The Legend of Big Hat Billy

Chapter 1

A black Land Rover containing four men is loosely trailing an armored courier truck as it nears Lima, Peru. All four are wearing jungle cammo fatigues with web belts and pistols. All but the driver are readying their Tavor TAR-21 Assault rifles. A similar crew in a crew-cab pickup truck is well in front of the courier truck. They don't need to stay tight on it until they reach the spot they've chosen to take it down since they're using the courier company's own tracking signal to keep tabs on it.

As they near the preplanned takedown point, the bandits in the pickup pull up their cloth masks, the one in the front passenger seat flips some switches on electronic gadgets. The pickup truck slows, until the courier van is only a few car lengths behind them. The tracking device is now jammed, so are the radio and cell phone frequencies.

At the prearranged point, the driver pushes down on the emergency brake, causing the rear tires to lock up and skid. He cuts the wheel sharply, the long truck blocks the narrow road completely.

The courier truck driver slams on the brakes, managing to stop a half-meter from the pickup. When the armed men bail out of the pickup, the courier driver tries to back up. A fifty-caliber armor piercing round from somewhere high punches a hole through the hood, the engine stops. The driver stays put, the cab is better armored than the hood, he's obviously hoping it's good enough. Another round punching through the roof convinces him it's not. He tries the radio, but doesn't get through, then he tries his cell phone, no signal. Out of options, he decides to go along with the men motioning him out of the truck, hoping they won't kill him if he goes along, that's the best he can hope for now.

The masked crew from the Land Rover are showing the guard in the back their explosive charges through the rear window. A bullet punching through the roof of the cargo compartment, and the explosives these men plan to use, makes him decide to open the truck for them. He's hopeful that if he cooperates, maybe they won't kill him, otherwise if the shots through the roof don't get him, the explosives surely will. Two of the robbers cuff the guards, hand and foot, while the others unload everything in the cargo compartment, whether it's cash, gold, or financial paperwork, they don't care at the moment, they just grab it all. Time is of the essence, they don't want to sort through it now. They'd rather no one knew exactly what they were sent to steal, besides extra is always good.

The cased or bagged loot is piled in the back of the pickup, then covered with a tarp. The robbers burn rubber out of the area. The sniper takes his time, he's got no reason to hurry now, nobody will be looking for him in his tired looking old Fiat if he doesn't do anything to attract attention. The whole thing took only two minutes, a full thirty seconds less than planned, a good op.

At the warehouse they're using for a temporary hideout, the robbers sort the loot. The one thing they were sent after, a golden map from the Inca period, is found, then put on board a waiting helicopter to begin its journey. They're being well paid for that trinket, the other gold, cash, and a few jewels that were in the courier truck are a nice bonus.

Chapter 2

High in the Andes mountain range somewhere close to the border of Peru and Bolivia, Juan Castillo and his wife Maria, along with their crew of natives to the region are trekking onward and upward. They're following the clues unearthed at their dig closer to where Peru and Ecuador meet. They're searching for the lost city of Paititi, and the archeological and monetary treasure the legends say the city holds.

The legends claim this is where the bulk of the Inca gold was stored, along with jewels, and other precious artifacts. According to legend, it's close to a very rich, very pure, deposit of gold. The city is sometimes called El Dorado by the misinformed, but that's another place entirely. Paititi's legend has spread far and wide. Separating fact from fiction is the most difficult part of Juan and Maria's task.

A hand-hewn golden map found at the previous dig site in central Peru pointed them to this general area. The best they can tell from their extensive study, the city is somewhere in this general vicinity, but the map wasn't specific as to the location of Paititi. No artifact found so far has been specific, but many artifacts hint to its whereabouts. The golden map has already been shipped to a museum in Lima, Peru, in accordance with their agreement with the government of Peru. Juan and Maria kept enlarged full color photos of the map, and rubbings off it, just in case there were clues in it not visible to the camera. There could be hidden clues that they don't know how to decipher yet. Not only would any direct clues be purposely hidden, the written Incan language is not totally understood by anyone, though Juan and Maria are the two top experts in the field.

Gunfire erupts suddenly. Several of the natives go down. Juan and Maria hit the dirt of their own accord, since there is nothing else to do that won't get them shot. Within a few minutes, it's all over. Men in old style military fatigue uniforms bearing no insignia have taken Juan, Maria, and the uninjured natives captive. Those natives only injured in the attack are killed unceremoniously. The soldiers bind Juan, Maria and the remaining natives' hands with ropes. The captives try to stay upright as the mounted soldiers half drag them to a military style encampment. Fortunately for the hostages, it wasn't far from where they were captured.

Two men meet Juan and Maria, one of them the Castillo's know, by reputation primarily. He's a rival archeologist, by the name of Otto Von Braun. He's well known for many finds but also known for looting those finds. The other man is an officer of some rank, but the old fashioned military fatigues he wears bear no insignia of what rank, nor anything else that would tell who or what he is. He's a bearded man, wearing the old style cap, he reminds the Castillo's of a younger Fidel Castro. The troops call him Mi General.

Von Braun gives them a vicious smile, Well, fancy meeting the famous Castillo's here. I take it you know where you're going? The Castillo's remain silent.

The general speaks to Otto in English since Von Braun's knowledge of Spanish, especially the local dialect, is severely lacking, We have their things, should we just toss them off a cliff?

Von Braun shakes his head, No, Mi General, that would be most unwise. They can interpret the map better than anyone, even me. It might be difficult to get them to talk, but I have an idea about that.

Juan and Maria notice the general barks his orders in the dialect of Spanish more common in central Peru, but they don't let on they understand what he says. The Castillo's are taken away, locked in a cage made from the trees locally available. The remaining natives from their party are already in the cage when the Castillo's are rudely thrust inside.

~*~

The General and Von Braun are sitting in the General's tent, having a drink. The General sips, then turns to speak to Von Braun, So, Otto, what's your idea about making them talk?

It's fairly simple, General, I'll have my people in the United States take Mrs. Castillo's parents captive, we'll use them to keep her in line, and thus Mr. Castillo will stay in line too.

The general nods as he refills his metal cup, Ah, yes, threats against family, I use that often myself. You have people capable of such a thing in the USA?

"Of course, they're highly trained men, formerly of the East German Stasi, and the men they've trained. It's always good to have young men for such things."

The general raises his eyebrows, but catches himself, then puts on his poker face, Tell me, Otto, how would a man like you have such contacts?

Von Braun leans back with a sly smile on his face, "That, Mi General, is my business, and why I get a good share of the find. How I know such types will remain my business. I often find such men useful to me. When I can't get what I want by other means, I simply have these rough types steal it. Just like that golden map that was on it's way to the museum in Lima I had stolen for you."

The General downs his drink, then pours another, for both himself and Otto, Ah, yes, I knew there was a reason I kept you around.

Otto sips his drink, sighs, then turns his head toward the general, I can be very beneficial to have on your side, General. Once we have the gold and jewels, I know where to get the arms and supplies you'll need for your revolution.

You will be wealthy then, beyond measure, why would you keep helping me?

Still smiling slyly, Von Braun speaks plainly, I'm already wealthy. Does one ever have enough wealth?

The general keeps his poker face on, Not all power comes from wealth, Otto. If we're successful in obtaining that high priest's headdress, all the natives and even many of those in the more developed regions will follow me religiously.

Von Braun shakes his head, Was that meant to be a pun? No, of course not. You can have that kind of power, General, I prefer wealth.

The general nods, "Ah, yes, a man such as yourself would.

Chapter 3

Ten year-old Billy Joe Rybal-Castillo is a happy kid, even the long school bus ride to his grandparents' farm doesn't seem so long today. It's report card day. He managed to get most of his grades up to B's some C's, but no D's or F's this time. It's taken him a while to adjust to this area, the things they teach in the schools here aren't the same as what he had in Baltimore. Texas is much different, and most of the people seem to talk funny. He's learned to talk that way a bit himself from his grandparents, just so he doesn't seem so out of place. GranPop won't be overjoyed with this report card, but the improvement should please Gramma a lot. She might make me one of her special pies!

The bus lets Billy off at the driveway entrance, he barrels up the drive, it's not only a good report card day, it's Friday, that's the night they go into town for supper, which for Billy always means a cheeseburger and French Fries at the little café they go to. Maggie, the lady that runs the place, is always very nice to him, sometimes getting him a nice piece of pie, on her tab, not GranPop's. Billy loves pie, that's his favorite thing in the world. Anybody that makes pies is all right with him.

Billy has been staying with his grandparents for months. His mom and dad do some kind of digging in the dirt in far off lands. They're arc-e something, he still can't pronounce the fancy word for what they do. It's just digging in the dirt trying to find old junk as far as he knows about it. He's seen a few of the digs they did in various places in the United States, but Mom absolutely refuses to let him go out of the country and not go to school, since many of the places they do their work don't have such a thing as schools. Places without schools sound great to Billy.

Billy bounds into the old but well maintained farmhouse. The first thing he notices is there's no smell of something cooking. Gramma almost always has a snack ready for him as soon as he gets to the house, even on Fridays, since they won't be going to supper until later. There's always something ready, even if it's only a sandwich, so he guesses maybe she didn't cook today, and has a sandwich waiting for him. He looks in the kitchen, there's nobody here. He runs upstairs, searching every room, he finds no one. He goes outside, both the old car and pickup are in the drive, which tells him they didn't go far. He checks the garage, the barn, and the other out buildings. Even the tractor is still in its shed, so they're not out plowing.

Not knowing what else to do, Billy goes back inside the house. He puts his report card on the kitchen table, then goes to his room to change into his chore clothes. He still has chores to do before they can go into town for supper.

Billy does his little chores, feeds the chickens, fills their water containers, and a few other little things GranPop told him he has to do everyday. GranPop carefully explained that animals and plants don't know what day it is, they have to be taken care of every day.

When he's done with his chores, Billy goes back in the main house. There's still nobody around, so he waits. There's nobody home by supper time, when they surely would be, so he does the only thing he knows to do, he dials 911, just like his mom taught him years ago. He doesn't know if this is a real emergency or not, but it is as far as he's concerned. Mom always said only to do it in a real emergency.

The lady on the phone is nice to him. He tells her there is nobody home, he's all alone. The lady tells him that she will send the sheriff out to check on things. She keeps him on the line, just chatting with him, until a big man in a brown uniform with a gun on his hip and badge on his chest shows up at the door. The lady tells him to let the man in, that it's okay, so Billy puts the receiver down, to let the man in. The man speaks to the lady for a minute, then hangs up the phone.

Hi, Billy, I'm Sheriff Nichols. The man kneels to talk to Billy.

Billy is a little scared, but wonders how this man knows his name, How do you know my name?

The lady you talked to on the phone told me. So what can you tell me about your grandparents not being here?

I don't know much, sir. I did my chores, I figured they'd show up by suppertime, but they didn't. The truck and car, and even the tractor are here, so I don't know how they could've gone very far.

Okay, where are your parents?

The tears start to leak out of Billy's eyes, even though he's trying to hold them back, I don't know for sure. Gramma said something about South America, but isn't Texas in South America?

No, son, it's called North America, but we're in the southern part of it. I'll wait with you, I'm going to have a nice lady come to take you someplace to stay until we find your grandparents or parents.

Billy tries to be brave, he stands as tall as he can, puffing out his chest a bit, Can't I stay here? The chickens and the cow have to be taken care of every day. GranPop will be mad if I don't keep them up like he said.

The Sheriff almost wants to laugh at Billy's effort to be a man, but a ten-year-old boy just can't manage it. "I'll arrange to have them taken care of, but right now I have to see that you get taken care of, that's the law."

Billy nods, "All right, Mister Sheriff, GranPop and Dad both said I had to obey the law, unless there was a really good reason not to."

Sheriff Nichols smiles, Well, son, that's good advice. Sometimes, a man will have to do what he thinks best, even if that ain't what the law says, but in this case, I have no other choice.

Billy replies, You said ain't, the teachers tell us not to say that, though lots of kids do. Is that some kind of cuss word?

This about makes the Sheriff laugh again, but he reins it in, he about says it ain't but decides to go with, No, it's not. You best go up and get on your school clothes, so you'll look nice when the lady comes to see what she can do for you.

Will the ones I wore today be all right? I'd hate to get clean ones dirty for just a little bit of wearing. Gramma don't like to have to do any extra washing of clothes.

The Sheriff smiles and nods, I suppose that will be fine.

Billy goes upstairs, Sheriff Nichols uses the phone here to make some calls, since cell service out this far is nonexistent.

Chapter 4

First to arrive at the farmhouse are Elizabeth Robinson and Roscoe Brown, the sheriff's top investigators, but with only four investigators in the entire county, that's not a big deal. They are good, and could hold their own even in a big city department. Lizzie was raised in the area, so she likes it here. Roscoe was a big city cop for a while after his military days, but likes the slower paced, easygoing charm of this sparsely populated area.

Sheriff Nichols steps out onto the porch to greet them. Like the good investigators they are, they don't park close to the house, just as he didn't, to make it possible to get any tire impressions that might be available. Hey Lizzie, Roscoe, glad to see you.

Lizzie speaks up, always one to want to get right to business, So what have we got, Art?

The sheriff decides that he should probably get right to business too, he wants to get out of here and home to supper, even if he is late again. So far as I know now, it's an odd missing persons case. All the vehicles belonging to the Rybal's are here, but there are fairly fresh tire prints in front of the house. Get casts of those first thing, before they get messed up.

Roscoe volunteers, I'll handle that, Lizzie, you take the house, you're better at noticing things inside than I am.

Deal. Lizzie carefully steps across the dirt area in front of the house obviously used as parking space at times. Roscoe starts getting things out of their SUV to make the casts of the tire impressions. In this county, the sheriff's officers are usually their own crime scene investigators, unless they happen to work with the even smaller police department in town, the state boys, or once in a great while, the Feds. Not so much happens in this county that warrants a full time crime scene unit, even if the county could afford it.

The sheriff walks into the house with Lizzie. He points out the few things he touched. Billy comes down stairs with his school clothes on. The sheriff makes the introduction, Lizzie, this is Billy, Billy this is Lizzie Robinson. She's going to investigate the matter. She'll try to find your grandparents.

Trying his best to act grown up, Billy holds out his right hand to shake hers. Lizzie shakes it like she would anyone's, I'd like to say nice to meet you M'am, but I really wouldn't mean it, and GranPop told me never to lie to anyone, especially cops.

Lizzie smiles a bit, That's a good thing, Billy. Tell me exactly what you've done and where you've been since you got home. Billy goes over that with her, while she's looking around the kitchen. She checks the stove and oven, and then the refrigerator. There's a half a pie in the fridge, Billy takes notice of that.

Would it be all right if I had some pie? I didn't get my snack or supper.

Sure, Billy, was this pie here yesterday?

Yes, Gramma made it yesterday, we had half at supper.

Okay. Lizzie takes out the pie and a glass jug of whole, unaltered cow's milk. She stirs the milk to get the cream back into it then pours Billy a tall glass of milk. She sets him up at the table with a fork and the rest of the pie.

While Billy's having his pie, Liz looks around the rest of the house, sorting through mail, papers, pictures, whatever she runs across. Lizzie has latex gloves on her hands, so she's not leaving her own prints all over the house.

The sheriff, in a hurry to get out of here, fidgets with his gun belt. Can you take care of things here, Lizzie? Nat's on her way, she'll take care of Billy when she gets here.

Lizzie nods, Sure Art, get on home to supper, late again. Nancy must be used to that by now.

Yeah, I called her to let her know, but she still doesn't like it.

After all these years, you'd think she'd get over that supper at seven bit.

Art smiles, That's what I get for marrying a high class lady and bringin' her here.

Okay, if you say so, she must have seen somethin' in you to leave New York to follow your butt to this part of Texas.

I suppose she did. See you tomorrow, be sure to keep me up to speed if you turn up anything.

Lizzie continues her looking, while she absent-mindedly answers, Sure will.

The sheriff nods, then speaks to Billy, You'll be all right Billy, a nice lady will take care of you for a while.

He points to Liz, "This lady?"

The sheriff smiles big, "No, I said a nice lady. She'll be here in a bit. Lizzie's okay, but she's not too nice. Natalie Cohen will be here in a little while, she'll see that you're well taken care of. Don't worry about the chickens and cow, your neighbor down the road, Mr. Jenkins will see to them, in exchange for the milk and eggs he'll get."

Billy looks up at the sheriff, Sounds fair to me, good bye Mister Sheriff.

You can call me Art, though I do appreciate a respectful young man.

Yes sir, GranPop said always be respectful to old folks.

The sheriff makes a face at that while Lizzie stifles a laugh. Art finishes his goodbye, All right, you be a tough guy, it might be rough on you for a while. Bye.

Bye, Mister Art.

The sheriff decides that's good enough. He turns, then strides out the door.

Liz turns to Billy, Do you know where your grandparents would keep important papers, Billy?

Billy doesn't answer, he's chowing down on the pie. In a minute, after a couple more swallows, he tells her, Sorry, Mom and Gramma said never to talk with my mouth full. I 'spose anything special, Gramma would keep in her bedroom, the first one at the top of the stairs.

Okay, I'm going upstairs, you stay put. If a big guy or a nicely dressed lady come to the door, let them in, it's okay, they're with me.

Okay … Miss … Miss … what did Mister Sheriff say your name was?

You can just call me Liz.

Okay, Miss Liz, or is it Missus Liz?

Miss, but just Liz, or Lizzie no Miss.

Sorry, GranPop wouldn't like me not bein' polite to you old folks. Liz frowns at that, it's not so funny now. She shakes her head then goes upstairs.

Not much can distract Billy from pie, but when a huge man opens the screen door then walks through the front doorway, Billy holds his fork halfway between the pie plate and his mouth. His eyes get large, as he looks at this huge man, not a fat guy, but tall and very wide at the shoulders. The man is dark skinned, with a shiny bald head, all the way bald, not like GranPop with hair around the sides, but no hair on his head at all. Hi, young man. I'm Roscoe. Where's Lizzie?

Not used to seeing such a sight, Billy is speechless, he just points upstairs with his free hand while the fork full of pie stays motionless. The big man has rubber gloves on, Billy wonders where they find any big enough for him. After the big man is out of sight up