Shrouded in Secrets

by Kim McMahill

  “I wish I understood what you mean. How can thirteen crystal artifacts command power?”

  “We believe the crystals, if properly used, are capable of destruction of Atlantean proportions.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Too bad you won’t be around to find out.”

  Cash’s mind reeled. He hated to let Zara out of his sight, but he needed to speak to Pete and Marjorie, and he doubted Zara would go far until she had the one relic he still possessed. More importantly, the only way to ensure Olivia’s continued safety was to allow Zara to remain free and unharmed. If anything happened to Zara, Olivia would be lost to him forever, which was something he refused to accept.

  “Get Olivia and meet me at El Triunfo at 8:00 A.M. You’ll get your relic.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  October 4, 4:00 A.M.

  Cusco, Peru

  CASH TRAVERSED THE city for over a half an hour getting back to the safe house, which was located only fifteen minutes from the church. He hated wasting so much time, but decided to take no chance on being tailed and exercised as much caution as possible. He wasn’t surprised to find the place empty, even though the plan had been to rendezvous here if they got separated. A lifetime of working with various scientists made Cash doubt Marjorie and Pete had the willpower to leave the unusual site under the Church of Santo Domingo without force. Trying Pete’s cell, he got nothing, confirming they were likely still in close proximity to the crystal. Diane posed a more challenging problem. He had no idea where she was, or why she wasn’t answering her phone.

  After jotting a quick note, in case someone returned, Cash set out for the church, weaving through the streets, hoping to avoid those searching for him. Shaking a tail and remaining undetected proved difficult in the near-empty city. A few people had emerged, to cook breakfast, or guide tourists getting an early start for Machu Picchu, but too little activity stirred to distract from his actions.

  Once certain he hadn’t been followed, Cash slipped back into the church and made his way through the now-familiar corridors to the cavern. He emerged into the vast space and feared he had guessed wrong. Black silence greeted him, no light, sound, or movement, only a faint scent of something burnt. He waited, alert to danger, and after several moments, two shapes materialized out of the darkness, and their headlamps flicked on.

  By Pete’s wide eyes and ear-to-ear grin, Cash felt certain the scientists had exciting news.

  “This stuff is highly flammable and explosive. I touched a match to a single drop and the result lit up the room, singed all the hair off the back of my hands, and I would have lost an eyebrow if I hadn’t tossed the flame from a fair distance,” Pete stated. “Thank goodness we ducked behind that rock outcrop, otherwise I might have lost a lot more than some body hair.”

  “Zara seems to think the crystals can sink a continent. Please tell me she’s delusional?”

  “I wish I could, but I’m starting to believe there may be something to the sensational legends. See those bubbles on the far side?”

  Cash squinted in order to focus on the area Pete indicated.

  “This fluid is natural, but to my knowledge, undiscovered. The slow bubbling indicates an unlimited, or at least plentiful, fuel source. The extensive network of tunnels and ducts could carry the result over an immense area. I think if all the crystal heads were placed on their proper pedestal, the hatch above opened when the sun reached a position directly overhead, and mechanical force was applied to the top crystal to initiate the reaction, unimaginable destruction could occur. Just a theory, though, and I sure as heck wouldn’t want to test the hypothesis until we understand the potential consequences better. With the crystals absorbing solar radiation and transferring that energy to a limitless supply of explosive material in a vast underground network, I can’t hazard to guess the results.”

  “How far reaching would the effect be?”

  “Hard to say, but if you want to factor in the legend, Zara might be thinking the explosion could sink a large island or small continent—in this case, South America. The effects of a sudden collapse of such an enormous landmass into the ocean would likely send a massive tsunami capable of wiping out extensive coastal regions of North America, and maybe even further. We’re not talking worldwide destruction, but a major catastrophe that could potentially wreak havoc in the Americas.”

  “Could this scenario be replicated somewhere else, or are the options blow up South America or nothing?” Cash asked as he watched Marjorie wander off and stick her head into the tunnels opposite from where they had come into the grand cavern.

  “Depends on the chemical structure of the liquid. First, we’d need to analyze the composition in a lab and break down the individual components to determine if the liquid is something we could replicate, exists elsewhere in nature, or could be transported in sufficient quantity. Then, the pillar would have to be replicated at another location, which shouldn’t be too difficult. One variable I’m uncertain of is whether or not the strength of the sunlight is important. It’s possible the reaction would need to occur on a certain day and at a specific latitude—we’re at about thirteen degrees south of the equator here.”

  “Maybe that’s why Zara seemed a little disappointed when I showed her this setup. She probably assumed once she acquired all thirteen crystals, she could use them as a means of massive destruction wherever she wanted. I’d bet her real target is North America, not South America.”

  “Sounds logical. I can’t help but wonder if a similar set of conditions once existed near Bimini. Though the island’s latitude is about 26 degrees north, the land is riddled with tunnels, and as I mentioned before, I’m relatively certain this unusual liquid is present. After the reaction occurred either on purpose or by accident, sinking a large land mass, the relics were moved and hidden to prevent the cataclysmic event from happening again.”

  “Wouldn’t the objects have been destroyed?” Cash asked.

  “Crystal is very stable and durable, but the best way to find out involves a little too much excitement for me, and I don’t think we want to go there, at least not here and now.”

  The scenario he described was not beyond the realm of possibility, but Cash had a difficult time believing the far-fetched scheme was worth the lengths Zara and her people had gone through to acquire the artifacts. She had always been obsessed with financial independence, strength, and power, but she was also practical, logical, and grounded in reality. Maybe hatred and her desire for revenge had driven her over the edge. For now, her motives were irrelevant and might never be known.

  At the moment, he needed to locate Diane and focus on saving Olivia. Every minute she remained in Zara’s clutches decreased the possibility of getting her back unharmed. He had to find her, to hold her, to tell her what was in his heart. The thought of life without her conjured up unfamiliar emotions and he didn’t like the sensation one bit.

  “Hey, over here,” Marjorie shouted.

  Cash and Pete rushed to Marjorie’s side.

  “What do you got?” Cash asked.

  “Look. All these tunnels are manmade, but most are too high up the wall and too small for a person to navigate, so I’m thinking they were constructed as air ducts, or possibly as a means to spread the effects of a massive explosion. Behind that boulder is a tunnel big enough to crawl through, and it’s at floor height.”

  Pete dropped to his knees and adjusted his headlamp. “It goes back about ten feet and then turns. I’ll go as far as the bend and see what’s around the corner.”

  Marjorie and Cash squatted low and added their light to aid Pete.

  “The tunnel angles up. Maybe this is another way out.”

  “Wait up,” Cash said as he and Marjorie scrambled in behind the scientist.

  Cash squeezed by Pete in the small corridor and took the lead on hands and knees. The tunnel made several more turns and continued at a gradual incline. He glanced at his watch. He was curious to explore the passage, b
ut if it didn’t end soon, they would have to turn back. They still needed to retrieve the Argentinean relic, hopefully find Diane, and reach the rendezvous point by 8:00.

  The tunnel made another turn and came to a dead end in a small chamber. The ceiling was high enough to be out of Cash’s outstretched arm’s reach, and about five feet above his head there appeared to be an old wooden panel.

  “I guess the stories are true,” Marjorie stated as she stared at the exit above them.

  “What stories?” Cash asked.

  “Tales claim an entire underground city, complete with fountains, galleries, and a mausoleum exists below Cusco. I believe we are in part of the subterranean world which has managed to stay under the public radar and in the form of legend for hundreds of years. A passageway was discovered linking the Koricancha temple with the Sacsayhuaman Fortress just outside of the city. The tunnel was condemned in 1923, but stories still abound about the immense underground labyrinth.”

  “Come get on my shoulders,” Cash ordered Marjorie. “I think you’ll be high enough to check out the door above us.”

  Cash knelt and Marjorie climbed onto his shoulders. He stood and walked toward the panel in the tunnel’s ceiling as if she weighed nothing.

  “Can you reach it?”

  Marjorie stretched her arms upward. “Almost, but not quite.”

  Cash cupped his hands under her small feet and hoisted her higher.

  “That’s good. I can wedge my fingers into the gap outlining the panel. When I push straight up, I can feel a slight give, but I don’t think I have the strength or leverage to push through.”

  “We must be far enough away from the crystal and close enough to the surface that the GPS is now working,” Pete added.

  Cash eased Marjorie down and set her gently on the ground.

  “Get a good reading, Pete, and then hop on up,” Cash stated, ignoring Pete’s look of disbelief.

  Marjorie helped to balance Pete as Cash slowly straightened to his feet.

  “Geez, you’re skinny butt is heavier than I guessed,” Cash groaned under the strain. “Hurry up and see if you can budge the panel before I drop you.”

  Pete pushed and the boards rose up on one side, lifting an old rug with it. Dust sprinkled down on him, making his eyes tear up and his lungs flutter for breath. Pete lifted a couple more inches, ignoring the continued dusting.

  “It clearly opens inside a building, but it’s too dark to see anything. The boards are hinged, so I can’t slide it out of place, and the rug resting on top of it is real heavy.”

  “Maybe we can exit here without being seen. Ease off and rest your arms for a moment and we’ll try one more time and then we’ll have to backtrack out of here if we can’t get it open. We’re about out of time.”

  Pete shook out his aching arms, trying to restore feeling after the strain of lifting up on the heavy object above his head. The thought of getting out quickly and retreating the way they came gave him a boost of strength. “I need to get a little higher,” Pete stated.

  “Stand up on my shoulders instead of just sitting,” Cash replied.

  Pete was reluctant to put his size twelves on anyone’s shoulders, but it seemed the only option in order to get the boost he needed. “Okay, ready?”

  He raised himself up and shoved at the door in one quick motion. The panel flew back and landed on the floor with a thud. They all froze. If anyone loitered in the vicinity, they’d be discovered.

  For several moments everyone kept their headlamps pointed down and no one made a sound. Pete’s fingers dug into the lip of the opening, trying to take his weight off of Cash’s shoulders, but afraid to look up or move in case someone was coming to check out the noise. After it appeared no one heard, Pete pulled himself through with the aid of a strong shove from below. He grabbed Marjorie’s hands as Cash hoisted her up and yanked her out of the tunnel. Marjorie quickly located a sash from a priest’s robe, and they used the length of cloth to haul Cash to the surface.

  “Where are we?” Cash asked as he scanned the beautiful interior of a church.

  “If I’m not mistaken,” Marjorie stated, “I believe this solid silver altar we are standing behind is in La Catedral. Construction was begun in 1559 on the site of the palace of Inca Wiracocha, an early ruler of the Incan Empire. So, this is pre-Spanish, like the Church of Santo Domingo.”

  “How convenient. I’m supposed to meet Zara at 8:00 A.M. at El Triunfo to exchange the crystal for Olivia, and that structure is attached to this building. There’s no way she’s aware of the tunnel’s existence, so we might be able to use the knowledge to our advantage. Both buildings open to the public at 10:00 A.M., so keep that in mind. Too many innocent civilians have already been caught in the crossfire.”

  Pete glanced at his watch. “It’s seven now. We’d better hurry. It’ll take us nearly an hour to retrieve the Argentinean relic from hiding and get back here, so we’ll be cutting it close.”

  “I wish I knew where Diane was,” Cash lamented. “I’d feel a whole lot better if we were all together. We need everyone on the same page to increase our chances of getting Olivia back alive.”

  Pete and Marjorie nodded in agreement as the three of them slipped out of the church and onto the narrow cobblestone alleyway. They followed Cash closely as he wove through town. When they reached the hiding place of the Argentinean crystal, they let out a collective sigh of relief. The way the mission had gone so far, Cash wouldn’t have been surprised to find the relic gone.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  October 4, 7:00 A.M.

  Cusco, Peru

  UNLIKE MANY LATIN American cities, Cusco awakened early. In order to reach Machu Picchu in one day, travelers had to start their trek before dawn, requiring those working in the tourism industry, which encompassed nearly everyone, to begin their tasks as the sun rose over the mountains cradling the city.

  Heinrich had been difficult to tail all night on the empty streets without being spotted, but as people began milling about, Diane felt a little less conspicuous. She followed him, shadowing Cash and Zara to the Church of Santo Domingo. She waited while he waited, and both had stayed out of sight until Cash and Zara emerged and sat on the steps of the church, no doubt negotiating the exchange of Olivia for the final relic.

  After Cash and Zara parted company, Diane was torn as to whether to contact Cash, follow Zara, or trail Heinrich. In the end, she had chosen the henchman, fearing she was too inexperienced to take on Zara alone and gambling on Heinrich to lead her to Olivia. So far, he hadn’t.

  She observed him from her perch at the base of the fountain as he lounged at a table stuffing his mouth with food and drinking coffee. The small café he sat outside of overlooked the Plaza de Armas. People wandered about the town square, enjoying the early morning sun and setting up their wares to sell to the tourists. Diane bought a pear from an old woman in a thick green sweater and a white top hat. She wiped the fruit on her pants and took a bite without ever taking her eyes off Heinrich.

  Diane loathed the man. He murdered Ian, and knowing he might have touched Olivia made her fume. The Arizona desert revealed him as ruthless killer and now he held her sister hostage. She stewed, dreaming of various methods of revenge as he sipped his coffee, enjoying the morning as if it were just a normal day in a beautiful city in the high mountains of South America, rather than a time when more people would most likely die.

  Despite Heinrich’s laid-back attitude, Diane had no doubt things were about to change. Cash wouldn’t have left Zara if a deal hadn’t been struck to get Olivia back. Maybe she should have contacted Cash to find out about the plan, but at the time, Diane thought the odds of rescuing Olivia were greatest if she could locate her sister and snatch her before the proposed exchange. The one trait kidnappers shared was they seldom released a hostage unharmed. Diane was reluctant to take that chance with her only sibling’s life.

  She tensed as Heinrich suddenly set his coffee cup down and pulled a cell phone out of his ja
cket. The conversation lasted only seconds. He ended the call and stuffed the phone in his coat pocket, threw a wad of money on the table, and left.

  Diane scanned the area before sneaking off after the big man, trying to verify he was alone. He moved quickly through the narrow streets and alleys, making it difficult for her to keep him in sight without exposing herself. He navigated the passageways leading away from the Plaza, toward the city’s edge as efficiently as if it were his hometown.

  Stopping short and hiding behind a vendor stall, Diane spied Heinrich entering a large warehouse. She studied the building, noting the structure’s lack of windows on the ground floor, creating the ideal place to hide a hostage or priceless artifacts from prying eyes. Diane sensed Olivia’s presence, but needed to be certain her sister was being held captive within the nondescript walls. There was only one way to find out.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  October 4, 7:45 A.M.

  Cusco, Peru

  CASH PATTED THE small pack secured under his loose fitting shirt. The bundle containing the crystal made his skin tingle. He didn’t know if the sensation was just his imagination, or if the unusual relic possessed some mystical property, but at the moment the only thing he cared about was getting Olivia back unharmed.

  “Okay, remember the plan. You two stay here in La Catedral unless I call for you, and be ready to drop through the hatch in the floor. Once I get Olivia, we’ll come this way and we’ll escape below. Zara’s people will be covering the streets, so using the tunnel should buy us some time.”

  Cash checked his watch and slipped out the rear exit of the cathedral. Marjorie bolted the heavy wooden door shut behind him. He scanned the area and spied no suspicious persons or activity, so made his way to the Plaza de Armas and joined the locals and tourists milling about. He spotted Heinrich moving toward the back of El Triunfo and Marabout toward the front and side of the cathedral. He glanced again at his wrist, 7:58 A.M.time to move.

  As Cash approached the main entrance of El Triunfo, Zara slipped up and laced her arm with his. Together they walked around to the back of the building and let themselves in through an unlocked door.