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“Everything okay?” Monica asked, suddenly at his side. He didn’t know. He just felt like running.
“Let’s get away from the crowd,” Sarina suggested. Roth made sure the twins were nearby as Monica and Sarina steered him down the hall back to the open common area at the front of the high school. There were some steps fashioned into an amphitheateresque setting, and he sat down, trying not to totally freak out.
He didn’t recognize the number and unlocked the phone to look at the message, which contained about a dozen photo images sent from another phone.
Mr. Roth, this is Illari. I’m in the Yucatán with Dr. Estrada. We arrived in Calakmul two days ago and have been visiting the compound here. We met Ezequiel, who told us what went down that night. His people have been interrogating those who were part of Calakmul’s cult. Still trying to find that glyph like we talked about, and we’ve been asking questions about that too. But that’s not why I’m texting. We met this one US family, the Moretti family, who are from Utah. They say they didn’t have a clue what any of this was about and want to go home. They also say they know you. Here are some pictures of them. Can you vouch for them?
Roth’s heart began to calm as he scrolled through some of the pictures. Roth recognized Mrs. Moretti and the kids. They were wearing dirty clothes and looked pretty scared.
He showed the phone and the messages to Monica. Did the kids know their dad was dead? The ripples caused by Jacob Calakmul would extend for quite a while.
“You recognize them?” Monica asked.
Roth nodded. “Saw them last at Westfall’s funeral a year ago. It’s them.”
“We’re still working with State to figure out how to handle the situation down there. Any US citizens being held need to be extradited. Not sure how that is all going to work. But I’ll make arrangements to get Moretti’s family picked up from the airport or at a border crossing.”
“Thank you,” Roth said. His stomach was sick again. A few unexpected texts was all that had been needed to send him into an emotional nosedive. It would take time to heal. Time for all of them.
He texted back.
I know the Morettis. Agent Sanchez will work with you to get them back home. Thanks for letting me know.
He put the burner phone back in his pocket and buried his face in his hands. He felt Sarina’s comforting hand on his shoulder. Then Lucas hugged him.
“It’s okay, Dad. It’ll all be okay.”
Maybe it would be, and maybe not. An ancient disease was still ravaging the world. Several Central American countries were being shaken up by three Maya angels. A world coup had been disrupted. A prophecy was being fulfilled.
And yet . . . maybe some good would come from all of it? The kem äm had the power to change the world. To do spectacular and horrible things.
The future was a big question mark, an unknown. The only thing Roth knew for certain was that his life had become more exciting, more challenging, than in any one of his books. And with his family around him, together again, he was surprisingly okay with that.