlier directions, cut down East Twain to Sands. As the rear of the enormous Venetian hotel and casino started to dominate the windshield he found a parking space and stopped.

“We ready?”

Sporting all the accepted tourist paraphernalia; light back packs concealed in huge shopping bags they’d bought days ago, shoulder bags to conceal small weapons, thin jackets to hide bulletproof vests, and with earbud communications planted, hidden trackers activated, and even disposable cameras with CCTV fitted.

Kate talked them in. As they hurried through the enormous, lavish lobby she reported her observations of the last twenty minutes.

“I caught up with them just as the last was heading into an elevator. Managed to confirm they’re on one of the top floors. Beyond that I honestly can’t say. I’ve been scoping out the same set of elevators ever since but nobody has come down.”

Alicia approved and said so. Coker’s men were unlikely to use a different set of elevators on their downward trip. “You’ll have to direct us in. This place is huge.”

Kate guided them through the windowless maze. Even now, the team found it hard not to be taken in by their surroundings. The spectacle was mesmerizing. Crouch walked as fast as he dared whilst not drawing attention. He was quite aware of the security stats of this place — at least two thousand cameras, sixty surveillance screens watched over by dozens of guards in a small fifteen feet by thirty feet room; about five hundred VCRs recording even the tiniest action. Eyes were in the ceiling, the walls, the lights. Crouch even fancied they might be in the floor.

Kate was hard to miss. She sat in a relaxed pose, scooping ice cream from a small Haagen-Dazs tub, a floor plan of the casino laid out beside her and a half-eaten burger on a plate from I Love Burgers by her side. Alicia saw the bank of elevators immediately, just visible if Kate leaned to her left.

Crouch sat without introduction. “Great job.”

Lex squeezed in beside her and grabbed the burger, taking a bite. “Hey, you don’t mind do you?” The biker was already smitten.

“Not at all, dude. Wasn’t mine. I was using it as cover.”

Lex choked. Alicia frowned at him. “Don’t you dare bring that back up, Lex. We’re trying to stay under the radar.”

Kate leaned back in her comfy chair. Alicia saw a raven-haired woman with locks tied back, slight creases in her face where the helmet fitted snugly and a fit body encased in leather. Her demeanor told the world that she was at her ease but her eyes betrayed a little worry at the sight of all the new arrivals.

“Biggest crew I ever saw,” Kate commented. “Except for the one I followed to those elevators.”

Alicia shrugged. “They were even larger before we went water rafting and mountain climbing with ‘em.”

“Either way I’d rather not get in the middle of your playdates.”

“Fair enough,” Crouch said. “We can take it from here.” He eyed the elevators as they swooshed open. “Thanks for the great help, Kate.”

“Well, next time I put in a cameo appearance I’d like cash up front.” A slight twinkle lit her eyes as she stared transfixed at Alicia.

The Englishwoman returned a sparkle of her own. “Well, we could always offer Lex here as a down payment.”

“Ugh. Bikers just don’t do it for me. But still, call on me whenever you’re in town.”

“Be sure to.” Alicia showed her teeth.

As Kate moved away, Lex raised his hands in anger. “What the hell were you doing, Alicia? She was just my type!”

Alicia pouted. “But you weren’t hers. Me however… ”

Lex stared. “Jesus, that doesn’t make her less appealing, you know.”

“I know.”

Crouch hissed to draw their attention. “We only just made it, guys. Our thieves are exiting the elevator right now, and they have our treasure on their bloody backs.”