due. My transfer back to my old regiment had nothing to do with that pathetic inquiry McCrimmon organised.’
‘Still stopped you getting promoted, didn’t it? Nothing like murdering civilians to fuck up your career prospects.’
‘I don’t know, striking a superior officer did for yours. Admittedly, a simple demotion wasn’t nearly punishment enough, but again, your being McCrimmon’s trained poodle helped you.’ He slowly circled Eddie. ‘You’ve put on weight, Chase. Two marriages have made you lazy. So how is your ex?’
‘Dead as you’ll be when I’m done with you. Been stalking me on Facebook, have you?’
‘Just keeping tabs on an adversary. But I must admit, it was quite a surprise to hear that coarse northern drawl again when they replayed the SOS at the base. Still, you never could keep your mouth shut.’
The Venezuelan general waved an impatient hand. ‘Enough. You know this man, yes, but we need to know who the others are, how much they know about the lost city – and who they have told.’
Stikes ran his hand down the side of Nina’s face. She flinched away, Eddie giving him a deadly look. ‘Well, since I know Chase, I also know who she is. We have a celebrity in our midst, Salbatore – this is Nina Wilde.’
The general’s eyebrows twitched as he recognised the name. ‘The one who found Atlantis?’
‘The very same. And it appears she’s not resting on her laurels. Unfortunately for her, you found this place first.’ He stepped back. ‘Search them.’
Three soldiers moved along the line, roughly relieving the prisoners of their possessions and tossing them to the ground. Stikes began to examine the passports and wallets.
‘You’ve got me at a disadvantage,’ Nina said to the general, trying to maintain a façade of calmness. ‘You know my name, so who are you?’
‘I know who he is,’ said Valero quietly. There was a note almost of betrayal in his voice. ‘General Callas.’ He looked the officer in the eye. ‘You are supposed to be President Suarez’s closest ally – his closest friend! Why have you not told him about this place?’
Callas’s lips tightened at the mention of Suarez, but he didn’t answer, instead turning back to Nina. ‘I am General Salbatore Delgado Callas,’ he announced. ‘I would offer you my hand, but I do not think you will take it.’
‘I think you’re right,’ she replied. He seemed amused by her defiance.
Stikes held up Nina’s wallet. ‘Well, look what I’ve found!’ he said with exaggerated cheer, thumbing out a business card. She recognised it as the one Larry Chase had given to her. He grinned malevolently at Eddie. ‘So, how are your daddy issues these days, Chase? Still mad at him for fucking other women behind Mummy’s back?’
Eddie said nothing, but his jaw muscles clenched. Stikes chuckled, pleased at having touched a nerve, then opened the metal case from Nina’s backpack. The three statuettes were revealed within.
Callas crouched to look more closely, tapping the half-figure. ‘This was in the ruins,’ he said, puzzled. ‘But the other two . . . ’
‘You didn’t take it?’ Stikes asked.
‘It wasn’t gold or silver, just stone. Broken stone! It is worthless.’
‘Apparently not,’ said Stikes, shooting Nina a calculating look. He gave the bagged khipu a similarly intrigued appraisal, then carried on with his check of the team’s belongings. Kit’s was the last; after reading his identity card, he regarded the Indian with surprise. ‘Interpol? Inter-esting.’ A small smile to match the joke. ‘Now, why would the head of the Cultural Property Crime Unit be personally poking around in the jungle?’
‘Interpol?’ Callas said in alarm. He pointed his gun at Kit. ‘Who have you told about this place?’
‘Everyone,’ said Eddie.
‘Nobody,’ Stikes said simultaneously. ‘If they’d told anyone, Suarez would have ordered your arrest by now.’
‘Then we must make sure they never do tell anyone.’ Callas stepped back, nodding to Rojas. Loretta started to cry again, trembling. The soldiers readied their weapons.
Stikes raised a hand, as if about to object – but Eddie spoke first. ‘Kill us and you’ll never find the real treasure – in El Dorado.’
‘Eddie!’ Nina protested.
Callas laughed. ‘This is El Dorado. The lost city of gold!’
‘If you were an archaeologist, you’d know it’s not. This place is called Paititi. Didn’t pay attention to anything but the gold, did you?’
Eddie’s eyes were fixed on Callas; meanwhile, Stikes scrutinised Eddie’s expression. ‘You know, Salbatore . . . he may be telling the truth.’
‘What?’ Callas demanded.
‘Chase here is very protective of the so-called innocent, so he’ll say whatever it takes to save