Relic

by Roger Weston

  “Wrong.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I guess I have your attention now, don’t I?”

  “Sure, I admit it.”

  “Unfortunately, I’m not going to talk unless you wire me some money.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “People going after the Confession are dying. I don’t risk my life for peanuts. If you want the Confession, wire me $300,000 right now. Then call me back.”

  “Three hundred grand? Are you nuts?”

  “I’m going to have to close an account to get you the Confession and make it a clean parting.”

  Ajax thought about that. He’d just been told that the manhunter was going to kill someone to recover the Confession and take care of loose ends.

  “I’ll pay you half now, half later.”

  “Three hundred grand is half.”

  “You don’t set the price. That’s not how it works.”

  “It is now. Otherwise, I walk away, and you lose.”

  Ajax cursed. “Fine. Give me your account number.”

  Twenty minutes later, he had the shark back on the phone.

  “This better be good,” Ajax said, “or you’re dead.”

  “I found out who has the Confession. It’s the chemist named Brian Hastings from the University of Washington. He’s the one who met Cooper at Stanford. Hastings had it, but not for long. I’m afraid he had a terrible accident. Fortunately, I recovered the Confession.”

  “You’re kidding me!”

  “No, my associate had a little meeting with Hastings. I told you we’d keep an eye on him after he left Stanford. We got the Confession yesterday. It’ll be delivered to your hotel room within the hour—right after you wire the rest of my money.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Ajax and Irina sat in the back of Ajax’s limo. The soundproof window between them and the driver was closed. Ajax looked at Irina’s knees, which were just barely revealed by her elegant floral-print skirt.

  “Nothing changes,” Irina said. “The press conference is already set up for tomorrow. It was going to be a teaser. Now it becomes the main event—right before our wedding. Now that we have the Confession, we will reveal it to the whole world tomorrow.”

  “Everything is working for us.”

  “You’re unstoppable,” Irina said. “I’ve always known that. We do have another problem though. El Jefe knows something is up. I can feel it. I hope he comes to the wedding.”

  “Of course, he will. He’s my father.” Ajax was casually polishing his Rolex with a silk handkerchief. “Anyway, just relax, will you? It’s hard to read him.”

  “I could read him just fine. He has serious reservations about putting either one of us in positions of power. Did you hear what he said? He actually mentioned appointing another member as head of the Augean Command. Can you believe it? He’s thinking of going outside the family. But then again, I guess he doesn’t consider me as family anymore.”

  Ajax shook his head and began tapping his Rolex with his knuckle.

  “We’re going to have to get rid of him,” Irina said, “and very soon.”

  Ajax looked at her but didn’t speak.

  Irina said, “We need to go to your estancia. I need to hire someone to handle the wedding preparations.”

  “We’ll go to my hotel. We can get started from there.”

  CHAPTER 37

  Standing outside a helicopter hangar on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Jake was relieved to have found a pilot, but also frustrated. Sometimes the simplest things took far more time than they should. All he had wanted was to find a helicopter pilot who could leave immediately on a flight into the remote stretches of Patagonia on a mission that carried some risk, however slight, of getting shot or possibly upsetting unknown government authorities—and they had to commit to the mission and secrecy before they could learn any specifics. Jake would be taking 90% of the risk, but several pilots turned him down, anyway, which meant he’d been wasting time running around—time that he could not afford to waste.

  Finally, Jake had found a pilot who agreed to his terms. Now, however, his situation was getting desperate. Time was running out. So far, he had gained no evidence to clear his name of probable murder charges back in Seattle. His talent was improvisation according to circumstances, but to make progress, he needed to be in Buenos Aires. Stuart’s warning had not been forgotten. In Argentina, Death was stalking Jake, and she carried a stopwatch. Jake needed to get the evidence he needed before time ran out.

  Because time was short, he could no longer afford to spend time trying to acquire all the proper equipment that he really ought to have for a mission like this—guns, ammo, first-aid kits, ghillie suit for stealth, survival knife, compass, GPS unit—just minor things like those. A prudent man would simply call the mission off and let an innocent scientist die at the hands of murderers. Jake, however, was not feeling prudent. He was angry that another innocent man was in dire straits and possibly even dead. Jake kept thinking of the assassin who’d torn up his boat and tried to assassinate him. Jake kept thinking of his dry-docked fishing boat back in Washington State and the man who’d been shot next to it. He kept having visions of some lowlife running Ashley off the road and nearly killing her. Little thoughts like these had him in a bad mood and short on patience. These people were ruthless and there was no telling how many people would die at their hands because of the Confession. Jake was going to throw some dirt in the gears and enjoy doing it.

  The mild-looking helicopter pilot walked out of the hanger and said, “Alright, let’s go.”

  CHAPTER 38

  The limo swept down the busy eight-lane street in Buenos Aires, passing endless scenery of twenty-story apartment buildings. Ajax got ahold of his brother Nick and set up a meeting. When Ajax and Irina got to his office in the bank tower, Nick greeted them with extreme reservation. In fact, he was frowning at them. Even with his tinted glasses, it was clear that he was staring at Irina, barely able to talk. Twice he opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing.

  Finally he said, “Irina, I’m so glad you’re alright.” He started to reach out to hug her, but hesitated. Then he gave her an overly-enthusiastic hug. He suddenly pulled away.

  “I guess I was the last one you called now that you’re back.” He ran his hand over his slicked back hair.

  “I guess,” Irina said. She glanced around the opulent office with the photos of skyscrapers in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo—just a few locations of the hundreds of Rosario bank branches.

  “Francisco just called and told me you were here. El Jefe left a message, but didn’t say what was going on. I think you owe me an explanation.”

  “I don’t owe you anything. I threw my life away for you. Isn’t that enough?”

  Nick frowned. “What are you doing here?” he said. “You just show up out of nowhere…? I can’t believe you’re alive. I gave the eulogy at your memorial service.”

  “I know,” she said. “I was watching. You weren’t honest. You talked about how much you loved me. Not convincing.”

  Nick winced. “You were … watching? What are you talking about?”

  “It’s all history, Nick. Ajax and I have something to tell you.”

  Nick looked back and forth between them. “I don’t understand. What could you and Ajax have to tell me?”

  Silence hung thick in the air.

  Finally Ajax said, “We’re getting married.”

  Nick took off his tinted glasses, revealing his black eyes. “What?”

  He didn’t even look at Irina. He glared at Ajax.

  Ajax smiled. “Look, bro, I know this must come as a bit of a shock, but life happens.”

  “My dead wife turns up alive—and now she’s marrying my brother—and you say life happens?”

  Ajax made a broad, expansive gesture. “It’s all in the family, bro. Neither of us could have ever predicted this.”

  “How long has this been going on?”

  “L
ong enough. We ran into each other in Hong Kong.”

  “You knew this when you called me last night? Why didn’t you tell me then?”

  “I was confused. You know I’ve never been good with family relations. I didn’t know how bring this up. It’s complicated. I’ll be honest with you, Nick. That’s the reason why I called you last night. I called you to break the news, but then it just seemed wrong to do it over the phone, so I made small talk about hunting. I’m here now, aren’t I? I wanted to tell you in person. I wanted Irina to be at my side when I told you. I owe you that much. You are my brother.”

  “You said Hong Kong? You just saw each other on the street?”

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  “Not many.” He still wouldn’t look at Irina for some reason. “And why didn’t you tell me about this? You said a month.”

  “Nick, relax, man. It was obvious that you two weren’t ever getting back together. It was over between you. I was just there to comfort her. She was lonely. I was planning to tell you, but one thing led to another. I never could have predicted this would happen.”

  “I guess that makes everything alright. Let me ask you, what’s Francisco going to call you? Uncle Ajax or Dad?”

  Ajax grimaced. “I don’t know about that. You’ll always be his father. I would never step on your toes.”

  Nick nodded, but he looked tense. “Of course not.” He walked around his shiny walnut desk. He put his hands on his desk and stared down at the wood.

  Ajax said, “Look, Nick, we’ve had our issues in the past, but I wanna bury the hatchet. I wanna a fresh start. We want you to come to the wedding.”

  Nick stood up straight. He stood there looking rigid. His shoulders were bunched up. His eyes flitted back and forth between his brother and his ex-wife. Ajax was enjoying every moment of this, but he tried to act like he felt bad about getting married to Irina. He was packing heat in case Nick cracked.

  Finally, Nick said, “Some things are meant to be. I wish the both of you happiness. I won’t stand in your way. If there’s any paperwork that needs to be signed, email it to me.”

  Ajax said, “Will you come to the wedding?”

  Nick hesitated, but then said, “Of course, I will. I’ll be there 100%. You can count on it.”

  “Will you bring El Jefe with you?”

  “Sure, yeah, I’ll even bring El Jefe.”

  Ajax put out his hand. “Thank you, man. We will share a drink together, just like the old days, just like we used to around the campfires while hunting in Patagonia.”

  As they stood up, Irina looked at an open file on his desk. She saw a photo that almost caused her to stop breathing. It was the man who had saved her life in the San Juan Islands. It was Jake Sands. He looked a little different now. He was unshaven and wearing a leather jacket, but she would never forget his face.

  “Who is that?” she asked casually.

  “Oh, it’s just a client for a loan.” Nick took off his tinted glasses and polished them with his handkerchief.

  “Is he a local?”

  “No, but he’s in town for a few days.”

  She nodded diminutively as if this satisfied her, but on the way out, as if by an afterthought she said, “Why don’t you invite your friend to the wedding, too, I mean your client. It will be good for the business relationship. We’re having it at Ajax’s estancia. We’ll get you the details. It will be small, private affair with a couple of hundred people.”

  “Sure,” Nick said. “Why not?”

  Back in the limo, Ajax and Irina just sat there looking at each other for a couple of minutes, almost as if they were really in love. Maybe they were, Irina thought. Just maybe they were.

  Then she leaned forward slowly and said, “Your brother’s new client is Jake Sands. He’s in Buenos Aires.”

  “He’s here? Are you sure?”

  “Something is going on, Ajax. We’re going to have to deal with him very soon. He saved my life, but nothing can stand in our way—nothing, nobody.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “First, find out what he’s up to. Then do what has to be done.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that alright.”

  “No half measures, Ajax.”

  CHAPTER 39

  Irina’s plans were taking shape. The obstacles were being overcome, one after another. She was becoming an unstoppable force. There was one piece of the puzzle, however, that needed to be handled. Her son Francisco had gotten lost in life. He had been raised wrong and as a result, he’d become weak-minded and turned to religion. She needed to straighten him out in a hurry.

  She confronted him unannounced at his brick-walled studio apartment.

  Sadness and happiness, pride and anger filled her when she saw him. Mostly she adored the tall, lean young man who looked so smart in eye glasses. This was her son, her own blood. She would not lose him again—to anything.

  “I hope I didn’t interrupt,” Irina said, noticing that he looked a little tired.

  “It’s okay. I was just studying. Fell asleep.”

  Irina looked at the bookshelves that lined the brick walls. “I have some good news for you—really great news.”

  “Come in.”

  She entered and couldn’t believe her son was living like this. He was living in a small studio with a closet for a bathroom and a sink for a kitchen. A Spartan bed, a desk, a couple of chairs, and several bookshelves were the only furniture. Of course, this was not uncommon for a student, but with his plans for the future, she could see this being his permanent situation.

  “Francisco, I will get right to the point. I have been talking with El Jefe. He will be appointing me as the new grandmaster of the Augean Command.”

  Francisco nodded solemnly, but didn’t say anything at first. He stood with his back to the brick wall. He was wearing shorts, so she could see his prosthetic leg. She had never seen it before.

  Francisco said, “Congratulations. I know that’s important to you.”

  She sat down in an old chair, which creaked. It was probably bought used. In the closest bookshelf, she saw books on history, philosophy, theology, and music. She said, “It’s not just for me. I am taking on this responsibility with a plan to groom you for leadership. We can get you into an Ivy League school in America with one phone call. It would be good for you to leave Argentina for a few years. You could go to America and get some exposure.”

  Francisco sat on the edge of his bed, which consisted of two mattresses placed on boards. “I’ve had more exposure to the world than any hundred college students put together. I have seen and heard things that broke my heart and darkened my soul.”

  Irina frowned and crossed her arms. She was going to straighten him out. She knew she had to break his illusions, or she would lose her son. “What do you mean by darkness of the soul? There is no soul. There is only the body—flesh and blood.”

  Francisco shrugged.

  “You can’t deny it, can you?” Irina said.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Maybe you should. This is not the life for you. Your destiny is much bigger than this.”

  Francisco shook his head.

  “I want your answer, Francisco.”

  “Mother, I love you. That’s all that matters.”

  “I said I want an answer!”

  “Okay, alright, but answer this first: Where did flesh and blood come from?”

  “Nature, of course. Microscopic organisms. Evolution.”

  “And where did the organisms come from?”

  “The swamps. They evolved, crawled out onto the land. They grew arms and legs.”

  “I’ve been trying to grow a new leg. It hasn’t been working.”

  “That’s proof right there that God is a man-made construct. What God would let you lose a leg and suffer like that?”

  “In a way, losing my leg has been a blessing.”

  Now Irina was getting mad. She had been mourning that leg for five years.
“How dare you say that this tragedy is a good thing! How can you say that? Your father and grandfather are responsible. They did this to you. How can you say that?”

  He frowned. “The first couple of years were awful. I fell into depression. I was angry with God and prayed. I let him know what I thought of his cruelty. But something happened that I didn’t expect. He comforted me. He was with me in my suffering. I learned that the sweetness of suffering with the Lord is much better than the pleasures of the world. And I know all about the pleasures of the world. Don’t forget I was raised by billionaires. I am much richer now. Look around. There is nothing here, yet I have everything and much more than El Jefe or father. I have everything. Every day I am filled peace and inner joy. Am I to give that up to devise evil plans with the members of the Augean Command? It’s not for me.”

  “How dare you say that! Do you know what I’ve suffered for you?”

  “I believe you, mother, but I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine. Opportunity is right in front of you and you can’t see it. The communists were right. Religion is the opiate of the masses.”

  ”Why are you so sure that God is not real?”

  “Because nobody can prove that he exists. Anyway, no god would let me suffer as I have.”

  “So what do you believe in then?”

  “I believe in science, in rational thinking, not nonsense.”

  “Mother, you’re wearing a beautiful watch. It’s a complicated, intricate mechanism. It was created by a watch maker. We are more complex than any watch. We also have a maker.”

  “Nature needs no maker. Scientists are atheists for a good reason. They are practical. They do practical things. Very important.”

  “What scientists?” Francisco said.

  “The great minds of history. Their conclusions are the result of measured data. That’s how we’ve had progress in the world—electricity, airplanes, weapons—real things that help us.”

  “Mother, many of the greatest founders of modern science were Bible-believing Christians and saw faith and science as entirely compatible.”