His dad let out an exaggerated sigh and rested against a nearby rock. “When you really think about it, we’re all thieves, aren’t we? Sir Arthur Evans? Howard Carter? Hiram Bingham? They didn’t have any stake in their claims other than that they staked their claim first.”
“What about Dr. Mejía?” Miri chimed in. “Unlike you and all those other archaeologists, she was searching for her ancestor’s remains, not simply looking for a payday.”
His dad ticked his head to the side, as if Miri’s comment annoyed him. “And if I remember correctly, her lineage ended upbeing a fairy tale her grandfather spun her anyway. You can’t trust anyone nowadays, can you?”
Rafa was going to be sick. His legs gave out and he fell to his knees. Miri kneeled beside him, making sure he was okay before turning back toward Vautour.
“What do you want with us?” she asked.
“Iwantedyou to leave.”
“Well, I’m not a quitter,” she growled at him.
“Dr. Mejía surely rubbed off on you. In more ways than one now that I think about it.”
Miri cocked her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well,” Vautour stood and took off his leather gloves, strolling toward them. “You’re both fiery. And tenacious. And, if I remember correctly, she fell for Dr. Matthews even though he’d deceived her.”
Rafa’s eyes widened, and he looked at his father, silently begging him not to say anything more. But it was too late. Miri was already staring at him with a questioning look in her eyes.
“What’s that got to do with me?” she asked Vautour while looking at Rafa.
“Miriam, I can explain—” Rafa started, but his father cut him off.
“I asked him to sabotage your expedition.”
“It wasn’t quite like that,” Rafa said, reaching his hand over to Miri, but she swatted it away.
“This whole time? You’ve been working for him, too?” Her beautiful face twisted as she bit back her tears.
“No! I mean, I guess, but I didn’t know he was Pierre Vautour.”
“Oh, so you were just doing it of your own accord? Is that somehow supposed to make me feel better?”
“You don’t understand. He lied to me,” he pleaded.
“You mean like howyoulied tome? Like father, like son.”
“I’mnothinglike my father.”
Vautour laughed, stealing Miri and Rafa’s attention from each other. “We’re more alike than you think, Rafael.”
“Shut up!” Rafa yelled at him.
“All right,” Miri said, standing and moving away from Rafa. “This pseudo family reunion is fun and all, but what now? What are you going to do with me?”
Rafa didn’t miss that she’d saidmeand notus.
“That depends,” Vautour said, taking another few steps toward Miri as Rafa watched from his knees below.
“Depends on what?”
“Depends on whether I think I can trust you to be a good girl who does what she’s told.”
“And what are you telling me to do?”
Vautour moved into her space so that his words couldn’t be missed. “Go home, Dr. Jacobs. Pack up your belongings and gather your team and go home, never breathing a word about this to anyone.”
