Page 69 of Wild Idol
He greeted us with that warm, friendly smile that hid deep annoyance underneath.
Star continued to bitch. “Boone is taking his job a little too seriously.”
“It’s a serious job,” Solomon said. “This is serious business.”
Boone stood in the doorway with his weapon at the ready—though it was no longer aimed directly at us.
“So now you know our secret,” Solomon said to me.
“I can’t say that it came as a real surprise,” I replied. “I knew something was off from the beginning.”
“You’re perceptive. You’re probably a good cop.” Solomon paused, considering his options. “I’m sure you can see how this creates quite the problem for me.”
“I don’t see any problem at all. We’re going back home, and you’re going to continue doing what you do.”
Solomon flashed that insincere smile again. “I wish it were that simple.”
“It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
“But it already is. You shouldn’t have wandered off where you don’t belong.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
I glanced around the room, taking in the luxury that he afforded himself. I caught a glimpse of the artifact he had stolen from Mr. Wellington. It stood on a pedestal at the far end of the room.
The golden statue glimmered in the light—a primitive winged serpent. Some might call it a dragon. It wasn’t big. Maybe five or six inches tall.
Solomon saw me noticing it.
“You see, gentleman, you’ve already created an issue for me, and I fear that this is only the beginning.”
I shook my head. “You need to think this through before you create more problems for yourself. Right now, we’re just inconvenient. But if something were to happen to us, peoplewould come looking. Powerful, pissed off people. I know this is an overused line, but you don’t know who I know. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. On top of that, if we don’t return to Mr. Wellington, he will send someone else. That will never stop until he knows in his heart that Ivy isn’t coming back to him.”
“Her name is Star,” he corrected.
By this time, two other goons had joined in the party—both with AK-47s.
“Solomon, I don’t think I like where this is going,“ Star said.
“This is your fault,” he growled, the façade slipping. “You should have kept them away from the field.”
“I tried. They wouldn’t listen!”
“Paradise comes with a cost, my dear.” Solomon told Boone, “Take them back up to the top of the mountain and make an offering to Tzacoyotl.”
“Solomon, no!“ Star shouted.
“I know it’s difficult, but sacrifices must be made,” Solomon said, returning to that calm, soothing voice.
Her face boiled with rage. “I will not stand by and let you do this.”
Solomon‘s tone grew ominous. “Since when have you been in charge?”
That just pissed her off even further.
Somehow, Ivy managed to contain her anger and bottled it all in. In a low, calm voice, she tried to reason with him. “Solomon, I’m begging you not to do this. I’m asking nicely.For me. They’re good people. You can’t do this. This is not what we’re about. This is not what we have been working so hard to build.”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you, but perhaps you’ve forgotten just exactly who is in charge here and what will happen if we don’t deliver our crop as promised. You’re right. We’ve worked too hard to let this all fall apart. That’s why I will not allow anyone or anything to threaten our existence. As nice as they may be, these gentlemen are a threat.” Solomon put his hand to his heart. “Don’t think I don’t feel terrible about having to make these decisions. I’ll take responsibility. It’s all my fault. I should have sent them away the moment I realized why they were here. I thought perhaps we could convert them.” His eyes flicked to me. “I’m afraid these gentlemen are not easily controlled.”
