Three Tequilas (Althea Rose 3) Read online

  I insisted on photographing the entire day’s find when we got back to the dock. I laid each piece and shard of treasure out on the gleaming white deck, photographing it all from every angle while Nicola tapped her foot impatiently.

  “Really, must we do this? We don’t need up-close images of every tiny piece of treasure,” Nicola scoffed. I turned and leveled a glare at her.

  “I’ve been hired to photograph the expedition. Part of that means documenting anything found. Don’t tell me how to do my job,” I said, and she shut up.

  Plus I wanted a photographic record of everything we found. According to the contracts, we owned twenty percent of the haul. As far as I was concerned, every last piece was being documented. And I didn’t care if it was a piece of broken bottle or the Holy Grail. It was damn well getting recorded.

  “All done then?” Nicola asked brightly.

  “Yes, go ahead,” I said, and Nicola packed the treasures away in her bag – at least taking the time to carefully wrap them first. With a quick wave and a promise to see us at the same time tomorrow, she disappeared down the dock, her hiking boots clomping loudly against the boards. More than one fisherman gave her a curious look.

  “So,” Trace said, leaning back in the Captain’s chair and crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at me. The late afternoon sun warmed his skin to a rosy glow and I couldn’t help but smile at him.

  “So, that was interesting.”

  “Did you notice she hasn’t mentioned anything about plans for getting her uncle’s body home? Or anything to do with the police? She didn’t ask us any questions about it. You’d think she’d be more interested in how he was murdered,” Trace said.

  “I told you there was something off about her.”

  “What do we do then? Call this off?”

  “I’m still not quite certain where we’d come to harm. It’s clear they need us. It’s after we find the treasure that’s the problem.”

  “You think they’ll eliminate loose ends.”

  “I’m not ruling it out.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence while we thought about that.

  “What happens if we don’t find the treasure?”

  “I think they’ll still try to eliminate us, because we know they were looking for it.”

  “So this is a catch-22?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I think we need to call in Miss Elva and Luna, and see what they can do to provide us with protection,” I said.

  Trace nodded and ran a hand through his hair, turning to look behind him at the dock before looking back at me.

  “What were you going to show me this morning before she got here?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d thought for a moment he was going to bring up the Cash situation, or possibly make a move on me. And frankly, I was on emotional overload at the moment.

  “Miss Elva followed up with me about finding a map. It honestly looks like a map from back during that time, as well as some actual documentation of weather patterns during that year that the ships were lost. I was going to email it to you, but then I remembered your laptop was stolen. Check it out – I was up all night with this.” I pulled the documents out of the file folder and Trace sat down next to me on the bench.

  We studied the map together in companionable silence, Trace flipping a page over now and then and making a note or two, then going over my notes. Finally, he looked at me.

  “This is not where she’s taking us.”

  I nodded and raised my eyebrows at him in question.

  “You think they’re following up on different information?”

  “I think they’re looking for a different wreck,” I said.

  “Well, shit. If they aren’t looking for El Serpiente, what are they really looking for?”

  I shrugged.

  “I don’t know. But I think we need to spend some time researching what else was on that treasure fleet. And if they aren’t looking for El Serpiente – then you and I have some diving to do.” I held up the map.

  “Agreed. So are we going to let on that we know they’re looking for a different wreck?”

  I turned and looked out at the horizon, where the sun was beginning its fiery descent.

  “Not a single word. I suspect they’ll kill us if they know.”

  “We need to find out what else was on those ships.”

  “Yup. And I think I know just the person to talk to for that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Child, I was starting to worry you didn’t get back in safely,” Miss Elva called from the porch. Hank immediately ran to the bottom of the stairs and waited, his body wriggling in excitement as I approached the steps of Miss Elva’s front porch.

  I’d taught Hank long ago that he wasn’t allowed to go past the porch steps. Saved me hours of worry about him running out into the street.

  Today Miss Elva wore a fairly subdued maroon caftan with white piping along the hem. A single maroon feather was tucked into her bun.

  Bending down, I rubbed Hank’s ears and scratched his coat before climbing the steps wearily to stand on Miss Elva’s porch. The nearly-sleepless night was catching up with me – not to mention the emotional upheaval. All I wanted to do was order a pizza and crash.

  “Sorry ’bout that. I stayed after to talk to Trace about our dive plans.”

  “How’d it go today?” Miss Elva asked, rocking gently in her chair, her pretty brown eyes watching me carefully.

  “I can tell you this researcher girl is lying through her teeth. I just don’t know what her game is yet.”

  “Can’t catch any of her thoughts?”

  “A few, but I haven’t dug too deeply. Typically, I don’t ever try to read someone’s thoughts. But I don’t trust Nicola. It’s almost like she’s blocking me. Almost too good, now that I think about it. I wonder if she practices that around me,” I said, leaning back against the railing and crossing my arms. It would make sense – if they had researched who they were hiring for their dive team.

  “It’s not that hard to put a block up if you know what you’re doing,” Miss Elva agreed. Hank padded over and pressed his nose into her leg, and she immediately bent down to scratch his ears.

  “How’d Hank do today?”

  “We had a grand time, though Rafe finally got frustrated and took off. He heard there’s a bikini competition down in Key West so he went to check that out,” Miss Elva chuckled.

  “Of course he did.” I shook my head. “Well, let him know I want to talk to him.”

  “About what now, child?”

  “Well, I sat up for a long time last night going over what you sent me. And based on where she took us today? I’d say they’re searching for a different wreck. I’m going to have to research what else was on those ships.”

  Miss Elva leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, tapping her finger against her lips as she rocked.

  “I’d have to pull my books out for that one, honey. I thought El Serpiente was the biggest treasure still undiscovered – at least from that era and those ships. But… hmm, now that I think about it, I wonder…”

  Miss Elva shifted her bulk and got up from her chair, humming as she went into the house, the screen door banging after her. I wasn’t sure if we should follow or not, so I just stayed where I was, crouching down to pet Hank.

  “Extra treats for you after dinner, buddy,” I whispered, and he licked my face in delight.

  Miss Elva came back out to the porch cradling a book under her left arm and holding a bottle of beer in her right.

  “I didn’t get you a beer, seeing as how you look like you’re ready to fall asleep on your feet.”

  “Yeah, it would’ve just gone to waste,” I agreed. I wasn’t much of a beer drinker anyway. Too many calories.

  This from the girl who was going to go home and order a pizza if there wasn’t a frozen one in her freezer.

  “Now, I may need to dig a little deeper here, but this might scratch the surface. I feel like
I recall something about a sister stone.”

  My mouth dropped open in surprise.

  “What? A sister stone? To El Serpiente?”

  “Mmm-hmm, two halves of the whole – one good, one evil,” Miss Elva murmured, sliding reading glasses from a pocket deep in her caftan and putting them on her nose.

  I paused for a moment to appreciate the view of Miss Elva wearing reading classes.

  “Child, you best stop looking at my glasses like that,” Miss Elva ordered, never looking up from the pages she was focused on.

  “I wasn’t looking at them ‘like that.’ I like them. They make you look… scholarly.”

  “And what, pray tell, am I if not scholarly?” Miss Elva looked up and put a hand on her hip.

  “You are scholarly. You’re right. Your house is lined with books. You know way more about everything than anyone in this town. I’ve just never seen you wear glasses before, is all. It’s a good look for you. I promise,” I said, holding my hand up.

  “Mm-hmm, that’s right it’s a good look for me. Anything I wear is a good look for me. I make glasses look cool,” Miss Elva said.

  “You do. I promise you do,” I said, wanting to laugh but knowing if I did, I’d be forever banned from front porch chats with Miss Elva.

  “Here we go – this is what I’m looking for right here. Or at least it’s a spot to get started. The sister stones of Quetzalcoatl. Two halves of a whole, one light and one dark. The Yin and the Yang. El Serpiente and…aha! La Rosa. The rose and the snake, that’s right. I’m beginning to remember some of this.”

  “So the snake represents the bad and the rose is the good?”

  “Nope, you’ve got it twisted. See, most people think snakes are these nasty beasts, but in mythology they were actually considered good. Why do you think the symbol for a doctor is a staff with a snake or two wrapped around it? Snakes aren’t bad.”

  “But how is a rose bad?” I protested.

  “Ahh, because a rose lures you in with its beauty, only to draw blood with its thorns when you try to pluck it. Beware the rose. At least a snake warns you before it’s going to strike.”

  There you have it, folks. Logic by Miss Elva.

  “So you think they want La Rosa?”

  “I think they want both, but they only know where to find La Rosa.”

  “What would happen if they find both?”

  “If those stones fall into the wrong hands? Well, it would be the rise of a whole new empire – all run by someone intoxicated by power, who, it seems, won’t hesitate to kill anyone in his way.”

  “Great, just great. As if this week wasn’t crappy enough already – now we have to find two stones, or the world is doomed.”

  Miss Elva eyed me over her reading glasses.

  “Child, you need some carbs and some sleep. Getting all cranky up in here like a toddler.”

  “Fine, I’m going. I’ll sleep on this. Email me anything else you find. Or, actually, just text it to me; email is easier to break into. I’m going to go pass out facedown in a pizza now.”

  “Bye Hankie baby, I’ll be smooching on you again tomorrow,” Miss Elva cooed to Hank as I waved my goodbye.

  Two godstones. Lovely.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  I was able to sleep this time – although my dreams were plagued with visions of serpents twining around roses.

  Frankly, they weren’t the worst dreams I’ve ever had.

  I hadn’t told Trace about the second godstone, and Miss Elva had yet to find more information – though when I’d dropped Hank off first thing in the morning, she’d assured me she had reached out to an old friend for assistance.

  Still no sign of Rafe. Seemed he had decided to hang out in Key West until Hank stopped visiting during the day. I shook my head in disgust as I walked down the dock towards the dive boat. What self-respecting pirate was scared of a cute little dog?

  “Ahoy,” I said easily, seeing that Nicola was already on the boat. She must have gone shopping after the dive yesterday, because today she was outfitted in a long-sleeved white linen cover-up, though the Indiana Jones hat was still stuck firmly on her head.

  “Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Trace asked politely, but winked at me as he held out his hand for my dive gear.

  “I slept fine, thanks,” I said, slipping my shoes off and stepping onto the boat. “Nicola, good morning. I like your cover-up.”

  “My cover… oh, my dress? Yes, thank you,” Nicola said primly.

  “Did you find out anything more about the treasure we found yesterday?” I asked, immediately moving to the bench where my dive gear was set up and beginning my safety check.

  “No, but I cataloged it. I’d like to try a new destination today.”

  “You don’t want to explore that area more? I’m surprised. Wouldn’t you think that since we found something already, there’d be more to come?” Trace asked, tilting his head in question at her. Today he wore a long-sleeved white t-shirt thrown over some loose board shorts. Something about it made me take a long second look at him today.

  Or had I always looked twice at him, but was only just now noticing it?

  “No, I don’t. I’ve directions to look in a new area.”

  Trace raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t comment. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and changed the subject.

  “Did Chief Thomas talk to you about the break-in?”

  I shook my head. “No, I haven’t heard from him. Why? Did he find anything out?” I was kind of surprised that Trace was bringing this up in front of Nicola.

  “What break-in? Do you mean a burglary?” Nicola said immediately, her eyes sharp.

  “Yes, both of our homes were broken into recently. In fact, it happened right after your uncle was murdered. Some might wonder if there’s a connection,” Trace said. We both looked at Nicola expectantly.

  “Did they…” Nicola caught herself.

  “Did they what?” I asked innocently.

  “Um, was there anything unusual about the break-ins?”

  “You mean like the Aztec snake painted in blood above your uncle’s bed?” I asked sweetly.

  “Yes, yes, that’s what I am asking.” Nicola sighed and tapped her fingers on her thigh. It looked like she was coming to a decision about something. “All right. There’s perhaps a bit more going on here than I have let on.”

  “Gee, ya think?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

  “There is a… how do I say it?”

  “Another interested party?” I offered, though I’d figured that out already.

  “Yes, another interested party,” Nicola nodded at me.

  “And you didn’t think it would be a good idea to warn us about this party?” Trace asked.

  Nicola held up her hands – all helpless woman all of a sudden.

  “But what could I have said? I can’t anticipate their moves.”

  “It’s obvious this person is willing to break the law,” I pointed out. “You didn’t think it might be a good idea to mention that we’re putting ourselves in danger?”

  “I would have assumed you could ascertain that yourself, having seen how my uncle was murdered,” Nicola shot back.

  “Ah, cutthroat, I see. Think for ourselves, defend ourselves, and anticipate danger by ourselves? So we aren’t really a team here, are we, Nicola?” I asked, a tight smile stretched across my face.

  “I never said we were a team. I was under the impression you understood that. You work for us. We aren’t a team. When this expedition is over – and the treasure is found – we part ways. That’s it.”

  And yet it wasn’t, and I think we all knew it.

  “I think our fee just went up, don’t you Trace?” I smiled over at him.

  “But!” Nicola’s mouth dropped open.

  “Yes, I don’t recall any information about a known threat to us or our property. Wouldn’t failure to disclose something like that fall under your no-bullshit clause, Althea? And now that the bullshit has c
ome to light – so to speak – I think we’ll need to negotiate another contract – one that pays at least another fifty grand or so, don’t you think?” He looked at me.

  I nodded. “At least.”

  “That’s preposterous,” Nicola sputtered. “You can’t squeeze me for more money.”

  “You can’t knowingly put us in the line of fire and expect us to be happy about it. Sorry, babe. No money, no diving,” I said, examining my cuticles, not a concern in the world. In truth, I’d actually be relieved if we could back out of this contract altogether. I wasn’t particularly fond of the direction things were headed.

  “I’ll have to make a call,” Nicola snapped, the two bright red spots back on her cheeks.

  “Please do so,” I said, waving my hand at her carelessly – but inside, my emotions were churning. Maybe we’d get out of this and be in the clear.

  Nicola stepped onto the dock and walked away, pacing in the soft light of the early morning sun. She didn’t strike me as a bad guy, yet I couldn’t help but think she was tangled up in all this nonsense.

  Just a researcher, my butt.

  “Think they’ll give us more money?”

  “No way. They’ll find another dive crew,” I said, relaxing against the bench, my arms stretched across the back, my face towards the rising sun.

  “Are we still going out on our own then?”

  “Absolutely,” I said.

  Come on, now – you didn’t think I’d actually walk away from that treasure, did you? Someone had to save it from falling into the wrong hands. I’d done some research myself last night, and I had an idea of various museums that we could donate the stones to.

  “You’ll have the money shortly,” Nicola said hotly as she hopped back on the boat, and my head snapped up at her words.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I gasped.

  I know, not very smooth of me, but honestly – who were these people? Was an additional hundred thousand dollars such an insignificant sum to them?

  “Yes, your little ploy worked. Unfortunately, we’re working against the clock now – first man to the treasure wins.”