They returned to the dig site to find the level of the water in the chamber had receded, but it would be at least another day before they could take up the search where they had left off.

While Santos watched, Gage pulled out the charts and King’s notes and spread them open for Abby and Mateo on the fender of the Hummer.

“There may be another location worth checking out while we’re waiting,” Gage said, pointing to a rough floor plan of the hacienda King had drawn. “None of these old houses had indoor kitchens. Too much chance of setting the place on fire.” He pointed to a square drawn out behind the main structure.

“King didn’t mention this building in his notes, but it’s here on the plans he drew. I think it was the kitchen.”

“We should clear the ground and use the metal detectors,” Mateo suggested.

“Good idea,” Gage said. As they set to work, the rest of the men from the village arrived, all of them carrying firearms. They spread out around the ruins under the trees, out of the sun.

Gage wondered if Paulo had made a mistake in hiring them. If the gold was discovered, whatever money Velásquez was paying them might not be enough.

They worked all morning, Gage and Mateo stripping off their shirts in the unbearable heat. Abby wore a sleeveless blouse and a pair of khaki cargo pants that shouldn’t have made Santos’s eyes gleam or the ugly scar pull down the edge of his mouth, but did.

Gage softly cursed.

He glanced up to see Mateo setting down his metal detector and walking toward him. Abby set her rake aside and joined them.

“I found something,” Mateo said. Gage glanced around, but the men, as usual, were either napping in the shade or drinking. All but Santos, who watched Abby, and Paulo, who took his job seriously.

With his back to the men, Mateo opened his hand to reveal an ancient clay figurine, the miniature image of a running man.

“Pre-Columbian,” Gage said, picking up the piece to examine it. He handed it to Abby, who ran her fingers carefully over the object.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“Definitely Mayan,” Gage said.

Paulo appeared just then. “What is it? What have you found?”

Gage handed him the figurine. “A piece of Mayan art.”

Paulo shrugged and handed it back. “You can find these all over Mexico.” He turned and went back to where he’d been standing in the shade with Tomás.

Mateo quickly set something else in his palm. A tiny golden frog with emerald eyes glinted in the sunlight. It was magnificent.

Abby sucked in a breath.

“Nice. Put it away, and we’ll take a closer look tonight.”

Mateo stuffed the golden frog back in the pocket of his jeans, and they returned to work.