"We've picked off a few of the small dealers who operate on their own," replied Ragsdale. "And both our agencies have recovered substantial numbers of stolen goods. Some during shipment, some from buyers, who almost never do jail time because they claim they didn't know the pieces they bought were stolen. What we've recovered is only a trickle. Without solid evidence we can't stem the main flow of illegal objects."
"Sounds to me like you fellows are outgunned and outclassed," said Sandecker.
Ragsdale nodded. "We'd be the first to admit it."
Sandecker silently rocked back and forth in his swivel chair, mulling over the words of the government agents seated across the desk. At last he said, "How can NUMA help you?"
Gaskill leaned across the desk. "We think you cracked the door open by unknowingly synchronizing your search for Huascar's treasure with the world's largest dealer of hot art and antiquities."
"Zolar International."
"Yes, a family whose tentacles reach into every comer of the trade.
"FBI and Customs agents," said Ragsdale, "have never before encountered a single group of art forgers, thieves, and artifact smugglers who have operated in so many countries for so many years and have involved such a diverse cast of wealthy celebrities, who have illegally bought literally billions of dollars worth of stolen art and antiques."
"I'm listening," said Sandecker.
"This is our chance to get in on the ground floor," revealed Gaskill. "Because of the possibility of finding fantastic riches, the Zolars have shed all caution and launched a search to locate the treasure and keep it for themselves. If they are successful, this presents us with a rare window of opportunity to observe their method of shipment and trail it back to their secret storehouse . . ."
"Where you nab them redhanded with the swag," Sandecker finished.
Ragsdale grinned. "We don't exactly use those terms anymore, Admiral, but yes, you're on the right track."
Sandecker was intrigued. "You want me to call off my search team. Is that the message?"
Gaskill and Ragsdale looked at each other and nodded.
"Yes, sir," said Gaskill. "That's the message."
"With your approval, of course," Ragsdale hastily added.
"Have you boys cleared this with your superiors?"
Ragsdale nodded solemnly. "Director Moran of the FBI and Director Thomas of the Customs Service have given their approval."
"You don't mind if I give them a call and confirm?"
"Not at all," said Gaskill. "I apologize that Agent Ragsdale and I didn't go through the chain of command arid request that they deal with you directly, but we felt it was best to present our case from firsthand knowledge and let the chips fall where they may."
"I can appreciate that," said Sandecker generously.
"Then you'll cooperate?" asked Ragsdale. "And call off your search team?"
Sandecker stared idly at the smoke curling from his cigar for several moments. "NUMA will play ball with the bureau and Customs, but I won't close down our search project."
Gaskill stared at the admiral, not knowing if he was joking. "I don't think I catch your drift, sir."
"Have you people ever hunted for something that has been lost for almost five hundred years?"
Ragsdale glanced at his partner and shrugged. "Speaking for the bureau, our search operations are generally confined to missing persons, fugitives, and bodies. Lost treasure is out of our domain."
"I don't believe I have to explain what the Customs Service looks for," said Gaskill.
"I'm quite familiar with your directives," Sandecker said conversationally. "But finding lost treasure is a million-to-one long shot. You can't interview people for leads who have been dead since the fifteen hundreds. All our quipu and your golden mummy have done is given vague references to a mysterious island in the Sea of Cortez. A clue that puts the proverbial needle somewhere within a hundred-and-sixty-thousand-square-kilometer haystack. I'm assuming the Zolars are amateurs at this kind of search game. So the chances of them finding the cavern containing Huascar's golden chain are ten meters this side of nil."
"You think your people have a better chance?" asked Gaskill testily.
"My special projects director and his team are the best in the business. If you don't believe me, check our records."