Ramsey's Gold

Chapter Forty-Four

The Sikorsky helicopter’s huge blades beat at the air like a jilted bride as it hovered over the clearing, the surrounding trees shaking from the downdraft. The winch operator leaned out the door as he lowered the final wooden crate through the canopy at the end of a steel cable. The container set down next to five of its twins, and two workers ran to it and disconnected a large hook from the harness. The other fourteen men stood in a loose ring around the boxes, watching the display while Jorge chatted with Spencer and Drake near the cavern mouth.

Six hours later Allie had been airlifted to a military hospital, the area quiet except for the footsteps of the armed men guarding the perimeter. Deep inside the cave, a generator powered oversized work lights in the sinkhole chamber as the first of the divers lowered himself down a rope ladder to the water’s surface, lights on either shoulder mounted to his buoyancy control vest. A second joined him and, after several seconds, dropped into the inky pool. When they slipped beneath the surface, the hush of the surroundings seemed to weigh heavier on the gathered men — Jorge, Spencer and Drake, and four archeologists from Lima who had accompanied the multinational team.

“There will be another dozen divers arriving tomorrow. The military’s flying them in. Sorry about the soldiers everywhere, but it’s a necessity. We don’t want one of the cartels thinking about grabbing an easy payday,” Jorge said, explaining the two dozen heavily armed Peruvian Special Forces commandos, who had arrived shortly after the scientists and immediately mounted armed patrols.

“That seems prudent. Better them than the alternative,” Drake said, thinking about the CIA.

“The mass burial site is stunning. This is an unprecedented opportunity to study every aspect of a functioning Inca city’s society. So much was eradicated by the Spanish that almost all of our understanding of Inca civilization is based on fragments and hearsay. And of course, the reports that the clergy created — the codices that purport to tell about the Inca Empire.”

Spencer shook his head. “As you said earlier, those are highly questionable. Likely a great deal of distortion based on bias and inaccuracies.”

“Yes, but now we have thousands of skeletons, and each is a kind of historical record that will offer invaluable information on everything from diet, to medicine, to life expectancy…and that’s not even counting what we could encounter once we begin excavation of the ruins.” Jorge paused. “This is the most important single find in our history, for that reason alone. Never mind the Inca treasure, although that will certainly also afford unique insights into the culture.”

Drake shook his head as if to clear it. “It was my father’s dream to find Paititi. I’m humbled I could fulfill his ambition.”

Jorge nodded. “I’d say you more than did so. You’ll be quite famous before long. I’m green with envy, actually. And thrilled to be working with you.”

A radio crackled, and one of the scientists lowered a huge steel basket into the water, suspended on a cable hanging from a portable crane that had been assembled and secured in place on the rim after the archeologists had photographed the stunning emerald ring and painstakingly cleared a section for the workers, laying down plywood for protection. The radio emitted a burst of static and the crane operator engaged a lever. The high-pitched whine of an electric motor filled the chamber, and the conversation ebbed as everyone waited to see what would emerge from the depths.

The cage broke the surface and the lights glinted off a huge gold ornamental headdress, easily four feet tall by six wide, ornately crafted and stunning. Emeralds the size of tennis balls adorned the crest, and Drake could hear a collective gasp from the assembly.

“My…God…it’s incredible,” Jorge whispered as the crane swung slowly and three men reached out to guide the basket to a position on the cave floor. Cameras flashed, memorializing the amazing find, and it took all three of them to remove it.

Spencer, Drake, and Jorge approached the relic as the crane operator moved the basket back over the pool and lowered it back into the water. Jorge reached out with a tentative hand and touched the glistening surface of an emerald in obvious awe.

The archeologist with the radio walked over as more pictures were taken and leaned into Jorge. After a brief discussion, Jorge nodded and returned his attention to Drake and Spencer.

“The divers say that the entire bottom is filled with artifacts, and that we’ll need more equipment to get some of it out. They spotted part of the legendary Lost Chain of Huayna Capac, and that alone will require a larger crane. This…I can’t describe to you what this means to our country,” Jorge said, his eyes gleaming in the bright glare of the work lights. Unable to contain himself, he hugged Drake, who looked at Spencer out of the corner of his eye as he endured the embrace, obviously uncomfortable.

Spencer smiled and turned away. When Drake joined him, Spencer whispered to him as the crane began whining again, “Dude, you’re a hero. And this goes with the territory.”

“My head still hurts. They didn’t warn me about that in hero school.”

“Yeah, they probably left out some parts. Don’t worry. You’ll adapt.”

They watched the steel cable vibrating as the winch reeled it back in, and Spencer shook his head. “Who woulda thunk, huh?”

“It’s pretty surreal.”

“Wait until the parade.”

Drake gave him a look of alarm. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Only a little. They take this kind of thing seriously. You and Allie are now national treasures. You don’t get to just slip away with a fat check. You’re a celebrity. The man of the hour.”

“Well, so are you. You helped discover it, too. You’re a partner, remember?”

Spencer shook his head. “I’m just the hired sidekick. This one’s all yours. Although I still want my cut…”

“I figured.”

Two weeks later the last of the treasure had been raised, and a conservative estimation had established the value at in excess of twenty billion dollars. Paititi now had more than a hundred workers and double that many soldiers guarding it as word of the find had spread. News crews had descended on the area in spite of the best efforts of the administration, and Drake had been hounded for interviews, finally limiting his public contact to an hour every morning. Allie, now fully healed and back at Paititi, seemed more fascinated by the archeological aspects of the find than the prospect of becoming rich, which surprised neither Spencer nor Drake.

Confirmation had come from the Peruvian president that they would receive two billion dollars as a finder’s fee for the discovery, and that additionally, a new museum would be built to house the incredible riches on land near the presidential headquarters in Lima. That morning, Drake had been informed that they would all be honored at a groundbreaking ceremony at the end of the week, where they would be awarded Peru’s highest honor before a crowd of thousands.

Drake had blown coffee out of his nose and down the front of his newly fitted tropical-weight shirt when Jorge had broken the news, and it had taken a full minute for him to stop coughing as he tried to catch his breath.

“Two billion dollars? That’s…that’s insane,” Drake managed, his voice hoarse.

Spencer cleared his throat. “I believe that will be only one billion for you, Mr. Ramsey.” They had discussed it earlier and decided that Spencer and Allie would both get twenty-five percent cuts. Drake had protested, but they’d insisted Drake would get half, and they’d split the rest.

“Only one? How am I going to get by on that?”

Jorge’s eyes widened as he studied Spencer’s smirk. “Wow. Spencer, you’re rich! I mean, New York-level rich!”

“Well, not like some Wall Street crooks, but that does sound like I’ll be able to get a good table at Nobu whenever I want.”

“I guess I won’t be going back to any administrative positions when I go home,” Allie said, smiling.

“I…I don’t know what to say. Congratulations. All of you. You deserve it. This is the achievement of a lifetime,” Jorge said, obviously impressed.

“Wait. Can we go back to the part about the crowd of thousands? I don’t really do well with public speaking…” Drake said, and Spencer and Allie exchanged a smile.

“Don’t worry. You don’t speak Spanish, so you won’t be expected to say anything. Just smile when they pin the medal on,” Spencer said.

“Sounds like you’ll be right there next to me,” Drake fired back.

Jorge nodded. “Yes, my friends, all of you are to be decorated. The president has already declared this Friday a national holiday. It’s a big deal. And there will be a state dinner afterward, where you will be the guests of honor. The American government is flying the Secretary of State in to represent your country. This is international news.”

Drake looked increasingly concerned as the morning wore on. When Jorge excused himself and Spencer went to get another refill of strong black coffee, Allie rose and approached Drake, one eyebrow cocked.

“Can I speak with you?” she asked, her tone revealing nothing.

“Sure.”

“Alone.”

Drake eyed Spencer, who was busying himself with the coffee pot. “Okay.”

Allie took Drake by the hand and led him away from the clearing down to the river. When they reached the bank, she turned to him, her blue eyes flashing in the sun. “Looks like our quest is over now.”

“Except for the dinner.”

“You have to stop freaking out about that. You’ll do fine.”

“I know. I just get…”

Allie moved closer and stood on her tiptoes. Her full lips met Drake’s and they shared a long kiss, electricity crackling between them. When she pulled away and sighed softly, Drake felt dizzy for a moment. She took his other hand and kissed him again, and then looked up at his strong jawline and deep tan.

“I’m glad you didn’t die going over the waterfall,” she said softly.

“Or any other time. For the record, I’m glad you didn’t die, either.” He kissed her again and then regarded the rushing water. “What about Spencer?”

Allie laughed. “Spencer? Nothing’s going on between us. What…you thought we were…?”

“No. I mean, you thought I was dead. I’d totally understand…”

“Spencer’s a fine specimen, but he’s not my type.”

“What’s your type?”

“I’m hoping we can find out after this is over.”

Drake swallowed hard. “I’d like that.”

“There’s no reason to be nervous about the dinner. Seriously. I’ll be right there with you.” She nuzzled against his chest, and then they both started when they heard the underbrush behind them rustle. Spencer stepped out, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Well, looks like it’s Drake’s lucky day in more ways than one,” he said. “Sorry. I wasn’t being nosy. I just wanted to make sure you two were okay.”

Drake locked eyes with Allie, and they smiled together before turning to face him. Allie pushed a lock of dark hair out of her eyes and winked at Spencer.

“Never better.”