Alicia myles 1 - Aztec Gold (17 page)

Beyond the archway there were no more secrets, no more pretense. Gold and gems, wealth and riches glittered in the lights of the flashlights as if a thousand campfires had suddenly been lit. Piled high around the chamber, stashed against the walls, a nation’s fortune beyond imagining lay in opulent abundance, catching and reflecting the new light with an eagerness that matched that of its discoverers.

Crouch fell among the strewn treasures. “This is so much more than I imagined.”

Alicia moved to his back, mouth open, still trying to wrap her brain around the sight before her eyes.

Caitlyn said, “It’s . . . wonderful.” Tears deepened her voice.

Alicia stopped trying to take it all in and focused instead on one area at a time. Here were Aztec gold coins, heaped, stacked and amassed in endless dunes. Over there was a huge lifelike solid gold alligator head, snarling in the shadows. Bird and snake sculptures occupied one entire corner of the vast chamber, only now revealing its scope as Lex and Cruz ventured further inside. Cruz was practically crawling, stunned, eyes shiny with pride, amazement and undiluted awe.

To her right sat objects studded with gems; emeralds, rubies and garnets of deep hue. To her left dozens of double-headed snakes. Masks of silver and deep turquoise lined the way before her, guides that formed a path through endless wonder. Ceremonial figures stood around the walls, clutching staffs, spears and swords formed of beaten gold.

Crouch found his feet. “I guess that now the cavalry can be called.”

“Wait,” Caitlyn said, reveling in the moment. “Just wait.”

Crouch didn’t need telling twice. Like an old pirate, gold digger or a treasure hunter from ancient days he dug his hands into the stack of gold coins and threw them into the air. Alicia couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

Then Cruz cried out and the whole team looked up.

It wasn’t through fear, it wasn’t pain or doubt; it was through that which he finally beheld—the wonder of all wonders.

There, fixed to the black rock at the rear of the chamber, hung the greatest treasure imaginable—the Wheel of Gold—and it was indeed a wonder, shaped like and as bright as the sun. The god for which it had been formed sat at its center, the circle around him made up of glyphs with square, triangular and circular shapes creating the outside, eight of them, which was how the cartwheel had earned the nickname—pieces of eight.

Intricately carved, gloriously finished, the Wheel of Gold was a wonder itself, but as a part of this vast treasure—mindboggling.

Caitlyn made her way to the back of the chamber, staring up as if in worship. All around her the Aztec treasures sat in state as they had for half a century; lost, lying spellbound in the darkness, a richness of wasted energy and effort, taken by chance, time and vicious circumstance.

“I don’t mind saying I doubted you, Michael,” Alicia said. “But after this . . .” she shook her head.

“First time out.” Crouch couldn’t tear his eyes away from the Wheel. “We all had a few doubts. But now . . .”

Healey and Caitlyn stood together, as close as possible without touching. Alicia blinked in wonder as the treasures that surrounded them seemed to catch fire, gold reflecting light.

“They should reproduce this cave for the eventual display,” she said. “It would make a great spectacle.”

Crouch shrugged himself into life. “Yes, yes, and we should get moving. Coker can’t be far behind us. He dug around for the satphone.

“How’s the signal?” Cruz asked him.

“Non-existent. God knows how far under the rock we are.” Their boss looked like he might never want to leave this place.

“Well, if we ever want to see sunlight again,” Russo rumbled, “the way is up.”

Lex, the only one of the team who had remained quiet during the staggering discovery, backed toward the cave entrance. “Yeah, and I guess even I can lead us out since there’s only one path.”

Alicia, engrossed in the surrounding riches until now, suddenly fixed the biker with a calculating stare. A small revelation hit her—that ever since they’d arrived in London she hadn’t had much time for Laid Back Lex. Small wonder, since she’d been put in charge of a new team and had been trying to prove she was worthy. Earning the respect of soldiers was one of the hardest things in the world. Alicia had moved everything else in her life to the backburner in order to lead. Not to fit in, she could never do that, but to become accepted as a team leader. Factor Lex and his moods into that and you eventually fashioned a ticking time bomb. On a good day Lex was self-destructive, stand-offish and aggressive. Alicia originally took the man under her wing after dozens of his friends were killed in action, determined at some level to save him from the terrible downswing she knew his exploits would begin to take. At least by her side, she could control his behavior.

Time to re-evaluate.

Instantly forgetting the treasure she moved to his side. “Let’s go.”

Lex eyed her. “What’s your deal?”

“No deal. I said let’s go.”

The biker had to be handled just right. Too much compassion would make him hostile. Too small an insult would make him suspicious. Alicia wondered briefly what the hell she was doing. Caring really wasn’t in her nature.

Something drove her. An instinct that said now was the time to learn how to become a better person; now was the time to shine.

Their entire future would soon change. And not because of Aztec gold.

Thinking of Crouch and his new venture, of Matt Drake and his woman, Mai Kitano, of the world as it was and how it might become, she ushered Lex out of the chamber and made sure the others were following. Russo came last, not through awe but because Caitlyn and Cruz lingered until the last possible second and had to be coerced. Alicia watched Caitlyn stumble into the rock wall as she stared transfixed at the receding horde of riches.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’ll still be there when we return.”

Daylight hit them like a direct blow to the brain, stomping in on their awareness and making Lex bite into his lips, knowing he couldn’t make a sound. Alicia had already appraised him of the various punishments for giving their position away, none of which were pleasant and only two sounded of interest.

Alicia poked her head out of the hole, eyes squinting. The rock plateau was empty to the west, running all the way to the flatlands with little cover. By inching her body forward she managed to survey the open land that led back toward the stepped escarpment.

“All clear,” she said with more confidence than she felt. As bodies started to crowd around her she snapped. “Wait!”

Scanning the skies for the metal birds of prey was not enough. She had to inspect the area, cast a trained eye over the hard ground and the eroded ridges; test for a dozen other disturbances and study the lands. Despite the relative openness of this place Coker could still have placed a sniper or two out there and man-sized delves and nooks were everywhere, courtesy of the timeless elements.

Even Crouch peered around her. “See anything?”

Alicia sighed. “To do this properly I’d need another fifteen minutes if you’re prepared to wait.”

“Well, not really.”

“Can’t you . . . call the cavalry?”

“Of course.” Crouch disappeared from view.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay in the caves?” Cruz wondered.

Russo fixed him with a stare harder than a Death Valley rodent. “We’re soldiers not fucking rabbits.”

Alicia stepped out, then crouched down, alert to every movement. Russo covered her back, Healey stepped out to the flank. Two minutes of careful reconnoiter inspection yielded nothing.

Crouch returned. “All good. Once they got over their shock and excitement they agreed to send help.”

“I really don’t like this.” Alicia never took her eyes off their surrounds. “Coker
should
be somewhere around. Unless he’s a total incompetent he surely saw us reach the top of the cliff.”

“Maybe he’s still climbing,” Caitlyn said.

At that moment Alicia’s eyes were temporarily blinded by a sudden silvery flash that came from the distant hills near Paria Canyon. “Damn, he’s got a scout out there.”

Almost instantly, the roar of powerful engines signified the close proximity of the two choppers, though Alicia could still not see them. Her judgment needed to be fast. Return to the caves and become potential rats in a trap, also leading Coker straight to the gold in the process, or make for the rock terraces and flit among them like deadly ghosts.

“Come on!”

She raced out of hiding, Russo waiting for the others to break cover before following. The team ran hard, realizing their lives probably depended on pace right now, and made the edge of the plateau in less than a minute. Alicia pulled up, Lex at her side, as a panther-black helicopter rose up right in front of her, so close that the features of the pilot could clearly be seen through the tinted cockpit glass.

Alicia didn’t miss a beat, veering to the side as the chopper hovered. Like a suddenly unblocked stream the rest of her team followed, Russo and Healey raising weapons in warning to their enemies.

The second chopper reared up, shooting over the top of the cliff and roaring above their heads. To a person the team ducked, but the metal bird passed in an instant, already hovering and lowering slowly toward the plateau they had just vacated.

Alicia reached the slope to the side of the first jutting wedge of rock and scrambled down its length. Her eyes registered no surprise as a dozen men came into sight, clearly positioned and waiting for her. As one they raised their weapons, but Alicia had no intentions of being captured.

Ever.

Sliding down the last few feet, she plucked her handgun from its holster and picked off the first three men. She crashed into the next two, toppling them like skittles. Behind her Healey also opened fire, his bullets finding men that were firing themselves. His shots struck first, spinning their bodies and sending their bullets against the mountain or into the skies. Then he was also among them, making himself their priority as the rest of his team still came down the slope.

Alicia disarmed a man with a handlebar moustache before hurling him off the cliff edge. As her eyes flicked momentarily down she saw more men gathered on the ledge below. A quick count put the number at six but she couldn’t be sure. That left the rest of Coker’s crew and the man himself probably up top on board the choppers. Her team was well and truly boxed in.

Crouch was among them and struggling with a big merc whose face bore the tattoo of a dragon. Russo was torn between covering their rear and wanting to join the fray. So far nobody was following them down from the plateau above but it might only be a matter of time. On the other hand Coker could already be inside the treasure cave . . .

Russo grabbed Lex, jammed a pistol into his hand, and yelled, “Watch our backs!” Then raised his gun and took aim. A bullet slammed into the rocky outcrop at his side, another skipped along the channeled floor. Alicia threw a second man toward the valley below. Healey fought hand to hand with a stocky man with a bright red face. Crouch stumbled and went under his opponent, taking a heavy blow to the side of the head. Russo relieved him of his burden with one bullet and saved Healey from being knifed in the back with another. Then shock jolted him as a bullet struck his side, smashing like a hammer into the flak jacket he wore. He staggered, almost dropping his gun, but fought through the pain and surprise to regain his feet a moment later.

Looking up, the world had turned red.

Surprise hit him, followed by bewilderment and uncertainty. All this passed in less than a second and then it was the barely remembered feeling, the bursting, raging need to cause chaos, bringing it all into focus. This was a feeling he’d only experienced once before, years ago. It was the craze of a berserker falling over him; the turmoil of violent battle had suddenly become his best friend. Back then it had taken over, consumed his soul, winning the battlefield and saving most of his comrades but making a blight of the place he used to call his heart.

Not now. Not again. Whatever the circumstance he wouldn’t let it destroy him.

Bellowing with rage, an outlet, a red-hot steam vent, he pounded the ground like a man trying to bring down the mountain. Gradually, the red receded. Pure battle hatred ebbed away, leaving his gut and chest full of bile. At last his eyes cleared.

Lex was beside him, covering whilst he recuperated.

“Thanks, man.”

Lex grunted. Russo breathed hard. Alicia dropped a third man over the edge, this time making sure he fell among his climbing colleagues. The trick gained them precious minutes.

“Other side!” Crouch suddenly yelled.

Alicia saw it immediately. As they plowed their way through the mercs on this ledge and more scrambled up from below, the descent on the other side of the rock ledge, though steeper and more dangerous, was clear. Coker had positioned the majority of his men up top.

She engaged another merc, forcing his gun arm down and between his legs before head-butting under his chin, the force of her blow lifting him off his feet. Stepping in she hurled him over her shoulder, toppling a second man and the last that blocked her way to the other edge of the ledge. With cold indifference she placed bullets in the two men that otherwise would have had no compunctions in killing her.

Crouch materialized at her side. “Risky,” he said, looking down.

“My fucking middle name. And our only chance. Even then they’ll be right behind us.”

Alicia turned, beckoning the team over. Healey dealt with the last merc even as a bullet whizzed close to his skull, fired by the climbing enemy force.

“Quick!”

Alicia whirled and jumped through the air, landing hard amidst a pile of shale and rock dust, slipping and sliding down the steep slope. There was a good reason they hadn’t chosen this side of the mountain to ascend. Steeper, with a sheer drop to the left and strewn with sharp-edged bits of rock and potholes, debris and partly eroded edges, the way down was unjustifiably perilous. Alicia’s intent in sliding down first was to at least clear some of the dangerous rubble out of the way. She would trust in her own catlike instincts to stay on the path.

Down they slithered and slipped, not even Caitlyn or Cruz slowing them up; a team connected by more than a little esteem and a vast burning desire. Alicia gained the second ledge down and hit the rough slope again, kicking timeless elemental wreckage from her path. From above came more shouts and then a familiar voice blared down the mountain.

“Crouch! For God’s sake!”

Alicia paused, slowing. Peering over the top ledge was Greg Coker, his eyes squinting into the blinding sun.

“What the hell’s your deal, man?”

“Stop. We can talk.”

Crouch turned slowly, staring upward. “From what I hear, Greg, the best thing for you to do right now is step off that cliff.”

Coker looked momentarily shocked, then tried to wipe the expression off his face. He failed. “I could really use your help, Michael.” After a moment he seemed to realize how that sounded and added, “To find the treasure.”

Crouch seemed to think about Coker’s double meaning. “Then find a way to talk to me. But it sure as hell isn’t going to be through a bevy of dumb mercenaries.”

Coker’s expression softened as he appeared to absorb that. “Stop or die,” he said without missing a beat. “That’s what the man in charge wants me to tell you.”

The team continued downhill. Crouch answered for them. “Without us you’ll never find that treasure.”

“He’s willing to take the chance.”

Alicia snorted. “Yeah, that figures. Senseless, irresponsible silly crime lords. They’re all the fucking same.”

“It’s the power,” Cruz said at her back. “Being from Mexico I know a little about them. More than I’d like to.”

Crouch urged them on. To Coker he said, “It’s your choice, Greg, but at the moment you’re definitely playing for the wrong team.”

Coker’s face disappeared quickly, replaced by others and then the cliff edge above was bristling with guns. Alicia darted underneath the next outcropping, followed by the rest of her team, only Russo at the back having to dodge between bullets.

“For a big man you’re even slower than I’d imagined,” Alicia told him as he rolled at her feet.

Russo jumped up and dusted himself off. “Stop flirting, Myles. You ain’t my type.”

Alicia sputtered, momentarily dumbstruck. It wasn’t often a gibe caught her off-guard but Russo’s had done the trick. Before she could retort Russo and Healey were returning fire.

Crouch nodded. “Good. We need to remind them that it’s not worth their while to fire down this mountain side.”

A screaming body tumbled past their little refuge, arms and legs flailing. Alicia listened as a lull interrupted the clamor from above. “All right. Time to move.”

Again they ran, Healey and Russo covering their flight. It took all of Alicia’s concentration and skill to clear a path, stay safe and ignore the peril at her back as she descended the mountain.

Outcroppings—what the Aztec had called terraces—slipped by at a rapid rate and the valley floor grew closer with every passing minute. Twice more the mercs above attempted pot shots and twice more Healey and Russo dissuaded them. After a while their enemies must have decided that pursuit was the better option; the trained soldiers could move faster than Crouch’s team.

Russo called along the line. “At least nine to a dozen still chasing us.”

Alicia surveyed the floor of the valley, now huge and startlingly close. Sunlight bounced off the rocks and filled her forward vision. For all the tech Crouch and Caitlyn had brought to the team, the one thing they had forgotten was bloody sunglasses.

Still, it had been a wild ride since leaving Mexico.

Just how she liked it.

Gaining the flat ground, she immediately unslung her weapon and covered her team’s race to safety. Once they passed her she turned to run as Healey in turn dropped to one knee. Running this way, shielding each other, they traversed the exposed ground, moving more slowly but in a far safer formation. Crouch made them zigzag their run and drop behind random boulders, further confusing the pursuit. Alicia reminded them that Coker had left at least one man positioned back at Paria Canyon.

“Then it’s the Colorado.” Crouch pointed off to the left. He knew that America’s great river snaked within a few miles of this position and, although inaccessible for much of its length, offered two manageable staging areas not far from where they were.

“Satnav it, Caitlyn,” he said. “We haven’t a moment to waste.” As she worked and ran he put in another call to the authorities.

Alicia took her turn once more, protecting their escape with a few well-placed shots. Ahead now another ridge line became visible, a mini-cliff that formed the higher banks of the Colorado at this point. Caitlyn guided them toward a break in the ridge, where satellite photos had earlier revealed a viable route down to the river. More of a plan D, Alicia had never expected to be white water rafting during a treasure hunt, but those that adapted quickest survived. Or so she believed.