Read Online Invisible City by M. G. Harris - Free Book Online

“What’s Montoyo’s story?”
    â€œHe seemed to know all about this Ix Codex,” I say. “Told Dad that people had disappeared looking for it. Funny really, because I’ve read lots of stuff about Mayan archaeology since this thing started. And I’ve never heard a single mention of the Ix Codex.”
    â€œThat is weird. So how did Montoyo hear about it?”
    I pause, thinking. “No idea. And he asked to meet my dad. I e-mailed Montoyo to ask if he ever actually did.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    â€œNever replied.”
    â€œDid it ever occur to you that he might be the one who really killed your father?”
    â€œOf course,” I lie. Okay, maybe I’d had a background-level suspicion. Ollie’s questioning is crystallizing all sorts of ideas I’d put out to dry.
    She warms to her theory. “He knew your dad was onto thecodex. So he pretends to help him. Then he meets up with your dad and gets rid of him.”
    â€œAnd this guy they’ve framed for murdering my dad?”
    â€œThat’s a bit more tricky,” she agrees eventually. “The CIA could frame a person for murder. And they could have your house burglarized.”
    â€œSo you really think it’s the CIA, then?”
    â€œI don’t know, Josh. I’m just trying out some theories here. Isn’t that what detectives do?”
    I haven’t thought of it that way. The main thing, for me, is to prove to Mom that Dad wasn’t murdered for messing around with another woman. And to prove it to myself.
    The codex thing has me intrigued, definitely. My father was looking for it. Now I seem to be picking up on the trail. There’s a connection with his disappearance—I just know it. And something else, something weird I can’t quite put my finger on. It feels pretty thrilling to be following in my father’s footsteps. Thrilling—and a little dangerous.
    â€œYou know what you have to do?” says Ollie. “Decipher that inscription. Maybe even find the codex. I could help you. You up for that? We’ll be like Mulder and Scully.”
    I grin. “If you’re Scully and I’m Mulder, then shouldn’t
you
be the skeptical one?”
    â€œWhat’s the difference? In the end they were both believers.”
    Ollie’s theories spark one of my own. Maybe the woman in Chetumal has something to do with Dad’s search for the codex.It would explain why Dad had spent so much time with her. She might know something about the codex. Maybe framing her husband was their way of keeping her quiet.
    No two ways about it; we have to talk to Chetumal Lady.
    I ask, “Are you a university student?”
    Ollie laughs. “Not yet! I’m a sophomore at St. Margaret’s.”
    I know the school. Some of those girls have modeling contracts. It isn’t, after all, so surprising that Ollie seems so glamorous. I’m used to a more everyday type of girl.
    â€œSo you really think we should try to find this codex, then? Assuming it’s still out there.”
    Ollie’s smile is a thing to behold. “It’d be amazing.”
    â€œSeriously, though. It sounds dangerous.”
    â€œAren’t you even a little curious?”
    â€œMe? Sure, but I’ve been warned off.”
    â€œDon’t you want to get back at the people who killed your dad?”
    â€œBy finding the codex?”
    â€œYes,” she says. “By beating them at their own game.”
    Ollie’s blue eyes shine with excitement.
    I don’t know how much of what Ollie has said I actually believe, but her offer is tempting. All I know is that if this codex is still out there, other people will want it. And the codex will buy all sorts of things. Including the answer to the question
Who killed my dad?
    If I had the codex, they’d have to negotiate with me.
    â€œWell, to be honest,” I say, “I could use the