“Agree.”
“I’m still not sure it’s a good idea for us to rent a car to get to the ruins. You’ve seen how people drive here. How fast they go. They might as well have wings, not tires, on their vehicles.”
“And how is that different from back home?”
Road Trip
THEY HAD TO WAIT ABOUT thirty minutes on the money, but it came through faster than they had originally expected. It also turned out that renting a vehicle was easier than they had assumed. Apparently, a lot of tourists opted for driving to the ruins rather than being crammed into a stage coach with a bunch of sweaty strangers.
They had a map and were headed out of the rental lot by ten o’clock. They were ahead of schedule, but they still didn’t have any time for sightseeing en route.
Sara watched Sean’s profile. It was more calming to take in his features rather than dwell on the fact they were driving in a foreign country. People were passing them and, for living a more laidback life here, the ones on the highway seemed a contradiction to that stereotype.
She knew Sean was going slower for her, but she couldn’t bring herself to encourage him to speed up. While she had contemplated potential threats to their safety when planning this trip—having their room broken into, being murdered, their plane crashing, or drowning in the ocean—she had never considered the possibility of dying in a car accident.
They passed a road sign and she stated the obvious. “They’re all in Spanish.”
Sean glanced over and took her hand into his lap, resting it on his thigh. “There’s only one sign I really need to worry about and that’s the exit we need to take. Besides that, I know alto means stop.”
“As if you’ll have a need for that one on the highway.”
He squeezed her hand.
“I know I’m getting paranoid and I usually don’t,” she said.
“It’s an interesting side of you.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“No, not at all.” He laughed.
She loved the way it sounded. If she could make him laugh, she was doing her job. Sara smiled as she settled back into her seat to enjoy the trip. They were on their honeymoon after all. At least she was spending the next two hours by his side.
Sean nudged her. “Sara?”
A moan escaped her throat and her eyes eventually fluttered open. “Where are we?”
“We’re here.”
“Okay.” She wiped her eyes and sat up. Her brown curls were pressed to the back of her head and she fluffed them up with her hands. “What time is it?”
“Just after twelve.”
“Good. We made it on time. When did I pass out?” She looked at him, her eyes squinting from the bright sunlight.
“Not long after we got on the road, darling.” He reached for the door handle.
She was still in her seat when he came around and opened her door. He loved how she appreciated the etiquette that seemed outdated in the modern world. He’d be opening the car door for her as long as he was vertical.
She stepped out. “Whoa, is it just me or did we enter a sauna? This place is hotter than it is in Cancun.”
“What do you expect? We’re in the middle of a jungle.”
“Oh, there’s something really exciting about that thought.” She smiled, but it faded fast. She reached into the back seat for the sunhat. “The tickets?”
Sean pointed to the modern building that served as the entrance to the ruins site. “We’ll just buy two more.”
“It’s so much money.” A huge yawn encompassed her face.
“Let me worry about it.” He didn’t have the heart to point out that he was carrying fifty thousand, so what was buying a couple more tickets. Her head must still be groggy from her nap.
He reached for her hand, but they let go not long after contact. The air was stifling and instantly made for wet palms. “You sure you need the hat?” He pointed at it.
“Are you kidding me? We’re in the middle of a jungle. You just said so.”
The ticket lady handed two stubs to Sean. “Here you go.”
He passed one on to Sara as the lady laid out a brochure on the counter, opening it to a map of the ruins. “We have to make our visitors aware of a few things. One is to remind you that we are in the middle of a jungle. You step out into the long grass, you’re on your own. Know that there are poisonous snakes and jaguars.”
“Jaguars?” Sara’s eyes enlarged with the intensified pounding of her heart.
“Yes, as I said. Also, no one is permitted to touch any of the ruins. They are cordoned off. You go past the rope and you’ll be wishing you hadn’t.”
“Why, what would happen?” Sara leaned on the counter, pushing Sean a few inches to the right.
The lady’s lips went into a tight line. “The ruins are protected by armed men.”
“The militia?” She had been in precarious situations back in Albany but nothing quite like this—a jungle, wild animals, poisonous snakes, militia with itchy trigger fingers?
Sean put his arm around her, collected the brochure, and ushered Sara along.
“Just like back home?” she said. “Funny, but I don’t remember a jungle in Albany.”
“Think of it as a concrete jungle. Some people are dangerous animals.”
“Hmm.”
“We’re going to see this through for Earl.”
“Yes, I know.”
She kept her eyes straight ahead. Tourists were crammed into the building like sardines in a can. Sweat ran down her torso in sheets, not in droplets. People were cutting them off at every turn, but Sean managed to weave them through the crowd to the other side of the turnstile.
Sara eyed the path in front of them. “I’m assuming we just follow this to the back corner? How far away do we have to go?”
“I’m not exactly sure, darling, but we better get moving. We have less than an hour to make it there.”
The path wound through trees, and local vendors lined the entire way, trying to pawn off their goods on the tourists. Sara’s eyes drifted to a few items and women were approaching her with dresses, telling her how beautiful they would be on her. She politely declined all of them.
After it happened the third time, Sean said, “Just remember why we’re here. I promise you we will shop when all of this is over.”
“Oh, and, darling, I’ll make sure you hold good to that promise.” She smiled, but her gaze left him, darting to the clearing on their left. Through the trees at the side of the path, portions of the Chichén Itzá pyramid were showing.
“We have to see the wonder of the world, darling. We’ve come all this way.” She went to the clearing, coming off the trail into the beating sun, but the melting temperatures didn’t have her attention.
The pyramid was large and breathtaking—to think that the Mayans had undertaken and accomplished such an enormous feat without the advantage of modern-day tools.
“It’s awe-inspiring,” she said.“What is that noise?” The sound of what resembled a bird cawing echoed down the stairs of the structure. She headed toward the base of the pyramid, where people were standing with a guide.
She moved closer to the guide. “What is that?”
He took her in and, even though she wasn’t part of his group, he smiled at her. “When you clap your hands at the base of the stairs, it comes back sounding like their sacred bird, the quetzal.”
She put her hands together and, as the noise resounded, hairs rose on her arms and the back of her neck. “That is unbelievable.” She turned to look at Sean, finally realizing how she had taken off without making sure he had followed.
She calmed when she found him standing behind her. “Did you hear that, darling? You clap and it makes the sound of a bird.”
The guide smiled at her and left to pick up leading his group around the ruins.
When she glanced back at Sean, he wasn’t smiling. He looked peaked. It must have been the heat.
She slipped her arm through hi
s and helped him to a nearby snack stand. “Let’s get some water in you and get this over with. Hang in there, hon.”
Jungle Fever
SEAN WAS DOUBLED-OVER AND sitting at a picnic table. His stomach kept lurching, but he had to find the strength to get up and get moving again. Time was running out. They had to make the drop in less than twenty minutes and who knew how far the walk was to the back of the site.
With the water infusing his system, at least his head had stopped spinning, and the trace of shade received from a few trees also served to help.
He looked up at Sara, who stood watching over him. “I know what happened to the Mayans. They say that no one knows why they left their city, but I think they went delirious from the heat, wandered off into the jungle, and got eaten by jaguars.”
Sara laughed and the sound of it spurred a smile, but he was too weak to laugh. Sean struggled to his feet, his legs swaying unsteadily beneath him.
She helped him get his balance. “If you’d like, you can wear my hat for a bit.”
“Ha, ha. Very cute.”
“Well, you keep saying it doesn’t suit me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Sean, I’ve been thinking. We’re not just going to let them take the money, are we?”
“Not sure how this is all going to play out yet, but we’re going to have to talk while we walk.”
She went to hold his hand, but when their flesh met, she pulled back. “It’s too blooming hot to touch each other.”
“Agree.”
“The air conditioning in the room is going to feel terrific tonight. And the pool.”
“Oh, please, darling, keep talking.”
She amused him. “The water’s going to feel so cool on our bodies.”
Images of Sara in her bikini entered his mind and, as his thoughts advanced, it had his core temperature heating up. He put his focus back on the drop.
“We’ll put the bag in the long grass, as directed, and then find a place to hang back and watch for him to pick it up. When he does, we’ll follow him while we wait for the call to get Earl and then plan our next step from there, but I have no intention of letting him net fifty thousand.”
“Especially after he almost tried to drown you.” Sara touched his arm and he felt the slickness of sweat where she’d made contact.
“Precisely.”
Sara kept glancing over at Sean. The heat was still a negative factor for him. He was pale, but his eyes were determined and focused. When he got that look, nothing could stop him.
They had each purchased a bottle of water, and Sara took a long draw on hers. It was warm, but at least it was wet and added some moisture back to her body.
She looked ahead, her mind on what awaited them. She also wished that Voigt would have already called with the background on Amelia Wolfe. She wondered what was taking him so long but figured it had something to do with the chief. Voigt would have to watch how he went about obtaining the information.
“It looks like we made it. This is the back of the clearing. The jungle’s right there.” Sean removed the cap from his bottle and drained it of water.
“Let’s do this quick then, darling, and get to a safe location to watch.”
She scanned over her shoulder, right then left, looking to see if she noticed anyone suspicious. Even though Bud didn’t need to hide his identity, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was somewhat disguised.
But no one was around them, not even any tourists.
Sean’s cell phone rang. “It’s got to be Voigt.” He checked the display before answering, nodding to confirm the caller’s identity.
Thank goodness. If they had more insight into Amelia, and Bud and how everything fit together, they would be better able to formulate a plan.
She glanced at her watch. They were ten minutes ahead of schedule, but she still didn’t feel comfortable standing there.
“I’m going to put you on speaker,” Sean said to Voigt.
“Hey, Sara, what’s this guy got you doing?”
“Hi, Jimmy. We’re just having a grand time here in paradise.”
“It doesn’t really sound like it, but then again, I’d be drinking tequila and floating in the resort’s pool, appreciating the view, if you catch my drift.”
“I hate to rush the reunion but we’ve got to move. What did you find out?” Sean interjected.
“A lot. Amelia Wolfe’s personal record is clean, but she married the wrong fella.”
“She’s married?” Sean asked, glancing to Sara.
“His name is Daren Wolfe.”
“That explains the Dar she wrote on the dog-ear of her novel,” Sara added.
“He’s there? It’s surprising he even got to Cancun. He has a rap sheet a mile long, but more importantly, an open arrest warrant.”
“What was the charge?” Sean asked.
“He’s a suspect in a murder case. He fled before the authorities could catch up to him, but that’s not all. The reason it took so long to get back to you is that I did some asking around. Word on the street is he owes a large sum to a local gang. There’s a threat on his life until he pays up.”
“Let me guess, the amount is fifty thousand.”
“Bingo. How did you know?”
“Let’s call it a hunch.” Sean spoke to Sara. “He found out about Amelia’s affair and thought he’d use her to milk the cash from Earl. When that didn’t work, he followed her down here.”
“She probably followed Earl to appeal to him again,” Sara said. “Or to warn him like we thought earlier.”
Voigt continued. “I pulled financials on Amelia. Her credit card shows she booked a trip and then a few days after, another was charged.”
“Daren used her money to get down here,” Sean said.
“Before you go, the man you’re trying to save, Earl Spencer?”
“Yes.” Sean didn’t remember mentioning him directly, but he must have.
“You’ll find this interesting. He shows as the father of record for Amelia Wolfe.”
“She’s his daughter, not his lover,” Sara stated the summation with another glance over her shoulder.
She had turned around at the same time Sean felt the pressure in his lower back and he instinctively looked behind.
“Not sure if that will mean anything,” Voigt added.
“No, let’s just say it’s all coming together. Gotta go.” Sean hung up on Voigt and went to turn around.
“Nice and slowly,” the man said, his hand in a jacket pocket, and there was an extruding bulge. “You were just supposed to drop the money and leave.”
“Come on, Earl, you know how cops work, even ex-cops.”
Earl jacked the pocket, gesturing for them to step into the jungle.
Taking A Chance On The Jaguars
SEAN REACHED FOR SARA’S HAND. He didn’t care how hot it was, they weren’t heading into the jungle without a hold on each other.
She divided glances between Earl behind them, the jungle ahead of them, and Sean. “Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“You know why. I needed the money.”
“You were stealing the money for Amelia? Why would you care?”
“She is the only child I have. She warned me about Daren being here last night. She knew I didn’t have the money but told me Daren would never believe it. The guy’s a real creep and the money would get him out of her life. He promised her that. I may have misled you, but really, if you think back on things I never actually said Amelia was the mistress. You assumed.”
Sean thought back on their conversation that night. Earl was right. He had neither confirmed nor denied that Amelia was the mistress. And in Earl’s letter to Catherine, he mentioned his mistake had followed him. In this case, it was his illegitimate offspring.
Sean guided things back on track. “Then you met us.”
“Then I met you. I knew you had the money. You could set everything right. Amelia would get Daren off her tail and Catherine would get ins
urance money.” Sweat dripped down Earl’s forehead and he squinted for a second, running a hand over his brow. “Damn. Blasted hot out here.”
“It is a jungle,” Sean said.
“Let’s get out of here. Please. You don’t want to get attacked by a jaguar, or bitten by a poisonous snake, do you?” Sara pleaded.
“So, you coordinated all of this to get the money?” Sean asked.
“When I saw Amelia at the resort, I was surprised, to say the least, but she came all the way down here to warn me.” Earl wiped his eyes, no doubt to rid them of the stinging sweat that trickled into them, but he kept walking, backing them deeper into the jungle.
Sean scanned the area, watching each footfall to make sure it didn’t land somewhere unsafe. The last thing he or Sara needed was to incur the wrath of a poisonous snake.
“What about Catherine?” Sara asked.
“She’s a strong woman.”
“So you were just going to disappear?”
“It would be a new start for me, a clean slate. Catherine would end up with the life insurance money. She would’ve been taken care of. She’d have more than she does now.”
“Except for the one problem of her loving you.”
Sean tugged softly on Sara’s arm, and she heeded his advice. They both stopped walking.
“Why aren’t we still moving?” Earl asked.
“We’re not going any farther.”
“I’m the one with the gun.”
“You don’t have a gun.” Sean stared blankly at him, calling his bluff—at least hoping it was.
“I do.” He thrust out at the base of his jacket pocket again.
“I don’t think you’re armed, Earl. I believe it was your fist in my lower back, not the end of a gun. Besides, there is no way you’d be getting past the gates with a weapon.”
Sean sensed Sara’s eyes on his profile. He retained his attention on Earl. He’d sought some isolation in the jungle just in case Earl didn’t go down easily.
Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 02 - Vacation is Murder Page 8
