Juan-Marco, the young butler, takes a moment to take any coats or bags you wish for him to store for you before fixing you any drinks you would like- bottles of beer, mineral water and tequila sit out on the sideboard along with glasses and a bucket of ice.
Once you have your drinks and a moment to converse among yourselves, Juan-Marco excuses himself to inform Señor de la Vega that you've arrived. The house smells excellent, the scent of spices and cooked chicken suffusing the air.
Juan-Marco walks down the curving staircase in the entryway, stopping at the bottom.
"Welcome, everyone- I present to you the man of the house, Señor Francisco de la Vega.", he says before a handsome latino man in his late 30s/early 40s with a skinny mustache descends the staircase, smiling broadly. He's wearing a well-tailored blue suit with polished black shoes and a light blue shirt.
"Good evening, good evening and welcome! I am so very pleased you decided to join me for dinner tonight! I hope Juan-Marco has seen to your needs, yes?", Francisco says, shaking hands with each of you and gallantly kissing Ms. King's and Dr. Malley's hands.
Freddy's dress clothes are still very workman like. A thin olive button down shirt, brown leather suspenders and khaki pants are about as dressy as his wardrobe gets. The PI actually feels a bit rested and at ease since he sent his letter. His appearance barley reflected that though. Having been stabbed, beaten and shot in the past couple months left numerous cuts and scars in various stages of healing on his face and visible on his scalp under his closely trimmed white hair.
"A tequila sounds perfect my good man." Seeing the new face, Freddy walks over to Cora "My pleasure Ms King. I'm Freddy Elliot and this here is Evelyn Malley and the fellow in the shiny turbin is Amadeus Ra. You probably already heard him yell that out though. He uh, likes to make an entrance.
So, are you a friend of de la Vegas?"
Business associate actually Cora replies giving the newcomers a once over. They looked a bit harried and distracted which was not what she would have thought from the guests of a puffed up noble willing to pay way too much for a dinged up old piece of junk. She'd actually been expecting a bunch of rich marks mixed with hard eyed businessmen, the kind she was used to dealing with as an up and coming criminal.
She shrugged and readjusted her assumptions. De La Vega was a rich kook who hung out with kooks. Oh well. Still should be an interesting evening.
"It is not that I enjoy the spotlight, dear Mr. Elliot, but that the spotlight finds me no matter how I try to hide. There is a magnetism that I possess that is animal." Amadeus nods, imperiously, as if this is his burden to bear.
Freddy nods amused at Amadeus. "Ya know, with our recent misadventures, I can't really deny you that." the PI chuckles.
for Freddy's Colt .45, probably strapped under his baggy khakis.
I hope Juan-Marco has seen to your needs, yes?
"He has indeed and this is a fine tequila I might add." Freddy shakes de la Vega's hand. "Makes me even more excited to see what is on the menu for this evening."
I hope Juan-Marco has seen to your needs, yes?"He has indeed and this is a fine tequila I might add." Freddy shakes de la Vega's hand. "Makes me even more excited to see what is on the menu for this evening."
Francisco shakes Freddy's hand firmly, a broad smile on his face.
"I am so glad you enjoy it, that's a personal favorite of mine. As for dinner, we're having my chef's speciality: Pollo Pibil. It's a simple dish but very satisfying- chicken marinated in orange juice and achiote paste, roasted with grilled onions. It is a very common dish here in the Yucatán, but it's very satisfying and I find American guests quite enjoy it."
"I'm familiar with Señor Amadeus from some friends of mine in the city, but I'm afraid I didn't catch your name, Señor."
"Ah, apologies friend, I'm Freddy Elliot. I've been travelling with Amadeus for the past few . We've been quite a few places and not sure any have been so beautiful as Mérida. The heat though is rough for even my Georgian blood." Freddy smiles at that and sips his tequila. Damn it was nice. So, you've got an interest in our friend Amadeus here? Looking to get to know an old relative or some such?"
"I would, of course, be happy to contact the spirit world on your behalf. Though I caution you, as I caution all my seekers, that the spirit world is a fickle mistress, prone to ignoring the world of the living unless compelled by a skilled medium or a higher power. I am but a student in the art of the medium, though I have talent and skill. I cannot guarantee success."
Ah you guys haven't met the Senor before either? Cora says a bit surprised I guess it's a night for meeting new people for everyone.
Juan-Marco hands Francisco his own glass of tequila and the businessman takes a sip.
"It is difficult to get used to- though I imagine I would be freezing around this time of year in the North, right? Perhaps Georgia might be more to my taste than New York at least- have you been to Georgia before, Señorita King?"
Francisco listens with interest to Amadeus' "cautionary" spiel.
"While I am certainly fascinated by your line of work, Señor Amadeus, the reason I invited you here- besides my desire for fascinating dinner companions of course- is that I understand you've been looking into Chichén Xoxul. Is that right?"
Cora shakes her head at Francisco Cities are more my speed and I haven't had reason to visit Atlanta. she merely raises her eyebrows at the turbaned fellow Kooks she thinks to herself.
"Indeed. The idea of the 'forbidden, lost city' is appealing to me. And the spirits have whispered this name to me of late." Amadeus looks mysterious as best he can.
Evelyn smiles pleasantly, having Francisco pegged down as quite the charmer. Quite the handsome one, at that. Of course, she never let paltry things such as that distract her. She continues to glance at Cora every now and then, still wondering how she figured into all of this.
"Doctor Evelyn Malley," she introduces herself, pointedly including the title Freddy had omitted with no small amount of pride. She looks to Amadeus as she goes on. "I must admit, it is a fascinating story, though I've yet to find anything that suggests it is true."
Francisco smiles, shaking his head.
"No matter how often I tell people what Chichén Xoxul really is, these fanciful "lost city" stories persist."
"I'm sorry to tell you my friends, but Chichén Xoxul is nothing more than some overgrown walls and an ancient well. And I certainly hope that everyone you spoke with told you that there are still bandits and thugs hiding out there in the jungles. I've petitioned the government multiple times to deal with these criminals but... well, hunting down guerillas in the jungle they know so well is not something most soldiers are eager to do."
de la Vega beckons you to the dining room.
"But our dinner is ready- I'm sure you're starving. Please, let's eat and you can tell me all about your travels."
The dining room table is set with silverware and white china with a white table cloth. A great big pot of aromatic chicken, a big plate of rice and plates of vegetable dishes including cactus, corn and other local favorites piled high on the china. A cook in a pristine apron serves you all and Juan-Marco makes sure that your glasses are full with whatever you wish to drink.
Cora indugles herself with a bottle of beer that she sips slowly as she enjoys her food.
Sounds to me like this Xoxul place would be full of the kind of old stuff you like so much Senor Francico.
Amadeus nods and follows Fransisco to dinner. He requests a glass of white wine as he eats and continues the conversation. "Surely Chichen Xoxul was once something more, a greater city than it is now. Perhaps an archaeological investigation is in order?"
Francisco shakes his head sadly. "The 'old stuff' I like shouldn't come at the cost of lives, Señorita King. I enjoy collecting these pieces of my history and the country's (before, of course, they are willed to the Museum) but I certainly could not abide anyone suffering for them."
"An archaeological expedition has gone out to Chichén Xoxul already, Señor- recently, even. And they are days overdue- I fear they've met a bad end out in the jungle.", he says, spearing a piece of chicken with his fork.
"You see, I told them the same things I'm telling you but they were determined to go. So, what could I do but give them permission and recommend a guide? I fear I've let quite a few men go into the Yucatán to die- I don't want to make the same mistake again."
Freddy finishes a bite of his chicken as he listens Francisco. "Did this expedition happen to tell you what they were searching for?"
"They were archaeologists and photographers, they said- though I had never heard of them.", Francisco says, shrugging. "They asked politely so I saw no reason to withhold permission to cross my lands. If only they had listened..."
Freddy nods and cuts another piece of chicken. "Isn't it possible that they're still out there looking? Or maybe they found somethin' and are setting up camp?"
"I wish I could share your optimism, Freddy, but when an expedition is more than a week overdue and the one of the best guides in Mérida hasn't returned or sent any of the porters back we can only assume the worst."
"The great spiritualist has said that the spirits have told him to seek Chichén Xoxul, but what of the rest of you? If you want to see the Yucatán off the beaten path, Uxmal is not very far and provides a fantastic opportunity for photographs. You will also be much less likely to be...", Francisco shudders visibly. "Well, you will be much safer going to Uxmal."
Freddy shrugs. "We're kind of a package deal. If Amadeus is headed out into the hostile jungle, then that's where we intend to go."
The PI washes down his bite with another swallow of the fine tequila. "Besides, where's the fun in playing it safe?"
Amadeus nods to Freddy. "Indeed, I have heard the calls of the dead and they cry for Chichen Xoxul. Alas, but I have no choice but to follow; the dead do not sleep and will not allow me the same refuge."
Francisco swirls his tequila, shaking his head.
"Your confidence is not lost on me, Freddy, but I still have my reservations about abetting your trip into this dangerous stretch of the Yucatán."
He sets his drink down.
"Let's return to this topic later- you seem like a well-traveled group of people. I know you're from the States but what else have you seen in your travels?"
Cora takes a longer pull of her beer. The trip to Merida has been nice but she'd been bored out of her skull since she'd arrived. She wasn't expected to be back home for a long time anyway so with only a minimal amount of internal struggle she made a characteristically impulsive decision.
Charlie won't like this... she thinks of her on and off lover and mentor as she opens her mouth.
I got some time to kill. I wouldn't mind a trip into the jungle if you guys are going.... as long as you don't mind a tagalong of course.
Freddy nods and smiles at Cora. "Glad ta hear it." Another sip of the tequila and the PI looks back over to Francisco. "We've been around some. A lot of our travels have been across the US, but we've seen the Mediterranean as well."
Evelyn sips her tequila, finding it a great deal stronger than what she usually drank; she was more of a wine person.
"Yes, we were in Malta recently. It was quite... lovely," she says, seemingly hesitant to go into any more detail than that. Her pleasant smile wavers for a second before returning. "We saw some of the catacombs there. Treacherous in their own way, but not nearly as dangerous as the deep jungle, I imagine."
"I wonder, would you happen to have any artifacts from that region, Señor Francisco?"
"The catacombs, really? How exciting! No, no Señora- my collection is focused on my own backyard. I am both Spanish and Maya and I'm very proud to have both sides of the Yucatán's history in my family tree. So where I can I like to collect Mayan items or antiques from the colonial era."
"For instance- that sword in the sitting room was prized by an ancestor of mine, Francisco de Belalcázar, for whom I am named."
"These aren't exactly artifacts, but if you are interested in the catacombs.." Freddy reaches into his camera bag and pulls out a few photos that he snapped here. "I've got a few copies of my own. Consider these a gift." Freddy will watch Francisco closely to see if he reacts to suspiciously at all to the pictures.
Francisco looks over your photos with interest.
"It must have been quite claustrophobic down there! Who do you speak to about getting permission to go down there? And do you know who built these?..."
"Well I'm not sure there's any way that is.. legal, per say." The PI says, looking a little chagrined. "I'm glad that you enjoy them though. I'm not sure how many human eyes have fallen over those in the past 100 years or so. Plenty of rodents though, I imagine." Freddy adds with a chuckle.
The rest of your dinner with de la Vega is pleasant, with plenty of small talk but very little of substance discussed. After dessert, you return once more to the lounge for a final round of drinks.
"I can see that you're all still set on an expedition to Chichén Xoxul, despite the danger. You are welcome to cross my lands, though I hold out hope that you will reconsider. And if you will not- you should at the least take a proper guide."
"I can recommend Pablo Garza. He's got some Maya blood in him and speaks the languages. He knows my lands very well and has a bit of superstition to him- but he's a careful guide and steady when it counts."
Well, if we've got a good guide then what're we waiting for? Cora says with a smile. She's more than happy to take a leave of the dull city and find some excitement.
"Thank you, Señor, but we are well aware of the risks," Evelyn says with a reassuring smile. She looks over at Cora, slightly alarmed to hear that she intends to join them. What stake did she have in all of this? They would have to watch her carefully.
"Did Pablo have anything to do with the first expedition, or did they have their own guide?"
Francisco shakes his head, sadly.
"No, no. I put them in touch with Jacinto Expósito one of the best jungle guides in the region. That's why I'm so certain nothing good came of the last group's expedition- Expósito would have gotten them back on schedule. I pray that your trip doesn't suffer a similar fate."
Freddy nods. "When we are out there, we'll look for signs of Jacinto and let you know for better or worse."
It's nearly midnight when you bid Francisco a good night. His driver is waiting in the car to take you back to the hotel.
"Thank you so much for joining me for a little dinner and providing such wonderful company.", he says, shaking your hands. "I will put in a call with Garza tomorrow morning and put you all in touch for your trip into the jungle."
"No offense, my friends, but I truly hope you are the last group to attempt a trek like this."
Well I guess I'll meet up with you cats tomorrow then Cora says as they exit the scene You fellows don't look like grave robbers though, if you don't mind me saying, what's the deal?
"Right. Well, you should probably know what we are actually doing out there if you're comin along." Freddy rubs the stubble on his cheek while he finds his words. "You see there is this cult we've been following..." The PI, probably with the help of Evelyn and Amadeus will divulge "the story so far".
The most immediately important information is that you're going to Chichén Xoxul after the last expedition since it was sent by Jonathan Brooks of the Mexico City cult to find out the true identity of the cult's alien god and source of Nectar- The Thing With A Thousand Mouths/The Liar From Beyond, whom the founder of the cult (Ramon Echavarria) called Gol-Goroth and Samson Trammel (as well as Sir Godfrey Welles in Valletta) believes is actually Nyarlathotep. Brooks was hoping to get answers straight from The Liar From Beyond at Chichén Xoxul rather than having to go through the Los Angeles cult boss Samson Trammel.
The over-arching goal is to find the earthly body of the The Thing With A Thousand Mouths and destroy it, ending its malign influence on the world. In Malta, Montgomery Donovan told you that the body is under a Devouring Mountain somewhere on Earth and that it's accessible only when certain stars shine down on a clear night and open a flexing crack in the mountain to reveal the God. You found a spell that clears the sky for that purpose.
In Brooks' secret library he let slip in a draft of a letter to Bangkok that the Devouring Mountain is called Kailash, but you still don't know exactly where in the world Mount Kailash is. (No Google Earth in 1937, unfortunately.)
The Maltese cult has been knee-capped, as well as the Los Angeles cult. The investigators fled Mexico City to avoid the police and are following up in the Yucatán instead. Trammel had a correspondent in Bangkok as well, that considered herself an equal to him. Brooks has also written to her about his suspicions about Trammel. There is also one of the inner circle of the original Echavarria cult, George Ayers, that has disappeared somewhere in Ethiopia.
Amadeus adds some choice bits, usually involving himself in the most flattering light possible.
Yeah.. I'm going to just guess we'll find a few old rocks, maybe some rusty swords I'll pawn off to Francisco. Cora says giving the others the side eye Sorry but you fellow sound two crumbs short of a full loaf.
"Heh, I'd have thought the same thing not so long ago." The PI shrugs. "You'll see."
The next morning at the hotel restaurant, you meet with Pablo Garza, the guide that Francisco recommended. Pablo's a Mestizo guy in his early 30s, lean and athletic looking. He's dressed in khakis that you can tell have been washed a few times- the mud stains near the cuffs of his pants aren't quite all the way out yet. He's missing his left little finger. You quickly find out that Pablo doesn't speak English, only Spanish and Maya, so some of you have to play interpreter.
He looks around a little before speaking.
"Señor de la Vega told me you're going out onto his lands, yeah? How long of a trip are you planning? You know, people say Chichén Xoxul is haunted... if you believe that sort of thing."
As it turns out, Cora's healthy skepticism makes telling her the whole story painfully easy. No lie could be more unbelievable than the truth, after all. Evelyn secretly hoped that she would take the hint and back out while she still could, like the good priest did, but the other woman did not seem interested in turning back.
"Not a very a long one. We just want to see the well for ourselves," Evelyn replies in Spanish. Her pronunciation has greatly improved, but her accent still needs work. She smiles very slightly at Pablo's mention of the place being haunted. "Are you saying that there are ghosts there?"
Good that I don't believe that sort of thing then Cora says with an impish grin. Her Spanish is fluent and confident, but it's not a local accent. It's obvious from her manner anyway that she's American.