by Dale Mayer
Damn women's work.
Well he wouldn't do it anymore. And if Tasha or John wouldn't take care of it… His eyes glowed with inspiration as he stared at the grave. Then he'd find someone who would.
CHAPTER TEN
Dane's dusty black truck sat in front of the lab trailer when Jade arrived the next morning. He leaned against the box, waiting. Her heart smiled. She was such an idiot. Yet she couldn't deny he made her feel like a woman again.
Good thing. Her self-absorption and self-enforced seclusion had shut her hormones down as she'd allowed anger and hurt to dominate. No longer.
"About time you got here." His big grin warmed her heart. Dane opened the door of his truck, and reached in. "What do you think you're on, Haitian time or something?"
She laughed. "Nah, boss checked in yesterday. Meetings with him put us behind schedule."
With a regal dip of his head, he pulled out two cups of coffee. "And as a boss, I understand the benefit of keeping workers happy. So one is for you." He presented her with a one.
"Woohooo. You are a definite keeper. Thank you." She shuffled her bags, so she could take it.
His eyes darkened. "Glad you're so easily pleased."
She grinned. "Often the simplest things in life…" She dropped her bags at the door and brought out her keys. She inserted the key into the lock but realized when she turned the key – she'd actually locked it. The door had been unlocked. She frowned and pushed it open.
"Problem?"
"The door wasn't locked. It should have been," she said shortly, her gaze sweeping the interior. The equipment was all there, at least what she could see at first glance. Nothing appeared disturbed other than what could be attributed to Meg or Dr. Mike who worked here the afternoon before.
"Someone forget to lock up?" Dane stayed on the porch, poking his head inside. "It looks the same."
"I don't know. The equipment is set out slightly different. I didn't close yesterday so can't say if the others moved things or not." She wandered to the back and then down the far side. She shrugged her shoulder. "I can't see anything missing. It just feels off again."
"Again?" His voice sharpened. "This has happened before?"
She gazed back at him over her shoulder. "Yes. This is the second time. I can't pinpoint what's wrong. It's more a sense of things not being quite right." She shrugged and walked back out to the small porch. She took a sip of coffee.
"I thought they were going to bring in security guards?"
Blowing the steam off her cup, she nodded. "I did too. Might have something to do with our moneyman, slash boss who's here now. I don't think he likes the added expense."
"Then maybe he should be told about this to make sure security funding does get approved."
She gave him a sideways look. "I'm not sure that would make a difference."
Dane's cheeks hollowed out, his jaw jutting forward. "It damn well should. You shouldn't be out here alone."
He was worried about her. She smiled. It had been a long time since anyone other than Duncan had given a damn about her safety. "I'm not, normally. One of the others will be here in an hour or so."
"That's not good enough. It's not that this part of the country has a higher crime rate than the rest, but you've opened a controversy with this grave, you're foreigners and you have expensive equipment and facilities. That makes you and these trailers a target."
She grimaced. "I know. I'll talk to them."
His jaw squared, he planted his legs slightly apart. "Today."
She glared at him, liking the power of his personality, just not so much when it was turned her way. "Fine. Can we leave it for now, thanks?"
Studying her face, he gave one decisive nod. "Sure, I have to go to work anyway. Unless you want me to stay around until someone else arrives?"
"No. I'll be fine."
He smiled and turned to leave. "Thanks for bringing the coffee," she called out as he descended the steps and got into his truck.
With a wave, he drove off.
Her good mood restored, Jade headed inside. After making sure nothing was missing, she went to the reefer to double check the chart numbers. She left the reefer door open to allow for more light as she wandered the rows of dead. So far the numbering system appeared to be working.
"Jade? Are you in here?"
Startled, Jade bolted upright from her bent-over position and spun around. "Jesus, Stephen you scared me."
"What are you doing?" He peered around the door and grinned at her as she walked toward him. "There you are."
"Hey. I was cross checking the numbers on the bags." Jade hopped out of the reefer truck and waited while Stephen closed and locked the door.
"Wilson went to town with Dr. Mike instead, leaving me free to get back to work. I'm going up to the gravesite." Stephen patted the metal handle. "Bruce is heading this way in few minutes."
She smiled. "I'll go back to the lab and wait for him."
He took off, whistling and Jade busied herself around the lab for the few minutes she had alone. Before she had time to puzzle through the feeling she'd had in the trailer, she heard the sound of yet another vehicle. This one an SUV.
Bruce.
He waved as he drove to the lab trailer. Jade walked to the railing to greet him. "Hey."
Hopping out, he climbed the stairs and walked around the new porch. "I like the new addition. From Dane I understand?"
She wandered around the small space appreciating the simple two-by-four construction. "Yes, a simple switch for a few weeks."
"It looks good."
"Any word on overnight security for this place?"
"Tony has vetoed the idea for now. Why?"
Oh shit.
She explained about the unlocked door and the weird feeling. "Did he give a reason?"
"Not in the budget." Bruce gave her a mocking look. "We'll need to make sure we follow protocol as we shut down every night. To know that we've locked up properly."
"Why is everything all of a sudden about money?" She watched as Bruce walked the tiny porch, still grinning approval.
"Because our moneyman is here on the spot. It's easier to deal with them when they are a long way away. But when they are here, they're all about control, power…and saving money."
"And because they pay our salaries we are all about compliance?" She frowned. "Part of the reason I was interested in coming was the good we'd be doing. It's hard to see that come down to number crunching."
He studied her face. "I understand how you feel and I think this is only temporary. Once Tony goes back home, that negativity will ease back as everything returns to normal." He dropped his bag on the counter. "I'm going up to the gravesite. Are you coming?"
"Absolutely." The walk only took ten minutes but they went from the large clearing, down a path to an opening that showed the valley. It was gorgeous country. Add in the sunshine and the easy-to-tolerate temperatures and it was no wonder Haiti was a popular tourist destination. At least it had been. The earthquake had made a dent in that.
Stephen met them at the spot where he'd found the remains in chains. He'd taken the tarps off the exposed area and had moved some more of the rocks that surrounded the bones. They stood and studied the big job in front of them.
"Is Tony coming here? This morning?" He should see this himself, but Jade doubted anyone was ready to bring him in on this issue.
Bruce laughed. "Not likely. Not willingly."
He looked from her to the grave and back again. "He's not going to know the difference between these or any other set of bones. I suggest we excavate very carefully – and tell the authorities if our suspicions are confirmed. If and only if, we have forensic evidence of foul play, it will be our duty to bring someone official in on this."
Stephen nodded. "I don't see how we can't. I can't just ignore this. If what we see here is
what we think it is, I will tell someone. Then if the authorities need help dealing with these bones, they'll have my free labor."
Jade had to agree with that. "We'll process this as we would any of the bodies. That won't take any more time or money than the others. Once processed, the information is there to turn over to the police, if necessary."
As Bruce went to open his mouth, she added, "Or I will process them on my own time in the evening. I'll volunteer my labor, just like Stephen suggested."
"Okay, before we go a little nuts on this, why don't we start the processing and see how long it takes us to do these few bodies? We'll measure that against the time it takes to do the same number of other bodies." Bruce suggested, "If this takes longer, we'll all stay one night and work together to make up the time."
Stephen and Jade looked at each other. Jade smiled and added, "Works for me."
"Good, then let's get started."
Jade ran to the lab to retrieve her camera while Bruce grabbed the closest shovel. Two bodies. At least that's all they'd found today. Tomorrow, unfortunately, could be a whole different story.
When lunch arrived, in the form of Meg and brown bags, Jade was more than happy to head back to the hotel and her paperwork.
***
She called her brother later that night and dumped the story on him. Jade sat in their new office space with windows open. A cool breeze wafted in, circling around and bowing back out again.
His stunned silence sat heavy on the phone line. "Shit. This was supposed take your mind off your own problems."
She laughed. "Well, it did that."
"Sure. As much as I'd love to see you find justice for these victims, remember they are dead and you are not. Don't do anything that will put you in danger."
"I won't." But she wasn't so sure she'd be able to follow through. There were too many unanswered questions. Who knew where this would lead?
"What's the matter? What's happened? Are you in danger now?" His sharp voice snapped through the phone lines pulling her back to the conversation
She rushed to reassure him. Her poor brother had done enough worrying over her lately. "No. Of course not. No. I'm fine. Everything here is fine. Honest. Don't worry about me."
A doubtful silence filled the lines. "You know, I held off coming to Haiti to give you some time. I'm thinking it might be time to come over..."
"Now, don't you go off on in panic," Jade said. "Come for a visit if you want, just not because of this. I'm okay."
"And you damn well better stay that way."
She grinned. "I will. I love you too."
"Good. That's the first time you've said that since you were in Haiti last time."
She went quiet inside. How sad. Just another example of how self-absorbed she'd been. Damn her selfish soul. After a moment, she said softly, "I'm sorry. I've given you a lot of grief and worry recently, haven't I?"
His voice warmed. "No. Don't ever think that. You have been through a lot. You're entitled."
And she had been. But that time was over. This Haiti trip had been good for her. She hadn't expected these results. Certainly, not the sense of things being back to normal. Not this fast. She knew there'd be relapses, particularly when she returned home, but this trip had forced a paradigm shift and she'd grown with it.
His joyous laugh came through so clear and sharp, she leaned back and closed her eyes. She missed this. Missed him. Her brother had been such a mainstay in her life, a stalwart support. She was blessed. And had so forgotten to see and appreciate the gold in her life because she was locked in her self-imposed prison of pain and misery.
Instead of walking away, he'd been shining at her side for so long and so consistently that she'd become accustomed to it. She'd forgotten to be grateful for his presence.
Not anymore.
"You are the best brother anyone could have and I am so appreciative that you don't belong to anyone else but me." Tears collected in the corners of her eyes and despite her best attempts, she sniffled.
"Jesus Jade. You're killing me here."
Smiling through her tears, she said, "Sorry, I know you don't like emotionalism, but I just needed to say that."
"And needed to say it at a time that I can't wrap you in my arms and hug you." His voice deepened with emotion. "You know I love you, kitten. I don't know what's going on over there. If anything happens to you, I'll be heartbroken – you know that, right?"
"Yeah I do." She sniffled harder. "I didn't mean to get into this right now, but all those dead women..."
"I know." He sighed heavily. "Wish I could help. I'd do anything to stop you from ever being traumatized again."
"I would too. And we don't know for sure that our theories are correct. Yet. We need to find out the truth. Or what we can while working here. That's on the table for tomorrow."
"Then you call me tomorrow. When you get back to the hotel give me a quick call. Just a 'Hi Duncan, had a great day, love ya' kind of call. So I know you're okay."
"I'll be fine," she insisted. She stood and wandered the window, loving the cool night air and the sultry darkness that was so distinctive to this part of the world. If the phone cord reached, she'd have sat out on the patio surrounded by the gardens. She'd been truly blessed to have the chance to come back here. Maybe she could think more charitably of Tony for granting her this opportunity.
"Good. Glad to hear that. But I won't be. Not unless you call."
"You're an idiot." She smiled, then chuckled. "But I will do as you ask."
"Good, and remember this idiot loves you." His voice changed, became more teasing. "Speaking of love, any men over there making your hormones sing?"
She gasped, caught by surprise at the sudden topic change. Even though he couldn't see her, she shook her head. "No one. Don't be an idiot."
Okay, so there was Dane – did he count?
"I'm not convinced. Your voice says something different. Someone has caught your attention. And I for one couldn't be happier."
Sighing, she added, "No there isn't, but believe what you will."
"I will. Don't worry. I will."
She could see his grin in her mind. "Idiot," She said affectionately. "I'm going to bed now. Have a good tomorrow."
"I will, just make sure you call me. I'll be waiting."
"Got it. Now good-bye."
They rang off, leaving her sitting there with a silly smile on her face.
She really did miss that big teddy bear. He was a good man.
"Now, that is a lovely smile on your face." Bruce and Stephen walked into the office. "What are you doing working at this hour?"
She held up the hotel phone. "I'm not working. Just calling my brother." She grinned. "Or you could say I'm doing as he requested and checking in with my brother."
Bruce sat down in the chair beside her. "Oh he's protective, is he? That's probably a wise thing."
"There're just the two of us, so protective comes naturally to him." And she missed him.
"What does he do?" Stephen sat down at the computer next to her.
She stretched her back and rotated her neck. Something about bending over the tables in the lab had kinked her back. The table was probably at the wrong height. "He's a counselor for kids at risk."
Stephen turned to look at her. "Wow. Good for him. That can't be an easy job."
"No, it isn't. Still he's very good at it."
Bruce added in, "That's no surprise. You're also very good at what you do."
The compliment, out of the blue, surprised her. "Thanks," she said, a squeak of surprise in voice.
He looked taken aback. "You're welcome. It's true. And what I expect from every team member here." He lifted a sheaf of papers and walked out after saying goodnight.
Stephen rolled his eyes as Bruce left. "Yeah, we're all just one big happy family."
CHAP
TER ELEVEN
Head down, Jade shifted the camera lens as she detailed the story of the next set of bones on her table. She had no idea how many pictures she'd taken so far. Dr. Mike had been working at the second table all morning.
Something was wrong. He'd been muttering for hours as he pored over his worktable. That couldn't be good.
Dr. Mike's face had gone stiff and cold within minutes of starting on the first of the manacled bodies. Jade had been too concerned to bother him. He'd tell her soon enough. Ten minutes ago, the two of them had returned one set of remains to the reefer and brought the next one out. He never said a word except to ask for her help to make the switch.
Bending lower, she snapped several more pictures of the small breastbone, all but pulverized. She moved around, taking as many pictures as necessary, enjoying the calm silence of the room despite the job she had to do.
She moved to the far side of the body bag and put her camera down. Time to move onto the next step. She charted the injuries as she found them and took out her measuring tape. She didn't think this boy could have been more than five or six years old. His bones had a stick-thin look to them.
Her heart ached for him. At least he'd have died quickly. Not like the last one she'd processed.
The day's work hadn't been too bad; still they had a long road ahead of them. Susan was helping Bruce at the clinics two mornings a week. So far only one person had shown up looking for their loved ones. Matching families to bodies would take time.
Dr. Mike sighed heavily.
Jade straightened, and stretched her arms over her head. "Problems?" she asked him gently. She glanced yet again at the open windows. Without a breeze the air hung heavy and hot.
He glanced at her and nodded. "Oh, I think maybe."
She walked over to his table to see what he was working on. "What is it?"
"She was in the ground longer than the earthquake victims. Much longer. Possibly even as long as a decade." He pointed to the skeleton in front of him. "She died from blunt force trauma to the head."
