Earthcrack: A Lin Hanna Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

brushy
limbs down here,” he called up, “is it ok to move some of them to look further?”  
    “Sure,” Lin replied, “so long as they are
loose.   Just don’t cut anything that
is attached or growing.”
    “Gotcha,” the student responded.   She could hear him shoving the limbs
further into the crack ahead.    Lin was thinking that it would be nice if the student did actually find
at least some small shards of pottery.   These earth cracks had often been used as middens, garbage dumps, in the
past by the native occupants of the park areas and it was not too unusual to
come across shards in such areas. They were generally small finds.   It was exciting to find things, even if
they could only be photographed, and Lin shared the enthusiasm of the students
for the hunt.  
    The sounds of brush being moved aside
stopped and all was quiet below.  
    “Do you see anything?” one of the team
members yelled down.  
    At first the student said nothing.   The team members gathered near the edge
of the crack.    Then the
student called up. “ I am at the rope, come help pull me up.   I found something alright—and it
has clothes on!”
     

Chapter
2
    It was close to noon and the day was
growing warmer by the time the authorities arrived at the site to examine the
remains found by the student.   It
was a good forty-five minute drive from Flagstaff just to the park visitor
center.    Lin had radioed
Danielle at once to report the student’s discovery and had quickly instructed
the students that no one else was to enter the earth crack.
      The student had been helped to climb out,
visibly shaken by what he had seen.   The other teams had ceased to explore and all were now sitting around
the area talking quietly and waiting to be told what to do.   Lin had informed Dr. Smith regarding
Danielle’s instructions—no further movement about the park but no one
should leave until the authorities came and told them what to do.
    Some of the students had returned to the
parking lot area to wait while others chose to sit on nearby rocks.   Lin was pretty shaken by this discovery
but managed to remain at least visibly calm and chose to wait near the earth
crack with Dr. Smith and some of the students.    She made sure that no one further
disturbed the site.
    Now, as the midday sun beat down, she was
increasingly aware of how the temperatures could vary so much during the
day.   The cool, nippy spring morning
had given way to a very warm midday, unless you were in a shaded area, and
there was little shade to be had at this spot.   She brushed damp hair back from her
forehead, tucking it under her wide-brimmed hat, and took a long drink from her
water bottle.   The water was no
longer cool but it was still wet and refreshing.
    Soon a small procession appeared coming
from the parking lot.   Two officers
from the Coconino County sheriff’s department were led into the canyon by some
of the students.   They approached
the young man who had discovered the remains.   He was visibly shaken but was able to
describe what had happened.
    “I did not touch anything down there
except the brush I pushed aside,” he said, “nothing else was disturbed. “
    “That’s good,” a stocky, blond deputy put
his hand on the boy’s shoulder eliciting a small smile. “ Important not to
disturb the remains.   The medical
examiner is on his way here.   Should
just be a few more minutes.” He introduced himself as Deputy Billy Taylor.
    Deputy Taylor moved to the edge of the
earth crack and peered over the side.   It was not really possible to see the remains from there.   The rope used by the student was still
in place—the only way to enter the area.
    By this time Danielle and another deputy
had arrived.   “You may need this,”
Danielle offered a large coil of rope, “We can rig another climbing rope and
maybe even make a sling.”   She was
obviously thinking ahead to the necessity of removing the remains.
    A radio