A Bird in the Sand

A trio of priceless gold pendants has been surrounded by myth and mystery since its creation in the mists and jungles of the pre-Columbian Caribbean.

One has been lost for centuries, with murky legends swirling around its fate. The second is the centerpiece of a troubled movie set in Savannah. The third is on precarious loan to a museum in Key West from theMuseo del Pradoin Madrid.

A mercurial actor, a shadowy collector, a deep-sea diver and a veteran reporter questioning her priorities are...