“They may not know where it is. They may just be searching, following in the old man’s footsteps. Or they may know exactly where it is and find a way to elude us—as they have already managed to do. I will find them—and I won’t let it happen again.”
“What if Abigail doesn’t know the location of the gold?”
Arturo shrugged. “Then she will become expendable.” He gave Zuma the same fake smile he had given Paulo. “Just like your old friend, King Farrell.”
* * *
At Gage’s insistence, Abby sat in the shade for half an hour before returning to work. Mateo had armed her with a six-inch knife so she could cut through vines or deal with another vicious rodent.
Abby smiled.
By the end of the afternoon, they had managed to secure a safe way into the chamber below the hacienda. Gage stripped off his shirt to work in the heat, and Abby found herself mesmerized by the sexy display of hard male muscle.
Soon Edge and Mateo were also working shirtless, and since she was a woman and not yet dead, she allowed herself to enjoy the view. Eventually, they were able to clear enough of the floor of debris to get into the chamber.
Unfortunately, the room was empty, as was the other room Abby had spotted. Storerooms, perhaps, or servants’ quarters, without a smattering of gold or much of anything else.
They took a break to eat and hydrate in the shade of the trees where the coolers were sitting, and Abby spotted Skye walking toward them.
“Where’s Trace?” Gage asked, glancing behind Skye as she reached the trees. “I thought you were both coming in.” They were using handheld wireless radios to communicate out here where there was no cell service.
“We thought it would be safer for one of us to come in while the other keeps watch.”
“What’s going on?”
“You’ve got company,” Skye said.
“How many?”
“Two men.”
“Cartel?” Gage asked.
“I don’t think so. We sent them packing, but they seemed to just be watching.” She grabbed a bottle of water out of the chest, twisted off the lid, and took a long swallow. “They looked more like farmers than cartel soldiers. But it’s better to keep an eye out just in case.”
Abby hadn’t really had a chance to get acquainted with Skye, but she liked the woman’s confidence and her fierce work ethic. Like Edge, Skye and Trace both took their jobs very seriously.
Abby felt safer having them around.
A couple of times she’d noticed Edge watching Skye when she wasn’t looking. With her wavy dark hair and sculpted features, she was a beautiful woman, no matter her tough exterior, but whatever Edge was thinking, he didn’t let it show.
Skye ate a packet of tuna and some crackers, grabbed a candy bar, and left to change places with Trace. He arrived a few minutes later and relayed the same story, but he seemed a little more tense.
“Could be just a couple of farm workers from down the road, or they could be cartel scouts from town who figured out where we are and are keeping us under surveillance.”
“Let’s hope it’s farm workers.”
Trace ate and hydrated, grabbed a snack to take with him, and headed for the Jeep. While he and Skye resumed their patrols, Abby and the rest of the crew made a last search of the rooms beneath the house.
Even when dusk settled in and the tired group headed back without success, Abby’s hopes remained high. Tomorrow they would open the walls of other empty chambers and continue the search. The underground area could be as large as the house, so they had only gotten started.
Gage would be coordinating their efforts with the information King had given them. Sooner or later, they would find the treasure—or so she hoped.
They arrived back in Alux’ob, but instead of eating at the cantina, which could be asking for trouble, Mateo had made a deal early that morning with a village woman to bring breakfast and supper to the hotel each day.
Blanca, a round woman with a long gray braid, arrived with queso rellenos—balls of edam cheese stuffed with minced pork, raisins, almonds, and olives—topped with k’ool blanco sauce and accompanied by tortillas and beans. The meal was served in the spare hotel room they used as an office and a place for Carlos to sleep.
Though the food was delicious, Abby was too tired to eat more than a few bites. Even sleeping on the sagging mattress didn’t sound all that bad, not when Gage would be stretched out beside her.
She glanced in his direction. His face was freshly sun-bronzed, making his blue eyes even bluer. His dark hair was streaked with golden highlights. Instead of looking tired, he looked invigorated.
Abby caught the hot gleam in his eyes, and her exhaustion faded, shifting to anticipation.
Unfortunately, when Gage opened the door and she flipped on the overhead bulbs, illuminating the bedroom, an envelope lay in the middle of the bed. Abby walked over and picked it up. Pulling out a folded sheet of paper, she read the words.
Her heart jerked as her eyes flashed to Gage’s. She could feel the color leaching out of her face, and her knees went weak. Clutching the letter, she sank down on the edge of the bed.
Gage strode toward her. “What is it?”
“I-it’s a letter addressed to me. It says . . . it says King is alive.”
Gage grabbed the sheet of paper out of her hand and scanned the contents. “What the hell?”
“They want me to meet them in Mérida. The letter says they’ll take me to him.”
Gage thumped the sheet of paper. “This could have come from anyone, Abby. There’s no way your grandfather is alive after all this time. He would have sent word.”
She swallowed and looked up at him. “According to the letter, he’s been sick for months.” She felt a tear on her cheek, reached up, and wiped away the wetness. “I have to go to him, Gage. I don’t have any choice.”
Gage tossed the letter back on the bed. Gripping her shoulders, he hauled her to her feet. “You remember what happened in Mexico City? I have no idea how they found us here, but I know these people are ruthless. They want the gold at any price. They’ll say and do whatever it takes to get it.”
Another tear rolled down her cheek. “What if it’s true? What if King’s alive?”
His hold on her shoulders tightened, and then he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I know how you must feel. I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
Abby eased away. “I have to go, Gage. You know I do.”
He glanced out the window into the darkness. A muscle worked in his jaw. He sighed. “You’re right. You have to go.” He turned away from her and started for the door. “I’ll be right back. I need to find out how this envelope got into the room.”
Gage stormed outside, heading for the office. The manager lived in quarters behind it.
Abby read the letter two more times. The paper was a crisp linen texture and looked expensive, and the handwriting was elegant, yet strong.
Gage walked back into the room. “The manager put the letter in the room. I’m sure he was paid well to do it. The man who delivered it said it was urgent.”
“If it’s true, it is urgent.”
“If it’s true.”
“I have to go, Gage. I couldn’t live with myself if King were still alive and I did nothing to help him.”