Ortega arranged a meeting with Victor Luego Alamán, an assistant to the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit, the department that handled taxes, spending, debt, and income, anything to do with sustained economic growth.

Alamán was a powerful man in the government. He was also, according to Ortega, a greedy, slightly amoral bastard who managed to line his pockets with federal funds and not get caught.

If Gage could make a deal with Alamán for the government to receive a percentage of whatever treasure they might find, he would gain access to the vast forests and lands that included the ruins of the eighteenth-century Hacienda del Oro Verde.

Of course, the deal would include mordida—cash on the side—for Alamán.

The meet was set for a week from tomorrow at a small café across the street from the Palacio Nacional, the location of the executive branch of government.

Shoving up from his chair, Gage left his office and went in search of Maggie, seated at her desk in the main part of the building.

“We’ve got a start date, Mag. I need you to arrange a flight to Mexico City, arriving a week from today. Get us a suite at the Gran Hotel. I’ve got a meeting close by the next morning. If it’s successful, we’ll head for Mérida the following day. Book us an open-ended flight in case we have to stay longer in Mexico City.” In case we have to do a little more convincing.

“I’ll take care of it.” Maggie didn’t ask who the we included. Abby had been staying in his apartment since their return from Arizona, spending every night in his bed.

Unfortunately, both of them had been working round the clock, their energy entirely focused on the trip, which put a big dent in his sex life. Still, it felt good just to have her there, curling up with him when they finally fell exhausted into bed.

Inwardly, he grinned to think of the way she had awakened him this morning. Enjoying a dream about Abby pressing soft kisses over his chest, he awoke to find it wasn’t a dream at all, that his body was responding to the pretty mouth doing erotic things to him he had only imagined.

Gage reminded himself that eventually the affair would take its natural course and come to an end, just as it had the times he’d been involved with a woman before. His job was not conducive to a long-term relationship.

Gage felt an unexpected pang at the thought, a reminder not to let down his guard and get in too deep. He needed to keep things simple. Good sex, friendship, and a profitable business relationship. That was all.