by Paul Knox
“I hope we do find the tablets.” Reece felt her eyes getting watery again. She gave Mario a big hug. “Is there more to the story I haven’t heard?” she asked.
“You lived the story, Señora Reece. Others will tell it. Like me! I’m going to be the most popular kid at school.”
As Reece watched Mario leave with his aunt and uncle, she found herself hoping he was right. Maybe there was a little magic in this world.
* * *
Later that day, back at the dig site, the dirt had been moved and the second tunnel’s entrance had been unearthed. The men moved a burnt-lime concrete slab out of the way, leading to another set of stairs. Like the other chamber, the steps led down into what appeared to be a room below the earth.
Chief Tekulut led the way. Reece, Shanahan and Duke, along with four or five Pipils followed behind. Unlike the other chamber, this underground structure had two rooms. In the middle of the first room lay a beautifully adorned coffin that looked like it was made out of pure jadestone. Upon closer inspection, Reece could tell that it wasn’t a single solid piece, but had been expertly crafted together from polished gems.
“Queen Metztli resides in her eternal home,” Chief Tekulut announced. “Her perfect grave. I won’t dishonor the ancestors by gazing at her earthy bones. No one shall lift this lid.”
The Pipils nodded in agreement. Reece couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. What if the tablets were in there? If they were, she would never know. But she would respect the chief’s wishes. At least she had the memory of this amazing place.
The group moved on into the second room. In this room they found twenty-two large chests made of the same burnt-lime cement as the entire structure. Eleven on one side, and eleven on the other, lining the walls. Pillars had been erected in between the chests.
“Reece…?” Duke breathed in astonishment.
“Do you think…?” Shanahan whispered.
The Pipil began to mutter amongst themselves. “Who will open them? Has anyone heard about any curses? Should we really open them? Should we leave this place? What if they’re here?”
And then Chief Tekulut cleared his throat loudly and stomped his walking staff on the stone floor. Immediately the Pipil people became silent.
He began, “I had a vision that after a great storm, there would be a time of peace. Someone from the sky would herald a new dawn for us. And the sacred tablets would be found again. That person from the sky is here with us now.” The chief turned to Reece and bowed. “Will you open the first chest, Reece Cannon?”
“Oh,” Reece breathed, suddenly feeling unusually overwhelmed. “Right…sure, I mean, yes. I would be honored to.”
Reece approached the middle of the twenty-two chests while everyone waited. The stone lids were about half an inch thick and not affixed to anything. She slowly pushed one back. The sound of stone on stone growled as the lid moved.
She shone the flashlight inside.
Then she turned back and said, “They’re here. The gold tablets.”
60
ONE WEEK LATER
TUCSON, ARIZONA
REECE AND SHANAHAN walked through the entrance of the Nohpalli café. But they weren’t headed into Reece’s neighborhood coffee shop, they were headed out. It was Saturday night and Christmas was only a few days away.
“You sure Jessie doesn’t mind?” Reece pulled her jacket tighter. The cold air felt nippy, a stark contrast to the warm tropical weather in El Salvador.
“Don’t worry, Jessie’s a professional. Zaki barely listens to me, but when she comes around, he stands at attention. Well, until he falls down again. But he’s learning to walk pretty good.”
“He’s a cutie. He looks like you.”
Shanahan smiled. “Where’s Duke tonight? I miss him.”
“A wedding. Photography gig.”
Shanahan nodded approvingly. “Glad he feels well enough to go back to work.”
“You and me both.” Reece gazed at the houses surrounding them as they traipsed about. Christmas lights of all colors lit up the rooftops and front yards. Giant blowup figurines of Frosty and Santa Claus with his reindeer were all over the place.
Nohpalli was one of those neighborhoods that went all out for the holidays. Some of the houses were lit up like miniature galaxies, and the ones that weren’t so elaborate still showed their holiday cheer in grand fashion. Even a few blue and white Hanukkah displays lit up the yards. It was truly an enchanting place to be during a magical time of year.
Reece pictured all her friends and neighbors back at the café with Jessie and Zaki. No doubt they hoped she and Shanahan would hurry up and come back to sip on a hot chocolate with them. The café had smelled like cinnamon a minute ago when they left. Having everyone together thawed the chill of ruthlessness she was still mentally coming back from.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
Shanahan gazed at the houses, silent for a moment before resuming the conversation right where he left off. “But…really, how are you and Duke? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Reece playfully punched him in the arm. “Of course I don’t mind. He seems a little spooked by everything that happened. But that’s probably a good thing. It means he’s not a secret spy or something. He’s a normal guy.”
“I admit,” Shanahan said, “I was a bit skeptical at first. But if he can stick around after being beaten to a pulp—twice—and then, you know, the whole Chang thing…he’s got my seal of approval.”
Reece didn’t say anything, staring off in the distance.
“What?” Shanahan asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s not that. I would’ve never been able to forgive myself if something had happened to him. Although… I might be a different person now. I like Duke—a lot. But… Anyway, is that what you wanted to talk about out here on this cold winter’s night? You could’ve asked me that back at the café.”
“No, not exactly.”
Reece quirked her brow. “The private investigation business we plan on starting?”
“We do need to solidify a few things about that. But, no again.”
“The gold tablets we found?”
“Think we’ll get a finder’s fee for that?” Shanahan asked. “Maybe the Salvadoran government will throw us a bone.”
“Maybe. But they’ll end up in a museum where they belong, a part of history. Mystery and magic we can all share.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Shanahan chimed. “Meanwhile, we’re both jobless trying to start a business off the crumbs of what we made as detectives. But at least we feel good about it. Life is a mystery, huh?”
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, Shanahan. Remember Affluent Alliance Group?”
“Michael Alderidge’s investment firm?”
“He left it to me.”
Shanahan stopped walking. Reece couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but whatever it was caused the gears in his mind to start clicking.
“No investigation business then?” He asked with a smile, knowing full well that wasn’t the case.
Reece smirked. “This means we have more money than we know what to do with. We also have his advanced equipment, the connection with Xie—seems like Kennedy Ross from the CIA is willing to play ball, too. And maybe if we pay her enough, Ambrosia can keep flying us around.”
“You weren’t kidding,” Shanahan muttered. “She is one helluva pilot. Dropped me off in the middle of the rainforest.”
Reece continued. “Maybe we can even recruit Penny and Ethan from the sheriff’s department. We can make a real team.”
“A team…” Shanahan’s face shone with genuine enthusiasm, as though his greatest dream was coming true.
“And not only his company, but Michael left me an entire fortune. I’m completely rich. Completely, filthy, crazy-style rich.”
“Nice.” Shanahan nodded like riches were semi-notable, but not a big deal compared to the team they would asse
mble. He began walking again. “But there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, Reece.”
“Uh-oh, here it comes.”
“How are you doing with your father's passing? Are you okay? I mean…how are you doing inside? You know, where it counts.”
“Geez, you have to get all personal, huh?”
“Sorry.” Shanahan spoke softly. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Reece took a deep breath before answering. “In my old life, the life I lived as a child up until now, I felt alone. And the people around me fed my self-doubt—mostly unintentionally on their part. Even selfishly on their part.
“But the people in my past that left me alone, that lied to me—they’ve fallen away. And as of today, I realize I’m not alone. Not in the slightest.
“My father wasn’t who I thought he was. He had his own internal struggles. I’ve come to terms with that. My first love died…” Reece sideways nodded. “…twice. In the end he wasn’t who I thought, either.
“And me… I had you—my best friend—beside me since childhood, yet I left town as soon as I could, leaving you and my mother and sister and brother, all the while just digging my loneliness deeper in a huge city. Los Angeles was the beginning of the end for me. I couldn’t see past the tip of my nose back then.
“But now I’m back. In body, mind and maybe even spirit. And I’m at peace with my lot in life—even having been manipulated and deceived. It’s all over now. The Resistance is over. No more of that.
“Maybe I haven’t been in control of my life’s events the way I wanted or thought I deserved, but I can control the way I react to situations.
“And all these people with Christmas lights on their roofs here, or living in China, or El Salvador, wherever… We’re all on this giant rock we call Earth, flying around a nuclear fireball in space.
“We’re all in this together. I’m done resisting the inevitable. And if that makes me vulnerable…so be it. It only makes me feel stronger than ever.”
Shanahan and Reece were quiet for some time while they walked along, circling the neighborhood. Finally Shanahan spoke.
“Damn right we’re in this together. Now we just need to think of a name for our private investigation venture, which I was thinking about—maybe we shouldn’t list it in the yellow pages, if you know what I mean. Do things our own way.”
Butterflies tickled Reece’s stomach. Something about the way things were turning out thrilled her, but also made her nervous. Yet she wanted to dive in head first.
“I’m thinking the same thing,” she said. “Our way. And I have just the name. A name that flips everything on its head. A name that’s been around, but needs a new face, a new way of doing things. Our way of doing things. A name that embodies everything I’m feeling right now.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“The Association.”
EPILOGUE
REECE AND SHANAHAN had finished rounding the Nohpalli neighborhood and admiring the multi-colored lights. They were a few feet from the steps that led up to the café’s entrance when a figure appeared from the shadows and approached. From his slacks to his trench coat, to his shirt and tie, he was dressed in black from head to toe.
“Mr. Black,” Shanahan said in surprise. “What’s the occasion?”
They stood together outside the café. The cinnamon smell from inside seemed to waft around the building like a protective covering of goodwill. The bright lights inside shone through the windows, letting Reece see her friends inside, yet no one would be able to see the three of them talking in the darkness.
“So you’re Mr. Black,” Reece said, extending her hand. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.”
“The pleasure is mine,” he said cordially, taking her hand and shaking it firmly. “But let me get right down to it. I don’t want to keep you two. In fact, I was never even here.”
“I have a feeling I know what’s coming,” Shanahan said. “Who do you really work for?”
Mr. Black exhaled and smiled. “I work for the US government.”
“What agency?” Reece asked.
“Does it matter, really? We’re off the books. Off the record. Invisible. And we have a job for you two.” Mr. Black looked Reece directly in the eyes. “But specifically, due to your unique heritage, this job is best handled by you.”
“However tempting this all sounds,” Reece said, “we aren’t in need of any resources. Or authority. I’m not in the mood for paperwork this time of year.”
“Well,” Mr. Black said, straightening his tie, “that’s exactly why we want your assistance. You’ll be on your own. The government can’t be involved in what I’m about to offer you, in any way, shape, or form.
“And the way I see it,” he continued, “I’m figuring there is one resource you currently lack.”
“And that is?” Reece asked.
“We know where the bad guys are. And we know what they did.”
Reece and Shanahan looked at each other briefly, silently communicating.
“We’re willing to entertain the possibility of a job—with a big maybe,” Shanahan said.
“Let’s hear it,” Reece intoned.
“La Cosa Nostra has a new member.”
“Are we talking a new mafia boss?”
“Not exactly, Ms. Cannon. This particular individual has somehow funneled billions of dollars through his organization without us finding a trace of where it went or how he did it. And that’s not all. Everywhere he goes, people simply vanish. He’s becoming a problem.”
Mr. Black pulled a manila envelope from his trench coat. He slid a five by seven photograph from it and handed it to Reece. “This is the individual in question.”
The light from the café windows washed over the image. Reece found herself holding her breath for a moment, forgetting to breathe. The first thing her eyes were drawn to was the man’s face. He looked about her age, maybe a few years older.
His jawline was sharp, cutting down his face like a cliff’s edge. His eyes were green, but a green unlike any green Reece had ever seen. It was like they were lit from behind, bright like a peridot gemstone in a jewelers display case. But that’s not all. His eyes radiated a Machiavellian deviousness, both princely and refined. There was no denying this man was exceptionally handsome.
But these observations and feelings were all internal. Neither Shanahan nor Mr. Black would have been able to tell what just went through Reece’s mind and body.
She quickly pulled it together and handed the picture to Shanahan, turning back to face Mr. Black. “So what did you want us to do about him?”
“Go undercover.”
THE END
TRY TO BREATHE
TRY TO BREATHE
The Association: Volume 1
Reece goes undercover.
Reece infiltrates the mafia looking to bring down a devious criminal. But she never expected to question the job she set out to do — or the person she was sent to take down.
Behind the scenes everything gets dicey. And the job gets flipped on its head.
The Association is reborn in this novel with Reece Cannon at the helm, Shanahan at his best, and the fantastic characters readers have grown to love backing them up.
Paul Knox delivers another full-throttle mystery thriller that never stops, guaranteed to take your breath away.
Grab your copy of Try to Breathe!
AUTHOR NOTE
Thank you for reading Her Perfect Grave. I hope you enjoyed it!
This is the sixth Reece Cannon Thriller novel, the end of the Associations Trilogy, and yet only the beginning of what comes next with the growth of her character.
I want to thank all of you readers who devoured this trilogy with me. Your comments and praise have been extraordinary and humbling.
I can’t wait to get the next one out for you!
Cheers,
Paul Knox
TITLES LISTED IN ORDER
A Reece Cannon Thriller
2: Behind Open Eyes
3: Revenge Code
4: Hidden and Watching
5: The Murder Secret
6: Her Perfect Grave
The Association
The new Reece Cannon Thrillers
1: Try to Breathe
Table of Contents
HER PERFECT GRAVE
PROLOGUE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
