Immanuel looks up at his godfather. ‘Why tonight? What’s the rush?’

‘Just do it tonight.’ He leans back in his easy chair. ‘Now go bring her in, and let’s see if I can help her out of the mess she’s in.’

Immanuel finds Lauren in one of the guest rooms, changing into dry clothes.

‘Lauren, I spoke with Chaney. He wants to help.’

‘Thank God.’ Lauren hugs her fiancé, then follows him back to the office.

Chaney sits back in his chair and thinks. ‘Okay, young lady, let’s say you’re right. Let’s say Professor Gabeheart was murdered because he suspected something someone wanted kept quiet. How do we prove it? Where’s the evidence?’

‘The evidence is in Yellowstone,’ she says. ‘The evidence is hidden beneath the hot springs and caldera.’

‘Assume things are as bad as you say, that the caldera is getting ready to erupt. Who’d want to keep it secret? And how could they?’

‘They’d do it by shutting down the park. They’d want it kept a secret to prevent a widespread panic.’

‘Mr., uh … President, we need you to bring Gabeheart’s death and this entire issue into the public eye. Once you do that, it eliminates the need for outside parties to keep Lauren silent.’

Chaney nods. ‘Okay, consider it done. By Sunday morning, the story will be sent to every media outlet in the world. Only then will we bring the FBI in. Sound like a plan?’

‘Oh, God, thank you.’ Lauren wipes back tears of gratitude. ‘Thank you so much. And thank God you’re a big Miami booster.’ She looks at Immanuel. ‘Sam, I had no idea your father had such influential friends.’

Manny shrugs.

Chaney grins. ‘For now, the two of you will stay with me. Bad storm coming, but we should be okay.’ He stands, hobbling like an old soldier to the den door. ‘Come on, my wife’s prepared a Thanksgiving feast. Eat everything, or I’ll be dealing with leftovers past Christmas.’

Hangar 13, Kennedy Space Center,
Cape Canaveral, Florida

Hand in hand, Lilith and Jacob stand before the Balam’s sealed entry.

‘Incredible,’ she whispers. ‘And this was built by our Hunahpu ancestors?’

‘No,’ Jacob says. ‘The origins of the starship remain a mystery.’

Danny Diaz, Dr. Mohr, Benjamin Merchant, and two gorillasized security guards join them on the gantry platform.

Merchant smiles. ‘Why, Lilith darlin’, you’re positively glowing. I’m extremely jealous.’

Jacob looks below. More than six hundred MTI technicians, scientists, and VIPs have gathered, all waiting to tour the interior of the sleek, gold-paneled vessel.

Lilith coos in his ear. ‘Open it, my love.’

‘Of course.’ Jacob closes his eyes.

The sealed panel door of the Balam slides open.

Lilith steps forward—

—and suddenly she is sent hurtling over the rail, falling to the crowd below.