Serpent (NUMA Files 1)

ill according to plan. The U.S. will lose patience. The violence will .unite the millions of Hispanics and Latinos throughout the Southwest. This is why we cannot afford to. have our glorious past rewritten. I have spent a fortune to buy territory, voting, and political influence. Halcon Industries is stretched to the limit. I built this new Chichen Itza to be the capital of the new country. But even the vast resources of our cartel can't equip an army to defend

itself against a United States that might not recognize the trend of the future. This is why it is vital that we find. the vast riches that will enable us to carry out our plan. It will not succeed without the treasure."

"We are close to assembling all the pieces of the puzzle. Our agents have acquired documents from a number of sources in Spain and other countries."

"Has there been any outcry?"

"Not yet. The International Herald reported the unexplainable theft of Columbian memorabilia from auction houses and museums, but nobody has put it together yet."

"Not until now," Halcon said with a sly smile.

Guzman raised a frosty eyebrow.

"Our experts have analyzed the old documents," Halcon went on. "They have located the key that will open the secret that has baffled us for so long."

"Congratulations, Don Halcon. I'm most pleased:"

"You won't be when you hear the details. You see, the key we seek lies on the bottom of the ocean in the hold of the Andrea Doria. "

Guzman was stunned. "Not the artifact? How could that be? Your father ordered me to sink the ship."

As I said, my father was not infallible. He thought the artifact could destroy us."

"There's no mistake?"

"I've had the documents checked again and again. I have read them myself. No, my friend, I'm afraid there is no doubt. The artifact that my father once thought would end the Brotherhood will show the way to greater glory. I want you to fit out a salvage project right away. You will have all the resources of Halcon Industries at your command. This should be done as quickly as possible."

"I'll start work as soon as we are through here, sir:"

"Excellent. Are there any more archaeological expeditions that could derail our plans in the meantime?"

"There seems to be a freeze on activities around the world. Except for the shortlived NUMA project in Arizona, of course."

"My compliments for cauterizing that infection so quickly. How much of a threat is NUMA?"

"I wouldn't underestimate them. You saw what happened in Morocco."

"I agree: I think it best that you remain in charge of all operations where NUMA is concerned. Use all force necessary."

Guzman's cell phone rang, and he excused himself to listen.

"Yes. Immediately. Patch it into Don Halcon's closed circuit.

A moment later the television screen blinked into life and showed a wooded scene in black and pale green.

"What is it?" Halcon snapped impatiently.

"This was taken with a surveillance camera in the small rise on the north of the complex."

As they watched the colors were manipulated so that the face of a man running through the woods was enlarged to fill the screen.

Guzman swore under his breath.

"Do you know him?" Halcon asked.

"Yes. His name is Zavala, and he was with the NUMA team on the Arizona project."

"You're correct about NUMA not being a toothless dog." Halcon stared at the screen, thinking. "You said there was another man, the leader of the team.":