Indian burials on company property is absolutely intolerable, and rest assured that I have put a stop to that for now and all time. Teddy? Can you think of anything in our family's history that's been as embarrassing as this?'
Bauerstock was standing while the rest of us sat, everyone staring at the laptop's small screen. 'Dad, I truly can't. When Ms. Copeland contacted me and told me what her friends had found on Cayo de Marco, I was shocked. What upset me the most was that the young man-Tony Rossi? — that Tony Rossi implied he was working under direct orders from you to plunder that site. I knew right away that couldn't be true.'
I spoke for the first time. 'Rossi didn't imply that he was under your direct orders, Mr. Bauerstock. He said it very plainly. That you and his father, Frank Rossi, were enthusiastic artifact collectors.'
I was surprised that Bauerstock already knew exactly who I was. 'Dr. Ford, it's my understanding that Frank Rossi's son was under extreme duress when he spoke to you. Coercion so… well, let's be frank. Methods so brutal that there's been some talk of charging you with assault, perhaps even attempted murder. The boy's in the hospital, you know. Ruptured spleen.' He paused for a moment, letting it sit there. 'Personally, I think it would be unfortunate if law enforcement gets involved. We're all reasonable people with similar goals. We all want to protect the history of this great state. I'd prefer to drop the whole matter. Under the circumstances, Dr.
Ford, don't you think it's possible that you misunderstood what the young man said?'
'I didn't misunderstand him, Mr. Bauerstock. The kid said you'd been robbing sites for years.'
'Marion!' Nora's voice was surprisingly sharp. 'Mr. Bauerstock is trying to help. Let's not argue with him.'
'Thank you very much, Dr. Chung. Theodore has already spoken to me of your intellect and your professionalism-'
Ted was laughing, showing himself to be an eager peacemaker. 'I told you about her eyes, too, dad. They're amber, the color of a cat's eyes.'
Nora blushed, pleased by the compliment, but Ivan Bauerstock clearly didn't see the humor. 'Theodore, if I might continue? Along with the written apology, I will also deed over fifteen acres of Cayo de Marco for the museum's ongoing archaeological studies. Finally, this afternoon, I told our attorneys to begin the legal groundwork to establish a scholarship fund in the name of Dorothy Copeland. She was a delightful young woman and deserves to be remembered for the contributions she made to archaeology. Would that please you, Mrs. Copeland?'
Delia was dabbing at her eyes. 'I think it's wonderful, Mr. Bauerstock, and I think your son is wonderful. If there's anything I can do to help you or your family, please just let me know.'
The fixed, formal smile appeared on his face once more. 'As a matter of fact, there is, Delia. Make sure that son of mine goes straight to our boat and shoves off for Marco. I don't like the way those storms are shaping up out there in the Caribbean. And get him all the Key Largo votes you can. We need Theodore Bauerstock in the Senate.'
'May I speak to you privately, Dr. Ford?' Ted Bauerstock was talking, being respectful and very serious. It got me another sharp look from Nora-why was I such a troublemaker? — and an abstracted, drunken shrug from Tomlinson.
As Bauerstock and I stood to leave the tiki bar, Conch Jerry, who hadn't spoken a word all evening, said to him, 'How'd you get that cut on your hand?'
Bauerstock stopped, momentarily surprised. 'This?' I hadn't noticed the flesh-colored surgical tape angling from the palm of his left hand to his wrist. 'I'm a klutz, that's how I got it. Slipped and fell on the dock yesterday. Almost went into the water.' His expression said, I'm a dope.
Conch Jerry said, 'Really?' then got up and walked away, carrying his beer.
Now Bauerstock and I were standing side by side at the marina basin, close enough to No Mas that I could smell the incense that Tomlinson was burning below, patchouli, his favorite. Bauerstock was looking past his yacht toward Ronrico Key. The island was glazed with gold in the sunset light.
In a low voice, he said, 'May I speak to you confidentially, Dr. Ford?'
'Please don't. Not if it concerns any of my friends.'
He chuckled, resigned but amused. 'You really are a straight shooter, aren't you? And you don't believe my father.'
'No. No, I don't believe your father.'
'Would you be surprised if I told you that I don't believe him either?'
I turned to look at him. 'If you're trying to get my attention, you've succeeded.'
'My father is the most ruthless person I've ever met. He's built his great financial empire on the bodies of men who chose ethics over survival. I don't mean that he's actually murdered anyone-not that I'd put it past him. But he's only interested in people who can help him, people he can use or manipulate.'
I said, 'Why are you telling me this?'
'The truth? It's got to be confidential.'
'As long as it concerns just you or your father, fine. The only caveat is Tomlinson. We tend to bounce things off one another. But privately.'
'I don't blame you, he's a brilliant man. Rhodes scholar, the Sorbonne, threw it all away to pursue his own philosophical interests. You know, of course, that he was involved with a political terrorist group that was responsible for the deaths of at least nine people. Two of them Chicago policemen. Yes… I see by your expression that you do know about your friend Tomlinson.'
I looked at him for a moment, then motioned him away from No Mas. When we were at the end of the jetty, I said, 'That was nearly fifteen years ago. No charges were ever formally brought against him-'
'I wasn't speaking badly of the man, I admire him-'
'I wasn't finished, Ted. Let's drop the gamesmanship.
You speak of Tomlinson, but what you're really telling me is that you have people to do your homework for you. That you have avenues of information not available to the average citizen. You found all this out in, what? a little more than twenty-four hours.'
'This is the computer age. If you carry enough political weight and can press the right buttons, there's instant information available on everyone. Including you, Dr. Ford.'
He said more with his intonation than his words.
'Don't believe everything you read in government files.'
'With you, it's just the opposite. My guess is, your life is more accurately described by the blank pages. By what my staff didn't find in government computer banks.'
I said, 'You still haven't answered my question. Why are we having this conversation?'
'Did you see the expression on my father's face when you called him a liar? I've seen that expression before. He won't tolerate that kind of disrespect from anyone. Period. Believe me, you're on his shit list. You will pay for humiliating him like that.'
'Is that a threat?'
'Dr. Ford, I'm being as sincere as I can be. It's a warning. My father scares the hell out of me. He should scare you, too. You want a couple of for-instances? You've secured a very dubious federal lease on a stilt house off Sanibel with the help of some of your old colleagues. You work for Mote Marine, which depends on state and federal agencies for permits. That expression Delia used, 'He draws a lot of water.' I liked that.
Honestly, Dr. Ford, my father draws a massive amount of water in Tallahassee and Washington. If you cross him, everything you have is at risk. Your house, your association with Mote, everything. And there is also the very real possibility that he could arrange for your secret past to become public record. Think the international courts would take an interest in prosecuting you?'
'I have no idea what you're talking about.'
'Of course you don't.'
I said, 'We're being honest? Okay, then tell me this: You think your father couldVe had anything to do with exhuming Dorothy Copeland?'
I thought he'd be offended by the question. He wasn't. 'No. Not directly, anyway. Not that the indecency of it would bother him, but the risk is greater than the potential for gain. That's how he makes decisions. More likely, it was…' He paused for a moment, waited for one of the locals to check his boat lines, then walk away. 'It was probably one of his flunkies. Steal the totem, then sell it to my dad, that was probably the plan. If someone knew he wanted it, they'd try to get it for him. All dad would have to do is mention the thing in casual conversation, and his staff would get the wheels turning. He owns so many people in this state. You have no idea. To an average guy, the totem would be well worth the risk. A year's salary, dad would pay that without blinking an eye.'
