Aztec Gold

SIX

Once they were safely ensconced, Crouch started putting his connection machine into gear. Through Interpol he acquired a new associate in Texas that had a good friend in the Mexican police. So far it was easy for him, friends helping friends, working on goodwill. The Mexican policeman knew various unsavory sorts and agreed to send out several feelers to identify the team Coker had been working with. The understanding from Alicia was that at least some of them had to be local.

Alicia took a shower, then returned to the main room. Their accommodation was spacious and clean and by the time she’d tuned back into Crouch’s cajoling phone conversations she understood he was close to securing a new member of their team.

“She’s English too? She sounds perfect, Armand. An ex-MI6 operative would work for us and I trust your judgment. Put her in touch directly if you would, and thanks for reaching out.”

Alicia stalked over. “Thank God she’s a woman, but ex-MI6?”

Crouch shrugged. “Wouldn’t do to poach their serving staff now, would it?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I realize that and you’ll have to trust Armand and me. Now, whilst we’re waiting for the Mexicans, I’ll have to get hold of Rolland and rustle up some clever technology.”

Alicia drifted away. If a young MI6 operative no longer worked for MI6 but was still available for intelligence work then it usually meant they’d burned out or hit an insurmountable personal problem. Either way they were damaged.

But then aren’t we all? Alicia shrugged it off, padding over to the window.

“So what’s the plan?” Russo asked of her, somewhat challengingly. In reality, he had to know it would all depend on the worth of what the Mexicans came back with.

Alicia kept her eyes on the view outside. “Gold’s still out there, Russo. Goons or not. If we have to, we’ll go straight through ‘em.”

“Isn’t that always your style?”

“Yeah. I don’t fuck around. That’s for pussies. Are you a pussy, Russo?” Now she turned, throwing down the gauntlet.

The big man rose to his feet, simply because this wasn’t a moment to be the only one sitting down. “I’m a team player, Myles, and if I have to I’ll lay it all on the line for my men.”

Alicia nodded. “Then quit yer whining and buckle up. This ride’s gonna get a hell of a lot bumpier before we reach the end. I’m guessing the guy pulling Coker’s strings ain’t just offering us a guided tour.”

Russo turned reflective. “Yeah, I wonder what’s going on with Coker, and how the hell they found us.”

At that moment Crouch put the phone down from Rolland Sadler. “All right. We have computer tech and surveillance equipment en route. Some if it mobile, tweeters and comms and such, most of it fixed for hard-wiring, so now we’ll need to scout a secure HQ set-up wherever we go.”

“If that means mobile transport,” Lex spoke up. “I can drive anything with wheels. And most things without.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.”

Alicia took the quiet time to carefully assess her new team. Settling in took time, she understood that, but already several concerns were playing ping-pong in her head. Crouch himself was highly skilled but, lost in the excitement of living his dream, appeared not to have thought all the logistics through. If he’d missed one angle maybe he’d missed another. She didn’t want to be ass-up in a gunfight when she found out. Moving on, Russo was belligerent and Healey was green, but the action they’d just shared had proven that both were dependable and possessed potential. Lex, her own little addition, hadn’t stepped up yet but Alicia knew it was within him to do so. Despite what she said, if she hadn’t already seen a latent ability within him she’d have cut loose back in DC. Crouch’s benefactor, Sadler, was an unknown quantity, and Alicia didn’t like to judge a man she’d never met. Hopefully, the guy was in it for all the good reasons.

As her mind wandered Crouch turned toward his laptop screen. A new message had flashed up, catching his attention. As he reached out to open it Alicia moved closer. The message read: Contact made with locals. Have asked them to have leader call you.

Crouch raised an eyebrow and turned toward Alicia. “Fast work.”

“I don’t doubt that the Mexican authorities have their contacts.”

“Down here, the currency is money, drugs and people. My concern is how much of that currency exchanged hands to facilitate this phone call.”

Alicia grimaced. “Maybe it’s best not to think too hard on that one.”

“Yeah, that’s what the cops say.”

Before Alicia could respond, Crouch’s cell rang. He held the screen up. The word Unknown flashed in red letters. Alicia stepped back.

“Crouch here.” The ex-Ninth Division boss hit the speaker button.

“Michael,” a deep, self-assured tone drawled. “Didn’t hurt your head back there, I hope? I noticed you stayed clear of the action.”

Crouch wasn’t one to be bated into an argument. “What’s going on, Coker? What do you want with us?”

“If you hadn’t run away so fast you would know by now.”

Crouch looked genuinely puzzled. “Greg.” He said. “Last time I checked we were friends. Rivals, yes, but gracious ones. What changed?”

Crouch covered the speaker and, looking to Alicia, mouthed, “I used to like this guy.”

A silence stretched on the other end. When he ended it, Coker did so with resignation in his voice. “Needs must, Michael. Needs must. I’m in a jam. Lately, the world has worked in ways not often to my liking.”

Crouch hesitated. “It does and always has. It always will. That doesn’t mean burning bridges.”

“Ah, is that what I’m doing? Well, I highlight an earlier comment. Needs must.”

Crouch knitted his eyebrows in thought. Was Coker trying to tell him something? He tried a different tack. “What are you looking for?”

“Oh, gold. Treasure. Tombs. The usual. I’d say Quetzalcoatl, but hasn’t he been found already?”

“Then why attack us?” To Crouch, the attack meant only one thing. It was a sign that Greg Coker was being cruelly controlled by someone. An operative like Coker would never ordinarily draw attention to himself unless the opportunity was textbook or desperate. The museum debacle had been neither and it had been senseless, especially if, as Crouch suspected, Coker was attempting to fly along on their shirttails in the hope of pipping them at the post when the treasure was located.

Coker again took his time to formulate an answer. “It’s complicated, I’m afraid. Very fucking complicated. But look, please carry on. I’ve no doubt our paths will cross again soon.”

Crouch held the cell tighter. “I can help you, Greg. Look, my friend, this is not you. I get that. But you have to—”

“Goodbye, Michael.” Coker’s long-suffering tones rang out. “Goodbye, and good luck.”

Crouch swore as the connection ended. Alicia turned as, immediately, the laptop pinged again and a new message opened up.

All the locals we have reached out to suggest your man is not the crew’s true leader. He is a field captain, no more. Locals suggest true leader is very bad news, some kind of criminal kingpin. I’d say back away from this one while you still can.

Crouch sat down hard. If nothing else, Coker was clearly in trouble and despite the guy’s inept attempt at hurting them, needed help.

“What could make a man like Coker work for a criminal kingpin?” Healey wondered.

“That,” Crouch said, “is the loaded question. Along with why would a crime boss be interested in a five-hundred-year-old treasure? And how the hell did he find out about it?”

“Information’s everywhere.” Lex spoke in a challenging tone. “Anyone could find out.”

“Agreed,” Crouch said. “But not like this. Not at the exact same time that we arrive.”

“I know one man that knows,” Alicia said with a slight smile. “Coker. When we see him again we’ll ask him.” She made a wringing motion with her hands. “Hard.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Crouch said. “Coker is, or was, a good man. Clumsy, but likeable. I’ve never had a problem with him, despite consistently having to feed him false information to stop him following my every move. I’ve had my fill of violence, Alicia.” He held her gaze. “Haven’t you?”

Alicia shrugged. “Hey, I never start it. Usually though, I do finish it, and often with a smile on my face.”

Russo spoke up from his position near the window. “So what’s the plan, boss?”

“Time to start the real treasure hunt.” Crouch couldn’t keep the smile from lighting his face. “Time to seek out the Nahua.”