Page 38 of Wicked Suspicion

“Does this suit you?” Cardozo asked.

“I am at your service, Señor Presidente.” Julián inclined his head.

Cardozo didn’t waste time. “The Paladin League sent Señorita Templeton to locate the Treasure of Trujillo?”

“Sí, she’s been researching for days in my library.”

“Many people have researched for many decades. That means nothing.”

“Señor Cardozo,” Julián said, his voice infused with respect. “You’ve heard the reputation of the Paladin League. Do you believe they’d send one of their archaeologists if they didn’t believe they could locate the treasure?”

Nyx remained passive by sheer dint of will. Julián was slick. He’d made a statement, calling on the League’s reputation, and then resorted to a question, letting Cardozo’s imagination fill in the answer the drug lord wanted him to reach. If he were confronted later, Julián could say he didn’t lie and it would be true.

“I didn’t realize you had any historical documents,” Cardozo said.

“I inherited them from my predecessor, who inherited them from his grandfather. Diego Ramos was well known within archaeological circles, and he always had an interest in the legends of Puerto Jardin.”

Again, Julián was letting Cardozo jump to the conclusions he wanted the man to reach. Nyx could nearly hear the wheels turning in Cardozo’s head.

“What was the most recent estimate on the treasure’s worth?”

“The last evaluation I saw put the total at one billion US dollars.”

Nyx saw the president’s eyes light up. Cardozo was the greediest of the pigs enriching themselves at the government trough.

“You’ve made a deal with Señorita Templeton.” Cardozo’s voice was flat.

Julián shrugged one shoulder. “Her fiancé is a guest in my home.”

Cardozo laughed. “Julián, I like the way you operate.” He sobered. “You’re coming to me because you wish to strike a second bargain.”

“Sí, Señor Presidente.”

“The treasure in exchange for…?”

There was a longer pause. “A little birdie told me you’re negotiating a weapons deal with the United States. Perhaps you could order a large supply of the Army’s M4 replacement rifle. It might be that attaining this rifle would be worth handing over the Treasure of Trujillo.”

Nyx nearly gasped, but she remembered Julián wanted her quiet and subservient. She pressed her lips tighter together and struggled to maintain a placid expression. That was the same weapon that Case was supposed to get for the drug lord. Had he decided to forget that route and go in this direction instead? What did this mean for Case’s safety?

“The United States has yet to issue that weapon to their own soldiers. They will not sell it to an outside interest.”

Julián sounded bored when he said, “Such a shame. The Treasure of Trujillo belongs in the National Museum of Puerto Jardin, but I’m sure there are other buyers interested in the items.”

As if Cardozo wasn’t going to sell each item and pocket the money.

Silence lingered. Neither man seemed as if he’d be the one to back down, but eventually Cardozo asked, “How many of the M4 replacements are you seeking?”

“Ten to fifteen thousand should satisfy me. For now.”

The president remained quiet, seeming to consider the request. “How close is she to locating the treasure?”

“There’s still work to do. By the time you have the weapons, I should have the treasure.”

After a moment’s consideration, the president said, “I will speak with my contact at the Department of Defense. I’ll be in touch.” Cardozo and his protection detail walked out of the pavilion, leaving Nyx alone with Julián and his bodyguards.

It took her a moment to overcome her shock. “I haven’t found anything yet that would lead to the treasure, and there’s no guarantee that I will.”

Julián shrugged.

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