Buried Secrets (17 page)

“They would like that.” Evelyn stacked the dishes by the sink. “They started out as a team, and they are ending as one. You two have mended the rift between the families.”

“I’ve volunteered to help bring out the rest of the treasure.” Hawke went to the stove and poured himself some decaf coffee. “I know you won’t have time, Zach, with your upcoming expedition.”

“Yeah, thankfully that is back on. I was worried, with the arrest of Santos, but Mr. Wright agreed to increase his donation. The next few weeks will be hectic.”

Hawke laughed. “You think? Let’s see, you’ve got the end of the semester, the completion of the plans for your trip. Yeah, I would say you’re gonna be busy.” He waggled his eyebrows at Maggie. “Care to join me and represent the Somers in recovering the treasure?”

The idea of going back into the cave drove terror into her heart. “No! My adventure has come to an end. I have a dull life of treating patients waiting for me in Santa Fe.” She placed an elbow on the table and cradled her chin. “You know that cavern where the treasure is kept is unstable. There was evidence of several rockslides. Please be careful, especially since you will have to dig your way into it.”

“Yeah, not too many people are your size, and from your description of what is there, it would be difficult to get all the artifacts out without widening the opening.” Zach sipped his coffee.

“Enough people have lost their lives over the treasure.” Maggie wondered how many others besides the ones in modern times.

“But to think a sect of Aztecs spirited part of their heritage away right under the Spanish conquerors’ noses.” Evelyn said as she came back to the table.

“Only because Father Santiago helped them,” Maggie said, wishing Gramps were here to be in the middle of this discussion. For that matter, she wished Zach’s grandfather were here, too, basking in the knowledge that the codices really existed and had finally been discovered.

“It’s interesting that he didn’t go along with the plan to destroy all traces of the Aztec culture. Most unusual, especially for a monk.” Hawke scooted his chair back and stood, stretching.

Zach finished his drink. “He was an unusual man. He wanted the Indians to retain their culture but embrace Christ. I wonder how successful he was with the Aztecs he traveled with. His journal never said anything beyond that he had converted the leader to Christianity.”

“I like to think once the leader became a Christian the others followed.” Hawke pushed his chair against the table.

Maggie looked at each person in the kitchen. “There are still some unanswered questions.”

“Like who betrayed one of our grandfathers and told Señor Santos about the diary and map?” Zach took his cup over to the sink and rinsed it out.

“And how did they know your every move?” Hawke crossed the room to the back door.

“We may never know the answers to those questions. Señor Santos isn’t talking, and I don’t think the others know.” Zach rubbed the nape of his neck. “That’s what I’m worried about. That person is still out there.”

Hawke opened the door. “I’ve got to feed the animals. Are you two heading home tonight?”

Maggie answered, “Yes,” a second before Zach did.

“Then drive safely back to town. I’ll keep you informed of any progress in the case. Who knows? Maybe Señor Santos will change his mind, confess all and tell us everything we need to know.”

Zach’s laugh held no humor as his cousin left. “Thanks again, Evelyn, for everything. We’d better leave.” He embraced her, kissing her cheek.

“Don’t be a stranger. Come see me before you leave for the jungle.” Evelyn shifted toward Maggie. “And the same goes for you. Don’t be a stranger. I hope you’ll come see me from time to time.”

Maggie rose and gave the older Indian woman a hug. “After what we went through together, there’s no way I wouldn’t. How’s next weekend?” she asked with a laugh.

“Tomorrow’s fine by me. With you two around, there’s never a dull moment.”

Five minutes later, with the SUV packed, they were in the car and heading toward the highway that led to Albuquerque. Evelyn’s last words played in Maggie’s mind over and over:
never a dull moment.
She got the feeling that where Zach went excitement followed. But that wasn’t her way of life. Tomorrow she needed to get back to her routine and patients. The real world awaited her.

Zach pulled into Maggie’s driveway and switched off the engine. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since Maggie had seen her house. She stared at it as if she hadn’t seen it before.

“I guess I’d better go in,” she said reluctantly, a sadness enveloping her.

“After what happened last time, I’d like to check out the house, if that’s okay.”

The reminder of the incident that had occurred a week before made her hesitate.

“Maggie?”

“Yes. Yes, that’s fine.” She thrust open the door and climbed from the SUV.

Zach carried her overnight bag while she rummaged in her large purse until she found her key, and unlocked her house. Inside she was again struck by the havoc. All around her was evidence of the destruction that Joe Bailey had caused in her home.

“I’d forgotten all about this,” she whispered as she rotated in a slow circle in the middle of her living room.

“I’ll stay and help you clean up,” Zach offered.

She spun around to face him. “No! You’ve done enough. I’ll take care of this.” She wasn’t even sure why her voice sounded so forceful. Maybe if they made a clean break and went their separate ways, her heart wouldn’t hurt as much. “I mean, I’m tired, and all I want to do is go to bed. You still need to drive back to Albuquerque. You told Ray you were going to be handling your classes tomorrow, and I told Carol I would be at work first thing in the morning.”

He gave her a strange look, his forehead creased. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it.”

No. Yes. She didn’t know what she wanted. That was the problem. She loved him, but there were so many things that stood in their way. His work and lifestyle. Her past relationship. Besides, the past week had been unreal. How could a lasting love come out of that? She just needed to get back to her routine. The hurt would fade, as it had with Brad Wentworth.

“I’ll check the house, then go.” He walked from the living room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Who was she kidding? The hurt she’d suffered over Brad’s betrayal had been nothing like this. She moved to the picture window that looked out over the front yard, and stared at the curtain of darkness. She wished she were better at relationships, then maybe she would know what to do.

But right now her mind was so muddled with exhaustion. Sleep was all she could handle.

“Everything looks okay.” She heard him cross the living room toward the door. “Good night, Maggie.”

Something in his voice pulled at her heart. She slid a glance toward him and caught a glimpse of his strong profile set in a neutral expression as he disappeared into the foyer.

“Goodbye, Zach,” she whispered in a raw voice, not sure if he even heard her. But emotions swelled, closing her throat. Tears misted her eyes.

At the sound of the front door shutting, one tear rolled down her cheek. She brushed it away. She would not cry. Their adventure was over, and she needed to get on with her life—without him.

Zach climbed into the rented SUV and pulled out of Maggie’s driveway. His teeth clenched in frustration. Her goodbye had sounded so final. Yes, there were obstacles in the way of having a meaningful relationship with Maggie, and maybe this was for the best. How could he ask her to give up her practice to come with him on his expeditions? What kind of marriage would it be if he was gone a lot doing fieldwork? In the cave he had encountered microorganisms that he wanted to study after his trip to the jungle. He got excited just thinking about all the possibilities available in caves around the world.

Maybe this wasn’t the real thing. He needed to get back to his life and finalize the plans for the expedition. He needed to keep busy, and then perhaps he could forget the connection he felt with Maggie Somers.

The next morning bright sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows. A cup of coffee in hand, Maggie lugged her large purse to the table and sat. She was an organized person, and it was time to clean out her bag, get her life in order again. Her purse weighed a ton, and over the past week with Zach all she had done was stuff things into it, even gum wrappers and sales receipts.

She dumped the contents out. A lipstick rolled off the table and plunked onto the tile floor. Some coins she hadn’t had time to put in her wallet scattered over the wooden surface of the table. Crumpled-up tissues and a smashed candy bar caught her attention.

Although she had managed to sleep some the night before, a lump was ever present in her throat, making a mockery of her declaration that she would get her life back on track—minus Zach Collier.

Remembering the couple of times she and Zach had eaten a candy bar this past week, she touched the bar and considered unwrapping it for all of two seconds. Then she thought of what she usually had for breakfast—a bowl of cereal with fruit. No, she would find something other than candy to eat. She tossed the bar into the trash, then turned her attention to the other items on the table, picking up her wallet to put it back into her bag.

Next to her checkbook was a small black object that looked like a flash drive for a computer. She’d never seen it before. Had Zach put one with the diary on it in her purse? Why didn’t he tell her if he had?

She walked into her office in the second bedroom, stepping around the mess still littering her house from the break-in, and booted up her laptop. She stuck the flash drive into the USB port and waited for something to come up on the screen. Nothing appeared. Strange.

Picking up the phone on the desk, she punched in Zach’s home number. When he answered, a thrill at the sound of his deep baritone voice momentarily distracted her.

“Maggie, is something wrong?”

“Maybe,” she answered, needing to sit in the chair, her legs suddenly weak.

“What?”

The urgency in his one word caused her to quickly say, “The flash drive of the diary you put in my purse doesn’t work.”

“I didn’t give you a flash drive. I haven’t had a chance to copy it yet, and besides, I was hoping the police would recover the real journal from Santos.”

“You didn’t?” She pulled the black object out of her laptop and examined it. “Then what is this?”

“I can be there in an hour. My first class isn’t until one. Will you be at work?”

“Yes, but—”

“See you in an hour then.”

He hung up before she could tell him it wasn’t necessary to come all the way to Santa Fe. A part of her wasn’t ready to see him so soon. But then there was a part that was wondering if she should change into something more feminine than tailored black slacks and a long-sleeved white shirt.

Zach stared at the phone he had put back in its cradle. He couldn’t believe he had said that to Maggie. Why was he torturing himself by insisting he come see her? All that was going to do was prolong the pain. Hadn’t he settled this with himself last night?

No. That was just it. He hadn’t slept at all, even though he had been so tired he hadn’t thought he could keep his eyes open. He’d proven himself wrong. He’d lain in bed, staring up at the ceiling. By the early hours of the morning, he knew he didn’t want to end what they had started. He loved her and wanted to see if there was a way they could work it out.

When the phone rang again, he jumped, not expecting another call so early. Would it be Maggie, telling him not to come? He almost didn’t pick up the receiver until he spotted his caller ID and saw that the number was the rehabilitation center where his grandfather had spent his last days.

“Dr. Collier, this is Cassie. I know we talked a few days ago, and I told you no one remembered anyone else. Well, I was wrong. I saw Fred this morning in the break room reading the newspaper when I took my lunch in to put it in the refrigerator. He commented on the picture on the front page, of Señor Santos. When he saw the photo, he remembered seeing him at the center with Dr. Kingston on the day your grandfather died. I thought I should tell you since the write-up said Señor Santos had been accused of trying to kill you.”

As Zach listened to Cassie talk, his grip on the receiver tightened until his knuckles were white. John Kingston? One of Granddad’s protégés? Was it just a coincidence they’d been together, or had John brought Santos to the center for a sinister purpose? Why would Santos be at the center seeing his grandfather unless he was after information?

“Dr. Collier? Are you there?”

“Sorry, Cassie. I was just thinking about what you said. I really appreciate your calling. This might be important. Thanks.”

He replaced the phone in its cradle, snatched up his keys and headed for his car. He would see Maggie, then pay John a visit. If the museum curator and supposed friend had betrayed Red, John would regret ever having done it.

Maggie rose when Zach entered her office, then wished she hadn’t. The sight of Zach so close turned her legs to jelly. She lowered herself onto her chair, clasping its arms. It was too soon. She wasn’t ready to see him.