Lost Voyage by Chris Tucker Page B

okay?”
    “Yes, Kervin. Everything is fine. Sit down.”
    He did as he was instructed. As Vallejos talked, he listened with great interest about a book that may contain the location of a ship and a large quantity of gold. The greed in the enforcer’s eyes was hard to conceal and he had to hold himself back from any show of emotion.
    After his employer finished, Esperanza said, “The two men may have been on their way there today. If that’s the case, then we at least have an idea of where they might be looking. I’ll leave before sunrise and check out the local villages in the territory.”
    “Very good. I trust you know what to do if you find this book. I expect you to get the job done right this time.”
    Esperanza acknowledged the sharp comment with a nod of his head. He stood to leave and was almost to the door when Vallejos made one more request.
    “Bring me the book, Kervin. Then, bring me the two Americans.”
    Without speaking another word, Esperanza turned and left the office.
     
    ***
     
    By the time Mercer and Vigil made it back to town, the cloud cover was back and it had started to rain. The sky was growing darker with each passing hour and with night fast approaching, they returned to the hotel they had stayed at the night before.
    Before arriving, they made a stop at the local morgue where they secured arrangements to store the body they had brought with them from the gravesite. The two men figured they owed Tony’s family, and Emily, the respect of making sure his body was returned for a proper burial.
    Before going to bed, Mercer placed a call to Hunt. The voice on the other end of the line was not a content one.
    “I figured by this point, you and Pat would either be on a plane or already home. And why would I figure that, Sean? Oh yes, that’s right, because you were supposed to do exactly that.”
    “I’m sorry, Colonel. I didn’t intentionally mean to defy orders. We’ve had some major breakthroughs since we last talked and there’s a lot to bring you up to speed on.”
    Hunt calmed down and talked in a more subdued tone. “After we talked yesterday, Dallas informed me of what you discussed. If not for that, I would have already sent the entire Fourth Brigade down there to find the two of you. Now, where’s that cohort of yours? I know he has something to do with you disobeying me,” he joked.
    Mercer looked across the lobby and into the bar. He could see his partner sitting next to a pretty blonde, no doubt trying to secure a late night rendezvous.
    “He’s already sound asleep, Colonel.”
    “You’re a horrible liar, Sean. But tell me what’s going on down there.”
    He informed Hunt of their findings and described the situation, as well as conveyed how they needed to put an end to the cartel's reign of terror. He also mentioned the ship and its possible location. After ten minutes of talking, a decision was agreed upon to let them stay for a few more days.
    “Sean, be careful. I mean it. I’ll have some reinforcements there for you the day after tomorrow. Until then, find out what you can and lay low.”
    “Will do, sir. Oh, and one last thing. Please tell Dallas to be expecting a package from me. I’ll call him with the details. I’d call him myself, but it’s late and he’ll have me on the phone for an hour.”
    “Not a problem. Now, get some sleep. And tell Pat that’s an order.”
    They said their goodbyes and Mercer walked across the lobby to the staircase. He checked on his partner, who was now sitting next to two blondes. There wasn’t even a slight chance he was going to tell him it was time to go to bed.
    He climbed the stairs to the second floor, went to his room, and grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge before lying down on the bed. He was asleep before he even took a sip.

10
     
    Anthony Mendoza was sitting on his porch, enjoying the light morning rain drizzling down on the forest. He had just returned from a walk to the stream and was about to take a