Click on image to enlarge.

	Regular				Club
You Pay:	$5.98				$5.08

eBook Category: Mystery/Crime Frankfurt eBook Award Nominee
eBook Description: When Aztec gold is stolen and the archeologist who discovered it is found murdered, Kyle Brinhaven and his Apache step-father, Joe Tincup work together to find the killer.

eBook Publisher: SynergEbooks, Published: SynergEbooks, 2003
Fictionwise Release Date: November 2004

10 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [1.2 MB], eReader (PDB) [199 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [191 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [170 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [206 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [222 KB], hiebook (KML) [487 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [250 KB], iSilo (PDB) [155 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [197 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [263 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [258 KB]
Words: 57789
Reading time: 165-231 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
ISBN: 0-7443-0676-0

Dense sunlight pounded the Sanoran Desert with the relentless, driving power of a forge hammer, superheating the sun-cooked, flinty soil already baked dust-dry right down to bedrock. The distant Gila Mountains shimmered in a formless haze and wherever the ground leveled out, great sheets of mirage water made empty promises of refuge from the ferocious heat.

From somewhere nearby came an alien rhythm, the quick slapping beat of helicopter rotors and the annoying whine of its stabilizer. Kyle Brinhaven stopped halfway up the shale incline and eased the straps on his pack.

He couldn't imagine why anyone would be flying into this stretch of desert unless it was an emergency.

Sounds from the helicopter came closer now, moving toward him from the west.

He shrugged his pack into place and started on up the slope. The helicopter wasn't looking for him, no one knew he was here, not even Joe Tincup his adoptive father.

At the top of the incline, he stopped under the shade of an old Pinġn. The blistering sun had already chased the rock squirrels back into their cool lairs and even lizards were beginning to look for shelter. They're smarter than I am, he thought.

With an ear-slapping roar, the helicopter appeared over the bluffs behind him, arrowed straight overhead and disappeared behind hills to the East. It was a small two seater painted bright red and black.

Going in a straight line at high speed, thought Kyle. He's not searching for anyone, he's on his way somewhere and he's in a hurry.

Casually he checked his bearings. To the East a splintered stone monolith crowned a barren hill of gray shale and to the north a sandy ridge, capped with ocotillo, shimmered in the heat.

A dry, brush filled canyon wound between them and disappeared into the hills. Although there was no distinct trail, for Kyle this parched land was filled with markers, easier to read and follow than the centerline of a freeway. The markers told him that he was now in the San Carlos Indian Reservation and only a few miles from his father's cabin.

He unhooked a canteen from his belt and took a small sip of water. Although he had plenty, he'd grown up in these high, parched Arizona mountains where water was scarce and conserving it a habit too strong to break. Joe had taught him well.

Actually, Joe had taught him almost everything he knew that was of any value. And that thought gave Kyle a twinge of guilt. Almost six months had passed since his last visit to the old man's remote cabin. But he knew Joe wouldn't complain about the lack of attention. Even when his beloved Jenna died, the old man hadn't protested, although he'd cried many nights when he thought Kyle was asleep.