‘He would seek answers from those who know. He would return to the land of the green lightning.’

Dominique turns into the entrance of Chichén Itzá. To her surprise, the parking lot is deserted, the front gates sealed, guarded by a platoon of heavily armed American soldiers.

Captain Luke Magierski leaves his station and approaches, his hands resting on his M-16. ‘Sorry, miss, Chichén Itzá’s closed.’

‘Actually, I was looking for the local vendors who used to sell inside the park.’

Magierski stares at the attractive woman with the long ebony hair and high cheekbones, her looks vaguely familiar. ‘They’ve set up shop on the grounds of the Mayaland Hotel. It’s about ten minutes from here.’ The soldier removes an identity scanner from his belt. ‘I need to scan you, it’s standard procedure.’

‘Of course.’ She extends her left hand out the window.

Magierski’s device snaps Dominique’s digital photo as it scans her open palm.

SMITH, A NDREA M.

RESIDENCE: WELLINGTON, FLORIDA.

NO OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.

‘Thank you, Miss Smith. You have a nice day now.’

She waves, then drives off.

Magierski stares at the photo. Wait a second, I have seen her before. Removing his Palm Pilot, he scans his old e-mails. Locates the People-First.com website. Checks the photo against the one posted. Holy crap, it’s her!

Glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one is watching, he e-mails the photo of Andrea Smith to the political party of Peter Mabus.

Dominique pulls into the grand entrance of the Mayaland Hotel and parks. A farmers’ market has been set up across from the parking lot, allowing the local villagers to sell their wares to tourists.

She scans the tables, counting fewer than a dozen visitors among the vendors. The park’s closing’s hurting everyone. Approaching the first booth, she is immediately swarmed upon by children, all pulling at her skirt in an attempt to lure her to their table.

‘Jade necklace, señorita? Only ten dollars, American.’

‘Come, señorita, we have beautiful rings. Five dollars.’

‘Señorita, you must buy a silk hammock. We give you a very good price, eh?’

‘Okay, okay, tell you what, I’ll buy from the first person who can tell me where I can find the elder known as Ocela.’

The children back away. ‘Don’t know this person, señorita. Maybe you should go, eh?’

The children abandon Dominique for a Canadian couple and their teenage daughter. ‘Bandanna, señor? Two dollar.’

Captain Magierski stares at his Palm Pilot as if he’s just hit the lottery.

SUBJECT VERIFICATION CONFIRMED. ONE-MILLION WILL BE WIRED UPON PROOF OF VAZQUEZ CAPTURE, BALANCE DELIVERED WHEN TEAM ARRIVES THIS EVENING. DISCUSS THIS WITH NO ONE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY.

Dominique moves from table to table, stopping occasionally to check out an obsidian letter opener or an ornamental jaguar. ‘Excuse me? How much?’

‘Thirty dollars, señorita. For you, twenty-three.’