to keep the Trouts from trying anything foolish。
Paul said； 〃Look at that water wheel。 We have them like that in New England。〃
Water had been diverted from the river and was flowing through wooden chutes to turn a wheel。 They didn't get the chance for a closer look。 Their guards directed them toward a structure at the center of the settlement。 It was four times bigger than any of the surrounding huts； and the walls were made of putty…colored clay rather than saplings。 They stopped in front of a portal that looked like a large； gaping mouth。 Hung over the entrance was the bladed fan from a jet engine。 The Indians closed ranks behind them； put their weapons aside； and kneeled with their noses touching the earth。
〃Now what？〃 Gamay said with astonishment at the sudden submissiveness of the fierce Indians。
〃I wouldn't advise running for it。 We wouldn't get ten feet before they nailed us。 My guess is they want us to go in。 After you； madame。〃
〃We'll go in together。〃
They walked hand…in…hand through the doorway into the dim interior。 They passed through two smaller rooms； then into a large space。 At the far end of the hut； visible in a shaft of light ing through a hole cut in the roof； was a seated figure。 The figure raised its arm and beckoned for them to approach。 They moved ahead slowly。 The floor was made of wood； not dirt like the huts they had been in before。
The figure sat on a throne made of what looked like an airplane seat。 With the exception of two tanned and shapely legs； most of the body was hidden behind a blue…and…white oval mask that could have e out of a nightmare。 It was painted with huge eyes and a wide mouth with sharp…pointed shark's teeth。
The Trouts stood nervously in front of the bizarre figure； not knowing what to do。 Then two hands came from behind the mask and lifted it off。
〃Whew； this thing is hot；〃 the beautiful woman behind the ugly mask said in English。 She set the mask aside； cocked her head at Paul； then at Gamay。
〃The Drs。 Trout； I presume？〃
Gamay was the first to speak through their astonishment。 〃How do you know our names？〃
〃We white goddesses see all and know all。〃 She laughed when she saw the puzzlement deepen even more。 〃I'm a poor host； teasing my guests。〃
She smiled and clapped her hands lightly。 The Trouts were in for another surprise。 The beaded curtains behind the throne parted with a rustle； and Dieter's wife； Tessa； stepped out。
Chapter 15
The law office of Francis Xavier Hanley was on the twelfth floor of a blue glass tower that looked out onto San Diego Harbor。 Austin and Zavala stepped from the elevator into the office lobby and gave the attractive young receptionist their names。 She punched a button on her inter and after a murmured conversation smiled brightly and told them to go right in。 A ruddy…faced man with the body of a night club bouncer gone to flab greeted them at the door。 He introduced himself as Hanley and ushered them to a pair of Empire…style chairs。 Settling his bulk behind a large mahogany desk； he leaned back in his plush swivel chair； tented his fingertips； and contemplated the two men like a wolf drooling over a pair of staked goats。
After crossing back from Tijuana； Austin had called Hanley's office and asked for an appointment。 He spread his story on as thick as peanut butter； saying he and his partner 〃had made a few mil〃 in the market and wanted a place to spend it。 They got an immediate meeting。 The predatory gleam in the lawyer's pale green eyes suggested that the bait had done its job well。 He looked from one man to the other。 〃I believe in getting right down to business；〃 he purred。 〃You said on the phone that you're interested in foreign investment。〃
〃We're primarily interested in Mexico；〃 Zavala explained。
The attorney wore an expensive sharkskin gray suit and had enough gold and diamonds on his fleshy hands to sink the Titanic。 All the tailors in the world couldn't hide the brawler's body； and no amount of jewelry could have obscured the coarse ness ingrained in his every word and move。 The NUMA men were dressed in jeans； T…shirts； and windbreakers。 It was a studied casualness。 In California； the only ones who look like millionaires are those who aren't。
Hanley took in Zavala's Latin American looks。 〃You've e to the right place；〃 he said expansively。 He smiled in an attempt to exert charm； but the V…shaped mouth in the fleshy face made him look like a fat vulture。 〃Did you have a specific area in mind？〃
〃We like tortillas；〃 Austin said with a straight face。
A look of inprehension appeared on Hanley's florid features。 〃Pardon me；〃 he said； not certain he had heard correctly。
〃You know； tortillas；〃 Austin said； making a circular motion with his finger。 〃We hear it's a fast…growing business。〃
Recovering nicely； Hanley replied； 〃And so it is。 A booming sector in the expanding food services area。〃
Austin had the feeling that the answer would have been the same had they told Hanley they were interested in making mud pies。 He and Zavala had decided to use the direct approach that had worked so well in drawing a strong reaction from Pedralez。
Zavala smiled and said； 〃We've been hearing about a tortilla plant in Baja California； outside Ensenada； that might be for sale real cheap。〃
Hanley's watery eyes narrowed under the prominent brow ridge。 〃Where'd you hear that？〃 he growled。
〃Around。〃 The corners of Zavala's lips turned up in a mysterious smile。
〃Sorry； gentlemen； I'm not familiar with any Baja tortilla plant。〃
Zavala turned to Austin。 〃He says he's not familiar with that one。〃
Austin shrugged。 〃We're surprised at your answer。 Enrico Pedralez says you're very familiar with the property。 He gave us your name and said you arranged the deal for him。〃 Hanley's defenses went on full alert at the mention of the Mexican mob boss。 He was uncertain how accountable he had to be to these two strangers。 He fast…forwarded through the categories of likely threats： police； IRS； state bureaucrats。 These men didn't fit into any pigeonhole。 He decided to take the offensive。
〃May I see some identification from you gentlemen？〃
〃That won't be necessary；〃 Austin said。
〃In that case； if you're not out of my office in two seconds； I'll throw you out myself。〃
Austin made no move to rise。 〃You could try；〃 he said with an icy coldness； 〃but I wouldn't remend it。 I wouldn't bother calling in your Mexican pals； either。〃
Seeing that intimidation wasn't going to work； the lawyer reached for the phone。 〃I'm calling the police。〃
〃Why don't you call the bar association while you're at it？〃 Austin said。 〃I'm sure they'd like to hear how one of their members set up a deal with a notorious Mexican mafioso。 That framed license on your wall won't be worth the paper it's printed on。〃
The hand retreated； and Hanley stared across the desk。 〃Who are you gentlemen？〃 He practically spat out the last word。
〃A couple of people who want to know more about that plant in the Baja；〃 Austin said。
Hanley was having a hard time trying to figure out this pair。 With their athletic builds and sun…burnished faces they looked like a couple of beach bums； but he detected a hard edge under their genial image。
〃Even if you had credible authority I couldn't help you；〃 he said。 〃All discussions on that matter are covered by lawyer…client privilege。〃
〃That's true；〃 Austin said agreeably。 〃It is also true that you could go to jail for making a dirty deal with a known criminal。〃
Hanley's mouth widened in an insincere smile。 〃Okay； you win；〃 he said。 〃I'll tell you what I can。 But let's promise。 Tell me why you are interested in this property。 It would be the fair thing to do。〃
〃True；〃 Austin said； 〃but this is an unfair world。〃 His coral green eyes bored into Hanley's face。 〃I'll put your mind at ease。 Your slimy dealings are not our concern。 Once you tell us who hired you for the Baja job； chances are you'll never see us again。〃
Hanley nodded and plucked a cigar from a humidor without offering his guests one。 He lit up and puffed smoke in their direction。 〃I was contacted about two years ago by a broker from Sacramento。 He had heard about my； ah； connections； south of the border and thought I would be the perfect go…between for a highly lucrative deal with no risk and little work。〃
〃An offer you couldn't refuse。〃
〃Of course。 But I was cautious。 Everyone in California has a get…rich scheme。 He knew about my ties to Enrico。 So I had to make sure this guy wasn't working in an official capacity。 I had a private detective check him out。 He was legit。〃
Austin smiled faintly at the irony of a crooked lawyer worrying about honesty。 〃What did he hire you to do？〃
〃The people he represented wanted to find land in the Baja。 It had to be remote and on the coast。 Then he wanted me to handle the paperwork and red tape involved in starting a business in Mexico。〃
〃Baja Tortillas。〃
〃Yes。 He wanted a Mexican to hold the actual ownership for the plant。 He said it would be easier that way。 It would be a turnkey ope