A Rumor of Bones: A Lindsay Chamberlain Mystery

by Beverly Connor

  "Is that the bone?" she asked.

  "That's it." Lindsay handed Marsha a collection of tools. "Take the trowel and remove the dirt from around the bones, but try not to touch them. Use the spoon or tongue depressor to loosen the dirt close to the bones. Try not to scrape them. Use this paint brush to brush the loose dirt away. Remember, always work from the known to the unknown, from where the bone is exposed to where it is covered. Take care. It is a slow task, even for someone with a lot of experience. Ask for help if you need it."

  As Lindsay talked, she was looking not at Marsha but at Jeremy, the troublemaker she had taken off Michelle's hands. Lindsay had assigned him to screen fill dirt from Sally's burial, and he was picking things out of the screen and throwing them on the ground. "Just a minute," she told Marsha. She rose and walked over to Jeremy. He was a big boy, almost six feet tall, but much of his behavior looked adolescent despite the fact he was a college student.

  "What are you doing?" she asked.

  "Taking the pebbles out" He did not try to hide the derision in his voice.

  "Save everything that doesn't go through the screen."

  "Even rocks?"

  "What looks like rocks to you may have meaning for archaeologists." Lindsay reached down and picked up a small stone. "This is a section of a chunky stone, a gaming stone. See the rounded edge. Don't throw anything away. Your job is to sift and to save everything that doesn't pass through the screen"

  "Well, do you want me to put the rocks back in?"

  His arrogant attitude was beginning to irritate Lindsay. "No, they have lost their provenience. You have mixed items from different batches. They are useless."

  "They were useless to begin with."

  "That's not for you to decide. Just do the job as you were instructed. It's an important job." Lindsay turned to go but looked back in time to see Jeremy turn, grin at a fellow student, and throw a few more pebbles away. "All right, that's it, you are not going to destroy artifacts from my burials. Get out. You are not working here anymore"

  "You can't do that. You're not in charge here."

  "That's where you're wrong. I'm in charge of the burials, and I'm telling you to leave."

  "I paid good money to come and do this, and I'm earning course credits. You can't make me leave just because you don't like my attitude."

  "It is not because of your attitude that I'm kicking you out. It's your behavior. You deliberately disobeyed my instructions and threw away artifacts. Now, get out!"

  Jeremy stepped up to Lindsay, staring intensely at her as if his eyes were a weapon. "If you want me to leave, you'll have to throw me out." Lindsay's five feet, eleven inches were almost as tall as Jeremy's six feet, and she stared back at him.

  They were attracting the attention of the other diggers, who stopped and watched. Derrick came over from his transit. "Having trouble, Lindsay?" he asked.

  "So? You can't handle things yourself, can you? You have to get a man to do it for you!" taunted Jeremy, not taking his eyes off Lindsay.

  "I don't care who throws you out, just as long as you go.

  "Well, we'll just see about that"

  Jeremy stomped off, apparently in search of Frank.

  "Do you think he is really going to tell the head archaeologist that he was throwing away artifacts?" Derrick asked.

  Lindsay shrugged. "Michelle said he was a troublemaker." She smiled at Derrick. "Thanks"

  "Don't mention it."

  Marsha had been watching the scene with surprise. "Do you frequently have people like that?"

  "That's the first time, and I've worked on many digs," Lindsay said.

  She and Marsha looked up to see Frank and Jeremy coming across the site. "What happened?" Frank asked when he reached them.

  "Jeremy was throwing away things from the burial he identified as useless rocks. I told him to stop, and when he thought my back was turned, he continued."

  "She's lying," Jeremy sneered.

  "Lindsay doesn't lie," said Frank. "I think you had better pack up your things."

  "It's her word against mine, and she's lying."

  "She isn't lying," Marsha said. "I saw it, too"

  "I paid my tuition. You can't tell me to leave."

  "You'll have to take the matter of your tuition up with the university. But you're off this site."

  "What about my grade?"

  "Since you were on Dr. Chamberlain's crew, it will be up to her what grade you get on your performance. If I were you, I would withdraw gracefully and cut my losses."

  "Aw, this is stupid. Just wait till my father hears about this. He'll shut this site down so fast-"

  "Derrick, tell Brian to drive Mr. Reynolds into town." Frank turned and went back to the structure he had been excavating.

  "He's an unpleasant young man," Marsha said, when she and Lindsay returned to the burial.

  "He certainly is. You may have to sift your own burial till," Lindsay said. "It looks like I'm short one crew member."

  "Oh, I don't mind. I think that will be fun."

  "I hope you keep your enthusiasm in the heat of the day. When you finish the first half of the burial, I'll come and show you how to smooth the cross-section."

  Lindsay picked up the surveying rod Brian had left and helped Derrick with mapping for the rest of the workday.

  "Lindsay," Frank said as they were closing the site for the day. "I know I haven't been giving you the attention you deserve." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Damn, that didn't come out right. What I mean is, I have wanted to spend more time with you."

  "A lot of things have been happening," she agreed, shoveling dirt into a burial from which bones had just been removed.

  "Come stay at my house. If not for yourself, for me. Hell, for the sheriff and Derrick. We all are worried about you."

  "But Frank, Burial 23 has been found. The damage is done. If they're smart, whoever they are, they'll just sit tight. It's been in the papers that I use x-rays, dental records, and photographs for identifying bones. They would know that I don't have any of those things in this case. The bones are too old."

  "Come anyway."

  She sighed, "All right, I'll give it a try."

  "Good." He seemed to relax. "I'm sorry about Jeremy. Michelle's been complaining about him, and I talked to him, but it obviously didn't do any good"

  "No big deal."

  "I hope he didn't do too much damage."

  "I don't think so. We would have noticed major artifacts strewn around"

  After work Lindsay and Derrick lounged on the makeshift beach the crew had built on the bank of the river.

  "I'm going to try moving into Frank's house," Lindsay told him.

  Derrick didn't say anything for several moments. "You'll be safe there"

  "I'll miss being here"

  "I'll miss having you here" Derrick smiled at her and took her hand.

  "Don't let anyone get my tent," she said.

  "I'll guard it with my life."

  They were silent for a long while, watching the sun go down.

  "Lindsay, I think you and I need to go to Atlanta or Savannah this weekend and go dancing."

  "I've got Burial 23 to analyze."

  "It can wait. Come away with me. I'll keep you safe"

  Lindsay looked over at him, surprised. "You really believe I'm in danger, don't you? If Burial 23 might get me killed, I should get the examination completed so I'll be safe."

  "It's not just that I believe you're in danger. I would just like to spend time with you. Work on 23 during the week"

  Frank had said the same thing about wanting to spend time with her, Lindsay thought. She looked at Derrick in his jeans, white T-shirt, and ponytail, and was tempted.

  "We do need to get away and forget everything," she said.

  "Then you'll go?"

  "Yeah, I'll go."

  Derrick settled back comfortably in his lounge chair and closed his eyes.

  Lindsay moved into the upstairs bedroom Frank had prep
ared for her. "This is fine," she said, looking at the double bed, desk, and throw rugs on the hardwood floor.

  "I'm glad you're here." Frank kissed her gently on the lips.

  "I still am not convinced of the need"

  "I am. Listen, I have to go out tonight. The mayor and his wife invited me to dinner. Under the circumstances, I think it is a good idea to go, or I wouldn't leave you"

  "You're going to leave me alone after all this talk about my safety?"

  "I'll lock the doors. No one knows you're here."

  "I was joking. I'll be fine. I brought Burial 23 with me. She'll keep me company."

  "I'm going to get dressed," he said. "Marsha is picking me up in an hour."

  "Say hello to the mayor for me."

  Lindsay cleared off the table in the corner of the bedroom and set out the clay bust she had been working on. By ten o'clock, she was ready to go to bed. Frank hadn't returned, she noted. Still out with Marsha. She put on a night shirt and slipped between the covers. The sheets were cool, and the bed was soft. She drifted off to sleep quickly.

  Lindsay's dreams were fearful, and she awakened with a start. She wanted to get up and run across to Derrick's tent, then realized she was not in her tent. For an alarming moment, she did not know where she was. Suddenly she remembered. Frank's house. The room was dark, full of unfamiliar shadows moving with whatever source of light there was outside. As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, a shape in the corner emerged, a tall body with broad shoulders, wearing a hat. Lindsay's heart pounded. Slowly and silently she reached for the light and turned it on. It was a hat and coat hanging on a hat rack.

  She put a hand over her heart and took a breath. This is just great, Lindsay, she thought. You knight as well go back to the site. Suddenly, she heard the front door open and close. Frank. She sat up in bed listening and heard only muffled sounds. Leaving the questionable comfort of the bed, she tiptoed across the hardwood floor. It was cool on her bare feet and creaked as she walked across it. She opened the door only slightly so it would not make noise, slipped out, and peered over the landing.

  It was Frank and Marsha, and they were kissing.

  Lindsay quietly backed into her room. She crawled into bed and turned out the light. Only a few minutes later she heard a car door shut and a car drive off, then footfalls ascending the stairs. The footsteps stopped for a moment in front of her door, then passed. Lindsay fell asleep and didn't awaken until 4:00 in the morning.

  She showered and dressed quickly. Frank was already downstairs. She packed her things, including Burial 23, and carried them down to the living room. Frank was in the kitchen. The aroma of fresh coffee and pancakes flowed through the house.

  "Hi," he greeted her when she came through the door.

  "Do you do this every morning?"

  "Hardly. This is for you. Sit down."

  She sat in front of a plate and a glass of orange juice. Frank put several pancakes on her plate. He heaped his own plate and sat opposite her.

  "This tastes good," she said, tasting the warm pancakes. "I appreciate it."

  "It's nothing." Frank seemed to want to say something to Lindsay, but instead he picked up his fork and began to eat.

  "I'm going back to the site to stay"

  ? "Why?"

  "I'm more comfortable there"

  Frank was silent a moment, studying her face. "Is there a particular reason?"

  Lindsay shook her head. "I'd rather stay at the site. I never believed I was in danger there. Anyway, did you enjoy your evening with the mayor?"

  "Wasn't too bad. But I had to spend the evening explaining to him and his wife that the Southeastern Indians were perfectly capable of building large mounds and earthworks without the help of aliens or lost people from Atlantis."

  Lindsay smiled broadly. "I'm sorry I missed that"

  Frank looked at her and raised his eyebrows. Again he looked as if he wanted to say something, yet didn't.

  When they finished breakfast, Frank helped Lindsay carry her things to the Jeep. It was dark at 4:30 A.M. and cool, but it made Lindsay feel good. She walked back into the house with Frank.

  "It was scary here anyway," she told him. "I kept seeing ghosts and villains in the shadows."

  Frank hugged her. "Take care."

  "I'm all right. I'll see you at the site."

  She walked out to the Jeep and was getting into it when someone grabbed her shoulder painfully hard. Lindsay instinctively elbowed the attacker, knocking him back slightly. He came forward and pushed her hard. She fell against the Jeep and slid to the ground. The large, dark form advanced on her, his hands curled into fists. Lindsay hooked the instep of her left foot behind his right calf and kicked his knee with her right foot with all her strength. He fell back, screaming. Frank came flying out of the house.

  "Lindsay!" He rushed to help her up. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

  "He attacked me. I'm all right." But she was about to lose her pancakes. She leaned against the Jeep and took slow deep breaths.

  Frank turned to the attacker, writhing on the ground, moaning and crying. He wore a ski mask. The students flowed out of the house next door and gathered around the scene. Frank pulled the mask off.

  "Jeremy!"

  "Oh, man, it hurts, it hurts. I'm gonna die. Help me."

  "What the hell were you doing?" Frank demanded.

  "Just scare her. Just meant to scare her, that's all." His breaths were coming in ragged gasps.

  "Someone call an ambulance," Frank ordered. "And get a blanket." He turned to Lindsay, who sat on the ground with her head down between her knees. "Are you all right?"

  "Yes," she replied. "I'm just a little sick."

  In a few moments a student appeared with a blanket, and Frank covered Jeremy up. "Get another blanket for Lindsay," he said.

  "The ambulance will be here soon. They'll give you something for the pain," Frank told Jeremy.

  "What happened?" someone asked.

  "He attacked Lindsay," answered another.

  "He said he was going to do something to scare her. I thought he meant to put a snake in her bed or something," someone else said.

  Jeremy was still groaning on the ground when the ambulance came. Frank had also called the sheriff's office, and a deputy arrived as Jeremy was being carted off to the hospital. After Lindsay gave her story to the deputy, several students jumped in with what they knew. It was 6:15 before Lindsay, Frank, and the students arrived at the site.

  Derrick was emerging from the laboratory when he saw Lindsay carrying a suitcase to her tent. "I thought I was going to have to go looking for the whole crew. What happened? What are you doing?"

  "Moving back into my tent."

  "Why?"

  "Among other things, I was attacked at Frank's early this morning."

  "What? Are you all right'?" He started to look her over.

  "Yes, I'm fine, but that's more than I can say for Jeremy Reynolds." Lindsay went into her tent and sat on her bed, shaking.

  "Tell me what happened" Derrick sat down beside her and put his arm around her as she explained. "Well, that's what can happen when you attack someone," said Derrick. "You don't know if the other person is stronger. Don't give the bastard another thought"

  "I probably ruined his leg."

  "So what? He shouldn't have attacked you."

  "I know. I'm going to lie down for a while. Would you ask Jane to take charge of the burials'?"

  "Sure. Can I get you anything?"

  Lindsay shook her head.

  "Call if you need anything." Derrick kissed her head.

  It was 11:00 before Lindsay felt like working. She went out to the site, feeling tired and depressed. "Thanks, Jane. I appreciate your taking charge so much these days."

  "No problem. I'm sorry all this stuff is happening to you. What a jerk. I hope his leg falls off!"

  Lindsay winced and went to check on the burials.

  Marsha was working on the other half of her burial. Jane h
ad shown her how to smooth the crosssection with her trowel and how to draw the pattern of layers.

  "I am so sorry about what happened," Marsha said. For a moment, Lindsay didn't know which incident she was talking about, Jeremy, or her and Frank. "You certainly have been seeing the bad side of our town lately."

  "This was someone we brought"

  "Well, with all the killings ... It's just too much."

  "I'm inclined to agree"

  Lindsay saw Marsha search her face for any signs of knowledge or hostility and smile slightly when she saw none.

  "Can you tell me something about my burial?" Marsha asked.

  "Well, let's see. You don't have the pelvis uncovered yet, so I can't be definitive on the gender, but it is probably a male." Lindsay pointed to the brow ridge. "Females have a more gracile forehead. Notice the prominent brow ridge on the skull. When we're at lunch today, look at the women and men. You'll see that most of the men have prominent brow ridges and squarer jaws. Some look positively Neanderthal."

  Marsha laughed.

  "The pelvis is a better indicator because some women have large brow ridges and some men have small ones." Lindsay looked at the teeth. "He is older than 21. He has his wisdom teeth. I'd guess he's less than 45 from the wear on them" Lindsay took a brush and brushed off the skull. "Oh, dear, it looks like the poor fellow had syphilis."

  Marsha's eyes widened. "Really?"

  "Yes. That probably pushes his age up some because the syphilis was fairly advanced"

  "Wasn't that something brought by the Europeans?"

  "I think this is probably a New World variety."

  "It must be wonderful to know all the things you know."

  "Lately it's been damn inconvenient."

  "I guess it has, but you like it, don't you'? I mean, looking at these bones?"

  "Yes, I do. Very much. I'll leave you to it. You're doing a great job."

  At lunch Frank told Lindsay that Jeremy's knee would require surgery and would eventually be all right. But he would need a lot of therapy. "Don't feel bad about him," Frank said. "He'll have a long convalescence to think about his behavior."

  "I'm relieved to hear he is going to be all right."

  "You need to sign a statement at the sheriff's office and bring charges against him. That will protect you from anything his parents might want to do."