The Death Relic

by Chris Kuzneski

  He paused for a moment, waiting for a question, then pointed at a ruin to the south. ‘Next we are heading to a stone temple called La Iglesia. That is Spanish for “The Church”.’

  The tour group, which looked bored out of their minds, turned like zombies and started trudging in that direction. Jones hustled to show them a photo of the redhead. Meanwhile, Maria used the opportunity to grab the tour guide’s arm.

  ‘Excuse me,’ she said politely. ‘May I ask you a question?’

  He nodded excitedly. ‘Thank goodness! My first one of the day. I’m glad someone’s awake. I was beginning to feel like a high-school teacher.’

  ‘Actually, I’m not technically in your group.’

  He laughed. ‘That’s fine with me. I’m not technically a tour guide. I’m just filling in for a friend who’s sick.’

  ‘Well, it sounds like you know your stuff.’

  ‘I’m getting there. I still have a lot to learn, though.’

  ‘You’re a student?’

  He nodded. ‘Archaeology. I’m working with INAH for the semester.’

  ‘INAH? I heard you mention that. What does that stand for?’

  ‘Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.’

  ‘Which is … ?’

  ‘A government bureau that protects and preserves the historical sites in Mexico. We’re currently overseeing the archaeologists who are excavating Old Chichén.’

  She furrowed her brow. ‘Old Chichén? What’s that?’

  He laughed. ‘I thought you had one question.’

  ‘Sorry. If you have to go, I completely understand. It’s just, well, I’m an archaeologist myself, so I’m kind of excited to learn more about this place.’

  ‘I bet you are. Chichén Itzá is a wonderful site, filled with all kinds of historical mysteries. Are you here alone? I’d be happy to show you around.’

  She shook her head and pointed at Jones. ‘I’m actually here with him. We were supposed to meet a friend of a friend, but we can’t find her anywhere. Maybe you’ve seen her.’

  ‘Maybe I have. What does she look like?’

  She pulled out her phone. ‘Actually, I have a picture of her.’

  ‘Wow! You’re prepared.’

  ‘Let that be a lesson to you. Archaeologists are always prepared.’

  He smiled and glanced at the screen. ‘Hey, I have seen her. That’s Red. She got here last night.’

  ‘You know her?’

  ‘Not personally, but I saw her last night. Everyone called her Red.’

  ‘You saw her here?’

  ‘Not here. At the campground by Old Chichén. That’s where some of the archaeologists are staying. It’s much cheaper than a hotel room.’ He laughed at himself. ‘Look who I’m telling? I bet you’re staying in a tent yourself. Am I right?’

  ‘Something like that,’ she lied. ‘So, how do I get to Old Chichén?’

  He pointed at a narrow path that led through the forest to the south. ‘It’s a long hike through the jungle. I hope you’ve got water and insect repellent.’

  She patted her backpack. ‘Like I said, archaeologists are always prepared.’

  56

  Payne and Ulster caught up with Jones and Maria near a modern gate that led to a jungle path. Signs posted by the Mexican government warned visitors not to trespass. But the foursome ignored the warning and headed down the trail.

  Known as Chichén Viejo in Spanish, Old Chichén is a relatively new discovery that isn’t open to the general public. At least not yet. Archaeologists have been working on the site for nearly a decade, trying to clear the roots and vines that have overwhelmed the ruins, but progress has been slow. Pyramids that once stood above the trees are now buried underneath them. Buildings with exotic titles, such as the Temple of the Owls, the Platform of the Great Turtle and the Temple of the Monkeys, were even more connected with nature than their names implied, because they were covered in plants, leaves and insects. Although many of the ruins have been excavated and restored to their former glory, many more are still waiting to be rescued from the tyranny of neglect and time.

  As the group passed discarded columns and fallen shrines along the way, they felt like explorers in a forgotten land. Birds cawed overhead. Animals scampered through the brush. Everywhere they looked, they saw abandoned blocks, carved with serpents and Mayan faces.

  Jones loved every second of it. ‘This. Is. Awesome.’

  Ulster laughed. ‘I was thinking the same thing myself. As much as I enjoyed the polished brilliance of El Castillo, there is something special about this. To see a lost city in an un-groomed habitat is more – dare I say it? – authentic.’

  Maria agreed. ‘Good word, Petr. This does feel authentic.’

  Payne swatted a bug on the back of his neck. ‘Yeah. Authentic.’

  After snaking through the jungle for half a mile, the trail opened into a large clearing. Guarded by two carved sentinels that were taller and wider than Payne, the main excavation site was a beehive of activity. Workers walked to and fro, hauling large stones in wheelbarrows and carrying handfuls of equipment. Refurbished temples, which looked like they’d been transplanted from the Great North Platform, glistened in the afternoon sun. Orders were being shouted in Spanish, English and a few other languages Payne couldn’t place. Despite their geographical differences, everyone seemed to be working as a cohesive unit – one unified team trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. In many ways it was inspirational.

  Maria glanced around the busy site. ‘Now what?’

  ‘We demand to see their leader,’ cracked Jones.

  Payne smiled. ‘Or we ask for Red. That was her nickname, right?’

  Maria nodded. ‘That’s what the tour guide said.’

  Jones shrugged. ‘I guess that would work, too.’

  Payne led the way, followed by Maria and Ulster, then Jones. Even though they felt safe amongst the workers, the two ex-MANIACs remembered why they were there. This wasn’t a family reunion. This trip was to find a man who had vanished from a crowded hotel. A man who had a trunk full of weapons and artefacts. A man whose disappearance had triggered interest from the CIA. Payne and Jones didn’t expect trouble, but they were ready for it just in case.

  It took less than ten minutes to find someone who recognized the redhead. He directed the group to the southwest corner of the site, where a number of tents were nestled under a canopy of trees. During the day, the area was mostly deserted. But at night it was filled with archaeologists from around the world, who shared exaggerated stories of their exploits while eating plates of beans and drinking bottles of cheap wine.

  None of that was going on now.

  As they approached the camp, Payne spotted Tiffany outside a small, camouflaged tent. Sitting on a carved rock that resembled a Mayan head, she was lost in thought as she sharpened a hunter’s knife with a practised hand. One stroke on the whetstone after another, shaping the blade to razor-sharp perfection. With a single glance, Payne knew she wasn’t an intern. He didn’t know what she was, but it sure as hell wasn’t an archaeologist.

  ‘Carousel,’ he whispered to Jones. It was a code from their military days. It told Jones to circle round behind the target. Immediately, Jones understood the situation and darted into the trees to his left. Something didn’t sit right with his friend. He went on high alert.

  Up ahead, Tiffany cocked her head to the side, like a predator processing information. She remained like this for a few seconds, listening to four sets of footsteps in the underbrush, trying to decide what to do next. Finally, she cast her eyes forward and stared at Payne.

  A smile crossed her lips as she rose to her feet.

  ‘Took you long enough,’ she said to him.

  Payne slid his hand behind his back and reached for his gun, which had been tucked into his waistband and covered by his shirt-tail. ‘Excuse me?’

  She continued to sharpen her blade. ‘I figured noon at the latest.’

  Maria and Ulster tens
ed when they saw the knife in her hand. They nearly panicked when they saw the gun in Payne’s. Something bad was happening. Something they didn’t understand.

  ‘Do I know you?’ Payne asked, unsure.

  ‘No, but I know you. In fact, I know all of you. Been waiting for you all day.’

  Payne continued forward, one tentative step at a time. ‘Is that so?’

  She lifted the knife in front of her to inspect the blade. ‘Yep.’

  To Payne, the movement was a sign of aggression. With the knife up high, he knew she could fling it at them with a simple snap of her wrist. It was a chance he wasn’t willing to take. Payne whipped his gun out as Jones moved into position from behind. In less than a second, they had her covered from two divergent points.

  ‘Would you mind putting that down?’ Payne growled. It was a command not a question. ‘It’s been an interesting weekend.’

  She smiled at his request. ‘For you and me both.’

  ‘Drop the weapon,’ he said bluntly.

  The grin never left her face as she flung the knife to the ground. It stuck in the dirt a few feet from the entrance to the tent. ‘Happy now?’

  Payne shook his head. ‘Happier, but not happy. Who the hell are you?’

  ‘I dropped mine, now you drop yours.’

  ‘Not until you tell me who you are.’

  Her smile waned. ‘I’m Tiffany Duffy. Now drop the gun.’

  From the corner of his eye, Payne saw Jones nod. He knew he could lower his weapon because Jones had her covered. He tucked his gun into the front of his belt. ‘Better?’

  ‘Better.’ She pointed at a log near the tent. ‘Go on. Take a seat. We need to talk.’

  ‘We’d prefer to stand.’

  She shrugged as she lowered herself onto the carved stone. ‘Suit yourself. But I’m sitting down. Still recovering from yesterday’s excitement. I’m not as young as I used to be.’

  ‘Tiffany,’ Payne said, ‘I can tell from the tone of your voice that you find all of this amusing, but every second that passes without an explanation brings us a little bit closer to a messy scene. Ain’t that right, DJ?’

  Jones finally revealed his presence in the nearby trees. ‘My hand is starting to cramp. Must. Squeeze. Trigger.’

  She glanced over her shoulder and laughed. ‘Wow! You guys are just like I imagined. I’ve heard stories, you know. Many, many stories.’

  ‘Is that so? From whom?’ Payne demanded.

  ‘I’m not at liberty to say.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, really.’

  He read between the lines. ‘Are you Agency?’

  She smiled at him. ‘I’m not at liberty to say.’

  ‘What are you at liberty to say?’

  She continued to grin. ‘We’ve been expecting you.’

  Just then, the flap on the tent flipped open. Acting on instinct, Payne pulled his gun before he had a chance to see who it was. Not that it mattered. At this point in the game, he didn’t know what was going on or who to believe. Other than Jones and Ulster, he didn’t have faith in anyone at the site. That included Maria, who had suddenly emerged on his radar after years of dormancy. Although he didn’t suspect her of anything, she certainly hadn’t earned his trust yet. That would take a lot longer than a weekend, if it happened at all.

  ‘Are you all right?’ said a man inside the tent. ‘I thought I heard voices.’

  He stepped out and saw the barrel of Payne’s gun.

  Then he saw Payne. And then he saw Maria.

  If he was surprised or scared, he sure didn’t show it. Instead, the emotion on his face was one of pure relief, as if the guilt he’d been feeling for a thousand years had finally been released.

  The guns didn’t matter. Neither did Payne and Jones.

  The only thing he cared about was Maria’s safety.

  Now that she was there, Terrence Hamilton could finally relax.

  57

  Hamilton rushed forward to welcome Maria. He hustled past Payne and greeted her with a warm embrace. ‘Thank goodness you’re all right. I’ve been worried sick since the hotel.’

  She hugged him back, but the look on her face spoke volumes. She was thoroughly confused by his presence. ‘You were worried about me? We’ve been worried about you!’

  He laughed it off. ‘Me? Why would you worry about me?’

  ‘Why? Because you were kidnapped from the hotel.’

  ‘Kidnapped? How absurd. I wasn’t kidnapped. I was rescued!’

  ‘Rescued?’ she blurted. ‘What are you talking about?’

  He studied her face. ‘You mean your handler didn’t tell you?’

  ‘Handler?’ she said, even more confused.

  Payne interrupted. ‘Handler? I’m not her handler.’

  Hamilton glanced back at Payne, who was standing there with his gun raised. But instead of pointing it at Tiffany – who was still being watched by Jones – Payne was now aiming the weapon at him. In a flash, the guilt that had disappeared from Hamilton’s face had returned, along with fear, doubt and a hundred other emotions. ‘Wait! This isn’t your handler? Good heavens! Who are you then?’ He stepped in front of Maria to protect her. ‘Just let her be. She doesn’t know anything about any of this. I promise.’

  ‘That makes two of us,’ Payne admitted. Not only didn’t he know what was going on, he had the unmistakable suspicion that they had been played. He didn’t know why, and he didn’t know by whom, but he knew they had been lured there under false pretences.

  Now it was up to him to figure out the specifics.

  ‘Jon,’ Maria urged, ‘put down your gun. He won’t hurt anyone.’

  Hamilton lifted his hands above his head. ‘She’s right. I won’t.’

  Ulster stepped forward. ‘Jonathon, my boy, I’ll vouch for him. He has a sterling reputation in the field. Never a hint of controversy. Not even a whiff.’

  Hamilton looked over to see who was speaking on his behalf. He quickly did a double take when he saw Ulster. ‘Good heavens! They grabbed you, too. What’s going on?’

  Ulster said, ‘I’m not quite sure myself.’

  Payne glanced at Tiffany. ‘Care to fill us in?’

  She shook her head. ‘I can’t. I’m not at liberty to say.’

  ‘In that case, who is at liberty to say?’ he demanded.

  ‘Sorry. I’m not at lib—’

  Payne charged towards her in anger. ‘I swear to God, if you finish that fucking phrase I will knock you off that seat. And if you think I won’t do it, look into my eyes.’

  She looked up at him and smiled. ‘No need for threats. I know what you’re capable of. Like I said earlier, I’ve heard stories.’

  He raised his pistol as if ready to strike her. ‘From whom?’

  She had to give him something. ‘My team leader.’

  ‘Aha!’ Jones cracked from behind. ‘I told you we should have asked to see their leader. You thought I was joking, but noooooo! No one ever listens to the black guy.’

  Payne ignored him. ‘Give me a name.’

  She shrugged. ‘Don’t have one to give.’

  ‘I don’t believe that for a second.’

  She knew Payne wouldn’t hit her – she was quite familiar with his background and ethics – so she called his bluff. ‘Beat me all you want. I’ve been trained not to talk. You won’t get a name until he arrives. He can tell you himself.’

  ‘He’s coming here?’

  ‘He’s supposed to.’

  ‘When?’

  She shrugged. ‘Soon.’

  Payne grimaced as he glanced around the site. They were isolated in the middle of the jungle. No maps. No surveillance. Limited ammo. If a battle erupted, he was confident that he and Jones would survive. Soldiers like them thrived in terrain like this. Unfortunately, they weren’t alone. If shots were fired, they would lose track of Ulster, Maria and Hamilton in a matter of minutes. And after that, things would get ugly fast. ‘DJ?’

  Jones read his mind. �
�Can’t stay here.’

  ‘Thoughts?’

  ‘Let’s head to the main site. More people, less jungle.’

  ‘Less jungle means less cover.’

  ‘True. But more witnesses means less funny business.’

  Payne conceded the point. ‘Agreed. Which part of the site?’

  ‘We can decide on the way.’

  ‘Fine with me. I’ll lead. You follow.’

  ‘I’m ready when you are.’

  ‘I’m ready now.’ Payne glanced at Tiffany, who was staring at him with her mouth agape. ‘Come on, Red. We’re waiting on you. Get your ass in gear.’

  She stood reluctantly. ‘What kind of conversation was that?’

  ‘Efficient.’

  ‘I was thinking clairvoyant. You barely used words.’

  ‘Words are overrated.’

  Payne slid behind her and frisked her for weapons. He found a pistol in her waistband and two cargo pockets full of ammo. He took the gun but let her carry the bullets like a pack mule. At this point, he didn’t know whose side she was on or what they were up against. If she happened to be a CIA agent, they might actually be on the same team, facing a foreign threat of some kind. If so, he knew the extra ammo would come in handy.

  As he finished patting her down, she playfully thrust her ass against his groin. She glanced back at him and said, ‘I think you missed a spot.’

  He shoved her forward, not in the mood for games.

  Conversation was limited until the group passed the main excavation of Old Chichén. With so many workers running around, Payne told them to keep quiet until they were clear of everyone. Once they were back on the jungle trail, Maria turned to Hamilton for an explanation.

  ‘What happened at the hotel?’ she demanded.

  ‘You honestly don’t know?’

  ‘Know what?’

  He clenched his teeth in anger. ‘That makes me so mad! They promised me they were going to tell you everything. That was part of our agreement.’

  ‘What agreement? Who promised to talk to me?’

  ‘The CIA.’

  She sneered at the name. ‘The CIA? You’re involved with the CIA?’