Blood Gold, Maxine Hart Adventures 7

By Shirley J. Miller

In Blood Gold, writer Maxine Hart gets talked into going after the mysterious Lost Inca Gold in Ecuador by her Chicago detective friends, Jack and Harry – and by her boyfriend, CIA’s Riley Perkins. The many myths and legends about the Inca Gold Legends go back centuries and sends them from Ecuador to Peru and then to Brazil. While Blood Gold seems to run among all of South America, their initial quest gets sidetracked. What starts out as a simple search for gold becomes the discovery of new Wonders of the World - and the amazing treasures that behold the Amazon River and Amazon Rainforest. Jack and Harry continue to find themselves in trouble through the most innocent of circumstances. And Riley continues to rescue them. It’s all Maxine can do to keep the group out of harm’s way as they run into Drug Cartels, Human Trafficking and the occasional Arms Dealers. Being forced to admit that ‘lost’ means ‘maybe’ the team carries on exploring South America. But all is not lost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley J. Miller
• Release date: Mar 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463539101

Shirley J. Miller

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~About Shirley J MillerAs a child, aptitude tests always suggested that Shirley Miller should go into writing. In actuality, she spent her career years in advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, where most of her writing revolved around describing product attributes and persuading sales.She always dreamed of writing fiction books but never had the time. Upon early retirement, she decided to follow her dreams. You will love her simple and direct style while maintaining the mystique and action among characters from start to finish.Her work is mostly fiction, so be sure you check out The Chicago Series and the Maxine Hart Series. Ring of Deception is a book Shirley and her sister Betty dreamed up - while hiking, no less - follow-ups being considered.Shirley has also written how-to books on some of her favorite hobbies. Be sure to check out Beginning Golf for Ladies, Golf Tips Up & Over - For Intermediate Players, Freelance Writing, Owning a Silky Terrier which resulted from her love for the breed. Having owned eight Silky Terriers over her lifetime, she even hired a special dog trainer to come to her home twice a week to teach her how to train the dogs.Though she never wrote about it, she wants to Thank You for reading her books and following her writing adventures. Without you, none of this would be possible, So Thank You very much. And keep on reading. Find some of her other books on Amazon or Smashwords by checking the links below.Any reviews will certainly be appreciated. It always helps to understand more of what readers want to see, so she can speak more directly to you. To follow Shirley Miller, and be the first to learn of new releases, please check the ‘Follow Me’ Button on Amazon. For a full list of all her current works, check out these links:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LastFlightOut1

Book preview

Chapter 1

Maxine Hart had just finished her last novel and was looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Her adventure books had taken her to some pretty dangerous countries, and she was thinking it was now time for something a little less dangerous. While she’d may have seen some pretty spectacular world landmarks, they always came with hidden dangers associated with her book research. This time, she wanted a real vacation - something a lot less stressful. Someplace with sun and beautiful sandy beaches. As her mind was pondering such places as Hawaii, Aruba or maybe even the Bahamas, her phone quietly vibrated in the background. She had put it on the silent mode to enjoy what little free time she had without interruptions.

As she thought about these dream locations, she was nestled in her large leather armchair, just staring out at Lake Michigan and thinking about just how beautiful her own city of Chicago could be at this time of year. Spring flowers were starting to bloom, and the lake was becoming more and more crowded as residents took their boats out of local storage and put them back into their lakeside slips for the Spring and Summer seasons. She had almost lulled herself into a light sleep in the big comfy lounge chair as she heard banging on her front door.

Dragging herself to answer the door, she was mumbling under her breath, Okay. I’m coming already. Opening the door, there stood an anxious Harry Black and Jack Turner - her two detective friends from the Chicago Police Department.

Hey strangers! What brings you to my door on such a beautiful Spring day? Maxine was genuinely happy to see them. But she couldn’t help but wonder why they had come.

Hi Maxine, they greeted her excitedly. Don’t you answer your phone anymore? We’ve been trying to reach you all morning.

Maxine smiled up at them, And just what kind of trouble are you in now? She was laughing as she said it, but she knew it must be something big for them to be banging on her door on such a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

We’re on vacation, the two partners explained. But you know we’re not the type to sit still for long. So, we took on our very own private detective assignment. And we just knew you’d be dying to help us with it, Jack gave her his most flirtatious smile. You are so good with research and all.

Hmm. What have you gotten yourselves into this time? Maxine couldn’t help but smile at their antics.

There are stories of the Lost Inca Gold of Atahualpa – supposedly searched for by many archaeologists throughout the years. The legend of the lost Inca Gold is guarded by remote, mist-veiled mountains in central Ecuador. They say somewhere deep inside the unforgiving Llanganates Mountain range between the Andes and the Amazon is a fabulous Inca hoard hidden from Spanish conquistadors. Legends of the 16th century say the lost Inca treasure is surrounded by many deaths, conquests, desires and mysteries. Some even claim parts of the gold were found, but no one ever made it back to the remote location to claim it. Harry started to tell the story to Maxine as they had heard it.

And so, you two think you can succeed where everyone else failed? Maxine suggested calmly.

Listen and learn, Jack continued with a more serious approach. Late in the 16th century, the great Inca Empire in western South America was giving way to European invaders. Atahualpa, who was the Inca King at the time was warring with his half-brother, Huascar, for control of the empire. When Atahualpa was captured at his palace in Cajamarca by the Spanish commander Francisco Pizarro, he demanded a roomful of gold for the release of Atahualpa. They got the gold they asked for, but the Spanish later reneged on the deal. The Inca king was put to death before the last and largest part of the ransom was delivered. As the story goes, the gold was buried in a secret mountain cave and it has remained hidden there all these years.

Harry picked up where Jack had stopped. Some fifty years after Atahualpa’s death, a Spaniard named Valverde became rich after being led there by his Incan bride’s family. Before he died, he supposedly left a treasure map and directions to the gold’s location. The map got lost. And still, the gold stash was never found.

The trail went cold until 1850 when English Botanist Richard Spruce traveled to Ecuador in search of the cinchona tree, the seeds of which were used to make the antimalarial drug quinine. Spruce claimed to have uncovered Valverde’s map. But when treasure seeker Barth Blake followed up on his discovery, he never made it back. His fellow travelers disappeared into thin air. And then Blake himself was pushed overboard and lost at sea on his return trip. Others supposedly found his letter claiming to have found the treasure map and planned to raise funds for an expedition to retrace his steps. All those who tried to do so lost their lives somewhere in the treacherous Llanganates. No one ever found the gold that Spruce had written about – which seemingly had been lost as a result of all the earthquakes that regularly rocked the densely forested mountains. Harry finished the story.

And you really think you can do what they couldn’t - after all this time? Maxine was amused.

Well we know Atahualpa’s gold existed because it was recorded in the Spanish Chronicle that a large convey of gold was lost on it’s way back from Ecuador on the same ship on which Blake was supposedly pushed overboard. Some say the gold will never be found but archaeological expeditions do add significantly to the knowledge of the Inca presence in the region, Jack finished Harry’s suppositions.

We’ve got a couple of weeks off and we’re up for an adventure. If we find it, terrific. If not, we have nothing to lose.

What do you mean you have nothing to lose? Maxine questioned her friends. Who’s is paying for this expedition?

That’s the part we were hesitant to tell you, Harry continued. We approached your publisher, Bob Olson, on the issue and he seems to think it would make an interesting story. So, he’s willing to fund the trip, if you’ll agree to write a book about the journey.

Maxine was baffled. I can’t believe you did that! You went behind my back directly to my publisher? Without even asking me! What’s worse, he actually agreed to help you – without filling me in on your plan! I could kill him. What could he have been thinking?

Don’t get too angry with all of us. Not yet! It’s just that Bob said you were looking for something new and different for your next book. What could be more exciting than the search for missing Inca Gold treasures – in Ecuador, no less? You’ve always been one to jump on any mysterious quests, Jack almost begged.

Yeah, Harry continued. It’s just an idea we passed by Bob and he got all excited about it. He was thinking that you would be too. We asked him to let us be the ones to present the idea to you.

He did – did he? I’m not sure how I feel about that. Especially the fact that you talked to Bob first without coming to me. And add to that - the fact that Bob didn’t approach me himself is even more alarming! You two really have some nerve. What kind of friends are you anyway? Maxine was obviously not at all keen about the idea.

Well Bob says, Riley Turner really liked the idea and he was sure you would as well. You know Riley is always looking for excitement.

Riley knows about this, too? My God. Talk about a conspiracy! Go! Go now! Before I throw this cup of coffee at you! Maxine was furious.

Okay, but just think about it Maxine. You and Riley are a great team - and it really would make a really outstanding book. Why don’t you just talk to Riley and Bob about it? Give it a little thought before you dismiss the idea entirely, Jack was almost begging for her approval.

Go now! Maxine repeated as she slammed the door behind them. What a nerve, she mumbled under her breath.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter 2

Maxine was sipping a glass of red wine as she read for a while before getting off to bed. She thought the wine would calm her down. But it had the opposite effect. The more she thought about Bob, Jack, Harry and Riley’s secret story plotline, the angrier she became. She simply couldn’t believe her friends would do so much collaborating on a book she had yet to hear about! That was so unlike them.

Her anger was making her numb to the book she was trying to read. Just before she put it down and decided to slip into bed, Riley called.

Hey gorgeous, Riley began his conversation. I was just thinking about you. Actually, I’m always thinking about you, truth be known. Hey, I have an assignment in South America. It’s not too dangerous or anything like that. Would you like to come along?

And there it was. The big white lie!

Not you, too! Maxine greeted him. You’re too late. Jack and Harry already spilled the beans about your search for missing Inca Gold artifacts in South America. What were you thinking?

Oops. Caught red handed. But let me explain, Riley continued.

Explain what? That all of you went behind my back to decide what my next book should be. What the hell were you thinking? Maxine attempted to threaten him.

Don’t get annoyed. It was just a guy thing. We were all out for drinks when Jack brought up the idea. Naturally we all thought about you. It was too good an opportunity to pass up.

So, you’re in town from Quantico and the first thing you do is meet up with the guys? Do you realize how long I’ve been waiting for you to take a few days off to get here? And the first thing you do is go out for a drink with the boys? Maxine lit into him.

It’s not like that, Maxine. When I was leaving after my last trip to Chicago, I accidently ran into Jack and Harry at the airport. They’d just finished working on a case. So, we all just stopped at the airport bar for a quick drink before my plane left.

Quick drink, huh? And my name just happened to be bandied about? Maxine grumbled.

It’s not like that, Maxine. Jack and Harry were just telling me about their new venture, and it sounded exciting. They were looking for funding, so I suggested they call Bob. I thought it would make a good book.

And why am I the last to be in on this little secret project of yours? Maxine pushed back.

"It wasn’t meant to be a