Assumed Identity

At the bottom of the stairs, he forced himself to smile as the limousine's far, rear door opened and a well-dressed, fair-haired, pleasant-looking American in his middle thirties emerged from the car. The man gave the impression of exuding good-nature, but Delgado wasn't fooled, for the man's smile - on the rare occasions when he did smile, and this was not one of them - had no warmth. The man's name was Raymond, and the only time Delgado had seen him smile was during a cockfight.

Raymond ignored Delgado, assessed the estate's security, then came around the limousine and opened the other door. An elderly man with thick glasses and dense white hair stepped out. He was in his eighties although, except for extremely wrinkled hands, he appeared to be in his sixties.

'Professor Drummond,' Delgado said with forced brightness. 'I had no idea that you planned to visit. If I had known, I would have arranged a reception in your honor.'

Drummond shook Delgado's hand with authority, fixed his gaze upon him, and waited a moment before he replied in Spanish, one of his seven languages. 'I happened to be in Mexico City on business and wanted to discuss something with you. Your office informed me that you were here. If you have an hour to spare.'

'Certainly.' Delgado led Drummond and his assistant up the stairs. 'It will be an honor to have you in my home.' Despite the shade trees, Delgado found that he was sweating. 'I'll have the servants bring some refreshments. Would you like a rum and Coke? Or perhaps.'

'I never drink alcoholic beverages. By all means, you have one if you wish.'

'I was going to send for some lemonade.'

They entered subdued light in the mansion and crossed the cool, echoing, marble vestibule. A colorfully dressed, teenage girl appeared at the top of the wide, curved staircase, seemed surprised that there were visitors, and abruptly obeyed Delgado's sharp gesture commanding her to go back to where she had been. At the end of a corridor, Delgado escorted Drummond and Raymond into a mahogany-paneled study that was furnished in leather and filled with hunting trophies as well as numerous rifles and shotguns in glass cabinets, many of the firearms antique. For once, Raymond's eyes displayed interest. Two servants immediately brought in refreshments and as quickly departed.

Neither Drummond nor Raymond picked up the lemonade.

Instead Drummond leaned back in his chair, sitting imperiously straight, his long arms stretched out on the sides of the chair. His voice was brittle yet strong, his gaze direct. 'I suspect your associates have already told you, but we need to compare reactions.'

Delgado pretended to look confused.

'The woman, Minister. It will come as no surprise to you when I tell you that she has disappeared.'

'Ah.' Delgado's heart lurched, but he didn't show any reaction. 'Yes. The woman. I did receive information that led me to believe she had disappeared.'

'And?'

Delgado tried to make his voice stern. 'What do you intend to do about it?'

'What I am doing, what I have been doing, is using all my resources to locate her. Every element of her background, every conceivable place or person to whom she might run for shelter and help, is being investigated.'

'And yet after two weeks, you have no results.'

Drummond nodded in compliment. 'Your sources are excellent.'

'You still haven't answered my question. What do you intend to do about this?'

'Relative to you? Nothing,' Drummond answered. 'Our agreement remains the same.'

'I don't know why it should. You broke your part of the contract. You assured me you could control the woman. You were emphatic that she would solve my problem.'

'And she did.'

'Temporarily. But now that she's disappeared, the problem is the same as before.'

Drummond's aged eyes narrowed. 'I disagree. This disappearance cannot be traced to you.'

'Unless she talks.'

'But she won't,' Drummond said. 'Because if she planned to talk, she would have by now. It's an obvious method by which she could try to save her life. She knows we would kill her in retribution. On principle. I believe that she remains silent out of fear and as a sign to us that if we leave her alone, she won't be a threat to us. I should say, a threat to you. After all, the problem is yours. I was merely doing you a favor by trying to correct it.'

Delgado's pulse increased with anger. 'Not a favor. A business agreement.'

'I won't quibble with terminology. I came to tell you that despite her disappearance, I expect to be allowed to conduct my business as you agreed.'

Delgado released his nervous energy by standing. 'That would be very difficult. The director of the National Institute of Archaeology and History has become furious about your control of the site in the Yucatan. He is mustering government support for a full investigation.'

'Discourage him,' Drummond said.

'He's very determined.'

Now it was Drummond's turn to rise. Despite his frail body, he dominated the study. 'I need only another few weeks. I'm too close. I won't be stopped.'

'Unless you fail.'

'I never fail.' Drummond bristled. 'I am an unforgiving partner. If you fail me, despite the woman's disappearance, I will take steps to make you regret it.'

'How? If you don't find the woman and she never talks.'

'She was necessary only to protect you. To expose you, all I need is this.' Drummond snapped his fingers.

In response, Raymond opened a briefcase, then handed Drummond a large envelope that contained a video tape.

Drummond gave the envelope to Delgado. 'It's a copy, of course. I've been saving it as a further negotiating tactic. Be careful. Don't leave it where your wife and daughter might wonder what was on it. Or the President. You wouldn't want him to see it. A political scandal of this sort would threaten his administration, and needless to say, it would destroy your chances of becoming his replacement.'

Delgado felt sweat trickle down his back as he clenched the video tape.

Abruptly the study's door was opened. Delgado whirled, his stomach cramping when he saw his wife step in. Intelligent, sophisticated, well-educated, she understood her role as a politician's spouse and always conducted herself perfectly. She tolerated Delgado's frequent absences and no doubt was aware of his frequent indiscretions. She was always there when he needed symbolic support at public functions. But then she had been raised in a family of politicians. From her youth onward, she had learned the rules. She was the sister of Delgado's best friend, the President of Mexico.