Curse of the Ruins by Gary Paulsen

Author:Gary Paulsen [Paulsen, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307804099
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-09-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

“It isn’t that I do not believe you, Miss Crockett.” The police sergeant walked around his desk. “It is only that you do not have any proof to back up your claims.”

“Proof?” Katie’s voice rose slightly. “A man threatened to kill me. I have rope burns on both my wrists, not to mention the fact that these people say they’ve already murdered my father—and you want proof?”

“Please calm yourself.” The sergeant reached for a file on his desk. “Look, according to your report, you did not actually see the faces of the men you say kidnapped you at the market. Yet you ask me to send my men out to arrest them. Even if we find someone who fits the description you give of the so-called thief at the airport, we would not be able to hold him on such flimsy evidence.”

“What about our rooms?” Sam asked. “You saw them. Those guys trashed our stuff.”

The sergeant scratched his head. “It is a sad fact that this kind of thing is a common occurrence in San Marcos. If we only had more officers …”

Shala stood. “I think we’ve taken up enough of the sergeant’s time. He obviously has bigger things to worry about. In the morning we’ll do like we planned and go see the sights at El Banco. And if we don’t hear from Uncle William by the time we get back to San Marcos, we will have no choice but to fly home and wait until he contacts us. Let’s go.”

“But …,” Katie protested.

“Shala’s right, Katie.” Sam took her elbow and said in a low voice, “Remember what La Bruja said about your friends being your enemies?”

Katie turned to the officer. “It’s been a long day. We’re going to our hotel now. If anything turns up, you know where to find us.”

The sergeant walked them to the door. “Enjoy your trip to El Banco. It is a colorful village, and I’m sure it will make you forget your troubles. Hopefully when you return I will have some news for you about your father.”

Outside the police station Katie shuffled despondently to the curb to look for a taxi.

Shala stopped her. “Don’t look so down. Those crooks were lying about Uncle William. They’d say anything to get you to talk. We have to use the information they gave you to try and find him, that’s all. If we put our heads together I bet we can figure out where this mysterious map is hiding.”

“I told you,” Katie sighed. “Dad didn’t send me a map. He sent Sam a poncho, which is now hanging from the ceiling fan in his bedroom, and he sent me a leather money pouch to keep my papers in.”

“Did you check the pouch? Maybe he hid the map in the lining or one of the pockets.”

Katie nodded. “I looked. There’s no lining and only one pocket. The map couldn’t be hidden in it. There’s no place to conceal it.”

Shala rubbed his forehead. After a few moments his eyes narrowed.

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