Treasure of the Dead

Chapter 18

Odelin picked up his cellular phone on the first ring and flipped it open. The voice on the other end was no-nonsense, instructing him to be on the lookout for Fabiola Baptiste, who had just taken a new job in Cap-Hatien.

“You ought to be able to keep tabs on her, and anyone with whom she might be working.”

Odelin translated “you ought to” as “you had better”. He smiled. For once he was ahead of his boss.

“I’m already on it.” He ended the call and peered over his local newspaper at the front door of the health clinic. He’d been staked out here for some time, watching for Fabi, but was surprised to see the three American men emerge from the front door. He scowled, wondering what they were up to, and then he placed a call on his phone.

When his contact answered, he said, “I need you to follow someone, and I need you to make it fast. Listen carefully…”

The old Jeep Wrangler rolled to a halt in front of Sans Souci Palace, Maddock at the wheel with Willis having won the ro-sham-bo for the shotgun seat, Bones in the back.

“Cool place.” Bones admired the expansive, multi-story stone and brick structure. The former residence was set atop an expansive grassy hill, with a dirt switchback traversing part of it.

“Jimmy told me it was built in 1813 as the home of Haiti’s king at the time, Henri I. It was built by slaves, many of whom were reported to have died during construction. Once it was done, it became known for hosting elaborate parties.”

Bones stared up at the historical landmark, his expression conflicted. “Normally I would say, ‘Sounds like my kind of place,’ but I don’t know… the whole slave labor thing puts a little bit of a damper on it for me.”

Willis snorted. “Just a little bit.”

“One more thing,” Maddock pointed out. “These days it’s abandoned.”

“We’ll be the only ones here?” Willis asked.

Maddock shrugged. “I don’t know about that. It’s more or less open ruins. But it doesn’t look crowded.”

They saw two other vehicles parked some distance away, but no other people. They took it all in for a few moments and then Bones’ features screwed up into a puzzled expression.

“Wait a minute… Isn’t the timeline all wrong for our crazy sailor if this place wasn’t built until 1813?”

Maddock nodded. “Jimmy told me that before the palace was built, this was the site of a plantation run by a serious bad guy, and the sailor worked there. So I figured this might be worth checking out.” He nodded up the hill to the old palace.

“Bad guy how?” Willis wanted to know.

Maddock shrugged. “He didn’t elaborate. I figured he was a slave-driver plantation owner type, typical for the 1700s.”

Bones jumped out of the Jeep. “Let’s get to it.”