Shadows of the Stone Benders (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 1)

by K Patrick Donoghue

  “So you believe there was a massive flood that nearly wiped out mankind?” Anlon asked.

  “Yes, I do Anlon. I can’t say that my own work proves it one way or the other, but work done by others, in my opinion, offers compelling physical evidence. The muck beds along the Alaskan coastline, the erratic boulders of European farm lands and the mountain-top presence of sea fossils in the Andes and Himalayas are but a few physical examples of the aftermath,” Cesar explained.

  “In what way did believing in the great flood shape Devlin’s work?” Pebbles asked.

  “It’s a good question Eleanor. For me, connecting physical proof with ancient mythology helps build the case for claiming the myths are true stories. Confirmation or a refutation of mythology is where my research interest lies.

  “For Devlin, the belief that the great flood story was a reporting of a historical event spurred him to ‘dig deeper,’ He wasn’t satisfied knowing it was a true story. If it were true, he contemplated, then what was life like before the great flood? So he came to me to learn mythology about life preceding the great flood.

  “There are many stories of course about life before the flood, but most are considered fairy tales by mainstream archaeologists and anthropologists,” Cesar expounded.

  “Why?” Pebbles asked.

  Cesar rubbed the fingers of each hand with his thumbs and said, “Where’s the proof?”

  He chuckled to himself and added, “It makes one almost want to knock on their heads and shout, ‘Hello, imbecile, if a flood raced across the Earth and wiped out nearly everything, plant and animal, including man, isn’t it likely that physical signs of the cultures described in the pre-flood myths were wiped out too?’ What did Sumatra look like after the 2004 tsunami?”

  “So Devlin, heretic that he was, decided to go find the proof, right?” Anlon posited.

  “Exactly, my friend, exactly,” exclaimed Cesar, clasping his hands before him in a “bravo” gesture.

  Pebbles followed up quickly, asking, “So you said Devlin came to you for some of those pre-flood myths. Which ones did you share with him? Well, cutting to the quick, what myth led him to the Life Stones?”

  Cesar chuckled, “You two are nearly as excited as the old man himself! Actually, the stories that most interested Devlin turned out to be post-flood myths, not pre-flood myths. Stories about ‘fish men’ who came up out of the sea to help the survivors of the flood. As was the case about the great flood, the fish men stories could be found in multiple cultures’ mythologies.

  “In the stories, the fish men taught the survivors how to farm, raise livestock, build shelters, hunt, heal injuries, communicate, organize, trade, defend themselves and more. The myths were so similar. The fish men across the cultures were described in nearly identical language. Tall, golden-haired, bearded Caucasian men. They were viewed as gods and treated as such…for a time.

  “In almost all of the fish men myths, the survivors eventually revolted against the fish men. They either killed them or banished them back to the sea.”

  “Wait. Fish men, like mermaids? And if they were so helpful, why kill them?” a fascinated Pebbles asked.

  Cesar answered earnestly, “No. The description of their physical appearance varies, but they have always been described as humans dressed like fish. Most scholars ascribe the moniker to the fact they arrived by sea, but it has always puzzled me that many of the legends say when they arrived they came up out of the sea.

  “As to the revolts, the legends say the survivors had learned all they could from the fish men. As they learned and gained confidence in their own abilities, leaders among the survivors emerged who challenged the authority of the god-like fish men. Some of the fish men laid down their scepters and departed. A few of them fought to retain power, unsuccessfully I might add.

  “No one knows where the fish men came from, why they helped the survivors and where they went afterwards. Without some physical evidence of their presence beyond the stories, the possibility of their actual existence was tossed into mythology. To everyone but Devlin. I wanted to believe it, but it was Devlin who opened his mind to seek the evidence.”

  Anlon considered Cesar’s legends and realized Devlin went looking for the fish men. He thought of Pebbles’ description of the greeters on the Master Stone extending farewells to men leaving in boats, and of the two planets in mortal conflict. Could the Stone Benders be the fish men…and women?

  As a scientist, Anlon shuddered at the implications. History rewritten, a whole new realm of scientific inquiry to examine man pre-flood through an entirely different lens. Humans, not as crude cave-dwelling sketchers, but more technologically advanced in some ways than modern man.

  He shook his head. Anlon still didn’t understand why Devlin kept his discovery quiet. Going public with his proof would have made him the greatest archaeologist of all-time. He posed the question to Cesar. “There’s something I’m struggling to reconcile. Why do you think Devlin didn’t go public with his proof? For that matter, why didn’t you?”

  Cesar reclined back in a relaxed posture and waved his hand as if to swat away a fly, “I told you, I am content to know the myth is true. The real discovery was Devlin’s, I just fed him the legends. He’s the one who worked it out. As to why he didn’t go public, I think he was more fascinated with the prospect of unraveling the full mystery than he was with the idea of being world famous.”

  Pebbles interjected, “I get that. I didn’t know Devlin, well, I met him once. He seemed like a man who loves the race rather than the medal at the end.”

  “I guess I can see that being true, only the race in this case cost Devlin his life,” cautioned Anlon.

  Silence ensued as they each pondered the totality of their discussion. Pebbles, growing famished from the morning’s events and conversations, suggested they order sandwiches from the deli that delivered their pizza the previous evening. There was agreement and Pebbles called in their orders while Anlon walked Cesar over to the barn to show him Devlin’s office. To Anlon’s surprise, Cesar had never visited Devlin in Stockbridge, so he’d not seen Devlin’s artifact collection or his workshop.

  When lunch arrived, Pebbles set it on the picnic table that resided in the corner of the covered back porch and jogged over to the barn to “ring the lunch bell” so to speak. They walked back together and gathered around the table to eat. Anlon snickered softly, Pebbles had two sandwiches set before her. Where does all that food go, he wondered, gazing admiringly at her slim, athletic physique.

  Anlon said, “You know, I realize it’s early, but I feel like a beer. Any takers?”

  Pebbles, hunkered down over her sandwich, mouth stuffed already, raised her hand while staring protectively at her second sub. Cesar raised his hand aloft too, and said, “That sounds refreshing. And when you return, it is my turn to ask questions of you two.”

  Anlon handed ice-cold bottled beers to Pebbles and Cesar and said, “Cesar, thank you again for agreeing to meet, and for allowing Antonio to whisk you up here.”

  “Not at all. Like I said, once I heard Devlin’s name, I knew I would come. Of course, Mr. Wallace made it an easier decision by committing to pay for my summer season’s field trip if I dropped everything right away,” Cesar snickered, raising his bottle in a mock toast before drinking.

  “Did he really do that? Looks like I’ll have some serious debts to repay on our favor ledger,” Anlon laughed. Maybe two bottles of the rare Macallan scotch…delivered in a new Rolls Royce!

  “Jibes aside, I have questions. Such as, do you have the stones Devlin located, the Story Stones in particular?” Cesar asked.

  Pebbles nodded, but let Anlon answer considering her mouth was full of the last bite of her first sandwich. He said, “Yes, we do. In fact, this morning we viewed one of the Stones, Pebbles and I, er, I mean Eleanor and I.”

  “I have not viewed a Story Stone myself. Would you object if I ask to view one?”

  “No, I would not object. It’s the very least w
e could do to thank you and to honor the help you provided Devlin,” Anlon replied.

  Pebbles gulped her beer and added, “It’s very intense, but so worth it.”

  “So I’ve been told,” Cesar chuckled. “Then tell me, why do you think Devlin’s and Dobson’s deaths are linked to the Life Stones?”

  Anlon described the finding of the gold coins at Dobson’s house, Anabel’s description of Devlin’s temperament the day before he died, Pacal’s demonstration of the Sound Stone and his ominous suggestion that it was the weapon responsible for Devlin’s death. He also added in the intrusions of Thatcher Reynolds and Klaus Navarro.

  Cesar attentively focused on each kernel laid out by Anlon. Behind his eyes, Anlon sensed Cesar absorbing and interpreting each piece. When Anlon finished, Cesar said, “Without a doubt, you are on the right track. It would not surprise me in the end if Thatcher or Klaus were mixed up in the crimes at some level. They are both notorious. Thatcher for his laziness and sleazy cunning; Klaus for his vapid manner and ruthless tactics. I’m sorry, Eleanor, that Navarro injured you. He is not revered for his treatment of women, I’m afraid.”

  Anlon was actually elated Cesar knew both men. He intended to put a hurting on both men, legally, and Cesar’s insight would be valuable. He asked, “You know them both? Please, enlighten me on their backgrounds.”

  “Surely. I will start with Navarro. He is a very wealthy man. He made his money initially in copper mining, but eventually shifted into exports. Along the way, he developed a taste for antiquities.

  “Some say his miners dug up the initial pieces that captured his love of ancient artifacts. Others say he became embroiled in the illegal smuggling of rare pieces as an exporter and came to appreciate the value of such artifacts among the rich and powerful.

  “I, myself, believe a little of both occurred. Today, he is the most aggressive collector of ancient Mayan, Incan and Olmec artifacts in the world. I say aggressive because he pays astronomical prices for pieces sellers bring to market, and he steals others that are not for sale. Or so I’m told. He is not the kind of man that accepts defeat easily.”

  “Uh oh, guess I shouldn’t have bashed his face in with the lamp,” Pebbles sarcastically commented before rising from the table to fetch a new round of beers. Bartender habit, she acknowledged as she jogged inside…something about empty bottles and glasses made her nervous.

  Anlon snickered, but then asked a serious question, “Cesar, are you aware of rumors in the community or in the markets, legal or otherwise, about Devlin’s stones?”

  “You ask a very interesting question Anlon. The honest answer is no. That’s what makes Klaus’ presence at Devlin’s funeral and his actions thereafter noteworthy. I am not an expert in these matters, but the fact he is involved feels to me like he is aligned with someone close to Devlin. That’s the only way he’d know about the stones, as far as I can tell,” Cesar revealed, accepting a fresh beer from Pebbles.

  She heard Anlon’s question and Cesar’s answer from the kitchen. As she unwrapped her second sandwich, she mentioned, “To be fair to the SOB, he never said anything about the stones. He kept talking about sculptures. It might have been a ruse, but I didn’t get the impression he was after the stones.”

  Anlon shrugged his shoulders. He had nothing in mind to refute Pebbles’ honest appraisal. Damn, she sure is fair for someone who got her head smashed into a steel rack by the ponytailed menace!

  Cesar pulled at his chin, deep in thought. Narrowing his eyes, he added, “I think it was a ruse. It’s well known that Klaus covets Incan gold. Your mention of the gold coins interests me, but I am confused. There’s no way he would have expected Devlin to keep gold in open storage boxes. And if Klaus knew about the stones, it’s inconceivable he’d believe Devlin kept them out in the open. So his actions when he attacked Eleanor are misplaced if he had inside help.”

  Another fair-minded person, thought Anlon! Where are all the suspicious, devious minds when needed. He asked with an air of desperation, “What about Thatcher?”

  “He’s a slug,” Cesar spat.

  At last, Anlon thought, a scathing appraisal!

  Cesar continued, “His whole career has been built on the backs of others. He changes his own views with the wind, a wind that seems curiously aligned with whomever funds his research. He has been caught in some rather compromising situations where his hand appeared to be inside the register at the expense of his sponsors. His threat about danger and reference to backers is entirely consistent with his reputation.”

  Anlon cheered inside…finally a villain!

  And then Cesar dashed his glee in a simple statement, “But his tactics here don’t mirror his past exploits, so I’m not sure he is at the root of this.”

  Pebbles noticed the deflated look in Anlon’s eyes as she polished off the last bite of sandwich number two. She queried, “How are his tactics different?”

  “Well, from what you described, it sounds as if he’s resorted to legal maneuvers. You know, trying to get around the will, as you shared. That’s far afield from his expertise and it seems a very tortuous and public way to achieve his outcome if his primary goal is to find the stones,” Cesar said.

  Pebbles sensed where Cesar was headed and pitched in, “So if Navarro is involved, gold is his target. If Thatcher is involved, I take it you think someone is playing him?”

  Cesar nodded in agreement. Anlon shot a skeptical look at Pebbles and said, “I follow you about Navarro, but not Thatcher. What do you mean someone is playing him?”

  “I mean someone is teasing him with a carrot so delicious, and he wants the carrot so bad, that he’s doing goofy things to get the job done. Thatcher may be the front man, but not the brains pushing the buttons,” Pebbles outlined.

  Anlon leaned back against the porch railing and crossed his arms. An even more skeptical look washed across his face, but he trusted Pebbles’ instincts enough to say, “Okay, I’ll accept your premise. What’s the connection with the stones then? You remember he was explicitly interested in taking over Devlin’s research.”

  Pebbles turned to Cesar and asked, “In your opinion, is Thatcher the kind of person who can be deceitful in a subtle way?”

  Cesar shook his head firmly from side to side.

  “So, he more often ham-hands it. That’s why he gets caught,” Pebbles elaborated.

  “You know him well,” Cesar laughed.

  “I got to watch him in action. In the span of three sentences he went from generously offering to take Devlin’s research off Anlon’s hands, to offering a king’s ransom for it, to threatening Anlon and anyone he knows with imminent peril. Not exactly what I would call a practiced, smooth operator,” she summarized.

  Anlon, mouth agape, winked at Pebbles and said, “You’re unbelievable, you know that? Where do you come up with this stuff? Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing! What’s your secret? Do I need to eat more? You know, two sandwiches instead of one kind of thing?”

  Cesar roared with laughter and clapped his hands loudly. Pebbles giggled and stuck her tongue out at Anlon (noted: tongue stud there again). She said with an aristocratic flair, “A lady of exceptional talents never reveals her secrets.”

  Accompanying the bravado was a flexed bicep. She tried to lift the rolled up sleeve of the dress shirt to reveal her tattooed shoulder, but the shirt was too tight.

  Adopting a more serious tone, Anlon said, “Fair enough. A gentleman does not ask a lady to reveal her secrets, exceptional talents included. I’m trying to follow you, Eleanor. So what you’re saying is that someone is feeding Thatcher ideas on how to get access to the stones and Thatcher is essentially failing miserably at it. If that’s true, why even use Thatcher?”

  Pebbles swirled her half full beer bottle above the table, and teased, “You don’t see it AC?”

  Anlon looked at Cesar who also had a Cheshire grin on his face. He flushed with embarrassment and chided Pebbles, “See, I told you, I’m not a good detective! Help the man lo
st in the desert, will you please?”

  “You are a phenomenal detective, AC. We’ve discussed that already. But to answer your question…if Thatcher is involved, the person behind Thatcher has already killed twice and still doesn’t have the stones. He is using Thatcher as a distraction, a side show. Think about it — the barn break-in? The theft of the will? Acts of a desperate man, don’t you think? Why not create diversion too? Draw our attention elsewhere before he strikes again,” Pebbles pronounced, pounding her beer bottle on the picnic table to emphasize her point.

  Cesar added with a chortle, “Her skills, Anlon, are beyond mine as well. Yes, I see it in your eyes. She is on a different level than you and I. What she says about Thatcher? It fits perfectly with his character. He is more bluster than sting, but he might just be the perfect smoke screen for a deadly predator!”

  XIX

  DOBSON UNVEILED

  The wait outside Detective Captain Gambelli’s office was brief and Jennifer was thankful. There was a lot to chase down today and she was already behind her intended schedule. When his office door opened, two other detectives stepped out and Gambelli shouted for her to enter.

  “Good morning Cap,” greeted Jennifer pleasantly.

  “Morning, Stevens. I’ve only got about 15 minutes. What’s up?”

  “Appreciate you fitting me in, Cap. Just wanted to give you a quick update on the Dobson case.”

  “Okay, whatcha got?”

  “It’s looking more and more like there is a connection between the Wilson death and Dobson’s. I learned last night that Dobson was allegedly stealing artifacts from Wilson and selling them. I think that’s where the large cache of gold comes in. It either was given to Dobson in exchange for artifacts, or the gold coins are artifacts he intended to sell. I’m not sure which at the moment,” Jennifer explained.