LC 04 - Skeleton Crew

by Beverly Connor

  Lindsay's hands shook as she reached for the computer keys. She pulled them back before they touched the keyboard. She had to show someone. Who? Not the guard, Dale Delosier. One of the meteorologists. She stood up. The message changed-"Time Out, Goodbye"-and it was gone. Lindsay took a deep breath. Fingerprints. She turned it off and gently closed the lid. She put her hands over her mouth. It was so quiet down here.

  She placed the computer in its case, snatched up the photographs of the skulls, drawing pencils, paper, and her overnight case, and hurried out of the lab for the safety of Harper's apartment. Terry Lyons was on duty in the weather room. Lindsay stopped in, more out of the need for company than anything else.

  "Hi. How are things?" she said, trying not to sound terrified.

  "We have some storms far to the south of here. But so far we're fine."

  "Do you know when we're going to get the new security guards?" Lindsay asked.

  "Tomorrow, I think. William and I will be relieved. You staying here tonight?"

  Lindsay nodded. "See you later."

  She hurried up the stairs and into Harper's room, sat down on the couch, and put her head in her hands. If the person meant to scare her, it worked. She was scared. But she was also alerted to the fact that the culprit was someone here, and he had panicked. She searched her purse for Ramirez's card and dialed his number from the phone on Harper's desk. Voice mail. She started to call his home, but stopped. No use ruining everyone's day. She left him a message. She wished John would get here with the pizza.

  Lindsay leaned back on the sofa and concentrated on breathing evenly. Stay in control. Don't let them see they got to you. She wished she had taken up transcendental meditation.

  Why were they panicked, she asked herself. She hadn't discovered anything-had she? She put the tips of her fingers to her eyes and rubbed. Think. It has to be a person who knows computers. Not just software packages, but someone who can create programs and make them come up on her computer. It has to be someone who has access to the lab where her computer is kept. It probably isn't Lewis. He has the power to simply tell her to stop. Unless he's a maniac, he wouldn't ask her to find out what happened and then secretly threaten her to stop. The thought gave her comfort. Lewis seemed so obsessed with finding the ship. She realized she had actually been worried that he might be getting rid of the competition. But Keith wasn't much competition. Jones, and by extension Denton, are the competition. Unless Keith had accidently stumbled upon the site of the wreck, he didn't have the resources for a real search. But he had found the cross. No, he had in his possession a cross of unknown provenance. The cross could have been a trinket he found in a yard sale. But he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of freezing it into the ice of his freezer if that's all it was. He could have stolen the cross from Denton and Jones and they killed him, and now Jones has her men looking for it. That made sense. But who killed Denton?

  Lindsay stood up and began pacing the room. It didn't have to be related to the ship. What if it was related to the island? What if it was Mike Altman? What if he caught Keith stealing plants again and killed him and Denton saw him and he had to kill Denton, too? She sat back down on the sofa. They were killed weeks apart. Maybe Denton decided to blackmail Mike. That was why he was on the island, and Mike killed him. Mike's wife is a computer expert. Lindsay really wanted it to be Mike. The door burst open. Lindsay jumped up and picked up a lamp, ready to hurl it.

  Chapter 25

  "I'M GOING To have to get a new key. That one keeps stickingwhoa, Lindsay?" Harper, Trey, and John stood in the doorway staring at Lindsay.

  She put the lamp back on the table. "Sorry, I was afraid it was someone else."

  "Who?" asked Harper.

  John set the pizza down on the small table next to the door, came over and sat Lindsay down on the sofa. "What's happened?"

  For the first time, tears started to form in her eyes. She told them what had happened with her computer.

  "Oh, God," said Trey.

  John pulled her over to him and cradled her head in his hands for several seconds before she pulled away and sat up.

  "You say it popped up when you booted up your computer?" Trey asked.

  "Yes."

  "They put it in your startup file."

  "Would it take a lot of computer sophistication to create a message like that?" she asked.

  "Not a lot, really. More than most have, I suppose. Is this your computer here?" He reached for the computer case.

  "Yes, but I hoped that Ramirez might find fingerprints."

  "I'll hook it up to Harper's computer. I'll be careful." Trey took the computer out, touching as little of it as possible. He connected it to Harper's and turned it on, using her keyboard and monitor. Lindsay made herself watch as the photograph came up.

  "Oh, my God!" Harper exclaimed, putting her hand to her mouth. "My God."

  John's face hardened. He grabbed Lindsay's hand and held tight.

  "Sick," Trey said. He found the program and copied it to a disk and deleted it from her computer. "Look, Chamberlain, you have to stop investigating. The hell with what Lewis wants. This is sick."

  "I won't let whoever this is control what I do."

  "Lindsay-" Harper began.

  "Do you have any idea who could have done this?" John asked.

  "I was trying to go over in my head who knows about computers, but I don't know the amount of knowledge one would need. I know Mike Altman's wife, Tessa, knows about computers."

  "Yes, she does," Trey agreed. "She's an expert. Why do you suspect her and Mike?"

  "Several reasons. One, I found out he heard Bobbie and Harper scream when we found the body of Keith Teal. He was in the area and he knew we were missing and he did nothing."

  "What?" said Harper. "That son of a-he knew?"

  "Are you sure?" Trey asked.

  "He admitted it to me himself."

  "That does it. I'll have Lewis get them off the island until we're finished."

  "Not all of the biology people are as hostile and angry as he is," Lindsay cautioned. "They do have legitimate research interests."

  "Who else knows about computers?" John asked.

  Trey shook his head. "Who has the ability to do this? Me and Nate. The weathermen, William and Terry. Bobbie, Juliana, and several of the divers. I'm sure some of your people, John. There're probably more. I believe we can rule out the people we know."

  "And I'll bet some of Evangeline Jones's people are good with computers," Harper said.

  "Could they get on the island without being seen?" Trey asked.

  "Evidently Denton and Keith did," Lindsay said. "I put in a call to Ramirez, but I doubt he'll call back tonight."

  "Why don't you and John have the pizza before it's ice cold? I'll get us some beer," Harper said, as she headed toward the refrigerator.

  "Sure," said Lindsay. "I'll not let some maniac ruin my appetite."

  Harper had a breakfast table under a window. She and John sat and ate pizza while Harper and Trey lounged on the couch and sipped beer. Lindsay gave them a rundown of her thoughts on the murders.

  "You know," Trey said, when she finished, "I hadn't thought about the murders being related to Mike and his project. "It makes sense. It might not have anything to do with us at all."

  "I'm going to stay the night here," John said. "I'll stay in the hallway. Lewis said the new security comes tomorrow."

  "You can't sleep out in the hall," said Lindsay.

  "I don't intend to sleep."

  "Well, you don't have to stay in the hall," Harper said.

  "You've had someone try to break into your room. If someone tries again, I'd like to see who it is."

  "Why do you think they'll come tonight?" asked Lindsay.

  "It's the last night before the extra security comes. I think it would be a good idea just to keep watch."

  "I agree," Trey said. "I'll stay on the island tonight, too. If John is staying up here, I'll stay in the lab and see if anyone tries anyt
hing else."

  "I was saying to Steven tonight that this site deserves our undivided attention," Lindsay said, looking out the window at the alligator pond in the moonlight. "I'd like to find out who's behind this so we can get back to doing what we do." She looked at the three of them in turn. "I must be close. Why else would someone do this?"

  "Close?" said John. "What have you discovered for certain?"

  "Nothing much that I can see, but someone feels threatened. I might have discovered something that hasn't dawned on me yet."

  "Could it be a joke?" Harper asked. "Maybe one of the crew here doesn't like you asking questions."

  "Sick joke," Trey said, "but you have a point."

  "This seems awfully wicked for a joke," said Lindsay.

  "Where did they get that ghastly picture?" Harper asked.

  "The Web, most likely," Trey answered. "You can get the most sublime and the most depraved our society has to offer on the Web."

  When he finished his beer, Trey armed himself with blankets and a pillow and headed for the laboratory downstairs. Carrying one of Harper's chairs, John took up a post amid shadows in a corner of the hallway.

  Lindsay, in a nightshirt, with legs tucked under her, sat on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate that Harper had made. Harper sat on the other end sipping hers.

  "How you feeling?" Harper asked.

  "I'm fine, really. It was probably only a sick joke, just as you said. So tell me about you and Trey."

  "I like Trey. He wants me to come to UGA. They have an opening in Romance languages."

  "You're at Chicago now?"

  Harper nodded. "It's a temporary teaching position."

  "It sounds serious between you two."

  Harper took a sip of cocoa and smiled into the cup, dipped her finger into the chocolate and put it in her mouth. "Well, I suppose so." She looked up at Lindsay. "If it weren't for the murder and mayhem, this place would be paradise. So tell me about you and John. He seems very fond of you, and this archaeology thing doesn't seem to be getting in the way."

  "I think that's because our relationship-romance-is new. When the newness wears off, the archaeology will become very important."

  "Do you analyze everything? Seize the moment."

  Harper's apartment was over the reception area of the research lab. The breakfast table window was exactly over the front door. When they suddenly heard the door slam and running footfalls on the wooden walkway, Lindsay and Harper jumped up and looked out the window in time to see someone disappear into the wooded area bordering the alligator pond, with Trey in pursuit and Dale Delosier, the security guard, bringing up the rear. They ran to the hallway to tell John, but he apparently had heard the commotion and was running down the stairs three at a time.

  Lindsay slipped on her jeans and sandals, and Harper threw on a robe. The two of them ran down the stairs to the front door. John, Dale, and Trey were back by that time.

  "What happened?" Lindsay asked.

  Trey was breathing hard.

  "I slept in the corner on one of the couches, and I heard someone brush by a chair near the artifact table. I jumped up and yelled and they switched off their flashlight and sprinted for the door. I lost them in the bush out there. It was pitch black."

  "They can't get far out there," Dale said.

  "If it's someone who knows the island, they can," Trey said.

  "Did you see anyone come in?" Lindsay asked Delosier.

  "No. Whoever it was was real quiet."

  More likely you were real absorbed in your model trains, thought Lindsay.

  "Did you get any kind of look at them?" John asked Trey.

  "No. I should have had a light on in the lab. He, or she, was dressed head to foot in black. I'm going to make a trek to the ranger station and have it out," Trey said.

  "Let me go," John said. He reached and took a flashlight from the security guard's belt. "I'll bring it back."

  He was gone before Trey could protest. Lindsay thought it was probably a good idea. The mood Trey was in, he might make things worse.

  Trey turned to Dale Delosier. "You didn't hear or see anyone?"

  "Not until you all came running out the door."

  A retort teetered on Trey's lips-Lindsay could see it on his face, but he only turned to her and Harper. "Let's wait inside for John."

  They sat in the break room, Trey with a mug of coffee he wasn't drinking. Delosier went to check the warehouse.

  "You think it was one of the biology people?" Lindsay asked Trey.

  "Yes, I do. I don't know what they were up to, but who else?"

  "It could've been Jones's people. It could've been someone from the barge, as much as we don't want to think that it was. Or, it could be some friend of Keith Teal who knows the island."

  "I suppose you're right. I guess it was a good idea for John to go. I'd have accused them point-blank, and that would've made things much worse, I'm sure."

  John came through the door and sat down beside Lindsay. "I went to the ranger station and told them we had a prowler. I asked them if they were all right and if they had heard anything. I don't think they were fooled by my concern for their safety, but they didn't get mad, either."

  "What did they say?" Trey asked.

  "That they heard nothing, nor saw anything."

  "Who did you talk with?"

  "James Choi came to the door first. He was up working. He said Gretchen was in bed. Tessa and Mike came to the door when they heard us talking. None of them were breathing hard, or showed any indication they had been out. I thought it best not to accuse anyone."

  Harper stood. "Well, I'm going back to my apartment and to bed."

  "Me, too," Lindsay agreed. "I don't think they will be back. Why don't you two get some sleep?"

  "No," Trey said, "that's what they may think and try again."

  "I think this is silly," Harper said. "Get what's-his-name, the security guard, to stay in the lab and keep an eye out."

  "Right," said Trey.

  "Good night, everyone." Harper and Lindsay went upstairs. John yelled that he'd be up later.

  "What were you saying about this being a paradise if it weren't for all the murder and mayhem?" Lindsay asked, stripping off her jeans.

  "What do you reckon is going on?" Harper asked.

  Lindsay gathered the cups off the breakfast table where she and Harper had set them down. She thought she caught a fleeting glimpse of someone in the distance going into the woods. She looked around the room. "Harper, check and see if you have anything missing."

  Harper eyed her. "Why? What's wrong?"

  "I thought I saw someone outside. The lab thing could have been a diversion."

  "They couldn't know that we'd go downstairs."

  "No, but maybe they were waiting for you to go to sleep, or-I don't know."

  Harper checked her drawers and closet. "I don't have any valuables missing."

  "What about the translation?"

  "I keep that in a safe. I thought it was silly of Lewis, but he bought one of those safes that looks like a nightstand. I checked it. It doesn't look like it was even discovered."

  "The computer?" asked Lindsay.

  "It has a lock on the keyboard that requires my password to get into it. Trey is the only one who knows it besides me."

  "Does it look like anyone was in here?"

  "No."

  "Do you keep the original journal here?"

  Harper shook her head. "No, it's at the University of Georgia. I have photocopies. Why would anyone want the journal anyway?"

  "Treasure hunters might want to have a look at it." As soon as Lindsay said it, she realized that Harper might not know about the silver galleon. She decided not to ask. "I'll go down and tell them what I saw."

  She opened the door just as John was raising his hand to knock.

  "I was just going to tell you I'll be outside the door."

  Lindsay told him about the figure she saw.

  "Could it have been the sam
e person?"

  "I have no idea. I only got a fleeting glimpse."

  "I'll go warn Trey and come back."

  "Did either of you ask in the weather room?"

  "Trey did. They had the door closed and locked and didn't see or hear anything."

  The morning brought another small calamity. Someone had broken into the warehouse and opened the chest that was soaking in the brine tank.

  Chapter 26

  ISAAC HAD FOUND the desecration when he entered the warehouse. Lindsay, Lewis, and Trey were in the lab discussing the previous evening's events when Isaac burst in, breathless with the news.

  "They drained the tank, broke open the trunk, and spread the contents out on the floor. It's a mess."

  "They what? They what?!" Carolyn had overheard. "Tell me I didn't hear right."

  "I'm sorry," Isaac said.

  "What is going on here?" Lewis slammed his notebook down on the floor.

  "We'd better take a look," Trey said.

  They met Ramirez on the way out of the building. Lindsay filled him in on their way down to the warehouse.

  Steven Nemo had arrived in the meantime and stood looking over the disorder. "Do you know what's happened?" His dark eyes were as angry-looking as Carolyn's blue ones.

  "That's what we're here to find out," Lewis replied.

  The chest sat open inside the empty tank. The water that had drained from the opened plug at the base of the tank had made a dark stain where it had run toward the center of the floor to the drain. Scattered on the floor were those things the chest was made to hold: a pile of fabric, a silver goblet and plate, a spoon and knife, an ivory comb, a filigreed pomander, clay jars, a silver manicure set, a compass, an astrolabe, a sandglass, brass dividers, and a large wooden box. Inside it sat an exquisite Chinese lacquered box. The Chinese box was open, revealing jars, a mortar and pestle, a knife with an ivory handle, and a pile of gold coins.

  "Does it belong to the navigator?" whispered Steven, looking at the astrolabe.

  "Look at this!" Carolyn turned to Korey. "Go get me some containers."

  "And get your camera," Lindsay told him. "Not the digital one."

  Korey trotted off at a fast pace to the lab. Carolyn started toward the objects, but Lindsay put a hand on her arm.