Free The Mayan Conspiracy by Graham Brown Page A

but that almost made it more appealing. “All right,” she said. “I’ll take your offer. I can’t promise anything until I have it cleared, so I won’t. But I’ll talk to the people I know and if there’s a deal to be had, I’ll give it to you. Fair enough?”
    “Fair enough for me.”
    As Hawker finished, a broad-shouldered man with a thick moustache and deep tan approached. With his impeccably moussed hair and a spotless white dinner jacket, he looked like a movie star from a bygone era. He carried two glasses in one hand and an expensive bottle of Chilean wine in the other. He introduced himself as Eduardo, owner of the club and sometime benefactor of young Mr. Hawker. The two friends shook hands and then Eduardo turned his full attention to Danielle.
    “Who is this lovely vision?” he asked. “And whatgreat misfortune has her spending the evening in such company?”
    Hawker feigned distress at Eduardo’s comment even as Danielle held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you,” she said. “My name is Danielle.”
    Eduardo smiled, kissed her hand, then turned back to Hawker. “An American,” he noted. “Like you.”
    “An American,” Hawker said. “But not like me.”
    Eduardo raised an eyebrow. “A good thing for her, no doubt.”
    “No doubt,” Hawker said.
    Eduardo turned serious. “You ran into a problem.”
    “I can’t tell you what they look like,” Hawker said. “Or even what they’re wearing. But I’d guess they’re still searching for us.”
    “Don’t worry,” Eduardo said. “I’ll send you home in my car. In the meantime I’ve put some extra men on, friends from the
policia
. They like big paychecks and hassling troublemakers. And I told Diego no one else crosses the ropes tonight.”
    Hawker looked pained. “This is your biggest night, that’s going to cost you.”
    Eduardo laughed softly and then turned to Danielle. “Our friend Hawker, he’s okay, but not too bright when it comes to business. I know of no better way to attract a crowd than to tell them they can’t get in. I’ll do this again tomorrow night and all through the week and by next Friday, I can double the prices and still fill the place three times over.” Eduardo shook his head softly. “Already I’m asking myself, why didn’t I think of this years ago?”
    “I owe you for this,” Hawker said.
    “No,” Eduardo said. “Not you.”
    His attention returned to Danielle. “I’m afraid I must leave you for a while.” He placed the bottle of wine on the table. “But please, cheer him up while I’m gone. He’s far too serious for one sitting with such a beautiful woman.”
    Danielle smiled at Hawker, and then back at Eduardo. “I’ll do my best.”
    With that Eduardo bowed and stepped away.
    “Your friend is charming.”
    “Yeah,” Hawker said, rolling his eyes. “I think he likes you too.” He picked up the bottle of wine, examined the label and then uncorked it and let it breathe. “Looks like we’re going to be here for a while,” he said. “Might as well make the best of it.”
    She agreed and pushed her glass across the table toward him.

CHAPTER 8
     
    ARNOLD MOORE HAD RETURNED to Washington, his residence in absentia for three decades spent traipsing the world. In all that time, he’d spent less than a thousand days in Washington, and never longer than two months at a stretch. After so much time away, returning felt awkward, like being a stranger in his own land, a guest in his own empty home.
    Still, this time it would be different. He’d come back to a career winding down and a superior who appeared to be growing tired of their endless clashes. This time, Moore reckoned, he’d come home for good.
    Stuart Gibbs, director of operations, was a fairly paranoid man—paranoid and grossly ambitious, a combination that had led to many a metaphorical beheading of former colleagues and confidants. Based on the deteriorating tone of their last few conversations, Moore guessed he was next