Inca Gold (Dirk Pitt 12)

Pitt joined in the fray. "Speaking of abductions, what about the crew of the ferryboat? Where did they disappear to?"

Matos gazed at Pitt contemptuously. "That is of no importance here. As a matter of record, our police officials have four signed statements naming you as the instigator of this plot."

Resentment surged through Pitt. The Zolars had cunningly planned every contingency, but they had either ignored the fact the crew of the Alhambra were not dead or Amaru had botched the job and lied.

Padilla and his men must have made shore and been put under wraps by the local police.

"Were your investigators as thoughtful in providing me with a motive?" asked Pitt.

"Motives do not concern me, Mr. Pitt. I rely on evidence. But since you brought it up, the crew claims you killed Congresswoman Smith and Rudi Gunn to gain the location of the treasure."

"Your police officials have Alzheimer's disease if they swallow that," snapped Giordino.

"Evidence is evidence," Matos said smoothly. "As an official of the government I must operate within strict legal parameters."

Pitt took the ridiculous accusation in stride and sneaked in from the side. "Tell me, Sefior Matos, what percentage of the gold will you take as your share?"

"Five--" Matos caught himself too late.

"Were you about to say five percent, sir?" Starger asked softly.

Matos tilted his head and shrugged. "I was about to say nothing of the sort."

"I'd say your superiors have turned a blind eye to a deep conspiracy," said Sandecker.

"There is no conspiracy, Admiral. I'll take an oath on

"What you're broadcasting," said Gaskill, leaning across the table, "is that officials of the Sonoran State government have struck a deal with the Zolars to keep the Peruvian treasure."

Matos lifted a hand. "The Peruvians have no legal claim. All artifacts found on Mexican soil belong to our people--"

"They belong to the people of Peru," Shannon interrupted, her face flushed with anger. "If your government had any sense of decency, they would invite the Peruvians to at least share in it."

"Affairs between nations do not work that way, Dr. Kelsey," replied Matos.

"How would you like it if Montezuma's lost golden treasure turned up in the Andes?"

"I'm not in a position to judge outlandish events," Matos answered imperviously. "Besides, rumors of the treasure are greatly exaggerated. Its true value is really of little consequence."

Shannon looked flabbergasted. "What are you saying? I saw Huascar's treasure with my own eyes. If anything, it's far more substantial than

anyone thought. I put its potential value at just under a billion dollars."

"The Zolars are respected dealers who have a worldwide reputation for accurately appraising art and antiquities. Their evaluation of the treasure does not exceed thirty million."

"Mister," Shannon snapped in cold fury, "I'll match my credentials against theirs any day of the week in appraising artifacts of ancient Peruvian cultures. I'll put it to you in plain language. The Zolars are full of crap."

"Your word against theirs," Matos said calmly.

"For a small treasure trove," said Ragsdale, "they appear to be mounting a massive recovery effort."

"Five or ten laborers to carry the gold out of the cavern. No more."

"Would you like to see reconnaissance satellite photos that show the top of Cerro el Capirote looking like an anthill with an army of men and helicopters crawling all over it?"

Matos sat silently, as if he hadn't heard a word.

"And the Zolars' payoff?" asked Starger. "Are you allowing them to remove artifacts from the country?"