Obsession and history collide as a desperate decision taken five centuries ago, overtakes an archeological dig with tragic results.
30 June 1520 - Hernan Cortez and his "not yet" Conquistadors flee the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan with an unimaginable quantity of treasure. The enraged Aztecs give chase and in the massacre that follows, half of the largest treasure ever amassed in the New World goes missing. Archeologist Catana Perez was weaned on the story of the lost treasure of La Noche Triste. Her dream, obsession actually, is to prove that the lost treasure wasn't lost - it was hidden. That it might be guarded was never a consideration.
The discovery of a Conquistador's sword launches Catana on a quest to a desolate plateau in the American Southwest. With each new and astonishing discovery, Catana and her team plunge deeper into the sad and terrible truth behind a centuries-old mystery, and horror that no one could have predicted. Except perhaps Catana's new colleague. A beautiful psychic who's visions begin to take on a life of their own.
Excerpt
Catana was on her knees examining the trench for sign when it struck her that she’d already spotted the equivalent of a neon arrow with flares. Trembling, she looked over to the pile of breakdown Calvas was sitting on, praying she hadn’t lost her mind.
She hadn’t.
It had imprinted on her brain like a subliminal advertisement and now, under the withering beam of her headlamp, it stared back like a reproachful child. Etched into a piece of rock was the sign of the cross.
She was shaking as she moved closer, hushing Calvas, telling him to carefully move. Leaning close to the rock she swallowed twice. First because her mouth had gone dry, the second time because she could barely breathe. But there was no mistake, no trick of reflection or refraction, of fungi or geology. The holy cross of Christendom had been carved into a sheath of rock that once, had been high up on the wall of the chamber. Carved below the cross were two initials, S and C.
S and C, Santiago and Cortez, the ‘Kilroy was here’ of the conquest. The closest thing to a calling card any of Cortez’ men ever possessed, and one of the few things they willingly left behind other than death, destruction and bastards.
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In this fourth and final installment the intrepid crew is taken to the limits of their endurance as they brave a subterranean world filled with dangers and bizarre wonders. When Thurid’s warriors are defeated the crew frees the Grettig family from ca
Secrets Lurking in Pinecrest is a romantic mystery with a series of puzzling events.
Mike Armstrong, a ruggedly handsome Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, returns home to Pinecrest to work at the Ranger Station.
Mary Howard is the dil
