“The breastplate,” Bones said, still holding his knife.
“Right,” Jade said. “When Saul showed me this, I dove into the research, and learned of a recently discovered Spanish outpost in Argentina. I wanted to get down there and investigate right away, before someone beat me to it. Saul introduced me to his father, who offered to fund my expedition through the organization of which he was a member. I would get all the credit for the find. The catch was, when I found the final location, his organization wanted to cherry pick a few of the artifacts before I documented the find. I thought it was a simple matter of black market artifact trading, which I loathe, but I didn’t see any other way I could fund the expedition on such short notice. By the time I learned I was being funded by the Dominion, it was too late to back out. In part, I was afraid of what they might do if I broke our deal, but I have to admit that I had the fever. I probably would have taken their money had I known from the start, as long as it meant realizing my life’s ambition.”
“I don’t get why they needed you,” Amanda said. “If they had the journal page, why not go after the clue themselves?”
“I can’t be one hundred percent certain.” Jade’s eyes took on a faraway glint. “The only things they had were the journal page, which makes no sense if you don’t know the rest of the story, and some local legends about a hidden treasure. They needed my knowledge and expertise. If you have a choice, why send a team of grunts when you can send an archaeologist who’s studied the Seven Cities for her entire life? Besides, even if they had managed to find the well and uncover the breastplate, which I doubt they could have done without the benefit of my research, they would have had needed an academic to help them get the clues deciphered. They also had Saul to keep tabs on me, and I was required to report in to Saul’s father on a regular basis. I guess the answer to your question is, ‘Why not me?’”
“Then why did they show up at Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Hovenweep?” Dane asked. “Why did they snatch the clue at Shiprock before we did?”
“Actually,” Amanda said, “Saul found that clue. He didn’t tell us because he knew Jade was working with the Dominion.”
“He did?” Jade looked flabbergasted. “I didn’t think he knew. He didn’t seem to know his own father was in the Dominion.” She shook her head. “He must have wanted to find the treasure before them. Why didn’t he tell me?”
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Dane snapped. He wanted desperately to believe her, to feel about her the way he had before learning of her connection with the Dominion. Anything that did not make sense, anything that did not strengthen her story, eroded the trust he was trying to rebuild.
“That was Jarren’s doing.” She gestured toward the spot where Jarren had been swept away by the current. “He works for someone who is known only as The Elder. He’s the head of the organization. Jarren wasn’t sure I could be trusted, so he took it upon himself to try to find the first piece without us. When I reported in, as instructed, he backed off. That is, until Bones showed up.”
“Why did that matter?” Bones had sheathed his knife, and now squatted on the walkway, listening in keen interest.
“You were a new variable. You had already made trouble for them by taking the sun disc, and by rescuing Orley. At Mesa Verde, Jarren and another thug showed up at Square Tower House. They wouldn’t answer my questions, but they wanted the clue and they wanted you dead, though I think they were acting on their own in that respect. I told them you had just reported back to me that Square Tower House was a dead end, and I convinced them that I was going to ditch you anyway because I didn’t need you. One of them cut your rope, and knocked me out ‘just to be safe.’”
“So you didn’t set them on Saul and me at Sun Temple?” Bones asked. Amanda had sat down next to him. Both seemed to believe what Jade had told them so far.
“No. I had reported that we were looking at both locations. I kept giving them only the minimum information: what we found, and where we thought the next location might be, so they never knew about the solstice connections, or any of our speculation. We were a little off regarding the site at Hovenweep, so we unintentionally threw them a curve there. And you guys held back the information about Rainbow Bridge until we were already there.”
“We thought Saul was the mole,” Amanda said, “but we weren’t sure.”
Jade nodded.
“When Jimmy made the connection that led to Zion,” Jade continued, “I reported in that all the pieces were in place. I believed Saul that the Dominion already had the Ship Rock piece. They, in turn, assumed that when I said ‘all pieces’ that I meant I had all of them. I thought I could ditch you guys at the hotel, complete the mission, and then when the Dominion picked whatever artifacts it was they wanted, I could let you in on everything. But they told me to kill Maddock.”
“Why only me?” Dane asked. Now they were at the heart of it.
“I think they suspected there was something between us.” She was looking him right in the eye. “It was a test of my loyalties. What I did to you was the only thing I could think of on short notice. I almost told you the truth that night, but I didn’t know what you’d do. I was half afraid you’d hate me and half afraid you’d insist on going with me and manage to get yourself killed. I never planned to hurt you, and I did not know they would send men after the rest of you.” She now knelt and spoke to Bones. “When I came into this chamber and saw you and Amanda here, I was in shock. It was like my brain was frozen. Jarren had his gun on you, and I didn’t know what to do that wouldn’t get you killed. You had to have noticed that I didn’t take your knife, not that it did you any good.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve never killed anyone. Never even dreamed of it. But I swear to you, I had just made up my mind to shoot Jarren when you jumped him. I swear.”
Bones did not say anything. Apparently he was having as much trouble making up his mind as Dane was.
“I really don’t like you,” Amanda said. Both women stood and faced one another, Amanda’s eyes ablaze and Jade’s dull with remorse or regret. “But I believe you.” She held out her hand, and after a moment, Jade took it in hers.
“Okay,” Bones said, rising to his feet. “I don’t know if I forgive you, but I believe you.”
“Thank you,” Jade whispered. She let go of Amanda’s hand and turned to face Dane, the questioning look in her eyes making words unnecessary.
Dane did not know what to say. Though every fiber of his being ached to believe her, to forgive her, to take her in her arms and make things be like they had been, he just could not. It just wasn’t that easy.
“Let’s find this treasure,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. He could not help but see tears flood Jade’s eyes as he turned his back on her.
Chapter 29
The icy water drenched Dane as he ducked through the waterfall, chilling him to his core. It brought him to his senses after feeling dazed by Jade’s revelations. Behind the waterfall, a door in the face of the rock led to a spiral staircase. As Dane led the way up, Bones filled him in on the events that had brought him and Amanda to this point, including the attack at the motel, Jimmy’s updated translation, and their trek through the chambers beneath Angel’s Landing. Finally, the stairway ended at an ornate stone door. The door was carved with an elaborate scene of a storm at sea, complete with angry clouds, crashing waves, and a sea monster writhing in the depths. Where a knob would be found on an ordinary door, the cross and clover was carved, hovering just above the horizon. Hebrew words were carved above the doorway.