Quest

Chapter 14

Tam sat in the shade of an umbrella in an outdoor café in Cuiabá, the capital city of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Under different circumstances, she would have found it a delightful place to visit. The city was tourist-friendly, and boasted a rich local culture of music, dance, and cuisine all reflecting African, native American, and Portuguese influences. At the moment, though, she was focused on the job at hand, and anxious to get started.

Her sat phone rang and she answered immediately. It was Salvatore.

“How are things?”

“We’re ready. I’ve got three guides lined up. Just say the word and we’re off.”

“I am pleased to hear it. I knew I made the proper decision in sending you. You shall begin very soon. It also seems that Kennedy was successful in his efforts to find the sunken ship.” Salvatore did not try to keep the satisfaction from his voice.

“That’s wonderful.” She wasn’t sure how wonderful it actually was. On the one hand, she didn’t like Kennedy and never cared to see him succeed. On the other hand, if he found something that helped her complete her part of the mission, good on him. “What did he find?”

“A map carved in stone. After all this time in sea water, the images were faint. Our people were, of course, able to make laser scans of the carvings and create enhanced digital images. We are now cross-referencing it with existing maps of the Amazon region. It appears, however, that the map has no particular scale, and little is known about the region into which you shall be traveling. They tell me that, assuming Fawcett followed this map, it appears that what the world knows about his final expedition is wrong.”

“Interesting, but not surprising. That certainly would make it difficult for anyone to have followed his trail, much less find him.”

“Indeed. I shall send whatever they come up with along to you as soon as it is ready.”

Tam’s heart beat faster. It was really happening. Don’t blow it, she told herself. This was her first assignment and she could not afford to fall out of Scano’s good graces by blowing it. She had worked too hard to get where she was in the organization, and it would be a serious blow indeed if she slipped up. “Very good. When can I expect it?”

“Soon. But you be patient. I’m sending a few…disposable items your way.”

“Sir?” She did not like the sound of this one bit.

“Thomas Thornton’s colleague, the one whom we questioned about Thornton’s only clue, has proved useless. The Charleston Police Department has been investigating his disappearance. We could go to the trouble of doing away with him and making it look like a crime, but it would be much cleaner if you would simply lose him in the Amazon. Besides, there is still a possibility he knows something useful, though I doubt it. Assess him, and eliminate him when you deem he is of no use. It should not be a problem.”

“No sir, it will not.” Tam felt a weight in her stomach. Damn! Another loose end to tie up. “You said ‘items,’ as in more than one.” Not Alex, she prayed. Don’t send me your snotty, psychopath son. That was one distraction she could live without.

“Yes. Cyrus and Jason have outlived their usefulness as well.” Tam had to remind herself that he was referring to Cy and Jay. “They seemed to think it a good idea to exhume Shackleton’s remains. Getting them off South Georgia Island and covering their tracks was a close thing. I cannot afford to have men with so little sense in my employ. Kennedy will arrive tomorrow with all three expendables. He knows your orders, but I fear he might grow sentimental about Jason, in particular. See to it that the job is done.”

“Kennedy’s coming here?” Her stomach was in a twist. Kennedy posed a problem of an entirely different sort.

“You need not worry. He understands that the command is yours. He’s a good soldier and he’ll follow orders.” She doubted that. “Kennedy is one of our best.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept her silence. A quiet ensued, enduring for so long that she wondered if the connection had been lost. Finally, Salvatore continued. “Our investors have grown anxious for Project Pan to get underway. They are growing impatient. We do not need them to take a direct hand.”

Tam’s heart raced. “You’ve never told me who our investors are, Mr. Scano.”

“Nor will I.” His voice was sharp with implied rebuke.

“Forgive me. I only wonder what I might come up against should they decide to get involved.”

“You need not worry about it.” Salvatore’s voice had regained the fatherly, reassuring tone he often took when talking to her about a difficult situation. You and Kennedy have a head start, and you are well-equipped. Finish the job, and finish it soon, and we won’t have to concern ourselves with anyone else.”

“Yes sir.”

“Good luck, figlia mia.”

The call ended and Tam sat staring at the wall. The last thing she needed was Kennedy and two of his lackeys, no matter how moronic, interfering. She was close, she could feel it. But if they interfered…

She ordered up another Baden Baden Stout, the signature beer of the Brazilian microbrewery of the same name. Beer was seldom her drink of choice, but this particular beverage complemented the spicy food nicely. She took a sip, enjoying the rich, smoky flavor with a suggestion of dark chocolate and burnt coffee. She let the cool drink and calm atmosphere sooth her jangled nerves. She was a professional, and she would face whatever came her way.

She took another drink and smiled.

A complicated job had just turned into a Gordian knot. Oh well, a knotty problem required a bold stroke, and she had plenty of those up her sleeve. She wondered for a moment if Salvatore would still think of her as “daughter” when this was all over.