Scene 32

Cancun International Airport

As we drove onto the airport we easily spotted the Saltire. A small crowd had gathered around where it was tied down.

As we brought the busses in near the Saltire, I saw red shirted men directing the crowd back. Ensigns Splash, BEEDEE, and Mender caused the crowd to part, forming a path so we could approach the airship.

Todd came walking down the path, along with Ms. Thrush.

Jaime greeted him. “Glad you could get here, Todd.”

“Of course, when Ms. Starling received the emergency code from Ms. Stork, she immediately contacted us. Then, she took her team’s jet to Cancun while I readied the Saltire and her crew. Ms. Thrush came along with me so we could better coordinate our operation. When Ms. Starling got back here with the wounded, we helped her load them onto the jet. They have left for the Great Hall.”

“Before you board the Saltire,” said Ms. Thrush, “there’s something you need to know. Some archaeologists were working when they heard gunfire. When they approached, they found what seemed to be the site of an execution. Six men had been shot down just off a dirt road.”

“Our drivers and guides?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Any survivors?”

“By the time they arrived, all of the victims had died, except for one. A man who has been identified as one of the drivers, a man named Manuel, is alive but in critical condition in the hospital here in Cancun.”

“Okay,” I said, “make all the normal arrangements for Manuel and his family. And find out what you can about the families of the others and make arrangements for them as well.”

“I’ve already contacted Ms. Swan back at the Great Hall and she has activated the Foundation.”

“Great work,” I said.

“Wait a minute,” interrupted Jaime. “What arrangements? What foundation?”

“The Dove Foundation, set up to provide for the families of unfortunate incidents.”

“But the Dove Foundation is international in scope, are you saying that’s you.”

I smiled at him. “You didn’t think that all the fees for my work went to yachts and villas, did you? Twenty-five percent of all the fees I take in go straight into the Foundation. It’s an unfortunate fact that sometimes what we do impacts the lives of innocents, like poor Manuel. I started the Dove Foundation to help them.”

Jaime still wasn’t convinced. “The Dove Foundation gives out hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Do you make that much on your fees?”

“Not even close, but I’m not the only contributor. And, although I founded the organization, I don’t run it. I am on the board and have a say in its operation, but the whole board has the final say. Fortunately, there are enough funds that anyone can submit nominations for beneficiaries of the charity.”

Jaime looked a little ashamed. “I’ll have to admit that I did think you spent all your income on leisure. You’ve impressed me.”

“Yeah, well keep it under your hat. Most of my clients think I’m just an adventuring playboy.” I winked and smiled. “It’s part of my charm.”