Concrete Evidence Read Online Free PDF Page A

several research questions. For starters, we want to find out who built the house on Fort Belmont, and why.”
    “I don’t get the connection between Fort Belmont and the Menanichoch Tribe.”
    “This land belonged to the Menanichoch Tribe until 1935, when the tribe lost federal recognition and the army took the land and built Fort Belmont. Ten years ago, the base was shut down through the Base Realignment and Closure program—BRAC for short—and the Menanichoch got their land back.”
    “Why are we writing an environmental assessment?”
    “The house is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and needs major repairs. Under BRAC, environmental and historic preservation laws kick in, and they require an EA before the work can be completed.”
    He stared at the house, and she had the sense he was taking in much more than the structure before him; then his mouth curved in a warm, full smile that lit his green eyes. “The house is cool.”
    Her belly fluttered, and she didn’t know if the sensation was caused by his smile or the fact that he appreciated the house as much as she did. She turned away. She needed to work without escaping into girlish fantasies based on magnificent pecs and a shared taste in architecture.
    His good looks explained his lack of direction. Wealthy pretty boys like him had everything handed to them and didn’t know how to work for a living. He was the opposite of everything that was important to her. “Yes, well, archaeologists research quirky houses. We rarely travel to exotic places. And we never look for treasure or get shot at by bad guys.” Except for the one time in which I did all of those things.
    His smile faded. “Damn, I wish you’d told me that before I bought my whip and fedora.” He rounded the corner of the house, anger showing in his quick stride.
    Guilt swept her for insulting him when he’d done nothing but show enthusiasm for the project. She hurried after him, intending to apologize, but after turning the corner, she saw a plumber’s truck and came to a dead stop. “They’re not supposed to be working yet.” She walked briskly toward the nearest door and entered the kitchen. “Hello? Is there someone here?” If they’d started work on the house without a signed EA, she would have the perfect excuse to complain to the tribal office and Sam Riversong.
    She glanced at Lee, who’d followed her inside. His mouth was set in a firm line.
    “I’m sorry I was bitchy,” she said.
    He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
    A voice called out from the basement. At the top of the basement staircase, the smell of something rotten made her gag. Lee made a face and covered his mouth, then said, “By all means, ladies first.” She saw the smile behind his hand.
    She smiled back, accepting her penance, and led the way. In the basement, two men in dirty coveralls were bent over an opening in a corner. “Are you here for the house rehabilitation project?” she asked. “Work isn’t supposed to begin until next week. The EA has to be signed first.”
    One of the men glanced over his shoulder at her; his dark beard was shot with the same gray that covered his head. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. We were called here to fix the broken sump.”
    “Smells like something died in here,” Lee said.
    “Rats,” the younger plumber responded. “The sump was broken for weeks before anyone noticed, and rats were floating in the muck we pumped out this morning.”
    Her excuse to complain to the tribe suffered the same fate as the rats; no one could blame them for fixing a flooded basement before the EA was signed. “We’re from Talon & Drake, the engineering firm handling the rehab on the building. We’re here to photograph the house.”
    The bearded plumber scanned her from head to foot. “You’re an engineer?” His disbelief was evident.
    What decade did this guy live in? “No. I’m an archaeologist.”
    “So you’re the