“Then the Veracruz location is your baby . . .”
“I hear a but in your voice, Selma.”
“Well, there is a small wrinkle.”
“And what’s that?” Sam asked.
“It’s on or near the grounds of a nuclear power plant.”
The silence stretched over the line as Sam absorbed the information. “You’re kidding.”
“You know I don’t kid.”
Sam sighed. “I suppose I do.”
“Depending on the precise location, it could be just outside the perimeter security area. But there’s no way of knowing until you’re on the ground. I looked at all the satellite footage and it’s inconclusive. The only way to tell for sure is to go there.”
“Well, at least it’s not too far.”
“That’s a positive. Although it’s also in a region that has a lot of security issues.”
“More than Mexico City?”
“Oh yes. There’s only one highway north along the coast from Veracruz—the main port on the east side of the country. Which is also, not coincidentally, where much of the cocaine from Colombia enters. So that area is the primary distribution artery for trafficking cocaine north to the border states—which until recently were considered outside of the government’s control, effectively operated by the cartels.”
“Tell me this gets better.”
“I figured you’d want to know what you were looking at.”
“Thanks, Selma. I’m guessing it would be pretty close to impossible to slip in there without a permit and dig around, what with the nuclear power plant.”
“That’s probably a safe assumption.”
Remi returned from the spa an hour later and Sam filled her in, pointing out the area on their laptop.
“Look at the bright side. At least we’ve got a likely spot for the temple,” she said.
“Sure. Crawling with cartel killers and nukes. And we can forget about secrecy—we’re going to have to bring Antonio and Maribela into this if we’re going to get a permit.”
Remi sat on the bed and brushed her fingers through her auburn hair. “Doesn’t sound like we have much choice. I mean, we don’t have to tell them that we think the Eye of Heaven’s there. Just that we have a lead and want to look for ruins in that area.”
“A lead on what?”
“Well, on something related to the Vikings. That based on information we gleaned from the longship, we believe that was where they came ashore and that there might be some evidence. Keep it vague.” She rose. “I’m going to take a shower. Think about it some and then we can call Antonio. After discovering Quetzalcoatl’s tomb, I don’t see how he’ll say no.”
“I don’t, either. But I also don’t see how he won’t want to accompany us. It’s relatively close and he’s been with us so far.”
“You’re probably right. And that means his sister, too.”
“They seem to come as a pair.”
“No comment.”
Antonio was polite but cautious when they spoke on the telephone that afternoon.
He was still in Teotihuacan, where he would remain until he was satisfied that the excavation was well under way and a team leader had been put in charge.
“I’ll have to check to see what restrictions there are. We’re dealing with the nuclear regulatory authority and they’re a law unto themselves. Part of the power company, but because of the risk posed by reactors . . .”