Digging Deeper Read Online Free PDF

malfunctioning digestive system. There had been a number of benefits in gaining his professorship.
    “Alexander is supervising my dig,” Celia announced.
    “Are you having the garden done?” Kitty asked. “Barry and I could do with some advice about our rockery.”
    “An archaeological dig,” Celia said, glaring at a laughing Giles. “Apparently we’re sitting on a significant site. Quite possibly the origins of Ilkley’s Roman settlement. We found a very interesting piece of pottery and Alexander believes there could be the remains of an important villa in my garden.”
    Beck tried to keep a straight face. In a minute, Julius Caesar would have lived there.
    “You’re starting the excavation on Monday with a group of experts, isn’t that right?” She finally drew breath with a pause long enough for someone else to speak.
    “Yes, a group from the university.”
    Beck didn’t add that they were all undergraduates whose dig experience probably amounted to little more than playing in a sandpit. On second thoughts, he doubted Dina had managed even that. She’d have been too busy marrying Barbie to Ken. A black cloud puffed up in his head. The chances of anything worthwhile coming out of this month were about as high as him winning the lottery, and since he never bought a ticket, he could write the report for his head of department right now.
    “Roman villa, eh?” Barry scratched his head. “I thought there were only forts in this area. As I recall the first one was built in the 80s AD, replaced in the 120s and again in 160s. That one burnt down between 196-7 and a stone structure replaced it.”
    That shut Celia up and left Beck with an unpleasant sinking feeling in his stomach. A local expert. The cloud in his head started to rain.
    “Barry is the president of our little history group,” Kitty said. “No one knows more about West Yorkshire than him.”
    Beck forced the smile onto his face. “Fantastic.” He glanced at Giles trying to turn a snigger into a cough.
    “I’ll be glad to run you through my extensive files,” Barry said. “And I’ve four thousand three hundred and twenty-seven slides. I’ve written an article or two for some reputable historical publications including Having Fun in your Back Garden .”
    “I’ll have one of my associates contact you.” Half of Beck’s mind wondering what Having Fun in your Back Garden was about and the other half considering a way of persuading Isobel to talk to Barry. “I’m sure your experience and knowledge will be really useful.” Beck registered the disappointed expression on the man’s face. “You’re right about the forts.” The smile returned. “But there’s been no systematic excavation of the civilian settlement so who knows what Celia has in her back garden. Could be a dwelling or maybe a shrine or a mansio.” Or more likely a Victorian pig-pen.
    Barry beamed. “Have you visited Manor House Museum? They have—”
    “Daddy. Bor—ing.” Willow took Beck’s arm and steered him toward the giggling bridesmaids. Beck took one look at the three eying him as if he was the last chocolate in the world and wanted to go back to Barry. All three women were thin and angular. All had long blonde hair. He tried to remember their names. Airy, Fairy and Mary. Willow introduced them again. Aisling, Genevieve and Marina. Beck turned to the one by his side, opened his mouth and closed it. Nope, he’d forgotten.
    Giles came up at his other elbow. “I’d like to remind you of the one huge benefit of marrying an archaeologist.”
    “What’s that?” the three chorused.
    Beck wanted to kill Giles. He’d heard him use this line so many times.
    “The older you get, the more interest he’ll show in you.” Giles sniggered. “Particularly when you’re dead and buried.”
    “Christ, Giles, you make it sound like necrophilia,” Beck said.
    “Well, you are fascinated by dead things, admit it.”
    Beck was more fascinated by the redhead he’d