The Death Relic Read Online Free PDF Page A

him toned and tanned. A week’s worth of whiskers covered his cheeks, but couldn’t hide the smile lines near the corners of his mouth. They peeked through the grey every time he grinned, which was quite often during their conversation.
    Always the gentleman, he pulled out her chair and urged her to sit down. ‘So, what are you drinking? I’m halfway through a strawberry daiquiri, and let me tell you, it’s heaven in a glass! They make it with fresh strawberries, Cuban rum and clean ice – which is very important in Mexico. Coming from Italy, are you familiar with the term Montezuma’s revenge?’
    She shook her head.
    ‘Trust me, you
don’t
want to become familiar with it. It’s a miserable condition that affects nearly forty per cent of all foreigners who visit this country. Down here, bottled water is a must. Never – and I mean,
never
– drink from the tap, even if the locals say it’s clean. And unless you’re in a nice resort like this one, stay away from the ice. It will get you every time.’
    ‘Good to know.’
    ‘And fruit,’ he said as an afterthought. ‘Only eat fruit if you peel it yourself.’
    ‘Why’s that?’
    ‘Because the fruit is washed with local water. Apples, pears and the like are OK if you remove the skin, but I’d avoid grapes. Those rascals are tough to peel.’
    She laughed at the thought.
    ‘So,’ he said as he called over the waiter, ‘what’ll it be?’
    ‘Tap water, extra ice. And a side of apple skins, please.’
    He burst out laughing, glad she had a sense of humour. ‘I can tell already we’ll get along fine. For me, that’s my biggest concern on any project. Not the academics or the science – those things tend to sort themselves out in the long run – but the personalities of my co-workers. I’ve been on digs where we’ve found
nothing
, yet I couldn’t have been happier because I enjoyed my time in the field. On the other hand, I’ve made some major discoveries that were ruined by the miserable bastards I had to share my tent with.’
    Maria ordered a daiquiri as he continued to talk.
    ‘When you reach a certain age – and mine shall remain a secret until it’s chiselled on my tombstone – you learn there’s more to life than your achievements. If at any point you find yourself not enjoying the journey, you need to find a different path.’
    She nodded in agreement. ‘It’s funny you should mention that because I’ve been struggling with that problem in recent months. Don’t get me wrong: I love my work. But there has to be more to life than late nights in the library. There has to be something to balance it out.’
    He held up his drink. ‘You mean like daiquiris on a beach in the middle of winter?’
    ‘That’s a start. But I was thinking something bigger.’
    Hamilton smiled and leaned in closer. ‘In that case, this is your lucky day. Because I’ve stumbled across something that will blow your mind.’

6
    Maria glanced across the table, trying to decide if Hamilton was serious. One look at his cocksure smile told her he was.
    ‘What did you find?’ she demanded.
    Hamilton laughed at her bluntness, enjoying the secret knowledge he possessed for as long as he could. To milk the moment a little while longer, he took a slow, pronounced sip of his daiquiri before wiping the corners of his mouth with his napkin. The whole time Maria stared at him with unblinking eyes.
    ‘So,’ he asked, ‘how was your flight?’
    ‘My
flight
?’
    ‘I sprang for a first-class ticket. I hope you were comfortable.’
    ‘My flight was great.’
    ‘And your suite?’
    ‘My
suite
?’
    ‘Yes, your suite. Does it have a nice view?’
    ‘My view is great. So are my bed, my bathroom and the minibar. Now quit stalling and tell me what you’ve found!’
    ‘Boy,’ he teased, ‘you weren’t kidding when you said you were all business. We’ll have to work on that before you have a nervous breakdown.’
    Maria laughed, surprised that the two of them were