When consultant George d'Hout is offered fifty thousand dollars for two weeks work, it seems like a dream opportunity. It also means a free round trip to the exotic South American city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. However, the dream assignment quickly turns into a nightmare when the mysterious client is apparently murdered and George becomes the chief suspect. Complicating things is news a long-lost treasure stolen by a pirate named George d'Hout in the 17th Century is on the verge of being recovered. Now George is on the run from both the police and a band of international thieves who believe he holds the key to locating the gold and jewels. From Guayaquil to the old colonial city of Cuenca, George is in a life-and-death struggle to see through the fog of lies and double cross and make it back to the United States alive. Can George put together the pieces of a baffling puzzle in time to save himself and keep the criminals from getting away with murder? Incorporating the storytelling skills that helped him become a Texas Teacher of the Year, Bear Mills, a James Madison Fellow and Fulbright Teacher Scholar, takes lovers of mystery and suspense on a journey along the Inca Trail, through the wilds of Cajas National Park, and over the Andes Mountains on a thrilling adventure sure to please.