Exotic #02 - The Hieroglyphic Staircase
Page 22
“At the Museum shop. His brother travels a lot. He is not in town much.”
Elena covered her mouth. Diego and his brother. She couldn’t believe it. She had thought Diego a harmless flirt. What did the brother do? One of those worthless brothers Diego said he never saw. That never helped with his mother. The brother might be ferrying stolen goods with all his travelling. Boy, had she been naïve.
Another disquieting thought flashed across her mind. Had the Museum director known about Diego and the smuggling? Had he aided and abetted the smuggling ring? Had the thieves threatened to expose him and his role? Is that why he committed suicide?
It dawned on Elena that the Museum director’s anger with her might have had more to do with some nefarious role he played in the smuggling operation and his not wanting her to know. Diego may have threatened to expose him. Had blackmail driven him to suicide? They might never know.
“Is that the only time you saw the inspector and José in Diego’s house?”
“No, there were other times we saw them come. They didn’t stay very long. Only that one time they had the argument.”
“Can you remember when that was?”
“Right before the murder of that man at the Temple.”
She took Miguel’s hand. “Come, Miguel and Gordo. This is important what you’ve told me. Good job. We need to see Connie. You’ll tell this to Connie, won’t you?”
Miguel nodded, and Gordo imitated the gesture.
She steered both boys to the main room of the clinic where Dominic was still talking to Felicia.
As she approached with the two boys in hand, Dominic turned and smiled. “Hello. It’s good to see you out and about.”
“Yes,” said Felicia, all cordiality. “We’re so glad you are feeling better. You look much better although purple and yellow aren’t your colors.”
Elena suspected Felicia was trying to be civil. She was doing a decent imitation.
“Hello, you two,” she said with what she hoped was a smile in her voice. “I’m going to find Connie, and Miguel and Gordo are going with me.”
“Do you want me to go?” ask Dominic.
“No, that’s not necessary. You look engrossed in important conversation.”
“We were talking about how to get funding for a new roof and a shelter for homeless kids here in Copan Ruinas,” he said.
Elena perked up at that news. “How wonderful. Don’t let us keep you. We’ll be back soon.”
They found Connie in the police station, head bent in conversation with Paco. They greeted Elena and the boys with big hellos, smiles, and hugs.
Before she forgot, Elena pulled a small plastic bag from a vest pocket and handed it to Connie.
“This is a medal of St. Jude I found close to the murder site and, what with everything, I forgot I had it. I wanted to give it to you before I forgot again.”
Connie took the medal and studied it, asking questions about the exact location where Elena had found it.
Paco leaned over to have a look. “May I see that?”
Connie took one last look and passed it over. He examined it, turning it over and over, holding it to the light to see better.
“What do you think?” asked Connie.
“Funny. Raul Oliveros wore one like this, but his is missing. He asked me if I had seen it around anywhere.”
“Really?” asked Elena.
Connie said, “Dust it for prints though I don’t think we’ll find anything definitive. I wish I could pin that joker Oliveros to the murder site, but this might not be enough to do it.”
“Well then, you better listen to Miguel’s story,” said Elena. “This might help.”
Miguel told his story in record time. Connie and Paco listened closely with a question now and then for clarification.
When the boy finished, Connie said, “Now we’re getting somewhere. Diego, is it? I know him from the Museum. Sort of smart aleck type, isn’t he?”
“That’s the one,” said Elena.
“Let’s go, Paco,” said Connie, in high gear and rapid motion toward the door. “Bring the medal. I knew Oliveros was in this. We’ll pay him a visit and see if he’s still missing his medal.”
* * * * *
Dominic couldn’t believe his ears when Elena related Miguel’s story and what Paco had said about the medal.
“Wow,” he said, “this is far reaching.”
Elena nodded. “I never would have suspected Diego. Oliveros, yes. But Diego? That little worm.”
They sat on straight back chairs on the sidewalk before the open door of the clinic. Subtle rose and salmon colors tinged with dusty blue swirled across the evening sky. Everyone had left the clinic for the day. The streets carried a brisk pedestrian traffic. People waved as they went by.
“Look at the sky,” said Dominic. “The promise of normal life returns.”
“You wax poetic this evening,” said Elena and nudged him in the ribs. The two little boys were practicing their footwork with the soccer ball around the clinic.
Dominic smiled, brimming with new hope. They were alive, enjoying a peaceful evening together with the sound of children playing in the background. He scooted his chair close against hers and put his arm around her shoulders.
“What are you going to do now?” he asked.
“My mother and I talked about getting a bus to San Pedro Sula or Guatemala City as soon as they are running again. Someone said maybe tomorrow the road would be clear.”
“You’re leaving then.” He tried to keep the disappointment from his voice.
“I’m thinking of leaving, yes.” Her lips turned up into a lopsided impish smile. “There’s still the Hieroglyphic Staircase project, but without my computer it would be difficult to continue.”
“I think you should stay and finish the project. You could scare up another computer. You still have a contract. You’re still the acting Museum director. You could help me organize the homeless children’s shelter. Felicia is pretty sure she can raise the money through her friend, Jack, in the banana business.”
“Ah, Felicia, she has far reaching tentacles.”
“She puts her whole heart and body into fundraising.”
Elena laughed at Dominic’s wry smile. “Maybe the end does justify the means.” She paused. “Will you be staying?”
“Yes. I’m staying. There’s small, fledgling Episcopal Church in a town not far from here that needs pastoral support. I might see if I can be of help.”
He didn’t say it was to keep his bargain with God. Some day maybe he would tell Elena about the pact he made with the Creator that he was only too happy to fill.
“That’s wonderful, Dominic. And Miguel and Gordo? What will happen to them?”
“The shelter for homeless boys is already in operation at my house. I’ll take care of them. I can’t let them continue living as they have. I’ll invite their friends to come live with us, too. You could help me.”
Elena wound her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, drawing whistles from a passerby.
“Dominic Harte,” she said, “you are a good man.”
He gave her a wry smile. “You are a wonderful woman. You should stick around so Mr. Good and Ms. Wonderful can get to know each other better.”
She laughed. “I guess you could use help with those boys, and I would dearly love to finish the hieroglyphic project.”
“Now you’re talking words I want to hear.”
“Even though I’m glad my name has been cleared, and it looks like the smuggling ring will be brought to justice, I still need to solve the mystery of what the hieroglyphics say. That would be a feather in my professional cap.” She hesitated. “There’s one other thing.”
“What’s that?” said Dominic.
“I wonder if there really is treasure up there at the top of the Hieroglyphic Staircase.”
“One way to find out is to go up there and do a little excavating. The police would be interested.”
“Connie s
aid she’d help. But I’m not sure the Mayan warrior ghost will let us in on his secret.”
* * * * *
Careful excavation produced nothing behind the fifty-second step of the Hieroglyphic Staircase. Elena and her field workers meticulously pulled each stone forward and searched. Nothing. No hollow cave, no treasure box, no stash of gold. Connie Lascano was satisfied they had left no stone unturned.
The Harvard archaeological team returned and was astounded to learn of what had transpired. One of the team members said he was not surprised to hear a ghost had figured in. He said he had seen the belligerent fellow himself while working late in the ruins. Elena smiled when she heard the admission coming from so eminent a scholar.
She was glad Jorge Gomez never discovered there was no hiding place behind the fifty-second step. Raul Oliveros thought there was still hidden treasure, but he was in custody along with Diego and his brother. It would be a long time before they were free.
Elena wasn’t sure if there were treasure, but it didn’t matter. She was glad the Mayan warrior ghost’s secret was secure with him.
THE END
About the Author
Marjorie Thelen lives and writes novels outside a small town on the Oregon frontier. She enjoys writing stories that entertain her and, hopefully, her readers. The Hieroglyphic Staircase is the second in the series Mystery-in-Exotic-Places. The first was The Forty Column Castle, which is available in online bookstores. If you would like to learn more, visit her web site: www.MarjorieThelen.com