Curse of the Ruins Read Free Page A

demanded.
    “I have put myself in much danger coming here.” Pepe held out his hand, palm upward.
    Sam gave an exasperated sigh and handed Pepe another dollar. “No more fooling around. Where did they go?”
    “No one knows for sure,
señor
. But they are not here. That I can guarantee.”
    “That’s it? That’s all you know? Give me my money back, you little bandit. We already figured out that he wasn’t here.”
    Pepe quickly stuffed the bill in his pocket. “There is more. Strangers from across the borderhave been asking questions about the three of you around the
barrios
. They paid my cousin Felipe a lot of money to keep an eye on you and report everything you do back to them.”
    Sam’s eyes narrowed. “Well, you can tell your cousin—”
    “My cousin has to make a living too,
señor
,” Pepe interrupted. “He has a wife and two little ones. But do not worry. We have an understanding. He will only report those things we wish him to.”
    “Why are these people so interested in us?” Shala asked. “And what does it have to do with my uncle’s disappearance?”
    “These are very bad men,
señor
. It is possible they work for the Cartel, a powerful drug mafia located in Central America. The talk is that they are searching for something valuable which they believe you have.” The look on Pepe’s face turned grim. “And I am worried they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.”

C HAPTER 6
    “Hurry up, Katie!” Sam pounded on her door. “We’re supposed to meet Pepe at the market at eight, remember?”
    “I’m ready.” Katie made sure her papers were safe in the small leather bag she wore around her neck. She opened the door and spoke in a loud voice in case the clerk was listening. “Boy, I can’t wait to go shopping. I hear there are tons of great bargains in San Marcos.”
    Sam winked at her. “Let’s go. Shala’s already outside holding the taxi.”
    Katie followed him downstairs to the streetand slid into the backseat of a dilapidated station wagon that had been painted bright yellow.
    Shala had already given the driver instructions, and the man whisked them across town to the Plaza Bolivar, a market where New Mexican artisans had their various wares on display in long rows of houses, booths, and tents.
    After Sam had paid the driver, they got out and walked to one of the booths. The owner immediately tried to sell them some handmade leather goods.
    “What do you need, miss?” He smiled at Katie. “How about a new purse, maybe a money pouch. Just look at the fine craftsmanship. There is none better anywhere.”
    Katie picked up the
carriel
. “Hey. This is a lot like the little bag Dad sent me to keep my papers in. I wonder if he got it from here?”
    “No sale today, Uncle Carlos.” Pepe appeared behind them. “These tourists are with me.” He motioned for them to follow him.
    Katie set the pouch on the counter. “Sorry. Maybe later.”
    Pepe led them through a maze of chili peppers, handmade baskets, and silver jewelry to a small, dark adobe house that looked as if it had been built centuries earlier. Tiles were missing from the roof and the plaster was peeling off the outside walls. He lifted a brightly colored rug that hung from the doorway and held it up so that they could enter.
    The room was dark. A single candle was placed on a small round table in the center of the floor.
    “Wait here,” Pepe said softly. “I will find out if La Bruja can see you.”
    “La Bruja?” Sam whispered. “Doesn’t that mean—”
    “The Witch.” Shala nodded. “Why would Pepe bring us here?”
    A curtain parted and an elderly woman whose face was so wrinkled it was hard to see her eyes shuffled into the room. “Sit down,
niños
. My great-grandson tells me that you are needy. I will give you a reading.”
    Katie frowned. “I don’t think you understand, ma’am. Pepe told us to come here becausewe need information about our dad. We really don’t have time for anything