WEBVTT

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Legends of the Yucatan, uncovering a mystery

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of greed and betrayal. A story by Jason Weimer.

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Narrated by the International Community Schools

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High School Marketing Class of 2025. In The Legends

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of the Yucatan, a gripping tale of adventure,

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mystery, and danger, Professor James Hawthorne

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and a group of unlikely heroes find themselves

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thrust into a world of ancient artifacts, cartel

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members, and Mayan myths. The Setting Our story

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begins in the quaint and famous, well now even

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more famous, town of Coloma, California, which

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is located in El Dorado County. Coloma's significance

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resides in the fact that it's known as Ground

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Zero of where the California Gold Rush started

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in the mid -1800s. Coloma and the surrounding

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area is not only etched in the history as the

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starting place of the California Gold Rush, but

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is now also known as the little town that helped

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expose one of the largest and longest U .S. government

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scandals of all time. The scandal is now known

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worldwide as the Great California Gold Rush Scandal.

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The region and county has seen growth among visiting

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tourists. Over the last year and a half since

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the Gold Rush scandal broke, tourism has almost

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doubled, which has contributed to much higher

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revenues for local businesses. Coloma City Council

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members have had to hold several extra meetings

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with real estate developers, city planners, zoning

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officials, and contractors to develop plans for

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infrastructure improvements, road expansions,

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and new business -friendly zones. El Dorado College,

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located in Coloma, has seen a jump in enrollment

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since the scandal was exposed as well. Curiosity

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and intrigue have brought many more students

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from all over the United States to the college

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to study. Both the history and science departments

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have seen a significant increase in enrollment.

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Even though the county of El Dorado and the town

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of Coloma are experiencing population growth,

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the region still holds on to its cultural and

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historical charm. UNAM is short for the National

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Autonomous University of Mexico. It's ranked

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as Mexico's number one university and ranks as

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number two in all of Latin America. UNAM has

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an enrollment of over 360 ,000 students. Popular

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tourist attractions and archaeological sites

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in Mexico are sprinkled along the Yucatan Peninsula.

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Cancun, being the popular destination for tourists

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and holiday goers, sits on the east coast of

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the peninsula and is about a 20 -hour drive from

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Mexico City, or just a two -and -a -half -hour

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flight. The Yucatan is full of ancient archaeological

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sites. One well -known site is known as Chichen

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Itza, one of the largest Mayan cities. It's just

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over 90 minutes from the city of Merida and just

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over two hours from Cancun in Playa del Carmen.

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Chichen Itza is a notable site of ancient Mayan

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ruins. At its center is the massive step pyramid

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known as El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulkan.

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This ancient city thrived between 600 AD and

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the 1200s, and its stone carvings have endured

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over time. Key structures such as the ball court,

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the Temple of the Warriors, and the Wall of Skulls

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still display detailed carvings from the past.

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Nightly sound and light shows illuminate the

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building's sophisticated geometry, giving visitors

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a spectacular show. Another location popular

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with tourists and archaeologists is Tulum. Tulum

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is a resort town on Mexico's Caribbean coast,

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in south of Cancun. The 13th century walled Mayan

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archaeological site at Tulum National Park overlooks

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the sea. It incorporates the clifftop Castillo,

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built as a watchtower, and the Templo de las

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Pinturas, with a partially restored mural. Inland,

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the Coba Archaeological Site has pyramid -shaped

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temples with views over the surrounding jungle.

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Finally, Calakmul is another ancient site of

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the Mayan people and is located near the border

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of Guatemala and Belize. Over 6 ,700 ancient

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structures have been discovered and identified

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in this area, which date back to 1000 BC. The

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entire site is located in the protected tropical

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forest of Calakmul in Campeche, Mexico. This

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area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage

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Site. Because of this designation, many of the

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ancient structures have been hidden once again

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by the imposing jungle forest. Few tourists venture

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into this location because of its remote and

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less accessible location. I'm Lily, remember

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me? I'm thankful for all the outpouring of support

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and love I've received since being part of the

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group who helped expose the truth of the Gold

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Rush scandal. Because of my involvement in helping

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expose this scandal, I'll be granted a permanent

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green card to live and work in the US upon completing

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all my studies. I've had some weird flashbacks

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the last year and a half of my time being held

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in the tunnels, which have helped the FBI piece

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other small details together over time. I'm still

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connected with Ava, Ethan, and Sarah, and of

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course, Professor Hawthorne at the college. I

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completed my bachelor degree in forensic science

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from El Dorado College, and I've started my master's

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degree. With the influx of new students came

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more demands for expanded programs at the college.

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So I'm part of the first cohort in the newly

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developed forensic science master's degree program,

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which I'm super excited about. I'm also taking

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a few extra classes in the history department,

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as I really would love to specialize in a career

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that does forensic investigation of past events,

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places, and artifacts. I was able to secure a

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TA position with Professor Hawthorne and Professor

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Case. I really enjoy having my feet in both the

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history and science worlds, and I just really

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love to learn. Hey there, it's Ava Turner here.

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You may remember me from my previous adventure.

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I helped break the series of stories of the California

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Gold Rush scandal when I was working at the Sacramento

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Bee. I'm not even 30 years old yet, and I feel

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like I've lived a lifetime already with the amount

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of exposure and opportunities I've had since

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those stories came out. The events and circumstances

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of that adventure have changed my career and

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life in so many positive ways. I've only been

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out of college for two and a half years, and

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I now work as an independent writer and investigative

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reporter. I'd say that 90 % of my contract work

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now comes from Reuters. Reuters is a valued source

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of news of which they then source to newspaper

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all over the country, like the Sacramento Bee

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and hundreds of other papers, both online and

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offline. In fact, Reuters is quite famously known

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as the first to break the news in 1865 that President

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Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated. I'm so

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honored to be working with them and appreciate

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the arrangement we have together. Hello, I'm

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Amanda Chase. My students call me Prov Chase.

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I'm 36 years old and new to the area. I accepted

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a position at El Dorado College last year and

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now help teach several classes in the history

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and science departments. I'm a rare person as

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I've done two doctoral degrees, one in general

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history and one in general science. That's why

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I landed this faculty position at El Dorado College

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as I'm qualified to teach in both the history

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and science departments. I'm married and my husband

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is a lawyer who specializes in business and corporate

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law. We have two elementary age children and

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we are originally from New York. My husband and

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I were inspired by the events and bravery of

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the people involved with exposing the Gold Rush

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scandal. It was good timing as we both were looking

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to make a change and wanted to relocate. After

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reading all the articles and watching all the

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news reports and interviews, I knew we had to

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be out there. Anyway, when I saw that the college

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was hiring for a new faculty position and that

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person would be working in the same department

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as the great professor Hawthorne, I knew I wanted

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this position. And now, here we are, a year later,

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and I've made it through my first year at the

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college. Oh, by the way, fun fact as well. My

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kids attend the school where Sierra Reese now

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teaches art. You know, Sierra? She was also part

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of the gang who helped expose the corrupt officials

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from the Gold Rush scandal. Hola. I'm Thomas

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Frolis. I'm a 52 -year -old man. I'm a family

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man. Always have been. My students call me Professor

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Tommy, which is Prof Tommy. I'm on staff at UNAM,

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and I've been here for quite a long time now.

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Professor Hawthorne and I go way back. In fact,

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James and I worked together on several dig projects

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here in Mexico and Central America years ago.

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I'm well -connected at the university and the

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museum. My university department, the Department

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of Archaeology and Anthropology, works closely

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with the museum and much of our work is directly

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related to the city and state cultural and heritage

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type initiatives. Let's just say the Mexican

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Ministry of Cultural Affairs is one of our biggest

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supporters and financiers. Tony Garcia over at

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the museum is a good friend of mine. I helped

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to mentor him as he gained seniorities at the

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museum. We probably grab lunch together at least

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once a month. I'm surprised he still has time

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with as large a staff he has now over there.

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Hello, my name is Anthony Garcia and I'm the

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lead curator for the Museum of National Anthropology

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in Mexico City. My close friends just call me

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Tony. I'm 44 years old and I've worked at this

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museum for almost 24 years now. I started working

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here as an intern while I was finishing my college

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degree and never left. I guess you could say

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that I've almost made it to the top rung of the

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corporate ladder here. I routinely meet with

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my boss, the museum director, and prominent city

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and government officials regarding all things

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culture and heritage. And I get to interact with

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the Yunnan professors and students on a regular

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basis as well. I learned how to curate some of

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the rarest artifacts and relics from around the

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world and bring them to this museum for shows

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and installations. We do, however, specialize

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in rare relics and artifacts of the ancient Mayans

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and have done a lot of study of the Aztec civilization.

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I love my job. Let's just say I don't plan on

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going anywhere. I converted a section of my large

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corner office into a studio apartment as I'm

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often here overnight working. Chances are if

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you need to find me, you'll always find me at

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the museum somewhere. Hello, I'm Miranda Martinez

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and I'm 28 years old. I was born and raised in

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Mexico City with family ties to Texas. I have

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a younger brother and a younger sister. My younger

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brother plays for one of Mexico City's pro soccer

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teams and my sister is studying pre -med. I'm

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a graduate of UNAM's undergraduate and graduate

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programs of history and anthropology, and I'm

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one of the youngest team leaders the university

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has ever sent out in the field. One of my biggest

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accomplishments, besides being the first female

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in my family to graduate with honors from UNAM,

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was that I helped lead the team that discovered

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the now famous and very rare jade vessel artifact.

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You'll hear about that later. My family is pretty

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well connected among the elites in Mexico City.

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My mother and father own and manage several high

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-end restaurants that have been featured on multiple

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international food programs. Their restaurants

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regularly host some of Mexico's most influential

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politicians and business moguls. Although I grew

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up in the world of elites and influence, I don't

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really enjoy it. I'd rather be out in the countryside

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learning about our past so I can help preserve

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it, not only for my generation, but for future

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generations as well. Hi, my name is David Silva.

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I'm 31 years old. Well, almost 32 to be exact.

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I'm a dual U .S. Mexican citizen. I was born

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in Mexico. My father's American, and my mother

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is Mexican. My father moved to Mexico City for

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work, where he met my mom. They then got married

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and had me two years later, which was a big surprise

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to both of them at the time. At least, that's

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what they tell me, and maybe that's why I'm an

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only child. My father then relocated us to the

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U .S. right before I started middle school. I

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spent my middle school and high school years

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attending school in Los Angeles, which was a

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big adjustment for me. My parents still live

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and work there. I had a knack for swimming and

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won several high -profile swim meets in high

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school. I didn't know what I wanted to do after

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high school, so I joined the U .S. Navy. I knew

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that if I wanted to go to university sometime,

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that the best way to get that paid for was through

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the GI Bill offered by the U .S. government.

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While in the Navy, I trained and worked as a

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rescue and recovery diver, which took me all

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around the world, mostly to natural disaster

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zones. We were often contracted by both private

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and public companies and even sometimes other

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governments for our services, some of which have

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been classified. I left the Navy after 10 years

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and was quickly recruited by the Mexican government

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as a private citizen to help recruit and train

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new dive technicians for the Mexican Navy. My

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former senior Navy officer recommended me when

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he found I was leaving. I also accept contracts

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for dives from pirate companies and the university.

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In fact, I was a diver on the team that found

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the golden mass of Chichen Itza. You'll hear

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about that later. Professor Hawthorne here. You

00:13:23.409 --> 00:13:25.509
probably remember me from my previous adventure

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with Ava, Lily, Ethan, and Sierra. The last two

00:13:28.950 --> 00:13:32.250
years have been quite crazy, good and bad. One

00:13:32.250 --> 00:13:34.470
of my closest friends and colleagues at the college,

00:13:34.629 --> 00:13:37.149
Bill Sharpton, was charged and convicted of multiple

00:13:37.149 --> 00:13:40.149
felonies and is now serving prison time for his

00:13:40.149 --> 00:13:42.909
role in the Gold Rush scandal. Other prominent

00:13:42.909 --> 00:13:45.549
city and state leaders were also caught and convicted.

00:13:45.889 --> 00:13:48.669
The public's trust in our city, county, and state

00:13:48.669 --> 00:13:51.269
leaders has been greatly diminished because of

00:13:51.269 --> 00:13:54.990
the Great Gold Rush scandal. Well, this is what

00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:57.230
the national network news agencies have named

00:13:57.230 --> 00:13:59.379
it now. I still get the feeling there are others

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:02.679
involved who haven't yet been caught. Well, it's

00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:05.139
in the hands of the FBI now. Moving on to some

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.720
of the good things that have happened in the

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.980
last two years, my wife and I have had the opportunity

00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:11.340
to travel around the country, along with several

00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:13.519
of the others, to tell the story of our involvement.

00:14:14.090 --> 00:14:16.830
I'm thankful to HarperCollins for picking up

00:14:16.830 --> 00:14:19.029
my book, The Secrets of El Dorado, and sending

00:14:19.029 --> 00:14:21.370
us on a book tour. We had a great time meeting

00:14:21.370 --> 00:14:24.429
so many people all over the country and are thrilled

00:14:24.429 --> 00:14:26.690
to tell our story, and we're glad it inspired

00:14:26.690 --> 00:14:29.269
them. El Dorado College enrollment has grown,

00:14:29.389 --> 00:14:31.570
so it's good to have a new faculty member. Amanda

00:14:31.570 --> 00:14:34.990
Chase joined my team, and she helps teach several

00:14:34.990 --> 00:14:38.470
different classes. With this newfound 15 seconds

00:14:38.470 --> 00:14:41.110
of fame, many of our old friends and work colleagues

00:14:41.110 --> 00:14:43.429
have reached out to see how things are going.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.840
I even got reconnected with an old friend from

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:48.519
Yunam in Mexico City, which you'll hear about

00:14:48.519 --> 00:15:05.940
soon. Part 1. The Proposal Professor Hawthorne

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.919
looks down at his watch, and then he glances

00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.259
up at the clock in the back of the room. Hmm,

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:12.539
I guess the batteries finally died in that old

00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:15.570
clock. The professor mumbles to himself as he

00:15:15.570 --> 00:15:19.309
starts to pack up his papers and laptop. As he

00:15:19.309 --> 00:15:22.330
carefully slips his laptop in his very worn leather

00:15:22.330 --> 00:15:24.970
shoulder bag, he clears his throat and then he

00:15:24.970 --> 00:15:29.429
says with a loud voice, Okay everyone, there

00:15:29.429 --> 00:15:31.509
is about 10 minutes remaining in class to finish

00:15:31.509 --> 00:15:33.549
up. Make sure to read the final instructions

00:15:33.549 --> 00:15:36.429
before turning in your work. And don't forget

00:15:36.429 --> 00:15:39.029
to have a great holiday break. And I'll see you

00:15:39.029 --> 00:15:42.500
next year. The professor smirks a bit as he says

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.940
that last part, hoping at least one of the students

00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.799
would laugh. Or at least crack a smile and look

00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:51.299
back. Nope, not this year again. Maybe the joke

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:53.539
has worn itself out over the countless years

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:56.139
he's used it with his last class on the last

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:58.960
day before the college goes on break for Christmas

00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:02.019
and New Year's. The professor looks up as Lily

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:04.740
Chan approaches the front table as he's closing

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:07.879
his bag and putting on his jacket. Tough ground

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:11.769
today, he says to Lily. Yes, they were. They

00:16:11.769 --> 00:16:13.870
were probably just tired and happy that their

00:16:13.870 --> 00:16:16.929
final exam is over. Lily responds as she hands

00:16:16.929 --> 00:16:19.250
in some leftover papers that were left behind

00:16:19.250 --> 00:16:22.490
by several eager to leave early students. She

00:16:22.490 --> 00:16:25.029
then asks, Is there anything else we need to

00:16:25.029 --> 00:16:28.169
do today? The professor responds, Not that I

00:16:28.169 --> 00:16:30.129
can think of, and if there is something, well,

00:16:30.309 --> 00:16:32.750
it can wait until we get back from break. That's

00:16:32.750 --> 00:16:34.909
the thing about work. It'll always be right here

00:16:34.909 --> 00:16:37.240
where you left it. It's not going anywhere. Professor

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.360
Hawthorne and Lily follow the last two students

00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.360
out of the classroom, turn off the light, and

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.200
shut the door behind them. As they walk down

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:46.179
the hallway toward the elevator, the professor

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:48.799
says, Well, how does it feel to complete your

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:52.019
first semester as a TA? Very different from when

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:54.480
you were a student, right? Honestly, it's been

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:57.440
great. I mean, I didn't really know what to expect

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.679
as far as the day -to -day responsibilities,

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.389
but so far I've really enjoyed it. And as a bonus,

00:17:03.509 --> 00:17:06.410
I'm able to receive three extra college credits.

00:17:06.809 --> 00:17:09.829
And by the way, I really appreciate you allowing

00:17:09.829 --> 00:17:12.130
me to join your department. Thanks for putting

00:17:12.130 --> 00:17:15.130
in the work for me. You're welcome. And that's

00:17:15.130 --> 00:17:18.130
good to hear, Professor Hawthorne says. The entire

00:17:18.130 --> 00:17:21.450
TA experience can be a make it or break it, depending

00:17:21.450 --> 00:17:24.710
on who you're TAing for. I mean, I feel really

00:17:24.710 --> 00:17:27.130
bad for the poor souls who get stuck TAing in

00:17:27.130 --> 00:17:29.619
the English department. Yeah, that's what the

00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:31.920
rumor is around here. Don't TA in the English

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:34.799
department, Lily says with a half smile and then

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:37.640
adds, Professor Chase has been great as well.

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:40.500
She told me she loves it when she has the opportunity

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:43.559
to mentor TAs in her classes. Lily makes eye

00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:45.839
contact with one of the two students up ahead

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.960
who is holding the elevator and then says, thanks

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.660
for holding that for us. The professor then says,

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:55.099
you all go ahead without me. I've got to stop

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:58.299
back in my office before I leave anyway. Oh,

00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:00.380
by the way, Lily, if you find yourself without

00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:02.740
plans for Christmas or New Year's, please reach

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:05.839
out to me or the missus. We usually host several

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.839
students who can't make it back home for the

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:10.900
holidays. Lily nods her head, smiles, and says,

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:13.960
Okay, thank you, and will do, as the elevator

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:19.859
doors close. The professor makes his way to his

00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:22.779
office and notices that just about every other

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:25.539
classroom and office is already closed, dark,

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:28.920
and empty. except for Amanda's office a few doors

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:31.779
down. Well, this place clears out fast this time

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:34.220
of year, he says this as he unlocks and enters

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:36.859
his office, while the faint sound of a vacuum

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:39.700
sweeper hums in the background. As he enters

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:42.039
his office, he notices that there is one last

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:45.500
manila envelope resting upright in the mail receiving

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:48.539
basket, which sits on a chair just inside the

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:51.339
door on the right, and just under the mail receiving

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:54.579
slot in the wall. I'll grab that on my way out,

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:57.549
he thinks to himself. After finishing a few last

00:18:57.549 --> 00:18:59.710
minute things, the professor grabs the manila

00:18:59.710 --> 00:19:02.609
envelope, turns off the light, pushes the lock

00:19:02.609 --> 00:19:04.710
button on the back of the doorknob, and then

00:19:04.710 --> 00:19:07.690
closes the door behind him. The professor makes

00:19:07.690 --> 00:19:10.230
it a point to stop at Amanda's office to see

00:19:10.230 --> 00:19:12.609
if she actually is still here, or if it's the

00:19:12.609 --> 00:19:15.190
cleaning staff that are in her office finishing

00:19:15.190 --> 00:19:17.930
up before break. He peeks through the door and

00:19:17.930 --> 00:19:20.390
sees Amanda packing her backpack while sitting

00:19:20.390 --> 00:19:24.029
at her very tiny desk. Oh, hey there, the professor

00:19:24.029 --> 00:19:26.220
says. Looks like you're getting out of Dodge

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:28.880
as well. Oh, hey, Professor, Amanda replies.

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:31.619
Getting out of Dodge? Haven't heard that one

00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:33.880
before. Yeah, it's something my father and I

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:36.240
used to say to each other when we were excited

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.819
or ready to leave a place. We used to watch that

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:41.500
old Western show, Gunsmoke, together when I was

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:44.359
a kid. And that saying was used a lot on the

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:47.140
show, even though neither of us had ever visited

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:50.079
Dodge City, Kansas. The professor responds with

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:53.039
a small chuckle. He continues, Lily just left

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.640
and said she has really enjoyed TAing for the

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:58.680
department, and especially for you. Anyway, I

00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.559
thought you'd like to know you've really made

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.059
an impact on her in her short time here so far.

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:06.079
So thank you. Oh, and by the way, the contractor

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:08.079
spoke with me this morning and said that your

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.279
new office would be completed by the time you

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.180
returned after break, so you don't have to put

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:15.220
up with this small closet of a space anymore.

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:19.859
Wow, that's so nice to hear. Lily's been so helpful

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:23.279
in so many areas, not just with typical TA things

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.759
like helping do attendance, checking work, and

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:29.559
so forth, but she's also given my family and

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.759
I great advice about the town and surrounding

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:36.500
area. I know we've only just been here a year

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:39.299
and a half now, but my family and I feel very

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:42.400
connected and grounded already with the community

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:45.759
and the school. As Amanda gets up, turns out

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.819
her light and walks out of her small closet -sized

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:52.200
office space and she continues as Professor Hawthorne

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:55.240
walks next to her down the hallway towards the

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:58.180
exit of the building. Our two girls love their

00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:01.039
new school. Byron and I made the right choice

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.519
by enrolling them in that new charter school

00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:06.890
you and your wife recommended. Miss Sierra Reese

00:21:06.890 --> 00:21:10.450
is their art teacher. I've gotta say it's pretty

00:21:10.450 --> 00:21:13.410
cool to be surrounded by the heroes of the famous

00:21:13.410 --> 00:21:16.829
California Gold Rush scandal. I didn't think

00:21:16.829 --> 00:21:19.839
that would happen when I accepted this job. As

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.500
Professor Hawthorne and Professor Chase exits

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:25.640
the building together and into the almost empty

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:28.960
parking lot, Amanda then says, and yes, I'll

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.819
be ready to move out of that small closet I call

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:34.480
my office as soon as the other office is ready.

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:37.500
Ha, I'm sure you will be. Think of it as a late

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:39.980
Christmas present from the college. The professor

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:42.880
says this with a smile as he turns to walk towards

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:45.779
his parked car. He hesitates for a moment and

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:48.690
then turns around. Oh, and one more thing. Merry

00:21:48.690 --> 00:21:50.529
Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your

00:21:50.529 --> 00:21:53.869
family. Thank you. And you too. Please give my

00:21:53.869 --> 00:21:57.089
best to your wife. Amanda responds as she turns

00:21:57.089 --> 00:21:59.950
and walks to her car. As Professor Hawthorne

00:21:59.950 --> 00:22:02.309
opens the driver's door on his old Bronco, he

00:22:02.309 --> 00:22:04.250
looks down at the envelope he's been carrying

00:22:04.250 --> 00:22:07.190
since he left his office. He glances down at

00:22:07.190 --> 00:22:09.009
the top left corner of the front of the envelope

00:22:09.009 --> 00:22:11.829
where the return address has been affixed. The

00:22:11.829 --> 00:22:14.529
address reads, The National Autonomous University

00:22:14.529 --> 00:22:18.410
of Mexico. School of Political Social Sciences,

00:22:18.670 --> 00:22:22.509
Mexico City, Mexico. This large and famous school

00:22:22.509 --> 00:22:25.250
is better known by its nickname, which is UNAM.

00:22:25.910 --> 00:22:29.470
Hmm, it can't be. The professor says to himself

00:22:29.470 --> 00:22:32.269
as he starts his engine, puts the Bronco in drive

00:22:32.269 --> 00:22:35.269
and then leaves campus, ready to enjoy the next

00:22:35.269 --> 00:22:38.809
four weeks of holiday break. Shortly later, the

00:22:38.809 --> 00:22:41.430
professor arrives home to an empty house, remembering

00:22:41.430 --> 00:22:43.950
his wife was working at a local charity fundraising

00:22:43.950 --> 00:22:46.680
event downtown today. He sits down on one of

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.740
the stools at the island in the kitchen and places

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:52.059
the envelope on the table. His phone then dings,

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:55.460
almost on cue, like he had planned it that way.

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:58.339
As he is opening the envelope and pulling out

00:22:58.339 --> 00:23:00.720
the contents, he looks down at his phone and

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:03.319
sees that he's got a new email and it's sent

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:06.579
to his personal email account. Hmm, that's funny,

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:09.259
he thinks. I don't give that address out to many

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:12.140
people, so I wonder who that could be. He focuses

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.000
on the papers that he pulled out of the envelope

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.279
and scans them until he finds exactly what he's

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:18.559
looking for at the bottom of the second document.

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:22.440
There you are, the professor says with a grin

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:24.380
as he reads the name at the bottom of the letter.

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.240
Sincerely, Professor Tommy Flores, UNAM School

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:31.220
of Political Social Sciences, Mexico City, Mexico.

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.839
Hawthorne notices that the two documents in the

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:37.079
envelope appear to be a formal invitation and

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:39.460
a proposal directed to both El Dorado College

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:42.920
and him personally. He picks up his phone and

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:46.359
opens the email that had just arrived. He notices

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:50.200
that the from address is tommyf at unom .edu

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:53.740
.mx. The email message is quite short and to

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:57.640
the point and reads, James, this is Tommy. Long

00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:00.119
time, man. Hope you received the official invite

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:03.000
from me already. Also send an official invite

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.940
to your college dean and administrative staff.

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.140
After you read it, please let me know if this

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.529
is something that can happen. I didn't have your

00:24:09.529 --> 00:24:11.569
work email, only your personal email address.

00:24:11.809 --> 00:24:14.230
Anyways, I'm hoping you still check this account.

00:24:14.349 --> 00:24:17.869
Let me know. All the best, Tommy. Professor Hawthorne

00:24:17.869 --> 00:24:20.329
scans the two documents again and more thoroughly

00:24:20.329 --> 00:24:23.349
this time. The first document is like a cover

00:24:23.349 --> 00:24:25.650
letter introducing several different people.

00:24:25.970 --> 00:24:28.369
UNAM is a higher educational institution and

00:24:28.369 --> 00:24:30.890
one of the more well -known museums in Mexico

00:24:30.890 --> 00:24:34.009
City. The second page or document is the official

00:24:34.009 --> 00:24:36.490
invitation and proposal which consists of three

00:24:36.490 --> 00:24:40.039
main things. guest lecturing, sitting on a Q

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:43.619
&A panel, and an official invitation to an honorary

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:46.480
guest to a formal event being held at the Museum

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:49.980
of National Anthropology, Mexico's most prominent

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:53.720
natural history museum. The museum event will

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:56.880
include the unveiling of two rare, somewhat controversial

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:59.920
Mayan artifacts that were recently discovered

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:03.809
by an archaeological team from UNAM. The artifacts

00:25:03.809 --> 00:25:06.029
will be turned over to the museum for further

00:25:06.029 --> 00:25:09.970
study and research purposes. Hmm, this could

00:25:09.970 --> 00:25:12.569
be a fun experience. The professor says out loud

00:25:12.569 --> 00:25:14.970
that he finds two more important details towards

00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:17.789
the end of the second document. The first is

00:25:17.789 --> 00:25:19.509
that the events would be happening during the

00:25:19.509 --> 00:25:22.089
first and second week of May, which is a week

00:25:22.089 --> 00:25:25.289
before both UNAM and El Dorado College hold graduation

00:25:25.289 --> 00:25:28.539
ceremonies. The other detail is an invitation

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:30.920
to bring a small group of like -minded students

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:34.240
from the El Dorado College and the other California

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.079
Gold Rush scandal heroes. Hawthorne thinks to

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:41.240
himself, this is quite the proposal, especially

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:43.700
since travel and food expenses would be paid

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:47.019
for by one of UNAM's many cultural exchange grants.

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:50.819
I like this idea a lot. I just hope the dean

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:54.329
will be keen on this as well. Professor Hawthorne

00:25:54.329 --> 00:25:56.670
puts the documents down and eyes the fresh pumpkin

00:25:56.670 --> 00:25:59.430
bread loaf sitting on the kitchen counter, grabs

00:25:59.430 --> 00:26:02.230
a fork from the drawer and says to himself, Well,

00:26:02.329 --> 00:26:04.609
it's time to start celebrating the holidays early,

00:26:04.690 --> 00:26:15.710
and I know just where to start. Part 2. The Interviews

00:26:16.170 --> 00:26:19.450
It's early May and UNAM is bustling with activities

00:26:19.450 --> 00:26:22.349
and the temps in Mexico City are already starting

00:26:22.349 --> 00:26:25.190
to rise with the summer months approaching. The

00:26:25.190 --> 00:26:27.569
end of the second semester is always quite hectic.

00:26:27.630 --> 00:26:30.470
With graduation approaching, Professor Thomas

00:26:30.470 --> 00:26:33.789
Flores, or as his students call him, Prof Tommy,

00:26:34.009 --> 00:26:35.990
had just returned from grabbing a quick bite

00:26:35.990 --> 00:26:38.329
to eat from one of the food vendors near his

00:26:38.329 --> 00:26:40.910
campus building. He was running late for lunch

00:26:40.910 --> 00:26:44.049
and couldn't get his usual came asada torta.

00:26:44.430 --> 00:26:46.970
the famous Mexican version of a loaded meat sandwich.

00:26:47.210 --> 00:26:50.029
More on that later. Prof. Tommy morning classes

00:26:50.029 --> 00:26:52.509
and meetings had interrupted his weekly Friday

00:26:52.509 --> 00:26:54.869
lunch routine, and he wasn't too happy about

00:26:54.869 --> 00:26:57.569
it either. He ended up grabbing two tamales and

00:26:57.569 --> 00:26:59.630
a bottle of Coke, then headed right back to his

00:26:59.630 --> 00:27:02.210
small office in preparation for his video call

00:27:02.210 --> 00:27:06.130
at 1 p .m. Prof. Thomas Flores sits down in his

00:27:06.130 --> 00:27:09.329
squeaky desk chair with one tamale in hand and

00:27:09.329 --> 00:27:11.829
taps the keyboard and mouse to open his video

00:27:11.829 --> 00:27:14.640
calling app. finds his old friend's contact number,

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:22.619
and clicks the Call Now button. Professor Hawthorne's

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:25.039
computer starts ringing with a ringtone sounding

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:28.140
like one of those old -time phones from the 1940s.

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:31.880
He set the ringtone on his video app several

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:34.200
years ago and has never changed it. He actually

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:36.980
can't remember how to change it. Hawthorne clicks

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:39.160
the green Accept button on his screen and is

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:41.819
immediately met. with an image of Tommy Flores

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:45.480
taking a big bite out of what looks like a tamale.

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:48.660
Hey buddy, says Hawthorne, looks like you're

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:51.599
having a busy day. If my memory serves me right,

00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.700
I don't remember you ever working through your

00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:57.640
lunch break back in the day. Ah, yes, well, there's

00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:00.000
a time for everything. Tommy responds with a

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:02.940
mouthful of food. He puts his tamale down, takes

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:05.720
a swig of coke, and then says, I'm just confirming

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:08.420
your flight details or wanted to relay some logistical

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:11.240
information so you know what to expect when you

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:14.240
arrive. One of our drivers and myself will pick

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.359
your group up at the airport. We'll be waiting

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:19.900
for you after your exit baggage claim and I'll

00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:22.119
be holding a sign with your name on it and the

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:25.039
UNAM logo. And we'll be taking you directly to

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:27.619
our accommodations so you can get settled and

00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:29.640
then we can meet again sometime late afternoon.

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:33.079
Time continues. Oh, by the way, my department

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:36.119
head was pleased to hear that Ava Turner at Lily

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:39.259
Hand was also coming. I know this is a busy time

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:41.440
for you all, but what is happening here is a

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.579
pretty big deal, and it will be an honor to have

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:46.720
you all here for it. Hawthorne replies, Oh, thanks,

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:49.200
Tommy. Everything is a go on our end, and if

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.500
all goes as planned, we'll be talking in person

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:54.380
tomorrow afternoon at the hotel. Mrs. Hawthorne

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:57.019
says hi and sends her greetings. She can't make

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:59.039
the trip with me, but wanted me to remind you

00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:01.819
of the time in Puerto Vallarta when you almost

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:04.539
got duped into wrestling that guy's pet alligator.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:07.839
Remember that? Wow, there's one memory I've tried

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:10.480
to forget, but thanks for reminding me. Tommy

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:13.359
responds with a quirky smile. He continues, I've

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:15.220
got to go, but one last thing you might want

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:17.240
to remind your students who are coming. Make

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:19.640
sure they bring some work -type clothes, or we'll

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:21.460
be going to the field with one of our teams.

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:24.019
I'm sure they'll be happy to know they won't

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:26.500
be sitting around on the university campus the

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:29.359
entire time they're here. Okay, I've got to finish

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:31.559
my lunch quickly and then head to my next class.

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:34.380
Take care and I'll see you later tomorrow. And

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.519
with that last statement, Tommy ends the call

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:45.200
and rushes off to his next class. Hey boss, Amanda

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.000
says this as she knocks softly on the open door

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:50.859
to Hawthorne's office. She continues, I've got

00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:53.720
to admit, I'm a bit jealous. I'm not going with

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:55.980
you guys. Are you all ready for the big trip?

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.539
Hawthorne looks up from his chair with a slight

00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:01.579
smile on his face. Yeah, I think we're ready.

00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.000
I mean, I guess we'll find out tomorrow as we

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:06.059
get on the airplane. Wow, the last few months

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:09.000
since our official invite have flown by. I can't

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:11.779
believe the trip is already here. I hope everybody

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:14.440
remembers everything. You've done a great job

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:16.640
of helping me get all the details figured out

00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:19.619
on this end, so thank you so much. The professor

00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:21.799
gets up from his chair and starts walking toward

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:24.380
the door. And thanks for holding down the fort

00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:26.599
while we're away. I know this department will

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:29.039
be in good hands. Do you want to grab a quick

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.039
lunch and review any last minute details? It's

00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:35.240
my treat and I'm heading to Ethan's Cafe. Amanda

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:37.839
responds, sure, especially if you're buying.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.539
If we leave now, we can beat the lunch crowd.

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:43.359
All right, sounds good. I'm parked out front.

00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:45.359
We can start a conversation on the way there.

00:30:45.769 --> 00:30:48.410
The professor replies as they both make their

00:30:48.410 --> 00:30:50.190
way out of the building toward the parking lot.

00:30:55.210 --> 00:30:57.569
The following day, the bus ride to Sacramento

00:30:57.569 --> 00:31:02.809
Airport was lively and loud. Professor Hawthorne,

00:31:02.910 --> 00:31:05.150
Ava, and Lily were all sitting together toward

00:31:05.150 --> 00:31:07.069
the front and talking about some of the first

00:31:07.069 --> 00:31:09.789
day agenda. There were seven college students

00:31:09.789 --> 00:31:12.609
who were going on the trip as well. Most of the

00:31:12.609 --> 00:31:15.519
noise and excitement was coming from them. The

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:17.839
college students were at part of one of Hawthorne's

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:20.539
spring semester classes called Archaeology of

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:23.000
the Americas, which covered North, Central, and

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:25.500
South America. These students were all third

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.640
and fourth year students in the broader archaeological

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:31.980
undergraduate degree program. The class included

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:35.359
seven students, three guys, and four girls. The

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:37.299
students were not only going to receive three

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:39.339
credits from taking this class, but they were

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:41.619
also going to receive one extra college credit

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:44.470
for being part of this trip. Needless to say,

00:31:44.490 --> 00:31:46.150
they all felt like they were in the right class

00:31:46.150 --> 00:31:48.970
at the right time. El Dorado College approved

00:31:48.970 --> 00:31:51.750
the trip back in February, about two months after

00:31:51.750 --> 00:31:55.710
UNOM rep Tommy Flores made the official invitation

00:31:55.710 --> 00:31:58.490
ahead of the holiday break. The college admin

00:31:58.490 --> 00:32:00.730
were more than happy to send the group of nine,

00:32:00.869 --> 00:32:04.210
Hawthorne, Lilly, the class TA, and seven undergraduate

00:32:04.210 --> 00:32:07.569
students. The college admin also approved Ava

00:32:07.569 --> 00:32:09.869
Turner to help as an official chaperone of the

00:32:09.869 --> 00:32:12.839
group. Ava's popularity as a reputable journalist

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:15.440
had grown over the last two years, so having

00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.799
her along on the trip meant good PR for the college.

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:21.160
Ava grabs Lily's hand and squeezes tight as the

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:23.940
plane makes it landing at Mexico City International

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:27.039
Airport, Benito Juarez, or better known by its

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.099
three -letter handle, MEX. Ava looks at Lily

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:33.339
and says, No matter how much I travel, I never

00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:36.140
get used to the landing part of the flight. That's

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:38.099
just something about it that makes me nervous.

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:41.680
Lily smiles and squeezes her hand back and says,

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:44.759
Yeah, sometimes it gets to me as well, especially

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.839
if the weather seems a little unpredictable.

00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:49.619
Or maybe it's just the fact that we're not in

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:53.440
control. Ava responds back, Yeah, that and my

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:56.039
fear of heights I'm sure contribute to my nervousness.

00:32:56.619 --> 00:33:00.079
Ava changes the subject while the plane is taxiing

00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:03.200
to one of the arrival gates. I hope all our luggage

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:05.690
shows up. Hawthorne, who is seated in the row

00:33:05.690 --> 00:33:08.109
behind them, responds with, Yeah, I hope so.

00:33:08.150 --> 00:33:11.730
Otherwise, our book signing event might be quite

00:33:11.730 --> 00:33:14.210
boring. As the plane door opens and the flight

00:33:14.210 --> 00:33:16.930
attendant gives the call clear to exit the plane,

00:33:17.089 --> 00:33:19.569
Hawthorne looks around to make sure all the students

00:33:19.569 --> 00:33:22.670
he and Lily are responsible for have gotten their

00:33:22.670 --> 00:33:25.200
carry -ons and are ready to go. He nods his head

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.480
and makes eye contact with each student, making

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:30.240
sure they are ready and paying attention, then

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:32.900
turns around and exits the plane following Ava

00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:35.339
and Lily, who are in front of him. Less than

00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:37.579
15 minutes later, the group of 10 were waiting

00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:40.400
at baggage carousel number 6, praying and hoping

00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:42.339
that all their luggage made the trip safe and

00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:45.019
sound. Of course, this wasn't like the old days

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:47.640
where airlines would often lose luggage. I think

00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:50.099
the only one who was actually a bit nervous was

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:52.880
Professor Hawthorne. You see, over 20 years ago

00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:55.359
in this very airport, before it was renovated,

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.700
he and one of his dig teams stood in this very

00:33:57.700 --> 00:34:00.640
same baggage area and waited for over three hours

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.160
for their equipment to show up. And when it finally

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:05.819
did, several important cases were missing. He

00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:07.720
had filed a complaint to the airport authorities

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:11.019
and airline to no avail. The two cases were never

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:13.420
recovered, and the tools and equipment lost hampered

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:15.739
their dig project at the time. But that memory

00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:18.000
soon left as Hawthorne watched all their luggage

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:21.119
get deposited down the chute and into the spinning

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:24.039
baggage carousel. Luggage in hand, Lily turns

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:26.900
toward the professor and says, Looks like all

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:29.239
our luggage is here. We're ready to go when you

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:31.940
are. Great, the professor responds. Follow me

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:34.420
out and ignore the taxi drivers alongside the

00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:36.380
curb. We're looking for my friend, Professor

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:39.360
Tommy, who should be holding a sign labeled El

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:42.460
Dorado College Group. Ava is one of the first

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:45.000
ones out of the airport exit doors and sees Professor

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:48.119
Tommy holding the sign a few meters away. Hey

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:51.000
guys, he's over there. She turns around and says

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:53.559
to the group behind her. Professor Tommy notices

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:55.860
the larger group of young people walking towards

00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:58.900
him and then sees Hawthorne. He waves his hand,

00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:01.639
then moves to greet them. After a few introductions

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:04.519
and pleasantries, Prof Tommy directs the group

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:07.599
towards the large white van, courtesy of UNAM,

00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:10.159
which comes with the driver as well. The group

00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:12.400
loads their luggage and gets situated into the

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:15.480
van. As the van leaves the airport, Prof Tommy

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:18.039
turns around in his seat and says, Hola, and

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:20.539
welcome to Mexico City. It's great to have you

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:23.000
all here, and I hope this trip will be the highlight

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:30.969
of your semester. While Lily and the group of

00:35:30.969 --> 00:35:33.050
students get settled into their different visitor

00:35:33.050 --> 00:35:35.730
dormitory rooms, Ava and the professor meet with

00:35:35.730 --> 00:35:37.949
Professor Tommy to talk about the upcoming events

00:35:37.949 --> 00:35:40.809
and schedule. Hawthorne is scheduled to give

00:35:40.809 --> 00:35:43.190
two lectures the following day while the college

00:35:43.190 --> 00:35:45.809
students and Lily are given a tour of some of

00:35:45.809 --> 00:35:49.429
the campus. Ava received permission to meet and

00:35:49.429 --> 00:35:51.690
interview several college professors, Professor

00:35:51.690 --> 00:35:54.809
Tommy being one of them. The museum's head curator

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:57.920
Anthony Garcia, and two individuals who helped

00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:00.400
discover the artifacts that will be handed over

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.780
to the museum at the gala event in just a few

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:06.000
days. Tommy, thank you for your warm welcome.

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:08.739
The accommodations are perfect for our group

00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:11.500
and the schedule looks good. So after my lecture

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:14.460
tomorrow, Ava, Lily, and I will be in the main

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:16.559
student center signing books and talking with

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:19.639
students, right? Prof. Tommy responds, yeah,

00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:21.860
that's correct. You'll be accompanied by a few

00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:23.800
of my students and your students are free to

00:36:23.800 --> 00:36:26.550
mingle. hang out, and enjoy getting to know some

00:36:26.550 --> 00:36:29.469
of our UNAM students and staff. Plus, there's

00:36:29.469 --> 00:36:31.429
plenty of food and snacks options in the student

00:36:31.429 --> 00:36:34.449
center. Tommy goes on, Ava, do you have any questions?

00:36:34.849 --> 00:36:38.250
No, this looks all good. I can go with the flow

00:36:38.250 --> 00:36:40.969
and I look forward to talking with Mr. Garcia,

00:36:41.329 --> 00:36:44.150
Ms. Martinez, and Mr. Silva. Did I get their

00:36:44.150 --> 00:36:47.010
names right? That's correct, Tommy replies. Okay,

00:36:47.190 --> 00:36:49.309
I've got to run. Text or call me if you need

00:36:49.309 --> 00:36:52.090
anything else in the meantime. Otherwise, I'll

00:36:52.090 --> 00:36:54.409
see you tomorrow. Thanks again, James, for accepting

00:36:54.409 --> 00:36:56.630
my invite. It's really good to see you again.

00:36:56.929 --> 00:36:59.329
And Miss Turner, it's nice to meet you all as

00:36:59.329 --> 00:37:00.989
it seems you've made quite the name for yourself

00:37:00.989 --> 00:37:03.869
over the last two years. And with that, Professor

00:37:03.869 --> 00:37:06.570
Tommy shuffles off and out of the small dormitory

00:37:06.570 --> 00:37:09.150
sitting room. Hawthorne and Ava watch as Prof.

00:37:09.369 --> 00:37:12.389
Tommy walks out the front door in a hurry. Hawthorne

00:37:12.389 --> 00:37:15.530
then turns to Ava and says, My good buddy Tommy

00:37:15.530 --> 00:37:18.369
is always in a hurry and always has another place

00:37:18.369 --> 00:37:21.289
to be. But he's a good man, and if you need anything,

00:37:21.489 --> 00:37:24.309
you can text him directly. Sounds good, Ava replies.

00:37:24.730 --> 00:37:27.030
I'm going to review my interview questions this

00:37:27.030 --> 00:37:29.449
evening and prepare for tomorrow. Hope that's

00:37:29.449 --> 00:37:31.690
okay. Lilia and I will make sure the girls are

00:37:31.690 --> 00:37:34.090
in by curfew. See you tomorrow. All right, have

00:37:34.090 --> 00:37:36.070
a good night. Hawthorne replies as he thinks

00:37:36.070 --> 00:37:38.650
to himself, yep, curfew. I haven't heard that

00:37:38.650 --> 00:37:41.050
word in a very long time, and I guess I better

00:37:41.050 --> 00:37:43.510
do the same and make sure the boys are in as

00:37:43.510 --> 00:37:50.969
well. The following morning, and while Professor

00:37:50.969 --> 00:37:53.869
Hawthorne delivers several lectures in one of

00:37:53.869 --> 00:37:56.769
the large lecture halls on campus, Ava is busy

00:37:56.769 --> 00:37:58.949
prepping for her interviews in a side room in

00:37:58.949 --> 00:38:01.750
the same building. She asked one of the El Dorado

00:38:01.750 --> 00:38:04.670
College students, Olivia, who came along on the

00:38:04.670 --> 00:38:06.989
trip, to assist her with some of the audio recording

00:38:06.989 --> 00:38:10.269
equipment. Ava plans on not only writing several

00:38:10.269 --> 00:38:13.210
articles for print and online publications, but

00:38:13.210 --> 00:38:15.570
she also wants to capture video and audio recordings

00:38:15.570 --> 00:38:18.070
of the interviews. She's been granted the rights

00:38:18.070 --> 00:38:20.469
by the university to publish the video and audio

00:38:20.469 --> 00:38:22.969
of the interviews online and through different

00:38:22.969 --> 00:38:26.230
news agencies that are interested. In the meantime,

00:38:26.510 --> 00:38:28.690
Lily and other college students are sitting in

00:38:28.690 --> 00:38:31.070
on Hawthorne's lectures. Professor Hawthorne

00:38:31.070 --> 00:38:33.150
invites the students to join him on stage and

00:38:33.150 --> 00:38:35.469
contribute towards the end of each lecture as

00:38:35.469 --> 00:38:37.889
he gives an update about the school back in Coloma,

00:38:37.949 --> 00:38:39.949
California. Several students share from their

00:38:39.949 --> 00:38:42.489
own experience how they're enjoying their classes,

00:38:42.530 --> 00:38:49.960
college life, and the school in general. Miranda

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:52.679
Martinez walks into the small room, smiles, and

00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:55.539
sits down across from Ava and Olivia. She notices

00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:57.880
that Olivia is still fumbling around with some

00:38:57.880 --> 00:39:00.519
of the recording equipment, so Miranda sits down

00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:03.280
and says hello first. Hello, I'm Miranda, and

00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:06.480
I assume you're Ava? Oh, hey, Miranda. Ava responds

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:09.400
quickly. She continues, so sorry about the delay

00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:11.719
on our end. Some of the settings on our equipment

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:14.420
were bumped out of whack on the trip down here.

00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:17.869
Anyway, I think we have it sorted out now. By

00:39:17.869 --> 00:39:20.230
the way, this is Olivia. She's a student at Eldorado

00:39:20.230 --> 00:39:22.730
College and is helping record these interviews.

00:39:22.869 --> 00:39:25.630
And I'm Eva. All right. Hi, Olivia. Very nice

00:39:25.630 --> 00:39:28.690
to meet you. Miranda responds. Hello. Nice to

00:39:28.690 --> 00:39:32.130
meet you, too. Sorry again for the delay. Olivia

00:39:32.130 --> 00:39:35.829
responds as she makes one last adjustment to

00:39:35.829 --> 00:39:38.630
the microphone. Miranda, thanks for doing this

00:39:38.630 --> 00:39:41.349
interview with me. I guess in the world of archaeology

00:39:41.349 --> 00:39:44.510
and history, your find is a big deal. Eva continues.

00:39:44.849 --> 00:39:47.090
And that's what I want this interview to be about.

00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:49.739
how and where you found the artifact and some

00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:51.860
of the history behind it and maybe what's next

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:54.920
for you personally. I want to make this story

00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:57.199
more personal, kind of like telling the story

00:39:57.199 --> 00:39:59.039
about the people who do this for a living as

00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:02.139
well. So as you are telling me these things,

00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:05.039
I may interrupt with clarifying questions just

00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:06.800
so I can get the facts straight. Hope that's

00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:09.429
okay. Yeah, it's no problem, Miranda says. I

00:40:09.429 --> 00:40:11.789
just hope I don't sound too boring. Miranda smiles

00:40:11.789 --> 00:40:14.010
as she says that last part and then starts explaining

00:40:14.010 --> 00:40:16.690
to Ava the story behind the artifact, why it's

00:40:16.690 --> 00:40:18.949
such a big deal, and how she and her team were

00:40:18.949 --> 00:40:21.730
able to discover and recover it. Miranda continues

00:40:21.730 --> 00:40:24.550
with impeccable English. So, the rare vessel

00:40:24.550 --> 00:40:26.750
we found is made of pure jade and we discovered

00:40:26.750 --> 00:40:29.130
it near the ancient sites of Calakmul, which

00:40:29.130 --> 00:40:31.710
is close to the border of Guatemala and Belize.

00:40:31.969 --> 00:40:34.630
The artifact dates back to the late 3rd century

00:40:34.630 --> 00:40:37.190
AD. Scientists found residues you have chocolate

00:40:37.190 --> 00:40:39.449
on the inside and the hieroglyphic state that

00:40:39.449 --> 00:40:41.889
it was used for chocolate. The vessel has a unique

00:40:41.889 --> 00:40:45.590
screw top cap and is one of a kind. Cacao, the

00:40:45.590 --> 00:40:47.630
thing that makes chocolate, did not grow in many

00:40:47.630 --> 00:40:50.269
places in Mesoamerica at that time. Chocolate

00:40:50.269 --> 00:40:52.849
was very rare. It was expensive and was served

00:40:52.849 --> 00:40:55.570
only to elites and kings back then. Gosh, I hope

00:40:55.570 --> 00:40:58.739
I'm not boring you. Eva responds quickly. No,

00:40:58.739 --> 00:41:01.260
no, this is fascinating. Please keep going. Miranda

00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:03.760
continues. Evidence suggests that this was a

00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:06.199
king's personal possession. In fact, we think

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:08.840
this belonged to the most famous Mayan king known

00:41:08.840 --> 00:41:11.699
as Pakal the Great. Even though it was not found

00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:14.500
in the area of Palenque where he ruled, there

00:41:14.500 --> 00:41:16.440
are several markings on it that point to him

00:41:16.440 --> 00:41:18.900
personally. Pakal the Great is famous for many

00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:21.360
things, but most importantly, he transformed

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:23.980
the city of Palenque into a successful and influential

00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:27.199
city that rivaled other cities. such as Tikal.

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:29.840
It's believed that Pakal the Great helped restore

00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:32.940
divine order to the city and its residents after

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:35.340
it had been partially destroyed by the Khan peoples

00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:38.119
from Kalakmal. That's the location where we actually

00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:40.539
found the artifact. Anyways, I just happened

00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:42.639
to be in the right place at the right time and

00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:45.440
with the right team. So why is this discovery

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:49.139
so significant, Ava asks. Miranda answers, I'm

00:41:49.139 --> 00:41:51.590
not an expert in ancient - Mayan artifacts, but

00:41:51.590 --> 00:41:53.889
two college professors, a resident historian,

00:41:54.269 --> 00:41:57.070
several politicians, and Mr. Garcia, the museum's

00:41:57.070 --> 00:41:59.710
top curator, all seem to think this find may

00:41:59.710 --> 00:42:02.150
lead to other discoveries in that area. This

00:42:02.150 --> 00:42:04.849
artifact has great cultural and historical significance,

00:42:05.170 --> 00:42:07.349
especially for the indigenous people who still

00:42:07.349 --> 00:42:10.710
live in and around the discovery site. The Yucatan

00:42:10.710 --> 00:42:12.869
Peninsula has one of the largest concentrations

00:42:12.869 --> 00:42:15.710
of indigenous people in Mexico, and while they

00:42:15.710 --> 00:42:17.849
hold a lot of power and say both politically

00:42:17.849 --> 00:42:20.789
and economically. Protected villages near the

00:42:20.789 --> 00:42:22.869
site have already petitioned the Mexican government

00:42:22.869 --> 00:42:24.929
for the artifact to be kept locally in their

00:42:24.929 --> 00:42:28.030
own possession and out of the museum here in

00:42:28.030 --> 00:42:30.809
Mexico City, some 1 ,000 kilometers away from

00:42:30.809 --> 00:42:33.110
their secret sites. I guess they believe it contains

00:42:33.110 --> 00:42:35.630
some of the power and wisdom of Pecal the Great.

00:42:36.030 --> 00:42:38.409
For me, well, I just think that's a great significant

00:42:38.409 --> 00:42:40.829
historical artifact with deep cultural meaning.

00:42:41.030 --> 00:42:43.989
It's pure jade with a screw top lid. The meticulous

00:42:43.989 --> 00:42:46.289
engineering of the vessel shows off a level of

00:42:46.289 --> 00:42:48.610
craftsmanship not seen before this time period.

00:42:48.809 --> 00:42:51.150
It also proves that cacao is being traded at

00:42:51.150 --> 00:42:53.809
that time, which our history books do not mention.

00:42:54.010 --> 00:42:56.869
And lastly, it's worth a lot of money. Miranda

00:42:56.869 --> 00:42:59.269
pauses for a moment and then says, I want my

00:42:59.269 --> 00:43:01.190
next comments to be off the record, if that's

00:43:01.190 --> 00:43:04.860
okay? Sure, okay, that's fine. Eva responds with

00:43:04.860 --> 00:43:07.400
a puzzled look on her face, turns to Olivia,

00:43:07.579 --> 00:43:10.380
and then asks Olivia to turn the camera and microphone

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:13.320
off. Please continue, Eva says. Miranda then

00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:16.159
continues. Thank you. Okay, off the record, and

00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:18.139
I'm only telling you this right now because you're

00:43:18.139 --> 00:43:20.320
not from around here and I trust you as a journalist.

00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:23.119
Well, I think this information should get out

00:43:23.119 --> 00:43:24.860
at some point. I just don't want my name attached

00:43:24.860 --> 00:43:27.539
to it. Miranda hesitates again and then says,

00:43:27.739 --> 00:43:30.019
the discovery of this artifact and its location

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:32.340
could jeopardize a very significant new trade

00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:35.400
agreement between Mexico, Guatemala, Belize,

00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:38.739
and a large oil company out of Venezuela. Also,

00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:41.139
there are known cartel groups that operate in

00:43:41.139 --> 00:43:43.960
and around a discovery area. This entire region

00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:46.639
is quite remote and can be dangerous. Miranda

00:43:46.639 --> 00:43:49.300
stops abruptly and then finishes with one last

00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:52.679
statement. all just keep that last part out of

00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.699
your story thank you olivia interrupts quietly

00:43:55.699 --> 00:43:58.619
are you done then do you want me to turn the

00:43:58.619 --> 00:44:01.840
camera and microphone back on now no that's okay

00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:05.280
ava responds i'm good with it i have then looking

00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:08.199
at miranda ava continues and we will respect

00:44:08.199 --> 00:44:10.340
your wishes to keep that last part off the record

00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:13.639
and out of the story thank you for sharing and

00:44:13.639 --> 00:44:15.860
for your time After watching Miranda leave the

00:44:15.860 --> 00:44:18.300
interview room, Ava and Olivia prepared to interview

00:44:18.300 --> 00:44:20.920
Mr. David Silva, the diver who helped recover

00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:23.019
the other artifact they were told about. Mr.

00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:25.940
Silva is running a few minutes late. Ava's instincts

00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:28.519
tell her that there is a larger story here, especially

00:44:28.519 --> 00:44:30.920
after hearing what Miranda said. off the record.

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:33.539
Ava looks at Olivia and says, please don't talk

00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:35.340
to other students about what Miranda was saying

00:44:35.340 --> 00:44:37.300
off the record. We need to keep that confidential.

00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:39.699
But I will need to brief Professor Hawthorne.

00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:41.860
I may need to stay down here for a little bit

00:44:41.860 --> 00:44:45.119
longer than expected. Olivia responds, yeah,

00:44:45.219 --> 00:44:48.059
I won't. I'm not sure what all that means, but

00:44:48.059 --> 00:44:50.019
it sounds like there are conflicting interest

00:44:50.019 --> 00:44:53.260
groups involved in whatever this is, and I'm

00:44:53.260 --> 00:44:55.760
happy to stay out of it. I'm just a broke college

00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:59.059
student on a class trip paid for by the university.

00:44:59.710 --> 00:45:02.550
Ava laughs slightly. And that you are, Olivia,

00:45:02.730 --> 00:45:06.050
I was there once as well. At that moment, David

00:45:06.050 --> 00:45:09.610
Silva walks into the room. Good morning, ma 'am.

00:45:09.809 --> 00:45:13.730
I mean, ma 'ams, David says as he turns his head

00:45:13.730 --> 00:45:17.409
and looks at both Ava and Olivia. Good morning,

00:45:17.429 --> 00:45:19.389
Mr. Silva, and thank you so much for agreeing

00:45:19.389 --> 00:45:22.750
to do this interview with me, Ava responds. Please,

00:45:22.809 --> 00:45:26.210
you may call me David. Mr. Silva sounds too formal

00:45:26.210 --> 00:45:29.130
for this setting. And no problem about the interview.

00:45:29.610 --> 00:45:31.690
If you don't mind, I'd like to keep my last name

00:45:31.690 --> 00:45:34.969
out of your report or story. Should I start recording?

00:45:35.190 --> 00:45:38.570
Olivia asks Ava. Yes, go ahead. Ava responds

00:45:38.570 --> 00:45:41.489
to Olivia. Ava then starts the interview. So,

00:45:41.570 --> 00:45:44.769
David, could you give us a little bit of the

00:45:44.769 --> 00:45:46.909
background about how you found the mask artifact

00:45:46.909 --> 00:45:49.590
and then what it means to the greater historical

00:45:49.590 --> 00:45:52.829
community here in Mexico? David responds. Well,

00:45:52.989 --> 00:45:55.150
I'm not a historian and I don't feel like I can

00:45:55.150 --> 00:45:57.730
speculate about the historical significance of

00:45:57.730 --> 00:46:01.099
the artifact. However, its location was particularly

00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:03.900
difficult to reach in order to retrieve it. I

00:46:03.900 --> 00:46:05.900
found it at the bottom of a small and very deep

00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:08.880
cenote. It was covered in mud and other debris.

00:46:09.260 --> 00:46:11.800
From my understanding, it's a one -of -a -kind

00:46:11.800 --> 00:46:14.840
and it's made of gold. It was quite heavy once

00:46:14.840 --> 00:46:17.320
I got it up and out of the water. It will be

00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:19.280
shown at the God of the Museum tomorrow night.

00:46:19.739 --> 00:46:22.639
Ava asks another question. Are there any details

00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:25.199
about the artifact, the mask, that you know and

00:46:25.199 --> 00:46:28.760
could share with me? David answers, well, people

00:46:28.760 --> 00:46:31.840
are already calling it the golden mass of Chichen

00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:35.219
Itza. And from my limited understanding, it seems

00:46:35.219 --> 00:46:38.039
to be attracting a lot of attention, much like

00:46:38.039 --> 00:46:40.559
the J .Jar Miranda and her team found earlier

00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:43.739
this year as well, because the mass changes some

00:46:43.739 --> 00:46:45.880
of the theories about how the Mayan must have

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:47.980
been trading with other people back in the day,

00:46:48.039 --> 00:46:50.619
mainly because gold is not something that is

00:46:50.619 --> 00:46:53.739
found in this region. Go on, Eva responds. David

00:46:53.739 --> 00:46:56.199
continues, one of the other guys on our team,

00:46:56.300 --> 00:46:58.920
I believe he was from the university, said that

00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:01.159
the mask proves that the Mayans were most likely

00:47:01.159 --> 00:47:04.000
trading with other people back then, such as

00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:06.219
the Aztecs or the people living on the Caribbean

00:47:06.219 --> 00:47:09.860
islands. If this is true, says this guy, then

00:47:09.860 --> 00:47:12.139
there will probably be more teams sent to search

00:47:12.139 --> 00:47:15.199
for more artifacts. So where is the cenote located?

00:47:15.820 --> 00:47:18.199
Ava asks with a smile, knowing that David is

00:47:18.199 --> 00:47:20.530
probably not at liberty to say. David smiles

00:47:20.530 --> 00:47:23.630
back and then says, well, that's the $50 million

00:47:23.630 --> 00:47:27.429
question. And I, along with the other team members,

00:47:27.690 --> 00:47:30.849
and there's only four of us to be exact, have

00:47:30.849 --> 00:47:33.329
been asked to keep the exact location confidential.

00:47:33.829 --> 00:47:36.769
I mean, can you imagine if the location was made

00:47:36.769 --> 00:47:40.170
public? Every amateur pirate and wannabe treasure

00:47:40.170 --> 00:47:42.929
hunter would be there right now. David sat back

00:47:42.929 --> 00:47:44.889
in his chair with a straight face when he said

00:47:44.889 --> 00:47:48.000
this. He then continued. I've seen this firsthand

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:50.679
in my military career and now in the private

00:47:50.679 --> 00:47:53.920
sector. People do some crazy and wild stuff over

00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:56.920
money and power. Ava shakes her head and says,

00:47:57.119 --> 00:48:00.760
yep, I know exactly what you mean. Before we

00:48:00.760 --> 00:48:02.460
end this interview, I've got one more question.

00:48:02.679 --> 00:48:05.960
I heard you say Miranda's name. How'd you know

00:48:05.960 --> 00:48:08.639
her? I'm just curious. I mean, what are the odds

00:48:08.639 --> 00:48:12.099
that two significant historical artifacts worth

00:48:12.099 --> 00:48:14.900
millions were found in the same year? David tries

00:48:14.900 --> 00:48:17.920
to hold back a smile and then says, I think it's

00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:20.619
just a coincidence that these two artifacts were

00:48:20.619 --> 00:48:23.460
discovered around the same time. Or maybe it's

00:48:23.460 --> 00:48:26.019
just fate. Either way, I don't really think much

00:48:26.019 --> 00:48:28.880
about it. I got paid to do the job, a job that

00:48:28.880 --> 00:48:31.300
no other diver south of Louisiana could have

00:48:31.300 --> 00:48:34.440
done. And I did it. Now as far knowing Miranda,

00:48:34.699 --> 00:48:37.480
as you have probably noticed, These two finds

00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:39.300
have brought a lot of press and have piqued the

00:48:39.300 --> 00:48:42.000
attention of a lot of powerful people here in

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:45.039
Mexico and abroad. Anyway, Miranda and I have

00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:47.800
been in many formal and informal meetings together

00:48:47.800 --> 00:48:50.920
over the last few months, mostly with governmental

00:48:50.920 --> 00:48:54.579
agencies, politicians, and reporters. So you

00:48:54.579 --> 00:48:56.360
could say we feel like we're on the same boat

00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:59.539
together. No pun intended, by the way. After

00:48:59.539 --> 00:49:01.840
a few more minutes and some goodbye pleasantries,

00:49:02.039 --> 00:49:07.119
David leaves the interview room. says the thing

00:49:07.119 --> 00:49:09.800
they both are thinking about. Did you see the

00:49:09.800 --> 00:49:11.619
smile he had when I asked him about Miranda?

00:49:12.860 --> 00:49:15.500
Ava notices Olivia nodding her head and continues,

00:49:15.820 --> 00:49:18.659
there may be an undiscovered love story unfolding

00:49:18.659 --> 00:49:21.679
here. I mean, I'm not here to write a story about

00:49:21.679 --> 00:49:24.480
their personal lives, but if fate pushed them

00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:26.760
both into discovering these two rare artifacts,

00:49:27.139 --> 00:49:30.440
maybe fate also pushed them together. Now that

00:49:30.440 --> 00:49:33.400
would be an interesting side story. And with

00:49:33.400 --> 00:49:35.539
that, Ava and Olivia pack up their equipment

00:49:35.539 --> 00:49:38.280
and head off to meet up with Professor Hawthorne

00:49:38.280 --> 00:49:40.159
and the other students for the book signing event

00:49:40.159 --> 00:49:47.599
in the Student Center. The UNOM Student Center

00:49:47.599 --> 00:49:50.360
is a large open space that expands both inside

00:49:50.360 --> 00:49:53.079
and outside the main building. There are actually

00:49:53.079 --> 00:49:55.739
four student centers on the main UNOM campus,

00:49:55.840 --> 00:49:58.320
and the one the book signing event is happening

00:49:58.320 --> 00:50:01.670
in is the largest of the four. Professor Hawthorne,

00:50:01.730 --> 00:50:04.070
along with Ava and Lily, sit front and center

00:50:04.070 --> 00:50:06.449
behind the main table, which is located on an

00:50:06.449 --> 00:50:08.750
elevated platform near one of the main sitting

00:50:08.750 --> 00:50:11.050
areas. There was an announcement made in both

00:50:11.050 --> 00:50:13.789
Spanish and English informing the people in the

00:50:13.789 --> 00:50:16.070
student center that they were welcome to come

00:50:16.070 --> 00:50:19.510
to the table, welcome the guests, ask questions,

00:50:19.650 --> 00:50:23.090
and buy a book and get it signed. Several vertical

00:50:23.090 --> 00:50:26.090
upright banners flank the tables. The tables

00:50:26.090 --> 00:50:28.090
hold several stacks of books that are ready to

00:50:28.090 --> 00:50:30.760
be signed. The graphics on the banners include

00:50:30.760 --> 00:50:33.980
an image of the cover of the book and other clipartish

00:50:33.980 --> 00:50:36.559
-looking graphics of gold and old gold miners.

00:50:36.800 --> 00:50:39.460
The book chronicles the true story that Hawthorne,

00:50:39.519 --> 00:50:42.159
Ava, Lily, Sierra, and Ethan experienced firsthand

00:50:42.159 --> 00:50:44.579
several years prior, a story that seems to be

00:50:44.579 --> 00:50:46.659
fading in their personal memories with each passing

00:50:46.659 --> 00:50:49.460
year. However, the book itself, titled The Secrets

00:50:49.460 --> 00:50:51.639
of El Dorado, is still selling quite well for

00:50:51.639 --> 00:50:53.639
the publisher and had even made the New York

00:50:53.639 --> 00:50:55.920
Times bestseller list at one point. It's now

00:50:55.920 --> 00:50:58.360
gaining popularity outside the U .S. market as

00:50:58.360 --> 00:51:00.900
it gets translated to other languages, like Spanish.

00:51:01.119 --> 00:51:03.460
While the El Dorado College students mingle around

00:51:03.460 --> 00:51:05.840
the UNAM Student Center, which, by the way, is

00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:08.119
four times the size of the El Dorado College's

00:51:08.119 --> 00:51:10.960
Student Center, Hawthorne, Lilly, and Ava interact

00:51:10.960 --> 00:51:13.179
with the number of interested students who have

00:51:13.179 --> 00:51:15.940
swarmed the table with curiosity. questions and

00:51:15.940 --> 00:51:18.079
general interest in their story. Anthony Garcia,

00:51:18.420 --> 00:51:21.019
a hurried and busy man, squeezes his way through

00:51:21.019 --> 00:51:23.000
the crowd of students and emerges right in front

00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:25.340
of Hawthorne and the girls. Hello, you must be

00:51:25.340 --> 00:51:27.119
the famous James Hawthorne, and if my memory

00:51:27.119 --> 00:51:30.340
is correct, you are Ava and Lily. Anthony Garcia

00:51:30.340 --> 00:51:32.940
says as he approaches the table. He continues,

00:51:33.219 --> 00:51:35.539
I recognize you from your photos in the back

00:51:35.539 --> 00:51:37.500
of the book. Let me introduce myself as we'll

00:51:37.500 --> 00:51:39.099
be seeing each other tomorrow night as well.

00:51:39.239 --> 00:51:41.719
Anthony continues talking as Hawthorne, Ava,

00:51:41.780 --> 00:51:44.590
and Lily stand up and shake hands with him. I'm

00:51:44.590 --> 00:51:46.869
Anthony Garcia, the lead curator from the museum.

00:51:47.409 --> 00:51:49.309
I was glad to hear your plan on coming to the

00:51:49.309 --> 00:51:51.690
gala at the museum tomorrow night when Professor

00:51:51.690 --> 00:51:54.949
Tommy, a mutual friend, told me that he had invited

00:51:54.949 --> 00:51:57.050
your group. We made some special arrangements

00:51:57.050 --> 00:51:59.650
to secure extra tickets for your group. I wanted

00:51:59.650 --> 00:52:01.650
to let you know not to be alarmed when you see

00:52:01.650 --> 00:52:03.170
the price of each of the tickets on the printed

00:52:03.170 --> 00:52:05.510
paper. We've secured complimentary tickets for

00:52:05.510 --> 00:52:07.590
you and your group free of charge. The gala is

00:52:07.590 --> 00:52:09.570
also a fundraising event, so the ticket prices

00:52:09.570 --> 00:52:11.889
to attend reflect that. I just want to let you

00:52:11.889 --> 00:52:13.960
know... It's a black tie event, and when you

00:52:13.960 --> 00:52:15.920
arrive, please provide the doorman with this

00:52:15.920 --> 00:52:18.099
letter and these tickets. I won't have another

00:52:18.099 --> 00:52:19.780
chance to see you before the event, so I wanted

00:52:19.780 --> 00:52:21.900
to come meet you in person and hand deliver these

00:52:21.900 --> 00:52:24.500
to you today. And to be honest, I like meeting

00:52:24.500 --> 00:52:27.179
famous people that aren't actors. Anyways, would

00:52:27.179 --> 00:52:29.219
you mind signing my two copies of your book?

00:52:29.300 --> 00:52:30.619
I bought these when they were first published

00:52:30.619 --> 00:52:32.679
over a year ago. Professor Hawthorne responds

00:52:32.679 --> 00:52:35.659
with a grin and a look of gratitude. Nice to

00:52:35.659 --> 00:52:38.019
meet you, Anthony, and thank you for the complimentary

00:52:38.019 --> 00:52:40.579
tickets. I was wondering how our group was going

00:52:40.579 --> 00:52:43.119
to get into the event at the museum, but had

00:52:43.119 --> 00:52:45.920
forgotten to ask about that detail in all of

00:52:45.920 --> 00:52:48.800
our haste in planning and travel. So thank you

00:52:48.800 --> 00:52:51.679
for putting my mind at ease. And yes, we'd love

00:52:51.679 --> 00:52:54.280
to sign the books you have, and by the looks

00:52:54.280 --> 00:52:56.420
of them, they have been well -loved over the

00:52:56.420 --> 00:52:59.420
last year. Anthony replies, yes, I passed these

00:52:59.420 --> 00:53:01.119
copies around to several of my close friends

00:53:01.119 --> 00:53:02.909
and finally got them back. You know the type

00:53:02.909 --> 00:53:04.409
of friends who like to borrow all your stuff

00:53:04.409 --> 00:53:06.210
so they don't actually own anything of their

00:53:06.210 --> 00:53:09.110
own. Anthony says the last part with a slight

00:53:09.110 --> 00:53:11.389
smirk on his face as he watches the trio sign

00:53:11.389 --> 00:53:13.650
his well -worn and read books. Alright, I gotta

00:53:13.650 --> 00:53:15.030
run and thanks for signing the books for me.

00:53:15.110 --> 00:53:17.369
I'll see you tomorrow evening. Ava jumps in with

00:53:17.369 --> 00:53:20.230
a last second request as Anthony is turning around

00:53:20.230 --> 00:53:22.889
to walk off. I'd love to ask you some questions

00:53:22.889 --> 00:53:24.989
and get your personal perspective on both the

00:53:24.989 --> 00:53:27.170
artifacts tomorrow evening if we get the chance.

00:53:27.969 --> 00:53:30.869
Ava watches as Anthony turns around and mouths

00:53:30.869 --> 00:53:34.219
the word. Sure thing, as he slips back into the

00:53:34.219 --> 00:53:36.400
crowd of students who are all standing by the

00:53:36.400 --> 00:53:38.840
tables and awaiting their turn to meet these

00:53:38.840 --> 00:53:41.579
famous non -actor people from the United States.

00:53:42.059 --> 00:53:54.739
And maybe buy a book. Prof. Amanda Chase has

00:53:54.739 --> 00:53:57.179
been back at the college in Coloma, California,

00:53:57.440 --> 00:54:00.280
while Professor Hawthorne, Ava, Lily, and the

00:54:00.280 --> 00:54:02.300
students have been enjoying their first couple

00:54:02.300 --> 00:54:06.400
days on the ground at UNAM in Mexico City. As

00:54:06.400 --> 00:54:08.920
she finishes one of her classes and while walking

00:54:08.920 --> 00:54:11.880
out of the lecture hall, her phone gets a notification

00:54:11.880 --> 00:54:15.630
with a not -so -familiar ding. It catches her

00:54:15.630 --> 00:54:18.469
attention because it's a very different sound

00:54:18.469 --> 00:54:21.690
from the usual notification ding she receives

00:54:21.690 --> 00:54:25.510
from her other messaging apps. Hmm. She thinks

00:54:25.510 --> 00:54:27.989
to herself and then looks more closely at the

00:54:27.989 --> 00:54:30.329
screen on her phone as she's walking down the

00:54:30.329 --> 00:54:33.869
hall toward her office. The message reads, the

00:54:33.869 --> 00:54:36.949
U .S. Embassy has issued a level three travel

00:54:36.949 --> 00:54:40.760
warning for parts of Mexico. Amanda clicks on

00:54:40.760 --> 00:54:43.739
the notification and a longer message then appears

00:54:43.739 --> 00:54:47.539
and reads, Level 3, reconsider travel. Avoid

00:54:47.539 --> 00:54:50.920
travel due to serious risks to safety and security.

00:54:51.239 --> 00:54:53.960
The Department of State provides additional advice

00:54:53.960 --> 00:54:56.739
for travelers in these areas in the travel advisory.

00:54:57.199 --> 00:55:00.380
Conditions in any country may change at any time.

00:55:00.860 --> 00:55:04.119
Oh my, Amanda thinks to herself as she gets situated

00:55:04.119 --> 00:55:07.199
at her desk in her office. She sends a quick

00:55:07.199 --> 00:55:11.110
text. to Professor Hawthorne asking if he has

00:55:11.110 --> 00:55:13.730
seen the same message or has heard of anything.

00:55:14.190 --> 00:55:17.909
It reads, Hello, hope things are going well for

00:55:17.909 --> 00:55:21.469
you all down there. It's been really quiet here

00:55:21.469 --> 00:55:24.530
for the last few days. Anyway, quick question,

00:55:24.690 --> 00:55:27.090
did you happen to receive a notification from

00:55:27.090 --> 00:55:30.050
the U .S. Embassy about a travel alert? Just

00:55:30.050 --> 00:55:33.949
wondering, asking as a concerned friend and colleague.

00:55:34.809 --> 00:55:37.489
Amanda impatiently stares down at her phone screen,

00:55:37.610 --> 00:55:40.250
waiting for a reply from the professor, hoping

00:55:40.250 --> 00:55:43.409
he sees it immediately. All of a sudden, it hadn't

00:55:43.409 --> 00:55:46.190
been but a few seconds. Amanda sees the small

00:55:46.190 --> 00:55:49.610
dots in the messaging app bounce, which indicates

00:55:49.610 --> 00:55:52.469
that the professor is in the middle of replying.

00:55:52.610 --> 00:56:00.960
So she waits. Professor Hawthorne stopped mid

00:56:00.960 --> 00:56:03.460
-stride as he was walking back to his temporary

00:56:03.460 --> 00:56:06.579
dorm room on the UNAM campus after a long day

00:56:06.579 --> 00:56:09.679
of being with students, signing books and talking

00:56:09.679 --> 00:56:12.440
a lot. His phone had dinged with a familiar message,

00:56:12.500 --> 00:56:14.940
which indicated he had received a text message.

00:56:15.500 --> 00:56:18.300
He noticed it was from Amanda Chase, who was

00:56:18.300 --> 00:56:21.579
back at El Dorado College in Coloma. He was thankful

00:56:21.579 --> 00:56:24.260
to have her join as a faculty member this past

00:56:24.260 --> 00:56:26.260
year. She had helped make this trip possible

00:56:26.260 --> 00:56:28.980
for him and his students. helping with logistics,

00:56:29.280 --> 00:56:31.820
planning, and taking some of his classes while

00:56:31.820 --> 00:56:34.880
he was away. Zoe felt he owed it to her to keep

00:56:34.880 --> 00:56:37.400
all communication lines open while he was away

00:56:37.400 --> 00:56:40.519
from the school, especially if she had any questions

00:56:40.519 --> 00:56:43.280
about one of his classes she was covering. He

00:56:43.280 --> 00:56:45.019
looked down at his phone and read her message.

00:56:45.280 --> 00:56:47.880
He then clicked a few other messaging apps open

00:56:47.880 --> 00:56:50.820
and saw nothing. There was no notifications or

00:56:50.820 --> 00:56:53.639
messages from the U .S. Embassy about a travel

00:56:53.639 --> 00:56:56.400
alert. He thought to himself as he was messaging

00:56:56.400 --> 00:56:59.739
Amanda back, hmm, maybe a false alarm or just

00:56:59.739 --> 00:57:02.840
formality the U .S. sends out pre -summer travel

00:57:02.840 --> 00:57:06.440
season. He proceeds to text her back letting

00:57:06.440 --> 00:57:08.980
her know that they are all fine and have not

00:57:08.980 --> 00:57:11.519
heard any news like that from anybody they've

00:57:11.519 --> 00:57:15.239
met. He texts back and it reads, Thanks for the

00:57:15.239 --> 00:57:18.119
message. We're doing good. Did not get any notifications

00:57:18.119 --> 00:57:21.380
on this end. Maybe a false alarm or just a pre

00:57:21.380 --> 00:57:25.179
-summer travel precaution. BTW, thanks for holding

00:57:25.179 --> 00:57:27.500
down the fort while I'm gone. I really appreciate

00:57:27.500 --> 00:57:30.760
it. And with that, he opens the door to his temporary

00:57:30.760 --> 00:57:32.840
dorm room and plops down on the uncomfortable

00:57:32.840 --> 00:57:41.960
small bed and zones out. Amanda reads Professor

00:57:41.960 --> 00:57:44.519
Hawthorne's message and feels a sense of relief

00:57:44.519 --> 00:57:47.940
and texts back. Okay, sounds good. Take care,

00:57:48.059 --> 00:57:50.559
and if I get any more messages, I'll text you

00:57:50.559 --> 00:57:53.539
back. And with that... A thought comes to mind.

00:57:53.579 --> 00:57:55.659
She then remembers that when she was helping

00:57:55.659 --> 00:57:58.539
set up all the travel plans for the team several

00:57:58.539 --> 00:58:01.599
months prior, she actually entered her phone

00:58:01.599 --> 00:58:04.500
number as one of the main contacts for the team

00:58:04.500 --> 00:58:06.840
and forgot to add Professor Hawthorne's number.

00:58:07.079 --> 00:58:10.820
She thinks to herself, well, if I get any more

00:58:10.820 --> 00:58:13.460
notifications, I'll just pass them along as well.

00:58:14.650 --> 00:58:16.690
I'm hoping Hawthorne's assessment is correct,

00:58:16.849 --> 00:58:19.590
that this U .S. Embassy travel alert notification

00:58:19.590 --> 00:58:23.289
is just a formality for tourists ahead of the

00:58:23.289 --> 00:58:26.150
heavy summer travel season that's just around

00:58:26.150 --> 00:58:33.809
the corner. Anthony Garcia is still with anxious

00:58:33.809 --> 00:58:35.730
pride. He can't believe that he has the honor

00:58:35.730 --> 00:58:38.269
of helping emcee the museum fundraising gala.

00:58:38.369 --> 00:58:40.690
In a little more than eight hours, he'll be mingling

00:58:40.690 --> 00:58:43.340
with prominent politicians, famous Mexican actors,

00:58:43.559 --> 00:58:45.840
and a lot of very wealthy in this very own museum.

00:58:46.079 --> 00:58:48.739
Well, let's just say the city's museum, but he

00:58:48.739 --> 00:58:50.860
likes to call it his museum since the shows and

00:58:50.860 --> 00:58:53.000
items he has been able to curate over the years

00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:55.460
have helped propel this unknown old building

00:58:55.460 --> 00:58:57.980
into an international destination. Not to mention

00:58:57.980 --> 00:59:00.760
the world -renowned stuff he's been able to recruit

00:59:00.760 --> 00:59:04.159
and keep. He thinks to himself, tonight is the

00:59:04.159 --> 00:59:06.400
accumulation of many, many years of hard work,

00:59:06.460 --> 00:59:08.820
and I'm going to enjoy myself. After all, I deserve

00:59:08.820 --> 00:59:11.579
it. Mexico City, this district, and the community.

00:59:12.059 --> 00:59:14.420
owes me a great deal of gratitude for the past

00:59:14.420 --> 00:59:17.039
many years. And deep down Anthony also knows

00:59:17.039 --> 00:59:18.760
that the artifacts that will be unveiled at the

00:59:18.760 --> 00:59:21.519
gala and be displayed in the museum also come

00:59:21.519 --> 00:59:23.940
with some territorial and cultural baggage he

00:59:23.940 --> 00:59:26.619
hopes does not ruin the excitement everyone will

00:59:26.619 --> 00:59:28.579
be feeling. He's got plenty to do in the next

00:59:28.579 --> 00:59:30.780
eight hours before the event begins so he gets

00:59:30.780 --> 00:59:32.920
busy. He's focused and determined to make this

00:59:32.920 --> 00:59:40.090
one of the best evenings of his career. It's

00:59:40.090 --> 00:59:42.909
mid -morning and the El Dorado College students

00:59:42.909 --> 00:59:45.289
who came on the trip have the day off. There

00:59:45.289 --> 00:59:47.349
are no scheduled events all day until the evening

00:59:47.349 --> 00:59:50.670
gala at the museum. Yesterday had been a long

00:59:50.670 --> 00:59:53.269
and fun day, but they were all glad to get to

00:59:53.269 --> 00:59:55.730
sleep in a bit, relax, and get some free time.

00:59:56.349 --> 00:59:59.269
Max, Danny, and Joe were sharing a four -person

00:59:59.269 --> 01:00:02.750
dorm room and were only a few doors down from

01:00:02.750 --> 01:00:04.530
the room Professor Hawthorne was staying in.

01:00:04.889 --> 01:00:07.469
Each night, Professor Hawthorne had come down

01:00:07.469 --> 01:00:10.190
to the room, checked in on them, shouted, and

01:00:10.190 --> 01:00:12.389
hung out before turning in for the night. He

01:00:12.389 --> 01:00:14.809
even played a few hands of five -card draw. The

01:00:14.809 --> 01:00:16.949
guys mentioned more than once that getting to

01:00:16.949 --> 01:00:19.150
hang out with the professor outside the classroom

01:00:19.150 --> 01:00:21.489
was actually quite fun and that it was quite

01:00:21.489 --> 01:00:23.909
entertaining to see another side to him. Max

01:00:23.909 --> 01:00:26.489
gets up and starts rummaging through his suitcase.

01:00:26.769 --> 01:00:29.590
Hey, Danny, Joe, so are your clothes as wrinkled

01:00:29.590 --> 01:00:32.199
as mine? Max asks his two roommates as he sifts

01:00:32.199 --> 01:00:34.219
through his suitcase that's been laying on the

01:00:34.219 --> 01:00:37.800
floor of the Yunam dorm room. He and his El Dorado

01:00:37.800 --> 01:00:39.619
classmates have been staying in for the last

01:00:39.619 --> 01:00:42.739
few days. Max continues. My mom would be so disappointed

01:00:42.739 --> 01:00:45.059
in me right now. I mean, I totally forgot to

01:00:45.059 --> 01:00:47.280
set out the outfit I packed for the gala event

01:00:47.280 --> 01:00:50.460
and now it's full of wrinkles. It looks so unprofessional

01:00:50.460 --> 01:00:53.659
and juvenile. Danny jumps in. Well, you can do

01:00:53.659 --> 01:00:55.719
what I've had to do before. Hang your wrinkled

01:00:55.719 --> 01:00:57.539
clothes in the bathroom and turn on the hot shower

01:00:57.539 --> 01:00:59.960
water and shut the door for a few minutes. The

01:00:59.960 --> 01:01:01.380
steam from the hot water should help get rid

01:01:01.380 --> 01:01:04.460
of the wrinkles. Really? That works? Joe turns

01:01:04.460 --> 01:01:06.780
and looks at Danny and then over at Max as he

01:01:06.780 --> 01:01:09.480
and Danny watch Max unfold and hang up the one

01:01:09.480 --> 01:01:11.820
formal outfit he had brought up on the trip.

01:01:12.099 --> 01:01:14.719
This is my formal outfit for tonight, Max says

01:01:14.719 --> 01:01:16.820
as he holds it up to show the other two guys

01:01:16.820 --> 01:01:18.800
who are still lounging around on their beds.

01:01:19.059 --> 01:01:21.800
I'm going to try the bathroom steam trick and

01:01:21.800 --> 01:01:25.219
see if it works. Max continues, guys, how often

01:01:25.219 --> 01:01:28.050
do we get dressed up this fancy back home? Hardly

01:01:28.050 --> 01:01:30.510
ever, right? So we need to look classy and sharp

01:01:30.510 --> 01:01:33.030
tonight. Besides, we need to match the girls

01:01:33.030 --> 01:01:35.190
and styles. I'm sure they'll be dressed to the

01:01:35.190 --> 01:01:38.030
nines. We can't have them outclassed us. Joe

01:01:38.030 --> 01:01:40.730
cracks a smile, looks directly at Max, and then

01:01:40.730 --> 01:01:43.809
says, Sounds like there's a certain someone you're

01:01:43.809 --> 01:01:46.309
trying to impress tonight. It's okay to admit

01:01:46.309 --> 01:01:49.769
you have a thing for Olivia. Danny jumps in again.

01:01:50.730 --> 01:01:52.869
Well, the question you need to be asking yourself,

01:01:53.110 --> 01:01:55.849
and then finding out the answer to is, does Olivia

01:01:55.849 --> 01:01:58.460
have a thing for you too? Until you figure that

01:01:58.460 --> 01:02:00.820
out, I think you'll just be another dude in a

01:02:00.820 --> 01:02:08.460
nice suit this evening. Meanwhile, an across

01:02:08.460 --> 01:02:11.360
-the -small -campus street that separated several

01:02:11.360 --> 01:02:14.219
of the boys' dorm from some of the girls' dorm,

01:02:14.320 --> 01:02:16.760
the four college girls, who are also part of

01:02:16.760 --> 01:02:19.079
the El Dorado college group, were essentially

01:02:19.079 --> 01:02:22.500
doing the same exact thing boys were doing. That

01:02:22.500 --> 01:02:24.940
is, they were looking through their suitcases

01:02:24.940 --> 01:02:27.760
and prepping their formal clothes for that evening's

01:02:27.760 --> 01:02:31.519
gala event at the museum. It was still mid -morning

01:02:31.519 --> 01:02:34.039
and they were happy to have some downtime as

01:02:34.039 --> 01:02:36.960
well. The past few days have been quite busy.

01:02:37.559 --> 01:02:40.880
Enjoyable, but busy. Hey Olivia, did you end

01:02:40.880 --> 01:02:43.179
up packing that one outfit you were talking about

01:02:43.179 --> 01:02:46.900
last week after class? Vivian asks as she holds

01:02:46.900 --> 01:02:49.599
up her formal dress to make sure the wrinkles

01:02:49.599 --> 01:02:52.940
are not noticeable. No, I didn't. Olivia responds.

01:02:53.320 --> 01:02:56.039
My parents gave me some trip money at the last

01:02:56.039 --> 01:02:58.760
minute, so I was able to actually buy a new outfit

01:02:58.760 --> 01:03:01.260
a few days before we left. Oh, let's see it.

01:03:01.679 --> 01:03:04.880
Isabel remarks as she is in the middle of reorganizing

01:03:04.880 --> 01:03:07.300
her own suitcase and her clothes she had just

01:03:07.300 --> 01:03:09.699
been stuffing back in the suitcase after she

01:03:09.699 --> 01:03:12.360
had worn them. Yeah, let's see it Liv. Vivian

01:03:12.360 --> 01:03:15.960
chimes in. Okay guys, here it is. Olivia says

01:03:15.960 --> 01:03:19.519
as she reluctantly holds up the new dress she

01:03:19.519 --> 01:03:22.239
had just purchased a few days prior to them leaving

01:03:22.239 --> 01:03:25.260
California to go on this trip. She continues,

01:03:25.559 --> 01:03:28.840
okay, what do you think? Be honest now. Isabel

01:03:28.840 --> 01:03:32.099
jumps in and immediately says, Oh, wow, that's

01:03:32.099 --> 01:03:34.960
awesome, and it's totally you. Yeah, not bad.

01:03:35.639 --> 01:03:38.639
Vivian says as she looks over at Emily, who hadn't

01:03:38.639 --> 01:03:41.059
really said anything yet. What do you think of

01:03:41.059 --> 01:03:43.420
Emily? Well, it's not my style, and it probably

01:03:43.420 --> 01:03:45.699
won't fit me, but it'd look really pretty on

01:03:45.699 --> 01:03:48.039
you, Olivia, Emily says as she puts down her

01:03:48.039 --> 01:03:50.219
phone after scrolling through her social media

01:03:50.219 --> 01:03:54.079
accounts. Well, thank you. And you could totally

01:03:54.079 --> 01:03:57.440
pull this look off if you had to. Olivia says

01:03:57.440 --> 01:04:00.480
as she proceeds to hang up the dress, making

01:04:00.480 --> 01:04:03.760
sure it stays nice and wrinkle -free before having

01:04:03.760 --> 01:04:06.820
to put it on later that day. Just then, there's

01:04:06.820 --> 01:04:10.179
a knock on the girl's door. Lily knocks on the

01:04:10.179 --> 01:04:13.179
girl's door and it opens immediately. There stands

01:04:13.179 --> 01:04:16.500
Olivia with a big smile on her face. Lily then

01:04:16.500 --> 01:04:19.119
says, you all seem to be enjoying some downtime.

01:04:19.690 --> 01:04:22.110
How's it going? Great. We were just hanging up

01:04:22.110 --> 01:04:25.590
our formal outfits for tonight's event. We can't

01:04:25.590 --> 01:04:29.130
go looking like we just pulled our outfits out

01:04:29.130 --> 01:04:32.690
of our messy suitcases. Olivia responds. Oh,

01:04:32.690 --> 01:04:34.849
right. Thanks for the reminder. I need to do

01:04:34.849 --> 01:04:37.750
that too. Lily says as she steps halfway into

01:04:37.750 --> 01:04:40.030
the room to look at the other outfits hanging

01:04:40.030 --> 01:04:43.150
up. Isabel then asks, what's Mrs. Turner doing?

01:04:43.590 --> 01:04:46.929
Miss Turner? Oh, right. You can totally count

01:04:46.929 --> 01:04:50.289
her by her first name, Ava. She would probably

01:04:50.289 --> 01:04:53.289
laugh if she heard you being that formal. Lady

01:04:53.289 --> 01:04:56.010
responds. She's just hanging out in our room

01:04:56.010 --> 01:04:59.210
and trying to catch up on work. Well, I just

01:04:59.210 --> 01:05:01.710
wanted to come down and check on you and see

01:05:01.710 --> 01:05:04.030
how things are going. Remember, we need to be

01:05:04.030 --> 01:05:07.570
out up front at 6pm all ready to go. The van

01:05:07.570 --> 01:05:15.739
driver will then take us all over together. Hawthorne

01:05:15.739 --> 01:05:17.480
spent the better part of the morning scouring

01:05:17.480 --> 01:05:19.820
the internet looking for information about why

01:05:19.820 --> 01:05:21.820
the United States had put out the travel warning.

01:05:22.019 --> 01:05:24.539
Of course, the information was not specific and

01:05:24.539 --> 01:05:27.119
there was nothing online that he could find that

01:05:27.119 --> 01:05:29.360
would justify any type of heightened anxiety

01:05:29.360 --> 01:05:32.460
on his part. He did feel a lot of responsibility

01:05:32.460 --> 01:05:34.940
for the students who had come, but also knew

01:05:34.940 --> 01:05:36.900
that this trip offered them a great experience

01:05:36.900 --> 01:05:39.519
that many of them would not be able to get anywhere

01:05:39.519 --> 01:05:42.420
else. Professor Hawthorne, noticing that it's

01:05:42.420 --> 01:05:44.480
a little past noon, leaves the room and makes

01:05:44.480 --> 01:05:46.500
his way down to the dorm room where the boys

01:05:46.500 --> 01:05:50.059
are staying. He knocks on the door. No answer.

01:05:50.559 --> 01:05:53.159
After a few more unanswered knocks, the professor

01:05:53.159 --> 01:05:55.519
decides to head over to one of the small student

01:05:55.519 --> 01:05:58.519
unions located on the other side of campus and

01:05:58.519 --> 01:06:01.719
grab a bite to eat for lunch. The professor enters

01:06:01.719 --> 01:06:03.920
the student union building and immediately sees

01:06:03.920 --> 01:06:06.559
Max, Danny, and Joe sitting at a table eating

01:06:06.559 --> 01:06:09.610
and notices they had just gotten started. He

01:06:09.610 --> 01:06:12.170
walks over to them and then says, hey guys, glad

01:06:12.170 --> 01:06:14.190
you found some food. Do you mind if the teacher

01:06:14.190 --> 01:06:16.590
joins you? Of course not. We just got started.

01:06:16.829 --> 01:06:19.170
They're actually serving American style hamburgers

01:06:19.170 --> 01:06:22.230
today. And well, you can tell that we're pretty

01:06:22.230 --> 01:06:24.650
excited about that. Max responds as he looks

01:06:24.650 --> 01:06:27.909
down at his two plates full of food. All right.

01:06:27.989 --> 01:06:31.269
Sounds good, Hawthorne replies. Let me get my

01:06:31.269 --> 01:06:33.389
tray of food and I'll be right back. Oh, and

01:06:33.389 --> 01:06:35.170
by the way, if you have any questions about the

01:06:35.170 --> 01:06:37.210
gala tonight, we can talk about it over lunch.

01:06:37.659 --> 01:06:39.539
The professor then turns around and walks off

01:06:39.539 --> 01:06:41.760
to get his food, which is served cafeteria style.

01:06:41.980 --> 01:06:44.119
As Hawthorne walks off and is out of earshot,

01:06:44.219 --> 01:06:47.420
Joe makes a comment to the other two guys. I

01:06:47.420 --> 01:06:50.119
don't know about you, but it's kind of fun coming

01:06:50.119 --> 01:06:53.340
a trip with the professor. Getting to see him

01:06:53.340 --> 01:06:55.420
outside the classroom and realizing he's just

01:06:55.420 --> 01:06:57.960
a normal person. Well, besides the fact that

01:06:57.960 --> 01:07:01.340
he's somewhat famous. Yeah, well, I don't really

01:07:01.340 --> 01:07:03.739
think about the whole Gold Rush scandal thing.

01:07:03.840 --> 01:07:06.420
He was involved in a couple years back. Well,

01:07:06.500 --> 01:07:09.380
Miss Turner and Lily too. And there he is, well,

01:07:09.480 --> 01:07:12.079
Max responds. Danny then says, as they watch

01:07:12.079 --> 01:07:13.900
Hawthorne start walking back to their table with

01:07:13.900 --> 01:07:16.380
his tray of food, I wonder what kind of scandal

01:07:16.380 --> 01:07:18.599
we'll find ourselves in on this trip. Professor

01:07:18.599 --> 01:07:21.219
Hawthorne sits down with his tray of food, looks

01:07:21.219 --> 01:07:23.039
up at the guys, and then says, Alright guys,

01:07:23.219 --> 01:07:25.000
what questions do you have about tonight's event?

01:07:30.420 --> 01:07:33.000
Meanwhile, and on the same day, there was a scurry

01:07:33.000 --> 01:07:35.780
of activity in an old abandoned two -story building

01:07:35.780 --> 01:07:39.239
just a few blocks away from the museum. The museum

01:07:39.239 --> 01:07:41.619
at which the night's activities would be happening.

01:07:42.079 --> 01:07:44.639
The old abandoned building was known to local

01:07:44.639 --> 01:07:47.440
residents as the Old Broom Factory and had been

01:07:47.440 --> 01:07:50.119
sitting empty for the past few years. When the

01:07:50.119 --> 01:07:52.519
business had been operational, they produced

01:07:52.519 --> 01:07:54.980
all kinds of brooms, which were sold and distributed

01:07:54.980 --> 01:07:58.460
all over Mexico. However, many of the locals

01:07:58.460 --> 01:08:00.670
knew... that the business was used for more than

01:08:00.670 --> 01:08:03.769
just making brooms. Rumor has it, the old broom

01:08:03.769 --> 01:08:06.190
factory had also been a money laundering tool

01:08:06.190 --> 01:08:08.969
for one of the local gangs that had ties to the

01:08:08.969 --> 01:08:13.469
cartel. Is everything in place? Maria asked her

01:08:13.469 --> 01:08:15.349
niece and nephew, who were sitting a few feet

01:08:15.349 --> 01:08:18.090
away from her on old half -broken wooden chairs.

01:08:19.210 --> 01:08:21.850
Si, senora. Everyone is prepped and ready for

01:08:21.850 --> 01:08:24.130
this evening. Carlos responds as he looks at

01:08:24.130 --> 01:08:26.569
his older sister, Renata, sitting next to him.

01:08:26.970 --> 01:08:30.579
It's an easy in and out. No problem. We've done

01:08:30.579 --> 01:08:33.319
much more difficult jobs than this one, Renanta

01:08:33.319 --> 01:08:37.340
says. Well, don't get too cocky. There's a lot

01:08:37.340 --> 01:08:39.800
more at stake with this job. Maria snaps back

01:08:39.800 --> 01:08:42.220
and then continues. There will be a lot of people

01:08:42.220 --> 01:08:44.300
there, so just follow the plan and see that it

01:08:44.300 --> 01:08:47.079
gets done and done right. Speed and coordination

01:08:47.079 --> 01:08:49.539
is the key to grabbing both of the items tonight.

01:08:49.659 --> 01:08:51.979
I'll be here waiting. Don't deviate from that

01:08:51.979 --> 01:08:55.260
plan. Get back here as quickly as you can. And

01:08:55.260 --> 01:08:57.180
remember to connect with our guy on the inside

01:08:57.180 --> 01:09:04.479
when you get in there. Professor Hawthorne and

01:09:04.479 --> 01:09:07.000
the three young college guys walk out of their

01:09:07.000 --> 01:09:09.399
dorm building and toward the white van that's

01:09:09.399 --> 01:09:12.539
parked out front. He notices his friend Prof.

01:09:12.680 --> 01:09:15.140
Tommy is standing outside next to the van already

01:09:15.140 --> 01:09:18.039
talking with Ava. He then notices the college

01:09:18.039 --> 01:09:20.500
girls and Lily walking toward the van from the

01:09:20.500 --> 01:09:23.300
other side, having just exited the girls' dorm

01:09:23.300 --> 01:09:26.140
building. As everyone stands around the van,

01:09:26.300 --> 01:09:29.020
Hawthorne says, Thanks for being on time, everyone,

01:09:29.180 --> 01:09:32.220
and you all look great. We clean up real well.

01:09:32.840 --> 01:09:35.239
All right, everybody, let's load up and get going.

01:09:35.479 --> 01:09:37.619
We'll probably hit some traffic on the way there,

01:09:38.180 --> 01:09:40.039
Palmer says as he jumps in the front passenger

01:09:40.039 --> 01:09:42.979
seat. A few minutes later, the van is moving

01:09:42.979 --> 01:09:45.300
and on its way to the museum for a night that

01:09:45.300 --> 01:09:53.579
no one will forget. About 30 minutes later, the

01:09:53.579 --> 01:09:56.119
van arrives at the museum's front entrance, which

01:09:56.119 --> 01:09:58.960
was a drop -off only. The American college students,

01:09:59.159 --> 01:10:01.699
along with Hawthorne and Ava, exit the van and

01:10:01.699 --> 01:10:04.359
take in the surroundings. The evening was starting

01:10:04.359 --> 01:10:06.779
to settle in, and the day's light was dimming.

01:10:06.819 --> 01:10:09.119
I guess you could say it was dusk. There was

01:10:09.119 --> 01:10:11.979
a mariachi band consisting of about 12 members

01:10:11.979 --> 01:10:14.340
playing close to the foot of the main stone staircase

01:10:14.340 --> 01:10:16.520
leading up to the main entrance of the museum.

01:10:17.399 --> 01:10:19.460
Photographers, along with reporters and news

01:10:19.460 --> 01:10:21.899
agencies, were scurrying around as guests and

01:10:21.899 --> 01:10:24.579
spectators started arriving. Upon getting out

01:10:24.579 --> 01:10:26.880
of the van and after taking a head count to make

01:10:26.880 --> 01:10:29.520
sure everyone was accounted for, Professor Hawthorne

01:10:29.520 --> 01:10:32.140
looks over at Ava and says, Looks like quite

01:10:32.140 --> 01:10:34.920
the media event. Did you know this evening's

01:10:34.920 --> 01:10:37.819
event would be so popular among the major news

01:10:37.819 --> 01:10:41.220
outlets? Ava responds, I knew it was going to

01:10:41.220 --> 01:10:43.399
be popular, but I didn't know it would be this

01:10:43.399 --> 01:10:46.140
popular. I mean, I see another Reuters reporter

01:10:46.140 --> 01:10:48.359
here. Probably to make sure they get the whole

01:10:48.359 --> 01:10:51.060
story from different angles, I suppose. Tommy

01:10:51.060 --> 01:10:53.199
puts his arm around Hawthorne's shoulders and

01:10:53.199 --> 01:10:55.840
says, You all ready to go inside? It'll be much

01:10:55.840 --> 01:10:57.880
quieter and more calm once we go inside the museum.

01:10:58.359 --> 01:11:00.439
There's a reception area with snacks and beverage

01:11:00.439 --> 01:11:02.840
you can enjoy while waiting for the planned agenda

01:11:02.840 --> 01:11:05.119
to begin. As the group makes their way through

01:11:05.119 --> 01:11:07.220
the crowded outdoor area in front of the museum

01:11:07.220 --> 01:11:09.930
and then up the main stone. steps towards the

01:11:09.930 --> 01:11:12.810
large wooden entrance doors. Ava looks back down

01:11:12.810 --> 01:11:15.550
toward the road and spots both David Silva and

01:11:15.550 --> 01:11:18.449
Miranda Martinez getting mauled by reporters

01:11:18.449 --> 01:11:20.569
and cameras as they were trying to make their

01:11:20.569 --> 01:11:23.489
way toward the steps and entrance. Prof Tommy

01:11:23.489 --> 01:11:26.090
notices Ava's reaction and shouts over the noise

01:11:26.090 --> 01:11:29.149
back at Ava. Yup, they're like local celebrities

01:11:29.149 --> 01:11:31.949
now. And I think secretly the public would love

01:11:31.949 --> 01:11:34.310
to see them become a couple. Six months ago,

01:11:34.409 --> 01:11:36.829
no one knew them and they didn't know each other.

01:11:37.180 --> 01:11:40.380
Now they're more famous than the cartel. Ava

01:11:40.380 --> 01:11:42.840
cracked a half smile and nodded her head back

01:11:42.840 --> 01:11:45.859
at Prof Tommy and thought to herself, being more

01:11:45.859 --> 01:11:48.819
famous than the cartel is not necessarily a good

01:11:48.819 --> 01:11:51.640
thing either. After entering the main entrance

01:11:51.640 --> 01:11:54.640
of the museum and then walking through the large

01:11:54.640 --> 01:11:57.199
museum atrium, Professor Hawthorne and the group

01:11:57.199 --> 01:11:59.619
make their way to the main reception area, which

01:11:59.619 --> 01:12:02.380
was already packed with guests. Everyone was

01:12:02.380 --> 01:12:04.720
dressed to the T and standing around talking

01:12:04.720 --> 01:12:07.920
or leaning on one of the many tall cocktail tables

01:12:07.920 --> 01:12:10.840
with wine glasses in hand while talking about

01:12:10.840 --> 01:12:13.800
the things ruling class elites talk about at

01:12:13.800 --> 01:12:16.539
these sort of events. Hawthorne thought to himself,

01:12:16.739 --> 01:12:20.180
but said out loud, these two artifacts must have

01:12:20.180 --> 01:12:23.020
some significant historical and cultural relevance

01:12:23.020 --> 01:12:26.149
to attract all these people here tonight. The

01:12:26.149 --> 01:12:28.130
crowd of guests who had gathered in the reception

01:12:28.130 --> 01:12:31.029
area included some of Mexico's most rich and

01:12:31.029 --> 01:12:34.010
famous, along with prominent politicians from

01:12:34.010 --> 01:12:36.770
Mexico and other influential Latin American countries.

01:12:37.250 --> 01:12:39.670
Tommy leans over to Hawthorne and says loudly,

01:12:39.930 --> 01:12:42.970
I'll leave you all here to mingle. Have fun tonight

01:12:42.970 --> 01:12:45.369
and enjoy the spectacle. you have your own seat

01:12:45.369 --> 01:12:47.909
assignments so i'll meet you back in the atrium

01:12:47.909 --> 01:12:50.149
by the front entrance later after the fundraising

01:12:50.149 --> 01:12:52.670
auction and the artifact unveiling they aren't

01:12:52.670 --> 01:12:55.250
auctioning the two artifacts though stays in

01:12:55.250 --> 01:12:58.369
museum permanently however anthony and his team

01:12:58.369 --> 01:13:00.510
have chosen some rare items from the museum we

01:13:00.510 --> 01:13:03.729
auctioned off for the fundraiser i'm sure your

01:13:03.729 --> 01:13:05.970
student will get a kick out of watching all the

01:13:05.970 --> 01:13:08.479
rich people here tonight trying to outbid and

01:13:08.479 --> 01:13:11.000
outspurring each other. I'm sure they will, Hawthorne

01:13:11.000 --> 01:13:13.199
replied, and then watched Tommy snake his way

01:13:13.199 --> 01:13:15.079
back through the crowd and toward the atrium

01:13:15.079 --> 01:13:17.760
of the museum. Professor Hawthorne felt a bit

01:13:17.760 --> 01:13:20.039
out of place among this crowd and knew that the

01:13:20.039 --> 01:13:22.140
rest of his group probably felt the same way.

01:13:22.319 --> 01:13:24.859
He recognized several different celebrities and

01:13:24.859 --> 01:13:27.560
politicians. He thought to himself, It's quite

01:13:27.560 --> 01:13:30.140
funny, the celebrities and even the politicians

01:13:30.140 --> 01:13:32.979
he recognized all look shorter in person than

01:13:32.979 --> 01:13:35.560
they do on TV. He was glad to be able to just

01:13:35.560 --> 01:13:37.920
blend in with the crowd and not have anyone recognize

01:13:37.920 --> 01:13:40.819
him. However, he wondered about Ava since she

01:13:40.819 --> 01:13:43.560
had been on a lot of news segments over the past

01:13:43.560 --> 01:13:46.250
year telling their story. As he was thinking

01:13:46.250 --> 01:13:48.630
this, he looked over to see her standing several

01:13:48.630 --> 01:13:51.390
tables over with two people he did not recognize.

01:13:51.949 --> 01:13:54.130
Eva was laughing and having a good time with

01:13:54.130 --> 01:13:56.550
the two old reporter acquaintances from a different

01:13:56.550 --> 01:13:58.810
network she had met earlier in the year while

01:13:58.810 --> 01:14:00.670
doing an interview with the governor of California.

01:14:00.810 --> 01:14:03.609
They were reminiscing about the fun and awkward

01:14:03.609 --> 01:14:05.729
moments that typically come with meeting and

01:14:05.729 --> 01:14:08.510
then interviewing a prominent politician, and

01:14:08.510 --> 01:14:11.069
all the weird and special requests from the politician's

01:14:11.069 --> 01:14:14.060
office and... The amount of concessions the reporters

01:14:14.060 --> 01:14:16.420
usually have to make just to get the interview.

01:14:16.680 --> 01:14:18.880
Ava looks down at her watch mid -sentence, then

01:14:18.880 --> 01:14:21.720
says, Hey, it was so fun running into you both

01:14:21.720 --> 01:14:23.899
here, and I guess I'll see you on the TV. I've

01:14:23.899 --> 01:14:25.640
got to go find my group and then find our seats.

01:14:26.079 --> 01:14:28.260
And with that, she walks over to where Lily and

01:14:28.260 --> 01:14:29.960
the students were standing and says to Lily,

01:14:30.199 --> 01:14:32.220
We should probably make our way to our seats

01:14:32.220 --> 01:14:34.500
now. I think the event is starting soon. She

01:14:34.500 --> 01:14:36.500
continues, Have you seen the professor? He's

01:14:36.500 --> 01:14:39.369
over there. Lily responds as she points in the

01:14:39.369 --> 01:14:42.210
direction she saw Professor Hawthorne stop at

01:14:42.210 --> 01:14:44.750
when they had first arrived in the reception

01:14:44.750 --> 01:14:48.489
area. Lily and Ava notice that he's a short distance

01:14:48.489 --> 01:14:51.149
away and leaning on one of the tall standing

01:14:51.149 --> 01:14:53.949
tables. He's by himself and just standing there

01:14:53.949 --> 01:14:56.890
casually looking around at the crowd. Hawthorne

01:14:56.890 --> 01:14:59.109
notices the large group walking toward him through

01:14:59.109 --> 01:15:01.630
the crowd. He sees Ava and Lily leading the way

01:15:01.630 --> 01:15:04.069
and then says to them as they get close to where

01:15:04.069 --> 01:15:06.739
he's standing. Man, some of the best form of

01:15:06.739 --> 01:15:09.899
entertainment is people watching. He then snaps

01:15:09.899 --> 01:15:12.239
out of his people -watching gaze and then says,

01:15:12.340 --> 01:15:15.439
It must be time to go find our seats now. Yeah,

01:15:15.500 --> 01:15:17.800
it's time. Aver responds and then continues,

01:15:18.000 --> 01:15:19.840
I think the emcee will take the stage in about

01:15:19.840 --> 01:15:22.560
10 minutes or so to officially kick off this

01:15:22.560 --> 01:15:25.300
evening's events. As the group makes their way

01:15:25.300 --> 01:15:28.119
out of the crowded reception area, Lily looks

01:15:28.119 --> 01:15:30.800
down at her ticket, then at several of the students'

01:15:30.899 --> 01:15:33.739
tickets and says, Looks like we are on the left

01:15:33.739 --> 01:15:36.520
side and tower the back. As the group walks back

01:15:36.520 --> 01:15:39.119
towards the main atrium, and then down a long

01:15:39.119 --> 01:15:41.260
corridor in the opposite direction of the reception

01:15:41.260 --> 01:15:44.079
area, they enter into another large space that

01:15:44.079 --> 01:15:46.520
looks similar to the atrium. This large space

01:15:46.520 --> 01:15:49.340
is located in one of the museum's wings and has

01:15:49.340 --> 01:15:52.560
the capacity to hold up to 500 people. At least

01:15:52.560 --> 01:15:54.399
that's what the sign up there on the wall says.

01:15:54.600 --> 01:15:57.060
I see where we are sitting, Ava says as she points

01:15:57.060 --> 01:15:59.819
in the direction Lily had mentioned. That's cute.

01:15:59.960 --> 01:16:02.020
There's little welcome bags on each chair and

01:16:02.020 --> 01:16:04.579
it looks like the chairs are cushioned. As Hawthorne

01:16:04.579 --> 01:16:07.119
finds a seat next to Ava who is sitting on the

01:16:07.119 --> 01:16:10.199
end, he nods his head in agreement to Ava's previous

01:16:10.199 --> 01:16:13.239
comment about cushioned seats and says, Wow,

01:16:13.420 --> 01:16:15.600
these are nice and comfortable. Well, if you're

01:16:15.600 --> 01:16:18.319
a paying celebrity guest, there are certain expectations

01:16:18.319 --> 01:16:20.699
that come with this event, like having a comfortable

01:16:20.699 --> 01:16:24.170
place to sit. I like it. He says this as he looks

01:16:24.170 --> 01:16:26.850
down the row where the students have all gotten

01:16:26.850 --> 01:16:28.989
seated and are now rummaging through their gift

01:16:28.989 --> 01:16:31.289
bags that were left on the seats for each guest.

01:16:31.470 --> 01:16:33.609
The crowd that had been in the reception area

01:16:33.609 --> 01:16:37.029
just moments ago were now all finding and taking

01:16:37.029 --> 01:16:40.430
seats as well. Even though the room had a capacity

01:16:40.430 --> 01:16:43.869
of 500 by the looks of it, there were only about

01:16:43.869 --> 01:16:47.850
maybe 300, 350 seats set up. The stage itself.

01:16:48.359 --> 01:16:50.579
Looked like it took up about a fourth of the

01:16:50.579 --> 01:16:53.159
area and there were several dozen more standing

01:16:53.159 --> 01:16:55.920
cocktail tables in the back of the room for those

01:16:55.920 --> 01:16:57.899
who might want to get up and stretch their legs

01:16:57.899 --> 01:17:00.859
during the ceremony. Just at that moment, Hawthorne

01:17:00.859 --> 01:17:03.239
felt someone touch his shoulder. Prof. Tommy

01:17:03.239 --> 01:17:06.420
looks down at Professor Hawthorne and Ava as

01:17:06.420 --> 01:17:08.539
he stops and stands next to the row. He then

01:17:08.539 --> 01:17:11.460
says, Hey guys, glad you found your seats. Pretty

01:17:11.460 --> 01:17:13.699
cool, right? Some of these guests here tonight

01:17:13.699 --> 01:17:16.380
have dropped a fortune to be here. so I'm glad

01:17:16.380 --> 01:17:19.079
we were able to get you all complimentary tickets.

01:17:19.460 --> 01:17:21.840
He then looks up and over the crowd and says,

01:17:21.979 --> 01:17:24.539
Alright, the show is about to start and I'm about

01:17:24.539 --> 01:17:26.380
to go find my seat which is towards the front.

01:17:26.640 --> 01:17:29.180
Anthony owes me a favor and sent me up front

01:17:29.180 --> 01:17:32.520
closer to the stage. Okay, I'll see you later

01:17:32.520 --> 01:17:35.500
when it's all over. And with that, Tommy makes

01:17:35.500 --> 01:17:37.899
his way towards the front just as the light starts

01:17:37.899 --> 01:17:51.289
dimming and the music begins. Ava watches and

01:17:51.289 --> 01:17:53.390
observes as the entire room goes silent with

01:17:53.390 --> 01:17:55.470
the dimming of the lights and the music. She

01:17:55.470 --> 01:17:58.270
looks over at Professor Hawthorne and down the

01:17:58.270 --> 01:18:00.670
row at all students who are staring at the stage

01:18:00.670 --> 01:18:03.409
now. She then says under her breath to Hawthorne,

01:18:03.510 --> 01:18:05.970
Never thought we'd be sitting here doing this.

01:18:06.510 --> 01:18:08.770
Hawthorne replies, Well, the surprises just keep

01:18:08.770 --> 01:18:11.250
coming, don't they? It's fun to be witnessing

01:18:11.250 --> 01:18:13.750
in person what a lot of times goes on behind

01:18:13.750 --> 01:18:15.789
the scenes when something like this happens.

01:18:16.319 --> 01:18:19.100
These artifacts must be pretty significant to

01:18:19.100 --> 01:18:22.100
demand such a spectacle. Just as he finished

01:18:22.100 --> 01:18:24.779
saying this, the music jumps in in volume and

01:18:24.779 --> 01:18:36.800
intensity. Lights start flashing and numerous

01:18:36.800 --> 01:18:39.420
dancers come onto the stage wearing traditional

01:18:39.420 --> 01:18:43.079
Mayan cultural dress and mask. It appears the

01:18:43.079 --> 01:19:01.350
celebrations have begun. After an exciting and

01:19:01.350 --> 01:19:03.210
loud kickoff dance and light show, which lasted

01:19:03.210 --> 01:19:05.750
several minutes, Anthony Garcia, the museum's

01:19:05.750 --> 01:19:07.550
director, made his way onto the stage, which

01:19:07.550 --> 01:19:09.590
was elevated about four feet from the main floor

01:19:09.590 --> 01:19:11.729
level. This was so that everyone in attendance

01:19:11.729 --> 01:19:13.529
could see the stage from where they were seated.

01:19:13.789 --> 01:19:15.810
Even the back row seats where Hawthorne and his

01:19:15.810 --> 01:19:17.689
group were sitting. Anthony grabs the microphone

01:19:17.689 --> 01:19:20.840
and says, Welcome to this grand gala event! It's

01:19:20.840 --> 01:19:22.619
a one -of -a -kind event, and we're so happy

01:19:22.619 --> 01:19:24.899
you could join us. I hope you enjoyed your pre

01:19:24.899 --> 01:19:27.180
-gala cocktail party, and you're able to network

01:19:27.180 --> 01:19:29.359
with each other for a bit. Let's give a big round

01:19:29.359 --> 01:19:31.279
of applause to our excellent dancers as they

01:19:31.279 --> 01:19:33.579
exit the stage. Don't worry, you'll see them

01:19:33.579 --> 01:19:35.880
again later. While Anthony continues talking,

01:19:36.119 --> 01:19:38.880
introducing himself, and thanking several sponsors,

01:19:39.180 --> 01:19:41.500
the dancers make their way off the stage and

01:19:41.500 --> 01:19:43.680
then begin exiting the main hall through a side

01:19:43.680 --> 01:19:46.380
door, making sure not to interrupt Anthony as

01:19:46.380 --> 01:19:48.659
he was still speaking. There was still lingering

01:19:48.659 --> 01:19:50.760
smoke on the stage and around the sides of the

01:19:50.760 --> 01:19:53.100
stage from the smoke machine that was used during

01:19:53.100 --> 01:19:55.140
the opening performance. The smoke which was

01:19:55.140 --> 01:19:57.479
actually from several dry ice machines still

01:19:57.479 --> 01:20:00.600
obscured the sides of the stage. One of the dancers

01:20:00.600 --> 01:20:03.260
who left the stage paused by the exit door, waiting

01:20:03.260 --> 01:20:05.319
until all the other dancers had exit through

01:20:05.319 --> 01:20:08.319
the door first. This dancer, one of the male

01:20:08.319 --> 01:20:10.640
dancers, wanted to be the last one through the

01:20:10.640 --> 01:20:13.390
door. Finally, as he walked through the side

01:20:13.390 --> 01:20:16.090
door, he pulled a small but wide piece of clear

01:20:16.090 --> 01:20:18.470
tape out from under his left arm and quickly

01:20:18.470 --> 01:20:21.310
placed it over the inside door latch. He then

01:20:21.310 --> 01:20:23.470
glanced back out at the audience sitting in the

01:20:23.470 --> 01:20:25.710
darkened room whose attention was still directed

01:20:25.710 --> 01:20:28.250
towards the stage, making sure no one saw him.

01:20:28.449 --> 01:20:31.470
He then closed the door softly and quietly behind

01:20:31.470 --> 01:20:34.779
him as to not make any sound. The tape held tight

01:20:34.779 --> 01:20:37.439
and the door latch and lock did not engage. This

01:20:37.439 --> 01:20:40.000
side security door was such that one could leave

01:20:40.000 --> 01:20:41.960
the hall through this door but could not enter

01:20:41.960 --> 01:20:49.159
back into the hall through this door. Lily looked

01:20:49.159 --> 01:20:52.079
down at her phone to check the time, looked back

01:20:52.079 --> 01:20:54.939
up and then glanced over at the professor Hawthorne

01:20:54.939 --> 01:20:58.539
and Ava and said, This is going so quickly. I

01:20:58.539 --> 01:21:01.060
didn't realize how fast auctions like this went.

01:21:01.689 --> 01:21:04.229
I've never seen this before in real life. It

01:21:04.229 --> 01:21:06.750
had already been 45 minutes since the dancers

01:21:06.750 --> 01:21:09.649
left the stage. There were several other notable

01:21:09.649 --> 01:21:12.729
guests introduced, a few short speeches from

01:21:12.729 --> 01:21:16.229
politicians, and a live auction of other expensive

01:21:16.229 --> 01:21:19.470
artifacts and collector's pieces the museum was

01:21:19.470 --> 01:21:22.430
selling to help raise money. Lily then held up

01:21:22.430 --> 01:21:25.210
her program, pointed to the cover of it, and

01:21:25.210 --> 01:21:27.369
asked quietly, When will they bring out these

01:21:27.369 --> 01:21:30.640
two pieces? She was pointing to the photos of

01:21:30.640 --> 01:21:33.720
the jade jar and the golden mask which were prominently

01:21:33.720 --> 01:21:35.899
pictured on the cover of the evening's program.

01:21:36.479 --> 01:21:39.220
Hawthorne whispers back, I'm sure it's coming

01:21:39.220 --> 01:21:42.500
next. They always save the best for last at events

01:21:42.500 --> 01:21:45.260
like this. Plus, I think they're planning to

01:21:45.260 --> 01:21:47.960
be done within an hour and we've already been

01:21:47.960 --> 01:21:50.979
sitting here for about 45 minutes or so. Eva

01:21:50.979 --> 01:21:53.520
glances over and then says, in that case, I'm

01:21:53.520 --> 01:21:55.680
going to get up and go stand over to that side

01:21:55.680 --> 01:21:58.609
so I can get a better angle for my photos. Ava

01:21:58.609 --> 01:22:01.189
then pulls out her press pass she was given earlier

01:22:01.189 --> 01:22:04.050
in the evening, gets up, walks towards the side

01:22:04.050 --> 01:22:06.510
wall, and then moves up closer to the stage.

01:22:06.710 --> 01:22:09.489
Her press pass allows her to roam around the

01:22:09.489 --> 01:22:12.149
hall more freely, taking photos and even try

01:22:12.149 --> 01:22:15.189
to interview guests. As Ava is maneuvering closer

01:22:15.189 --> 01:22:17.289
and closer to the stage along the side wall,

01:22:17.430 --> 01:22:20.350
she sees Anthony Garcia walk up on the stage

01:22:20.350 --> 01:22:23.340
and then take his place behind the podium. While

01:22:23.340 --> 01:22:26.060
he is doing this, she notices four museum workers

01:22:26.060 --> 01:22:29.060
carry up two heavy vertical stands, assuming

01:22:29.060 --> 01:22:30.819
that the two special artifacts will be brought

01:22:30.819 --> 01:22:33.279
out and placed on the two stands so that the

01:22:33.279 --> 01:22:35.979
guests can all see them. She gets her camera

01:22:35.979 --> 01:22:38.500
ready. The music plays in the background again,

01:22:38.640 --> 01:22:47.680
and the light dims. Anthony takes his place behind

01:22:47.680 --> 01:22:49.439
the podium and waits for the music volume to

01:22:49.439 --> 01:22:51.229
be lowered. Before he makes the announcement,

01:22:51.470 --> 01:22:53.609
the music is lowered, which is his cue to make

01:22:53.609 --> 01:22:55.710
the announcement. He grabs the mic and says,

01:22:56.270 --> 01:22:58.510
And without further ado, something you have all

01:22:58.510 --> 01:23:00.689
been waiting for this evening. Something that

01:23:00.689 --> 01:23:03.050
has been hidden and buried for a long time. Something

01:23:03.050 --> 01:23:05.510
that holds great cultural and spiritual significance

01:23:05.510 --> 01:23:08.170
to all citizens of Mexico. I'd like to present

01:23:08.170 --> 01:23:10.590
to you... At that moment, there were four loud

01:23:10.590 --> 01:23:15.229
bangs, perfectly synced to detonate one after

01:23:15.229 --> 01:23:17.289
another, followed by white, blinding flashes

01:23:17.289 --> 01:23:19.710
of light. Guests were startled and screamed.

01:23:20.270 --> 01:23:22.329
The bright flashes of light and the loud bangs

01:23:22.329 --> 01:23:25.130
confused everyone in the room. It created chaos.

01:23:25.289 --> 01:23:27.649
People were fighting to find the exits and running

01:23:27.649 --> 01:23:30.550
around dazed and half -blind. Not only was there

01:23:30.550 --> 01:23:32.630
chaos on the floor of the hall with hundreds

01:23:32.630 --> 01:23:35.250
of people scattering for the exits, the fog machines

01:23:35.250 --> 01:23:37.670
had also been turned on somehow and were pumping

01:23:37.670 --> 01:23:41.239
out dry ice smoke at maximum levels. Moments

01:23:41.239 --> 01:23:43.880
later, after getting his wits about him, Professor

01:23:43.880 --> 01:23:45.979
Hawthorne, still seated on those comfortable

01:23:45.979 --> 01:23:48.979
cushy chairs in the back row, and in some shock

01:23:48.979 --> 01:23:51.640
from the loud noise and flashes of light, looks

01:23:51.640 --> 01:23:54.439
down the row toward where Lily and all his students

01:23:54.439 --> 01:23:57.180
are sitting. To his surprise, not one of them

01:23:57.180 --> 01:23:59.680
had panicked or had gotten up out of their seat.

01:23:59.760 --> 01:24:02.840
All Hawthorne saw was their scared faces staring

01:24:02.840 --> 01:24:05.319
right back at him. Without thinking, he yells

01:24:05.319 --> 01:24:08.739
out, lay down on the floor and don't move. Hawthorne

01:24:08.739 --> 01:24:11.199
knew that if the students panicked and tried

01:24:11.199 --> 01:24:13.659
to run out of the hall, along with the rest of

01:24:13.659 --> 01:24:16.479
the panicking guests, they may get trampled on,

01:24:16.579 --> 01:24:19.819
at worst, or separated from each other, at the

01:24:19.819 --> 01:24:22.340
very least. His only thought was to keep the

01:24:22.340 --> 01:24:35.439
group together, if at all possible. Hawthorne,

01:24:35.500 --> 01:24:37.560
still somewhat stunned and confused, keeps his

01:24:37.560 --> 01:24:39.699
eyes on the row of students who are now laying

01:24:39.699 --> 01:24:41.739
down on the ground by the chairs they were just

01:24:41.739 --> 01:24:44.399
sitting in. The students are all intently looking

01:24:44.399 --> 01:24:47.300
right back at the professor as if to say, What

01:24:47.300 --> 01:24:51.039
should we do? Run? Stay? It's only been a few

01:24:51.039 --> 01:24:53.460
moments since the loud bangs and flashes of light

01:24:53.460 --> 01:24:56.260
went off in the hall, and at this point the majority

01:24:56.260 --> 01:24:58.340
of the guests had already funneled out of the

01:24:58.340 --> 01:25:00.819
main hall through one of the two main entrances

01:25:00.819 --> 01:25:03.420
towards the back. The professor got up on his

01:25:03.420 --> 01:25:05.840
knees and peeked up over the chairs and noticed

01:25:05.840 --> 01:25:08.300
that much of the smoke that was created by the

01:25:08.300 --> 01:25:11.739
dry ice machines had almost all dissipated. The

01:25:11.739 --> 01:25:13.680
room was somewhat clear and empty of just about

01:25:13.680 --> 01:25:16.380
everyone. Chairs were scattered all over the

01:25:16.380 --> 01:25:18.979
place and some had been turned over as the guests

01:25:18.979 --> 01:25:21.420
had left in a panic. There was an eerie silence

01:25:21.420 --> 01:25:24.420
to the place. Papers and the occasional high

01:25:24.420 --> 01:25:27.630
heel shoe were scattered around the floor. The

01:25:27.630 --> 01:25:29.789
students started to get up off the floor as well,

01:25:29.789 --> 01:25:31.810
talking to each other and trying to comprehend

01:25:31.810 --> 01:25:34.529
what had just happened. As the professor was

01:25:34.529 --> 01:25:36.470
now standing up and looking around the room,

01:25:36.590 --> 01:25:40.050
he noticed Ava walking toward them. She was visibly

01:25:40.050 --> 01:25:42.449
shook up as she was standing closer to the stage

01:25:42.449 --> 01:25:45.750
area. She was also yawning in an attempt to get

01:25:45.750 --> 01:25:48.369
her ears adjusted to the silence after the shock

01:25:48.369 --> 01:25:51.529
of the loud bangs. Professor, Professor, Liddy

01:25:51.529 --> 01:25:54.979
yelled out. What should we do? As Lily was finishing

01:25:54.979 --> 01:25:57.779
asking Professor Harthorn that question, there

01:25:57.779 --> 01:26:00.300
were several dozen security personnel with guns

01:26:00.300 --> 01:26:03.140
drawn entering the room and moving tactically

01:26:03.140 --> 01:26:06.220
around the room, followed by several museum staff

01:26:06.220 --> 01:26:08.979
who still had very panicked looks on their faces.

01:26:09.560 --> 01:26:12.020
By this time, Ava had reached her professor and

01:26:12.020 --> 01:26:14.800
the others who were now all standing and watching

01:26:14.800 --> 01:26:17.380
the security team move around the room with slow

01:26:17.380 --> 01:26:20.079
and deliberate movements. Her hair was somewhat

01:26:20.079 --> 01:26:22.800
messed up and the lanyard with her press credentials,

01:26:23.000 --> 01:26:25.539
which had been hanging on her front, was now

01:26:25.539 --> 01:26:28.699
hanging on her back. The concussion of the bang

01:26:28.699 --> 01:26:31.439
and flash had visibly affected her. As the group

01:26:31.439 --> 01:26:33.760
started to move out from the row they were standing

01:26:33.760 --> 01:26:37.079
in, Lily embraced Ava and said, Are you okay?

01:26:37.659 --> 01:26:40.300
Yeah, I'm okay. My ears are still ringing and

01:26:40.300 --> 01:26:42.659
I have a headache, but I'm not hurt. I'm not

01:26:42.659 --> 01:26:44.720
sure what happened, though. Ava responded with

01:26:44.720 --> 01:26:47.319
an expression of relief on her face. Tommy and

01:26:47.319 --> 01:26:50.039
one of the museum staff members walk up to Hawthorne

01:26:50.039 --> 01:26:52.640
and his group right as Ava reaches them. Their

01:26:52.640 --> 01:26:56.699
faces also showed disbelief and shock, yet concern

01:26:56.699 --> 01:26:59.619
for the professor and his students. Before Tommy

01:26:59.619 --> 01:27:01.939
could say anything, Hawthorne asked in a worried

01:27:01.939 --> 01:27:04.880
tone, Anthony was on the stage. Did you see what

01:27:04.880 --> 01:27:07.960
happened to him? Shaking his head. Tommy responds,

01:27:08.579 --> 01:27:10.920
he's still down on the stage and the museum's

01:27:10.920 --> 01:27:13.619
medical team is up there looking after him. We

01:27:13.619 --> 01:27:15.600
think someone ran up to the stage and hit him

01:27:15.600 --> 01:27:18.119
on the back of the head right after the flashbang

01:27:18.119 --> 01:27:21.960
grenades detonated. Tommy continues, he's awake

01:27:21.960 --> 01:27:24.100
and talking but the medical team doesn't want

01:27:24.100 --> 01:27:27.380
him to move until they finish assessing his conditions.

01:27:28.020 --> 01:27:30.319
They'll be taking him to the hospital soon. Wow,

01:27:30.520 --> 01:27:33.880
flashbang grenades, that explains everyone's

01:27:33.880 --> 01:27:37.380
panic. I'm still feeling the effects, and I really

01:27:37.380 --> 01:27:40.300
hope Anthony's okay. Ava says this as she rubs

01:27:40.300 --> 01:27:42.859
her ears in the temples on her forehead. By this

01:27:42.859 --> 01:27:45.079
time, all the students had gathered around Prof.

01:27:45.260 --> 01:27:47.560
Tommy and Hawthorne and were all trying to figure

01:27:47.560 --> 01:27:50.500
out what had just happened. All of a sudden,

01:27:50.680 --> 01:27:53.220
Isabel, one of the shy students who doesn't talk

01:27:53.220 --> 01:27:56.359
a lot, bursts out. Are we still in danger? Max

01:27:56.359 --> 01:27:58.800
turns to her and says quietly, I think we're

01:27:58.800 --> 01:28:01.960
okay now. The security guys are here and they've

01:28:01.960 --> 01:28:06.079
got a lot of firepower with them. I mean, look

01:28:06.079 --> 01:28:09.119
at those guns. Joe, somewhat excited by all the

01:28:09.119 --> 01:28:12.399
activities and action, then says, Looks like

01:28:12.399 --> 01:28:15.079
Mexico's version of an American SWAT team. I

01:28:15.079 --> 01:28:16.680
think we're safe now with these guys around.

01:28:17.000 --> 01:28:19.180
While the students were talking amongst themselves,

01:28:19.479 --> 01:28:21.960
Hawthorne and Ava started asking Tommy questions

01:28:21.960 --> 01:28:25.460
about what had happened. So was this a heist?

01:28:25.560 --> 01:28:27.819
Hawthorne asked point blank. Did they steal the

01:28:27.819 --> 01:28:30.489
artifacts? From what we can tell, it looks that

01:28:30.489 --> 01:28:34.029
way. I mean, both artifacts, the gold mask and

01:28:34.029 --> 01:28:37.250
the J -Jar, were temporarily being held by two

01:28:37.250 --> 01:28:39.890
museum security team members behind the stage.

01:28:40.409 --> 01:28:43.250
Tommy continues, the security guys were about

01:28:43.250 --> 01:28:45.670
to bring out the two artifacts onto the stage

01:28:45.670 --> 01:28:48.590
as Anthony was making his announcement. That's

01:28:48.590 --> 01:28:51.310
when the flashbang went off. I heard the medical

01:28:51.310 --> 01:28:53.989
team talking about the museum security team members.

01:28:54.149 --> 01:28:56.970
They're also injured and being attended to behind

01:28:56.970 --> 01:28:59.670
the stage right now. I think their injuries are

01:28:59.670 --> 01:29:02.869
more severe. At that moment, Ava gets a thought

01:29:02.869 --> 01:29:06.210
and then says out loud, Hey, I may have captured

01:29:06.210 --> 01:29:08.090
something on my camera at that moment actually.

01:29:08.409 --> 01:29:10.989
Ava continues as she looks at the small screen

01:29:10.989 --> 01:29:13.430
on the back of her camera and starts cycling

01:29:13.430 --> 01:29:15.670
through all the photos right up to and during

01:29:15.670 --> 01:29:18.289
the incident. I had my camera pointed at the

01:29:18.289 --> 01:29:20.829
stage and was using my rapid capture function.

01:29:21.489 --> 01:29:23.930
My camera was taking a photo every half second

01:29:23.930 --> 01:29:28.109
automatically. Anyway, ah! Oh, look at this.

01:29:28.770 --> 01:29:31.069
Ava turns her camera around so Hawthorne and

01:29:31.069 --> 01:29:33.470
Tommy can see the viewing screen. There was a

01:29:33.470 --> 01:29:36.350
sequence of shots that captured the very moment.

01:29:36.609 --> 01:29:39.869
The photos had captured the flashbangs were almost

01:29:39.869 --> 01:29:43.149
all washed out and white. But there was a sequence

01:29:43.149 --> 01:29:45.149
of three photos right after the bright white

01:29:45.149 --> 01:29:48.489
flashes. These photos seem to have captured two

01:29:48.489 --> 01:29:52.510
figures in all black holding something. The two

01:29:52.510 --> 01:29:55.239
figures somewhat blurring. We're exiting out

01:29:55.239 --> 01:29:58.180
the side door next to the stage, the same door

01:29:58.180 --> 01:30:00.420
the dancers left from earlier in the program.

01:30:00.680 --> 01:30:02.979
We should probably get one of the police officers

01:30:02.979 --> 01:30:05.520
over here and show him the images, Hawthorne

01:30:05.520 --> 01:30:08.579
says. No, Thomas says abruptly. We don't want

01:30:08.579 --> 01:30:10.859
to do that. Let's get you all out of here and

01:30:10.859 --> 01:30:13.399
back to the dorms. I'm sure the lead investigators

01:30:13.399 --> 01:30:16.159
will be here soon, now that the site is secure.

01:30:16.800 --> 01:30:19.260
I don't really want to be here all night, as

01:30:19.260 --> 01:30:21.539
there are already enough witnesses they can talk

01:30:21.539 --> 01:30:24.109
to. Tommy then motioned for the group to follow

01:30:24.109 --> 01:30:27.029
him out of the large room and then exit out of

01:30:27.029 --> 01:30:29.550
the museum the same way they came in, the front

01:30:29.550 --> 01:30:32.909
door. After they get back outside, Tommy walks

01:30:32.909 --> 01:30:35.109
the group down the block a few meters so they're

01:30:35.109 --> 01:30:37.409
not blocking the front entrance of the museum.

01:30:37.750 --> 01:30:39.930
There are several police cars and trucks parked

01:30:39.930 --> 01:30:42.770
along the street now. Most of the guests who

01:30:42.770 --> 01:30:45.729
were inside then ran outside, had mostly dispersed

01:30:45.729 --> 01:30:48.420
and were in the process of leaving. Some were

01:30:48.420 --> 01:30:51.079
getting picked up by the drivers and others were

01:30:51.079 --> 01:30:54.779
finding their parked cars and driving off. Tommy

01:30:54.779 --> 01:30:57.680
says to Hawthorne, Ava and the group, the van

01:30:57.680 --> 01:30:59.779
is on the way to pick you up and take you guys

01:30:59.779 --> 01:31:02.340
to the dorm. He then leads over to Hawthorne

01:31:02.340 --> 01:31:05.159
and Ava and says quietly, don't show those images

01:31:05.159 --> 01:31:08.199
to anyone else just yet. Trust is a rare commodity

01:31:08.199 --> 01:31:12.699
in Mexico, especially among the police. He continues,

01:31:13.000 --> 01:31:16.359
I'm going back inside to check on Anthony. I'll

01:31:16.359 --> 01:31:18.170
contact you tomorrow morning. and give you an

01:31:18.170 --> 01:31:20.989
update. So, hold tight this evening, and we'll

01:31:20.989 --> 01:31:23.489
connect in the morning. And with that, tell me

01:31:23.489 --> 01:31:31.949
to walk back towards the museum. The van ride

01:31:31.949 --> 01:31:34.430
back to the university dorms has been eerily

01:31:34.430 --> 01:31:37.090
silent. The students had barely said a word.

01:31:37.430 --> 01:31:39.829
They were probably still in shock at what had

01:31:39.829 --> 01:31:42.739
just occurred. Now back at the dorms and after

01:31:42.739 --> 01:31:45.319
room checks were complete for both the boys and

01:31:45.319 --> 01:31:47.500
girls, Hawthorne thought to himself about the

01:31:47.500 --> 01:31:50.079
remainder of the trip schedule and the other

01:31:50.079 --> 01:31:52.439
activities that had been meticulously planned.

01:31:53.199 --> 01:31:55.399
He had spent about a half hour with the guys

01:31:55.399 --> 01:31:58.159
debriefing the evening's events and he had asked

01:31:58.159 --> 01:32:00.859
Ava and Lily to do the same with the girls. The

01:32:00.859 --> 01:32:03.100
guys had a lot to say, mostly questions that

01:32:03.100 --> 01:32:05.960
Hawthorne didn't have the answers to. Eventually,

01:32:05.979 --> 01:32:08.579
the professor made it back to his own room. As

01:32:08.579 --> 01:32:11.239
he entered the dark and quiet dorm room, he started

01:32:11.239 --> 01:32:13.600
contemplating what they should do as a group.

01:32:14.079 --> 01:32:16.600
Should they just return home and count the trip

01:32:16.600 --> 01:32:19.300
as a loss, only having been there a couple days?

01:32:19.819 --> 01:32:22.380
Or should they just wait a day or two to see

01:32:22.380 --> 01:32:25.159
how things shake out? These were questions he

01:32:25.159 --> 01:32:27.159
couldn't answer as he dropped down on the dorm's

01:32:27.159 --> 01:32:29.520
flimsily mattress still dressed in his evening

01:32:29.520 --> 01:32:33.119
suit, his eyes closed slowly. What a day it had

01:32:33.119 --> 01:32:41.220
been. Maria was pacing back and forth in the

01:32:41.220 --> 01:32:43.819
dimly lit interior room. The old broom factory

01:32:43.819 --> 01:32:46.140
had many different interior small rooms that

01:32:46.140 --> 01:32:48.739
used to be used for storage. This particular

01:32:48.739 --> 01:32:51.180
one was temporarily being used as a rendezvous

01:32:51.180 --> 01:32:53.739
point. By this time, it was getting late in the

01:32:53.739 --> 01:32:56.260
evening. She had listened carefully for too long,

01:32:56.420 --> 01:32:58.439
waiting and wondering when Renata and Carlos

01:32:58.439 --> 01:33:01.020
would suddenly appear. She knew that eventually

01:33:01.020 --> 01:33:03.119
the police would be making their way over to

01:33:03.119 --> 01:33:05.340
the factory to do a security sweep, especially

01:33:05.340 --> 01:33:07.739
after what had just happened at the museum next

01:33:07.739 --> 01:33:11.159
door. Fearing the worst had happened, Maria was

01:33:11.159 --> 01:33:13.220
about to make a phone call that could seal her

01:33:13.220 --> 01:33:15.680
fate. One way or another, when all of a sudden,

01:33:15.840 --> 01:33:18.520
she heard some noise from outside the room. The

01:33:18.520 --> 01:33:20.640
door swung open quickly, and there stood Renata

01:33:20.640 --> 01:33:24.880
and Carlos sporting very large smiles. We got

01:33:24.880 --> 01:33:28.739
them! We got them both! Renata yelled out. Shut

01:33:28.739 --> 01:33:31.239
up, Ren, Carlos whispers. They may hear us. The

01:33:31.239 --> 01:33:33.140
police are all over the place out there, and

01:33:33.140 --> 01:33:34.760
I'm sure they'll be searching this place soon.

01:33:35.840 --> 01:33:37.979
Maria looked them both in the eyes and said,

01:33:38.560 --> 01:33:42.300
Where are the pieces? By the side door in black

01:33:42.300 --> 01:33:46.159
bags. Renata responds with a softer voice. Good.

01:33:46.300 --> 01:33:48.920
Let's go. Wipe the doorknob and anything else

01:33:48.920 --> 01:33:51.000
you touch with your fingers on our way out. No

01:33:51.000 --> 01:33:53.800
one can know we were here. Maria says this as

01:33:53.800 --> 01:33:56.000
she exits the small room and starts walking toward

01:33:56.000 --> 01:33:58.260
the side door where the two black bags are resting

01:33:58.260 --> 01:34:01.619
on the floor. The gold mask is super heavy and

01:34:01.619 --> 01:34:04.100
larger than what we expected. It doesn't really

01:34:04.100 --> 01:34:06.760
fit in the bag either. It's quite awkward to

01:34:06.760 --> 01:34:09.699
carry. Carlos says as he picks up the heavy,

01:34:09.760 --> 01:34:13.220
larger bag. Renata responds with a snarky comment.

01:34:13.579 --> 01:34:16.180
And that's why you're carrying that one and not

01:34:16.180 --> 01:34:19.159
me. At least you're good at something. She continues

01:34:19.159 --> 01:34:22.359
with another snide remark. You weren't supposed

01:34:22.359 --> 01:34:25.840
to leave any witnesses behind the stage. Now

01:34:25.840 --> 01:34:28.340
we may have two security guards to deal with.

01:34:28.539 --> 01:34:31.300
They're nobodies. Why didn't you just follow

01:34:31.300 --> 01:34:34.399
the plan? The three sneak out the side door,

01:34:34.600 --> 01:34:37.060
walk down the alley and get into a waiting black

01:34:37.060 --> 01:34:39.560
car. Police sirens and patrol car lights can

01:34:39.560 --> 01:34:44.720
be seen and heard off in the distance. Maria

01:34:44.720 --> 01:34:47.079
gets in the front passenger seat, looks over

01:34:47.079 --> 01:34:49.119
at the driver, and nods her head as Carlos and

01:34:49.119 --> 01:34:51.920
Renata get into the backseat with the black bags.

01:34:52.279 --> 01:34:55.220
As the car pulls out into the main road and then

01:34:55.220 --> 01:34:57.420
drives toward the highway, Maria turns around

01:34:57.420 --> 01:34:59.699
and looks back at Renata and Carlos and asks,

01:34:59.880 --> 01:35:02.579
Do we have any witnesses to worry about? Tell

01:35:02.579 --> 01:35:05.000
me all about the incident. Don't leave out any

01:35:05.000 --> 01:35:07.560
details. We've got a long drive ahead of us.

01:35:13.359 --> 01:35:15.880
Hawthorne's phone goes off. It's loud and annoying,

01:35:16.060 --> 01:35:18.460
especially when it's unexpected. He looks over

01:35:18.460 --> 01:35:20.619
at the small digital clock that sits on the small

01:35:20.619 --> 01:35:25.220
desk in the corner of the room. 7 .34 a .m. The

01:35:25.220 --> 01:35:27.699
professor is surprised he was able to sleep this

01:35:27.699 --> 01:35:30.420
long. He's usually wide awake by 6 a .m. every

01:35:30.420 --> 01:35:33.369
morning. Oh man, the professor says to himself

01:35:33.369 --> 01:35:35.949
as he rolls out of bed, looking for his phone.

01:35:36.449 --> 01:35:38.850
That annoying ringtone, I've got to get that

01:35:38.850 --> 01:35:41.729
changed. He finds his phone and sees that it's

01:35:41.729 --> 01:35:44.010
Amanda calling. He takes a deep breath and then

01:35:44.010 --> 01:35:46.930
hits the accept button. As soon as the phone

01:35:46.930 --> 01:35:49.470
connects, Amanda blurts out, Are you all okay?

01:35:49.590 --> 01:35:53.649
I just saw the news up here. There was some incident

01:35:53.649 --> 01:35:56.630
at the museum. Hey Amanda, Hawthorne responds

01:35:56.630 --> 01:35:59.670
with a low and tired voice. Yeah, set your mind

01:35:59.670 --> 01:36:02.050
at ease. We're all okay. Hawthorne continues.

01:36:02.329 --> 01:36:04.630
The students are fine, probably still sleeping.

01:36:05.090 --> 01:36:07.250
We're going to take this day and regroup a bit.

01:36:07.510 --> 01:36:10.090
We'll wait to connect with Professor Tommy again

01:36:10.090 --> 01:36:13.390
to discuss our agenda and what's next. Things

01:36:13.390 --> 01:36:15.710
may shift on our end depending on what he recommends.

01:36:16.470 --> 01:36:18.909
The professor hangs up with Amanda, hoping that

01:36:18.909 --> 01:36:21.029
she sets her mind at ease and doesn't worry too

01:36:21.029 --> 01:36:23.810
much. He's been in sticky situations before.

01:36:24.189 --> 01:36:26.569
However, the responsibility of having this many

01:36:26.569 --> 01:36:29.109
students in his group does add another element

01:36:29.109 --> 01:36:32.109
of complexity. While he's thinking about it,

01:36:32.149 --> 01:36:34.350
he sends off a quick message to both Ava and

01:36:34.350 --> 01:36:37.670
Lily, and it reads, Let's hang tight this morning

01:36:37.670 --> 01:36:40.590
around here. I'll try to connect with Tommy about

01:36:40.590 --> 01:36:43.109
our next options. Once I hear from him, we can

01:36:43.109 --> 01:36:45.750
make a plan. Maybe I'll see you over at breakfast.

01:36:51.409 --> 01:36:53.529
It's almost noon and the group has just been

01:36:53.529 --> 01:36:55.909
hanging out around the dorm rooms and the Student

01:36:55.909 --> 01:36:58.979
Union Center most of the morning. Professor Hawthorne

01:36:58.979 --> 01:37:01.420
is currently sitting at a small table in the

01:37:01.420 --> 01:37:03.640
student union with Ava and talking about last

01:37:03.640 --> 01:37:06.619
evening's events. In the middle of their conversation,

01:37:06.880 --> 01:37:09.399
Hawthorne gets a message on his phone. It's from

01:37:09.399 --> 01:37:12.859
Prof. Tommy. Professor Hawthorne says, It's Tommy.

01:37:13.000 --> 01:37:16.000
Let's see what he has to say. He reads the message

01:37:16.000 --> 01:37:19.979
out loud so Ava can hear. It reads, Hope you

01:37:19.979 --> 01:37:22.159
are all doing okay this morning. I'm heading

01:37:22.159 --> 01:37:25.159
to the hospital to check on Anthony. He's awake

01:37:25.159 --> 01:37:28.260
and seems to be doing better. wondering if you'd

01:37:28.260 --> 01:37:31.300
like to come. Ava doesn't hesitate, then says

01:37:31.300 --> 01:37:35.020
yes. I mean, I know he sent that text to you,

01:37:35.079 --> 01:37:37.300
and I want to go as well, if he's okay with that.

01:37:37.760 --> 01:37:40.340
Ava holds up her laptop and points to the story

01:37:40.340 --> 01:37:42.960
she was working on all morning. Hawthorne replies,

01:37:43.300 --> 01:37:45.899
I'm sure he'll be fine if you go. You'll just

01:37:45.899 --> 01:37:48.079
need to ask permission from Anthony if he wants

01:37:48.079 --> 01:37:51.060
to be included in your report. Professor Hawthorne

01:37:51.060 --> 01:37:53.659
types back. I'm here with Ava and she's wondering

01:37:53.659 --> 01:37:57.119
if she could accompany us as well. Might be good

01:37:57.119 --> 01:38:00.020
PR for the museum. You know, spread word of what

01:38:00.020 --> 01:38:02.899
happened. A few seconds later, Tommy's reply

01:38:02.899 --> 01:38:05.939
text come through. It reads, Sure, I'll pick

01:38:05.939 --> 01:38:08.399
you up in front of the dorm in 30 minutes. See

01:38:08.399 --> 01:38:16.020
you then. Tommy Carrs pulls up outside the dorm

01:38:16.020 --> 01:38:18.180
where Professor Hawthorne and Ava are standing

01:38:18.180 --> 01:38:20.680
and waiting. He rolls down the window and says,

01:38:21.119 --> 01:38:23.680
Alright, let's go. Sorry I'm a few minutes late.

01:38:24.159 --> 01:38:26.319
I had to answer a flurry of emails and calls

01:38:26.319 --> 01:38:29.100
this morning about last night. As Hawthorne and

01:38:29.100 --> 01:38:32.600
Eva kiss into Tommy's very small car, Tommy continues,

01:38:32.859 --> 01:38:35.300
Hey, this is way off -topic and kind of random,

01:38:35.439 --> 01:38:38.060
but do you mind if we stop by one of my favorite

01:38:38.060 --> 01:38:40.720
food vendors on the way? They make the best cana

01:38:40.720 --> 01:38:43.800
asada torta in Mexico City. Hands down and believe

01:38:43.800 --> 01:38:47.220
me, I've tried them all. He continues, I haven't

01:38:47.220 --> 01:38:49.149
had lunch yet. And I really wanted you to try

01:38:49.149 --> 01:38:52.310
this place before you all leave to go back. And

01:38:52.310 --> 01:38:54.170
I think this is probably the only time we can

01:38:54.170 --> 01:38:56.430
do this. Hawthorne cracks a smile and looks back

01:38:56.430 --> 01:38:58.489
at Ava and then says, one thing you've got to

01:38:58.489 --> 01:39:01.270
understand about my friend Tommy here is he never

01:39:01.270 --> 01:39:04.510
passes up an opportunity for a carne asada torta.

01:39:04.949 --> 01:39:07.029
Professor Hawthorne then looks over at Tommy

01:39:07.029 --> 01:39:08.930
and continues, well, if you ever make your way

01:39:08.930 --> 01:39:11.229
up to Coloma, I'll take you to my favorite spot

01:39:11.229 --> 01:39:14.529
now, Ethan's Cafe. I'll introduce you to their

01:39:14.529 --> 01:39:17.090
famous pastrami sandwich. It'll change your life.

01:39:17.470 --> 01:39:19.810
Ava is sitting in the current backseat, shaking

01:39:19.810 --> 01:39:21.989
her head and rolling her eyes as she listens

01:39:21.989 --> 01:39:24.810
to these old friends compare their favorite local

01:39:24.810 --> 01:39:28.050
sandwich joints. She also misses Ethan's cafe.

01:39:28.510 --> 01:39:31.510
He jumps in the conversation and says, Prof Tommy,

01:39:31.729 --> 01:39:33.750
you've got me intrigued about this high -protein

01:39:33.750 --> 01:39:35.430
sandwich you're talking about. I've never had

01:39:35.430 --> 01:39:37.170
one, but there's a first time for everything,

01:39:37.289 --> 01:39:40.010
right? I mean, maybe I should include this detail

01:39:40.010 --> 01:39:42.649
in my story as well. You've got it, Ava. That's

01:39:42.649 --> 01:39:45.090
the spirit. I just hope Anthony is up for it

01:39:45.090 --> 01:39:47.229
because we'll bring him a torta as well. He will

01:39:47.229 --> 01:39:49.369
show him up after what happened last night, Tommy

01:39:49.369 --> 01:39:52.229
replies. Good idea. You know, talking about food

01:39:52.229 --> 01:39:55.170
can really lighten up a dreadful situation. I'm

01:39:55.170 --> 01:39:57.609
in a much better mood now. Thanks, Tommy. And

01:39:57.609 --> 01:39:59.890
I'm hungry, Hawthorne says as he looks out the

01:39:59.890 --> 01:40:08.270
car window. Meanwhile, Miranda sits quietly in

01:40:08.270 --> 01:40:10.289
the waiting area on the third floor of the hospital.

01:40:10.510 --> 01:40:12.250
She's brought a few small things to hopefully

01:40:12.250 --> 01:40:14.869
brighten up Anthony's day. A nurse walks up to

01:40:14.869 --> 01:40:16.770
her and tells her she can go in and see Anthony

01:40:16.770 --> 01:40:18.810
now that the doctor is done with that morning's

01:40:18.810 --> 01:40:21.069
assessment. Miranda walks into the room and says,

01:40:21.289 --> 01:40:23.529
Hello Mr. Garcia, it's so good to see you are

01:40:23.529 --> 01:40:25.670
doing well. You sure gave us a scare last night.

01:40:25.909 --> 01:40:28.210
Just at that moment, David walks in the door,

01:40:28.430 --> 01:40:30.850
looks at Miranda with a surprised look on his

01:40:30.850 --> 01:40:33.430
face, and then over at Anthony who is sitting

01:40:33.430 --> 01:40:36.689
in a chair next to his hospital bed. He says,

01:40:36.869 --> 01:40:39.789
oh hey, I didn't know you had company, Mr. Garcia,

01:40:40.050 --> 01:40:43.449
but this is a nice surprise. David said this

01:40:43.449 --> 01:40:46.350
with a smile as he looked at Miranda. He continues,

01:40:46.710 --> 01:40:48.989
it looks like Miranda and I had the same idea.

01:40:49.449 --> 01:40:51.350
Anthony sits up straighter in the chair and responds,

01:40:51.529 --> 01:40:53.750
wow, thanks for thinking about me, and I appreciate

01:40:53.750 --> 01:40:56.069
the flowers and gifts you brought. Anthony continues,

01:40:56.329 --> 01:40:58.689
the doctor was just here and - Just at that moment,

01:40:58.829 --> 01:41:01.529
Prof Tommy, Harpon, and Ava walk into the room,

01:41:01.630 --> 01:41:04.069
which is now quite crowded. Tommy enters the

01:41:04.069 --> 01:41:05.970
room first while holding a large wrapped carne

01:41:05.970 --> 01:41:08.850
asada torta and saying, here you go big guy,

01:41:08.970 --> 01:41:11.130
we thought this would show you up. Tommy then

01:41:11.130 --> 01:41:14.210
says, oh so sorry, didn't you have visitors already?

01:41:14.609 --> 01:41:17.329
He continues as he gestures towards Miranda and

01:41:17.329 --> 01:41:19.970
David who are standing inside the room. Well

01:41:19.970 --> 01:41:22.510
hello Miranda and David, looks like you had the

01:41:22.510 --> 01:41:25.609
same idea we had. Looks like our good buddy Tony

01:41:25.609 --> 01:41:29.029
has lots of fans. Tommy often called Anthony

01:41:29.029 --> 01:41:31.689
by his shorter name sometimes. Tommy then looks

01:41:31.689 --> 01:41:34.649
over at Anthony to Tony, who is now looking a

01:41:34.649 --> 01:41:37.109
little uncomfortable and shy with all these wishes

01:41:37.109 --> 01:41:40.510
packed inside his very small hospital room. Tommy

01:41:40.510 --> 01:41:42.810
then says, it's good to see you up and alert.

01:41:43.109 --> 01:41:46.010
So, what's the doctor's order? Well, they want

01:41:46.010 --> 01:41:47.850
to keep me for at least two more nights, maybe

01:41:47.850 --> 01:41:49.989
three. There's a small hairline fracture on the

01:41:49.989 --> 01:41:52.210
back of my head, and with my concussion, they

01:41:52.210 --> 01:41:54.050
don't want to take any chances the next few days.

01:41:54.470 --> 01:41:56.710
He continues as he eyes the sandwich Tommy put

01:41:56.710 --> 01:41:59.369
down on the table next to his bed. Well, you

01:41:59.369 --> 01:42:02.359
know how to cheer a guy up. After about 15 minutes

01:42:02.359 --> 01:42:04.840
of small talk, and after watching Anthony devour

01:42:04.840 --> 01:42:07.760
his sandwich, the five visitors, Prof Tommy,

01:42:07.939 --> 01:42:10.899
Professor Hawthorne, Ava, Miranda, and David,

01:42:11.060 --> 01:42:13.920
leaves Anthony's hospital room, walk back out

01:42:13.920 --> 01:42:16.680
to the waiting area. As they were all awkwardly

01:42:16.680 --> 01:42:19.079
standing there, wondering what was next, and

01:42:19.079 --> 01:42:21.979
what should be said, Tommy speaks up first. Hey,

01:42:22.020 --> 01:42:24.380
you know, we still have this schedule for Professor

01:42:24.380 --> 01:42:26.500
Hawthorne's group, and I'd like to propose a

01:42:26.500 --> 01:42:29.819
few changes and see what you all think. Go on,

01:42:29.960 --> 01:42:33.079
Professor Hawthorne says. Tommy continues as

01:42:33.079 --> 01:42:35.939
the other four listens to his idea. The schedule

01:42:35.939 --> 01:42:38.140
had your group going all the way down to Calakmul,

01:42:38.279 --> 01:42:40.600
starting tomorrow and then staying there for

01:42:40.600 --> 01:42:43.340
two days. Miranda was going to accompany us down

01:42:43.340 --> 01:42:46.439
there. Miranda jumps in. Right, but I assume

01:42:46.439 --> 01:42:48.300
that trip is cancelled after what happened last

01:42:48.300 --> 01:42:51.180
night. Hawthorne then adds, my colleague Amanda

01:42:51.180 --> 01:42:53.880
back in Coloma did receive a notification from

01:42:53.880 --> 01:42:56.039
the U .S. Embassy about the travel alert being

01:42:56.039 --> 01:42:58.579
raised. What if instead we go to Chichen Itza?

01:42:59.069 --> 01:43:01.449
It's a close and not as remote. Maybe we should

01:43:01.449 --> 01:43:04.069
go and enjoy our cultural trip to one of Yucatan's

01:43:04.069 --> 01:43:07.770
most famous archaeological destinations. He continues,

01:43:08.090 --> 01:43:10.770
We all know David can't reveal the location of

01:43:10.770 --> 01:43:13.130
the cenote where the mass was found, but maybe

01:43:13.130 --> 01:43:15.909
he could accompany us as our resident treasure

01:43:15.909 --> 01:43:18.989
hunter or treasure finder. And Miranda would

01:43:18.989 --> 01:43:21.270
love for you to go as well. David looks around

01:43:21.270 --> 01:43:23.710
at the others who are looking at him. He then

01:43:23.710 --> 01:43:26.670
responds, Well, I'm technically on the clock

01:43:26.670 --> 01:43:29.329
with the university and the museum for a few

01:43:29.329 --> 01:43:31.609
more days. I know it's a change of plans for

01:43:31.609 --> 01:43:34.649
you all, but I'm okay with it. Miranda then responds,

01:43:34.930 --> 01:43:38.079
I think it's a good idea. I wouldn't - feel comfortable

01:43:38.079 --> 01:43:40.579
going to Kalakmal now anyway, not after what

01:43:40.579 --> 01:43:42.880
happened last night, that location can be a little

01:43:42.880 --> 01:43:45.539
risky even in the best of times. And I'd be up

01:43:45.539 --> 01:43:47.859
for going with you and David to Chichen Itza.

01:43:48.039 --> 01:43:50.720
There's plenty to see and do there from an academic

01:43:50.720 --> 01:43:52.920
point of view as well. Well, Tommy, you know

01:43:52.920 --> 01:43:55.439
me. I'm along for the ride, and if we can salvage

01:43:55.439 --> 01:43:58.239
the remainder of this trip this way, then I'm

01:43:58.239 --> 01:44:00.800
all for it. Hawthorne says as he glances over

01:44:00.800 --> 01:44:03.680
at Ava. He then continues, what about you? Would

01:44:03.680 --> 01:44:05.520
you be up for that, changing the destination

01:44:05.520 --> 01:44:08.239
of our field expedition? Ava fires back without

01:44:08.239 --> 01:44:10.920
hesitation. Of course I'm in. I go where the

01:44:10.920 --> 01:44:13.319
story leads, and right now that sounds like the

01:44:13.319 --> 01:44:15.939
place Professor Tommy is suggesting. So, what

01:44:15.939 --> 01:44:18.600
next then? Alright, don't worry about the travel

01:44:18.600 --> 01:44:21.680
changes. The university will rearrange the travel

01:44:21.680 --> 01:44:24.000
plans for all of us and get that sorted out by

01:44:24.000 --> 01:44:26.380
tomorrow's morning. They can make it happen pretty

01:44:26.380 --> 01:44:28.659
quickly. You'll all just be ready to fly out

01:44:28.659 --> 01:44:31.880
tomorrow morning, sometimes before 9am. Once

01:44:31.880 --> 01:44:34.619
I get an exact time, I'll let you know. Tommy

01:44:34.619 --> 01:44:36.689
looks at Miranda and David. and then it says

01:44:36.689 --> 01:44:39.050
you can just meet us at the airport after you

01:44:39.050 --> 01:44:41.369
hear back from me about our time of the departure

01:44:41.369 --> 01:44:44.329
i'll send that information later this evening

01:44:44.329 --> 01:44:52.270
to you Renata could hear her aunt arguing with

01:44:52.270 --> 01:44:55.149
two guys in the next room. The four of them,

01:44:55.189 --> 01:44:58.350
Aunt Maria, her brother Carlos, the driver, and

01:44:58.350 --> 01:45:01.470
her have been hiding out in a dirty old run -down

01:45:01.470 --> 01:45:04.689
safe house outside the city of Merida for the

01:45:04.689 --> 01:45:07.840
better part of the morning. They were all tired

01:45:07.840 --> 01:45:10.619
from the long drive through the night and were

01:45:10.619 --> 01:45:13.380
a little cranky as to why the cartel members

01:45:13.380 --> 01:45:16.279
showed up late and were now changing some of

01:45:16.279 --> 01:45:19.399
the details about their previously agreed upon

01:45:19.399 --> 01:45:22.720
deal. She could hear it in her aunt's voice from

01:45:22.720 --> 01:45:25.539
the next room that things were not going very

01:45:25.539 --> 01:45:29.500
well. Renata looks at Carlos and mumbles, Man,

01:45:29.640 --> 01:45:33.060
I knew Aunt Maria shouldn't have trusted these

01:45:33.060 --> 01:45:36.199
guys. They're a bunch of losers. They never do

01:45:36.199 --> 01:45:38.899
their own dirty work. Carlos, who hadn't really

01:45:38.899 --> 01:45:41.399
been paying attention to the loud arguing from

01:45:41.399 --> 01:45:44.100
the next room, looks over at Renata and responds.

01:45:44.539 --> 01:45:47.680
I hate doing this type of work anyway. Why can't

01:45:47.680 --> 01:45:49.520
we just find something different to do? Something

01:45:49.520 --> 01:45:52.979
honest. Renata snaps back. Something honest?

01:45:53.079 --> 01:45:56.119
She laughs and continues. Are you kidding me?

01:45:56.729 --> 01:45:59.069
That train has left the station, little brother,

01:45:59.170 --> 01:46:01.829
and ain't coming back. This is our family's line

01:46:01.829 --> 01:46:04.750
of work and nothing we do can change that. So

01:46:04.750 --> 01:46:07.909
don't be naive and stupid. Just do what we say

01:46:07.909 --> 01:46:10.829
and maybe someday you can be rich and then just

01:46:10.829 --> 01:46:13.449
disappear. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

01:46:13.750 --> 01:46:17.050
Carlos mumbles back a response. Well, it didn't

01:46:17.050 --> 01:46:20.250
work out for mom, did it? Renata responds. You

01:46:20.250 --> 01:46:22.710
didn't even really know her anyway. You were

01:46:22.710 --> 01:46:26.449
too young. Renata continues, I watched Mom struggle

01:46:26.449 --> 01:46:29.430
to make ends meet, and she was just trying to

01:46:29.430 --> 01:46:32.750
take care of us the best she knew how to. I suppose,

01:46:33.130 --> 01:46:35.789
but she'd probably still be with us today if

01:46:35.789 --> 01:46:38.510
she had found a different type of work, honest

01:46:38.510 --> 01:46:42.109
work. Carlos continues, I'm just saying, if Aunt

01:46:42.109 --> 01:46:44.430
Maria keeps making deals with the card sale and

01:46:44.430 --> 01:46:47.229
then things go bad, like they did for Mom, they'll

01:46:47.229 --> 01:46:50.380
just erase us like they did her. At that moment,

01:46:50.579 --> 01:46:52.859
Maria bursts through the door and into the room

01:46:52.859 --> 01:46:54.779
where Renata and Carlos were sitting and says,

01:46:54.899 --> 01:46:57.840
I hate working with a cartel. She continues,

01:46:58.159 --> 01:47:00.199
they're only going to pay us half of what they

01:47:00.199 --> 01:47:02.279
said earlier unless we give them something more.

01:47:02.640 --> 01:47:04.779
Renata then says, what do you mean something

01:47:04.779 --> 01:47:08.430
more? We got them both artifacts. Keep your voice

01:47:08.430 --> 01:47:10.449
down. They're on the phone with the big boss

01:47:10.449 --> 01:47:13.210
in the other room. Maria says to Renata. She

01:47:13.210 --> 01:47:15.649
continues. They want to know the location where

01:47:15.649 --> 01:47:17.529
the golden mask was found because they believe

01:47:17.529 --> 01:47:20.489
there's more there. Maybe gold or whatever. Then

01:47:20.489 --> 01:47:22.550
once they know the location and it's confirmed,

01:47:22.770 --> 01:47:24.850
we get paid the remainder of what they owe us.

01:47:25.029 --> 01:47:27.789
That's not fair, and Carlos says. Well, they're

01:47:27.789 --> 01:47:30.329
the ones holding the guns and our payout. If

01:47:30.329 --> 01:47:31.909
you want to be done with this lifestyle, then

01:47:31.909 --> 01:47:34.409
we need to do this. Otherwise, we're stuck, Maria

01:47:34.409 --> 01:47:38.130
says. She continues, we've got to give up the

01:47:38.130 --> 01:47:40.449
only leverage we have left now to make this happen.

01:47:40.689 --> 01:47:43.210
Maria says this as she looks out the small half

01:47:43.210 --> 01:47:45.229
-broken window that's behind where Renata and

01:47:45.229 --> 01:47:47.710
Carlos are sitting. She lifts up her hand and

01:47:47.710 --> 01:47:49.909
points her finger at the man who is calmly sitting

01:47:49.909 --> 01:47:52.229
in the driver's side seat of the car they came

01:47:52.229 --> 01:47:55.430
here last night in. She then says, that guy there,

01:47:55.569 --> 01:47:58.250
our driver, well, there's more to him than you

01:47:58.250 --> 01:48:05.710
know. Meanwhile, the plane that Professor Hawthorne

01:48:05.710 --> 01:48:08.229
and the others are on has landed at Merida's

01:48:08.229 --> 01:48:10.670
regional airport. It was a short flight from

01:48:10.670 --> 01:48:13.369
Mexico City and it was already mid -morning.

01:48:14.010 --> 01:48:16.750
Merida is a larger city as compared to others

01:48:16.750 --> 01:48:19.850
in this part of the Yucatan. The famous Chichen

01:48:19.850 --> 01:48:23.069
Itza ruins are only an hour and a half car ride

01:48:23.069 --> 01:48:26.310
from the city center. The incident at the gala

01:48:26.310 --> 01:48:28.569
event two nights ago feels like it happened a

01:48:28.569 --> 01:48:31.550
week ago. Having the extra day yesterday to rest,

01:48:31.710 --> 01:48:34.149
debrief, and then go see Anthony at the hospital

01:48:34.149 --> 01:48:37.050
helped ease the professor's mind in regards to

01:48:37.050 --> 01:48:39.310
changing the schedule and bringing along the

01:48:39.310 --> 01:48:42.029
students. They were now all here, all the students,

01:48:42.210 --> 01:48:45.789
Ava, Lily, Prof. Tommy, and their very own special

01:48:45.789 --> 01:48:48.890
field guides, Miranda and David. It felt good

01:48:48.890 --> 01:48:52.329
to be out of Mexico City, and the group was quite

01:48:52.329 --> 01:48:55.090
excited to have celebrity guests Miranda and

01:48:55.090 --> 01:48:57.220
David with them. Hawthorne thought to himself

01:48:57.220 --> 01:48:59.840
as they were all exiting the small Merida airport

01:48:59.840 --> 01:49:03.199
together, and in good spirits, All right, this

01:49:03.199 --> 01:49:06.020
is like a big, fun field trip. What could go

01:49:06.020 --> 01:49:19.750
wrong? The worst is behind us. After the group

01:49:19.750 --> 01:49:22.909
gets checked in at one of the local hotels, drops

01:49:22.909 --> 01:49:25.510
their overnight bags off, and gets oriented to

01:49:25.510 --> 01:49:27.890
the schedule, they all meet in the lobby where

01:49:27.890 --> 01:49:29.850
Hawthorne gives the students a quick history

01:49:29.850 --> 01:49:32.890
lesson about where they are, Merida, Mexico.

01:49:33.489 --> 01:49:35.550
Hawthorne explains to the students as they wait

01:49:35.550 --> 01:49:38.229
for Tommy, who can sometimes be late. He says,

01:49:38.489 --> 01:49:41.090
The city of Merida is the provincial capital

01:49:41.090 --> 01:49:43.649
of the Yucatan Peninsula, and its population

01:49:43.649 --> 01:49:46.510
is close to one million. It sits about a half

01:49:46.510 --> 01:49:49.409
-hour drive inland from the coast. It's the financial

01:49:49.409 --> 01:49:51.789
and cultural center of the Yucatan and is known

01:49:51.789 --> 01:49:55.350
as one of the safest cities in Mexico. In fact,

01:49:55.369 --> 01:49:57.270
it's been ranked as one of the three best cities

01:49:57.270 --> 01:50:00.489
in Mexico on three different occasions. Hawthorne

01:50:00.489 --> 01:50:03.229
looks down at his watch and then continues, The

01:50:03.229 --> 01:50:05.390
city has a deep and rich history dating back

01:50:05.390 --> 01:50:08.050
to its founding by the Spanish conquistadors

01:50:08.050 --> 01:50:11.590
in the 1500s. The local Mayan population has

01:50:11.590 --> 01:50:14.109
remained resilient and strong despite the colonial

01:50:14.109 --> 01:50:16.989
influence and integration from Spain hundreds

01:50:16.989 --> 01:50:19.920
of years ago. Hawthorne then finishes with his

01:50:19.920 --> 01:50:22.619
last statement as he watches Tommy come down

01:50:22.619 --> 01:50:25.039
the narrow hotel staircase and make his way to

01:50:25.039 --> 01:50:27.680
the lobby. Needless to say, this city, its history,

01:50:27.760 --> 01:50:30.039
its location, and its close proximity to the

01:50:30.039 --> 01:50:32.760
heart of the Mayan culture and people is a deeply

01:50:32.760 --> 01:50:35.939
significant place. Prof. Tommy walks up to group,

01:50:36.060 --> 01:50:38.260
who are now all standing there and look at him.

01:50:38.520 --> 01:50:41.159
He then says with a smile, Good morning, everyone.

01:50:41.579 --> 01:50:43.659
What I missed. Miranda, who was standing next

01:50:43.659 --> 01:50:46.079
to Professor Hawthorne, is the first to respond

01:50:46.079 --> 01:50:48.159
with a funny comment. Well, we thought about

01:50:48.159 --> 01:50:50.079
leaving, but then we thought, how would we find

01:50:50.079 --> 01:50:52.760
the best mid -morning brunch spot in all of Merida

01:50:52.760 --> 01:50:55.039
if you aren't with us? David laughs slightly

01:50:55.039 --> 01:50:57.880
and then adds, well, I know a good spot, but

01:50:57.880 --> 01:51:00.079
Professor Tommy will need to be the final word

01:51:00.079 --> 01:51:02.640
since he usually knows all the best food spots

01:51:02.640 --> 01:51:05.220
in these towns. Tommy clenches his throat and

01:51:05.220 --> 01:51:07.880
then says, alright everyone. Sorry I'm late.

01:51:08.000 --> 01:51:10.380
I've got a bad habit of being on Mexico's time

01:51:10.380 --> 01:51:12.739
when I'm off campus. He then continues as you

01:51:12.739 --> 01:51:15.140
look at Hawthorne with a slight grin and says,

01:51:15.300 --> 01:51:18.119
Now that good professor here has given you all

01:51:18.119 --> 01:51:20.720
a free history lesson. I think it's time I show

01:51:20.720 --> 01:51:22.600
you the best place to get one of my favorite

01:51:22.600 --> 01:51:25.520
locals, Huevo Rancheros. But for those of you

01:51:25.520 --> 01:51:28.819
who want a lighter option, avocado toast or a

01:51:28.819 --> 01:51:31.279
small pastry with coffee. All right, let's go.

01:51:31.600 --> 01:51:33.960
And with that, the group loads up on the small

01:51:33.960 --> 01:51:42.460
touring bus. After enjoying a mid -morning brunch

01:51:42.460 --> 01:51:44.779
together at one of Prof Tommy's favorite cafes

01:51:44.779 --> 01:51:47.819
in Merida, the group are on a tour bus and heading

01:51:47.819 --> 01:51:49.979
toward the famous and ancient ruins of Chichen

01:51:49.979 --> 01:51:52.899
Itza. The bus ride from Merida to the sprawling

01:51:52.899 --> 01:51:55.399
site is about an hour and a half long. During

01:51:55.399 --> 01:51:57.819
the ride, the students surround Miranda and David

01:51:57.819 --> 01:52:00.300
and pepper them with a variety of questions about

01:52:00.300 --> 01:52:02.520
their personal journeys into their careers and

01:52:02.520 --> 01:52:05.039
everything in between. Professor Hawthorne and

01:52:05.039 --> 01:52:07.359
Prof Tommy sat up close to the driver and were

01:52:07.359 --> 01:52:10.039
discussing the day's agenda. Eva and Lily were

01:52:10.039 --> 01:52:12.460
sitting together talking about life and the variety

01:52:12.460 --> 01:52:15.039
of things from the past year. As the bus arrives

01:52:15.039 --> 01:52:17.859
at Chichen Itza, as you would guess, the area

01:52:17.859 --> 01:52:20.939
is very populated with tourists. And one of the

01:52:20.939 --> 01:52:23.159
first things to do as a tourist is to visit the

01:52:23.159 --> 01:52:25.819
Grand Museum of Chichen Itza. Then, after gaining

01:52:25.819 --> 01:52:27.739
knowledge about this ancient Mayan location,

01:52:28.079 --> 01:52:30.859
it is advised to go see some of the old structures

01:52:30.859 --> 01:52:33.859
such as the Great Step Pyramid, known as El Castillo,

01:52:34.000 --> 01:52:38.119
or the Temple of Kukulkan. There is also the

01:52:38.119 --> 01:52:40.500
ball court. Temple of the Warriors, and the Wall

01:52:40.500 --> 01:52:43.840
of Skulls, all popular among tourists. The tour

01:52:43.840 --> 01:52:46.560
bus parks and the group gets started with a visit

01:52:46.560 --> 01:52:54.140
to the Grand Museum together. After spending

01:52:54.140 --> 01:52:56.699
what seemed like an hour in the museum, Hawthorne

01:52:56.699 --> 01:52:58.819
and Prof Tommy rounded up the group and made

01:52:58.819 --> 01:53:01.420
their way toward the exit. As they were exiting

01:53:01.420 --> 01:53:03.840
the building, Hawthorne mumbled to Tommy, who

01:53:03.840 --> 01:53:06.140
was walking next to him, Well, I'm glad this

01:53:06.140 --> 01:53:08.819
museum visit was uneventful. Unlike our last

01:53:08.819 --> 01:53:11.399
museum experience a few nights ago, Tommy looked

01:53:11.399 --> 01:53:14.180
at Hawthorne out of the corner of his eye and

01:53:14.180 --> 01:53:16.699
nodded his head in agreement and then said, Thanks

01:53:16.699 --> 01:53:19.380
for the reminder. I'm going to check on Anthony

01:53:19.380 --> 01:53:21.939
and see how he's doing. Hawthorne replied, good

01:53:21.939 --> 01:53:24.779
idea. The group gets back on the bus, which then

01:53:24.779 --> 01:53:27.180
takes them to another large parking area situated

01:53:27.180 --> 01:53:30.420
closer to El Castillo, the large and famous step

01:53:30.420 --> 01:53:33.300
pyramid. As the group gets off the bus and makes

01:53:33.300 --> 01:53:35.399
their way to the large open area surrounding

01:53:35.399 --> 01:53:38.479
the step pyramid, Hawthorne, wanting to take

01:53:38.479 --> 01:53:41.279
advantage of a teachable moment, motions for

01:53:41.279 --> 01:53:43.520
the group to gather around him and Prof. Tommy

01:53:43.520 --> 01:53:45.779
before letting the students wander around and

01:53:45.779 --> 01:53:48.920
explore. Hawthorne begins with describing the

01:53:48.920 --> 01:53:52.500
temple itself. The step pyramid is known by the

01:53:52.500 --> 01:53:56.949
name El Castillo or the Temple of Kukukan. Kuku

01:53:56.949 --> 01:54:00.050
Khan was a Mayan deity and was represented by

01:54:00.050 --> 01:54:02.909
a feathered serpent. Hawthorne continues, the

01:54:02.909 --> 01:54:05.529
temple's height and presence dominates the flat

01:54:05.529 --> 01:54:08.029
landscape around here and was one of the main

01:54:08.029 --> 01:54:11.430
structures in all of Chichen Itza. Prof. Tommy

01:54:11.430 --> 01:54:13.590
and I did some work here way back in the day,

01:54:13.609 --> 01:54:15.970
so it's fun to be back. Tommy jumps in with a

01:54:15.970 --> 01:54:18.789
few more details. The temple has four sides and

01:54:18.789 --> 01:54:22.189
each side has 91 steps. It used to be open to

01:54:22.189 --> 01:54:24.350
the public until tourists would hurt climbing

01:54:24.350 --> 01:54:26.800
the thing. It's closed to the public ever since.

01:54:27.020 --> 01:54:30.979
And since has been, I think, 2006. We're not

01:54:30.979 --> 01:54:34.060
allowed to climb the thing or go inside. That's

01:54:34.060 --> 01:54:36.479
unfortunate, but there are a lot of cool small

01:54:36.479 --> 01:54:40.560
rooms inside. He continues, Anyway, you can walk

01:54:40.560 --> 01:54:42.779
around the temple if you feel like it, and then

01:54:42.779 --> 01:54:45.380
go explore any of the other structures you see

01:54:45.380 --> 01:54:49.159
here. Just be mindful and obey the signs. Even

01:54:49.159 --> 01:54:51.180
though UNAM has a partnership with the local

01:54:51.180 --> 01:54:53.979
government officials, we're not allowed to take...

01:54:54.170 --> 01:54:56.289
students beyond the designated tourist areas

01:54:56.289 --> 01:54:59.909
without a pre -approved permit, which we didn't

01:54:59.909 --> 01:55:07.109
have time to get before we left. After about

01:55:07.109 --> 01:55:09.050
30 minutes or so of walking around different

01:55:09.050 --> 01:55:11.409
sections of the site, Miranda, who had been here

01:55:11.409 --> 01:55:13.930
before on numerous occasions, went and sat down

01:55:13.930 --> 01:55:16.449
next to Ava, who was relaxing under a shade tree.

01:55:16.750 --> 01:55:19.689
Miranda asks Ava, so our interview from the other

01:55:19.689 --> 01:55:22.149
day, when will that be published? Ava smiles

01:55:22.149 --> 01:55:24.789
and responds, well, the interview will be part

01:55:24.789 --> 01:55:26.829
of a larger set of stories, which one of the

01:55:26.829 --> 01:55:29.449
editors at Reuters will need to approve. But

01:55:29.449 --> 01:55:32.149
if I had to guess, I would say it'll be ready

01:55:32.149 --> 01:55:34.970
for release within a week, she continues. I'm

01:55:34.970 --> 01:55:37.010
still working on some other parts of it, though,

01:55:37.109 --> 01:55:39.939
so now they're waiting on me. Miranda then says,

01:55:40.119 --> 01:55:42.779
oh, I see. I've always admired journalists for

01:55:42.779 --> 01:55:44.840
their ability to tell a story and sometimes in

01:55:44.840 --> 01:55:47.180
real life as it's happening. Miranda then noticed

01:55:47.180 --> 01:55:49.699
Ava looking at her digital camera screen and

01:55:49.699 --> 01:55:52.520
asked, do you take that everywhere you go? Yeah,

01:55:52.579 --> 01:55:55.079
pretty much. Ava responds. Miranda then asks,

01:55:55.220 --> 01:55:57.119
did you have it at the museum the other night?

01:55:57.449 --> 01:56:00.909
As a matter of fact, I did, Ava answers. Ava

01:56:00.909 --> 01:56:02.810
could tell Miranda wanted to ask her another

01:56:02.810 --> 01:56:06.050
question and felt a little hesitant. So Ava jumped

01:56:06.050 --> 01:56:08.710
in and responded. And if you are wondering, I

01:56:08.710 --> 01:56:10.710
had my camera going during the incident at the

01:56:10.710 --> 01:56:13.329
museum. And the morning before we went to visit

01:56:13.329 --> 01:56:15.770
Mr. Garcia at the hospital, two investigators

01:56:15.770 --> 01:56:18.989
came up to Yunam and met with me about the photos

01:56:18.989 --> 01:56:21.869
I took. I turned over several images that hopefully

01:56:21.869 --> 01:56:25.329
will help them find the thieves. Ava pauses for

01:56:25.329 --> 01:56:28.060
a moment then continues. I'm not sure why I'm

01:56:28.060 --> 01:56:30.279
telling you all this, but if I were in your shoes,

01:56:30.500 --> 01:56:32.520
I would want to know if the police and authorities

01:56:32.520 --> 01:56:34.460
were trying to get to the bottom of what happened

01:56:34.460 --> 01:56:36.880
at the museum the other night and find the two

01:56:36.880 --> 01:56:39.640
artifacts, not to mention the people they hurt

01:56:39.640 --> 01:56:42.260
in the process. Miranda sat nodding her head

01:56:42.260 --> 01:56:44.279
in agreement and then asked, do you still have

01:56:44.279 --> 01:56:46.680
those images on your camera? If so, could I take

01:56:46.680 --> 01:56:48.859
a look at them? Maybe there's something or someone

01:56:48.859 --> 01:56:50.579
I would recognize from that night that could

01:56:50.579 --> 01:56:54.060
help. Yes, I do actually, Ava answers. Look here.

01:56:54.350 --> 01:56:56.930
Eva says this as she points to the small camera

01:56:56.930 --> 01:56:59.270
digital screen. You can cycle through the images

01:56:59.270 --> 01:57:02.329
by pushing this button here and go back by pushing

01:57:02.329 --> 01:57:05.310
this button here. Eva says this as she hands

01:57:05.310 --> 01:57:07.149
the camera to Miranda and then points to the

01:57:07.149 --> 01:57:10.590
button to use. Miranda sits quietly next to Eva

01:57:10.590 --> 01:57:12.909
and slowly cycles through the photos on the camera,

01:57:13.069 --> 01:57:15.090
studying each one as if she was trying to solve

01:57:15.090 --> 01:57:17.970
the mystery. She then says, hmm, wow, there are

01:57:17.970 --> 01:57:20.949
several hundred images on here. Miranda then

01:57:20.949 --> 01:57:23.130
stops for a moment and stares at the small screen,

01:57:23.310 --> 01:57:26.529
squints, and then says, Whoa, wait, you captured

01:57:26.529 --> 01:57:28.890
several images of the thieves. I know they are

01:57:28.890 --> 01:57:31.289
a bit blurry, but... At that moment, and as Miranda

01:57:31.289 --> 01:57:33.670
was mid -sentence with the camera close to her

01:57:33.670 --> 01:57:36.729
face, Professor Hawthorne and David walk up behind

01:57:36.729 --> 01:57:39.810
where Ava and Miranda are sitting. Hawthorne

01:57:39.810 --> 01:57:41.729
looks down and notices that Miranda is looking

01:57:41.729 --> 01:57:44.640
through Ava's photos and asks, So Ava, did you

01:57:44.640 --> 01:57:46.880
hear back from the investigators about your photos

01:57:46.880 --> 01:57:49.619
yet? Before Ava could answer, David jumps in

01:57:49.619 --> 01:57:52.420
and says, Wait, what? You have photos from the

01:57:52.420 --> 01:57:54.760
incident the other night? Do you mind if I take

01:57:54.760 --> 01:57:57.380
a look as well? Ava, feeling a little nervous

01:57:57.380 --> 01:58:00.380
now that David wants to see the photos and hoping

01:58:00.380 --> 01:58:02.880
her promise to Professor Tommy the other night

01:58:02.880 --> 01:58:05.939
is not getting broken, very reluctantly says,

01:58:06.260 --> 01:58:10.060
Okay. Ava says, Sure. And just to let you know,

01:58:10.100 --> 01:58:12.399
the lead investigators have all my photos and

01:58:12.399 --> 01:58:14.079
they told me that they'd be looking into it.

01:58:14.340 --> 01:58:17.340
David sits down next to Miranda and says, do

01:58:17.340 --> 01:58:19.640
you mind if I look over your shoulder? And then

01:58:19.640 --> 01:58:21.939
he replies to Ava and says, I wouldn't bet on

01:58:21.939 --> 01:58:24.460
the investigators being able to piece it together.

01:58:24.859 --> 01:58:27.739
I mean, they are probably legit, but it's been

01:58:27.739 --> 01:58:30.539
my experience to not put much faith in the authorities

01:58:30.539 --> 01:58:33.710
being able to figure this out fast. Hawthorne

01:58:33.710 --> 01:58:43.810
then replies, David looks intently at the digital

01:58:43.810 --> 01:58:46.470
camera screen as Miranda clicks forward on each

01:58:46.470 --> 01:58:50.369
photo slowly. He then says, He then points to

01:58:50.369 --> 01:59:03.529
the screen and says, Ava replies, and maybe the

01:59:03.529 --> 01:59:06.949
ones who injured the museum staff and Mr. Garcia

01:59:06.949 --> 01:59:09.970
in the process. One of the images caught David's

01:59:09.970 --> 01:59:12.810
eye particularly. He then asked Miranda to try

01:59:12.810 --> 01:59:14.949
to zoom into what looked like the arm of one

01:59:14.949 --> 01:59:18.890
of the persons. He then said, There, look. Do

01:59:18.890 --> 01:59:21.189
you see it? There on the wrist of one of the

01:59:21.189 --> 01:59:24.850
persons is a small tattoo. And I know that tattoo.

01:59:25.090 --> 01:59:28.390
I've seen it before. The tattoo is a cross with

01:59:28.390 --> 01:59:32.039
two small dots over the top. The image was blurry,

01:59:32.180 --> 01:59:34.699
but when zoomed in on one of the forearms of

01:59:34.699 --> 01:59:37.140
the thief, there was a small gap between the

01:59:37.140 --> 01:59:39.539
glove and the sleeve of the hoodie, which revealed

01:59:39.539 --> 01:59:43.039
part of the thief's wrist. There, as plain as

01:59:43.039 --> 01:59:46.039
day, well, a little blurry though, was the tattoo.

01:59:46.380 --> 01:59:49.279
A cross with two dots over the top of the cross.

01:59:50.260 --> 01:59:53.439
David then says, I've seen this before from a

01:59:53.439 --> 01:59:55.960
few of my police and military friends back in

01:59:55.960 --> 01:59:59.500
Mexico City. Anyway, it's a popular tattoo that

01:59:59.500 --> 02:00:02.979
one particular gang uses. He then adds, I can't

02:00:02.979 --> 02:00:05.100
say that I'm surprised though. This gang is known

02:00:05.100 --> 02:00:07.399
to work with the cartels. Miranda then says,

02:00:07.600 --> 02:00:09.659
don't you think the investigators have seen this

02:00:09.659 --> 02:00:12.699
too and are working their contacts? Well, probably,

02:00:12.899 --> 02:00:15.899
but I wouldn't want to assume that. And the authorities

02:00:15.899 --> 02:00:18.159
are quite slow in these matters, so who knows

02:00:18.159 --> 02:00:20.479
what they know. Hawthorne jumps in and asks,

02:00:20.600 --> 02:00:24.060
besides the obvious answer of for money, Why

02:00:24.060 --> 02:00:26.920
would the cartel support or initiate such a high

02:00:26.920 --> 02:00:29.880
stakes heist? At that moment, Tommy walks up

02:00:29.880 --> 02:00:32.260
to where the adults are sitting. Still in the

02:00:32.260 --> 02:00:34.819
shade of now crowded around Ava's camera and

02:00:34.819 --> 02:00:37.920
says, well, the students are all still out exploring.

02:00:38.239 --> 02:00:40.779
And what do we have here? He says that with the

02:00:40.779 --> 02:00:43.899
last bit with a slight smile. Hawthorne answers

02:00:43.899 --> 02:00:46.739
with a little sarcastic tone. We're playing detective

02:00:46.739 --> 02:00:49.699
here while we wait. At that moment, David feels

02:00:49.699 --> 02:00:52.060
his cell phone vibrate in his side pocket and

02:00:52.060 --> 02:00:54.430
hears it ding. He grabs his phone out of his

02:00:54.430 --> 02:00:57.289
pocket and turns it over to see the screen. He's

02:00:57.289 --> 02:00:59.210
holding his phone in a way that any of the others

02:00:59.210 --> 02:01:02.170
could see the screen if they wanted to. He looks

02:01:02.170 --> 02:01:04.109
down at the screen, which is a bit hard to see

02:01:04.109 --> 02:01:06.529
because of the bright sun. He squints to get

02:01:06.529 --> 02:01:08.869
a better look at what looks like an image that

02:01:08.869 --> 02:01:12.649
was just texted to him. He gasps. What? Wait,

02:01:12.789 --> 02:01:15.729
what is this? David's surprised reaction to what

02:01:15.729 --> 02:01:18.069
he was looking at on his phone made Miranda look

02:01:18.069 --> 02:01:20.409
over and then down at his phone, which he was

02:01:20.409 --> 02:01:22.470
holding by his side, and right next to where

02:01:22.470 --> 02:01:25.430
she was seated. Whoa, David! Miranda exclaimed.

02:01:25.489 --> 02:01:27.949
What is that? Who is that? Miranda's questions

02:01:27.949 --> 02:01:30.510
caught the attention of everyone there, Hawthorne,

02:01:30.569 --> 02:01:32.970
Tommy, and Ava. Someone through an anonymous

02:01:32.970 --> 02:01:35.449
number had just sent David a photo of a person

02:01:35.449 --> 02:01:38.010
kneeling down on the ground with two individuals

02:01:38.010 --> 02:01:40.750
standing behind him. The individuals were holding

02:01:40.750 --> 02:01:43.680
weapons and were masked. One of the masked individuals

02:01:43.680 --> 02:01:46.220
had their hand under the chin of the man kneeling

02:01:46.220 --> 02:01:49.039
on the ground and was forcibly holding his head

02:01:49.039 --> 02:01:52.180
up and pointing at the camera directly. The man

02:01:52.180 --> 02:01:54.039
who was on the ground was quite upset and his

02:01:54.039 --> 02:01:57.560
face showed both anger and fear. David recognized

02:01:57.560 --> 02:01:59.880
the man kneeling on the ground immediately and

02:01:59.880 --> 02:02:02.619
said, that's my younger brother. What? I don't

02:02:02.619 --> 02:02:05.819
understand. Moments later, a short text message

02:02:05.819 --> 02:02:07.880
followed the image that was sent and it read,

02:02:08.079 --> 02:02:11.289
instructions to come. Follow exactly if you want

02:02:11.289 --> 02:02:18.989
to see your brother ever again. Maria motions

02:02:18.989 --> 02:02:21.890
to Renata and Carlos to load up in the car again.

02:02:22.050 --> 02:02:25.310
She says, grab your things and let's go. Renanta

02:02:25.310 --> 02:02:28.010
asks as she and Carlos were packing their bags

02:02:28.010 --> 02:02:30.689
and getting back into the same car they had come

02:02:30.689 --> 02:02:33.909
in. So we're into kidnapping now? Maria then

02:02:33.909 --> 02:02:36.550
responds, just do as I say and we'll be fine.

02:02:36.670 --> 02:02:38.869
We need that final payout and this is the only

02:02:38.869 --> 02:02:41.270
way to get it. Plus, the cartels guys are in

02:02:41.270 --> 02:02:43.229
charge now and we're just along for the ride,

02:02:43.329 --> 02:02:46.350
at least until it's done. As the now two cars

02:02:46.350 --> 02:02:48.609
pull out of the small dirt turnoff next to the

02:02:48.609 --> 02:02:51.609
safe house, Carlos asks, so what does our driver

02:02:51.609 --> 02:02:54.439
have to do with this? I mean... Why is the cartel

02:02:54.439 --> 02:02:56.979
interested in him and why throw him in the trunk?

02:02:57.720 --> 02:03:00.939
Maria responds, You ask too many questions, nephew.

02:03:01.239 --> 02:03:03.520
Just go along with the plan and follow my lead,

02:03:03.619 --> 02:03:05.720
and hopefully this will be over by the end of

02:03:05.720 --> 02:03:08.800
today. And, if you need to know, our driver from

02:03:08.800 --> 02:03:11.520
last night, well, he's related to the guy who

02:03:11.520 --> 02:03:14.260
discovered the golden mask. So, if you're wondering,

02:03:14.539 --> 02:03:17.119
the cartel is hoping to make an exchange. Our

02:03:17.119 --> 02:03:19.220
driver for the location of where the golden mask

02:03:19.220 --> 02:03:22.590
was found. Maria then looks over at the new driver,

02:03:22.729 --> 02:03:25.130
one of the two cartel members who is now driving

02:03:25.130 --> 02:03:27.630
the car they're in. Their car is following the

02:03:27.630 --> 02:03:29.789
other cartel members who is driving an old pickup

02:03:29.789 --> 02:03:31.710
truck that looks like it's been hit with bullets

02:03:31.710 --> 02:03:35.149
on a number of occasions. Renanta then adds,

02:03:35.310 --> 02:03:38.250
so if we drove to Merida last night and this

02:03:38.250 --> 02:03:40.989
was the cartel's plan from the beginning, we

02:03:40.989 --> 02:03:44.449
must be heading towards Chichen Itza since that's

02:03:44.449 --> 02:03:47.279
the general location the mask was found. Maria

02:03:47.279 --> 02:03:49.699
glances over at the driver, hoping her niece

02:03:49.699 --> 02:03:51.739
and nephew's flurry of questions doesn't upset

02:03:51.739 --> 02:03:55.199
him. She then answers, Yes, Renata, you're very

02:03:55.199 --> 02:03:57.859
observant. We've got about an hour and a half

02:03:57.859 --> 02:04:00.479
car ride, so let's keep our questions to a minimum,

02:04:00.659 --> 02:04:09.359
okay? Tommy looks at David with a very serious

02:04:09.359 --> 02:04:12.619
and concerned face and asks, David, what are

02:04:12.619 --> 02:04:14.760
you looking at? And tell me you're not mixed

02:04:14.760 --> 02:04:18.130
up in this whole thing. David answers, his voice

02:04:18.130 --> 02:04:21.090
tone changing, more deliberate, focused and angry.

02:04:21.210 --> 02:04:23.930
He says, this is my brother and well, I haven't

02:04:23.930 --> 02:04:26.750
spoken to him in well over three years. We had

02:04:26.750 --> 02:04:29.069
a falling out about some of the work he was involved

02:04:29.069 --> 02:04:32.529
in. I didn't agree with it as it was a borderline

02:04:32.529 --> 02:04:35.510
criminal at that time. After our argument, he

02:04:35.510 --> 02:04:38.090
just disappeared. I had no idea what he was doing

02:04:38.090 --> 02:04:40.550
or where he went. Hawthorne then asks, so in

02:04:40.550 --> 02:04:43.609
your opinion, is this real or just a ruse? I

02:04:43.609 --> 02:04:46.550
mean... This could just be a setup for something

02:04:46.550 --> 02:04:49.590
bigger. You and Miranda are quite popular now.

02:04:49.930 --> 02:04:53.350
What do they want, money? At that moment, another

02:04:53.350 --> 02:04:56.170
text message comes into David's phone. David

02:04:56.170 --> 02:04:58.470
looks down, reads silently, and then answers

02:04:58.470 --> 02:05:01.529
Professor Hawthorne's question. It's not a ruse.

02:05:01.789 --> 02:05:04.409
My brother's not capable of something this elaborate,

02:05:04.689 --> 02:05:07.569
at least not without help. He then reads the

02:05:07.569 --> 02:05:10.890
following text message out loud. It reads, Give

02:05:10.890 --> 02:05:13.270
us the exact location of the cenote or where

02:05:13.270 --> 02:05:16.109
you found the mask, and upon confirmation, we'll

02:05:16.109 --> 02:05:18.689
release your brother unharmed. No exceptions,

02:05:18.989 --> 02:05:21.989
no negotiations. You have one hour. If we see

02:05:21.989 --> 02:05:24.689
any federal or local police officers anywhere

02:05:24.689 --> 02:05:27.289
near the location, you tell us. Your brother

02:05:27.289 --> 02:05:30.750
disappears. Remember, we have eyes and ears everywhere.

02:05:31.390 --> 02:05:34.869
Tommy then says softly and quietly, Well, the

02:05:34.869 --> 02:05:36.869
demands are quite clear and straightforward.

02:05:37.800 --> 02:05:40.300
I may know a guy at the police precinct by UNAM

02:05:40.300 --> 02:05:42.380
campus. We could trust with this information.

02:05:43.199 --> 02:05:45.500
Miranda, who has stayed quiet, now speaks up.

02:05:45.619 --> 02:05:47.640
There's no time, David. Why can't you just send

02:05:47.640 --> 02:05:49.979
the location of where you found the mask? I don't

02:05:49.979 --> 02:05:51.880
think anyone's life is worth losing over that

02:05:51.880 --> 02:05:55.119
information. David replies, there are only four

02:05:55.119 --> 02:05:57.159
of us who know the location, and I suppose I

02:05:57.159 --> 02:06:00.119
was the easiest to get to. The other three, one

02:06:00.119 --> 02:06:02.600
of whom is an American diver, a buddy of mine

02:06:02.600 --> 02:06:05.319
from the military. Well, he's back home in the

02:06:05.319 --> 02:06:07.869
U .S. right now. And the other two, they're both

02:06:07.869 --> 02:06:10.529
low -level politicians that have nothing to gain

02:06:10.529 --> 02:06:13.210
by giving this information to the cartel. He

02:06:13.210 --> 02:06:16.050
continues, And you're right, Miranda. No one's

02:06:16.050 --> 02:06:19.109
life is worth losing over this information. Tommy

02:06:19.109 --> 02:06:21.789
looks at David and then says, You stated before

02:06:21.789 --> 02:06:24.390
that you and your dive partner discovered the

02:06:24.390 --> 02:06:27.409
golden mask near here. That part is public knowledge,

02:06:27.489 --> 02:06:30.970
right? Tommy goes on, Well, my guess is that

02:06:30.970 --> 02:06:32.850
the guy's on the other end of the text message.

02:06:33.180 --> 02:06:36.159
on the way here. They give you a one hour time

02:06:36.159 --> 02:06:38.920
limit to respond. Hawthorne jumps in and says,

02:06:39.039 --> 02:06:41.680
I'd like to get these students out of here. I'm

02:06:41.680 --> 02:06:43.779
going to find Lily and have her accompany them

02:06:43.779 --> 02:06:45.979
back to the bus and then go back to the Grand

02:06:45.979 --> 02:06:48.779
Museum. They can rest there, grab some food,

02:06:48.819 --> 02:06:52.090
and wait while this gets sorted out. Professor

02:06:52.090 --> 02:06:54.449
Hawthorne's feeling of stress and anxiety was

02:06:54.449 --> 02:06:57.130
now starting to rise. The responsibility of keeping

02:06:57.130 --> 02:06:59.590
the students safe was solely on his shoulders,

02:06:59.750 --> 02:07:02.090
and he had thought the worst of the events were

02:07:02.090 --> 02:07:06.029
over. Ava responds to Hawthorne's comment. She

02:07:06.029 --> 02:07:08.609
says, If you don't mind, I'm going to stick around

02:07:08.609 --> 02:07:10.729
here and see what happens. And don't worry, I'll

02:07:10.729 --> 02:07:13.560
keep out of trouble. Hawthorne steps away from

02:07:13.560 --> 02:07:15.699
the group to go find Lily and the students in

02:07:15.699 --> 02:07:17.880
order to give them some instructions about the

02:07:17.880 --> 02:07:21.000
change in plans. He won't, however, tell them

02:07:21.000 --> 02:07:24.020
what all just transpired with David, the photo,

02:07:24.100 --> 02:07:26.899
the text message, and David's brother. The less

02:07:26.899 --> 02:07:29.100
he shares with the students, the better. He thinks

02:07:29.100 --> 02:07:31.159
the students will be better off hanging out at

02:07:31.159 --> 02:07:33.899
the Grand Museum compound with Lily for the time

02:07:33.899 --> 02:07:36.439
being. There are a lot of tourists and other

02:07:36.439 --> 02:07:38.659
officials there. It's a good public area and

02:07:38.659 --> 02:07:46.350
safe for the group. Maria looks back at Renata

02:07:46.350 --> 02:07:48.550
and Carlos as the car they're riding in pulls

02:07:48.550 --> 02:07:51.069
up to a gas pump and right behind the small pickup

02:07:51.069 --> 02:07:54.109
truck they were following. She then says, one

02:07:54.109 --> 02:07:56.050
of you needs to stay in the car while the other

02:07:56.050 --> 02:07:58.550
grabs us some water and snacks. There's not another

02:07:58.550 --> 02:08:00.930
shot between here and our destination, so let's

02:08:00.930 --> 02:08:03.250
stock up. We're only stopping for a few minutes

02:08:03.250 --> 02:08:05.909
so we can get back on the road. Renata looks

02:08:05.909 --> 02:08:09.270
at Carlos and says, I nominate you. Here's some

02:08:09.270 --> 02:08:12.770
pesos. You know what I like. Don't talk to anyone.

02:08:13.340 --> 02:08:17.119
Carlos replies back, fine, whatever. The only

02:08:17.119 --> 02:08:20.119
people here are tourists anyway. They don't know

02:08:20.119 --> 02:08:23.260
us and don't care. I'll be right back. After

02:08:23.260 --> 02:08:26.039
a few minutes, Maria feels a blank stare from

02:08:26.039 --> 02:08:28.479
the driver of their car glaring at her as if

02:08:28.479 --> 02:08:31.579
to say, come on, let's go. Maria looks over towards

02:08:31.579 --> 02:08:33.699
a small convenience store waiting for Carlos

02:08:33.699 --> 02:08:36.260
to exit with several water bottles and some snacks.

02:08:36.500 --> 02:08:39.420
She says under her breath, come on, come on.

02:08:39.960 --> 02:08:42.079
She then sees him emerge from the store and walk

02:08:42.079 --> 02:08:44.420
toward the car, smiling and humming. She shakes

02:08:44.420 --> 02:08:46.539
her head and says to Renata, who's been waiting

02:08:46.539 --> 02:08:48.859
in the car with her and the driver now. Jeepers,

02:08:48.859 --> 02:08:51.819
that kid lives in his own world. Renata laughs

02:08:51.819 --> 02:08:54.939
softly and then replies, I've been saying that

02:08:54.939 --> 02:08:58.300
for years, Aunt Maria. At that moment, Carlos

02:08:58.300 --> 02:09:00.939
opens the door and gets into the backseat and

02:09:00.939 --> 02:09:04.319
says, I think you'll like the snacks I got. Some

02:09:04.319 --> 02:09:07.699
of the stuff we can't get in Mexico City. They

02:09:07.699 --> 02:09:09.779
probably have it here because of all the tourists

02:09:09.779 --> 02:09:12.760
that come this way. Maria rolls her eyes and

02:09:12.760 --> 02:09:14.739
then looks at the driver and then says, Okay,

02:09:14.779 --> 02:09:17.840
we're ready. Sorry about that. She even turns

02:09:17.840 --> 02:09:20.279
around and says to Renata and Carlos in the backseat,

02:09:20.479 --> 02:09:23.500
We've got about 45 more minutes before we reach

02:09:23.500 --> 02:09:26.340
Chichen Itza. And give me a bag of those dried

02:09:26.340 --> 02:09:34.090
tamales and a water bottle. After about 15 minutes

02:09:34.090 --> 02:09:36.210
of getting the students back on the bus and telling

02:09:36.210 --> 02:09:38.750
the driver to take them back to the Grand Museum,

02:09:39.050 --> 02:09:42.170
the same museum they had spent an hour at earlier,

02:09:42.609 --> 02:09:45.149
Professor Hawthorne makes his way back to the

02:09:45.149 --> 02:09:47.710
others who are still sitting in some shade close

02:09:47.710 --> 02:09:51.010
to the main step pyramid. He walks up to the

02:09:51.010 --> 02:09:54.130
group and then asks, so what's the plan? Hawthorne

02:09:54.130 --> 02:09:57.229
waits for someone to answer. Everybody just sits

02:09:57.229 --> 02:09:59.770
there, not saying a word. David then breaks the

02:09:59.770 --> 02:10:02.189
awkward silence and says, We got into a small

02:10:02.189 --> 02:10:04.390
argument a few minutes ago and I think we've

02:10:04.390 --> 02:10:06.789
come to an agreement. My brother's life is far

02:10:06.789 --> 02:10:09.189
more important than keeping location the cenote

02:10:09.189 --> 02:10:11.729
confidential. I don't really care about that

02:10:11.729 --> 02:10:14.989
stupid gold mask. It means nothing to me. David

02:10:14.989 --> 02:10:18.069
continues as the others listen. Most people assume

02:10:18.069 --> 02:10:20.510
I discovered the mask at the bottom of the cenote

02:10:20.510 --> 02:10:23.310
when in fact I found it in a different location.

02:10:24.029 --> 02:10:26.149
I can tell by the looks on your faces that you

02:10:26.149 --> 02:10:28.850
are surprised, maybe even a bit angry at why

02:10:28.850 --> 02:10:30.750
I led everyone to think it was at the bottom

02:10:30.750 --> 02:10:34.930
of a deep secret cenote. Truth is, however, my

02:10:34.930 --> 02:10:37.699
dive partner and I did dive the cenote, but we

02:10:37.699 --> 02:10:40.140
found nothing. It wasn't until we had finished

02:10:40.140 --> 02:10:42.479
our dive and then were taking off our tanks and

02:10:42.479 --> 02:10:44.600
securing our gear that we made the discovery.

02:10:45.119 --> 02:10:47.619
Anyway, we can assume that the thieves who took

02:10:47.619 --> 02:10:49.760
the artifacts the other night during the gala

02:10:49.760 --> 02:10:53.060
event are working with the cartel. And I recognized

02:10:53.060 --> 02:10:55.119
a small tattoo on the wrist of one of the thieves

02:10:55.119 --> 02:10:58.439
from a photo that Ava has. Miranda looks at David

02:10:58.439 --> 02:11:00.720
with a very puzzled look on her face and then

02:11:00.720 --> 02:11:03.300
says, What? Really? Why would you keep that a

02:11:03.300 --> 02:11:06.579
secret? Tommy jumps in as well and says, Alright,

02:11:06.819 --> 02:11:08.880
I'm intrigued and you have my attention, David.

02:11:09.100 --> 02:11:11.600
I assume there's a good reason for this. David

02:11:11.600 --> 02:11:14.779
responds, Okay, here it is. The secret cenote

02:11:14.779 --> 02:11:17.880
is actually the cenote, which is located on the

02:11:17.880 --> 02:11:20.680
inside and at the base of this temple right here.

02:11:20.880 --> 02:11:23.439
This temple, Hawthorne says as he points to El

02:11:23.439 --> 02:11:26.140
Castillo, located a mere 50 meters from where

02:11:26.140 --> 02:11:28.420
they are huddled under a tree for shade. Yeah,

02:11:28.479 --> 02:11:31.489
that's correct. David responds, I know what you're

02:11:31.489 --> 02:11:33.510
going to say. You're going to say that it's common

02:11:33.510 --> 02:11:35.949
knowledge that there's a cenote located at the

02:11:35.949 --> 02:11:39.869
base and inside the temple. It's true. We explored

02:11:39.869 --> 02:11:42.250
it and found nothing. It wasn't until we were

02:11:42.250 --> 02:11:44.210
done and putting our gear away that we discovered

02:11:44.210 --> 02:11:47.010
a hidden small passageway off the main chamber

02:11:47.010 --> 02:11:50.289
next to the cenote. He continues. It was hidden

02:11:50.289 --> 02:11:52.949
and we found it by accident. One of my heavy

02:11:52.949 --> 02:11:55.609
oxygen tanks tumbled over and hit the wall behind

02:11:55.609 --> 02:11:58.500
it. As soon as this happened, a small hole opened

02:11:58.500 --> 02:12:01.180
up inside the wall, revealing a narrow corridor.

02:12:01.960 --> 02:12:04.920
Tommy is intently staring at David as he tells

02:12:04.920 --> 02:12:07.659
the group what happened and then says, So, only

02:12:07.659 --> 02:12:10.859
four people knows about this? Well, not really,

02:12:11.039 --> 02:12:14.100
David answers. Only my dive partner and I know

02:12:14.100 --> 02:12:16.579
about this. The other two guys with us had already

02:12:16.579 --> 02:12:19.420
exited the cenote chamber and were outside the

02:12:19.420 --> 02:12:22.399
pyramid when this happened. And, out of curiosity,

02:12:22.699 --> 02:12:24.680
my partner and I then broke some more of the

02:12:24.680 --> 02:12:26.920
wall opening. Enough so we could squeeze through

02:12:26.920 --> 02:12:29.840
it and check it out. David continues to explain

02:12:29.840 --> 02:12:32.300
what happened as the others were listening intently.

02:12:32.579 --> 02:12:34.539
We then squeezed through the small opening in

02:12:34.539 --> 02:12:37.039
the wall with our flashlights and slowly, in

02:12:37.039 --> 02:12:39.039
a crouching position, made our way through this

02:12:39.039 --> 02:12:41.420
small corridor, which led to a medium -sized

02:12:41.420 --> 02:12:43.979
interior chamber, which you could stand upright

02:12:43.979 --> 02:12:46.819
in. This is where we found the golden mass, just

02:12:46.819 --> 02:12:49.319
sitting there, resting against one of the walls

02:12:49.319 --> 02:12:52.039
inside the chamber. Tommy jumps in and interrupts

02:12:52.039 --> 02:12:55.239
David and says, Wait, what? Do you have any idea

02:12:55.239 --> 02:12:58.260
how groundbreaking this discovery is? Tommy looks

02:12:58.260 --> 02:13:00.619
over at Hawthorne and says, This is amazing.

02:13:01.380 --> 02:13:04.539
Hawthorne replies, Oh yeah, David, go on, please.

02:13:04.920 --> 02:13:07.600
David continues with somewhat of an anxious voice

02:13:07.600 --> 02:13:10.199
now, and I have to tell you that the mask was

02:13:10.199 --> 02:13:12.979
not the only thing in that hidden chamber. There

02:13:12.979 --> 02:13:15.720
were a lot more items in there, a stash of other

02:13:15.720 --> 02:13:18.039
artifacts that seemed sacred to this temple and

02:13:18.039 --> 02:13:21.609
place, and yes, much more gold. Other gems and

02:13:21.609 --> 02:13:24.149
stones and pottery, which I assume would be full

02:13:24.149 --> 02:13:26.909
of other important and valuable things. We were

02:13:26.909 --> 02:13:28.789
both shocked and amazed knowing that this was

02:13:28.789 --> 02:13:31.689
an undiscovered chamber beneath one of Yucatan's

02:13:31.689 --> 02:13:34.729
most visited tourist destinations. We thought,

02:13:34.789 --> 02:13:38.750
how could this still be hidden? David then finishes

02:13:38.750 --> 02:13:41.470
with his explanation. I was being pressured by

02:13:41.470 --> 02:13:43.810
the politicians and UNAM to bring back something

02:13:43.810 --> 02:13:46.090
of value from our cenote dive and exhibition.

02:13:47.000 --> 02:13:49.579
And the mask, which was located right inside

02:13:49.579 --> 02:13:51.899
the chamber, was easy to grab and carry out.

02:13:52.060 --> 02:13:54.779
I thought this would satisfy our sponsors in

02:13:54.779 --> 02:13:57.199
the college. I also led them to believe that

02:13:57.199 --> 02:13:59.159
we found the mask at the bottom of the deep cenote

02:13:59.159 --> 02:14:01.560
we were diving in. My dive partner and I did

02:14:01.560 --> 02:14:03.439
not want to reveal at the time that this hidden

02:14:03.439 --> 02:14:06.020
chamber existed. We knew it would be extorted

02:14:06.020 --> 02:14:09.020
by the politicians back in Mexico City. It's

02:14:09.020 --> 02:14:10.960
just too special and significant, especially

02:14:10.960 --> 02:14:13.600
to the indigenous people living here. Miranda

02:14:13.600 --> 02:14:16.279
then says, I know that feeling, David. When my

02:14:16.279 --> 02:14:18.140
teammate and I made the discovery of the jade

02:14:18.140 --> 02:14:20.239
jar south of here, we hesitated even revealing

02:14:20.239 --> 02:14:22.920
it. We knew it would change things. Miranda was

02:14:22.920 --> 02:14:25.420
just sitting there taking it all in. In her heart,

02:14:25.500 --> 02:14:27.800
she totally agreed with David, his feelings of

02:14:27.800 --> 02:14:30.319
not wanting to extort such a sacred site and

02:14:30.319 --> 02:14:32.819
revealing its location. She knew that, much like

02:14:32.819 --> 02:14:35.039
the gala event, higher up people in authority

02:14:35.039 --> 02:14:37.479
would want to make a spectacle of such a discovery.

02:14:37.720 --> 02:14:39.659
She had the same feeling about her expedition

02:14:39.659 --> 02:14:42.439
months ago. She didn't like the fanfare and publicity

02:14:42.640 --> 02:14:45.260
And maybe that's why her and David had connected

02:14:45.260 --> 02:14:47.659
so well together. They shared much of the same

02:14:47.659 --> 02:14:50.819
values. Miranda then said, so what's next then,

02:14:50.899 --> 02:14:53.960
your brother, for the location? David replies,

02:14:54.539 --> 02:14:56.899
yes, I'll give him the location of the cenote

02:14:56.899 --> 02:14:59.439
under the pyramid as to where we found the golden

02:14:59.439 --> 02:15:02.060
mask. This could buy us some time since they

02:15:02.060 --> 02:15:03.939
would have to figure out how to confirm it by

02:15:03.939 --> 02:15:06.699
hiring their own divers to investigate it while

02:15:06.699 --> 02:15:08.500
trying not to get caught by the park security

02:15:08.500 --> 02:15:12.590
guards. Also, David continues, my partner and

02:15:12.590 --> 02:15:14.430
I covered up the hole in the wall with the stones

02:15:14.430 --> 02:15:16.409
that have fallen so the entrance to the corridor

02:15:16.409 --> 02:15:18.850
is hidden once again. A person would have to

02:15:18.850 --> 02:15:20.750
know that it's there in order to discover it.

02:15:20.970 --> 02:15:24.010
Tommy then adds, yeah, park officials don't really

02:15:24.010 --> 02:15:27.210
go down in the pyramids anymore. Anyways, since

02:15:27.210 --> 02:15:29.970
it's been closed off to tourists years ago, it's

02:15:29.970 --> 02:15:33.170
just kind of a time capsule down there now. As

02:15:33.170 --> 02:15:35.949
Tommy is talking to the group, he's dialing Anthony

02:15:35.949 --> 02:15:38.510
on his phone, who he had just talked to earlier.

02:15:38.939 --> 02:15:42.279
to see how he's doing. Tommy then says, I'm hoping

02:15:42.279 --> 02:15:44.600
for a miracle here, but I'm going to ask Anthony

02:15:44.600 --> 02:15:46.899
if he could make a call to the lead park ranger

02:15:46.899 --> 02:15:49.199
down here and see if we get a special permission

02:15:49.199 --> 02:15:52.539
to enter the pyramid. I mean, if what David is

02:15:52.539 --> 02:15:55.600
saying is true, which I believe him to be, then

02:15:55.600 --> 02:15:57.739
we need to get into that chamber and document

02:15:57.739 --> 02:16:00.039
as much as possible before we have to leave.

02:16:00.579 --> 02:16:03.380
It's an undisturbed treasure trove of valuable

02:16:03.380 --> 02:16:06.840
artifacts, history and culture. Hawthorne looks

02:16:06.840 --> 02:16:09.520
over at Tommy with a smile and says, Hmm, just

02:16:09.520 --> 02:16:12.979
like old times, buddy. I'm in. That's if Anthony

02:16:12.979 --> 02:16:15.300
can help make it happen in the next 45 minutes.

02:16:15.760 --> 02:16:18.140
Miranda then says, I just had an idea, David.

02:16:18.260 --> 02:16:20.720
She continues, in return for giving them the

02:16:20.720 --> 02:16:22.640
location where you found the mask, why don't

02:16:22.640 --> 02:16:24.579
you ask them to return the jade jar they stole

02:16:24.579 --> 02:16:27.189
as well? They already have a golden mask, which

02:16:27.189 --> 02:16:29.609
is worth far more than the jar. I wonder if they'd

02:16:29.609 --> 02:16:31.770
compromise. While Tommy is on the phone with

02:16:31.770 --> 02:16:33.729
Anthony, who's still in the hospital back in

02:16:33.729 --> 02:16:36.469
Mexico City, but doing better, David sends a

02:16:36.469 --> 02:16:38.450
text back to the number that sent him the photo

02:16:38.450 --> 02:16:40.709
of his brother, demanding that not only do they

02:16:40.709 --> 02:16:42.989
give him his brother back, but also the jade

02:16:42.989 --> 02:16:45.610
jar they took. Of course, he's assuming they

02:16:45.610 --> 02:16:48.540
have it on them. He then says to Miranda, I hope

02:16:48.540 --> 02:16:50.979
this works and doesn't backfire. The cartel can

02:16:50.979 --> 02:16:52.680
be quite cruel if they think you're changing

02:16:52.680 --> 02:16:55.420
the details of the agreement. I mean, their message

02:16:55.420 --> 02:16:59.600
did say no negotiation. At that moment, Tommy

02:16:59.600 --> 02:17:01.739
turns back around and faces the group again,

02:17:02.000 --> 02:17:04.559
having been on the phone for about five minutes

02:17:04.559 --> 02:17:08.120
and then says, okay, I've got good news. Anthony

02:17:08.120 --> 02:17:10.579
got hold of the lead park ranger here and got

02:17:10.579 --> 02:17:12.860
us permission to enter El Castillo accompanied

02:17:12.860 --> 02:17:16.959
by one of the on -site workers. Anyways, I guess

02:17:16.959 --> 02:17:18.899
the lead rangers felt sorry for what had happened

02:17:18.899 --> 02:17:22.100
to Anthony. And well, he was easily convinced

02:17:22.100 --> 02:17:26.340
we had got verbal permission. He continues, one

02:17:26.340 --> 02:17:28.139
of the site's workers will be here in a few minutes

02:17:28.139 --> 02:17:30.639
and will take us into the pyramid. Hawthorne

02:17:30.639 --> 02:17:32.920
jumps in and says, does anyone have a flashlight

02:17:32.920 --> 02:17:34.979
on them? Well, besides your phone flashlight?

02:17:35.940 --> 02:17:38.180
None of them had a proper flashlight. However,

02:17:38.379 --> 02:17:41.079
they all had their phones and Ava did have her

02:17:41.079 --> 02:17:44.530
camera as well. Eva, who had been quite silent

02:17:44.530 --> 02:17:46.750
listening to all the events unfolding, then says,

02:17:46.930 --> 02:17:49.270
Professor Tommy, I've got my camera with me and

02:17:49.270 --> 02:17:51.809
I can help take photos once we get inside. It

02:17:51.809 --> 02:17:54.170
could help since you're wanting to document what

02:17:54.170 --> 02:17:57.790
we find. Tommy responds to Eva. Good idea, Eva.

02:17:58.049 --> 02:18:01.149
This would be helpful. Oh look, there's the sight

02:18:01.149 --> 02:18:03.850
ranger now. Looks like he's motioning us to follow

02:18:03.850 --> 02:18:06.430
him around the back of the pyramid. Tommy then

02:18:06.430 --> 02:18:09.430
says in a somewhat sarcastic voice, I hope you're

02:18:09.430 --> 02:18:12.459
ready to walk up 91 steep steps to the top. We

02:18:12.459 --> 02:18:14.700
need to enter the structure from the top. And

02:18:14.700 --> 02:18:17.520
with that, Tommy, Hawthorne, Ava, David, and

02:18:17.520 --> 02:18:19.719
Miranda disappear around the backside of the

02:18:19.719 --> 02:18:22.360
pyramid, led by the young park ranger who looks

02:18:22.360 --> 02:18:25.819
to be not even 20 years old. Following the young

02:18:25.819 --> 02:18:28.860
park ranger who seemingly bound up the 91 stone

02:18:28.860 --> 02:18:31.479
steps to the top of the pyramid, rather quickly,

02:18:31.739 --> 02:18:34.479
Hawthorne and Tommy were the last to make it

02:18:34.479 --> 02:18:37.059
to the top of the temple structure where the

02:18:37.059 --> 02:18:39.489
others were already waiting. The pyramid structure

02:18:39.489 --> 02:18:43.530
stood 79 feet tall off the ground, or 24 meters.

02:18:43.829 --> 02:18:46.250
The temple which sits on top of the pyramid is

02:18:46.250 --> 02:18:49.670
20 feet tall, or 6 meters. Altogether, the entire

02:18:49.670 --> 02:18:52.270
structure, pyramid, and temple have a height

02:18:52.270 --> 02:18:56.190
of around 98 feet, or 30 meters. The temple is

02:18:56.190 --> 02:18:58.870
a square stone structure and would be the group's

02:18:58.870 --> 02:19:01.610
entry point into the pyramid. After catching

02:19:01.610 --> 02:19:03.469
their breath and wiping the sweat from their

02:19:03.469 --> 02:19:05.930
faces, the group of five looked to the young

02:19:05.930 --> 02:19:08.299
park ranger for some instructions. The young

02:19:08.299 --> 02:19:10.340
man didn't say anything. He just looked back

02:19:10.340 --> 02:19:12.579
at them. It was midday and the sun was quite

02:19:12.579 --> 02:19:14.700
hot, so the group was anxious to get into some

02:19:14.700 --> 02:19:17.680
shade. So Hawthorne asked, so can we enter the

02:19:17.680 --> 02:19:19.700
structure now? There was a long pause and then

02:19:19.700 --> 02:19:21.780
the young park ranger, not really wanted to do

02:19:21.780 --> 02:19:23.920
this in the first place, replied by telling the

02:19:23.920 --> 02:19:25.979
group that he was just going to go wait for them

02:19:25.979 --> 02:19:28.700
down at the bottom of the structure outside and

02:19:28.700 --> 02:19:30.659
on the ground level just to make sure no other

02:19:30.659 --> 02:19:33.020
tourists attempted to climb the pyramid. He told

02:19:33.020 --> 02:19:35.200
the group that they could take as long as they

02:19:35.200 --> 02:19:37.440
want and just to come back out the way that they

02:19:37.440 --> 02:19:39.780
came and to make sure they are not in there too

02:19:39.780 --> 02:19:42.379
long because the quality of the air is not good

02:19:42.379 --> 02:19:50.309
for long exposure. After the young park ranger

02:19:50.309 --> 02:19:52.209
unlocked a small metal gate which would allow

02:19:52.209 --> 02:19:54.670
the group to enter the structure, he then started

02:19:54.670 --> 02:19:57.209
walking back down the 91 stone stairs toward

02:19:57.209 --> 02:19:59.870
the base of the pyramid. While standing at the

02:19:59.870 --> 02:20:01.770
top of the pyramid and as the group was getting

02:20:01.770 --> 02:20:04.610
ready to enter, David gets a text message from

02:20:04.610 --> 02:20:07.950
the cartel and it reads, We agree. We will exchange

02:20:07.950 --> 02:20:09.770
your brother and the J .H .R. for the location.

02:20:10.540 --> 02:20:14.040
No more changes. Instructions to follow. David

02:20:14.040 --> 02:20:16.000
reads the text message to the group and then

02:20:16.000 --> 02:20:18.540
says, wait, they are sending another text. Just

02:20:18.540 --> 02:20:21.270
a moment. The next text message David receives

02:20:21.270 --> 02:20:24.129
then says, The J -Jar will be dropped off at

02:20:24.129 --> 02:20:26.729
the Grand Museum's front reception desk at Chichen

02:20:26.729 --> 02:20:29.649
Itza as a sign of good faith once we have received

02:20:29.649 --> 02:20:31.690
the location of where you discovered the golden

02:20:31.690 --> 02:20:34.209
mass. Then, we will release your brother when

02:20:34.209 --> 02:20:36.549
we confirm the location you sent us is legitimate.

02:20:36.950 --> 02:20:39.989
No games, no authorities, or your brother disappears

02:20:39.989 --> 02:20:43.329
forever. David then says to the group, Okay,

02:20:43.430 --> 02:20:45.670
let's do this. I know the way and we don't have

02:20:45.670 --> 02:20:48.219
a lot of time. By this time, the young park ranger

02:20:48.219 --> 02:20:50.260
had made it to the bottom of the pyramid and

02:20:50.260 --> 02:20:52.559
was already resting on one of the benches under

02:20:52.559 --> 02:20:55.020
a tree some 30 yards away from the base of the

02:20:55.020 --> 02:20:57.219
structure, just sitting there and chilling out.

02:20:57.639 --> 02:21:00.239
As a group of five funneled into the stone temple

02:21:00.239 --> 02:21:02.959
structure at the top of the pyramid, some had

02:21:02.959 --> 02:21:05.459
feelings of worry and some had feelings of excitement,

02:21:05.719 --> 02:21:09.219
or a mix of both. Hawthorne was the last to enter.

02:21:09.299 --> 02:21:11.899
He stood in the small stone entranceway of the

02:21:11.899 --> 02:21:14.360
temple, looked back over his shoulder and toward

02:21:14.360 --> 02:21:18.180
the horizon and thought, Wow, what a view. And

02:21:18.180 --> 02:21:28.340
what have we gotten ourselves into? Part 6. The

02:21:28.340 --> 02:21:32.739
Escape The passageways inside El Castillo, the

02:21:32.739 --> 02:21:35.659
step pyramid of Chichen Itza, were small and

02:21:35.659 --> 02:21:38.319
cramped. This once great structure from the ancient

02:21:38.319 --> 02:21:41.219
Mayan past held many, many horrible secrets.

02:21:41.819 --> 02:21:43.840
some that would never be told, and some that

02:21:43.840 --> 02:21:46.120
were too gruesome to be told, especially to children.

02:21:46.360 --> 02:21:49.239
The inside was dark, quiet, and still. Yes, the

02:21:49.239 --> 02:21:51.959
place gave us a sense of mystery. If a person

02:21:51.959 --> 02:21:54.059
was not careful, they could get lost, especially

02:21:54.059 --> 02:21:56.520
in the dark, as no light from the outside could

02:21:56.520 --> 02:21:59.180
enter. It was a sealed structure. Hawthorne,

02:21:59.219 --> 02:22:01.459
who was the last of the five people in line,

02:22:01.659 --> 02:22:04.459
David being the first, still marveled at the

02:22:04.459 --> 02:22:06.659
engineering of the structure as he moved through

02:22:06.659 --> 02:22:09.959
the passageways, which led down. Miranda followed

02:22:09.959 --> 02:22:13.700
David, then Ava, Tommy, and then Hawthorne. Fortunately,

02:22:13.840 --> 02:22:16.340
the five of them all had somewhat full battery

02:22:16.340 --> 02:22:18.860
life on their phones, so they took turns using

02:22:18.860 --> 02:22:21.819
the built -in flashlights. David, who was leading,

02:22:22.020 --> 02:22:24.040
held one light and then Tommy held the other

02:22:24.040 --> 02:22:26.219
light, which gave them three phone lights as

02:22:26.219 --> 02:22:28.760
backups. There was no cell signal within the

02:22:28.760 --> 02:22:31.889
structure either. Hawthorne appreciated David's

02:22:31.889 --> 02:22:33.870
confidence and had a good feeling they would

02:22:33.870 --> 02:22:36.350
be in and out within 30 minutes. This would give

02:22:36.350 --> 02:22:38.649
the group time to investigate the hidden chamber

02:22:38.649 --> 02:22:41.590
David had mentioned. David, Miranda says quietly

02:22:41.590 --> 02:22:43.809
as she is following closely behind him in the

02:22:43.809 --> 02:22:46.590
cramped downward and winding passageway. This

02:22:46.590 --> 02:22:48.930
place gives me the creeps. How'd you do it last

02:22:48.930 --> 02:22:51.549
time with just your dive partner and you? I mean,

02:22:51.569 --> 02:22:53.450
your expedition seemed to have been high risk.

02:22:53.610 --> 02:22:56.049
I'm surprised the university endorsed it. David,

02:22:56.190 --> 02:22:58.510
not stopping, turned his head slightly so Miranda

02:22:58.510 --> 02:23:01.190
could hear him answer and said, I suppose that's

02:23:01.190 --> 02:23:03.829
why they hired me. I've done so many high -risk

02:23:03.829 --> 02:23:06.010
dives, this really didn't seem that different.

02:23:06.270 --> 02:23:08.709
However, now that you say that, maybe it was

02:23:08.709 --> 02:23:11.430
a bit more risky than usual. He continues, my

02:23:11.430 --> 02:23:14.010
partner and I carried all our own gear in and

02:23:14.010 --> 02:23:16.670
out of this place. And we did not have a way

02:23:16.670 --> 02:23:18.969
to communicate with anyone on the outside once

02:23:18.969 --> 02:23:21.850
we dove the cenote. The other two guys that came

02:23:21.850 --> 02:23:24.250
with us left us down as soon as they saw us put

02:23:24.250 --> 02:23:26.559
on our dive gear. I guess they were a little

02:23:26.559 --> 02:23:28.899
jumpsy and superstitious and didn't want to be

02:23:28.899 --> 02:23:30.799
inside this thing any longer than they needed

02:23:30.799 --> 02:23:33.639
to. Ava, who could somewhat hear David's answer

02:23:33.639 --> 02:23:36.319
to Miranda's question, then asked, So David,

02:23:36.540 --> 02:23:38.879
hoping David would hear her question, then asked,

02:23:39.280 --> 02:23:41.200
It seems we've been going down for a while now,

02:23:41.340 --> 02:23:43.200
and we've got to be getting close to the base

02:23:43.200 --> 02:23:45.459
of the interior of this thing. What's your estimate?

02:23:45.620 --> 02:23:48.139
Are we almost there yet? Miranda echoed Ava's

02:23:48.139 --> 02:23:50.000
question to David, who was walking and moving

02:23:50.000 --> 02:23:52.860
at a good pace. She also added, How will we know

02:23:52.860 --> 02:23:55.450
it when we are there? At that moment, they left

02:23:55.450 --> 02:23:57.329
the narrow and cramped passageway and entered

02:23:57.329 --> 02:24:00.670
into a large open space or cavern. In the center

02:24:00.670 --> 02:24:03.069
of the large open cavern was a beautiful pool

02:24:03.069 --> 02:24:05.270
of water. It was almost surreal as the water

02:24:05.270 --> 02:24:08.069
was stunningly turquoise blue, clear, and pristine.

02:24:08.190 --> 02:24:10.790
It glowed and the light it produced lit up the

02:24:10.790 --> 02:24:13.229
cavern. As all five of them entered the cavern,

02:24:13.329 --> 02:24:15.889
David said, Turn off your phone lights. We can

02:24:15.889 --> 02:24:18.010
use the bioluminescence from the algae in the

02:24:18.010 --> 02:24:20.649
water to see. Isn't it beautiful? Wow, David,

02:24:20.889 --> 02:24:23.190
I guess you left this out of your story. This

02:24:23.190 --> 02:24:25.790
is an incredible place, Ava says with a grin.

02:24:25.989 --> 02:24:28.649
She then looks back at Hawthorne standing behind

02:24:28.649 --> 02:24:31.530
her and says under her breath, this place sure

02:24:31.530 --> 02:24:33.850
beats the tunnels on old man Sutter's property.

02:24:34.170 --> 02:24:36.350
Hawthorne laughs quietly and nods his head in

02:24:36.350 --> 02:24:39.250
agreement and says back to Ava, a place I'd rather

02:24:39.250 --> 02:24:41.950
not revisit, that's for sure. He then adds with

02:24:41.950 --> 02:24:44.549
a grin on his face, a place it seems you and

02:24:44.549 --> 02:24:46.969
Sierra did go back and visit though, I mean.

02:24:47.479 --> 02:24:50.239
The missus and I are quite thankful you did too.

02:24:51.059 --> 02:24:53.299
Hawthorne and Ava's coded conversation about

02:24:53.299 --> 02:24:55.639
their previous adventure back in El Dorado County

02:24:55.639 --> 02:24:58.579
was interrupted when Tommy spoke up. So much

02:24:58.579 --> 02:25:00.659
has changed about this place from the last time

02:25:00.659 --> 02:25:03.440
I was here. Tommy tells the group, he continues,

02:25:03.760 --> 02:25:07.239
I don't remember much being, it was so long ago,

02:25:07.319 --> 02:25:09.760
but I do remember that this pool was not glowing

02:25:09.760 --> 02:25:12.760
and it was not this deep and clear. Miranda turns

02:25:12.760 --> 02:25:16.000
and then asks Tommy, What do you mean? It wasn't

02:25:16.000 --> 02:25:18.139
like this when you were here last time? Tommy

02:25:18.139 --> 02:25:20.799
answers, It's been almost 30 years since I was

02:25:20.799 --> 02:25:24.319
here. And no. Back then, it was just a dark and

02:25:24.319 --> 02:25:27.120
dank cabin. Tommy then looks at Hawthorne's and

02:25:27.120 --> 02:25:29.979
asks, What do you think? Maybe there's an underground

02:25:29.979 --> 02:25:32.420
spring or river that eventually collided with

02:25:32.420 --> 02:25:35.899
a cenote pool here and, well, opened up, creating

02:25:35.899 --> 02:25:38.639
a deeper chasm and bringing in the algae and

02:25:38.639 --> 02:25:41.360
more fresh water. Tommy continues, and there

02:25:41.360 --> 02:25:43.299
used to be a ground -level entry -exit point

02:25:43.299 --> 02:25:45.280
to this cabin from the outside for many, many

02:25:45.280 --> 02:25:47.920
years ago, when archaeologists were still studying

02:25:47.920 --> 02:25:50.139
the interior. I've only been through it once,

02:25:50.260 --> 02:25:52.719
way back in the day, but it's been closed back

02:25:52.719 --> 02:25:55.180
in, I think. That's probably why the park ranger

02:25:55.180 --> 02:25:57.639
had us enter from the top. Well, at least we

02:25:57.639 --> 02:26:00.559
got some exercise. Hawthorne replies, You've

02:26:00.559 --> 02:26:03.059
got a good memory, Tommy. I had totally forgotten

02:26:03.059 --> 02:26:05.620
about that other entry point down on this level,

02:26:05.760 --> 02:26:07.860
and your theory about the underground spring

02:26:07.860 --> 02:26:10.819
and river could be true. There's got to be fresh

02:26:10.819 --> 02:26:13.899
water source circulating from the cenote. Otherwise,

02:26:14.000 --> 02:26:16.100
there wouldn't be that algae and fresh vegetation.

02:26:16.620 --> 02:26:19.520
He then asked David a question. When you dove

02:26:19.520 --> 02:26:21.840
this pool, did you and your partner feel any

02:26:21.840 --> 02:26:25.219
underwater currents? David answered and said,

02:26:25.399 --> 02:26:28.000
yes, the deeper we dove, the current got stronger.

02:26:28.739 --> 02:26:30.979
He then says, my partner and I assumed there

02:26:30.979 --> 02:26:33.579
was an underground river under this place, but

02:26:33.579 --> 02:26:35.639
didn't want to risk exploring any more than we

02:26:35.639 --> 02:26:38.549
had to at that time. We were not prepared for

02:26:38.549 --> 02:26:40.690
that type of diving. That's when we called it

02:26:40.690 --> 02:26:43.290
quits and came back up to the surface, took off

02:26:43.290 --> 02:26:45.850
our gear, and then discovered the hidden passageway

02:26:45.850 --> 02:26:49.409
to the chamber, just over there. David then points

02:26:49.409 --> 02:26:51.690
to the far wall opposite of where they were all

02:26:51.690 --> 02:26:54.329
standing. Come on, let's go and I'll show you

02:26:54.329 --> 02:27:01.280
as we don't have a lot of time left. As their

02:27:01.280 --> 02:27:03.799
car was nearing the ancient site of Chichen Itza,

02:27:04.000 --> 02:27:06.680
Maria gives instructions to Renata and Carlos

02:27:06.680 --> 02:27:09.840
about the plan. She explains, here's what's going

02:27:09.840 --> 02:27:12.600
to happen. The other cartel guy in front of us

02:27:12.600 --> 02:27:14.579
in the old pickup truck is going to pull off

02:27:14.579 --> 02:27:16.719
the main highway close to the other main parking

02:27:16.719 --> 02:27:19.659
site by the El Castillo. You know the big pyramid

02:27:19.659 --> 02:27:22.899
and wait. Our driver is taking us to the Grand

02:27:22.899 --> 02:27:25.639
Museum first. That's when you, Renata, are going

02:27:25.639 --> 02:27:28.420
to take this black small black bag, the one in

02:27:28.420 --> 02:27:30.700
the jay jar it is in, to the front reception

02:27:30.700 --> 02:27:33.479
desk. Drop it off with the desk clerk and attach

02:27:33.479 --> 02:27:36.340
this note to it. Maria points to a note that

02:27:36.340 --> 02:27:40.079
says, To Mr. Silva, welcome to the Yucatan. Enjoy

02:27:40.079 --> 02:27:43.139
your stay. Maria continues, don't need to pay

02:27:43.139 --> 02:27:45.200
attention to the note. It's just there to divert

02:27:45.200 --> 02:27:48.420
attention away from the bag. Renata then says,

02:27:48.620 --> 02:27:51.129
wait what? We went through a lot to steal that

02:27:51.129 --> 02:27:54.090
thing. Why are we dropping it off here? We're

02:27:54.090 --> 02:27:57.909
not, Maria answers. Now listen, Big Boss wants

02:27:57.909 --> 02:28:00.510
to use it as bait. The receptionist will just

02:28:00.510 --> 02:28:02.030
think you're just dropping it off for someone

02:28:02.030 --> 02:28:04.850
coming to visit. Maybe a friend or another tourist.

02:28:05.190 --> 02:28:07.690
Either way, it's meant to deflect attention away

02:28:07.690 --> 02:28:10.149
from the actual bag. At least that's what you

02:28:10.149 --> 02:28:12.090
need to convince the desk clerk of when you go

02:28:12.090 --> 02:28:15.760
in there. Carlos, who is sitting quiet and just

02:28:15.760 --> 02:28:18.659
looking out the sidecar window, then chimes in

02:28:18.659 --> 02:28:22.100
and says, that sounds like a stupid plan. Wasn't

02:28:22.100 --> 02:28:24.340
that piece supposed to be turned over to the

02:28:24.340 --> 02:28:27.479
guy back in Mexico City? The guy who's working

02:28:27.479 --> 02:28:30.180
with some big oil company? Carlos then looks

02:28:30.180 --> 02:28:32.500
at his aunt sitting in the front seat and asks,

02:28:32.739 --> 02:28:35.040
why did we take this job? It's gotten way too

02:28:35.040 --> 02:28:38.860
complicated. Maria answers back, this time with

02:28:38.860 --> 02:28:41.239
a softer tone as she tries to assure her nephew

02:28:41.239 --> 02:28:43.819
that it's all going to work out in the end. She

02:28:43.819 --> 02:28:47.399
says, Well, nephew, we're stuck between two very

02:28:47.399 --> 02:28:50.319
powerful players. Our driver and his boss represent

02:28:50.319 --> 02:28:52.639
one of those big players and the guy back in

02:28:52.639 --> 02:28:54.719
Mexico City represents the other big player.

02:28:54.879 --> 02:28:57.760
Both have unlimited resources and both have all

02:28:57.760 --> 02:29:00.940
the power. And we really need that payout. Renata

02:29:00.940 --> 02:29:04.420
jumps in and says, This better work. I mean,

02:29:04.440 --> 02:29:06.879
I assume you're trying to get more information

02:29:06.879 --> 02:29:08.860
from the brother of the guy who's in the trunk.

02:29:09.260 --> 02:29:12.260
Why else would I be doing this? I didn't think

02:29:12.260 --> 02:29:14.920
the big boss wanted to negotiate. Maria then

02:29:14.920 --> 02:29:17.920
tries to end the conversation with this. The

02:29:17.920 --> 02:29:20.020
brother of the guy in the trunk has more information

02:29:20.020 --> 02:29:22.940
the cartel wants, and it must be important enough

02:29:22.940 --> 02:29:25.260
to negotiate with the jar. Well, that's what

02:29:25.260 --> 02:29:27.299
we are hoping they think is in the black bag.

02:29:27.860 --> 02:29:30.790
She continues. We've talked enough about it already.

02:29:31.010 --> 02:29:32.969
We need to find a rock that weighs about the

02:29:32.969 --> 02:29:35.469
same as the jar, wrap it in newspaper, and then

02:29:35.469 --> 02:29:37.309
swap out the rock for the jar in the black bag.

02:29:37.629 --> 02:29:40.110
The jade jar won't actually be in the black bag.

02:29:40.250 --> 02:29:42.409
We want to bluff them and see if they take the

02:29:42.409 --> 02:29:45.409
bait. You also need to zip tie the black zippers

02:29:45.409 --> 02:29:47.370
together once you swap the rock for the jar.

02:29:47.549 --> 02:29:49.729
We don't need anyone accidentally opening that

02:29:49.729 --> 02:29:52.670
black bag prematurely. Renanta says one last

02:29:52.670 --> 02:29:55.690
thing. This bluff better work since I'm the one

02:29:55.690 --> 02:29:58.700
that will be walking in there. You do realize

02:29:58.700 --> 02:30:01.260
that there are cameras everywhere. And that's

02:30:01.260 --> 02:30:03.440
why you're going in there. Now make yourself

02:30:03.440 --> 02:30:06.020
look like a young, innocent tourist. Maria snaps

02:30:06.020 --> 02:30:08.500
back as she turns back around in the car seat.

02:30:13.639 --> 02:30:16.440
The hidden chamber was dark and dusty. As the

02:30:16.440 --> 02:30:18.379
five entered the space with David leading the

02:30:18.379 --> 02:30:20.819
way, they were in awe at the contents that were

02:30:20.819 --> 02:30:23.659
hidden within. Troves of old artifacts filled

02:30:23.659 --> 02:30:26.379
the chamber. from well -kept and decorated old

02:30:26.379 --> 02:30:29.020
pottery pieces and jars filled with coins, to

02:30:29.020 --> 02:30:31.700
other gold and precious metal decorations and

02:30:31.700 --> 02:30:34.360
ornaments that dated back to when the Mayan people

02:30:34.360 --> 02:30:37.479
inhabited this land. El Castillo, or so it seemed,

02:30:37.680 --> 02:30:40.340
was not just used as a spiritual place of worship

02:30:40.340 --> 02:30:43.040
and sacrifice, but it seemed to also be used

02:30:43.040 --> 02:30:45.700
as a place to hold Mayan treasure. The team of

02:30:45.700 --> 02:30:48.659
five, Tommy, Hawthorne, Miranda, David, and Ava,

02:30:48.760 --> 02:30:51.479
worked fast to document and take as many photos

02:30:51.479 --> 02:30:54.260
of different pieces as possible. They knew that

02:30:54.260 --> 02:30:56.219
they could not carry anything back out with them.

02:30:56.319 --> 02:30:58.639
However, with the others in agreement, Tommy

02:30:58.639 --> 02:31:01.040
and Hawthorne wanted to take several small gold

02:31:01.040 --> 02:31:03.500
and silver coins back out with them as physical

02:31:03.500 --> 02:31:05.860
proof so they could show the proper authorities

02:31:05.860 --> 02:31:08.159
at some point. They all understood what was at

02:31:08.159 --> 02:31:10.379
stake if the information about this hidden treasure

02:31:10.379 --> 02:31:13.270
chamber got out to the wrong people. and there

02:31:13.270 --> 02:31:15.489
was still concern for David's brother. David

02:31:15.489 --> 02:31:17.629
still had not decided about how much detail he

02:31:17.629 --> 02:31:19.690
was going to give the guy on the other side of

02:31:19.690 --> 02:31:21.469
the phone once they were back outside of the

02:31:21.469 --> 02:31:23.870
pyramid. He still had time to think as the group

02:31:23.870 --> 02:31:25.709
was getting ready to leave the inside of the

02:31:25.709 --> 02:31:27.930
Castillo. Meanwhile, the other cartel driver

02:31:27.930 --> 02:31:30.790
of the old pickup truck had parked just off the

02:31:30.790 --> 02:31:33.049
highway near the main parking lot of El Castillo.

02:31:33.170 --> 02:31:35.049
The driver got out of the truck and looked into

02:31:35.049 --> 02:31:37.430
the brush and undergrowth near the road. He made

02:31:37.430 --> 02:31:39.909
a motion with his hand and whistled. Moments

02:31:39.909 --> 02:32:01.459
later, two guys appeared. The group makes their

02:32:01.459 --> 02:32:03.780
way out of the treasure chamber and then back

02:32:03.780 --> 02:32:07.760
out into the larger Cenote Cavern. They meticulously

02:32:08.409 --> 02:32:10.809
put many of the stones and rocks back in place

02:32:10.809 --> 02:32:14.409
to cover the hidden passageway once again. This

02:32:14.409 --> 02:32:16.270
took a little longer than they had hoped for.

02:32:16.549 --> 02:32:19.450
Hawthorne, who was now standing closest to the

02:32:19.450 --> 02:32:22.149
corridor they had come down just a short 30 minutes

02:32:22.149 --> 02:32:24.870
earlier, says to the group, Let's head back out.

02:32:24.930 --> 02:32:27.030
I can leave this time with my phone light since

02:32:27.030 --> 02:32:29.049
I've got a full battery. With that said, the

02:32:29.049 --> 02:32:31.729
group of five exit the glowing Cenote Cavern

02:32:31.729 --> 02:32:34.190
and make their way into the narrow and cramped

02:32:34.190 --> 02:32:36.790
corridors that had led them down to the bottom.

02:32:37.209 --> 02:32:40.090
They now must take the same path back out. All

02:32:40.090 --> 02:32:42.170
of a sudden, Miranda, who was falling right behind

02:32:42.170 --> 02:32:44.129
Hawthorne with the other three right behind her,

02:32:44.190 --> 02:32:46.469
grabbed Hawthorne's arm from behind and stopped

02:32:46.469 --> 02:32:48.489
abruptly, which made Hawthorne stop as well.

02:32:48.629 --> 02:32:50.930
She then said in a whisper, Do you hear that?

02:32:51.010 --> 02:32:53.190
I hear voices. It sounds like someone's coming

02:32:53.190 --> 02:32:55.110
this way. Tommy, who was falling right behind

02:32:55.110 --> 02:32:58.090
Miranda, says, Why are we stopping? Tommy then

02:32:58.090 --> 02:33:00.510
watches as Miranda puts her finger to her ear,

02:33:00.610 --> 02:33:02.930
then points towards Hawthorne into the darkness,

02:33:03.110 --> 02:33:05.250
as if to communicate that she hears something

02:33:05.250 --> 02:33:08.319
in the corridor up ahead. Tommy then turns around

02:33:08.319 --> 02:33:10.600
and whispers to David and Ava, who are behind

02:33:10.600 --> 02:33:12.860
him. Miranda and Hawthorne stop because they

02:33:12.860 --> 02:33:15.639
heard something ahead. David then whispers through

02:33:15.639 --> 02:33:18.600
Ava to where Tommy and says, Well, maybe it's

02:33:18.600 --> 02:33:20.719
the kid park ranger coming to check on us down

02:33:20.719 --> 02:33:23.360
here. Ava, who is visibly getting more nervous

02:33:23.360 --> 02:33:25.399
the longer they stood still in the small narrow

02:33:25.399 --> 02:33:28.829
corridor, then says, I doubt that kid is going

02:33:28.829 --> 02:33:31.510
to come looking for us down here. We haven't

02:33:31.510 --> 02:33:33.370
been gone that long, and he gave off the impression

02:33:33.370 --> 02:33:36.090
that we were his biggest inconvenience of the

02:33:36.090 --> 02:33:38.969
day. At that moment, a faint light coming from

02:33:38.969 --> 02:33:41.610
up ahead in the corridor was slowly getting brighter

02:33:41.610 --> 02:33:44.190
against the stone wall it was reflecting off

02:33:44.190 --> 02:33:47.170
of. Hawthorne could hear the voices now. It sounded

02:33:47.170 --> 02:33:49.729
like there were two people talking to each other,

02:33:49.770 --> 02:33:52.930
maybe three. He quickly asked Miranda in a whisper,

02:33:53.149 --> 02:33:55.700
What do you think? Should we wait here and meet

02:33:55.700 --> 02:33:57.799
whoever this is coming toward us in the corridor?

02:33:58.340 --> 02:34:01.139
Or turn around and have David take us back down

02:34:01.139 --> 02:34:03.899
to the Cenote Cavern? Miranda immediately responds

02:34:03.899 --> 02:34:06.239
and says, we should turn around and go back now.

02:34:06.340 --> 02:34:08.180
I hear their Spanish and the way they're talking

02:34:08.180 --> 02:34:09.959
to each other. Well, they sound quite serious.

02:34:10.219 --> 02:34:12.459
I don't think this is anyone we know and no one

02:34:12.459 --> 02:34:15.040
else is supposed to be down here right now. Miranda

02:34:15.040 --> 02:34:17.299
then turns around facing Tommy now. She says

02:34:17.299 --> 02:34:19.760
in a whisper, go back down, go back down. Tommy

02:34:19.760 --> 02:34:21.940
could tell Miranda was serious by the tone in

02:34:21.940 --> 02:34:25.360
her voice and by the look. on her face so without

02:34:25.360 --> 02:34:28.020
questioning her he turned around and motioned

02:34:28.020 --> 02:34:30.840
to ava and david to go back down to the cenote

02:34:30.840 --> 02:34:34.100
cavern and quickly david turned around and with

02:34:34.100 --> 02:34:36.180
the others following immediately started fast

02:34:36.180 --> 02:34:38.200
walking back down the way they had just come

02:34:38.200 --> 02:34:41.500
he was thinking but did not say out loud what

02:34:41.500 --> 02:34:43.959
are we doing then he thought i trust miranda's

02:34:43.959 --> 02:34:46.700
instinct though a few minutes later the group

02:34:46.700 --> 02:34:49.120
enters the large cavern again and they are right

02:34:49.120 --> 02:34:51.239
back where they came from Hawthorne, who was

02:34:51.239 --> 02:34:53.639
last to enter, says to the others, who are now

02:34:53.639 --> 02:34:56.120
huddled around each other, trying to come up

02:34:56.120 --> 02:34:59.540
with a plan. We have maybe five minutes, tops.

02:34:59.819 --> 02:35:01.840
Whoever's coming down that corridor is moving

02:35:01.840 --> 02:35:04.540
pretty fast, and they'll be here shortly. What's

02:35:04.540 --> 02:35:07.979
the plan? David, without hesitation, then says,

02:35:08.239 --> 02:35:12.840
Wait, I have an idea, Professor. Yeah? Both Professor

02:35:12.840 --> 02:35:15.600
Hawthorne and Prof Tommy answer at the same time.

02:35:15.920 --> 02:35:18.680
David then asks, Do you both still have those

02:35:18.680 --> 02:35:20.600
coin samples you took from the hidden chamber?

02:35:20.840 --> 02:35:23.879
Yes. Both Hawthorne and Tommy answer at the same

02:35:23.879 --> 02:35:26.159
time again while shaking their heads in agreement.

02:35:26.579 --> 02:35:28.819
David then says with more urgency in his voice,

02:35:29.360 --> 02:35:31.559
Throw your coins in the water, some in the shallower

02:35:31.559 --> 02:35:34.139
part and some in the deeper part, and make sure

02:35:34.139 --> 02:35:36.479
they can be seen from where we're standing. Miranda

02:35:36.479 --> 02:35:38.819
then says, That's a great idea, and I know exactly

02:35:38.819 --> 02:35:40.719
what you're thinking. As Hawthorne and Tommy

02:35:40.719 --> 02:35:42.659
were dropping the sample coins they had taken

02:35:42.659 --> 02:35:46.229
from the hidden chamber, Ava then says, Uh, Professor

02:35:46.229 --> 02:35:48.770
Tommy, I think it's time you try to find that

02:35:48.770 --> 02:35:51.510
other exit and fast. Otherwise, we're trapped

02:35:51.510 --> 02:35:53.969
here with only one way out, and there's no way

02:35:53.969 --> 02:35:55.610
I'm going to try swim out through that thing.

02:35:55.729 --> 02:35:57.629
She says this as she's pointing to the glowing

02:35:57.629 --> 02:35:59.930
blue and turquoise water. Tommy throws his last

02:35:59.930 --> 02:36:02.690
coin in the wallet and then says, Got it, Ava,

02:36:02.770 --> 02:36:05.469
and I'm walking on it. It's been almost 30 years.

02:36:05.979 --> 02:36:08.379
and my memory is not what it used to be. He continues

02:36:08.379 --> 02:36:11.440
to think and says out loud to us other now watches

02:36:11.440 --> 02:36:13.799
him moving around the cavern looking for the

02:36:13.799 --> 02:36:16.700
old entry exit point. Hmm, let's see if I've

02:36:16.700 --> 02:36:18.399
remembered correctly. Hawthorne was standing

02:36:18.399 --> 02:36:20.639
on the edge of the cenote pool struggling to

02:36:20.639 --> 02:36:23.000
get the last two coins out of his pocket when

02:36:23.000 --> 02:36:25.120
all of a sudden three people emerged from the

02:36:25.120 --> 02:36:28.120
corridor directly behind him. He quickly looked

02:36:28.120 --> 02:36:30.780
at Ava, who was about an arm's length away from

02:36:30.780 --> 02:36:33.700
him, and then turned around, squarely standing

02:36:33.700 --> 02:36:36.200
face -to -face with the young park ranger who

02:36:36.200 --> 02:36:38.799
had obviously been smacked around a few times.

02:36:39.379 --> 02:36:41.840
The young park ranger, who had been quite rude

02:36:41.840 --> 02:36:44.940
and distant to the group a mere 40 minutes earlier,

02:36:45.600 --> 02:36:47.360
was now standing there looking directly into

02:36:47.360 --> 02:36:49.639
Hawthorne's eyes, scared and trembling like a

02:36:49.639 --> 02:36:52.540
small child. He had a large red mark on the side

02:36:52.540 --> 02:36:54.959
of his face, maybe from where he'd been hit or

02:36:54.959 --> 02:36:57.120
smacked by one of the cartel members who had

02:36:57.120 --> 02:37:00.120
escorted him down into the pyramid. Both cartel

02:37:00.120 --> 02:37:02.440
members had weapons, one more lethal than the

02:37:02.440 --> 02:37:05.280
other. It was obvious that the one cartel member

02:37:05.899 --> 02:37:08.440
who was holding the long gun, was older and in

02:37:08.440 --> 02:37:11.280
charge as he was shouting out commands in Spanish

02:37:11.280 --> 02:37:13.739
to the other. The other cartel member was holding

02:37:13.739 --> 02:37:16.520
a worn -out machete and pointing it in the direction

02:37:16.520 --> 02:37:20.260
of Ava. Hawthorne and Ava stood still, motionless,

02:37:20.340 --> 02:37:23.620
not wanting to escalate the situation. They both

02:37:23.620 --> 02:37:25.979
understood some of the commands being given in

02:37:25.979 --> 02:37:28.360
Spanish, but did not want the cartel members

02:37:28.360 --> 02:37:31.139
to know that they understood them. So they played

02:37:31.139 --> 02:37:34.239
dumb with faces of confusion. Miranda, looking

02:37:34.239 --> 02:37:36.819
back and over at where Tommy and David were and

02:37:36.819 --> 02:37:39.280
hoping they had located the old ground floor

02:37:39.280 --> 02:37:41.940
exit passageway, slowly started walking over

02:37:41.940 --> 02:37:44.239
to Ava with her hands up in the air and speaking

02:37:44.239 --> 02:37:47.420
softly in Spanish. She says, We are only scientists

02:37:47.420 --> 02:37:49.700
and professors. We are here at the request of

02:37:49.700 --> 02:37:51.879
our university and with permission from the park

02:37:51.879 --> 02:37:54.459
administrators. Both cartel members stood behind

02:37:54.459 --> 02:37:56.760
the young park ranger, using him as a shield

02:37:56.760 --> 02:37:59.020
and hostage, and threatening him by pressing

02:37:59.020 --> 02:38:01.200
the barrel of the long gun against the kid's

02:38:01.200 --> 02:38:03.659
back. As Miranda was trying to find her next

02:38:03.659 --> 02:38:06.159
words, hoping they would be strategic and calm,

02:38:06.260 --> 02:38:08.780
she noticed that the cartel member, the one holding

02:38:08.780 --> 02:38:11.100
the gun, was now looking down toward Professor

02:38:11.100 --> 02:38:13.719
Hawthorne's left hand. Professor Hawthorne knew

02:38:13.719 --> 02:38:16.399
exactly what the cartel member was looking at.

02:38:16.559 --> 02:38:19.100
The cartel member's flashlight was still on and

02:38:19.100 --> 02:38:21.780
it was pointing at Hawthorne's hand. The coins

02:38:21.780 --> 02:38:24.379
in Hawthorne's hands, the ones he struggled to

02:38:24.379 --> 02:38:26.739
get out of his pocket a moment ago, were now

02:38:26.739 --> 02:38:28.959
shining and glittering from the light of the

02:38:28.959 --> 02:38:31.450
flashlight. Hawthorne, directing his gaze back

02:38:31.450 --> 02:38:33.889
and forth between Miranda and the cartel member,

02:38:34.149 --> 02:38:37.229
listened as the two seemed to be arguing. Not

02:38:37.229 --> 02:38:40.170
understanding word for word, Hawthorne did figure

02:38:40.170 --> 02:38:42.549
out they were arguing about the coins and the

02:38:42.549 --> 02:38:45.010
potential of more treasure. While the verbal

02:38:45.010 --> 02:38:47.409
exchange between Miranda and cartel member was

02:38:47.409 --> 02:38:49.530
happening on the opposite side of the glowing

02:38:49.530 --> 02:38:52.709
blue cenote, Tommy and David had quietly found

02:38:52.709 --> 02:38:55.750
the old and partially usable exit corridor. It

02:38:55.750 --> 02:38:58.500
was full of cobwebs, dark and damp. This small

02:38:58.500 --> 02:39:01.680
exit corridor was used almost 60 years ago when

02:39:01.680 --> 02:39:03.959
archaeologists and researchers were still studying

02:39:03.959 --> 02:39:06.979
the inside of the pyramid. Researchers breached

02:39:06.979 --> 02:39:09.459
the walls of the pyramid at ground level to assist

02:39:09.459 --> 02:39:11.680
with getting in and out of the pyramid quickly,

02:39:11.860 --> 02:39:13.659
instead of having to enter and exit from the

02:39:13.659 --> 02:39:15.979
top. The exit corridor was just big enough to

02:39:15.979 --> 02:39:18.260
squeeze through, one at a time, with the hopes

02:39:18.260 --> 02:39:20.159
that the gate on the other side which led to

02:39:20.159 --> 02:39:22.760
the outside of the pyramid and daylight was not

02:39:22.760 --> 02:39:26.120
locked shut. Tommy looked at David and then said

02:39:26.120 --> 02:39:29.200
quietly, I think you should go first. Here, take

02:39:29.200 --> 02:39:31.860
this rock. Tommy picks up a medium -sized rock

02:39:31.860 --> 02:39:35.040
off the ground and puts it in David's hand. Go

02:39:35.040 --> 02:39:37.239
quietly into the corridor while they're arguing

02:39:37.239 --> 02:39:39.799
over there. See if it leads to the gate. If it

02:39:39.799 --> 02:39:41.979
does, use this rock and try to break the lock,

02:39:42.100 --> 02:39:45.059
which is on the inside of the gate latch. Then

02:39:45.059 --> 02:39:47.440
come right back in the middle if it's open. We

02:39:47.440 --> 02:39:50.120
can then figure out how we are all going to escape

02:39:50.120 --> 02:39:52.639
this situation. David looked back at Tommy and

02:39:52.639 --> 02:39:55.540
said, don't let anything happen to her. I mean...

02:39:55.799 --> 02:39:58.639
Don't let anything happen to any of them. I'll

02:39:58.639 --> 02:40:01.260
be right back. He then disappeared into the dark

02:40:01.260 --> 02:40:04.059
small corridor with a rock in hand. After David

02:40:04.059 --> 02:40:06.219
had entered the corridor, Tommy then stepped

02:40:06.219 --> 02:40:08.659
in front of its entrance to obstruct his view

02:40:08.659 --> 02:40:11.120
in case either of the cartel members suddenly

02:40:11.120 --> 02:40:14.100
gave notice to what he was doing on the far side

02:40:14.100 --> 02:40:17.200
of the cenote. Thankfully, the argument between

02:40:17.200 --> 02:40:19.600
Miranda and the two bad guys was still happening,

02:40:19.680 --> 02:40:22.159
and their attention was still on Hawthorne and

02:40:22.159 --> 02:40:25.139
what he was holding in his hand. So Tommy stood

02:40:25.139 --> 02:40:28.180
there, still and quiet, not wanting to attract

02:40:28.180 --> 02:40:30.879
attention to himself or the fact that David would

02:40:30.879 --> 02:40:33.459
be returning soon with either good or bad news.

02:40:33.719 --> 02:40:36.180
Hawthorne, now impatient with the entire situation

02:40:36.180 --> 02:40:39.139
and noticing the arguing was starting to escalate,

02:40:39.180 --> 02:40:41.920
interrupted both Miranda and the cartel member

02:40:41.920 --> 02:40:44.659
by holding out his hand toward the scared park

02:40:44.659 --> 02:40:48.059
ranger kid. The professor had three silver coins

02:40:48.059 --> 02:40:51.139
and two gold coins in the palm of his hand. The

02:40:51.139 --> 02:40:53.260
coins were shiny and reflected the light of the

02:40:53.260 --> 02:40:56.360
flashlight. The cartel members stopped talking

02:40:56.360 --> 02:40:59.479
mid -sentence and just stared at the coins. Hawthorne

02:40:59.479 --> 02:41:01.540
looked over at Miranda and nodded his head as

02:41:01.540 --> 02:41:04.579
if to say, but without really saying it, go ahead

02:41:04.579 --> 02:41:07.079
and tell him the treasure is in the cenote. All

02:41:07.079 --> 02:41:09.559
of it. Miranda immediately said, if you want

02:41:09.559 --> 02:41:11.700
to know, this was the secret cenote where the

02:41:11.700 --> 02:41:13.879
gold mask was found. And there's a lot more items

02:41:13.879 --> 02:41:15.760
in the pool. Coins like the ones the professor

02:41:15.760 --> 02:41:18.629
is holding. See? She then points toward the beautiful,

02:41:18.770 --> 02:41:21.209
glowing, and clear blue water and to the spot

02:41:21.209 --> 02:41:23.329
where Tommy and Professor Hawthorne had dropped

02:41:23.329 --> 02:41:25.649
some of the coins earlier. Some of the coins

02:41:25.649 --> 02:41:27.489
could be seen under the water from the surface,

02:41:27.670 --> 02:41:30.069
and others had slipped down deeper into the area

02:41:30.069 --> 02:41:32.590
of the cenote with a strong current. She continues,

02:41:32.850 --> 02:41:34.709
Look, there's a lot of treasure down there in

02:41:34.709 --> 02:41:36.930
the water. Can you see it? Miranda noticed that

02:41:36.930 --> 02:41:38.889
the cartel member, the one with the long gun,

02:41:38.989 --> 02:41:40.809
the one that had been arguing with her, seemed

02:41:40.809 --> 02:41:43.649
to be mesmerized in a trance by the coins he

02:41:43.649 --> 02:41:45.969
was now seeing in the water. He was quiet and

02:41:45.969 --> 02:41:48.149
peering. down into the water. Miranda could tell

02:41:48.149 --> 02:41:50.110
he was thinking about how to get the coins out

02:41:50.110 --> 02:41:52.469
of the water. Hawthorne knew this could be the

02:41:52.469 --> 02:41:55.530
group's opportunity to escape. He met eyes with

02:41:55.530 --> 02:41:59.590
Ava and mouthed the words, be ready. At the same

02:41:59.590 --> 02:42:02.329
time, Tommy heard two faint bangs coming from

02:42:02.329 --> 02:42:06.709
the exit corridor. He knew David must have found

02:42:06.709 --> 02:42:08.930
the exit gate and was now trying to break the

02:42:08.930 --> 02:42:11.489
lock on the gate with the rock. Tommy crossed

02:42:11.489 --> 02:42:14.010
his fingers then looked up. and they made the

02:42:14.010 --> 02:42:16.069
sound of the cross gesture from his forehead

02:42:16.069 --> 02:42:18.729
to his stomach, then shoulder to shoulder. Then,

02:42:18.889 --> 02:42:20.909
and to everyone's surprise, the cartel member,

02:42:21.069 --> 02:42:23.530
who was holding the long gun, used it to push

02:42:23.530 --> 02:42:25.829
the park ranger kid toward Ava as if to gesture,

02:42:25.969 --> 02:42:29.170
Here, use your problem now. The cartel member

02:42:29.170 --> 02:42:31.750
then pointed the gun at Hawthorne, Miranda, Ava,

02:42:31.790 --> 02:42:34.190
and the kid, and moved the gun barrel back and

02:42:34.190 --> 02:42:36.610
forth frantically from one person to the other.

02:42:36.989 --> 02:42:38.930
He then motioned for them to move out of the

02:42:38.930 --> 02:42:41.569
way and stand closer to the cavern wall. Ava,

02:42:41.649 --> 02:42:44.110
grabbing the kid park ranger by his wrist, directed

02:42:44.110 --> 02:42:46.510
him toward the side cabin wall, away from the

02:42:46.510 --> 02:42:49.030
edge of the water of the cenote, and away from

02:42:49.030 --> 02:42:52.069
both of the cartel members. Ava could tell the

02:42:52.069 --> 02:42:54.350
guy who was in charge had one thing on his mind

02:42:54.350 --> 02:42:57.329
right now, and that one thing was how to get

02:42:57.329 --> 02:42:59.590
the coins. She could see it in his eyes. She

02:42:59.590 --> 02:43:01.809
could tell he was now trying to figure out how

02:43:01.809 --> 02:43:03.889
he was going to retrieve all those coins he could

02:43:03.889 --> 02:43:06.649
see in the water. These were the gold and silver

02:43:06.649 --> 02:43:08.969
coins Hawthorne and Tommy had thrown in right

02:43:08.969 --> 02:43:11.090
before the cartel members entered the cavern,

02:43:11.190 --> 02:43:14.739
with their very scared young hostage. Miranda,

02:43:14.819 --> 02:43:16.659
who was now standing next to Ava and the kid,

02:43:16.799 --> 02:43:18.819
was trying to listen to the conversation both

02:43:18.819 --> 02:43:20.819
cartel members were having between each other.

02:43:21.000 --> 02:43:23.079
The two guys were now standing on the edge of

02:43:23.079 --> 02:43:25.440
the cenote and discussing how they could collect

02:43:25.440 --> 02:43:28.120
all the coins themselves. Miranda knew that both

02:43:28.120 --> 02:43:30.219
these guys, seeming to be lower -level members

02:43:30.219 --> 02:43:32.700
of the cartel, wanted to take advantage of this

02:43:32.700 --> 02:43:35.139
new situation for themselves. She could hear

02:43:35.139 --> 02:43:37.579
it in their voices. They were excited. She could

02:43:37.579 --> 02:43:39.459
tell they were now more interested in collecting

02:43:39.459 --> 02:43:42.180
the coins for themselves than caring about what

02:43:42.180 --> 02:43:44.399
the five of them were doing. This new opportunity

02:43:44.399 --> 02:43:46.319
was now distracting them from their original

02:43:46.319 --> 02:43:49.139
plans with the hostages. Hawthorne, who had moved

02:43:49.139 --> 02:43:51.459
away from the edge of the cenote and who was

02:43:51.459 --> 02:43:53.899
now standing next to the smaller and not -in

02:43:53.899 --> 02:43:56.639
-charge cartel member, looked back at Miranda

02:43:56.639 --> 02:44:00.059
and Ava and mouthed the words, be ready. He then

02:44:00.059 --> 02:44:02.059
glanced over to where Tommy was still standing

02:44:02.059 --> 02:44:04.239
on the other side of the cenote, opposite of

02:44:04.239 --> 02:44:07.420
them, and mouthed the same words. be ready. Not

02:44:07.420 --> 02:44:09.760
sure exactly what was going to happen, Hawthorne

02:44:09.760 --> 02:44:12.459
knew they may get an opportunity to try to escape.

02:44:12.739 --> 02:44:15.219
While still looking at Tommy, Professor Hawthorne

02:44:15.219 --> 02:44:18.760
noticed Tommy looking down and to his left. Tommy

02:44:18.760 --> 02:44:21.000
then immediately looked back up at Hawthorne

02:44:21.000 --> 02:44:23.280
and nodded his head up and down as if to say

02:44:23.280 --> 02:44:26.360
yes. Hawthorne took this simple gesture by Tommy

02:44:26.360 --> 02:44:30.229
to mean one of two things. Either Tommy was acknowledging

02:44:30.229 --> 02:44:32.950
that he was ready or that David had succeeded

02:44:32.950 --> 02:44:36.010
in finding the old exit tunnel corridor and it

02:44:36.010 --> 02:44:38.969
was feasible to escape. The four of them, Hawthorne,

02:44:38.969 --> 02:44:41.770
Miranda, Ava, and the park ranger kid, standing

02:44:41.770 --> 02:44:43.870
opposite of Tommy, would have to make their way

02:44:43.870 --> 02:44:46.969
around the cenote and then one by one rush through

02:44:46.969 --> 02:44:49.489
the small tunnel and then through the exit to

02:44:49.489 --> 02:44:52.489
the outside. Hawthorne knew the timing had to

02:44:52.489 --> 02:44:55.000
be perfect. and that they needed a distraction

02:44:55.000 --> 02:44:57.739
to happen. All of a sudden, the loud crackling

02:44:57.739 --> 02:45:00.180
of a radio broke the eerie silence in the cavern.

02:45:03.920 --> 02:45:06.700
Ava jumped, as did the park ranger kid standing

02:45:06.700 --> 02:45:09.579
next to her. Ava looked over at the kid and said

02:45:09.579 --> 02:45:12.020
softly, You'll be alright, hang in there. She

02:45:12.020 --> 02:45:14.200
noticed the kid smile back at her, then looked

02:45:14.200 --> 02:45:17.000
down at the ground again. Ava looked up at Hawthorne

02:45:17.000 --> 02:45:19.139
and noticed that he was staring intently at the

02:45:19.139 --> 02:45:21.780
younger and not in charge cartel member whom

02:45:21.780 --> 02:45:24.909
he was standing close to. Hawthorn watched as

02:45:24.909 --> 02:45:26.709
the cartel member, the one that seemed to be

02:45:26.709 --> 02:45:29.450
in charge, the one with the gun, pulled a small

02:45:29.450 --> 02:45:32.090
hand radio out of his pocket and then said something

02:45:32.090 --> 02:45:36.569
into it. The guy was talking softly on the radio

02:45:36.569 --> 02:45:38.350
and seemed to be answering several questions

02:45:38.350 --> 02:45:42.329
that were asked of him about the situation. Hawthorn

02:45:42.329 --> 02:45:44.610
had forgotten a lot of his Spanish, at least

02:45:44.610 --> 02:45:46.930
the speaking part, but he could still understand

02:45:46.930 --> 02:45:50.409
a lot of it as it was spoken around him. Someone

02:45:50.409 --> 02:45:52.530
on the other side of the radio was asking the

02:45:52.530 --> 02:45:55.370
cartel member if they had found it. Hawthorne

02:45:55.370 --> 02:45:57.129
knew the person on the other side of the radio

02:45:57.129 --> 02:45:59.930
had to be close in proximity to them, as this

02:45:59.930 --> 02:46:03.209
was a shortwave walkie -talkie radio. He assumed

02:46:03.209 --> 02:46:05.069
the person on the other side of the radio was

02:46:05.069 --> 02:46:07.530
outside the pyramid somewhere, but close to the

02:46:07.530 --> 02:46:10.670
pyramid, maybe a lookout. Hawthorne watched and

02:46:10.670 --> 02:46:12.809
listened as the cartel member, the one in charge,

02:46:13.180 --> 02:46:15.100
proceeded to tell the person on the other side

02:46:15.100 --> 02:46:17.879
of the walkie -talkie they found the cenote where

02:46:17.879 --> 02:46:20.760
the golden mask was found. He could also be heard

02:46:20.760 --> 02:46:23.000
asking what they should do with the hostages

02:46:23.000 --> 02:46:26.020
that they were holding. Amanda, overhearing much

02:46:26.020 --> 02:46:28.139
of the conversation on the walkie -talkie, looked

02:46:28.139 --> 02:46:30.360
over at Ava and said, they are talking about

02:46:30.360 --> 02:46:32.079
us and what they should do now that they found

02:46:32.079 --> 02:46:34.659
the secret cenote. The look on Ava's face triggered

02:46:34.659 --> 02:46:37.299
a small panic inside Miranda's mind. She was

02:46:37.299 --> 02:46:39.360
thinking, my live stream and work has brought

02:46:39.360 --> 02:46:42.350
me to a moment like this. How can this be? She

02:46:42.350 --> 02:46:44.290
could also feel herself get angry, and without

02:46:44.290 --> 02:46:46.489
thinking, she blurted it out so the cartel members

02:46:46.489 --> 02:46:48.670
could hear her. This is a problem with people

02:46:48.670 --> 02:46:51.610
like you. You take, take, and take, and don't

02:46:51.610 --> 02:46:53.370
have a clue about the impact your actions have

02:46:53.370 --> 02:46:56.430
on your own country, Mexico, or your own countrymen.

02:46:56.549 --> 02:46:59.049
She then says, you should be ashamed. Your family

02:46:59.049 --> 02:47:01.989
should be ashamed. Both of you. Ava looked over

02:47:01.989 --> 02:47:04.110
at Miranda and was trying to suppress her smile.

02:47:04.450 --> 02:47:07.729
Miranda was brave and correct. Ava felt the same

02:47:07.729 --> 02:47:10.690
way. Ava felt time stand still, as if they were

02:47:10.690 --> 02:47:13.370
now all waiting to see how the two cartel members

02:47:13.370 --> 02:47:15.690
were going to react to Miranda's tongue lashing.

02:47:15.829 --> 02:47:18.209
Ava secretly loved it, but was a little unsure

02:47:18.209 --> 02:47:20.530
about the timing. Then, to her surprise, and

02:47:20.530 --> 02:47:22.870
probably to the surprise of all of them, the

02:47:22.870 --> 02:47:24.690
cartel member with the gun who was now standing

02:47:24.690 --> 02:47:26.750
on the edge of the cenote looked over at Miranda,

02:47:27.010 --> 02:47:33.829
smiled, and then laughed. He seemed unfazed by

02:47:33.829 --> 02:47:35.889
what she had just said, or just didn't care.

02:47:36.649 --> 02:47:38.850
He seemed to have one greedy thing on his mind

02:47:38.850 --> 02:47:42.430
now. The coins. Hawthorne, breathing a sigh of

02:47:42.430 --> 02:47:44.770
relief after listening to Miranda scold both

02:47:44.770 --> 02:47:47.590
cartel members loudly and then observing neither

02:47:47.590 --> 02:47:50.629
of them react, watched as the older one handed

02:47:50.629 --> 02:47:53.549
over the radio to the younger one, whom Hawthorne

02:47:53.549 --> 02:47:56.229
was standing closer to. The cartel member next

02:47:56.229 --> 02:47:58.870
to Hawthorne was now holding the radio and the

02:47:58.870 --> 02:48:02.290
old machete, one in each hand. Hawthorne knew

02:48:02.290 --> 02:48:04.899
this kid still posed a threat. Then, something

02:48:04.899 --> 02:48:07.200
that none of them would have predicted, the older

02:48:07.200 --> 02:48:09.299
one handed his gun over to the younger one as

02:48:09.299 --> 02:48:12.000
well. The younger cartel member was now holding

02:48:12.000 --> 02:48:14.899
three things, the radio, the gun, and the machete,

02:48:14.899 --> 02:48:18.399
in two hands. Hawthorne thought to himself, he's

02:48:18.399 --> 02:48:21.159
vulnerable now, that his hands are full. He also

02:48:21.159 --> 02:48:23.360
seems quite clumsy in the way he's handling the

02:48:23.360 --> 02:48:25.739
long gun, not holding it in the way a person

02:48:25.739 --> 02:48:27.979
would if they were familiar with how to use it.

02:48:28.219 --> 02:48:30.719
Alright, this is a good sign. But, on the other

02:48:30.719 --> 02:48:33.000
hand, a scared person with a loaded gun can be

02:48:33.000 --> 02:48:35.860
just as dangerous or more dangerous than someone

02:48:35.860 --> 02:48:38.500
who knows how to use it and control it. So they

02:48:38.500 --> 02:48:40.959
all waited now, watching to see what the older

02:48:40.959 --> 02:48:43.340
cartel member, the one who seemed to be in charge,

02:48:43.500 --> 02:48:45.959
was going to do now that he passed the radio

02:48:45.959 --> 02:48:48.860
and the gun over to his younger partner. Miranda,

02:48:48.940 --> 02:48:51.159
still quite angry and scared, but she didn't

02:48:51.159 --> 02:48:53.639
want to show it, took one step closer to Ava.

02:48:53.739 --> 02:48:55.920
She looked over at Prof. Tommy, who was still

02:48:55.920 --> 02:48:57.940
standing opposite of them on the other side of

02:48:57.940 --> 02:49:00.469
the cenote. then looked at Professor Hawthorne,

02:49:00.530 --> 02:49:03.489
whose back was toward her, and then at Ava. Miranda

02:49:03.489 --> 02:49:06.049
then says to Ava in a whispered tone, I bet he's

02:49:06.049 --> 02:49:07.969
going to try to get some of the coins out of

02:49:07.969 --> 02:49:09.989
the water before they leave. These two guys want

02:49:09.989 --> 02:49:11.850
them for themselves. They're not going to turn

02:49:11.850 --> 02:49:14.270
those coins over to their boss. Ava whispers

02:49:14.270 --> 02:49:17.129
back to Miranda, I was thinking the same thing.

02:49:17.370 --> 02:49:19.969
They found the cenote, which means they can report

02:49:19.969 --> 02:49:22.049
to their boss, and the coins only prove that

02:49:22.049 --> 02:49:24.250
there may have been more treasure at the bottom

02:49:24.250 --> 02:49:27.030
of it. And why not just take a few coins for

02:49:27.030 --> 02:49:28.659
yourself while you're at it? They can't help

02:49:28.659 --> 02:49:37.200
themselves. Look. Maria heard part of the radio

02:49:37.200 --> 02:49:39.579
conversation between the driver and a person

02:49:39.579 --> 02:49:42.200
on the other side of the radio. The signal was

02:49:42.200 --> 02:49:44.420
poor and staticky, but she could tell it was

02:49:44.420 --> 02:49:47.700
good news by the reaction the driver had. Renata,

02:49:47.780 --> 02:49:50.159
who was sitting in the back seat of the car and

02:49:50.159 --> 02:49:52.780
fanning herself, then asked, What is it, Aunt

02:49:52.780 --> 02:49:55.899
Maria? Carlos butts in and says, yeah, what's

02:49:55.899 --> 02:49:59.659
going on? I'm hot, bored, and hungry. Maria answers

02:49:59.659 --> 02:50:02.940
and says, the cenote location has been confirmed

02:50:02.940 --> 02:50:05.420
and there's proof. I guess they found some gold

02:50:05.420 --> 02:50:09.399
and silver coins. Maria continues, Carlos, since

02:50:09.399 --> 02:50:11.479
you're so bored, why don't you go see if the

02:50:11.479 --> 02:50:13.700
black bag has been picked up at the museum's

02:50:13.700 --> 02:50:16.600
reception desk? Be careful and nonchalant about

02:50:16.600 --> 02:50:19.440
it. Try to blend in like you're a tourist. If

02:50:19.440 --> 02:50:21.479
the bag is still there, behind the reception

02:50:21.479 --> 02:50:23.870
desk. Then go sit down and wait for instructions.

02:50:25.190 --> 02:50:28.430
Maria then says, this is exciting. We're close

02:50:28.430 --> 02:50:30.909
to our payout and then we can go our own way.

02:50:36.129 --> 02:50:38.829
After watching the older cartel member who seemed

02:50:38.829 --> 02:50:40.950
to be in charge hand over the radio and his gun

02:50:40.950 --> 02:50:43.549
to the other cartel member, Hawthorne again looked

02:50:43.549 --> 02:50:46.010
over at Tommy and again mouthed the words, be

02:50:46.010 --> 02:50:48.989
ready. Hawthorne watched as Tommy again nodded

02:50:48.989 --> 02:50:51.850
his head as if to acknowledge and say, I've been

02:50:51.850 --> 02:50:54.629
ready. They all watched as the older cartel member

02:50:54.629 --> 02:50:56.930
took off his shoes, rolled up his pant legs,

02:50:57.110 --> 02:50:59.149
and then stepped down into the water just inside

02:50:59.149 --> 02:51:02.190
the inner edge of the cenote. Under the water

02:51:02.190 --> 02:51:04.610
and around the inner rim of the cenote was a

02:51:04.610 --> 02:51:07.350
narrow rocky shelf that ranged from two to three

02:51:07.350 --> 02:51:09.809
feet deep. If a person stepped off the shelf,

02:51:09.909 --> 02:51:12.430
the ground drastically went deeper as it was

02:51:12.430 --> 02:51:15.090
steep, somewhat muddy, and very slippery. And

02:51:15.090 --> 02:51:17.500
that person would go under. The rocky ledge was

02:51:17.500 --> 02:51:19.680
easy to stand on, but if you were to step off

02:51:19.680 --> 02:51:22.299
the ledge, you would have to swim to get back,

02:51:22.340 --> 02:51:24.459
as there was not a good place to get foot traction

02:51:24.459 --> 02:51:26.879
under the water. The coins that Hawthorne and

02:51:26.879 --> 02:51:29.000
Tommy had thrown into the cenote, some of them

02:51:29.000 --> 02:51:31.719
had landed on the rocky ledge, and some had landed

02:51:31.719 --> 02:51:34.059
deeper and further out, though still visible.

02:51:34.260 --> 02:51:36.159
The only other person in this group that had

02:51:36.159 --> 02:51:38.920
been in that water was David, and he had said

02:51:38.920 --> 02:51:41.100
it was a difficult dive, mainly because of the

02:51:41.100 --> 02:51:43.639
strength of the underwater current, especially

02:51:43.639 --> 02:51:46.520
if you swam out into deeper areas. The water

02:51:46.520 --> 02:51:49.020
was crystal clear and a person could almost see

02:51:49.020 --> 02:51:51.139
all the way to the bottom, which gave the impression

02:51:51.139 --> 02:51:54.180
that the cenote was not as deep as it really

02:51:54.180 --> 02:51:56.479
was. Nor could you see the current that lurked

02:51:56.479 --> 02:51:58.780
beneath the surface. Hawthorne watched as the

02:51:58.780 --> 02:52:01.000
older cartel members sloshed around on the inner

02:52:01.000 --> 02:52:03.319
rocky ledge, trying to pick up the gold and silver

02:52:03.319 --> 02:52:06.780
coins, the ones that were easy to grab. He would

02:52:06.780 --> 02:52:08.959
occasionally walk back over to the younger partner

02:52:08.959 --> 02:52:11.440
and hand him one or two coins as he picked them

02:52:11.440 --> 02:52:13.729
up out of the water. The younger partner, whose

02:52:13.729 --> 02:52:16.090
attention was mostly on what his older partner

02:52:16.090 --> 02:52:18.329
was doing now, looked more relaxed and confident.

02:52:18.870 --> 02:52:21.229
Obviously, the thought of getting rich off the

02:52:21.229 --> 02:52:25.170
coins had distracted him. Then it happened. The

02:52:25.170 --> 02:52:27.610
older cartel member, feeling overly confident

02:52:27.610 --> 02:52:30.149
in his ability to reach some of the deeper coins,

02:52:30.290 --> 02:52:32.450
stepped off the ledge and immediately slipped

02:52:32.450 --> 02:52:35.090
on the muddy underwater embankment and went fully

02:52:35.090 --> 02:52:38.360
submerged. Hawthorne froze for a moment, then

02:52:38.360 --> 02:52:40.420
looked over at the younger cartel member who

02:52:40.420 --> 02:52:43.139
was looking right back at him as if to say, what

02:52:43.139 --> 02:52:46.440
should we do? At that moment, both Hawthorne

02:52:46.440 --> 02:52:48.540
and the younger cartel member lunged forward

02:52:48.540 --> 02:52:50.920
toward the edge of the cenote to reach out their

02:52:50.920 --> 02:52:52.899
hands towards the guy who was still submerged

02:52:52.899 --> 02:52:55.639
under the water, but visibly struggling to get

02:52:55.639 --> 02:52:58.479
to the surface. Then the unexpected happened.

02:52:58.780 --> 02:53:01.139
As both Hawthorne and the younger cartel member

02:53:01.139 --> 02:53:04.120
bent over the edge of the cenote to try to help

02:53:04.120 --> 02:53:06.739
and save the guy from drowning, The long gun

02:53:06.739 --> 02:53:08.940
and the radio slipped out of the younger cartel

02:53:08.940 --> 02:53:11.700
member's hands. He had still been holding three

02:53:11.700 --> 02:53:13.819
things, and in the haste of trying to reach out

02:53:13.819 --> 02:53:16.319
one of his hands towards his struggling partner,

02:53:16.579 --> 02:53:20.120
both the radio and gun fell. There was a loud

02:53:20.120 --> 02:53:24.920
splash and a soft thud. Ava, seeing what had

02:53:24.920 --> 02:53:27.540
just happened with the radio and the gun, looked

02:53:27.540 --> 02:53:30.440
at Miranda and said, Now's your chance. Run to

02:53:30.440 --> 02:53:32.620
Tommy now. Ava grabbed the young park ranger

02:53:32.620 --> 02:53:34.799
by the side of his shirt and then made a beeline

02:53:34.799 --> 02:53:39.200
directly to where Tommy was standing. She saw

02:53:39.200 --> 02:53:42.620
Tommy motioning to them to come, come, and hurry,

02:53:42.719 --> 02:53:45.120
quickly. Miranda followed directly behind Ava,

02:53:45.180 --> 02:53:47.239
and in no less than 15 steps, they were right

02:53:47.239 --> 02:53:49.340
next to Tommy and listening to his instructions.

02:53:49.760 --> 02:53:52.100
As Tommy watches a commotion happening with the

02:53:52.100 --> 02:53:54.180
Hawthorne and the younger cartel member on the

02:53:54.180 --> 02:53:57.100
opposite side of a snorted pool, he says to Ava

02:53:57.100 --> 02:54:00.100
and Miranda as he points to a small opening next

02:54:00.100 --> 02:54:02.629
to him. Quickly. go through there one by one.

02:54:02.690 --> 02:54:05.170
David is waiting inside and will guide you to

02:54:05.170 --> 02:54:07.569
the exit. He was able to break the lock. Now

02:54:07.569 --> 02:54:10.090
quickly go. Ava pushed a park ranger kid through

02:54:10.090 --> 02:54:12.750
the small corridor opening first and then she

02:54:12.750 --> 02:54:15.409
follows and then after her Miranda then follows.

02:54:16.010 --> 02:54:18.629
Ava is talking to the kid. Go, go, hurry up and

02:54:18.629 --> 02:54:20.649
don't stop. Miranda, who is right behind Ava,

02:54:20.709 --> 02:54:22.790
looks back as she passes into the small corridor

02:54:22.790 --> 02:54:25.270
and sees that Tommy is waiting, assuming he's

02:54:25.270 --> 02:54:27.489
waiting to see what happens with Professor Hawthorne.

02:54:27.569 --> 02:54:29.850
She then feels a sense of relief as she hears

02:54:29.850 --> 02:54:32.530
a familiar voice up ahead in the darkness say,

02:54:32.690 --> 02:54:35.069
You're almost here. Follow my voice. She thinks

02:54:35.069 --> 02:54:37.829
to herself, David, thank goodness. Meanwhile,

02:54:37.969 --> 02:54:40.409
Hawthorne watches as the long gun sinks deeper

02:54:40.409 --> 02:54:43.260
and deeper into the water. It had dropped further

02:54:43.260 --> 02:54:45.739
enough out, missing the narrow ledge and landing

02:54:45.739 --> 02:54:48.139
on the muddy and slippery embankment, which was

02:54:48.139 --> 02:54:50.639
very steep. There was no way to recover it without

02:54:50.639 --> 02:54:53.659
diving into the water after it. The radio, which

02:54:53.659 --> 02:54:55.739
had also dropped out of the young cartel member's

02:54:55.739 --> 02:54:58.360
hands, had landed on the rocky ground by the

02:54:58.360 --> 02:55:01.239
edge of the water. After watching both items

02:55:01.239 --> 02:55:03.340
fall, first the gun into the water, then the

02:55:03.340 --> 02:55:05.760
radio onto the ground next to Hawthorne's feet,

02:55:06.200 --> 02:55:08.559
Hawthorne still bent over with his arm out toward

02:55:08.559 --> 02:55:10.819
the drowning man, looked up at the young cartel

02:55:10.819 --> 02:55:13.399
member who was now only holding the old machete.

02:55:13.459 --> 02:55:15.319
The young kid was holding the machete under his

02:55:15.319 --> 02:55:17.559
arm and squeezing it tight by the handle, and

02:55:17.559 --> 02:55:20.139
he had a panicked look on his face. Hawthorne

02:55:20.139 --> 02:55:22.159
could tell he was no longer a threat at that

02:55:22.159 --> 02:55:25.440
moment. He was just scared. Knowing that neither

02:55:25.440 --> 02:55:28.059
he nor the young cartel member could reach the

02:55:28.059 --> 02:55:30.559
gun in the water, Hawthorne grabbed the radio

02:55:30.559 --> 02:55:32.899
by his foot, stood up straight and ran toward

02:55:32.899 --> 02:55:35.299
Tommy who was still waiting by the exit corridor

02:55:35.299 --> 02:55:39.000
on the opposite side of the cenote. As Tommy

02:55:39.000 --> 02:55:41.540
watched everything happen and then saw Hawthorne

02:55:41.540 --> 02:55:44.379
grab the radio and run toward him, he yelled

02:55:44.379 --> 02:55:47.260
out, James, right here. The exit is right here.

02:55:47.700 --> 02:55:50.020
Tommy points to a small opening next to where

02:55:50.020 --> 02:55:52.379
he's standing. Tommy keeps an eye on the younger

02:55:52.379 --> 02:55:54.520
Akata member who has to really move from his

02:55:54.520 --> 02:55:57.319
kneeling position. It appears he's still trying

02:55:57.319 --> 02:55:59.639
to find a way to reach his partner who has sunk

02:55:59.639 --> 02:56:02.479
deeper and deeper underwater. Tommy watches as

02:56:02.479 --> 02:56:04.979
Hawthorne twists through the opening and then

02:56:04.979 --> 02:56:07.540
disappears into the dark corridor where the others

02:56:07.540 --> 02:56:10.379
had gone just a few moments earlier. Tommy, feeling

02:56:10.379 --> 02:56:12.940
conflicted about the carter member who went into

02:56:12.940 --> 02:56:15.479
the water, calmly takes a few steps forward toward

02:56:15.479 --> 02:56:18.239
the edge of the cenote and looks down to the

02:56:18.239 --> 02:56:21.120
crystal clear water, secretly hoping there was

02:56:21.120 --> 02:56:23.040
some way this guy could be saved, even though

02:56:23.040 --> 02:56:25.059
he was just threatening them with a gun earlier.

02:56:25.440 --> 02:56:27.819
But it's too late. Tommy watches as the man,

02:56:27.959 --> 02:56:30.520
who's now just a blurry figure, who's drifted

02:56:30.520 --> 02:56:32.659
deeper and deeper into the depths of the cenote.

02:56:32.920 --> 02:56:35.979
His body is now motionless, then all of a sudden,

02:56:36.020 --> 02:56:39.159
he disappears out of sight, as a swift and strong

02:56:39.159 --> 02:56:41.659
underwater current catches his body and carries

02:56:41.659 --> 02:56:45.280
it away, possibly into a deeper underwater cave

02:56:45.280 --> 02:56:48.100
or cavern. Tommy glances over the other Kata

02:56:48.100 --> 02:56:50.500
member, who is still kneeling down at the edge

02:56:50.500 --> 02:56:53.379
of the cenote, just staring into the water. Tommy

02:56:53.379 --> 02:56:55.520
looks at him for a moment in silence, not saying

02:56:55.520 --> 02:56:58.159
anything. Tommy could tell he was in a bit of

02:56:58.159 --> 02:57:00.700
shock as he had just watched the demise of his

02:57:00.700 --> 02:57:03.479
criminal colleague. Tommy then looks up, makes

02:57:03.479 --> 02:57:06.000
a sign of a cross gesture from his forehead to

02:57:06.000 --> 02:57:08.860
his stomach and shoulder to shoulder. Turns around

02:57:08.860 --> 02:57:11.420
and then exits the synoptic cavern through the

02:57:11.420 --> 02:57:13.760
small corridor where the other touches left from.

02:57:22.110 --> 02:57:25.829
The Chase As Professor Hawthorne squeezes through

02:57:25.829 --> 02:57:28.229
the small, rough, and rocky exit, the bright

02:57:28.229 --> 02:57:30.670
daylight meets him with a blinding intensity,

02:57:30.850 --> 02:57:33.770
just as it had with the others who made it safely

02:57:33.770 --> 02:57:36.610
out moments before him. As his eyes adjust to

02:57:36.610 --> 02:57:39.909
the light, he sees Miranda and Ava talking softly

02:57:39.909 --> 02:57:42.850
with the young park ranger. David, having helped

02:57:42.850 --> 02:57:45.010
Hawthorne out, was kneeling down next to the

02:57:45.010 --> 02:57:48.120
exit, waiting to help Tommy. Tommy appears less

02:57:48.120 --> 02:57:50.399
than a minute later and is able to exit the base

02:57:50.399 --> 02:57:52.520
of the pyramid just like the others had done.

02:57:52.719 --> 02:57:55.459
As Tommy stands up and brushes off his pants

02:57:55.459 --> 02:57:58.180
and shirt, Hawthorne asks, do we need to worry

02:57:58.180 --> 02:58:00.940
about the young cartel member? Still trying to

02:58:00.940 --> 02:58:03.280
adjust to the bright daylight, Tommy responds,

02:58:03.680 --> 02:58:06.739
no, he was just standing there, still bent over

02:58:06.739 --> 02:58:09.420
looking into the water. His partner disappeared

02:58:09.420 --> 02:58:12.200
in the current. There was nothing any of us could

02:58:12.200 --> 02:58:15.280
have done. It's weird, but I feel terrible that

02:58:15.280 --> 02:58:17.899
we couldn't save him. Hawthorne shakes his head

02:58:17.899 --> 02:58:20.440
in agreement and then says, yeah, that guy didn't

02:58:20.440 --> 02:58:22.680
have a chance once he sank into the deep part

02:58:22.680 --> 02:58:26.120
of the cenote. I grabbed the radio as I was leaving.

02:58:26.180 --> 02:58:28.280
I think there's another person out here somewhere,

02:58:28.479 --> 02:58:31.760
maybe a lookout. David then adds, I spotted another

02:58:31.760 --> 02:58:34.620
guy just around the corner, maybe 50 yards away

02:58:34.620 --> 02:58:37.079
from the base of the pyramid, just sitting there

02:58:37.079 --> 02:58:40.020
and waiting. And he doesn't look like the other

02:58:40.020 --> 02:58:42.360
tourists here today because he's not part of

02:58:42.360 --> 02:58:45.120
any tour group that I can tell. David changes

02:58:45.120 --> 02:58:47.340
the subject quickly and then says, Professor

02:58:47.340 --> 02:58:50.079
Hawthorne, can you call Lily? I think that's

02:58:50.079 --> 02:58:52.920
her name. And ask her to go to the Grand Museum's

02:58:52.920 --> 02:58:55.100
reception desk at the front of the building and

02:58:55.100 --> 02:58:56.920
confirm that something was dropped off for me.

02:58:57.520 --> 02:58:59.899
We need to make sure they are giving us the jade

02:58:59.899 --> 02:59:03.020
jar back as well. Once we can confirm it, then

02:59:03.020 --> 02:59:06.659
I can give them the location of the cenote. Hawthorne

02:59:06.659 --> 02:59:09.500
replies, good idea. I'll call her right now so

02:59:09.500 --> 02:59:11.840
she has time to check. Hawthorne gets on his

02:59:11.840 --> 02:59:13.860
phone, which now has a strong signal, and calls

02:59:13.860 --> 02:59:16.600
Lily. Hawthorne keeps the call short and says,

02:59:16.799 --> 02:59:19.479
Hello, Lily. I've got to keep this call short,

02:59:19.600 --> 02:59:22.280
but could you do me a huge favor and go up to

02:59:22.280 --> 02:59:24.700
the reception desk by the front entrance and

02:59:24.700 --> 02:59:26.899
see if there was something dropped off for David

02:59:26.899 --> 02:59:30.159
Silva? I can explain later. Just text me back

02:59:30.159 --> 02:59:33.360
yes or no as soon as you find out. After hearing

02:59:33.360 --> 02:59:36.940
Lily say no problem and will do, Hawthorne hangs

02:59:36.940 --> 02:59:39.799
up and tells the others. Tommy then starts explaining

02:59:39.799 --> 02:59:42.680
the plan to all of them. Okay, that's great to

02:59:42.680 --> 02:59:45.340
hear from James. Tommy says and then continues

02:59:45.340 --> 02:59:48.399
with his plan and says, if we go around the other

02:59:48.399 --> 02:59:51.180
side of the pyramid, we can then make our way

02:59:51.180 --> 02:59:53.260
through the ball court and we can avoid being

02:59:53.260 --> 02:59:57.000
seen by other supposed lookout. And David, maybe

02:59:57.000 --> 02:59:59.159
you can try to contact whoever is on the other

02:59:59.159 --> 03:00:01.600
side of the video. Let them know we gave them

03:00:01.600 --> 03:00:04.079
what they wanted, the secret cenote location,

03:00:04.379 --> 03:00:07.700
and make sure they think it's the cenote. Then

03:00:07.700 --> 03:00:10.420
we can get the J -Jaw and get your brother back.

03:00:10.739 --> 03:00:13.950
Time continues. Okay. We should go back directly

03:00:13.950 --> 03:00:16.170
to the Grand Museum once we catch one of the

03:00:16.170 --> 03:00:18.309
shuttles that leaves from the main parking lot.

03:00:18.610 --> 03:00:21.250
Miranda then says, okay, ball court, then to

03:00:21.250 --> 03:00:23.270
the parking lot for a shuttle back and then back

03:00:23.270 --> 03:00:26.030
to the Grand Museum. Got it. She then adds, the

03:00:26.030 --> 03:00:28.090
park ranger, I found out that his name is Louis.

03:00:28.309 --> 03:00:30.629
He's coming with us as he needs to go back to

03:00:30.629 --> 03:00:32.610
the park administrative headquarters next to

03:00:32.610 --> 03:00:35.010
the museum. He said he needs to report what happened

03:00:35.010 --> 03:00:37.190
to his boss, who will then pass it along to the

03:00:37.190 --> 03:00:39.469
provincial police who are stationed a few kilometers

03:00:39.469 --> 03:00:41.899
down the highway. All right. Let's go, guys.

03:00:42.360 --> 03:00:44.879
Tommy says as he starts walking around the opposite

03:00:44.879 --> 03:00:47.260
side of the pyramid toward the ball court to

03:00:47.260 --> 03:00:49.700
avoid the other suspected lookout. Hawthorne

03:00:49.700 --> 03:00:53.479
walks next to Tommy as they enter the ball court

03:00:53.479 --> 03:00:56.360
area of Chichen Itza and discuss what their next

03:00:56.360 --> 03:00:59.540
move should be. They stop talking partway through

03:00:59.540 --> 03:01:01.799
the ball court, just taking in the old ancient

03:01:01.799 --> 03:01:04.299
sports arena. It's quite impressive and the largest

03:01:04.299 --> 03:01:07.690
of its kind in Mesoamerica. The ball court measures

03:01:07.690 --> 03:01:10.930
at around 120 meters in length and about 30 meters

03:01:10.930 --> 03:01:14.110
wide. It's a large flat area with tall stone

03:01:14.110 --> 03:01:16.909
walls flanking each side of the court. Stone

03:01:16.909 --> 03:01:19.270
rings protrude from the walls toward the top

03:01:19.270 --> 03:01:22.209
of the wall. The Mayans used the court for games.

03:01:22.409 --> 03:01:25.010
In one of the games, contestants would use their

03:01:25.010 --> 03:01:28.069
hips, elbows, or knees in an effort to get a

03:01:28.069 --> 03:01:30.190
ball made of rubber through their opponent's

03:01:30.190 --> 03:01:32.909
stone ring. There were many tour groups mingling

03:01:32.909 --> 03:01:35.270
around and getting photos, which also helped

03:01:35.270 --> 03:01:37.729
the group blend in, just in case the lookout

03:01:37.729 --> 03:01:41.049
guy was walking around. As they exited the other

03:01:41.049 --> 03:01:43.190
end of the ball court and were now walking toward

03:01:43.190 --> 03:01:45.770
one of the main parking lots, the radio came

03:01:45.770 --> 03:01:54.209
alive in Hawthorne's pocket. The voice on the

03:01:54.209 --> 03:01:56.610
other end was asking for an update and what was

03:01:56.610 --> 03:01:59.329
going on. Hawthorne looked at Tommy and asked,

03:01:59.430 --> 03:02:02.790
should we answer it? What should we say? David,

03:02:02.790 --> 03:02:05.469
hearing the voice over the radio, jogged up to

03:02:05.469 --> 03:02:08.329
Hawthorne and Tommy and said, here, let me see

03:02:08.329 --> 03:02:10.530
the radio. I have an idea and I think you can

03:02:10.530 --> 03:02:13.510
buy us more time. David clicks the radio receiver

03:02:13.510 --> 03:02:16.129
and then speaks. We think we found the right

03:02:16.129 --> 03:02:18.930
place. We still need some time to confirm. It

03:02:18.930 --> 03:02:21.049
looks promising. I think the plan is working.

03:02:21.690 --> 03:02:24.049
David says this into the radio and in Spanish,

03:02:24.250 --> 03:02:26.610
trying to mimic what the other cartel members

03:02:26.610 --> 03:02:29.489
sounded like. The guy had barked enough orders

03:02:29.489 --> 03:02:31.850
at them while in the cavern, so David thought

03:02:31.850 --> 03:02:34.530
he could do the guy's voice, or at least get

03:02:34.530 --> 03:02:37.559
close to it. David then clicks off the receiver

03:02:37.559 --> 03:02:40.000
and waits for a response, holding his breath

03:02:40.000 --> 03:02:42.139
and secretly hoping the guy on the other side

03:02:42.139 --> 03:02:45.260
of the radio believes it's the voice of his criminal

03:02:45.260 --> 03:02:48.139
partner. The radio crackles one and then the

03:02:48.139 --> 03:02:50.719
voice then says, We'll keep moving ahead. Keep

03:02:50.719 --> 03:02:59.520
us posted. Out. It only took Lily a few minutes

03:02:59.520 --> 03:03:02.500
to walk to the reception desk at the Grand Museum.

03:03:03.149 --> 03:03:05.729
It was close to the entrance of the place, and

03:03:05.729 --> 03:03:07.909
it was close to where Lily and the other students

03:03:07.909 --> 03:03:10.770
were hanging out. There were multiple food and

03:03:10.770 --> 03:03:13.709
beverage vendors and comfortable seating areas

03:03:13.709 --> 03:03:16.930
near the reception table. The area inside the

03:03:16.930 --> 03:03:19.709
front of the museum would remind you of a combination

03:03:19.709 --> 03:03:23.590
of a food court with a local artisan craft market.

03:03:24.030 --> 03:03:27.729
On one side were the food and beverage vendors,

03:03:27.930 --> 03:03:31.190
and then on the other side were the artisan handicraft

03:03:31.190 --> 03:03:34.639
vendors. The museum's reception desk sat inside

03:03:34.639 --> 03:03:38.540
the main front doors and on one end of the large

03:03:38.540 --> 03:03:42.620
food and craft area. The tables and chairs sprouted

03:03:42.620 --> 03:03:46.180
out throughout the middle area. There were many

03:03:46.180 --> 03:03:49.180
tourists around, shopping, eating, and resting.

03:03:49.639 --> 03:03:53.159
Lily and the students were doing the same. When

03:03:53.159 --> 03:03:55.639
Lily received the call from Professor Hawthorne,

03:03:55.719 --> 03:03:58.540
she felt like something were going wrong. was

03:03:58.540 --> 03:04:01.579
going on but knew that Hawthorne couldn't explain

03:04:01.579 --> 03:04:05.000
it all to her over the phone. So, she just did

03:04:05.000 --> 03:04:08.040
what he asked. She looked over at where all the

03:04:08.040 --> 03:04:10.559
students were sitting. Some were eating, some

03:04:10.559 --> 03:04:12.879
were talking with each other, and some were quiet

03:04:12.879 --> 03:04:16.440
and on their phones. She then said, wait here,

03:04:16.579 --> 03:04:19.059
I've got to go check on something at the reception

03:04:19.059 --> 03:04:22.280
desk for the professor and I'll be right back.

03:04:23.360 --> 03:04:26.899
Lily got up from the table she was sitting at.

03:04:27.239 --> 03:04:29.440
and started walking toward the reception desk,

03:04:29.639 --> 03:04:32.559
which was on the opposite end of where they were

03:04:32.559 --> 03:04:40.120
all sitting. Carlos, who was just sitting there

03:04:40.120 --> 03:04:43.319
by himself, minding his own business. He had

03:04:43.319 --> 03:04:45.280
chosen a table that was close to both one of

03:04:45.280 --> 03:04:47.719
the popular food vendors and near the reception

03:04:47.719 --> 03:04:51.299
desk. He had a clear line of sight of the reception

03:04:51.299 --> 03:04:53.379
desk with the food vendor sitting just to his

03:04:53.379 --> 03:04:56.139
right side. Close enough that he could smell

03:04:56.139 --> 03:04:58.719
the fresh street tacos being made. He was definitely

03:04:58.719 --> 03:05:00.540
going to get some as soon as he had a chance.

03:05:01.280 --> 03:05:03.319
He was also playing one of his favorite games

03:05:03.319 --> 03:05:05.739
on his phone while waiting. He loved football,

03:05:05.899 --> 03:05:10.440
or what the Americans call soccer. And he secretly

03:05:10.440 --> 03:05:12.399
wished he could have been a better football player.

03:05:12.680 --> 03:05:14.639
If that would have been the case, then he wouldn't

03:05:14.639 --> 03:05:18.120
have to be doing this type of work. Anyway, Carlos

03:05:18.120 --> 03:05:20.579
just sat there, distracted by his video game

03:05:20.579 --> 03:05:22.819
and the smell of fresh street tacos being made

03:05:22.819 --> 03:05:25.420
next to him. He had to keep reminding himself

03:05:25.420 --> 03:05:28.120
to keep an eye on the reception desk to see if

03:05:28.120 --> 03:05:31.020
anyone comes and picks up the black bag Renata

03:05:31.020 --> 03:05:34.239
had placed there earlier. He sees a text message

03:05:34.239 --> 03:05:36.879
come through. It's from his aunt Maria and reads,

03:05:37.059 --> 03:05:39.979
Give me an update. Has anyone picked up the bag

03:05:39.979 --> 03:05:43.659
yet? Carlos texts back quickly, slightly annoyed

03:05:43.659 --> 03:05:46.120
that the text message interrupted his video game

03:05:46.120 --> 03:05:48.860
playing. And he texts back, No, nothing yet.

03:05:54.219 --> 03:05:57.200
As Lily weaved her way through all the tables

03:05:57.200 --> 03:05:59.780
and chairs, having left the students just a short

03:05:59.780 --> 03:06:02.020
two minutes prior who were keeping themselves

03:06:02.020 --> 03:06:05.559
busy, she looked toward the reception desk and

03:06:05.559 --> 03:06:08.180
saw a black bag sitting on the side of the desk,

03:06:08.239 --> 03:06:11.340
in plain sight and next to one of the desk attendants.

03:06:11.440 --> 03:06:14.940
She thinks, oh, I wonder if that's what Professor

03:06:14.940 --> 03:06:17.899
Hawthorne is talking about. As she nears the

03:06:17.899 --> 03:06:20.639
last of the seating area, she notices a guy who's

03:06:20.639 --> 03:06:22.719
sitting alone at a table playing on his phone.

03:06:23.290 --> 03:06:25.909
The volume is up on his phone, that's probably

03:06:25.909 --> 03:06:28.729
what caught her attention. And Linny can see

03:06:28.729 --> 03:06:32.170
that he's playing a video game. She also notices

03:06:32.170 --> 03:06:35.389
that he's acting fidgety, looking up toward the

03:06:35.389 --> 03:06:38.350
reception desk, and then looking down at his

03:06:38.350 --> 03:06:41.569
game every few seconds. As she walks by him,

03:06:41.709 --> 03:06:45.909
she looks down at his table. This guy has his

03:06:45.909 --> 03:06:48.469
arms outstretched on the table and holding his

03:06:48.469 --> 03:06:51.360
phone and playing a video game. Lily notices

03:06:51.360 --> 03:06:54.540
that the guy has a tattoo on his wrist. The tattoo

03:06:54.540 --> 03:06:58.600
is of a cross with two small dots above the cross.

03:06:58.959 --> 03:07:01.760
She doesn't think much about it and then keeps

03:07:01.760 --> 03:07:04.700
walking towards the reception desk. All of a

03:07:04.700 --> 03:07:07.420
sudden, her phone rings. She looks down and sees

03:07:07.420 --> 03:07:10.700
that it's Professor Hawthorne, so she stops and

03:07:10.700 --> 03:07:19.909
answers it. As soon as Lily answers her phone,

03:07:20.170 --> 03:07:22.610
Hawthorne asks, is there something at the reception

03:07:22.610 --> 03:07:25.229
desk? Sorry to rush you, but it's a little time

03:07:25.229 --> 03:07:27.850
sensitive. The dean now walking a little slower

03:07:27.850 --> 03:07:30.409
toward the reception desk because she was on

03:07:30.409 --> 03:07:33.030
the phone, gets a little closer and then responds

03:07:33.030 --> 03:07:36.270
to Professor Hawthorne's and says, yeah, there's

03:07:36.270 --> 03:07:39.090
a black bag sitting there and it looks like a

03:07:39.090 --> 03:07:41.590
note is on it. However, I can't read it from

03:07:41.590 --> 03:07:44.340
where I'm standing. Okay, great, Hawthorne replies

03:07:44.340 --> 03:07:47.180
and then continues, don't pick it up. We'll be

03:07:47.180 --> 03:07:50.360
there in the next 10 minutes or so, as we just

03:07:50.360 --> 03:07:53.079
caught a shuttle. David can be the one to pick

03:07:53.079 --> 03:07:55.579
up the black bag. You can go be with the students

03:07:55.579 --> 03:07:58.940
while you wait for us to arrive. Before Hawthorne

03:07:58.940 --> 03:08:01.420
hangs up, he asks one more question. Just out

03:08:01.420 --> 03:08:04.819
of curiosity, he asks, oh, by the way, and before

03:08:04.819 --> 03:08:07.319
I hang up, you didn't happen to see anything

03:08:07.319 --> 03:08:10.379
or anybody that seems out of place, like they

03:08:10.379 --> 03:08:13.500
don't belong there. Right when Professor Hawthorne

03:08:13.500 --> 03:08:16.079
asked Lily that question, she immediately thought

03:08:16.079 --> 03:08:18.540
about the guy who was sitting by himself and

03:08:18.540 --> 03:08:21.180
playing his video game on his phone. He didn't

03:08:21.180 --> 03:08:24.000
look like the other tourists. He wasn't wearing

03:08:24.000 --> 03:08:26.200
the same types of clothes the other tourists

03:08:26.200 --> 03:08:28.840
were wearing, and he seemed quite anxious and

03:08:28.840 --> 03:08:31.639
nervous about something. He also had an interesting

03:08:31.639 --> 03:08:36.040
tattoo on his wrist. Lily responded back to Hawthorne

03:08:36.040 --> 03:08:38.239
as she started to walk back to where the students

03:08:38.239 --> 03:08:41.780
were still sitting. Lily responded, there is

03:08:41.780 --> 03:08:45.399
this one guy I walked by. He's alone and acting

03:08:45.399 --> 03:08:49.000
a little off. He doesn't really fit in as a tourist

03:08:49.000 --> 03:08:52.059
or museum worker. He is sitting at one of the

03:08:52.059 --> 03:08:55.420
tables closest to the reception desk. Oh, and

03:08:55.420 --> 03:08:58.659
I almost forgot this part. He's got a tattoo

03:08:58.659 --> 03:09:01.899
on his wrist. It's off a cross with two dots

03:09:01.899 --> 03:09:05.100
above it. I thought it was interesting, as I've

03:09:05.100 --> 03:09:07.989
never seen one like that before. Just as Lily

03:09:07.989 --> 03:09:10.149
said that last thing, the shuttle bus arrived

03:09:10.149 --> 03:09:12.250
to pick up Hawthorne's group and several other

03:09:12.250 --> 03:09:14.829
tourists who were also waiting at the bus pickup

03:09:14.829 --> 03:09:17.649
spot in the park's main parking lot. Hawthorne

03:09:17.649 --> 03:09:20.030
made it a point to follow right behind David

03:09:20.030 --> 03:09:22.829
as the group loaded onto the shuttle bus. Hawthorne

03:09:22.829 --> 03:09:24.989
sat down next to David in one of the open seats

03:09:24.989 --> 03:09:29.049
and then said, Lily, we have a development. Don't

03:09:29.049 --> 03:09:32.430
approach that guy. We'll be there soon, so hang

03:09:32.430 --> 03:09:35.170
tight with the students. Hawthorne hung up the

03:09:35.170 --> 03:09:37.229
call with Lily and then said to David, who was

03:09:37.229 --> 03:09:39.190
sitting next to him, on the shuttle bus and said,

03:09:39.430 --> 03:09:42.430
David, didn't you say that the guy at the museum,

03:09:42.549 --> 03:09:45.110
the guy Ava caught on camera that night at the

03:09:45.110 --> 03:09:48.209
gala, had a tattoo of a cross with two dots on

03:09:48.209 --> 03:09:52.030
his wrist and that you recognized it? David,

03:09:52.090 --> 03:09:54.530
with a puzzled and concerned expression on his

03:09:54.530 --> 03:09:58.409
face, answers, Yes, why? Hawthorne answered,

03:09:58.549 --> 03:10:00.530
as Lily was going to see if there was something

03:10:00.530 --> 03:10:02.969
waiting at the reception desk for you, she walked

03:10:02.969 --> 03:10:05.690
past a suspicious looking guy and noticed he

03:10:05.690 --> 03:10:08.930
had that same tattoo on his wrist. David then

03:10:08.930 --> 03:10:12.790
says, okay, I guess that's to be expected. Hmm,

03:10:12.969 --> 03:10:15.809
so they have another lookout posted by the reception

03:10:15.809 --> 03:10:18.430
desk to see who comes to pick up the J jar they

03:10:18.430 --> 03:10:22.010
promised to give us? He continues, I'll go in

03:10:22.010 --> 03:10:24.409
and pick up the black bag. The rest of you go

03:10:24.409 --> 03:10:27.090
in first and then spread out. I'll come in last

03:10:27.090 --> 03:10:30.250
and go directly to the reception desk. The lookout

03:10:30.250 --> 03:10:32.709
will see me and then hopefully call back to his

03:10:32.709 --> 03:10:34.909
people to let them know I picked up the jay jar.

03:10:36.170 --> 03:10:38.850
Hawthorne then replies, Okay, we'll hang tight

03:10:38.850 --> 03:10:40.930
in the meantime. There's plenty of tourists around

03:10:40.930 --> 03:10:43.909
so we can blend in. As the shuttle bus enters

03:10:43.909 --> 03:10:46.389
the parking lot of the Grand Museum and as they

03:10:46.389 --> 03:10:48.569
all exit, Hawthorne and David share the plan

03:10:48.569 --> 03:10:51.399
with Miranda, Ava, and Tommy. The young park

03:10:51.399 --> 03:10:53.899
ranger then informed the group that he was heading

03:10:53.899 --> 03:10:56.139
directly over to his supervisor's office so they

03:10:56.139 --> 03:10:58.100
could then call the provincial police to get

03:10:58.100 --> 03:11:01.260
them involved. Hawthorne, Miranda, Ava, and Tommy

03:11:01.260 --> 03:11:03.799
all enter the Grand Museum together, avoid walking

03:11:03.799 --> 03:11:06.260
by the reception desk, and then spread out among

03:11:06.260 --> 03:11:08.159
the tourists that are mingling around in the

03:11:08.159 --> 03:11:11.520
food and market court area. David was going to

03:11:11.520 --> 03:11:13.899
wait about 10 minutes and then come in by himself

03:11:13.899 --> 03:11:16.000
and go right to the reception desk to pick up

03:11:16.000 --> 03:11:18.829
the bag. While Hawthorne and the others were

03:11:18.829 --> 03:11:21.229
pretending to blend in as tourists, Hawthorne

03:11:21.229 --> 03:11:23.569
noticed the guy Lily described on the phone sitting

03:11:23.569 --> 03:11:25.770
at a table still playing a game on his phone.

03:11:26.030 --> 03:11:28.629
He looked up every once in a while toward the

03:11:28.629 --> 03:11:30.610
reception desk, just like Lily had described.

03:11:31.129 --> 03:11:34.450
Hawthorne thought, this has to be the guy. Hawthorne

03:11:34.450 --> 03:11:36.430
then walked over to be close to where Tommy and

03:11:36.430 --> 03:11:39.209
Miranda were, Ava having already found Lily and

03:11:39.209 --> 03:11:41.110
the students some distance away and was sitting

03:11:41.110 --> 03:11:43.690
and talking with them. Hawthorne then said to

03:11:43.690 --> 03:11:46.719
Miranda and Tommy, what do you think? Tommy says,

03:11:46.920 --> 03:11:49.299
let's wait and see what happens. We can always

03:11:49.299 --> 03:11:52.420
alert one of the on -site security guards. I'll

03:11:52.420 --> 03:11:54.799
put money on it. That guy was one of the guys

03:11:54.799 --> 03:11:57.959
at the gala event the other night. Taller, thin,

03:11:58.120 --> 03:12:00.959
and has the same tattoo on his wrist. I mean,

03:12:01.040 --> 03:12:04.159
he fits the image Ava has of him on a camera.

03:12:04.979 --> 03:12:06.959
Well, Prof. Tommy, you'd win the bet because

03:12:06.959 --> 03:12:09.760
that is 100 % the guy at the gala event. He's

03:12:09.760 --> 03:12:11.379
probably the one who knocked down Mr. Garcia,

03:12:11.600 --> 03:12:19.620
Miranda says. As David was waiting to enter the

03:12:19.620 --> 03:12:22.020
Grand Museum, he texted a number of the person

03:12:22.020 --> 03:12:24.500
who was holding his brother, hoping to call their

03:12:24.500 --> 03:12:27.979
bluff. He wrote, As soon as I pick up the jade

03:12:27.979 --> 03:12:30.280
jar and it's confirmed, and you release my brother

03:12:30.280 --> 03:12:32.780
and confirm he's released, I'll tell you the

03:12:32.780 --> 03:12:35.299
exact location of the cenote where I found the

03:12:35.299 --> 03:12:37.840
golden mask. Please text back confirming you

03:12:37.840 --> 03:12:40.860
agree. David waited for a moment and inside the

03:12:40.860 --> 03:12:44.579
text's response, say, agree. Wow, that was fast,

03:12:44.840 --> 03:12:47.959
David thought to himself. So, David waited another

03:12:47.959 --> 03:12:49.920
few minutes and then walked through the front

03:12:49.920 --> 03:12:52.680
doors of the Grand Museum and directly over to

03:12:52.680 --> 03:12:55.340
the reception desk. He immediately saw the black

03:12:55.340 --> 03:12:57.120
bag just sitting there with the note attached.

03:12:57.600 --> 03:13:00.219
He then politely asked the receptionist if he

03:13:00.219 --> 03:13:02.459
could look at the note. He looked at the note,

03:13:02.500 --> 03:13:04.739
then showed the receptionist his photo ID with

03:13:04.739 --> 03:13:07.860
his name and picked up the bag. The bag was heavy

03:13:07.860 --> 03:13:10.680
for its size and seemed to feel correct. However,

03:13:10.840 --> 03:13:12.860
David was not the one who discovered and studied

03:13:12.860 --> 03:13:15.780
this artifact. Miranda was that person and she

03:13:15.780 --> 03:13:17.620
was somewhere among the tourists standing by.

03:13:18.260 --> 03:13:20.639
David also noticed that the zippers were zip

03:13:20.639 --> 03:13:23.899
-tied, so the only way to unzip the bag and look

03:13:23.899 --> 03:13:27.000
inside was to cut the zip ties. He assumed this

03:13:27.000 --> 03:13:30.059
was done to keep prying eyes from doing so. He

03:13:30.059 --> 03:13:32.540
reached into his side pants pocket, out of habit,

03:13:32.719 --> 03:13:35.340
to grab his favorite small folding pocket knife,

03:13:35.620 --> 03:13:37.760
the one he takes with him just about everywhere,

03:13:38.000 --> 03:13:41.409
and nothing. It wasn't there. Then he remembers

03:13:41.409 --> 03:13:43.770
that he left it back in Mexico City because they

03:13:43.770 --> 03:13:47.569
flew to Merida instead of driving. Hmm. He thinks

03:13:47.569 --> 03:13:49.989
to himself and asks the receptionist for a pair

03:13:49.989 --> 03:13:58.549
of scissors. Maria is getting antsy. She knows

03:13:58.549 --> 03:14:00.809
that the cartel member, the one that drove them

03:14:00.809 --> 03:14:03.350
to Chichen Itza, is waiting for a location of

03:14:03.350 --> 03:14:06.239
a cenote. She feels a sense of relief that they

03:14:06.239 --> 03:14:08.440
can finally hand over the guy they have had to

03:14:08.440 --> 03:14:11.020
keep quiet and alive and who's been stuck in

03:14:11.020 --> 03:14:14.040
the trunk for almost three hours. She doesn't

03:14:14.040 --> 03:14:16.620
want this guy to die. After all, he was their

03:14:16.620 --> 03:14:19.180
getaway driver after Carlos and Renata stole

03:14:19.180 --> 03:14:21.079
the artifacts from the big gala a few nights

03:14:21.079 --> 03:14:24.040
back. He was also much more friendly than the

03:14:24.040 --> 03:14:26.500
jerk cartel member who has been giving them commands

03:14:26.500 --> 03:14:29.739
all day, mostly to do what they're told. Maria

03:14:29.739 --> 03:14:32.040
turns around in the car and says to Renata, who

03:14:32.040 --> 03:14:34.040
is half asleep in the backseat of the car and

03:14:34.040 --> 03:14:36.920
says, shouldn't be much longer now. We are just

03:14:36.920 --> 03:14:39.440
waiting for the location of the cenote. We think

03:14:39.440 --> 03:14:41.579
the guy's brother, the guy in the trunk, his

03:14:41.579 --> 03:14:43.420
brother just picked up the black bag from the

03:14:43.420 --> 03:14:46.180
reception desk. Now, hopefully he won't open

03:14:46.180 --> 03:14:50.180
it right now. Gosh, I hope so, Maria, Renata

03:14:50.180 --> 03:14:53.920
says with a tired slur. We've been waiting forever

03:14:53.920 --> 03:14:57.639
in this hot car. Maria then responds, yeah, I'm

03:14:57.639 --> 03:14:59.780
ready to get out of this heat. Imagine how the

03:14:59.780 --> 03:15:02.739
guy in the trunk feels. All of a sudden, the

03:15:02.739 --> 03:15:04.860
cartel member looks over at Maria, gives her

03:15:04.860 --> 03:15:06.579
a thumbs up, and tells her to get rid of the

03:15:06.579 --> 03:15:08.860
guy in the trunk. He also tells her and Renata

03:15:08.860 --> 03:15:10.860
to get out, and they will have to find their

03:15:10.860 --> 03:15:13.659
own way back to Mexico City. He gives Maria some

03:15:13.659 --> 03:15:15.819
cash and then tells her to hurry so he can leave.

03:15:16.000 --> 03:15:18.100
Maria then tells Renata to get out of the car

03:15:18.100 --> 03:15:19.840
and to help her get the guy out of the trunk.

03:15:20.920 --> 03:15:23.079
The driver pops the trunk and Maria looks into

03:15:23.079 --> 03:15:24.799
the trunk at the guy who is just laying there,

03:15:24.899 --> 03:15:29.100
not moving. Both Aunt Maria and Renanta are now

03:15:29.100 --> 03:15:31.819
standing over the back of the trunk, lid open

03:15:31.819 --> 03:15:35.040
and looking at the guy just laying there. Renanta

03:15:35.040 --> 03:15:39.520
then asks, is he dead? Maria responds, I don't

03:15:39.520 --> 03:15:43.059
know. Then she says, pour some water on his face

03:15:43.059 --> 03:15:45.120
from your water bottle. Maybe he just passed

03:15:45.120 --> 03:15:48.780
out. As soon as Renanta poured some water onto

03:15:48.780 --> 03:15:52.000
the guy's face and head, he bolted up in a sitting

03:15:52.000 --> 03:15:54.969
position and asked where he was. It startled

03:15:54.969 --> 03:15:58.750
Renata so much she let out a faint scream and

03:15:58.750 --> 03:16:01.950
stepped back a few steps and then said, Oh, thank

03:16:01.950 --> 03:16:05.270
God goodness. We thought you were dead. The man

03:16:05.270 --> 03:16:07.649
shook his head, not really knowing what to say

03:16:07.649 --> 03:16:10.450
next. Maria then said, Get out of the trunk.

03:16:10.690 --> 03:16:13.510
You're free. Go over to the Grand Museum. You

03:16:13.510 --> 03:16:16.030
can get some food and water over there. Maria

03:16:16.030 --> 03:16:18.209
then points at a large building close to them

03:16:18.209 --> 03:16:21.209
and then says, Those are the main doors. You

03:16:21.209 --> 03:16:24.409
can go on over there. The man climbs out of the

03:16:24.409 --> 03:16:26.610
trunk and starts walking slowly toward the ground

03:16:26.610 --> 03:16:29.750
museum building some 100 yards away. Maria then

03:16:29.750 --> 03:16:32.149
looks at Renata and says, Thankfully, we are

03:16:32.149 --> 03:16:34.690
parked in the shady part back here. Otherwise,

03:16:34.950 --> 03:16:36.790
I'm not sure that guy who would have made it

03:16:36.790 --> 03:16:39.790
another hour in the trunk. At that moment, the

03:16:39.790 --> 03:16:41.909
cartel member who is still sitting in the driver's

03:16:41.909 --> 03:16:44.149
seat yells out the window and tells Maria to

03:16:44.149 --> 03:16:46.790
shut the trunk. Maria complies and shuts the

03:16:46.790 --> 03:16:49.540
trunk lid. All of a sudden, the car takes off,

03:16:49.659 --> 03:16:52.120
leaving Maria and her niece, Renata, just standing

03:16:52.120 --> 03:16:59.840
there all by themselves. David, knowing that

03:16:59.840 --> 03:17:01.959
his brother probably could not last much longer,

03:17:02.200 --> 03:17:04.379
finally texts the number again and tells the

03:17:04.379 --> 03:17:06.420
person on the other side that the golden mask

03:17:06.420 --> 03:17:08.899
was found in the cenote at the bottom inside

03:17:08.899 --> 03:17:12.520
of El Castillo. David also knew that it was only

03:17:12.520 --> 03:17:14.719
a matter of time before the other cartel member,

03:17:14.979 --> 03:17:17.340
the lookout, and the younger one that they had

03:17:17.340 --> 03:17:19.700
left in the pyramid were going to reconnect with

03:17:19.700 --> 03:17:22.159
the guy on the other side of this unknown number

03:17:22.159 --> 03:17:25.200
and probably find out that one of their own had

03:17:25.200 --> 03:17:27.780
probably drowned in the cenote and that he and

03:17:27.780 --> 03:17:30.920
his group had escaped. So David took the gamble,

03:17:31.059 --> 03:17:33.180
even though he had not been able to get the zip

03:17:33.180 --> 03:17:35.500
ties cut from the black bag and look inside.

03:17:36.689 --> 03:17:38.649
Hawthorne, who was still mingling around close

03:17:38.649 --> 03:17:41.270
to where Tommy was, started noticing some museum

03:17:41.270 --> 03:17:43.950
security guards walking through the food court

03:17:43.950 --> 03:17:46.229
and market area in the direction of the reception

03:17:46.229 --> 03:17:49.270
desk, where David was still standing. Tommy walked

03:17:49.270 --> 03:17:52.190
closer to where Hawthorne is standing, next to

03:17:52.190 --> 03:17:54.489
a small t -shirt vendor display, and then says,

03:17:54.770 --> 03:17:57.930
James, are you seeing this? Those guys are headed

03:17:57.930 --> 03:18:00.930
towards David. Almost at the same moment, Miranda

03:18:00.930 --> 03:18:03.409
shows up next to Tommy and Hawthorne, not really

03:18:03.409 --> 03:18:05.250
caring if they are seen together, and then says,

03:18:05.450 --> 03:18:07.569
do you think they are after David? Hawthorne

03:18:07.569 --> 03:18:09.930
then says, I'm curious about that guy. He then

03:18:09.930 --> 03:18:12.329
softly points at the loner sitting by himself

03:18:12.329 --> 03:18:15.190
who keeps looking up towards David and then back

03:18:15.190 --> 03:18:18.069
down at his phone. The tall, thin guy is acting

03:18:18.069 --> 03:18:20.629
nervous and anxious about something. Hawthorne

03:18:20.629 --> 03:18:23.129
continues, from this distance it appears there

03:18:23.129 --> 03:18:25.370
is a tattoo on his wrist, though it's hard to

03:18:25.370 --> 03:18:28.170
make out what it is. However, Lily said it was

03:18:28.170 --> 03:18:30.829
a cross with two dots above it, which would match

03:18:30.829 --> 03:18:33.770
with Ava's photo proof. Miranda steps forward

03:18:33.770 --> 03:18:35.930
a bit closer to try and see if she can get a

03:18:35.930 --> 03:18:37.690
better look at the tattoo on the guy's wrist.

03:18:37.870 --> 03:18:40.709
She notices that he receives a text, stops playing

03:18:40.709 --> 03:18:43.110
his video game, answers the text, and then looks

03:18:43.110 --> 03:18:46.420
up towards David, and then texts back. Hmm, interesting.

03:18:46.799 --> 03:18:49.059
Miranda thinks to herself. She looks back at

03:18:49.059 --> 03:18:51.340
both Prof. Tommy and Professor Hawthorne to see

03:18:51.340 --> 03:18:53.260
if they noticed the same thing. They must have

03:18:53.260 --> 03:18:55.139
as they were both moving closer to where she

03:18:55.139 --> 03:18:57.739
was now standing. The security guards, now four

03:18:57.739 --> 03:19:00.319
of them, were walking very slowly. Miranda could

03:19:00.319 --> 03:19:02.739
tell that their attention was not on David. She

03:19:02.739 --> 03:19:04.979
felt a sense of relief. She noticed their attention

03:19:04.979 --> 03:19:07.500
was now on the guy playing on his phone. Tommy

03:19:07.500 --> 03:19:10.639
says softly to Harbon and Miranda as he watches

03:19:10.639 --> 03:19:14.049
the same thing unfolding. Well, Maybe our little

03:19:14.049 --> 03:19:16.430
park ranger friend is coming through for us now.

03:19:16.950 --> 03:19:19.250
Those security guards look serious, even though

03:19:19.250 --> 03:19:22.069
they can only carry stun guns. Hawthorne replies,

03:19:22.389 --> 03:19:24.590
let's hang back and see what happens. All of

03:19:24.590 --> 03:19:27.170
a sudden, they see David a short distance away

03:19:27.170 --> 03:19:29.750
from where the guy is on his phone, sitting at

03:19:29.750 --> 03:19:31.690
the table looking up and walking toward another

03:19:31.690 --> 03:19:34.709
guy coming at him. Hawthorne, Tommy, and Miranda

03:19:34.709 --> 03:19:38.170
see David give the guy a big hug and then say

03:19:38.170 --> 03:19:40.950
a bunch of stuff to him. None of them could make

03:19:40.950 --> 03:19:43.129
out what David was saying, but knew that the

03:19:43.129 --> 03:19:46.030
other guy had to be David's brother by the reaction

03:19:46.030 --> 03:19:49.790
they were witnessing. At this same time, Hawthorne,

03:19:49.790 --> 03:19:52.530
Tommy, and Miranda were also watching what was

03:19:52.530 --> 03:19:55.370
going on with the security guards and the mysterious

03:19:55.370 --> 03:19:58.819
guy at the table Lily had alerted them to. The

03:19:58.819 --> 03:20:01.100
three of them were like spectators watching two

03:20:01.100 --> 03:20:04.459
scenes play out a mere 30 feet away as tourists

03:20:04.459 --> 03:20:07.360
and vendors walked about oblivious to the upcoming

03:20:07.360 --> 03:20:09.659
action that was about to happen. The security

03:20:09.659 --> 03:20:12.139
guards were closer now to the guy who was still

03:20:12.139 --> 03:20:14.399
sitting down at the table looking down at his

03:20:14.399 --> 03:20:17.000
phone. There was one table, a few chairs, and

03:20:17.000 --> 03:20:19.319
two tourists between the four security guards

03:20:19.319 --> 03:20:22.139
and him. All of a sudden, the man at the table

03:20:22.139 --> 03:20:24.579
stopped his game and glanced up toward David.

03:20:24.719 --> 03:20:32.479
And then it happened. Carlos was tired of playing

03:20:32.479 --> 03:20:35.559
his video game and was tired of babysitting this

03:20:35.559 --> 03:20:38.100
black bag which had the rock in it. He was still

03:20:38.100 --> 03:20:40.079
convinced that the plan with the rock was not

03:20:40.079 --> 03:20:42.180
going to work. These people were way smarter

03:20:42.180 --> 03:20:45.299
than that. He had come to a place where he really

03:20:45.299 --> 03:20:48.579
didn't care anymore at this point. He was just

03:20:48.579 --> 03:20:50.840
hoping to get their final payout from their heist

03:20:50.840 --> 03:20:53.799
back in Mexico City. He hadn't been paying much

03:20:53.799 --> 03:20:57.440
attention to the reception desk area after texting

03:20:57.440 --> 03:21:01.030
his aunt Maria. His aunt watched him to wait

03:21:01.030 --> 03:21:03.049
there and confirmed two things before he was

03:21:03.049 --> 03:21:05.430
able to leave and come join them outside further

03:21:05.430 --> 03:21:08.750
down the road where she had secured them a taxi

03:21:08.750 --> 03:21:12.049
ride back to Merida. First, he needed to see

03:21:12.049 --> 03:21:14.370
if the guy who picked up the black bag was able

03:21:14.370 --> 03:21:17.530
to get inside of it, which, as Carlos could tell,

03:21:17.690 --> 03:21:19.670
he hadn't been able to cut through the zip ties

03:21:19.670 --> 03:21:23.360
on the zipper yet. Then, second, Carlos needed

03:21:23.360 --> 03:21:26.239
to watch and see if the guy they had put in the

03:21:26.239 --> 03:21:28.479
trunk of their car was going to walk in through

03:21:28.479 --> 03:21:30.479
the main doors and connect with the guy holding

03:21:30.479 --> 03:21:33.459
the black bag. As soon as the second thing happened,

03:21:33.600 --> 03:21:37.319
he could leave, hopefully unnoticed. Carlos had

03:21:37.319 --> 03:21:39.819
a secret he was proud of, and he was hoping his

03:21:39.819 --> 03:21:41.899
aunt and sister would be proud of him as well.

03:21:42.340 --> 03:21:45.159
There were two identical old gym bags in the

03:21:45.159 --> 03:21:47.879
back of the car on the floor. When Carlos and

03:21:47.879 --> 03:21:50.340
Renata had swapped out the rock for the jade

03:21:50.340 --> 03:21:52.610
jar, They put the jade jar in one of the old

03:21:52.610 --> 03:21:55.090
gym bags and Carlos had put some other rocks

03:21:55.090 --> 03:21:58.909
in the other old gym bag. Well, when Carlos got

03:21:58.909 --> 03:22:01.409
out of the car to go stake out the reception

03:22:01.409 --> 03:22:04.430
desk in the museum, he grabbed the old gym bag

03:22:04.430 --> 03:22:07.709
with the jade jar and took it with him. He left

03:22:07.709 --> 03:22:10.049
the other old gym bag in the back seat on the

03:22:10.049 --> 03:22:13.489
floor, the one with the rocks in it. Renata didn't

03:22:13.489 --> 03:22:15.409
even see him doing all of that. He was pretty

03:22:15.409 --> 03:22:22.739
proud to have fooled all of them. Hawthorne,

03:22:22.739 --> 03:22:25.100
Tommy, and Miranda were nervously watching both

03:22:25.100 --> 03:22:27.659
scenes in front of them. They were bystanders

03:22:27.659 --> 03:22:29.200
just standing there and waiting for something

03:22:29.200 --> 03:22:31.639
to happen. What were the security guards going

03:22:31.639 --> 03:22:34.020
to do with the guy at the table? How was David

03:22:34.020 --> 03:22:36.659
and his brother going to react? All of a sudden,

03:22:36.680 --> 03:22:38.600
the thin, tall guy who was just sitting at the

03:22:38.600 --> 03:22:40.780
table playing on his phone stands up abruptly

03:22:40.780 --> 03:22:43.079
and looks towards where David and his brother

03:22:43.079 --> 03:22:45.530
are standing and talking. The table guy then

03:22:45.530 --> 03:22:48.129
bends over, grabs something, maybe a bag, from

03:22:48.129 --> 03:22:50.250
the chair that was sitting next to him. The bag

03:22:50.250 --> 03:22:51.989
he grabbed was out of sight, so it was a bit

03:22:51.989 --> 03:22:53.750
alarming for him to stand up quickly and grab

03:22:53.750 --> 03:22:56.389
the bag, almost in a threatening way. This all

03:22:56.389 --> 03:22:58.790
happened in a quick set of movements, which triggered

03:22:58.790 --> 03:23:01.770
Miranda into defense mode. All she saw was this

03:23:01.770 --> 03:23:05.809
stranger bend over and either reach into an old

03:23:05.809 --> 03:23:08.770
bag or grab the bag. This made her think of the

03:23:08.770 --> 03:23:11.610
worst possibility. Before she knew what had happened

03:23:11.610 --> 03:23:14.790
and why, she yelled out, David! She said it loud

03:23:14.790 --> 03:23:16.809
enough that most of the tourists and shop owners

03:23:16.809 --> 03:23:19.469
in close proximity to her, Professor Hawthorne,

03:23:19.510 --> 03:23:21.629
and Prof. Tommy all stopped and looked over at

03:23:21.629 --> 03:23:24.090
her. So did David and his brother, some distance

03:23:24.090 --> 03:23:27.110
away. So did the tall and skinny Mexican guy

03:23:27.110 --> 03:23:28.989
who was now standing up straight and looking

03:23:28.989 --> 03:23:32.950
directly at her, as if to say, who are you? Hawthorne

03:23:32.950 --> 03:23:34.829
watched as David and his brother stood still

03:23:34.829 --> 03:23:37.750
while looking over at Miranda, then over at a

03:23:37.750 --> 03:23:40.370
guy Miranda was pointing at. The guy was holding

03:23:40.370 --> 03:23:42.889
an old, worn -out sports bag in one hand. and

03:23:42.889 --> 03:23:45.290
his cell phone in the other. Hawthorne then noticed

03:23:45.290 --> 03:23:47.930
that the guy then turned his attention away from

03:23:47.930 --> 03:23:50.209
Miranda, turned his head slightly more to the

03:23:50.209 --> 03:23:52.690
left, and was then staring directly into the

03:23:52.690 --> 03:23:55.389
eyes of the museum security guards, all four

03:23:55.389 --> 03:23:57.950
of them. Most of the people around their general

03:23:57.950 --> 03:24:01.290
location were now sitting or standing still and

03:24:01.290 --> 03:24:03.309
waiting and watching to see if a confrontation

03:24:03.309 --> 03:24:05.950
was about to erupt between the security guards

03:24:05.950 --> 03:24:14.040
and the guy whose attention they were on. Carlos

03:24:14.040 --> 03:24:16.819
felt trapped, a little nervous and unsure of

03:24:16.819 --> 03:24:19.399
what he should do. There were four security guards

03:24:19.399 --> 03:24:21.700
looking at him. Carlos knew he could take them

03:24:21.700 --> 03:24:25.399
all on at one time if he had to and win. He was

03:24:25.399 --> 03:24:28.139
confident in his ability to fight. He was skinny

03:24:28.139 --> 03:24:31.540
and tall, but he was scrappy. He'd been in street

03:24:31.540 --> 03:24:34.200
fights before and usually came out on top because

03:24:34.200 --> 03:24:36.780
his opponents would underestimate his survival

03:24:36.780 --> 03:24:40.500
ability. So he stood there waiting for the four

03:24:40.500 --> 03:24:43.239
losers to make the first move. He slowly slipped

03:24:43.239 --> 03:24:45.520
his mobile phone in his pocket and then gripped

03:24:45.520 --> 03:24:49.059
the old gym bag even tighter. Carlos yells out

03:24:49.059 --> 03:24:51.399
to the security guys, are you guys just going

03:24:51.399 --> 03:24:55.219
to stand there? Then, without hesitation, one

03:24:55.219 --> 03:24:57.700
of the security guards pulls out a non -lethal

03:24:57.700 --> 03:25:00.299
taser. That's when Carlos, who had been tased

03:25:00.299 --> 03:25:03.059
before, decides not to hang around any longer.

03:25:03.399 --> 03:25:05.540
He pushes the table he'd been sitting at towards

03:25:05.540 --> 03:25:08.260
all four of the guards, grabs a chair, and throws

03:25:08.260 --> 03:25:12.200
it at them, and then turns around and sprints

03:25:12.200 --> 03:25:15.600
towards the front main doors. Carlos knows that

03:25:15.600 --> 03:25:17.760
if he can get outside, he can probably outrun

03:25:17.760 --> 03:25:21.059
them, meet up with Maria and Renata, and then

03:25:21.059 --> 03:25:23.719
get away. David watches as the security guards

03:25:23.719 --> 03:25:26.319
lunge forward, stumble around the table and chairs,

03:25:26.540 --> 03:25:28.280
but cannot get to the guy they were standing

03:25:28.280 --> 03:25:30.920
by fast enough before he was running toward the

03:25:30.920 --> 03:25:33.100
front main doors his brother had just walked

03:25:33.100 --> 03:25:36.379
in through. This kid, the one the security guards

03:25:36.379 --> 03:25:39.239
were now trying to run after, was fast. David

03:25:39.239 --> 03:25:41.860
knew that there was no security guards who were

03:25:41.860 --> 03:25:44.190
going to catch him. Three of the guards were

03:25:44.190 --> 03:25:45.930
overweight and were already starting to show

03:25:45.930 --> 03:25:48.530
signs of fatigue. And the fourth guard looked

03:25:48.530 --> 03:25:51.610
to be in his late 50s or early 60s. As the tall

03:25:51.610 --> 03:25:53.889
skinny guy ran past David and his brother David

03:25:53.889 --> 03:25:56.829
saw, clear as day, the tattoo on the guy's wrist.

03:25:57.229 --> 03:25:59.610
As the security guys were now getting closer

03:25:59.610 --> 03:26:03.020
to where David was standing, Looking disheveled

03:26:03.020 --> 03:26:05.760
and fatigued already, they returned and ran after

03:26:05.760 --> 03:26:08.780
the guy right out the front doors. Miranda, Hawthorne,

03:26:08.799 --> 03:26:11.159
and Tommy fast walked toward the front main doors

03:26:11.159 --> 03:26:13.420
and watched as David ran after the guy through

03:26:13.420 --> 03:26:15.780
the parking lot and then chased him onto a small

03:26:15.780 --> 03:26:18.639
patch of sand and grass, which was close to the

03:26:18.639 --> 03:26:21.100
museum's property line. They all watched as David

03:26:21.100 --> 03:26:22.920
caught up with the guy and then tackled him,

03:26:22.979 --> 03:26:25.360
football style, onto the grassy area just off

03:26:25.360 --> 03:26:27.180
the side of the parking lot. The four security

03:26:27.180 --> 03:26:29.340
guards were not far behind, huffing and puffing

03:26:29.340 --> 03:26:30.940
as they approached the two men. who were now

03:26:30.940 --> 03:26:33.120
struggling together on the ground. At that point,

03:26:33.159 --> 03:26:35.379
Miranda started running toward them, with Professor

03:26:35.379 --> 03:26:37.500
Haldor and Professor Tommy falling behind her.

03:26:37.659 --> 03:26:39.319
They all watched as two of the four security

03:26:39.319 --> 03:26:41.200
guards got closer to where David and this other

03:26:41.200 --> 03:26:43.159
guy were, still wrestling together on the ground.

03:26:43.420 --> 03:26:45.360
The two guards had their tasers out and pointing

03:26:45.360 --> 03:26:47.159
at the two men on the ground rolling and then

03:26:47.159 --> 03:26:49.479
pulled the triggers. Four darts with wires streamed

03:26:49.479 --> 03:26:51.620
out from the two guns. One struck David and the

03:26:51.620 --> 03:26:53.940
other three darts and wires struck the guy David

03:26:53.940 --> 03:26:56.520
was trying to subdue. The thin, tall guy David

03:26:56.520 --> 03:26:58.700
had in a headlock immediately went stiff, bit

03:26:58.700 --> 03:27:00.520
his tongue, and then went limp as the vaults

03:27:00.520 --> 03:27:03.440
from the stun incapacitated him. David, kneeling

03:27:03.440 --> 03:27:05.760
down and holding the guy he was chasing in the

03:27:05.760 --> 03:27:07.920
sleeper headlock, felt the shock of both stun

03:27:07.920 --> 03:27:10.280
guns as well. He fell to the ground right next

03:27:10.280 --> 03:27:12.059
to the other guy who was completely unconscious.

03:27:12.799 --> 03:27:15.600
David did not lose consciousness. As David lay

03:27:15.600 --> 03:27:17.420
there, he looked over at the other guy whose

03:27:17.420 --> 03:27:19.659
eyes were closed and laying there, right next

03:27:19.659 --> 03:27:22.299
to him. He was breathing heavily and had a pleasant

03:27:22.299 --> 03:27:24.899
look on his face, like he just fell asleep for

03:27:24.899 --> 03:27:28.079
his afternoon siesta. David watched as the security

03:27:28.079 --> 03:27:31.059
guards who had just tased them were now zip -tying

03:27:31.059 --> 03:27:33.559
the unconscious guy's hands and feet. David then

03:27:33.559 --> 03:27:35.559
sat up, trying to shake off the fact that he

03:27:35.559 --> 03:27:38.420
was just unintentionally tased, notices Miranda,

03:27:38.819 --> 03:27:41.360
Professor Hawthorne, and Prof. Tommy arriving

03:27:41.360 --> 03:27:44.159
on the scene and asking if he was okay. As Miranda,

03:27:44.340 --> 03:27:46.239
Tommy, and David were talking with the security

03:27:46.239 --> 03:27:48.340
guards, all four of them were now on the scene.

03:27:48.440 --> 03:27:50.739
Hawthorne picked up the old sports bag that the

03:27:50.739 --> 03:27:53.280
guy had dropped when David tackled him. The object

03:27:53.280 --> 03:27:55.260
in the bag was heavy, so Hawthorne opened the

03:27:55.260 --> 03:27:58.459
bag, and what do you know? To his surprise, there

03:27:58.459 --> 03:28:00.739
in the old smelly sports bag was the jade jar.

03:28:01.100 --> 03:28:03.319
Hawthorne quickly zipped the bag back up just

03:28:03.319 --> 03:28:05.319
as the provincial police showed up in one of

03:28:05.319 --> 03:28:08.149
their trucks with lights flashing. Hawthorne

03:28:08.149 --> 03:28:10.389
slowly retreats from the scene, bag in hand,

03:28:10.510 --> 03:28:12.649
and stands a short distance away. He watches

03:28:12.649 --> 03:28:15.010
as the provincial police question the security

03:28:15.010 --> 03:28:17.850
guards, then David, then Miranda, and Tommy.

03:28:18.049 --> 03:28:20.510
By this time, the guy who David had tackled,

03:28:20.530 --> 03:28:23.250
they'd come to find out later that his name was

03:28:23.250 --> 03:28:26.770
Carlos Emanuel Rodriguez. Well, he was somewhat

03:28:26.770 --> 03:28:29.469
awake now and talking. Hawthorne watched as he

03:28:29.469 --> 03:28:31.389
was put in the back of the police truck to wait.

03:28:32.120 --> 03:28:34.040
One of the police officers pulled out a utility

03:28:34.040 --> 03:28:36.059
knife from the truck and then cut the zip ties

03:28:36.059 --> 03:28:38.219
on the black bag that was sitting on the ground

03:28:38.219 --> 03:28:40.379
where David had dropped it right before tackling

03:28:40.379 --> 03:28:42.520
the guy. The police officer reached into the

03:28:42.520 --> 03:28:44.879
bag, pulled out a heavy object, wrapped a newspaper,

03:28:45.200 --> 03:28:47.799
looked at it, then removed the newspaper to reveal

03:28:47.799 --> 03:28:51.000
just rock. Hawthorne thought to himself as he

03:28:51.000 --> 03:28:53.120
looked down at the old sports bag he was carrying

03:28:53.120 --> 03:28:56.319
and then said to himself, well, luck has looked

03:28:56.319 --> 03:28:58.920
down on us twice today. And the secret Mayan

03:28:58.920 --> 03:29:08.729
treasure location? Renanta exhales and yawns

03:29:08.729 --> 03:29:11.909
and then asks, Aunt Maria, how much longer do

03:29:11.909 --> 03:29:15.270
we have to wait? She says this as she leans against

03:29:15.270 --> 03:29:18.530
the side of the taxi. She and her aunt have been

03:29:18.530 --> 03:29:21.530
waiting for well over 30 minutes for Carlos to

03:29:21.530 --> 03:29:24.450
meet them there so they can all get a ride back

03:29:24.450 --> 03:29:27.930
to Maria. Maria looks up at Renata. She too is

03:29:27.930 --> 03:29:29.969
getting a little frustrated and irritated that

03:29:29.969 --> 03:29:32.829
Carlos hasn't met them yet. Maria answers Renata,

03:29:32.969 --> 03:29:35.229
he'll be here, we just need to wait. No sooner

03:29:35.229 --> 03:29:37.270
did she say this when they see a police truck

03:29:37.270 --> 03:29:39.469
coming toward them on the road, obviously leaving

03:29:39.469 --> 03:29:42.459
the park. It all happened in slow motion. As

03:29:42.459 --> 03:29:44.540
Maria and Renata watch the police truck drive

03:29:44.540 --> 03:29:47.079
by, they smile at the two police officers sitting

03:29:47.079 --> 03:29:48.959
in the cab and notice that there's someone sitting

03:29:48.959 --> 03:29:51.540
in the back bed of the truck. Maria and Renata

03:29:51.540 --> 03:29:53.739
lock eyes with the person as the truck drives

03:29:53.739 --> 03:30:07.479
by. It's Carlos. It had been about 30 minutes

03:30:07.479 --> 03:30:09.920
or so since the provincial police had left with

03:30:09.920 --> 03:30:13.260
their suspect in custody, Carlos Emanuel Rodriguez.

03:30:13.860 --> 03:30:16.719
He also had known associates with the same last

03:30:16.719 --> 03:30:20.139
name, family members who were also wanted. David,

03:30:20.200 --> 03:30:22.420
who had had a long conversation with the two

03:30:22.420 --> 03:30:25.799
police officers, found out that Carlos and two

03:30:25.799 --> 03:30:27.899
of his family members were wanted in at least

03:30:27.899 --> 03:30:30.479
two other Mexican states for similar crimes,

03:30:30.739 --> 03:30:33.120
theft, assault and battery, and other petty crimes.

03:30:34.000 --> 03:30:36.780
Carlos also matched the description of the guy

03:30:36.780 --> 03:30:40.260
in Ava's photo. Hawthorne was as surprised as

03:30:40.260 --> 03:30:43.399
Tommy, David, and Miranda were that this Carlos

03:30:43.399 --> 03:30:46.120
character actually had the jade jar on him when

03:30:46.120 --> 03:30:49.079
he was caught. Not a very smart criminal to say

03:30:49.079 --> 03:30:53.680
the least. David and Miranda were all now sitting

03:30:53.680 --> 03:30:56.760
with Ava, Lily, and the students inside the Grand

03:30:56.760 --> 03:30:59.770
Museum's food court area. Hawthorne and Tommy

03:30:59.770 --> 03:31:02.129
took turns explaining to the rest of the students

03:31:02.129 --> 03:31:05.569
what had happened earlier that day. Hawthorne

03:31:05.569 --> 03:31:07.889
also explained that he had contacted Professor

03:31:07.889 --> 03:31:11.809
Amanda Chase so that as soon as all the students

03:31:11.809 --> 03:31:14.149
returned to Mexico City, they were going to head

03:31:14.149 --> 03:31:17.430
directly home, back to Coloma. Prof. Chase would

03:31:17.430 --> 03:31:20.549
be helping sort out those details for him. Miranda,

03:31:20.670 --> 03:31:22.690
who was only partially listening, could hardly

03:31:22.690 --> 03:31:25.250
contain her... excitement after Hawthorne passed

03:31:25.250 --> 03:31:28.069
her the old smelly sports bag that Carlos had

03:31:28.069 --> 03:31:30.629
dropped after David tackled him earlier. She

03:31:30.629 --> 03:31:32.770
couldn't believe that the jade jar, the artifact

03:31:32.770 --> 03:31:35.469
that she had painstakingly searched for and discovered

03:31:35.469 --> 03:31:37.930
so many months ago, was now back in her hands

03:31:37.930 --> 03:31:40.409
once again. She put the old gym bag, which held

03:31:40.409 --> 03:31:42.649
the very rare and valuable jade jar artifact,

03:31:42.809 --> 03:31:45.409
into the black bag. She did this carefully and

03:31:45.409 --> 03:31:48.239
out of sight of anyone else. The only people

03:31:48.239 --> 03:31:50.200
who knew that they had recovered the Jade Jar

03:31:50.200 --> 03:31:53.020
artifact was Professor Hawthorne, Prof. Tommy,

03:31:53.200 --> 03:31:56.340
David, and Miranda. Carlos knew as well, but

03:31:56.340 --> 03:31:58.780
he was of little concern now. In fact, he was

03:31:58.780 --> 03:32:01.440
probably sitting in a dirty holding cell awaiting

03:32:01.440 --> 03:32:04.020
transfer back to Mexico City. Miranda thought

03:32:04.020 --> 03:32:06.479
to herself, I need to convince Prof. Tommy the

03:32:06.479 --> 03:32:08.579
Jade Jar should be returned back to the location

03:32:08.579 --> 03:32:11.219
it came from, back to the people it belongs to,

03:32:11.360 --> 03:32:13.940
the people of Calakmul. I don't want to make

03:32:13.940 --> 03:32:15.819
the same mistake twice by handing it over to

03:32:15.819 --> 03:32:18.399
some official at a museum or some politician.

03:32:18.739 --> 03:32:21.739
It's already caused too much trouble. Miranda

03:32:21.739 --> 03:32:23.920
recalls one of the village leaders near Calakmul

03:32:23.920 --> 03:32:26.600
had warned her and her team many months ago as

03:32:26.600 --> 03:32:28.340
they were leaving their excavation site near

03:32:28.340 --> 03:32:31.379
Calakmul that the jade jar, if it truly was a

03:32:31.379 --> 03:32:33.719
personal belonging of Pakal the Great, that it

03:32:33.719 --> 03:32:36.040
would eventually find its way back home, back

03:32:36.040 --> 03:32:39.200
to Calakmul at some point in the future. She

03:32:39.200 --> 03:32:41.360
then thought to herself, well, the future is

03:32:41.360 --> 03:32:43.559
now, and maybe I'm the way it gets back to its

03:32:43.559 --> 03:32:45.600
rightful place, since I was the one who took

03:32:45.600 --> 03:32:47.639
it from its original place so many months ago.

03:32:48.280 --> 03:32:50.860
Miranda finds Prof. Tommy, speaks to him privately,

03:32:51.120 --> 03:32:53.440
out of the earshot of the others, and explains

03:32:53.440 --> 03:32:55.579
to him her plan to take the jade jar back to

03:32:55.579 --> 03:32:58.680
Klokmul. And, to her surprise, Prof. Tommy agreed

03:32:58.680 --> 03:33:01.739
wholeheartedly. The only issue she may face in

03:33:01.739 --> 03:33:03.739
the near future was what she would tell Anthony

03:33:03.739 --> 03:33:06.760
Garcia, the museum's curator, when she saw him

03:33:06.760 --> 03:33:09.420
again back in Mexico City. She'll cross that

03:33:09.420 --> 03:33:11.799
bridge when she comes to it. After his brief

03:33:11.799 --> 03:33:14.620
discussion with Miranda, Tommy asked around among

03:33:14.620 --> 03:33:16.500
the students to see if they were all ready to

03:33:16.500 --> 03:33:19.459
head back to Morita, or if they still wanted

03:33:19.459 --> 03:33:21.680
to see anything else locally at Chichen Itza.

03:33:22.819 --> 03:33:25.360
He thought it was sounding. We're ready to go

03:33:25.360 --> 03:33:27.799
back to a hotel in Morita, answered from all

03:33:27.799 --> 03:33:30.000
the students in the group. They took that as,

03:33:30.120 --> 03:33:32.979
let's call it a day. As the group, and there

03:33:32.979 --> 03:33:35.180
were 15 of them now, including David's brother,

03:33:35.399 --> 03:33:37.840
got back on the bus, Hawthorne made it a point

03:33:37.840 --> 03:33:41.180
to sit close to both Ava and Lily. They had about

03:33:41.180 --> 03:33:43.799
an hour and a half bus ride back to Merida, which

03:33:43.799 --> 03:33:45.979
was more than enough time for the three of them

03:33:45.979 --> 03:33:49.389
to make a travel plan for the students. Hawthorne

03:33:49.389 --> 03:33:51.450
explained that Prof. Amanda was helping make

03:33:51.450 --> 03:33:53.489
the arrangements and that Lily was going to help

03:33:53.489 --> 03:33:56.170
accompany the students back to Coloma while Hawthorne

03:33:56.170 --> 03:33:59.090
stayed at least one or two more days longer to

03:33:59.090 --> 03:34:00.829
meet with several of the university officials

03:34:00.829 --> 03:34:04.889
and to try to see Anthony again now that he was

03:34:04.889 --> 03:34:07.969
discharged from the hospital. Ava speaks up and

03:34:07.969 --> 03:34:10.969
says, Reuters has okayed me to keep working down

03:34:10.969 --> 03:34:13.989
here in Mexico for at least a week or more. They

03:34:13.989 --> 03:34:16.149
basically told me to just do your thing and bring

03:34:16.149 --> 03:34:18.940
us back a story we can use in Circulate. And

03:34:18.940 --> 03:34:21.239
well, I've got a really good one started thanks

03:34:21.239 --> 03:34:23.239
to the last few events that has happened to us

03:34:23.239 --> 03:34:26.500
down here. Lily then says, when we get back to

03:34:26.500 --> 03:34:28.780
Mexico City, I can help the girls get packed

03:34:28.780 --> 03:34:31.399
and ready. And I think Joseph could be put in

03:34:31.399 --> 03:34:34.020
charge of making sure the boys are ready. I think

03:34:34.020 --> 03:34:36.239
he's the more responsible one out of their group.

03:34:36.639 --> 03:34:38.920
Thanks for your help with this, Lily. Hawthorne

03:34:38.920 --> 03:34:40.899
responds, I appreciate you taking leadership

03:34:40.899 --> 03:34:43.180
over the students today. I'm sure you're ready

03:34:43.180 --> 03:34:46.149
to get back to some sort of normal routine. For

03:34:46.149 --> 03:34:49.489
sure, Lily responds. I'm just super happy I didn't

03:34:49.489 --> 03:34:52.430
have to go inside that pyramid. Ava jumps in.

03:34:52.670 --> 03:34:55.270
Yeah, some of the passageways were quite tight

03:34:55.270 --> 03:34:57.850
and cramped. Thank goodness Sierra wasn't here

03:34:57.850 --> 03:35:00.030
with us either. She definitely would have freaked

03:35:00.030 --> 03:35:03.370
out. Both Ava and Lily laugh as they go down

03:35:03.370 --> 03:35:05.809
memory lane for a few minutes about their previous

03:35:05.809 --> 03:35:08.450
adventure together back in El Dorado County,

03:35:08.670 --> 03:35:16.219
California. Meanwhile, Miranda and David are

03:35:16.219 --> 03:35:18.280
able to debrief with each other about the day

03:35:18.280 --> 03:35:20.340
and the stressful and exciting things that had

03:35:20.340 --> 03:35:22.500
just happened. Miranda was talking through a

03:35:22.500 --> 03:35:24.780
plan with David of how she could return the jade

03:35:24.780 --> 03:35:26.680
jar back to the provincial leaders who oversee

03:35:26.680 --> 03:35:29.379
the ancient sites of Calakmul. She tells David

03:35:29.379 --> 03:35:31.719
as they sit together on the bus, I really just

03:35:31.719 --> 03:35:33.879
want to return this important artifact back to

03:35:33.879 --> 03:35:35.920
its rightful people. I want to do it quietly,

03:35:36.059 --> 03:35:39.719
without the fanfare of the media or public. Yeah,

03:35:39.760 --> 03:35:42.319
I totally understand, David replies. He then

03:35:42.319 --> 03:35:44.819
says, My contract with the university and the

03:35:44.819 --> 03:35:47.319
museum ends after tomorrow, so I'd be willing

03:35:47.319 --> 03:35:49.780
to help make that happen. Return the jay jar

03:35:49.780 --> 03:35:52.360
back to Kalakmul, if you'd like. That would mean

03:35:52.360 --> 03:35:54.180
a lot to me, and I'd love to have company on

03:35:54.180 --> 03:35:56.840
that trip, Miranda responds. She then asks, what

03:35:56.840 --> 03:35:58.840
about the golden mask and the secret chamber

03:35:58.840 --> 03:36:00.600
you discovered in the pyramid? What are your

03:36:00.600 --> 03:36:03.879
thoughts? As David gestures toward his brother,

03:36:04.000 --> 03:36:06.239
who's sound asleep in the seats next to them,

03:36:06.379 --> 03:36:08.959
he says, I need to figure out what to do about

03:36:08.959 --> 03:36:11.079
my brother's involvement in the heist at the

03:36:11.079 --> 03:36:13.809
gala event. He was the getaway driver for that

03:36:13.809 --> 03:36:17.049
guy Carlos and his associates. At this point,

03:36:17.110 --> 03:36:19.010
I feel like he's already paid his dues by...

03:36:19.010 --> 03:36:22.389
I'd like to convince him to straighten up and

03:36:22.389 --> 03:36:24.969
join me in my small business, maybe work off

03:36:24.969 --> 03:36:27.549
his social debt to the public. I could use the

03:36:27.549 --> 03:36:29.729
help with planning and logistics when I take

03:36:29.729 --> 03:36:33.819
contract jobs. David continues. And you ask about

03:36:33.819 --> 03:36:36.200
the golden mask. Well, I'd rather just be done

03:36:36.200 --> 03:36:38.260
with that thing. It's only brought me headaches.

03:36:38.639 --> 03:36:41.500
David pauses for a moment then adds, well, not

03:36:41.500 --> 03:36:43.920
everything has been a headache. I mean, it did

03:36:43.920 --> 03:36:46.360
allow us to meet, which has been a positive thing

03:36:46.360 --> 03:36:49.360
I'd like to continue. Miranda smiles, shakes

03:36:49.360 --> 03:36:51.739
her head in agreement and then says, I wonder

03:36:51.739 --> 03:36:53.620
if your brother has any information that may

03:36:53.620 --> 03:36:55.659
help the authorities recover the golden mask.

03:36:55.899 --> 03:36:58.040
It would be great if the secret treasure room

03:36:58.040 --> 03:37:00.139
in the pyramid stayed a secret and the golden

03:37:00.139 --> 03:37:03.079
mask could be returned as well. Miranda then

03:37:03.079 --> 03:37:05.520
throws out an idea to David and says, what if

03:37:05.520 --> 03:37:08.159
this was our mission, our next chapter, you and

03:37:08.159 --> 03:37:10.739
I together. We return both artifacts back to

03:37:10.739 --> 03:37:12.719
their rightful places where we originally found

03:37:12.719 --> 03:37:15.139
them. Well, of course, we'd need to recover the

03:37:15.139 --> 03:37:17.899
golden mask as well. I like that. David replies

03:37:17.899 --> 03:37:20.579
and then says, I think we have our work cut out

03:37:20.579 --> 03:37:22.700
for us, though, in trying to figure out how to

03:37:22.700 --> 03:37:26.020
get the golden mask back. But maybe my brother

03:37:26.020 --> 03:37:28.139
knows something about it. Let's ask him when

03:37:28.139 --> 03:37:35.700
we get back to the hotel in Merida. A few minutes

03:37:35.700 --> 03:37:38.100
later, Hawthorne noticed that the bus had started

03:37:38.100 --> 03:37:40.700
to slow down, so he looked forward a few seats

03:37:40.700 --> 03:37:42.739
where Tommy was sitting right behind the driver

03:37:42.739 --> 03:37:45.459
and asked, Is everything okay up there, Tommy?

03:37:46.040 --> 03:37:48.299
By this time, everybody on the bus had noticed

03:37:48.299 --> 03:37:50.579
the bus was now slowing down and was looking

03:37:50.579 --> 03:37:53.940
out the windows. Tommy answers back, Everything's

03:37:53.940 --> 03:37:56.280
fine. Our driver is stopping for this broken

03:37:56.280 --> 03:37:59.819
down on the side of the road. It looks like the

03:37:59.819 --> 03:38:02.540
taxi driver got two passengers as well, standing

03:38:02.540 --> 03:38:05.979
off the side of the road. Tommy continues. As

03:38:05.979 --> 03:38:08.040
the bus rolls, he'll stop right behind the broken

03:38:08.040 --> 03:38:11.479
down taxi car. It's a typical courtesy for public

03:38:11.479 --> 03:38:13.299
transport drivers to help each other out like

03:38:13.299 --> 03:38:17.079
this. Also, there are no services along the stretch

03:38:17.079 --> 03:38:19.739
of the highway for another 40 plus kilometer

03:38:19.739 --> 03:38:23.120
before we reach Murata. Tommy gets out of the

03:38:23.120 --> 03:38:25.399
bus and talks with the taxi driver for a few

03:38:25.399 --> 03:38:28.579
minutes and then gets back on the bus. The two

03:38:28.579 --> 03:38:30.719
passengers that were waiting with the taxi follow

03:38:30.719 --> 03:38:33.079
Tommy into the bus and set up down front. near

03:38:33.079 --> 03:38:35.379
the bus door. Tommy looks back at Hawthorne and

03:38:35.379 --> 03:38:38.139
then says the taxi driver is going to save the

03:38:38.139 --> 03:38:40.680
way with his car. He said a mechanic friend of

03:38:40.680 --> 03:38:43.780
his is on his way to help. However, it was going

03:38:43.780 --> 03:38:46.979
to be another hour or so. Anyway, I offered to

03:38:46.979 --> 03:38:49.040
give his stranded passenger a ride to Merida

03:38:49.040 --> 03:38:51.059
since that's where we're both headed. They've

03:38:51.059 --> 03:38:53.059
been out here waiting for the past 30 minutes

03:38:53.059 --> 03:38:55.280
or so. Professor Hawthorne noticed that the two

03:38:55.280 --> 03:38:58.000
female passengers that followed Tommy onto the

03:38:58.000 --> 03:39:00.739
bus kept their heads and eyes down. making it

03:39:00.739 --> 03:39:03.159
a point not to look at anyone in the group, especially

03:39:03.159 --> 03:39:06.100
toward the back of the bus. He thought to himself,

03:39:06.360 --> 03:39:07.940
well, maybe they're just a little embarrassed.

03:39:08.139 --> 03:39:11.260
He also felt bad for them since he too has been

03:39:11.260 --> 03:39:13.659
in their shoes in the past, broken down on the

03:39:13.659 --> 03:39:15.659
side of the road with no way to fix the car.

03:39:16.180 --> 03:39:18.559
And in that type of situation, you are having

03:39:18.559 --> 03:39:21.920
to rely on the kindness of strangers. Most of

03:39:21.920 --> 03:39:23.840
the students were not paying much attention now

03:39:23.840 --> 03:39:25.860
and were now back to doing whatever they were

03:39:25.860 --> 03:39:28.760
doing right before the bus stopped to help. Ava

03:39:28.760 --> 03:39:30.959
and Lily were back to talking and looking at

03:39:30.959 --> 03:39:33.979
Lily's photos on her phone, and Miranda and David

03:39:33.979 --> 03:39:36.440
had not paid much attention to the entire stop

03:39:36.440 --> 03:39:38.680
as they kept talking and laughing through the

03:39:38.680 --> 03:39:42.340
entire ordeal. As the two female passengers got

03:39:42.340 --> 03:39:45.239
situated in their seats, a few rows up from where

03:39:45.239 --> 03:39:47.920
the majority of the group were seated, Hawthorne

03:39:47.920 --> 03:39:50.040
noticed that the younger one was clutching what

03:39:50.040 --> 03:39:52.620
looked like a sports bag. The sports bag looked

03:39:52.620 --> 03:39:54.840
similar to the one he had just recovered back

03:39:54.840 --> 03:39:57.719
at Chichen Itza. The guy who was arrested was

03:39:57.719 --> 03:40:00.100
carrying a similar bag right before he dropped

03:40:00.100 --> 03:40:02.979
it as he was tackled by David and then tased

03:40:02.979 --> 03:40:05.520
by the security guards. He tried to put it out

03:40:05.520 --> 03:40:07.600
of his mind, but it was bothering him for some

03:40:07.600 --> 03:40:10.959
reason. He thought to himself, hmm, what are

03:40:10.959 --> 03:40:13.299
the odds that two different people on the same

03:40:13.299 --> 03:40:16.579
day, hours apart from each other, would be carrying

03:40:16.579 --> 03:40:19.280
the same type of bag close to the same location?

03:40:25.069 --> 03:40:27.370
As the bus was pulling back out into the highway,

03:40:27.610 --> 03:40:29.989
having left the taxi driver and his broken down

03:40:29.989 --> 03:40:32.610
car on the side of the road, David noticed that

03:40:32.610 --> 03:40:34.610
his brother, who had been quite sound asleep,

03:40:34.809 --> 03:40:37.709
started to wake up. His brother had been laying

03:40:37.709 --> 03:40:40.590
down the seats next to David and Miranda. In

03:40:40.590 --> 03:40:43.229
the other row, David's brother sat up, rubbed

03:40:43.229 --> 03:40:45.069
his head, and looked around the bus and asked

03:40:45.069 --> 03:40:47.969
David where they were. David responded by telling

03:40:47.969 --> 03:40:50.659
him they were on their way back to Merida. Now

03:40:50.659 --> 03:40:52.799
that his brother was awake, having survived being

03:40:52.799 --> 03:40:55.780
locked in a hot trunk for several hours, David

03:40:55.780 --> 03:40:58.159
started asking him a lot of questions about how

03:40:58.159 --> 03:41:00.760
and why he got involved in this scheme to steal

03:41:00.760 --> 03:41:02.879
the artifacts of the gala event the other night.

03:41:03.700 --> 03:41:05.559
David's brother was not really in the mood to

03:41:05.559 --> 03:41:07.799
talk about it at the moment and was feeling a

03:41:07.799 --> 03:41:09.760
little embarrassed he was being scolded around

03:41:09.760 --> 03:41:12.739
other people. But his brother did respond by

03:41:12.739 --> 03:41:14.979
telling David that all he was hired to do was

03:41:14.979 --> 03:41:17.620
to drive three people from Mexico City to Merida

03:41:17.620 --> 03:41:20.139
in the middle of the night. He then added that

03:41:20.139 --> 03:41:22.120
he had no idea that the three people who drove

03:41:22.120 --> 03:41:24.579
to Merida that night had just robbed the gala

03:41:24.579 --> 03:41:27.809
event at the museum in Mexico City. He then also

03:41:27.809 --> 03:41:30.270
told David that he has tried to stay clear of

03:41:30.270 --> 03:41:33.049
work like this the last year or so, but for some

03:41:33.049 --> 03:41:35.129
reason, the person who hired him really wanted

03:41:35.129 --> 03:41:37.880
him to do it and it paid really well. Miranda

03:41:37.880 --> 03:41:40.000
overheard David laying into his brother about

03:41:40.000 --> 03:41:42.000
the whole situation that he had gotten himself

03:41:42.000 --> 03:41:44.639
into. Miranda felt a bit embarrassed for David's

03:41:44.639 --> 03:41:46.840
younger brother as David's voice kept getting

03:41:46.840 --> 03:41:49.180
a little louder with each sentence. She also

03:41:49.180 --> 03:41:51.899
felt a little sympathy for the kid. Well, I guess

03:41:51.899 --> 03:41:54.200
he's not really a kid. Miranda was guessing that

03:41:54.200 --> 03:41:56.280
David's younger brother was maybe a few years

03:41:56.280 --> 03:41:58.399
younger than her. As she continued to listen

03:41:58.399 --> 03:42:00.540
to David give his younger brother a lecture about

03:42:00.540 --> 03:42:03.159
his life and the direction it had taken, she

03:42:03.159 --> 03:42:05.139
secretly wanted David to forgive him and show

03:42:05.139 --> 03:42:07.860
him some mercy. However, Miranda knew it was

03:42:07.860 --> 03:42:10.159
not her place to give David any family relationship

03:42:10.159 --> 03:42:13.040
advice since she did not know the entire backstory

03:42:13.040 --> 03:42:15.780
between the two brothers. She also had family

03:42:15.780 --> 03:42:18.200
members she needed to forgive. So she sat there,

03:42:18.319 --> 03:42:20.479
tried not to listen and looked out the window

03:42:20.479 --> 03:42:28.520
of the bus. Still on the bus ride back to Miranda

03:42:28.520 --> 03:42:32.409
with maybe another 20 to 30 minutes to go. Tommy

03:42:32.409 --> 03:42:35.049
noticed that the two new female passengers were

03:42:35.049 --> 03:42:37.530
being very quiet and reserved. He thought that

03:42:37.530 --> 03:42:39.290
it was a little odd since they were getting a

03:42:39.290 --> 03:42:42.350
free ride back to Merida. The two ladies were

03:42:42.350 --> 03:42:45.829
keeping to themselves and staying quiet. So Tommy,

03:42:45.950 --> 03:42:48.110
who was sitting in the seat directly across the

03:42:48.110 --> 03:42:50.690
two passengers, looked over at them and said,

03:42:51.329 --> 03:42:53.790
I didn't really introduce myself earlier, but

03:42:53.790 --> 03:42:56.170
my name is Thomas Flores. You can call me Tommy.

03:42:56.389 --> 03:42:59.709
And we're a university group from Mexico. And

03:42:59.709 --> 03:43:03.399
he then asked, So, How did you like Chichen Itza?

03:43:03.659 --> 03:43:05.719
I mean, assuming that's where you were coming

03:43:05.719 --> 03:43:08.219
from, since that's the only traffic on this road

03:43:08.219 --> 03:43:11.219
between Merida and the ancient site. Is that

03:43:11.219 --> 03:43:13.340
your first time visiting? Tommy was genuinely

03:43:13.340 --> 03:43:15.979
curious and trying to make small talk as he assumed

03:43:15.979 --> 03:43:18.379
there were day tourists from either cities of

03:43:18.379 --> 03:43:21.680
Merida or somewhere else close by. Renanta turned

03:43:21.680 --> 03:43:24.299
her head away from the man who was now sitting

03:43:24.299 --> 03:43:27.459
closer to them and just stared at her aunt awkwardly.

03:43:28.159 --> 03:43:30.780
Renanta was not sure how to answer the guy, so

03:43:30.780 --> 03:43:33.139
she just stared at her aunt and hoped that man

03:43:33.139 --> 03:43:36.399
would just slide back over further in his seat

03:43:36.399 --> 03:43:39.700
and be quiet. Maria, a little annoyed about her

03:43:39.700 --> 03:43:42.200
niece's lack of ability to act normal, answered

03:43:42.200 --> 03:43:44.760
Tommy's question for them and responded, Yes,

03:43:44.799 --> 03:43:47.399
that's right. I wanted to take my niece to see

03:43:47.399 --> 03:43:49.940
the Chitzen Itza since she's never been there

03:43:49.940 --> 03:43:52.620
before and my apologies as she's really shy.

03:43:53.459 --> 03:44:10.950
That's okay. Tommy replies. Maria nods her head

03:44:10.950 --> 03:44:12.930
in agreement at Tommy's comments and smiles.

03:44:13.229 --> 03:44:16.110
She's also hoping her subtle nonverbal expressions

03:44:16.110 --> 03:44:18.670
communicate that she doesn't really want to talk

03:44:18.670 --> 03:44:22.329
and would rather just be left alone. Renata whispers

03:44:22.329 --> 03:44:25.459
to Maria. what are we going to do when we get

03:44:25.459 --> 03:44:29.239
to marita maria answers quietly so as not to

03:44:29.239 --> 03:44:31.620
elicit any type of reaction from tommy who's

03:44:31.620 --> 03:44:34.639
now talking with the driver she says we are going

03:44:34.639 --> 03:44:37.200
to have to lay low until we get that final payout

03:44:37.200 --> 03:44:42.020
from the big boss give us up i mean i don't think

03:44:42.020 --> 03:44:45.459
he will but maybe the big boss can help him renonta

03:44:45.459 --> 03:44:48.280
then replies i grabbed this old gym bag from

03:44:48.280 --> 03:44:51.340
the other car at least we still have the thing

03:44:52.000 --> 03:44:55.879
Maybe we can still use it to our advantage. Renata

03:44:55.879 --> 03:44:59.340
was still thinking that the jade jar was in this

03:44:59.340 --> 03:45:03.100
old sports bag she was carrying. However, she

03:45:03.100 --> 03:45:06.360
did not know that she actually was just carrying

03:45:06.360 --> 03:45:09.719
around the bag with some rocks in it. She and

03:45:09.719 --> 03:45:12.659
her Aunt Maria had no idea that the jade jar

03:45:12.659 --> 03:45:16.180
was actually in a different bag and resting at

03:45:16.180 --> 03:45:19.100
the feet of one of the other passengers who was

03:45:19.100 --> 03:45:22.579
sitting toward the bag. Mario looks over at Tommy,

03:45:22.719 --> 03:45:24.840
making sure he's not paying much attention to

03:45:24.840 --> 03:45:26.959
their side conversation and quietly responds,

03:45:27.459 --> 03:45:29.260
Yeah, I noticed you were carrying that thing.

03:45:29.379 --> 03:45:31.920
Just pretend like it's your day bag and try not

03:45:31.920 --> 03:45:34.020
to draw attention to it. These tourists don't

03:45:34.020 --> 03:45:41.420
have a clue anyway. Professor Hawthorne, still

03:45:41.420 --> 03:45:43.940
trying to shake the weird unsettling feeling

03:45:43.940 --> 03:45:47.139
he had about their two new passengers, got up

03:45:47.139 --> 03:45:49.200
from his seat and moved back one row to where

03:45:49.200 --> 03:45:51.659
David and Miranda were sitting. David had stopped

03:45:51.659 --> 03:45:53.780
lecturing his brother by this time and was just

03:45:53.780 --> 03:45:55.579
sitting there with Miranda next to him in the

03:45:55.579 --> 03:45:58.440
window seat. As Professor Hawthorne sat down,

03:45:58.520 --> 03:46:01.219
David asked, what brings you back here? Hawthorne

03:46:01.219 --> 03:46:03.860
answers, apologies for interrupting, but I feel

03:46:03.860 --> 03:46:06.959
something is off with our two passengers. It's

03:46:06.959 --> 03:46:09.520
just a feeling I have. The younger one of the

03:46:09.520 --> 03:46:12.500
two has a similar, maybe even the same type of

03:46:12.500 --> 03:46:15.280
sports bag that the guy you helped apprehend

03:46:15.280 --> 03:46:18.100
was carrying. Should I be alarmed by this fact?

03:46:19.079 --> 03:46:21.620
At that moment, Hawthorne noticed David's brother

03:46:21.620 --> 03:46:24.520
slumped down in his seat, hiding behind the back

03:46:24.520 --> 03:46:26.979
of the seat in front of him. David saw his brother's

03:46:26.979 --> 03:46:29.200
reaction too and knew immediately that there

03:46:29.200 --> 03:46:31.540
was a connection between his brother, the two

03:46:31.540 --> 03:46:33.700
female passengers they picked up, and Carlos,

03:46:34.020 --> 03:46:37.149
the guy the police had already arrested. Miranda

03:46:37.149 --> 03:46:39.329
was also paying attention to this new information,

03:46:39.649 --> 03:46:42.489
but not wanting to raise any suspicion on the

03:46:42.489 --> 03:46:44.430
part of the two new passengers sitting at the

03:46:44.430 --> 03:46:46.909
front of the bus, she pretended to have a nonchalant

03:46:46.909 --> 03:46:49.549
conversation with Professor Hawthorne, smiling

03:46:49.549 --> 03:46:52.129
and even laughing periodically. She looked over

03:46:52.129 --> 03:46:54.930
at David, who was now having a very quiet conversation

03:46:54.930 --> 03:46:57.290
with his brother, who was still slumped down

03:46:57.290 --> 03:47:00.190
in his seat, not wanting to be seen. David looks

03:47:00.190 --> 03:47:02.409
back up at Hawthorne after telling his brother

03:47:02.409 --> 03:47:05.350
to stay out of sight and then says softly, My

03:47:05.350 --> 03:47:07.569
brother says these are the other two he drove

03:47:07.569 --> 03:47:10.209
from Mexico City to Merida, and they're related

03:47:10.209 --> 03:47:13.110
to Carlos. He said the younger one is Carlos'

03:47:13.290 --> 03:47:16.750
sister. Her name is Renata. And the older one

03:47:16.750 --> 03:47:19.049
is their aunt, and her name is Maria. Miranda

03:47:19.049 --> 03:47:21.870
responds and says quietly, Wow, what luck is

03:47:21.870 --> 03:47:23.870
this? Looks like we found our thieves from the

03:47:23.870 --> 03:47:26.530
gala. And they have all come right to us in a

03:47:26.530 --> 03:47:29.010
weird way. David replies and says, I'm not the

03:47:29.010 --> 03:47:31.149
type of person who believes in superstitions.

03:47:31.870 --> 03:47:33.409
But there are people who believe that if you

03:47:33.409 --> 03:47:35.870
steal Mayan treasure, you will be cursed until

03:47:35.870 --> 03:47:38.450
the treasure is returned. Miranda smiles a bit

03:47:38.450 --> 03:47:40.969
and says, Well, I'm starting to believe that

03:47:40.969 --> 03:47:43.629
superstition may be true. This family of thieves

03:47:43.629 --> 03:47:45.790
have surely found some bad luck today getting

03:47:45.790 --> 03:47:48.329
on our bus, of all things. Hawthorne then asks,

03:47:48.569 --> 03:47:51.329
So what's the plan? We'll be arriving in Merida

03:47:51.329 --> 03:47:53.909
in the next 20 minutes or so, and we can't let

03:47:53.909 --> 03:47:56.649
these two get away. David, rising his phone up

03:47:56.649 --> 03:47:59.010
to his ear, then replies and says, I'm already

03:47:59.010 --> 03:48:01.379
on it. putting a call in with the contact of

03:48:01.379 --> 03:48:03.540
mine in the police department in Mexico City.

03:48:03.959 --> 03:48:06.139
He'll be able to call ahead and have several

03:48:06.139 --> 03:48:09.440
plain -clothed officers waiting. David then continues,

03:48:09.739 --> 03:48:11.739
we need to know where our new passengers want

03:48:11.739 --> 03:48:13.799
to be dropped off so I can relay the message

03:48:13.799 --> 03:48:16.860
on. So, the sooner we find this out, the better.

03:48:17.079 --> 03:48:19.319
It will give my guy more time to get his guys

03:48:19.319 --> 03:48:22.020
mobilized for the rest and pickup. Hawthorne

03:48:22.020 --> 03:48:24.520
then said, I'm on it, and then sends a quick

03:48:24.520 --> 03:48:26.899
text to Tommy, who's sitting up front by the

03:48:26.899 --> 03:48:35.159
two new passengers. Tommy receives a text message,

03:48:35.319 --> 03:48:38.500
looks at his phone, then looks at his watch,

03:48:38.600 --> 03:48:41.299
and then looks over at Maria and Renetta, who

03:48:41.299 --> 03:48:44.139
are just sitting there silent. Tommy then says,

03:48:44.260 --> 03:48:47.819
excuse me. He continues, we're about 15 minutes

03:48:47.819 --> 03:48:49.920
away from Moretta, and our bus will be dropping

03:48:49.920 --> 03:48:52.379
my group and I off downtown where our hotel is

03:48:52.379 --> 03:48:54.940
located. We'd be happy to drop you off somewhere

03:48:54.940 --> 03:48:58.420
else. I think the main bus depot is located downtown

03:48:58.420 --> 03:49:01.340
somewhere. Maria, not having thought that far

03:49:01.340 --> 03:49:03.979
ahead yet, responded and then said, Yeah, the

03:49:03.979 --> 03:49:07.239
main bus depot is just fine. Thank you. Renata

03:49:07.239 --> 03:49:10.959
then whispers to Maria, Then we can get a ride

03:49:10.959 --> 03:49:14.239
back to Mexico City, right? Yep, that's the plan.

03:49:14.420 --> 03:49:16.940
Now just follow my lead, don't talk too much,

03:49:16.979 --> 03:49:19.139
and keep a low profile and we'll be on our way.

03:49:19.319 --> 03:49:21.799
And hopefully we'll be able to get your brother

03:49:21.799 --> 03:49:25.340
back. Maria responds quietly to Renata. At that

03:49:25.340 --> 03:49:28.200
same moment, Tommy sends three words text message

03:49:28.200 --> 03:49:31.000
back to Hawthorne. that reads, Main Bus Depot.

03:49:31.559 --> 03:49:34.159
Tommy, not really understanding why Hawthorne

03:49:34.159 --> 03:49:35.899
wanted to know the drop -off location of the

03:49:35.899 --> 03:49:38.579
two passengers, didn't ask him a question, but

03:49:38.579 --> 03:49:40.840
just said that, and then continued talking with

03:49:40.840 --> 03:49:42.860
the bus driver where they had left off a few

03:49:42.860 --> 03:49:45.719
minutes. That's the way Tommy was. He had the

03:49:45.719 --> 03:49:48.280
ability to connect with just about everybody,

03:49:48.540 --> 03:49:51.700
from a random bus driver to a career criminal.

03:49:51.780 --> 03:49:54.600
He could talk to just about anyone without a

03:49:54.600 --> 03:50:02.549
problem. As the bus entered Merida City Limits

03:50:02.549 --> 03:50:04.569
and was now winding its way through the city

03:50:04.569 --> 03:50:08.489
streets slowly, Hawthorne asked David, Is everything

03:50:08.489 --> 03:50:11.389
set up? David answered, I think the pickup team

03:50:11.389 --> 03:50:13.149
will be ready by the time we get there. They

03:50:13.149 --> 03:50:15.090
had to scramble to get a few officers assigned.

03:50:15.370 --> 03:50:18.510
We can drop off our two guests at the bus depot

03:50:18.510 --> 03:50:21.409
as normal and then be on our way. David, Miranda

03:50:21.409 --> 03:50:23.250
says as she interrupts, what about the golden

03:50:23.250 --> 03:50:25.489
mask? The two people who know where it is are

03:50:25.489 --> 03:50:27.790
sitting on our bus right now. You have a good

03:50:27.790 --> 03:50:30.670
point, David answers. At that moment, and after

03:50:30.670 --> 03:50:33.229
hearing Miranda say that, Hawthorne offered up

03:50:33.229 --> 03:50:36.190
an idea. He said, David, this is a long shot,

03:50:36.250 --> 03:50:39.549
but I have a really crazy idea. Hawthorne knew

03:50:39.549 --> 03:50:42.170
that if these two passengers were arrested and

03:50:42.170 --> 03:50:45.629
taken into custody now, there was probably no

03:50:45.629 --> 03:50:47.750
chance the gold mask would ever be recovered.

03:50:47.989 --> 03:50:50.850
He assumed it was either hiding somewhere or

03:50:50.850 --> 03:50:52.850
they had already handed it over to their boss,

03:50:53.069 --> 03:50:55.829
whoever that may be. At least at this point,

03:50:55.850 --> 03:50:58.219
they still had a chance to talk with them. or

03:50:58.219 --> 03:51:01.680
negotiate with them. David responded, Okay, what's

03:51:01.680 --> 03:51:04.299
your idea? Hawthorne offers up his idea quickly

03:51:04.299 --> 03:51:06.360
as they were only a few minutes from the bus

03:51:06.360 --> 03:51:08.579
depot where they would let their two passengers

03:51:08.579 --> 03:51:12.479
off. Hawthorne makes it quick and says, After

03:51:12.479 --> 03:51:15.360
we drop our two passengers off at the bus depot,

03:51:15.420 --> 03:51:17.579
we drive around the street corner and drop you

03:51:17.579 --> 03:51:21.219
off, Miranda and your brother. You all follow

03:51:21.219 --> 03:51:23.850
them into the bus depot. David, you make contact

03:51:23.850 --> 03:51:26.270
with them inside the bus depot, hopefully before

03:51:26.270 --> 03:51:29.950
the plane closed, please get to them first. Then

03:51:29.950 --> 03:51:32.010
if you can talk with them really quick, try to

03:51:32.010 --> 03:51:34.889
strike a deal. As soon as the police swarm and

03:51:34.889 --> 03:51:37.090
apprehend them, Miranda and your brother join

03:51:37.090 --> 03:51:40.069
you. Before the police haul them off, you need

03:51:40.069 --> 03:51:42.590
to tell the two ladies that if they tell you

03:51:42.590 --> 03:51:45.629
where the golden mask is located or who has it

03:51:45.629 --> 03:51:48.090
now, that your brother will testify that they

03:51:48.090 --> 03:51:50.110
both helped save his life and got him released

03:51:50.110 --> 03:51:52.950
from the cartel. This should get him a reduced

03:51:52.950 --> 03:51:56.129
prison sentence. Or something. Or at least I

03:51:56.129 --> 03:51:58.870
hope so. And David and Miranda, since you are

03:51:58.870 --> 03:52:01.010
both somewhat of local celebrities in Mexico,

03:52:01.290 --> 03:52:03.930
your word will mean a lot more to them than anyone

03:52:03.930 --> 03:52:06.690
else's. Hawthorne then asks, what do you think?

03:52:07.010 --> 03:52:10.110
We'll do it, David responds. Yeah, I'm in, Miranda

03:52:10.110 --> 03:52:12.670
says. We can then catch a ride back to the hotel

03:52:12.670 --> 03:52:20.790
later, David says. A few minutes later, the bus

03:52:20.790 --> 03:52:23.090
pulls in and parks in the main parking area at

03:52:23.090 --> 03:52:26.370
Merida's main bus depot. The doors open and the

03:52:26.370 --> 03:52:29.149
two passengers up front exit rather quickly without

03:52:29.149 --> 03:52:32.569
looking back. However, Hawthorne did notice the

03:52:32.569 --> 03:52:35.309
older one say something to Tommy and the driver

03:52:35.309 --> 03:52:38.489
as she got off last. The bus then exits the parking

03:52:38.489 --> 03:52:41.450
lot and turns on a side street as it has to go

03:52:41.450 --> 03:52:43.750
around the block in order to go back the same

03:52:43.750 --> 03:52:46.329
direction they had just came from. The group's

03:52:46.329 --> 03:52:49.579
hotel is a mere 10 minutes away. As soon as the

03:52:49.579 --> 03:52:51.739
bus turns a corner, Hawthorne gets up and walks

03:52:51.739 --> 03:52:53.659
to the front of the bus and asks the bus driver

03:52:53.659 --> 03:52:56.739
to stop temporarily. The bus stops next to the

03:52:56.739 --> 03:52:58.899
curb and Hawthorne watches as David, Miranda,

03:52:59.180 --> 03:53:02.420
and David's brother get off the bus. Hawthorne

03:53:02.420 --> 03:53:04.899
saw some confusion on the faces of several students

03:53:04.899 --> 03:53:08.100
and Ava and Lily, as well as Tommy's, so Professor

03:53:08.100 --> 03:53:10.379
Hawthorne, not wanting to explain all the details

03:53:10.379 --> 03:53:12.979
of what those three were going to do, he said,

03:53:13.079 --> 03:53:15.739
they're going to do an errand and then meet us

03:53:15.739 --> 03:53:17.879
all back at our hotel later. Hopefully that's

03:53:17.879 --> 03:53:20.850
okay. That brief answer was sufficient to ease

03:53:20.850 --> 03:53:23.950
curiosities. No one else had any more questions.

03:53:24.069 --> 03:53:26.309
They all went back to doing whatever they were

03:53:26.309 --> 03:53:28.690
doing before they stopped, and then the bus moved

03:53:28.690 --> 03:53:36.930
on. David, with Miranda and David's brother following,

03:53:37.170 --> 03:53:39.649
all entered the main bus depot terminal looking

03:53:39.649 --> 03:53:43.309
for the two female passengers. David says, let's

03:53:43.309 --> 03:53:45.649
stick together. Keep your eyes open. I bet they

03:53:45.649 --> 03:53:47.709
were trying to buy a ticket back to Mexico City.

03:53:47.989 --> 03:53:50.329
Yep. There they are, over by that ticket window,

03:53:50.549 --> 03:53:53.069
Miranda replies. She then says, as soon as they

03:53:53.069 --> 03:53:54.889
turn around, we can approach them and ask them.

03:53:55.149 --> 03:53:57.370
So the three move closer to the ticket window

03:53:57.370 --> 03:53:59.690
and wait for the transaction to be finished between

03:53:59.690 --> 03:54:01.969
the bus ticket clerk and the two female passengers.

03:54:02.409 --> 03:54:04.370
As they are waiting for the right moment to confront

03:54:04.370 --> 03:54:07.129
the two, David says, my brother says that their

03:54:07.129 --> 03:54:10.389
names are Maria, the older one, and Renata is

03:54:10.389 --> 03:54:13.139
her niece, the younger one. At that moment, Maria

03:54:13.139 --> 03:54:15.299
and Renata turn around and start walking away

03:54:15.299 --> 03:54:17.299
from the ticket window, with tickets in hand.

03:54:17.780 --> 03:54:20.100
David's brother, unnoticed, walks out from behind

03:54:20.100 --> 03:54:22.600
Maria, who's holding the tickets, and grabs her

03:54:22.600 --> 03:54:25.379
hand and rips the ticket out of her hand. David

03:54:25.379 --> 03:54:27.600
watches as both Maria and Renata turn around

03:54:27.600 --> 03:54:30.180
quickly and seem to be startled a bit as they're

03:54:30.180 --> 03:54:32.219
looking directly at the guy they let go back

03:54:32.219 --> 03:54:35.879
at Chichen Itza earlier in the day. David steps

03:54:35.879 --> 03:54:38.000
in between the two ladies and his brother and

03:54:38.000 --> 03:54:40.959
then says, you have one minute, maybe two minute

03:54:40.959 --> 03:54:45.100
talks because the local police grab you. Tell

03:54:45.100 --> 03:54:47.180
me where the golden mask is and we'll help you.

03:54:47.479 --> 03:54:50.379
Maria snaps back. I know you. How'd you get here?

03:54:50.600 --> 03:54:52.920
She then looks at David and Miranda and says,

03:54:53.100 --> 03:54:55.569
I know you too. I've seen you both on TV getting

03:54:55.569 --> 03:54:58.229
an award for quote unquote finding those artifacts.

03:54:58.750 --> 03:55:01.489
You are both thieves too. The only difference

03:55:01.489 --> 03:55:03.870
between what you did and what I did was you were

03:55:03.870 --> 03:55:06.219
able to figure out how to do it legally. Miranda

03:55:06.219 --> 03:55:08.659
steps up and then says as she nods her head as

03:55:08.659 --> 03:55:10.620
if to try to convince Maria of the truth she

03:55:10.620 --> 03:55:13.299
is about to say. You did help this guy. Miranda

03:55:13.299 --> 03:55:14.959
then points to David's brother and continues.

03:55:15.200 --> 03:55:17.040
We can tell the police that you helped rescue

03:55:17.040 --> 03:55:19.059
this guy. We can sign a statement for you saying

03:55:19.059 --> 03:55:21.479
that you helped this guy. We may be able to help

03:55:21.479 --> 03:55:23.139
your nephew and your brother Carlos as well.

03:55:23.260 --> 03:55:25.260
Tell us where the golden mask is and we'll help

03:55:25.260 --> 03:55:27.899
you. At that moment, five plainclothes police

03:55:27.899 --> 03:55:29.860
officers with badges hanging around the necks

03:55:29.860 --> 03:55:32.040
approach from different directions. Within seconds,

03:55:32.340 --> 03:55:34.799
Maria and Renata are handcuffed and are started

03:55:34.799 --> 03:55:36.819
to be shuffled down towards the exit. Miranda

03:55:36.819 --> 03:55:39.299
follows, with David right behind. Miranda continues

03:55:39.299 --> 03:55:41.100
to talk as they are making their way out of the

03:55:41.100 --> 03:55:43.899
exit toward a police van parked outside. Maria,

03:55:44.040 --> 03:55:46.219
help us out and we can help you out. Miranda

03:55:46.219 --> 03:55:48.120
could tell that Maria wanted to say something,

03:55:48.239 --> 03:55:51.780
but she looked conflicted and confused. Renanta

03:55:51.780 --> 03:55:54.159
then yells out as they are being shoved into

03:55:54.159 --> 03:55:57.200
a van through the door. It's at a safe house

03:55:57.200 --> 03:56:00.659
outside Merida on a route 180 near Hacienda,

03:56:00.659 --> 03:56:04.040
Tibet. At that moment, the van door slams shut

03:56:04.040 --> 03:56:06.559
and the Viant drives off. Miranda turns toward

03:56:06.559 --> 03:56:09.940
David and asks, did you get that? Yes, a safe

03:56:09.940 --> 03:56:13.399
house off route 180 near Hacienda, Tibet. Well,

03:56:13.520 --> 03:56:15.979
that narrows it down a bit. Miranda then says,

03:56:16.180 --> 03:56:26.260
David, where's your brother? Part 9. The Safe

03:56:26.260 --> 03:56:29.760
House As the group returned to their hotel in

03:56:29.760 --> 03:56:31.860
Merida and got settled back into their different

03:56:31.860 --> 03:56:34.760
hotel rooms after a long day, Hawthorne waited

03:56:34.760 --> 03:56:37.000
down on the main floor for David, Miranda, and

03:56:37.000 --> 03:56:39.360
David's brother to return from their little side

03:56:39.360 --> 03:56:42.579
errand. He knew his idea was a long shot. The

03:56:42.579 --> 03:56:45.219
idea of David and Miranda getting the location

03:56:45.219 --> 03:56:47.979
of the gold mask from the two bus passengers

03:56:47.979 --> 03:56:50.920
before the police arrested them and hauled them

03:56:50.920 --> 03:56:53.840
off. He also knew that if David and Miranda did

03:56:53.840 --> 03:56:56.239
not get the location of the golden mask, they

03:56:56.239 --> 03:56:58.360
would miss their chance of recovering it and

03:56:58.360 --> 03:57:00.840
returning it to its rightful place once again.

03:57:01.079 --> 03:57:03.520
The rightful place being the secret and sacred

03:57:03.520 --> 03:57:06.579
Mayan treasure room inside El Castillo where

03:57:06.579 --> 03:57:09.200
David had originally discovered it. Hawthorne

03:57:09.200 --> 03:57:11.879
didn't consider himself superstitious, but he

03:57:11.879 --> 03:57:14.459
did wonder if there was any merit to the idea

03:57:14.459 --> 03:57:17.040
that whoever held the golden mask would find

03:57:17.040 --> 03:57:20.559
bad luck. or be cursed in some way, until it

03:57:20.559 --> 03:57:23.200
was returned to the place it was found. There

03:57:23.200 --> 03:57:25.940
had just been a lot of unusual and weird things

03:57:25.940 --> 03:57:28.280
happening over the last half week, things that

03:57:28.280 --> 03:57:30.520
were related to the gold mask and the jade jar.

03:57:31.040 --> 03:57:33.799
Maybe the legends are true. The legends of the

03:57:33.799 --> 03:57:36.700
Yucatan, as Hawthorne remembered, were rooted

03:57:36.700 --> 03:57:39.700
in ancient Mayan culture and regional folklore,

03:57:39.840 --> 03:57:42.620
where sacred artifacts were believed to not just

03:57:42.620 --> 03:57:45.700
hold historical value, but spiritual power as

03:57:45.700 --> 03:57:48.479
well. According to the legends, artifacts that

03:57:48.479 --> 03:57:50.940
were gifts to powerful leaders or were crafted

03:57:50.940 --> 03:57:53.500
by the high priests were meant to remain in their

03:57:53.500 --> 03:57:56.260
ceremonial resting place to maintain harmony

03:57:56.260 --> 03:57:58.899
between the human world and the spiritual world.

03:57:58.979 --> 03:58:01.180
When these artifacts were stolen, the balance

03:58:01.180 --> 03:58:04.100
was broken. Misfortune and unrest followed every

03:58:04.100 --> 03:58:06.920
new possessor, as if the artifacts carried a

03:58:06.920 --> 03:58:09.700
curse for anyone who dared to claim that it was

03:58:09.700 --> 03:58:12.469
theirs. The legend serves as a warning passed

03:58:12.469 --> 03:58:14.690
down through generations that some treasures

03:58:14.690 --> 03:58:17.309
belong to the earth and disturbing them invites

03:58:17.309 --> 03:58:20.590
consequences. It's a tale of reverence and consequence

03:58:20.590 --> 03:58:23.510
and the unseen power of history that still echoes

03:58:23.510 --> 03:58:26.510
across the Yucatan Peninsula. Hawthorne had long

03:58:26.510 --> 03:58:29.389
ago rejected the notion and practice of finders

03:58:29.389 --> 03:58:32.229
keepers when it came to antiquities and artifacts.

03:58:32.549 --> 03:58:35.870
The practice of if you find it. you get to keep

03:58:35.870 --> 03:58:38.590
it, was unethical and in some cases immoral.

03:58:38.709 --> 03:58:41.750
Yet this practice was still being employed by

03:58:41.750 --> 03:58:44.229
private treasure hunters, freelance archaeologists,

03:58:44.450 --> 03:58:48.389
and of course grave robbers. Hawthorne despised

03:58:48.389 --> 03:58:50.889
the intentions of these groups. They were greedy

03:58:50.889 --> 03:58:53.049
and they lacked ethical and moral standards.

03:58:53.489 --> 03:58:56.450
This was just another example that power and

03:58:56.450 --> 03:58:58.649
money made people do dumb and stupid things,

03:58:58.809 --> 03:59:02.239
and usually at the expense of others. The three

03:59:02.239 --> 03:59:04.319
criminals who were picked up and arrested today

03:59:04.319 --> 03:59:07.100
found that out, and the cartel member who lost

03:59:07.100 --> 03:59:10.520
his life in the cenote for a few old coins found

03:59:10.520 --> 03:59:13.139
that out as well. As Hawthorne looks down at

03:59:13.139 --> 03:59:15.500
his watch, checking the time, David and Miranda

03:59:15.500 --> 03:59:18.520
enter the hotel's front doors and walk over to

03:59:18.520 --> 03:59:22.100
where Hawthorne is seated. As David approaches

03:59:22.100 --> 03:59:25.440
Professor Hawthorne, he says, Well, we have good

03:59:25.440 --> 03:59:27.959
news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?

03:59:28.680 --> 03:59:30.600
Hawthorne thinks for a moment and then replies,

03:59:31.000 --> 03:59:33.500
I'd like to hear the bad news first since I can

03:59:33.500 --> 03:59:35.979
end my day with the good news. Miranda adds,

03:59:36.200 --> 03:59:38.799
I like that logic. David, give him the bad news

03:59:38.799 --> 03:59:41.120
first and then the good news. David continues,

03:59:41.479 --> 03:59:44.000
we have a potential location of where the golden

03:59:44.000 --> 03:59:46.739
mask is hiding and according to my GPS, it's

03:59:46.739 --> 03:59:49.399
about 20 minutes from here. Hawthorne then says,

03:59:49.540 --> 03:59:52.290
okay, what's the bad news then? My brother disappeared

03:59:52.290 --> 03:59:55.129
while we were at the bus depot. He must have

03:59:55.129 --> 03:59:57.030
just slipped away into the crowd when we were

03:59:57.030 --> 03:59:59.790
busy talking with our two passengers, who, by

03:59:59.790 --> 04:00:02.129
the way, were promptly arrested a few minutes

04:00:02.129 --> 04:00:04.370
after they had purchased their bus tickets back

04:00:04.370 --> 04:00:07.709
to Mexico City. David continues, We were able

04:00:07.709 --> 04:00:09.930
to get a potential location of where they hid

04:00:09.930 --> 04:00:25.700
the golden mask from the younger one. So. So.

04:00:36.680 --> 04:00:39.219
Timing is everything right now, David adds. My

04:00:39.219 --> 04:00:41.319
brother is very resourceful and he could very

04:00:41.319 --> 04:00:43.639
well be planning to go get the golden mask for

04:00:43.639 --> 04:00:46.700
himself now. I'm going to book a taxi to take

04:00:46.700 --> 04:00:48.979
us to the location right now. I know it's late,

04:00:49.079 --> 04:00:51.719
but we need to try to recover that mask before

04:00:51.719 --> 04:00:54.920
anybody else does, even my brother. Miranda says,

04:00:55.100 --> 04:00:57.680
I'm going with you. Me too, Hawthorne said. You

04:00:57.680 --> 04:00:59.680
could use the help once we get there. Having

04:00:59.680 --> 04:01:01.719
three of us, we could split up and look for the

04:01:01.719 --> 04:01:04.479
thing. It'll probably be dark once we get there,

04:01:04.559 --> 04:01:07.559
so we'll need to keep that in mind as well. Hawthorne

04:01:07.559 --> 04:01:09.620
watches as David goes to the front desk clerk

04:01:09.620 --> 04:01:11.860
of the hotel and asks her to call a local taxi

04:01:11.860 --> 04:01:14.360
for hire for the three of them. He overhears

04:01:14.360 --> 04:01:16.719
David telling the clerk to inform the taxi driver

04:01:16.719 --> 04:01:19.639
they need to go to Hacienda Tabek off Route 180.

04:01:19.920 --> 04:01:22.319
About 10 minutes later, the taxi arrived at the

04:01:22.319 --> 04:01:25.120
hotel. Hawthorne, David, and Miranda got into

04:01:25.120 --> 04:01:27.239
the taxi, then confirmed with the driver their

04:01:27.239 --> 04:01:30.389
destination. Hawthorne overheard the driver tell

04:01:30.389 --> 04:01:32.610
David, who was sitting in the passenger seat

04:01:32.610 --> 04:01:35.149
up front, that the name Tebek comes from the

04:01:35.149 --> 04:01:37.709
Mayan language meaning the place of oak trees.

04:01:38.069 --> 04:01:40.629
The driver seemed to know a lot about the place

04:01:40.629 --> 04:01:42.610
as he was giving David a lot of information.

04:01:43.030 --> 04:01:45.110
Hawthorne could pick up most of it in Spanish,

04:01:45.270 --> 04:01:47.670
and what he didn't understand Miranda would translate

04:01:47.670 --> 04:01:50.069
for him. The driver explained that Tebek was

04:01:50.069 --> 04:01:53.030
a small port town that had less than 500 people

04:01:53.030 --> 04:01:55.639
still living there. Some of the residents produced

04:01:55.639 --> 04:01:58.180
eggs and honey, which they took to Merida to

04:01:58.180 --> 04:02:00.440
sell in the markets and supermarkets. The quality

04:02:00.440 --> 04:02:02.579
of the eggs and honey were well known in the

04:02:02.579 --> 04:02:05.040
area. Tourists would sometimes venture out that

04:02:05.040 --> 04:02:08.000
way and visit the old estate of Hacienda Tebeck.

04:02:08.120 --> 04:02:10.840
This estate or plantation included a larger two

04:02:10.840 --> 04:02:13.159
-level sprawling structure, an old church, and

04:02:13.159 --> 04:02:15.299
several other older plantation outbuildings.

04:02:15.479 --> 04:02:17.620
As Hawthorne was listening, he thought to himself,

04:02:17.940 --> 04:02:20.159
searching for the mask might take longer than

04:02:20.159 --> 04:02:23.049
what we had expected. With about 10 minutes to

04:02:23.049 --> 04:02:25.489
go before reaching the town of Tebek, they exited

04:02:25.489 --> 04:02:28.030
Route 180, southwest of Merida, and got onto

04:02:28.030 --> 04:02:30.809
an old, rough, and bumpy road. Great, Miranda

04:02:30.809 --> 04:02:33.010
said quietly. I hope we don't get car sick on

04:02:33.010 --> 04:02:35.430
this road. David heard her say this and then

04:02:35.430 --> 04:02:38.409
responded, you and me both. He then continued,

04:02:38.629 --> 04:02:41.129
I know nothing about this place. I assume we

04:02:41.129 --> 04:02:44.590
can get onto the property of the Hacienda? David

04:02:44.590 --> 04:02:46.770
said this as sort of a question and statement

04:02:46.770 --> 04:02:48.889
at the same time, hoping the driver would know.

04:02:49.739 --> 04:02:51.899
The sun had already started to go down and it

04:02:51.899 --> 04:02:54.420
was dusk. The evening's light would be dimming

04:02:54.420 --> 04:02:56.459
soon and David knew they would be searching much

04:02:56.459 --> 04:02:58.920
of the sprawling area in the dark, which wasn't

04:02:58.920 --> 04:03:01.799
ideal. However, timing was everything right now.

04:03:01.979 --> 04:03:04.159
As the car was bouncing closer and closer to

04:03:04.159 --> 04:03:06.719
the front gate of the Hacienda estate in Quebec,

04:03:06.940 --> 04:03:09.079
the headlights of the taxi illuminated the front

04:03:09.079 --> 04:03:11.979
gate to the sprawling estate. The gate was wide

04:03:11.979 --> 04:03:14.219
open and the grass was overgrown, well, in the

04:03:14.219 --> 04:03:17.000
places that there was still grass. Most of the

04:03:17.000 --> 04:03:19.940
open area was either dirt or weeds. The estate

04:03:19.940 --> 04:03:22.440
did not live up to its name, and there only seemed

04:03:22.440 --> 04:03:25.040
to be two or three oak trees still standing on

04:03:25.040 --> 04:03:27.340
the property, or at least that's what they could

04:03:27.340 --> 04:03:29.979
see from the car. Hawthorne overheard the taxi

04:03:29.979 --> 04:03:32.319
driver say something about the plantation and

04:03:32.319 --> 04:03:35.040
that it was not really a priority of the townspeople

04:03:35.040 --> 04:03:37.379
to keep up with the maintenance of the grounds

04:03:37.379 --> 04:03:40.040
or buildings anymore. The taxi came to a stop

04:03:40.040 --> 04:03:42.319
right outside the front gate and the driver asked

04:03:42.319 --> 04:03:44.739
if he should wait for them. David responded with

04:03:44.739 --> 04:03:46.940
a yes and then said something about him and his

04:03:46.940 --> 04:03:49.540
friends not being there that long. So the taxi

04:03:49.540 --> 04:03:51.879
driver positioned the car facing back out the

04:03:51.879 --> 04:03:54.600
way they came in so when the three of them, Hawthorne,

04:03:54.680 --> 04:03:57.239
David, and Miranda, came back, They could then

04:03:57.239 --> 04:03:59.600
leave immediately without having to turn around.

04:04:00.420 --> 04:04:02.840
Hawthorne noticed the driver do this after they

04:04:02.840 --> 04:04:05.040
had gotten out of the car and thought to himself,

04:04:05.280 --> 04:04:07.739
I like the way this guy thinks. He positions

04:04:07.739 --> 04:04:10.440
himself as ready. There was still enough light

04:04:10.440 --> 04:04:12.340
outside for the three of them to walk through

04:04:12.340 --> 04:04:14.120
the property without having to use their phone

04:04:14.120 --> 04:04:16.219
lights yet. As the three of them were walking

04:04:16.219 --> 04:04:18.219
towards the first building, which was on the

04:04:18.219 --> 04:04:20.360
left side of the property, Miranda asked Professor

04:04:20.360 --> 04:04:22.639
Hawthorne, What did you tell Prof. Tommy before

04:04:22.639 --> 04:04:25.100
we left? Hawthorne replied, Well, to be honest

04:04:25.100 --> 04:04:27.799
with you, nothing. He then continues, He's an

04:04:27.799 --> 04:04:30.079
early to bed kind of guy and well, I didn't want

04:04:30.079 --> 04:04:32.479
to bother him as he went right to his room when

04:04:32.479 --> 04:04:35.559
we got back to the hotel and told all of us goodnight

04:04:35.559 --> 04:04:38.620
as he got in the elevator. Also, I think we can

04:04:38.620 --> 04:04:40.540
be in and out of here in less than 30 minutes.

04:04:40.739 --> 04:04:43.319
What I could tell from the internet is that most

04:04:43.319 --> 04:04:45.639
of the outbuildings don't provide enough cover

04:04:45.639 --> 04:04:48.440
and are in very poor condition to want to hide

04:04:48.440 --> 04:04:51.700
something as valuable as the mask. So if I was

04:04:51.700 --> 04:04:54.139
to guess, we should look closely at the old church

04:04:54.139 --> 04:04:56.959
and then the large main two -story Hacienda building.

04:04:57.319 --> 04:04:59.059
David answered back as they were approaching

04:04:59.059 --> 04:05:01.360
the front door of the old church and said, Those

04:05:01.360 --> 04:05:03.600
are my thoughts exactly. We can rule out this

04:05:03.600 --> 04:05:05.940
church building first, search it quickly, and

04:05:05.940 --> 04:05:08.020
spend most of our time in the main building across

04:05:08.020 --> 04:05:10.350
the way. Miranda immediately walked up to the

04:05:10.350 --> 04:05:12.610
front church building doors as David was still

04:05:12.610 --> 04:05:15.670
talking and yanked on them to open them and nothing.

04:05:15.829 --> 04:05:18.209
They were locked up tight, would not even budge.

04:05:18.270 --> 04:05:20.530
Miranda then said, maybe there's a back entrance

04:05:20.530 --> 04:05:22.809
that's open? She then proceeded to walk around

04:05:22.809 --> 04:05:24.649
the side of the old building towards the back

04:05:24.649 --> 04:05:26.989
as David and Hawthorne were following and talking

04:05:26.989 --> 04:05:29.049
to each other. Miranda was fine to take the lead.

04:05:29.170 --> 04:05:31.549
She actually liked it. In a very male -dominated

04:05:31.549 --> 04:05:33.450
culture, she often liked to bend the cultural

04:05:33.450 --> 04:05:36.350
norms in this way. Most people her age and younger

04:05:36.350 --> 04:05:38.030
didn't have a problem with gender roles changing.

04:05:38.159 --> 04:05:40.979
but the older generation sure did. As she rounded

04:05:40.979 --> 04:05:42.840
the corner of the back of the church building,

04:05:43.020 --> 04:05:45.219
she had gotten lost in a few of her own thoughts

04:05:45.219 --> 04:05:47.819
about how her desire to lead and be in charge

04:05:47.819 --> 04:05:50.819
often got her in trouble. She was also thankful

04:05:50.819 --> 04:05:53.260
this aspect of her did not bother David one bit.

04:05:53.360 --> 04:05:55.299
He had actually told her that that was one of

04:05:55.299 --> 04:05:57.700
the things that he appreciated about her. Miranda

04:05:57.700 --> 04:05:59.760
stopped for a moment, woke up from her daydream,

04:05:59.840 --> 04:06:01.799
and then grabbed the old wood latch on the back

04:06:01.799 --> 04:06:04.260
door of the church and nothing. It was locked

04:06:04.260 --> 04:06:06.540
as well. David walked up to the side of Miranda

04:06:06.540 --> 04:06:09.079
with his phone light on and pointed on the latch

04:06:09.079 --> 04:06:11.299
and door threshold to see if any of the dirt

04:06:11.299 --> 04:06:14.260
and dust had been disturbed. He then said, I

04:06:14.260 --> 04:06:16.059
don't think this door has been open for some

04:06:16.059 --> 04:06:18.899
time. The front doors were the same way. The

04:06:18.899 --> 04:06:21.299
dirt and dust had not been disturbed. Let's not

04:06:21.299 --> 04:06:23.239
waste any more time here and head straight over

04:06:23.239 --> 04:06:25.940
to the main Hacienda building. Hawthorne replies,

04:06:26.239 --> 04:06:28.219
yeah, probably a good assessment. Maybe once

04:06:28.219 --> 04:06:30.620
we gain entry to the other building we can divide

04:06:30.620 --> 04:06:32.979
and conquer since the building has multiple rooms

04:06:32.979 --> 04:06:36.520
on both the first and second floors. As the team

04:06:36.520 --> 04:06:38.979
walks across the flat and open middle dirt area

04:06:38.979 --> 04:06:41.559
of the estate, they notice that there are multiple

04:06:41.559 --> 04:06:43.799
car tracks in the dirt. They don't think much

04:06:43.799 --> 04:06:45.959
about it, but it does indicate that people had

04:06:45.959 --> 04:06:48.879
been there recently. They reach the other larger

04:06:48.879 --> 04:06:51.399
building structure which has two levels and looks

04:06:51.399 --> 04:06:54.360
like an old style hacienda. or long plantation

04:06:54.360 --> 04:06:57.299
house. The building footprint is a U -shape.

04:06:57.479 --> 04:07:00.520
Two wings of the hacienda flank the center section

04:07:00.520 --> 04:07:03.219
and create a courtyard area, which at some point

04:07:03.219 --> 04:07:05.639
in the time had a beautiful outdoor stone water

04:07:05.639 --> 04:07:08.459
feature and small pool. Much of the stone water

04:07:08.459 --> 04:07:10.540
feature structure was still there, but there

04:07:10.540 --> 04:07:13.860
was no water, only weeds and dirt. The building's

04:07:13.860 --> 04:07:16.260
ground floor had a long outdoor patio, which

04:07:16.260 --> 04:07:19.049
ran the length of each of the sections. The patio

04:07:19.049 --> 04:07:21.670
had numerous arches which fit the classic Mexican

04:07:21.670 --> 04:07:24.930
plantation architectural style from its time

04:07:24.930 --> 04:07:27.729
period. As the three of them entered into the

04:07:27.729 --> 04:07:29.809
courtyard, the daylight was almost gone by now.

04:07:30.170 --> 04:07:32.290
Hawthorne suggested that he go up and search

04:07:32.290 --> 04:07:34.569
the second level of the building while Miranda

04:07:34.569 --> 04:07:36.950
and David searched the ground level. Then, if

04:07:36.950 --> 04:07:39.489
either of them found something, a clue, or the

04:07:39.489 --> 04:07:41.670
actual golden mask itself, they were to meet

04:07:41.670 --> 04:07:44.010
back down in the courtyard and then head back

04:07:44.010 --> 04:07:46.950
to the waiting taxi car. They agreed and split

04:07:46.950 --> 04:07:49.569
ways, now armed with their phone lights and the

04:07:49.569 --> 04:07:51.969
determination to get in and get out as quickly

04:07:51.969 --> 04:07:54.850
as possible. David and Miranda stuck together

04:07:54.850 --> 04:07:57.110
and walked through the main arch area into the

04:07:57.110 --> 04:07:59.430
center building, first looking down the long

04:07:59.430 --> 04:08:02.430
porch area. The outdoor porch area was in poor

04:08:02.430 --> 04:08:05.030
condition. Broken old wood furniture and dirt

04:08:05.030 --> 04:08:07.909
covered sections of the concrete floor. Nothing

04:08:07.909 --> 04:08:10.690
to see there. So the two tried the front main

04:08:10.690 --> 04:08:13.290
door and, to their surprise, it was unlocked.

04:08:14.110 --> 04:08:16.649
David opened the door, and he and Miranda then

04:08:16.649 --> 04:08:19.250
stepped inside. Miranda looked at David and then

04:08:19.250 --> 04:08:21.450
said, Let's start in the central building first,

04:08:21.530 --> 04:08:23.350
then we can move to the side areas after that.

04:08:23.530 --> 04:08:25.649
Maybe they were lazy and stashed the mask here.

04:08:26.069 --> 04:08:28.450
We could only be so fortunate, David replied.

04:08:28.909 --> 04:08:31.809
Then he said, By the way, what do you do with

04:08:31.809 --> 04:08:34.620
the J -jar? As Miranda and David start searching

04:08:34.620 --> 04:08:36.459
the numerous empty rooms in the main center building

04:08:36.459 --> 04:08:38.459
on the ground floor, Miranda tells David what

04:08:38.459 --> 04:08:54.739
she did with the J -Jarge. She says, That makes

04:08:54.739 --> 04:09:02.670
sense, David replies. He then says, By this time,

04:09:02.690 --> 04:09:04.670
it was dark outside, only some light from the

04:09:04.670 --> 04:09:07.590
half moon. Inside the hacienda, it was quite

04:09:07.590 --> 04:09:09.629
dark, so David and Miranda were using their phone

04:09:09.629 --> 04:09:12.290
lights to search each room. As David and Miranda

04:09:12.290 --> 04:09:14.790
search the third room, right wing, David then

04:09:14.790 --> 04:09:17.370
says, I wonder if the professor is having any

04:09:17.370 --> 04:09:24.520
better luck than us. Hawthorne was having the

04:09:24.520 --> 04:09:26.920
same results as David and Miranda. Each room

04:09:26.920 --> 04:09:29.559
he searched was practically empty, besides the

04:09:29.559 --> 04:09:31.819
occasional broken piece of furniture and graffiti

04:09:31.819 --> 04:09:34.520
on the wall. Professor Hawthorne was moving quicker

04:09:34.520 --> 04:09:36.659
than David and Miranda. He was already searching

04:09:36.659 --> 04:09:39.120
the final wing on the second level, which was

04:09:39.120 --> 04:09:41.360
right above where David and Miranda were searching,

04:09:41.540 --> 04:09:44.120
down below him on the ground level. After another

04:09:44.120 --> 04:09:46.739
few minutes, Hawthorne had canvassed the entire

04:09:46.739 --> 04:09:49.840
second level and was empty -handed. There was

04:09:49.840 --> 04:09:51.979
virtually nothing in the old building on the

04:09:51.979 --> 04:09:54.549
second level. The taxi driver was right. The

04:09:54.549 --> 04:09:57.069
professor thought to himself, the local townspeople

04:09:57.069 --> 04:09:59.750
have really neglected this old historical site.

04:10:00.489 --> 04:10:02.389
Hawthorne came to the end of the second wing

04:10:02.389 --> 04:10:04.870
and found a flight of stairs that led back down

04:10:04.870 --> 04:10:07.030
to the ground floor. He knew that these stairs

04:10:07.030 --> 04:10:08.950
would take him back down to the ground floor

04:10:08.950 --> 04:10:11.229
in which he could then exit the hacienda and

04:10:11.229 --> 04:10:14.350
go back out into the courtyard and wait for David

04:10:14.350 --> 04:10:17.010
and Miranda. So he took the stairs down to the

04:10:17.010 --> 04:10:19.430
ground floor. turned the corner and ran right

04:10:19.430 --> 04:10:21.889
into David and Miranda, who were just about to

04:10:21.889 --> 04:10:24.409
enter the last room on the ground floor in that

04:10:24.409 --> 04:10:26.790
wing. Miranda got startled as she walked towards

04:10:26.790 --> 04:10:28.989
the last room and then almost ran into Professor

04:10:28.989 --> 04:10:31.229
Hawthorne as he turned the corner coming out

04:10:31.229 --> 04:10:33.190
of the stairwell. Hawthorne was standing right

04:10:33.190 --> 04:10:35.229
in front of Miranda with his face all lit up

04:10:35.229 --> 04:10:37.829
by Miranda's phone light. Miranda jumps and says,

04:10:38.129 --> 04:10:40.590
Whoa, Professor, you startled me. Sorry about

04:10:40.590 --> 04:10:43.149
that. Any luck on the second floor? No, nothing,

04:10:43.290 --> 04:10:45.770
the professor responds. He then asks, What about

04:10:45.770 --> 04:10:48.920
you guys? David replies as he walks through the

04:10:48.920 --> 04:10:51.159
middle of Hawthorne and Miranda and into the

04:10:51.159 --> 04:10:54.180
final room in this part of the Hacienda. He says,

04:10:54.299 --> 04:10:56.299
let me check this final room and then we can

04:10:56.299 --> 04:10:58.000
all check the other wing on the ground level.

04:10:58.379 --> 04:11:00.620
David walks into the room and quickly scans the

04:11:00.620 --> 04:11:02.639
room with his phone light, pointing it at each

04:11:02.639 --> 04:11:05.600
wall and around the floor. Bingo, David says.

04:11:06.000 --> 04:11:08.040
David looks down and sees a clearly outlined

04:11:08.040 --> 04:11:10.979
square section of the old wooden floor. He could

04:11:10.979 --> 04:11:12.819
tell it had been moved and put back recently

04:11:12.819 --> 04:11:15.059
because the dirt and dust on the floor had been

04:11:15.059 --> 04:11:18.239
disturbed. It did not have a handle and was set

04:11:18.239 --> 04:11:21.139
flush with the level of other floorboards. David

04:11:21.139 --> 04:11:23.559
reaches into his pocket to pull out his always

04:11:23.559 --> 04:11:26.239
-goes -with -me pocket knife and then remembers

04:11:26.239 --> 04:11:29.040
that he had to leave it back in Mexico City because

04:11:29.040 --> 04:11:31.459
they flew by commercial airplane to Merida instead

04:11:31.459 --> 04:11:34.200
of driving. By that time, Hawthorne and Miranda

04:11:34.200 --> 04:11:36.239
were standing over the same section of the floor

04:11:36.239 --> 04:11:38.659
looking down. Yep, Miranda says, that looks like

04:11:38.659 --> 04:11:41.059
a trap door. And it looks like it's been used

04:11:41.059 --> 04:11:44.280
recently, Hawthorne adds. David then says, we

04:11:44.280 --> 04:11:46.860
need to find something to pry it open. Help me

04:11:46.860 --> 04:11:49.159
look around here somewhere. The three of them

04:11:49.159 --> 04:11:51.180
then walk around the larger corner room looking

04:11:51.180 --> 04:11:53.979
for anything they could use to pry open the square

04:11:53.979 --> 04:11:56.420
wooden floor section to see what was inside.

04:11:56.959 --> 04:11:59.440
As Miranda is walking slowly with her phone light

04:11:59.440 --> 04:12:01.959
over by the back wall of the room, she then says,

04:12:02.120 --> 04:12:04.659
um, guys, what are the odds of us finding an

04:12:04.659 --> 04:12:07.200
old crowbar? Hawthorne was the first to respond.

04:12:07.239 --> 04:12:09.979
Well, I'd have to say about zero, but by the

04:12:09.979 --> 04:12:12.120
sound of your voice, I'm guessing that is exactly

04:12:12.120 --> 04:12:14.540
what you found over there. Miranda turns around

04:12:14.540 --> 04:12:16.760
and faces both David and Hawthorne with an old

04:12:16.760 --> 04:12:19.399
crowbar in her hands and says, I think these

04:12:19.399 --> 04:12:21.219
artifacts really want to be returned to their

04:12:21.219 --> 04:12:23.860
rightful place, and something or someone is helping

04:12:23.860 --> 04:12:26.600
us. David then says, what? Where did you find

04:12:26.600 --> 04:12:28.899
that? Miranda replies, it was just laying over

04:12:28.899 --> 04:12:31.200
there in the back corner of the room next to

04:12:31.200 --> 04:12:33.239
this old wooden chair. Miranda walks over to

04:12:33.239 --> 04:12:35.719
David who's now standing over the what looks

04:12:35.719 --> 04:12:37.920
like a trap door in the floor and hands him the

04:12:37.920 --> 04:12:40.639
crowbar. All three of them watch as David pries

04:12:40.639 --> 04:12:42.540
the old wooden square section of the floor up

04:12:42.540 --> 04:12:45.360
with the crowbar. Miranda, along with Hawthorne,

04:12:45.360 --> 04:12:47.639
hold their phone lights over David as he works

04:12:47.639 --> 04:12:49.819
to get the floor section up and then moves it

04:12:49.819 --> 04:12:51.700
out of the way. The hole in the floor is just

04:12:51.700 --> 04:12:53.959
large enough to fit a small person into it. Miranda

04:12:53.959 --> 04:12:56.340
knows it's got to be her since both Hawthorne

04:12:56.340 --> 04:12:58.879
and David are much broader than her. She says,

04:12:58.920 --> 04:13:01.239
watch out guys. Let me shine the light into the

04:13:01.239 --> 04:13:04.000
hole. It's not very deep, maybe four feet, maybe

04:13:04.000 --> 04:13:07.139
less, but it does extend outward. I think it's

04:13:07.139 --> 04:13:09.299
a crawl space under this room. Miranda, without

04:13:09.299 --> 04:13:11.600
hesitation, then drops herself down straight

04:13:11.600 --> 04:13:14.219
into the crawl space and says, I'll be right

04:13:14.219 --> 04:13:16.600
back. David, along with Hawthorne, just stand

04:13:16.600 --> 04:13:19.120
there, hovering above the now -open trapdoor

04:13:19.120 --> 04:13:21.420
entrance. They are both just looking down to

04:13:21.420 --> 04:13:22.940
the hole in the floor with their phone lights

04:13:22.940 --> 04:13:25.879
on, hoping Miranda doesn't run into any snakes

04:13:25.879 --> 04:13:28.120
or rodents. All of a sudden, they hear a dragging

04:13:28.120 --> 04:13:30.399
sound and see Miranda's face look directly up

04:13:30.399 --> 04:13:32.819
toward both David and Professor Hawthorne. Miranda

04:13:32.819 --> 04:13:35.260
then says, Here, help me with this. It's heavy.

04:13:35.629 --> 04:13:37.770
She then lifts up one side of a larger black

04:13:37.770 --> 04:13:40.329
bag towards David and Hawthorne, who grab it

04:13:40.329 --> 04:13:42.530
and hoist it up and out of the hole in the floor.

04:13:42.870 --> 04:13:45.209
Miranda then grabs David's hand as he helps her

04:13:45.209 --> 04:13:47.549
get back out of the crawlspace. Miranda brushes

04:13:47.549 --> 04:13:50.170
off her clothes from the dirt and cobwebs, and

04:13:50.170 --> 04:13:52.610
then says with a smile, Well, Professor, what's

04:13:52.610 --> 04:13:54.709
in the bag? When David was helping Miranda back

04:13:54.709 --> 04:13:57.170
out of the small crawlspace, Hawthorne unzipped

04:13:57.170 --> 04:13:59.409
the bag and pulled open the sides to reveal an

04:13:59.409 --> 04:14:02.270
object wrapped in a large beach towel. Of all

04:14:02.270 --> 04:14:04.989
things, a beach towel that said, Welcome to Cancun.

04:14:05.170 --> 04:14:07.510
As David and Miranda watched, Hawthorne carefully

04:14:07.510 --> 04:14:10.409
pulled the beach towel sides off the object and

04:14:10.409 --> 04:14:13.770
behold, the golden mask of Chichen Itza stared

04:14:13.770 --> 04:14:16.670
right back at them, gleaming in the phone lights,

04:14:16.829 --> 04:14:19.290
almost glowing. All three of them stood there

04:14:19.290 --> 04:14:22.090
quietly just for a moment and looked at it. Hawthorne

04:14:22.090 --> 04:14:24.510
broke the silence and said, That sure is a magnificent

04:14:24.510 --> 04:14:27.219
piece of history. I think it's time we get out

04:14:27.219 --> 04:14:29.700
of here. David then said, my thoughts exactly.

04:14:29.979 --> 04:14:32.659
It sure looks a lot better now than where I found

04:14:32.659 --> 04:14:35.020
it in the pyramid. The museum did a great job

04:14:35.020 --> 04:14:37.440
cleaning and polishing it. Yeah, it's almost

04:14:37.440 --> 04:14:40.000
mesmerizing in a way. The mask seems to communicate

04:14:40.000 --> 04:14:42.000
to you when you are looking at it. I've never

04:14:42.000 --> 04:14:44.100
seen anything like it and up close like this.

04:14:44.280 --> 04:14:46.540
David reached down, wrapped the beach towel back

04:14:46.540 --> 04:14:48.479
around the mask, and then zipped up the black

04:14:48.479 --> 04:14:51.120
bag and said, I'll carry this out. Let's hope

04:14:51.120 --> 04:14:53.440
the taxi is still out there waiting for us. Hawthorne

04:14:53.440 --> 04:14:55.479
opened the side door, which led out to the courtyard.

04:14:55.680 --> 04:14:57.739
They stopped for a moment to get their bearings

04:14:57.739 --> 04:15:00.420
as the place was completely dark now. Hawthorne

04:15:00.420 --> 04:15:02.700
then said, the old church is up ahead on the

04:15:02.700 --> 04:15:04.780
right, so we'll need to walk back across the

04:15:04.780 --> 04:15:07.299
open dirt and weedy area toward the front gate

04:15:07.299 --> 04:15:09.579
where we entered. The front gate area is maybe

04:15:09.579 --> 04:15:12.479
a good 60 yards away in front of us. The professor

04:15:12.479 --> 04:15:14.739
started walking with Miranda and David behind

04:15:14.739 --> 04:15:17.639
him. Hawthorne knew the bag had to be heavy as

04:15:17.639 --> 04:15:19.819
he heard Miranda and David talking about it behind

04:15:19.819 --> 04:15:22.200
him. He also heard them making a plan to return

04:15:22.200 --> 04:15:24.760
the mask to El Castillo, the pyramid at first

04:15:24.760 --> 04:15:27.100
light, before the main grounds of Chichen Itza

04:15:27.100 --> 04:15:29.180
opened to the tourists for that day. Hawthorne

04:15:29.180 --> 04:15:31.639
knew, as David did and Miranda did, that the

04:15:31.639 --> 04:15:33.879
quicker they could return the mask to its rightful

04:15:33.879 --> 04:15:36.100
place, the better. As the three approached the

04:15:36.100 --> 04:15:38.280
front gate, they saw that the taxi was still

04:15:38.280 --> 04:15:40.540
there, parked in the same location. The driver

04:15:40.540 --> 04:15:42.920
was sitting up front in the driver's seat, sound

04:15:42.920 --> 04:15:44.959
asleep. Hawthorne opened the front passenger's

04:15:44.959 --> 04:15:47.680
door. which awoke the driver. He sat straight

04:15:47.680 --> 04:15:50.079
up and then asked if it was time to go back to

04:15:50.079 --> 04:15:52.360
Merida. Miranda and David got in the back seat

04:15:52.360 --> 04:15:54.379
and put the large heavy black bag between them

04:15:54.379 --> 04:15:56.440
on the seat. They were determined not to let

04:15:56.440 --> 04:15:58.200
it out of their sight now that they had recovered

04:15:58.200 --> 04:16:00.940
it. Miranda could not believe that they had recovered

04:16:00.940 --> 04:16:03.799
both artifacts on the same day. As the taxi driver

04:16:03.799 --> 04:16:06.200
turned on the car, Miranda looked at David and

04:16:06.200 --> 04:16:08.809
said, the legends have to be true. David replies

04:16:08.809 --> 04:16:11.510
softly so as not to allow the driver to hear

04:16:11.510 --> 04:16:13.989
and says, Well, we're only half done with our

04:16:13.989 --> 04:16:16.870
mission. As David and Miranda were talking, Hawthorne

04:16:16.870 --> 04:16:18.870
and the driver, looking out the front windshield,

04:16:19.090 --> 04:16:21.129
noticed headlights moving toward them on the

04:16:21.129 --> 04:16:23.709
same bumpy dirt road they had come in on about

04:16:23.709 --> 04:16:26.340
30 minutes earlier. Hawthorne knew this wasn't

04:16:26.340 --> 04:16:28.559
a normal thing, especially this late at night,

04:16:28.659 --> 04:16:31.219
past dark. Hacienda Tebeck was not a tourist

04:16:31.219 --> 04:16:33.700
hotspot, plus the small town of Tebeck seemed

04:16:33.700 --> 04:16:35.760
to close up and shut down every night around

04:16:35.760 --> 04:16:38.940
dusk. It wasn't really a happening place. So

04:16:38.940 --> 04:16:41.399
this could possibly mean one of two things. Either

04:16:41.399 --> 04:16:43.659
this was David's brother coming to retrieve the

04:16:43.659 --> 04:16:46.860
mask, or it was the cartel. Either way, it would

04:16:46.860 --> 04:16:49.620
be good to avoid either one. Hawthorne reached

04:16:49.620 --> 04:16:51.739
over and stopped the taxi driver from turning

04:16:51.739 --> 04:16:54.649
on his headlights. Hawthorne was thankful the

04:16:54.649 --> 04:16:57.030
taxi car was an older vehicle, the kind where

04:16:57.030 --> 04:16:59.229
you had to manually turn on the headlights instead

04:16:59.229 --> 04:17:01.989
of them automatically turning on. By this time,

04:17:02.069 --> 04:17:04.649
David and Miranda had noticed as well. David,

04:17:04.750 --> 04:17:07.250
having the same thoughts as the professor, asked

04:17:07.250 --> 04:17:10.010
the taxi driver in Spanish to move his car out

04:17:10.010 --> 04:17:12.409
of sight. Miranda could hear the urgency in David's

04:17:12.409 --> 04:17:14.719
request and then added, please hurry. The taxi

04:17:14.719 --> 04:17:17.020
driver, without hesitation, pulled the car forward

04:17:17.020 --> 04:17:19.139
a bit, put it in reverse, and then backed up

04:17:19.139 --> 04:17:21.500
into some tall weeds off the side of the gate,

04:17:21.620 --> 04:17:23.780
making sure the front of the car was hidden from

04:17:23.780 --> 04:17:26.260
view. The weeds were tall enough to conceal most

04:17:26.260 --> 04:17:28.459
of the car. The darkness helped, so with their

04:17:28.459 --> 04:17:30.620
luck, this other car coming down the road would

04:17:30.620 --> 04:17:32.620
drive right by them as they entered into the

04:17:32.620 --> 04:17:35.440
Hacienda property. As the car got closer, they

04:17:35.440 --> 04:17:38.000
couldn't see very well because of the tall weeds

04:17:38.000 --> 04:17:40.159
and brush, but they could hear it getting closer

04:17:40.159 --> 04:17:42.790
and closer. Hawthorne and the others could also

04:17:42.790 --> 04:17:44.729
see through the weeds that the headlights of

04:17:44.729 --> 04:17:46.770
the car were now shining brighter and brighter

04:17:46.770 --> 04:17:50.489
on the front gate area, which was a mere 25 yards

04:17:50.489 --> 04:17:53.170
away from where they were parked. Hawthorne looked

04:17:53.170 --> 04:17:55.510
over at the driver who was just sitting there

04:17:55.510 --> 04:17:57.969
in silence, looking straight ahead with a concerned

04:17:57.969 --> 04:18:00.870
look on his face. Hawthorne noticed the man pull

04:18:00.870 --> 04:18:03.190
the sun visor down, look at a photo, probably

04:18:03.190 --> 04:18:05.629
of his family, and then make a cross gesture,

04:18:05.829 --> 04:18:07.969
forehead to chest, then shoulder to shoulder.

04:18:08.370 --> 04:18:11.059
Hawthorne knew the guy was a bit nervous. They

04:18:11.059 --> 04:18:13.780
waited there for what seemed like forever, then

04:18:13.780 --> 04:18:16.180
finally a truck, which they had thought was a

04:18:16.180 --> 04:18:18.340
car, drove by at a high rate of speed through

04:18:18.340 --> 04:18:20.579
the main gate and toward the courtyard of the

04:18:20.579 --> 04:18:23.420
hacienda. As soon as the pickup truck had passed,

04:18:23.620 --> 04:18:27.299
David said to the driver, Vamos, vamos. The driver

04:18:27.299 --> 04:18:29.260
knew enough not to draw attention to themselves

04:18:29.260 --> 04:18:31.920
leaving, so he kept the headlights off and slowly

04:18:31.920 --> 04:18:34.500
drove the car forward, out onto the dirt road.

04:18:34.700 --> 04:18:37.000
He pushed gently on the gas pedal, hoping the

04:18:37.000 --> 04:18:39.680
sound of the engine would be very soft. David

04:18:39.680 --> 04:18:41.879
reminded the driver not to touch the brakes either,

04:18:42.020 --> 04:18:44.420
as doing so would light up the back of the car's

04:18:44.420 --> 04:18:46.840
brake lights, which would surely be seen by the

04:18:46.840 --> 04:18:49.459
other vehicle, which was now parked in the Hacienda's

04:18:49.459 --> 04:18:52.139
courtyard. Lights on and music blaring. Both

04:18:52.139 --> 04:18:54.299
Miranda and David were faced in towards each

04:18:54.299 --> 04:18:56.360
other and were looking out the back window at

04:18:56.360 --> 04:18:59.139
the truck now parked at the hacienda. The taxi

04:18:59.139 --> 04:19:01.420
they were in was slowly moving and that's the

04:19:01.420 --> 04:19:03.379
way they needed to be moving until they made

04:19:03.379 --> 04:19:05.760
it back out to the highway. Miranda knew if they

04:19:05.760 --> 04:19:07.639
could go undetected, then they would be in the

04:19:07.639 --> 04:19:10.139
clear. As the taxi got further and further away

04:19:10.139 --> 04:19:12.739
from the hacienda's property, the truck got smaller

04:19:12.739 --> 04:19:15.479
and smaller. Miranda and David noticed that four

04:19:15.479 --> 04:19:17.620
or five guys had gotten out of the truck and

04:19:17.620 --> 04:19:19.940
two of them had what looked like assault weapons,

04:19:20.159 --> 04:19:23.389
long guns. David nudged Miranda and said quietly,

04:19:23.889 --> 04:19:25.930
that's not my brother. Those are cartel members

04:19:25.930 --> 04:19:27.870
and they are going to be mad as soon as they

04:19:27.870 --> 04:19:30.049
find their little treasure is gone. All of a

04:19:30.049 --> 04:19:32.370
sudden, they hear a faint rat -a -tat -tat -tat

04:19:32.370 --> 04:19:36.450
-tat -tat echo into the night. David squints

04:19:36.450 --> 04:19:38.709
and looks toward the Hacienda property again,

04:19:38.829 --> 04:19:42.170
which is further away now. He notices, what seems

04:19:42.170 --> 04:19:44.569
like, one of the guys pointing his gun into the

04:19:44.569 --> 04:19:47.649
sky and squeezing off rounds into the sky. Hawthorne,

04:19:47.770 --> 04:19:49.670
the driver, and Miranda all hear the gunshots

04:19:49.670 --> 04:19:52.149
echoing off in the distance. Hawthorne turns

04:19:52.149 --> 04:19:54.350
in his seat and looks out the back of the car

04:19:54.350 --> 04:19:56.610
where they had just come from and asks, What

04:19:56.610 --> 04:19:58.309
do you think? Are they shooting into the air

04:19:58.309 --> 04:20:00.450
because they're mad their treasure is gone? Or

04:20:00.450 --> 04:20:02.670
are they signaling to more of their cronies?

04:20:02.889 --> 04:20:05.409
Neither David nor Miranda knew the answer to

04:20:05.409 --> 04:20:08.090
Hawthorne's question. So, they just sat there

04:20:08.090 --> 04:20:10.129
in silence looking out the back window of the

04:20:10.129 --> 04:20:12.409
car into the dark, making sure there was no one

04:20:12.409 --> 04:20:15.079
following them. However, David overheard the

04:20:15.079 --> 04:20:16.959
driver tell Hawthorne that the cartel members

04:20:16.959 --> 04:20:19.440
are signaling other potential cartel members

04:20:19.440 --> 04:20:22.180
in this area by firing their guns into the air

04:20:22.180 --> 04:20:24.440
using a certain trigger pattern. Miranda looked

04:20:24.440 --> 04:20:26.819
down at her phone GPS and said, another five

04:20:26.819 --> 04:20:29.139
minutes on this old road and then we'll be back

04:20:29.139 --> 04:20:32.040
on main route 180 heading back to Merida. Another

04:20:32.040 --> 04:20:34.120
burst of gunfire could be heard from a distance

04:20:34.120 --> 04:20:36.479
behind them, along with tracer bullets streaming

04:20:36.479 --> 04:20:38.620
straight up into the air like bottle rockets

04:20:38.620 --> 04:20:40.809
in the night. Wow, Miranda thought to herself

04:20:40.809 --> 04:20:43.170
nervously. Just another five minutes and we'll

04:20:43.170 --> 04:20:45.090
be back on the main highway and headed towards

04:20:45.090 --> 04:20:56.809
safety. Part 10, The Return Now back at their

04:20:56.809 --> 04:20:59.209
hotel in Merida, Hawthorne along with David and

04:20:59.209 --> 04:21:01.930
Miranda get out of the taxi. They feel a sense

04:21:01.930 --> 04:21:04.770
of relief. The past few hours had been stressful,

04:21:04.889 --> 04:21:08.010
yet exciting. They had found the golden mask

04:21:08.010 --> 04:21:10.770
hidden in a crawlspace at the not -so -famous

04:21:10.770 --> 04:21:15.350
Hacienda Tebeck, which the cartel uses from time

04:21:15.350 --> 04:21:18.350
to time. Their faithful and resourceful taxi

04:21:18.350 --> 04:21:20.750
driver proved to be a valuable ally in their

04:21:20.750 --> 04:21:23.750
silent and stealthy escape from the gun -toting

04:21:23.750 --> 04:21:26.469
and trigger -happy cartel members. However, it

04:21:26.469 --> 04:21:28.469
was only a matter of time before word spread

04:21:28.469 --> 04:21:31.489
of their group's presence in Merida. The city

04:21:31.489 --> 04:21:34.350
of Merida was known as a safe and cartel -free

04:21:34.350 --> 04:21:36.829
city, but this could be a different situation

04:21:36.829 --> 04:21:39.909
for them. The Mexican media had kept David and

04:21:39.909 --> 04:21:42.469
Miranda's story front and center for many months,

04:21:42.590 --> 04:21:45.049
not just the story of the artifact discoveries,

04:21:45.329 --> 04:21:48.569
but their personal story of becoming close. The

04:21:48.569 --> 04:21:51.389
media and public were more fascinated about their

04:21:51.389 --> 04:21:53.510
growing relationship than the artifacts themselves.

04:21:54.489 --> 04:21:56.969
They had been portrayed and branded by the media

04:21:56.969 --> 04:21:59.690
as Mexico's very own modern -day Indiana Jones

04:21:59.690 --> 04:22:03.530
couple, and the public loved it. David and Miranda's

04:22:03.530 --> 04:22:06.590
presence in Merida did not go unnoticed. There

04:22:06.590 --> 04:22:08.870
were already several videos posted online of

04:22:08.870 --> 04:22:11.510
them, a few from their time at Chichen Itza earlier

04:22:11.510 --> 04:22:14.469
in that day, and a longer video of them at the

04:22:14.469 --> 04:22:17.690
bus depot in Merida as they had confronted Maria

04:22:17.690 --> 04:22:20.690
and her niece Renata. Not wanting to get caught

04:22:20.690 --> 04:22:23.399
up in more media coverage in Merida, Which could

04:22:23.399 --> 04:22:25.899
attract even more attention, David told Hawthorne

04:22:25.899 --> 04:22:28.200
that he and Miranda were going to have the taxi

04:22:28.200 --> 04:22:31.040
driver take them back down to Chichen Itza that

04:22:31.040 --> 04:22:33.860
night. There was a small private locally owned

04:22:33.860 --> 04:22:36.760
hostel close to the park. They would stay there

04:22:36.760 --> 04:22:39.520
and then at first light would gain access back

04:22:39.520 --> 04:22:42.760
to El Castillo to return the mask. Then, if they

04:22:42.760 --> 04:22:45.180
were successful, they would travel together down

04:22:45.180 --> 04:22:48.889
to Calakmo and return the J -Jar together. Neither

04:22:48.889 --> 04:22:51.149
one of them wanted to return to Mexico City without

04:22:51.149 --> 04:22:53.430
first returning the artifacts they had taken

04:22:53.430 --> 04:22:56.629
months ago. The legends of the Yucatan seem to

04:22:56.629 --> 04:23:00.049
be true. Unfortunate events and bad luck would

04:23:00.049 --> 04:23:02.350
follow those who possessed the artifacts until

04:23:02.350 --> 04:23:04.510
they had been returned to their rightful resting

04:23:04.510 --> 04:23:07.350
place. Hawthorne waits in the lobby of the hotel

04:23:07.350 --> 04:23:09.950
while Miranda goes back up to her room to retrieve

04:23:09.950 --> 04:23:13.629
the bag that the jade jar was in. David was pacing

04:23:13.629 --> 04:23:16.010
back and forth in the lobby, waiting as well.

04:23:16.379 --> 04:23:18.440
The large black bag containing the golden mask

04:23:18.440 --> 04:23:21.239
was resting on a chair next to him. Hawthorne

04:23:21.239 --> 04:23:23.200
could tell that David was anxious about getting

04:23:23.200 --> 04:23:26.120
back on the road and far away from Merida as

04:23:26.120 --> 04:23:29.159
possible before daybreak. The cartel would be

04:23:29.159 --> 04:23:31.620
looking for the people who stole back both the

04:23:31.620 --> 04:23:34.420
jade jar and the golden mask. Professor Hawthorne

04:23:34.420 --> 04:23:36.680
secretly wished he could be part of the trip

04:23:36.680 --> 04:23:39.120
to return both artifacts, but he knew this was

04:23:39.120 --> 04:23:41.780
an adventure that David and Miranda needed to

04:23:41.780 --> 04:23:45.260
do together, without anyone else. Hawthorne watched

04:23:45.260 --> 04:23:47.840
as Miranda entered the lobby. Having fetched

04:23:47.840 --> 04:23:51.000
the jade jar from her and Ava's room, all three

04:23:51.000 --> 04:23:53.799
of them were silent. Hawthorne nodded his head

04:23:53.799 --> 04:23:56.760
at both Miranda and David, gave them a thumbs

04:23:56.760 --> 04:23:59.040
up, and then watched as they got back into the

04:23:59.040 --> 04:24:01.879
waiting taxi. It then drove off into the night.

04:24:07.209 --> 04:24:09.549
It was early morning and Prof. Amanda picked

04:24:09.549 --> 04:24:12.350
up her phone and tapped the green connect button.

04:24:12.569 --> 04:24:15.309
She anxiously rubbed her forehead while she waited

04:24:15.309 --> 04:24:17.450
for Professor Hawthorne to answer his phone.

04:24:17.670 --> 04:24:20.510
She had stayed up late last night in an effort

04:24:20.510 --> 04:24:23.450
to confirm the group's return plane tickets from

04:24:23.450 --> 04:24:26.510
Mexico City back to Sacramento. She was also

04:24:26.510 --> 04:24:28.870
coordinating the group's bus ride from the Sacramento

04:24:28.870 --> 04:24:33.069
airport back to El Dorado College. She knew the

04:24:33.069 --> 04:24:35.370
trip had been quite eventful as she had gotten

04:24:35.370 --> 04:24:38.090
periodic text updates from Professor Hawthorne

04:24:38.090 --> 04:24:40.770
each time there was a deviation in the original

04:24:40.770 --> 04:24:43.969
schedule and plan. Prop Amanda had also been

04:24:43.969 --> 04:24:46.629
practicing her public relations skills as she

04:24:46.629 --> 04:24:49.110
communicated with the students' parents about

04:24:49.110 --> 04:24:52.430
how the trip had been going. She had also reassured

04:24:52.430 --> 04:24:54.670
the parents of the students who were on the trip

04:24:54.670 --> 04:24:57.729
that everyone was safe and sound and would be

04:24:57.729 --> 04:25:01.559
coming home soon. All of a sudden, Amanda's phone

04:25:01.559 --> 04:25:04.200
connected and she saw Professor Hawthorne's face

04:25:04.200 --> 04:25:07.399
staring back at her. He was smiling even though

04:25:07.399 --> 04:25:11.079
his eyes looked tired. Amanda then said, Professor

04:25:11.079 --> 04:25:14.280
Hawthorne, it's good to finally talk face to

04:25:14.280 --> 04:25:17.559
face. Well, at least virtually. Regarding your

04:25:17.559 --> 04:25:20.940
texts from earlier yesterday, I was able to rebook

04:25:20.940 --> 04:25:23.700
all the students, including Lily, on an earlier

04:25:23.700 --> 04:25:27.180
flight tomorrow out of Mexico City back to Sacramento.

04:25:27.840 --> 04:25:30.620
Then, for your return ticket, I was able to get

04:25:30.620 --> 04:25:33.340
you on the same flight, but just one day later,

04:25:33.479 --> 04:25:36.780
as you had requested. Also, I understand Ava

04:25:36.780 --> 04:25:39.399
will be handling her own booking, as she is going

04:25:39.399 --> 04:25:42.120
to stay down there and work on her stories. So,

04:25:42.299 --> 04:25:45.840
the students will be back here in Coloma in a

04:25:45.840 --> 04:25:49.239
little over 24 hours, and you about 48 hours.

04:25:49.399 --> 04:25:52.620
I'm sure you're all ready to get back. As the

04:25:52.620 --> 04:25:55.479
professor holds back a yawn, he replies, Thank

04:25:55.479 --> 04:25:58.899
you so much. You're the best. He continues, as

04:25:58.899 --> 04:26:00.760
you can tell, I haven't had my morning coffee

04:26:00.760 --> 04:26:02.739
yet, and it was quite the long day yesterday.

04:26:03.239 --> 04:26:06.120
I will be able to fill you in with all the details

04:26:06.120 --> 04:26:09.420
when I get back. It's been quite a trip. On this

04:26:09.420 --> 04:26:12.020
end of things, we're flying out of Merida, where

04:26:12.020 --> 04:26:14.899
we're at right now, back to Mexico City in about

04:26:14.899 --> 04:26:18.120
two hours. We should be back on UNAM's campus

04:26:18.120 --> 04:26:21.370
by early afternoon today. Yeah, I want to hear

04:26:21.370 --> 04:26:23.670
all about it. It sounds like you may be busy

04:26:23.670 --> 04:26:26.190
this summer writing another book. I mean, these

04:26:26.190 --> 04:26:29.190
weird and I might say amazing things just keep

04:26:29.190 --> 04:26:32.850
happening to you, Amanda replies. Well, I don't

04:26:32.850 --> 04:26:34.729
want to make this a habit, you know, finding

04:26:34.729 --> 04:26:37.049
myself in the middle of, well, whatever this

04:26:37.049 --> 04:26:40.309
is called, weird or amazing. The professor continues,

04:26:40.569 --> 04:26:43.850
I'm getting too old for this. Amanda laughs a

04:26:43.850 --> 04:26:46.829
bit and then says, well, you can send me next

04:26:46.829 --> 04:26:50.489
time. I'll be happy to join your little adventures.

04:26:50.750 --> 04:26:53.549
She continues, text me or call me if anything

04:26:53.549 --> 04:26:57.649
needs changed on my end. I've got to go and get

04:26:57.649 --> 04:27:05.409
ready for my classes today. See you soon. The

04:27:05.409 --> 04:27:09.389
flight back to Mexico City from Rita was uneventful.

04:27:09.840 --> 04:27:12.479
A Yunnan bus picked them up at the airport and

04:27:12.479 --> 04:27:14.540
then took them back to the dorms they were staying

04:27:14.540 --> 04:27:17.680
in on campus. The students were quiet the entire

04:27:17.680 --> 04:27:20.000
trip back. Maybe they were tired or just ready

04:27:20.000 --> 04:27:22.659
to get back to Coloma. Either way, Hawthorne

04:27:22.659 --> 04:27:25.280
welcomed the peace and quiet. He was also thankful

04:27:25.280 --> 04:27:27.899
for Lily's leadership with the students. She

04:27:27.899 --> 04:27:29.899
had really stepped up on this trip and it showed.

04:27:30.399 --> 04:27:32.239
Because the students only had one more night

04:27:32.239 --> 04:27:34.659
in Mexico City before their return flight back

04:27:34.659 --> 04:27:36.879
to California the next morning, Hawthorne let

04:27:36.879 --> 04:27:39.379
them have free time on campus for their final

04:27:39.379 --> 04:27:41.780
afternoon and evening. However, they did have

04:27:41.780 --> 04:27:44.719
to be back in their dorms by 10 p .m. They had

04:27:44.719 --> 04:27:47.020
an early flight the next morning and he didn't

04:27:47.020 --> 04:27:49.440
want any of them to be missing it. Professor

04:27:49.440 --> 04:27:51.819
Hawthorne wanted to see Anthony Garcia one more

04:27:51.819 --> 04:27:54.340
time before he left, so he coordinated with Tommy

04:27:54.340 --> 04:27:56.459
to meet up after the students had left the next

04:27:56.459 --> 04:27:59.100
morning. Then Hawthorne and Tommy would go see

04:27:59.100 --> 04:28:01.979
Anthony together again, but this wouldn't happen

04:28:01.979 --> 04:28:04.700
until the next day. So Hawthorne had some free

04:28:04.700 --> 04:28:07.180
time, which got him thinking about a few missing

04:28:07.180 --> 04:28:10.399
pieces to the heist puzzle. He still had unanswered

04:28:10.399 --> 04:28:12.540
questions that bothered him, so he picked up

04:28:12.540 --> 04:28:15.120
his phone and sent a text to Ava. Ava, back at

04:28:15.120 --> 04:28:17.180
the dorm having some free time of her own and

04:28:17.180 --> 04:28:19.479
trying to get caught up with some work, got a

04:28:19.479 --> 04:28:21.659
text from Professor Hawthorne which read, Are

04:28:21.659 --> 04:28:24.219
you free? If so, let's meet up in the student

04:28:24.219 --> 04:28:27.040
center at the cafe and chat. I've got some ideas

04:28:27.040 --> 04:28:29.600
to run by you and about some things that don't

04:28:29.600 --> 04:28:33.139
seem to add up. Let me know. Thanks. Ava texts

04:28:33.139 --> 04:28:35.600
back and it reads, sure, I can meet you in about

04:28:35.600 --> 04:28:37.780
an hour. That's okay. I know what you mean. There

04:28:37.780 --> 04:28:40.340
are a few things I'm confused about still with

04:28:40.340 --> 04:28:42.979
this entire situation. I've got a call scheduled

04:28:42.979 --> 04:28:45.020
with a mutual friend first. See you in an hour.

04:28:45.399 --> 04:28:48.200
Ava had already scheduled a call with her source

04:28:48.200 --> 04:28:51.219
at the FBI, Agent Carson. She and Hawthorne met

04:28:51.219 --> 04:28:54.500
Agent Carson. A few years back, he helped make

04:28:54.500 --> 04:28:57.620
some high -profile arrests back in Coloma. He

04:28:57.620 --> 04:28:59.879
was an ideal agent, reliable, honest, and helpful.

04:29:00.360 --> 04:29:02.500
Since the El Dorado incident and investigation,

04:29:03.120 --> 04:29:05.639
he had been promoted to special agent in charge,

04:29:05.799 --> 04:29:08.459
and he had told Ava that if she ever needed anything,

04:29:08.600 --> 04:29:10.600
to just contact him and he'd be happy to help.

04:29:10.899 --> 04:29:13.629
So she did. She got on a call with Agent Carson

04:29:13.629 --> 04:29:16.549
and for the next 45 minutes plus was able to

04:29:16.549 --> 04:29:18.729
get some very valuable information that might

04:29:18.729 --> 04:29:21.530
help fill in the gaps and answer some more questions

04:29:21.530 --> 04:29:24.270
about what was going on with the cartels, gangs,

04:29:24.469 --> 04:29:26.629
and some of the bigger players in Mexico City,

04:29:26.750 --> 04:29:30.030
including dirty politicians and business tycoons.

04:29:30.329 --> 04:29:33.170
Of course, none of what they talked about could

04:29:33.170 --> 04:29:35.290
be published officially because it was off the

04:29:35.290 --> 04:29:37.809
record, but Eva did learn some new details she

04:29:37.809 --> 04:29:40.020
and Hawthorne could discuss. After a lengthy

04:29:40.020 --> 04:29:42.840
conversation with Agent Carson, Ava headed over

04:29:42.840 --> 04:29:45.139
to the cafe at the Student Union to meet up with

04:29:45.139 --> 04:29:47.459
Hawthorne with some new revelations to share.

04:29:52.760 --> 04:29:54.940
Hawthorne had taken it upon himself to order

04:29:54.940 --> 04:29:57.920
two Italian sodas and some nachos prior to Ava

04:29:57.920 --> 04:30:00.659
arriving at the cafe. He was reviewing some of

04:30:00.659 --> 04:30:03.700
the past few days' events in his head and trying

04:30:03.700 --> 04:30:06.020
to think about some of the things that didn't

04:30:06.020 --> 04:30:08.969
seem to add up. He wasn't trying to play detective,

04:30:09.090 --> 04:30:11.069
but there were some things that were bothering

04:30:11.069 --> 04:30:13.389
him, so he thought he'd talk through them with

04:30:13.389 --> 04:30:15.770
Ava. And with her experience and connections,

04:30:16.010 --> 04:30:18.329
maybe some of the questions could be answered,

04:30:18.450 --> 04:30:21.469
or at least investigated. So as he sat there

04:30:21.469 --> 04:30:23.909
munching on some nachos and fresh salsa, Ava

04:30:23.909 --> 04:30:26.969
came in and sat down. Hawthorne then said, I

04:30:26.969 --> 04:30:28.709
know you've got a few tight deadlines you're

04:30:28.709 --> 04:30:30.690
trying to meet this week, but maybe we can talk

04:30:30.690 --> 04:30:32.430
through some of the things about the last few

04:30:32.430 --> 04:30:35.700
days that seem not to add up. Yep, I've always

04:30:35.700 --> 04:30:38.100
got deadlines, but the series of stories I'm

04:30:38.100 --> 04:30:40.299
working on related to the heist the other day,

04:30:40.360 --> 04:30:42.559
the arrests of the three gang members, and the

04:30:42.559 --> 04:30:44.559
cartel's involvement with wanting to artifacts

04:30:44.559 --> 04:30:48.059
are on top of my agenda. She replies, and then

04:30:48.059 --> 04:30:50.920
adds, you go first, and then maybe my conversation

04:30:50.920 --> 04:30:53.219
with Agent Carson will help piece some of this

04:30:53.219 --> 04:30:56.280
together. Hawthorne then throws out some questions

04:30:56.280 --> 04:30:59.500
to see if Ava has any thoughts to add. He then

04:30:59.500 --> 04:31:02.350
says, So we know there's a bigger player in the

04:31:02.350 --> 04:31:05.309
game, bigger than the three family members who've

04:31:05.309 --> 04:31:07.370
been arrested already, and I don't think it's

04:31:07.370 --> 04:31:10.469
just the cartel. I think Carlos, his aunt and

04:31:10.469 --> 04:31:13.409
sister, and the cartel are just middlemen. So

04:31:13.409 --> 04:31:15.690
who's the bigger player? The one who ordered

04:31:15.690 --> 04:31:17.629
the heist of the artifacts in the first place?

04:31:17.809 --> 04:31:20.690
That's my first question. Hawthorne then adds,

04:31:20.850 --> 04:31:23.930
my next questions are, how did the thieves gain

04:31:23.930 --> 04:31:27.110
access to the museum the night of the gala? The

04:31:27.110 --> 04:31:29.229
security was really tight that night, so who

04:31:29.229 --> 04:31:31.549
helped them? Are the police still investigating

04:31:31.549 --> 04:31:34.190
that or do they think that they have their culprits

04:31:34.190 --> 04:31:37.129
already? And finally, is this all connected to

04:31:37.129 --> 04:31:39.389
the public controversy surrounding the big oil

04:31:39.389 --> 04:31:42.430
company and the local indigenous landowners around

04:31:42.430 --> 04:31:46.350
Calakmul where the Jajar was found? Hawthorne

04:31:46.350 --> 04:31:48.690
watches as Ava nods her head in agreement with

04:31:48.690 --> 04:31:51.129
all his questions and then he adds one more and

04:31:51.129 --> 04:31:53.709
says, And finally, do you believe in the legends?

04:31:54.440 --> 04:31:56.639
You have to admit, a lot of weird things have

04:31:56.639 --> 04:31:58.940
happened since those artifacts were removed from

04:31:58.940 --> 04:32:01.920
their resting place. Ava, having waited until

04:32:01.920 --> 04:32:04.100
Hawthorne finished with his last question, takes

04:32:04.100 --> 04:32:07.520
a sip out of her drink and then says, Yeah, I've

04:32:07.520 --> 04:32:09.700
had some of those same questions circling around

04:32:09.700 --> 04:32:12.020
my head for the last two days, she continues.

04:32:12.520 --> 04:32:15.040
I just got off a call with Agent Carson, off

04:32:15.040 --> 04:32:17.260
the record, of course, right before I came over

04:32:17.260 --> 04:32:19.379
here to meet you. And here are some of the things

04:32:19.379 --> 04:32:21.920
he told me. You ready for this? Hawthorne now

04:32:21.920 --> 04:32:24.139
with a mouthful of chips and salsa nodded his

04:32:24.139 --> 04:32:26.440
head yes and motioned with his hands to go on.

04:32:26.760 --> 04:32:29.540
Ava continues, Agent Carson revealed that there's

04:32:29.540 --> 04:32:32.120
a connection between the large oil company, a

04:32:32.120 --> 04:32:34.440
prominent politician, and a higher -up person

04:32:34.440 --> 04:32:36.799
at the museum where the artifacts were stolen.

04:32:37.000 --> 04:32:39.959
He also said that the FBI is aware of the criminal

04:32:39.959 --> 04:32:43.000
activity but has no jurisdiction. They were only

04:32:43.000 --> 04:32:45.219
able to share intelligence with their counterparts

04:32:45.219 --> 04:32:48.379
in Mexico City. The Federal Investigative Agency

04:32:49.399 --> 04:32:52.120
when asked, which hasn't happened very much.

04:32:52.600 --> 04:32:55.120
Ava then adds, our conversation was a lot longer

04:32:55.120 --> 04:32:57.379
than this, but this is essentially what Agent

04:32:57.379 --> 04:33:00.020
Carson could tell me. He didn't have names, but

04:33:00.020 --> 04:33:02.280
said there is electronic proof that backs up

04:33:02.280 --> 04:33:05.560
these connections. Okay, good, Hawthorne replies.

04:33:05.700 --> 04:33:08.180
So we're not going crazy thinking that there's

04:33:08.180 --> 04:33:11.400
a larger thing going on here. He then says, maybe

04:33:11.400 --> 04:33:13.979
the Mexican feds are working on the leads and

04:33:13.979 --> 04:33:17.110
connections as we speak. But corruption can run

04:33:17.110 --> 04:33:19.689
deep here, and they are content with the arrest

04:33:19.689 --> 04:33:22.750
of Carlos, his sister, and his aunt. Case closed.

04:33:23.669 --> 04:33:27.250
Yeah, either way, I've still got some work to

04:33:27.250 --> 04:33:30.389
do. So says my editor and my own curiosity, Ava

04:33:30.389 --> 04:33:32.950
says. I'm going to spend the day tomorrow visiting

04:33:32.950 --> 04:33:35.729
some of the local newspapers and trying to meet

04:33:35.729 --> 04:33:38.490
with some of the reporters. Maybe I can uncover

04:33:38.490 --> 04:33:41.689
some non -published intel they'll want to share

04:33:41.689 --> 04:33:44.630
with me about some of these revelations. Good

04:33:44.630 --> 04:33:47.189
idea, Hawthorne says. Tommy and I are going to

04:33:47.189 --> 04:33:49.869
go see Anthony tomorrow after we see the students

04:33:49.869 --> 04:33:52.689
and Lily off at the airport. He's back from the

04:33:52.689 --> 04:33:55.709
hospital and at home resting. Maybe he's got

04:33:55.709 --> 04:33:58.349
some information that could help. Ava will quickly

04:33:58.349 --> 04:34:01.189
finish her drink and some nachos before getting

04:34:01.189 --> 04:34:03.790
up and then says, Okay, I've got a call with

04:34:03.790 --> 04:34:05.729
my editor in an hour and I've got to move out

04:34:05.729 --> 04:34:07.630
of the dorm room and check into the hotel before

04:34:07.630 --> 04:34:10.209
that call. Not sure I'll see you again before

04:34:10.209 --> 04:34:12.990
you head back to Coloma. If not, safe travels.

04:34:13.009 --> 04:34:15.270
Let's keep in touch and see how this thing pans

04:34:15.270 --> 04:34:18.250
out. Just like old times again. Yep, just like

04:34:18.250 --> 04:34:20.669
old times again. Hoffman replies and then waves

04:34:20.669 --> 04:34:23.130
at Ava as she leaves the cafe and then exits

04:34:23.130 --> 04:34:30.610
the Student Union building. The following day,

04:34:30.650 --> 04:34:32.849
after accompanying the students and Lily to the

04:34:32.849 --> 04:34:34.770
airport for their flight back to Sacramento,

04:34:35.029 --> 04:34:37.770
then on to Coloma, Hawthorne, along with Tommy,

04:34:37.930 --> 04:34:41.110
go visit Anthony Garcia at his home in the suburbs

04:34:41.110 --> 04:34:44.290
of one of Mexico City's most affluent neighborhoods.

04:34:44.689 --> 04:34:47.310
By this time, it's late morning and Tommy drove

04:34:47.310 --> 04:34:50.290
since it was only the two of them. As Tommy drove

04:34:50.290 --> 04:34:52.569
the car through the main gate to Anthony's property

04:34:52.569 --> 04:34:55.549
and then up the long driveway, Hawthorne said,

04:34:55.669 --> 04:34:58.430
wow, working for the museum sure has its perks.

04:34:59.229 --> 04:35:01.509
Hawthorne also eyed the three very nice vehicles

04:35:01.509 --> 04:35:04.209
parked in the driveway, a newer model Mercedes,

04:35:04.669 --> 04:35:07.509
a mean -looking sports car, and a black Land

04:35:07.509 --> 04:35:11.130
Rover SUV. Hawthorne looked over at Tommy, shaking

04:35:11.130 --> 04:35:13.349
his head without saying a word. Tommy parked

04:35:13.349 --> 04:35:15.549
his car carefully next to the very expensive

04:35:15.549 --> 04:35:18.770
Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe, a beautiful piece

04:35:18.770 --> 04:35:21.689
of British engineering and design. Tommy had

04:35:21.689 --> 04:35:23.610
seen this model before, and a model of the car

04:35:23.610 --> 04:35:26.490
being advertised at one of the luxury... car

04:35:26.490 --> 04:35:29.009
dealers in Mexico City over the past few months.

04:35:29.349 --> 04:35:31.529
Some call it a sports car and some call it a

04:35:31.529 --> 04:35:35.069
sporty sedan. Either way, it was cool. The car

04:35:35.069 --> 04:35:37.709
was brand new. It was a deep red color and it

04:35:37.709 --> 04:35:41.009
looked mean, cool and fast. Basically, the envy

04:35:41.009 --> 04:35:43.990
of any car enthusiast. Tommy knew this car was

04:35:43.990 --> 04:35:46.470
the talk of the town, at least among those who

04:35:46.470 --> 04:35:49.229
could afford it, which wasn't him. Cars like

04:35:49.229 --> 04:35:52.590
this cost upward of 500 ,000 USD fully loaded.

04:35:52.869 --> 04:35:54.810
At least that's what the dealers were selling

04:35:54.810 --> 04:35:57.389
them for. It's definitely what makes a statement

04:35:57.389 --> 04:36:00.150
when it's on the road. Like, get out of my way,

04:36:00.189 --> 04:36:02.529
I'm the new kid on the block, and I'm rich and

04:36:02.529 --> 04:36:06.130
fast. Tommy curses under his breath, looks over

04:36:06.130 --> 04:36:08.669
Hawthorne and says, looks like our friend Anthony

04:36:08.669 --> 04:36:11.290
has a side hustle that pays really, really well.

04:36:11.810 --> 04:36:14.049
Hmm, my thoughts exactly, Hawthorne replies.

04:36:14.349 --> 04:36:16.650
As Hawthorne and Tommy get out of their car and

04:36:16.650 --> 04:36:19.090
start walking up toward the front door, the front

04:36:19.090 --> 04:36:21.610
door opens abruptly and two guys walk out rather

04:36:21.610 --> 04:36:24.689
quickly. They seem to be in a hurry and angry.

04:36:25.159 --> 04:36:27.240
They pass by Hawthorne and Tommy, not giving

04:36:27.240 --> 04:36:30.240
them a hello or even a quick glance. They get

04:36:30.240 --> 04:36:33.799
into the black SUV and drive off. Hawthorne then

04:36:33.799 --> 04:36:36.220
asks Tommy as they approach the open front door,

04:36:36.380 --> 04:36:39.099
You did tell Anthony we were coming for a visit

04:36:39.099 --> 04:36:42.000
today, right? Tommy stopped and looked over at

04:36:42.000 --> 04:36:44.360
Hawthorne and then replied, I knew there was

04:36:44.360 --> 04:36:46.900
something I was forgetting to do yesterday. Tommy

04:36:46.900 --> 04:36:49.360
looks up at the open front door and then says,

04:36:49.560 --> 04:36:52.380
Maybe we should leave. What if Anthony isn't

04:36:52.380 --> 04:36:54.869
even here? So you've never been here before?

04:36:55.069 --> 04:36:57.669
Hawthorne asked Tommy. No, I haven't. This is

04:36:57.669 --> 04:37:00.409
my first time after all these years knowing Anthony.

04:37:00.650 --> 04:37:03.529
I've had no reason to come before as most of

04:37:03.529 --> 04:37:05.709
our interactions have either been at the museum

04:37:05.709 --> 04:37:10.270
or at the university. Tommy responds. As Tommy

04:37:10.270 --> 04:37:12.529
and Hawthorne are still standing there, looking

04:37:12.529 --> 04:37:16.029
at the front open door. Tommy adds, those two

04:37:16.029 --> 04:37:19.009
guys that just left in the SUV, well, I don't

04:37:19.009 --> 04:37:21.470
like to profile people, but they did look a little

04:37:21.470 --> 04:37:24.240
suspicious. Suspicious how, Hawthorne responds.

04:37:24.840 --> 04:37:27.220
Well, it's a common knowledge that cartel members

04:37:27.220 --> 04:37:29.700
like to flaunt their design clothing, accessories,

04:37:30.020 --> 04:37:33.860
and vehicles. At least in Mexico, they do. And

04:37:33.860 --> 04:37:36.340
the police don't do anything about it. And those

04:37:36.340 --> 04:37:38.680
two guys that just left were decked out in designer

04:37:38.680 --> 04:37:42.040
clothing and had very expensive watches. Tommy

04:37:42.040 --> 04:37:44.700
replied. At that moment, both Hawthorne and Tommy

04:37:44.700 --> 04:37:47.060
looked up at the open front door and there stood

04:37:47.060 --> 04:37:49.279
Anthony, just standing there and staring back

04:37:49.279 --> 04:37:52.090
at them. Hawthorne didn't know what to say, so

04:37:52.090 --> 04:37:54.490
he just blurted out, Hey there, we wanted to

04:37:54.490 --> 04:37:56.689
come see how you were feeling. Sorry we didn't

04:37:56.689 --> 04:37:58.669
contact you ahead of time. However, that was

04:37:58.669 --> 04:38:01.049
our intention to do so. Just one of us forgot.

04:38:01.549 --> 04:38:03.650
Anthony paused for a moment, then said, Hmm.

04:38:04.150 --> 04:38:06.090
I really wish you had contacted me first before

04:38:06.090 --> 04:38:08.549
coming here. You put me in a very difficult position

04:38:08.549 --> 04:38:12.450
now. Why is that? Tommy responded. However, both

04:38:12.450 --> 04:38:14.970
Tommy and Hawthorne secretly knew why Anthony

04:38:14.970 --> 04:38:18.029
had said that. And both Tommy and Hawthorne knew

04:38:18.029 --> 04:38:20.029
something was wrong with the entire situation.

04:38:20.630 --> 04:38:23.029
We'd be happy to come back at a more convenient

04:38:23.029 --> 04:38:26.090
time later today, Hawthorne then added. I leave

04:38:26.090 --> 04:38:28.090
tomorrow to head back to the U .S. and I wanted

04:38:28.090 --> 04:38:31.189
to see how you were doing. At that moment, two

04:38:31.189 --> 04:38:33.470
different men came out the front door, passing

04:38:33.470 --> 04:38:36.110
on either side of Anthony, and walked straight

04:38:36.110 --> 04:38:39.349
forward toward Hawthorne and Tommy. These two

04:38:39.349 --> 04:38:41.529
men were armed, their guns holstered in their

04:38:41.529 --> 04:38:43.930
belts. They looked serious and not friendly.

04:38:44.509 --> 04:38:46.950
One of the men was wearing a cowboy hat and wearing

04:38:46.950 --> 04:38:49.569
designer cowboy boots, and the other guy was

04:38:49.569 --> 04:38:51.810
wearing a designer Gucci jacket and sporting

04:38:51.810 --> 04:38:54.830
an L .A. Dodgers baseball hat that still had

04:38:54.830 --> 04:38:58.590
the sales tag hanging from it. Oh, Anthony, Tommy

04:38:58.590 --> 04:39:01.389
said, shaking his head. He then looked over at

04:39:01.389 --> 04:39:04.229
Harpon and said quietly, You may miss your flight

04:39:04.229 --> 04:39:12.279
tomorrow, Professor. As Hawthorne sat on the

04:39:12.279 --> 04:39:15.119
clean, white, and very large, comfortable sofa

04:39:15.119 --> 04:39:17.560
in one of the many sitting rooms in Anthony's

04:39:17.560 --> 04:39:20.200
big house, Hawthorne was feeling a little anxious

04:39:20.200 --> 04:39:22.240
as to what Anthony was going to do with them.

04:39:22.840 --> 04:39:25.380
Things finally made sense, Hawthorne thought.

04:39:25.779 --> 04:39:28.939
Anthony was the inside guy. But was he the big

04:39:28.939 --> 04:39:32.659
boss? This was the larger question now. Hawthorne

04:39:32.659 --> 04:39:35.040
felt that Anthony was just one of the many middlemen

04:39:35.040 --> 04:39:38.139
getting paid off somehow by the real shot callers

04:39:38.139 --> 04:39:40.900
at the top. Maybe Anthony was just under the

04:39:40.900 --> 04:39:44.459
top guy, or two rungs down. Either way, the two

04:39:44.459 --> 04:39:46.799
very nicely dressed cartel members were taking

04:39:46.799 --> 04:39:49.720
orders from Anthony. Hawthorne knew the cartels

04:39:49.720 --> 04:39:51.959
could be cruel and he was starting to think of

04:39:51.959 --> 04:39:54.180
worst case scenarios now that he and Tommy had

04:39:54.180 --> 04:39:57.000
accidentally stumbled into the middle of Anthony's

04:39:57.000 --> 04:39:59.680
secret life. As far as Hawthorne could tell,

04:39:59.779 --> 04:40:02.360
the only people on the property were him, Tommy,

04:40:02.540 --> 04:40:05.060
the nicely dressed cowboy and baseball player,

04:40:05.220 --> 04:40:07.340
and Anthony who was in the other room on the

04:40:07.340 --> 04:40:10.099
phone. Both Hawthorne and Tommy stayed quiet,

04:40:10.240 --> 04:40:12.279
just sitting there. Neither one of them wanted

04:40:12.279 --> 04:40:14.819
to escalate the situation by asking a stupid

04:40:14.819 --> 04:40:17.500
question or making a dumb statement. So they

04:40:17.500 --> 04:40:19.459
just sat there looking at the other two guys,

04:40:19.580 --> 04:40:22.220
who were looking back at them. Anthony got off

04:40:22.220 --> 04:40:24.060
the phone, slammed it to the ground, breaking

04:40:24.060 --> 04:40:26.159
it, and then walked back into the living room

04:40:26.159 --> 04:40:27.959
where Professor Hawthorne and Professor Tommy

04:40:27.959 --> 04:40:30.180
were sitting. He just looked at both of them

04:40:30.180 --> 04:40:33.099
for a few seconds and said, Well, I'm in a really

04:40:33.099 --> 04:40:35.759
bad situation here. He then said, My boss wants

04:40:35.759 --> 04:40:38.299
you gone, but I like you guys. Both of you. So

04:40:38.299 --> 04:40:40.380
there are two ways this can go down. You want

04:40:40.380 --> 04:40:43.799
to hear them? Chou. Tommy says with a very disappointing

04:40:43.799 --> 04:40:46.840
tone. Anthony replies and says, either I cut

04:40:46.840 --> 04:40:48.540
you both in this deal or you keep your mouth

04:40:48.540 --> 04:40:50.419
shut. Take the money and go about your daily

04:40:50.419 --> 04:40:53.159
lives as normal. Or my very unforgiving boss

04:40:53.159 --> 04:40:55.259
makes you disappear. And believe me, they are

04:40:55.259 --> 04:40:58.099
good at making people disappear. Anthony goes

04:40:58.099 --> 04:41:00.659
on and adds, if you take the deal, which I hope

04:41:00.659 --> 04:41:03.060
you do, just know that if you don't keep your

04:41:03.060 --> 04:41:05.360
end of the bargain, not only are you at risk,

04:41:05.439 --> 04:41:08.189
but you put your family at... risk as well. They're

04:41:08.189 --> 04:41:10.409
good at finding you and they're good at finding

04:41:10.409 --> 04:41:12.009
your family members. They've been doing this

04:41:12.009 --> 04:41:15.110
for a long time now and they're good at it. Tommy

04:41:15.110 --> 04:41:18.189
speaks up first and then says, well, my friend,

04:41:18.349 --> 04:41:20.930
I think there's a third option you didn't mention.

04:41:21.290 --> 04:41:24.229
Please enlighten me, Anthony replies. You turn

04:41:24.229 --> 04:41:27.750
yourself in and let us go, Tommy says. Anthony

04:41:27.750 --> 04:41:30.270
laughs and then responds, I don't think so. You're

04:41:30.270 --> 04:41:32.409
living in a different world, my friend. Anthony

04:41:32.409 --> 04:41:34.909
then says, just take the money, the deal. Walk

04:41:34.909 --> 04:41:36.830
away and go live your life and keep your mouth

04:41:36.830 --> 04:41:40.590
shut. Tommy then asked, So you faked your injury

04:41:40.590 --> 04:41:43.270
at the museum event the other night? Anthony

04:41:43.270 --> 04:41:45.729
paused for a moment, then answered, Well, that

04:41:45.729 --> 04:41:48.090
was a bit of a mishap on my guys. They weren't

04:41:48.090 --> 04:41:50.450
supposed to hit me that hard. Either way, it

04:41:50.450 --> 04:41:53.189
made everything that much more believable. Hawthorne

04:41:53.189 --> 04:41:56.209
then says, Yep, it was believable. Hawthorne

04:41:56.209 --> 04:41:58.869
then continues and says, Back to the money thing.

04:41:58.990 --> 04:42:01.880
So how much money are you talking about? I mean,

04:42:01.900 --> 04:42:04.560
paying someone off sure has suited you from what

04:42:04.560 --> 04:42:07.240
we can tell. So how much money are you offering

04:42:07.240 --> 04:42:09.840
us? Hawthorne knew that at the end of the day,

04:42:09.919 --> 04:42:12.020
money talked and it was usually a matter of how

04:42:12.020 --> 04:42:14.619
much. Hawthorne wanted to change the subject

04:42:14.619 --> 04:42:17.419
and talk about the how much, as it would probably

04:42:17.419 --> 04:42:20.540
and hopefully diffuse the situation a bit. Maybe

04:42:20.540 --> 04:42:23.240
give Anthony the idea he and Tommy were serious

04:42:23.240 --> 04:42:26.259
about the offer. Hawthorne then says, I'm not

04:42:26.259 --> 04:42:28.340
sure about Tommy here, but I'd be interested

04:42:28.340 --> 04:42:31.540
in this deal. I, for one, value my life and the

04:42:31.540 --> 04:42:34.200
lives of my family members, and I'm pretty good

04:42:34.200 --> 04:42:36.680
at keeping secrets. I mean, I assume you're not

04:42:36.680 --> 04:42:38.659
going to take Tommy's suggestion about turning

04:42:38.659 --> 04:42:41.220
yourself in. Anthony smells a bit then says,

04:42:41.360 --> 04:42:43.319
Alright, what about you, Tommy? We've known each

04:42:43.319 --> 04:42:45.520
other for some time now, and the quote -unquote

04:42:45.520 --> 04:42:47.319
amount would be larger than what I would normally

04:42:47.319 --> 04:42:49.400
offer to the local politician and police chief.

04:42:49.700 --> 04:42:52.779
So, what say you, Tommy? Tommy knew Hawthorne

04:42:52.779 --> 04:42:55.119
well enough to know that Hawthorne was just stalling

04:42:55.119 --> 04:42:57.360
and trying to get Anthony in a lighter mood by

04:42:57.360 --> 04:43:00.569
agreeing to take the deal. However, Tommy knew

04:43:00.569 --> 04:43:03.229
that his next word needed to be careful and measured

04:43:03.229 --> 04:43:05.970
so as to sound convincing enough to buy some

04:43:05.970 --> 04:43:09.430
more time. Tommy also knew, as did Hawthorne,

04:43:09.529 --> 04:43:12.069
that taking a pay -off now had no guarantee of

04:43:12.069 --> 04:43:14.630
their future safety or the safety of their family

04:43:14.630 --> 04:43:17.650
members. The cartel never kept that word and

04:43:17.650 --> 04:43:20.189
Tommy assumed that Anthony and Anthony's boss

04:43:20.189 --> 04:43:22.270
had no intention of keeping their words either.

04:43:22.529 --> 04:43:25.069
It wasn't the idea of if these guys would come

04:43:25.069 --> 04:43:27.290
after them sometime in the future, but it was

04:43:27.290 --> 04:43:29.369
more like... When would these guys come after

04:43:29.369 --> 04:43:32.009
them? Tommy knew that even if they did take the

04:43:32.009 --> 04:43:34.369
money and felt that they had made a deal that

04:43:34.369 --> 04:43:36.610
he and Hawthorne would be disposed of before

04:43:36.610 --> 04:43:38.770
the end of the week, maybe even by the end of

04:43:38.770 --> 04:43:42.009
the day. So it was a loose, loose situation he

04:43:42.009 --> 04:43:44.889
and Hawthorne was in. Yeah, I took the deal too.

04:43:45.270 --> 04:43:48.110
I know you're not a killer, Anthony, so I want

04:43:48.110 --> 04:43:50.729
a lot of money. Our payoff needs to be significant

04:43:50.729 --> 04:43:53.349
enough so me and my friend here can afford a

04:43:53.349 --> 04:43:56.340
car, a house, just like you have. Hawthorne listened

04:43:56.340 --> 04:43:58.680
to Tommy's response and thought to himself, wow,

04:43:58.779 --> 04:44:01.520
that was a pretty bold ask. Hawthorne liked Tommy's

04:44:01.520 --> 04:44:04.259
bold stance, so he nodded his head in agreement

04:44:04.259 --> 04:44:07.000
to what Tommy had just said. Hawthorne then said,

04:44:07.119 --> 04:44:09.599
yeah, that's just about right. Anthony put on

04:44:09.599 --> 04:44:11.520
a fake smile and said, wait here, I'll be right

04:44:11.520 --> 04:44:14.119
back. As soon as Anthony left the room, Hawthorne

04:44:14.119 --> 04:44:16.700
noticed some movement out the back window located

04:44:16.700 --> 04:44:20.090
behind the two guys guarding him and Tommy. Hawthorne

04:44:20.090 --> 04:44:22.689
could tell it was a person or maybe several people

04:44:22.689 --> 04:44:24.930
moving around the trees and bushes in the backyard.

04:44:25.889 --> 04:44:28.290
They were there for a brief second and then they

04:44:28.290 --> 04:44:30.790
were gone. Hawthorne knew he couldn't alert Tommy

04:44:30.790 --> 04:44:33.209
about what he was seeing in the backyard as both

04:44:33.209 --> 04:44:35.770
guys guarding them, the cowboy and Mr. Baseball,

04:44:35.830 --> 04:44:38.409
were just sitting there staring at them. So Hawthorne

04:44:38.409 --> 04:44:41.189
looked up at the cowboy, smiled and said, I like

04:44:41.189 --> 04:44:44.740
your boots. Is that ostrich? The guy smiled back

04:44:44.740 --> 04:44:47.279
and nodded his head yes. Hawthorne was unsure

04:44:47.279 --> 04:44:49.319
if the guy actually understood what he was saying

04:44:49.319 --> 04:44:52.959
or was just being polite. Cool, Hawthorne said.

04:44:53.139 --> 04:44:56.099
He continued. I've got a pair of Stetson Caymans

04:44:56.099 --> 04:44:59.240
back home. You know, John B. Stetson boots. Each

04:44:59.240 --> 04:45:01.959
pair is made by hand. I've had them for years.

04:45:02.220 --> 04:45:04.400
They get more comfortable the more I wear them.

04:45:04.599 --> 04:45:07.979
They make quality cowboy hats as well. You look

04:45:07.979 --> 04:45:09.939
like the kind of guy who'd appreciate a nice

04:45:09.939 --> 04:45:12.720
quality cowboy hat as well. Stetson hats are

04:45:12.720 --> 04:45:16.020
all made by hand too. Great craftsmanship. The

04:45:16.020 --> 04:45:18.400
guy smiled again and nodded his head. Hawthorne

04:45:18.400 --> 04:45:20.880
was trying to keep the guy's attention away from

04:45:20.880 --> 04:45:23.299
what was going on in the backyard. Tommy had

04:45:23.299 --> 04:45:25.439
known James Hawthorne long enough to understand

04:45:25.439 --> 04:45:27.819
that James was trying to keep the Cowboys' attention

04:45:27.819 --> 04:45:30.779
by talking about something he'd appreciate. So

04:45:30.779 --> 04:45:33.740
Tommy joined in on the game, looked up at Mr.

04:45:33.919 --> 04:45:36.700
Baseball in the Gucci jacket and asked, Have

04:45:36.700 --> 04:45:38.939
you ever been to a Dodgers game in Los Angeles?

04:45:39.419 --> 04:45:41.979
The guy, surprised by Tommy's question in English,

04:45:42.180 --> 04:45:45.000
just nodded his head, no, and looked down at

04:45:45.000 --> 04:45:47.659
the marble floor. Tommy couldn't tell if he was

04:45:47.659 --> 04:45:50.139
embarrassed by the question or didn't understand

04:45:50.139 --> 04:45:53.279
English. Either way, Tommy was going to give

04:45:53.279 --> 04:45:56.220
him some more info about baseball. Well, my friend

04:45:56.220 --> 04:45:58.860
James here took me to Dodgers game a long, long

04:45:58.860 --> 04:46:01.540
time ago. We sat up high in the stadium, ate

04:46:01.540 --> 04:46:04.720
hot dogs, drank Cokes, and sang the classic American

04:46:04.720 --> 04:46:07.220
baseball song when it came on the loudspeaker.

04:46:07.659 --> 04:46:09.880
You know, the sound that goes like... At that

04:46:09.880 --> 04:46:12.240
moment, Hawthorne joined in with Tommy and they

04:46:12.240 --> 04:46:16.759
both sang... Take me out to the ball game. Take

04:46:16.759 --> 04:46:20.560
me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and

04:46:20.560 --> 04:46:24.659
Cracker Jack. I don't care if I ever get back.

04:46:24.900 --> 04:46:27.000
At that moment, there were several loud bangs

04:46:27.000 --> 04:46:30.580
outside. Then the back door, which led to the

04:46:30.580 --> 04:46:32.860
living room, where they were all sitting, burst

04:46:32.860 --> 04:46:36.430
open. Within seconds, the room was full of six

04:46:36.430 --> 04:46:39.729
elite Mexican SWAT team members, guns drawn and

04:46:39.729 --> 04:46:42.630
shouting commands in Spanish and English. The

04:46:42.630 --> 04:46:44.930
cowboy and Mr. Baseball had no time to react.

04:46:45.169 --> 04:46:47.569
They were both thrown to the floor, knees jammed

04:46:47.569 --> 04:46:49.970
in their backs, and then zip -tied all in one

04:46:49.970 --> 04:46:52.889
motion. It was almost magical to watch a well

04:46:52.889 --> 04:46:55.389
-trained SWAT team in action. Hawthorne thought

04:46:55.389 --> 04:46:58.029
to himself as he witnessed it all happen in front

04:46:58.029 --> 04:47:00.509
of him. Thank goodness there wasn't a gunfight.

04:47:01.209 --> 04:47:03.470
The other SWAT team, another six -member team,

04:47:03.650 --> 04:47:05.930
the team who had come in through the front entrance,

04:47:06.069 --> 04:47:08.470
cleared the rest of the property. Hawthorne and

04:47:08.470 --> 04:47:11.069
Tommy stayed put on the big white sofa in the

04:47:11.069 --> 04:47:13.970
living room. They hadn't moved. They really couldn't

04:47:13.970 --> 04:47:16.569
move as one SWAT team member had stood by them,

04:47:16.709 --> 04:47:19.330
watching them the entire time, making sure they

04:47:19.330 --> 04:47:21.669
didn't get in the way or didn't get hurt. The

04:47:21.669 --> 04:47:23.909
entire house and property was a crime scene and

04:47:23.909 --> 04:47:25.849
Hawthorne knew that he and Tommy wouldn't be

04:47:25.849 --> 04:47:28.250
allowed to just wander around the property now

04:47:28.250 --> 04:47:30.770
that they were free. All of a sudden Hawthorne

04:47:30.770 --> 04:47:32.750
heard a familiar voice coming around the corner

04:47:32.750 --> 04:47:35.389
from the kitchen area. Anthony had not known

04:47:35.389 --> 04:47:37.950
what hit him. One moment he's on the phone. His

04:47:37.950 --> 04:47:39.869
other phone. The one that he hadn't broken yet.

04:47:40.009 --> 04:47:42.569
With the big boss. Then seconds later he's grabbed,

04:47:42.729 --> 04:47:45.369
taken down to the floor, zip tied, and hooded.

04:47:45.630 --> 04:47:48.610
The tackle to the floor didn't hurt. No, it was

04:47:48.610 --> 04:47:50.290
the tight zip ties around his wrist that hurt

04:47:50.290 --> 04:47:53.029
the most. Then everything went dark as two guys

04:47:53.029 --> 04:47:55.130
in all black pulled him up to his knees, then

04:47:55.130 --> 04:47:57.869
put a black hood over his head. They picked him

04:47:57.869 --> 04:48:00.509
up to his feet. Then directed him to start walking.

04:48:01.310 --> 04:48:03.450
Anthony yelled out, Wait a minute! You have no

04:48:03.450 --> 04:48:05.250
idea what you're doing? Do you know who I work

04:48:05.250 --> 04:48:08.049
for? There was no answer from the SWAT team captain.

04:48:09.369 --> 04:48:11.610
Hawthorne watched as the hooded and zip -tied

04:48:11.610 --> 04:48:13.990
Anthony was manhandled and pushed out the front

04:48:13.990 --> 04:48:16.490
door of the house, presumably to the police SWAT

04:48:16.490 --> 04:48:18.630
van where the other two guys had been taken.

04:48:19.049 --> 04:48:21.709
The house went eerily quiet as each of the remaining

04:48:21.709 --> 04:48:24.529
SWAT team members exited, all but one member

04:48:24.529 --> 04:48:27.479
who shouted, All clear! who was now accompanied

04:48:27.479 --> 04:48:30.119
by two plainclothes officers wearing badges on

04:48:30.119 --> 04:48:32.619
their belts. One of the plainclothes officers

04:48:32.619 --> 04:48:35.080
looked at both Hawthorne and Tommy and told them

04:48:35.080 --> 04:48:36.880
that they were free to go and that they'd be

04:48:36.880 --> 04:48:39.599
in touch. As Hawthorne and Tommy walked out the

04:48:39.599 --> 04:48:42.020
front door out of the house toward Tommy's parked

04:48:42.020 --> 04:48:44.180
car, which was still parked next to the very

04:48:44.180 --> 04:48:47.119
nice and expensive Austin Martin Vanquish, Hawthorne

04:48:47.119 --> 04:48:49.319
looked at Tommy and asked, How in the world did

04:48:49.319 --> 04:48:51.299
you remember that baseball song? I mean, that

04:48:51.299 --> 04:48:54.259
one surprised me, man. As they both stood there.

04:48:54.639 --> 04:48:57.360
looking at the Aston Martin before getting into

04:48:57.360 --> 04:49:00.319
Tommy's car. Tommy answers, hollering and says,

04:49:00.560 --> 04:49:03.380
I don't know how I remember that song. I guess

04:49:03.380 --> 04:49:05.520
maybe because it was such a memorable experience

04:49:05.520 --> 04:49:09.060
for me. I mean, that was my first time ever seeing

04:49:09.060 --> 04:49:11.880
an American baseball game, live and in person

04:49:11.880 --> 04:49:14.680
and in all places. The famous Dodger Stadium,

04:49:14.979 --> 04:49:17.639
the details are hard to forget. I think I sang

04:49:17.639 --> 04:49:20.560
a song a hundred times on my way home after seeing

04:49:20.560 --> 04:49:23.990
that game with you. Hawthorne smiled at Tommy's

04:49:23.990 --> 04:49:26.529
comment, opened the passenger side door on Tommy's

04:49:26.529 --> 04:49:29.110
car, and then said, I guess I'll be making my

04:49:29.110 --> 04:49:31.790
flight home tomorrow morning after all. Hawthorne

04:49:31.790 --> 04:49:33.970
then asks a question as Tommy backs up the car

04:49:33.970 --> 04:49:37.189
and then drives past two SWAT team vans and several

04:49:37.189 --> 04:49:40.509
federal police cars. Hawthorne says, If the legends

04:49:40.509 --> 04:49:43.150
are true about bad luck following those who stole

04:49:43.150 --> 04:49:45.490
the artifacts, do you think the opposite is true?

04:49:45.650 --> 04:49:48.189
Good luck will follow those who are helping return

04:49:48.189 --> 04:49:51.009
the artifacts? Tommy looks over at Hawthorne.

04:49:51.520 --> 04:49:54.340
for a moment as he turns the corner out of the

04:49:54.340 --> 04:49:58.180
driver and onto the main road and says, I'd sure

04:49:58.180 --> 04:50:00.299
like to think so after what just happened back

04:50:00.299 --> 04:50:03.240
there. Tommy and Hawthorne then both look out

04:50:03.240 --> 04:50:05.900
the front windshield, put their sunglasses on,

04:50:05.979 --> 04:50:14.099
and drove off. A few days later, Hawthorne is

04:50:14.099 --> 04:50:16.180
back in his office at the college in Coloma.

04:50:16.240 --> 04:50:18.619
He's sitting there just looking at his email

04:50:18.619 --> 04:50:21.139
inbox. He's wondering where he should start.

04:50:21.459 --> 04:50:24.040
So many emails to go through, he thinks to himself.

04:50:25.020 --> 04:50:27.000
Hawthorne scrolls a bit through the email inbox

04:50:27.000 --> 04:50:29.380
and sees an email from Ava, dated yesterday.

04:50:30.080 --> 04:50:34.159
He clicks it, opens it, and then reads. Hey there,

04:50:34.259 --> 04:50:36.740
professor. Glad you made it back safe and sound.

04:50:36.819 --> 04:50:38.979
Sounds like you and Tommy had quite the incident

04:50:38.979 --> 04:50:41.939
at Anthony's place. I had several conversations

04:50:41.939 --> 04:50:44.319
with Tommy since you left, and he's filled me

04:50:44.319 --> 04:50:46.259
in on some of the details you learned about Mr.

04:50:46.419 --> 04:50:49.979
Garcia. I mean Anthony Garcia. Pretty wild and

04:50:49.979 --> 04:50:52.580
disappointing. Anyway, I thought you'd find this

04:50:52.580 --> 04:50:55.360
fascinating, as I have done some extensive digging

04:50:55.360 --> 04:50:58.479
into Mr. Garcia's life. Anthony, along with Silva's

04:50:58.479 --> 04:51:01.459
family members, own shares in the large oil company,

04:51:01.599 --> 04:51:04.459
the same oil company that is vying for that now

04:51:04.459 --> 04:51:07.380
-illegal contract in the Calakmul region in the

04:51:07.380 --> 04:51:09.939
south of Yucatan, where the J -Jar was found.

04:51:10.689 --> 04:51:13.369
Also, I received a random text from Miranda and

04:51:13.369 --> 04:51:15.810
she said that David and her had been successful

04:51:15.810 --> 04:51:18.669
at returning the gold mask back to its original

04:51:18.669 --> 04:51:21.590
resting place. She also mentioned that she and

04:51:21.590 --> 04:51:23.709
David had a meeting set up with several village

04:51:23.709 --> 04:51:26.509
leaders around Calakmul to discuss the return

04:51:26.509 --> 04:51:29.090
of the jay jar. So that looks super promising.

04:51:29.869 --> 04:51:33.069
And one more thing, and sorry this email is really

04:51:33.069 --> 04:51:36.060
long. I was the one who tipped off the Mexican

04:51:36.060 --> 04:51:38.740
feds to Anthony's involvements. I didn't know

04:51:38.740 --> 04:51:42.319
or if they were going to raid his place, but

04:51:42.319 --> 04:51:44.000
they did tell me that they were going to act

04:51:44.000 --> 04:51:47.000
on my intelligence. My FBI source, you know,

04:51:47.020 --> 04:51:49.139
Agent Carson, gave me the information about Mr.

04:51:49.259 --> 04:51:51.700
Garcia and several of his family members holding

04:51:51.700 --> 04:51:54.459
lucrative board seats and owning a lot of shares

04:51:54.459 --> 04:51:58.060
in the oil company. Anyway, I thought you'd find

04:51:58.060 --> 04:52:00.080
this information interesting and hope it answers

04:52:00.080 --> 04:52:02.580
some more of your questions. Okay, see you again

04:52:02.580 --> 04:52:05.790
soon. Your always investigating friend, Ava.

04:52:06.450 --> 04:52:08.889
After reading the email, Hawthorne packs up his

04:52:08.889 --> 04:52:11.450
bag, takes the stairs down to the first floor

04:52:11.450 --> 04:52:13.990
instead of the elevator, exits the front main

04:52:13.990 --> 04:52:16.529
building doors, gets in his car and drives off.

04:52:16.970 --> 04:52:19.490
He calls his wife while driving home, hands free

04:52:19.490 --> 04:52:27.750
of course. Mrs. Hawthorne had just returned home

04:52:27.750 --> 04:52:29.709
from one of the many early summer conference

04:52:29.709 --> 04:52:32.450
events held in Coloma. She was one of the guest

04:52:32.450 --> 04:52:35.819
speakers. Her phone rings. She sees that it's

04:52:35.819 --> 04:52:38.659
James. She answers and says, are you done at

04:52:38.659 --> 04:52:40.900
work yet? She doesn't wait for an answer and

04:52:40.900 --> 04:52:43.740
then says, the college semester is over. You're

04:52:43.740 --> 04:52:45.720
back from your Mexico trip and my conference

04:52:45.720 --> 04:52:48.200
is over. I think it's time to celebrate a bit.

04:52:48.479 --> 04:52:50.840
I booked us a table at the new restaurant in

04:52:50.840 --> 04:52:52.720
town. You know, the one that your friend Ethan

04:52:52.720 --> 04:52:55.080
just bought and renovated. I hear he hired the

04:52:55.080 --> 04:52:58.080
best chef in the county. She heard James mumble

04:52:58.080 --> 04:53:00.459
something back, which sounded like, sure, that

04:53:00.459 --> 04:53:03.490
sounds like fun. She then says, oh and by the

04:53:03.490 --> 04:53:05.970
way, it's okay if you want to write another book

04:53:05.970 --> 04:53:09.450
this summer, but on one condition. The next time

04:53:09.450 --> 04:53:26.340
you have an adventure, I'm coming with you. Thank

04:53:26.340 --> 04:53:28.639
you for listening. Legends of the Yucatan is

04:53:28.639 --> 04:53:31.319
available in book form as a downloadable PDF

04:53:31.319 --> 04:53:34.740
from our website or in paperback version on Amazon

04:53:34.740 --> 04:53:38.080
.com. Just visit studentsincorporated .com to

04:53:38.080 --> 04:53:38.700
find out more.