Kate and the Wyoming Fossil Fiasco

by Janice Hanna

  Kate giggled. “I won’t let him get to me, I promise.”

  Conner rubbed his hands together in excitement. “What we’re about to do is my favorite thing at fossil camp. We’re going to have a treasure hunt.”

  “Let’s divide into teams,” Megan instructed. “Girls, come and get in line behind me, and boys, you line up behind Conner.”

  Everyone quickly got into place.

  “I can tell you’re excited,” Conner said. “But try to stay calm, cool, and collected. That’s the best way to win this challenge.” He reached for his clipboard and pulled off two pieces of paper. “Each team has a list of three items. Three different kinds of fossils—Mioplosus, Phareodus, and Knightia. You will see the pictures here.” He turned the paper to face them. “The first team to return here to this spot with all three fossils will win.”

  “What do we win?” McKenzie asked.

  Conner’s face lit with excitement. “The winning team gets to go into the prep room to watch me clean and prepare the fossils. Then we’ll show you the process of packaging and shipping them all over the world.”

  He began to talk about all of the work that went on in the quarry’s prep lab, how the lab tech worked carefully to remove rock from ancient fossils, then prepare them for handling. The whole thing sounded really complicated … and exciting!

  Kate’s heart began to race. How wonderful it would be to get in that room! She would take her fingerprint tape and look for prints. Maybe they would match the ones on the fossils back home. Then perhaps Alexis’s uncle could help the girls figure out whose prints they were!

  “Conner does most of his work in that room,” Megan said. “He’s one of the best in the nation. He gets the fossils stabilized, cleaned, and prepared. Then Gus—I believe

  some of you met him—gets the fossils packaged to send out.”

  “We’ve got to get in that room!” McKenzie whispered. “So let’s win the treasure hunt.”

  Kate nodded.

  “It’s really an amazing honor,” Joel explained. “I’ve only been in there a couple of times over the years. The prep lab is usually off-limits to campers and quarry guests. But it’s by far the coolest place here.” He began to explain the process of cleaning the fossils, but Kate couldn’t keep up with him, he was talking so fast.

  “All we have to do is win the treasure hunt,” Kate said. “And then I’ll get to see it for myself.”

  “Not possible!” He laughed. “Sorry, girls, but this is my specialty. I’ll find all three specimens before you find even one!”

  “Campers, let’s get suited up,” Megan announced as she handed out hard hats, vests, and jackets. Then she gave the campers their backpacks, which were loaded down with tools.

  “I feel like I gain ten pounds when I put this on,” Patti complained as she struggled to get the backpack in place.

  “Just think of how strong your muscles are getting,” Megan said with a wink.

  Kate couldn’t help but think of Dexter. He would have loved this part. Maybe she could do more than win the treasure hunt today. Maybe she would locate a fossil that she

  could give him … something really special. That would make him feel better about not being there. And maybe—she grew more excited as she thought about it—maybe she and McKenzie would find enough fossils for each of the Camp Club Girls, too! Wouldn’t Bailey and the others love that!

  “Everybody ready?” Conner hollered.

  When the campers cheered, Conner lifted his hand and hollered, “On your mark, get set …” As he shouted “go!” he dropped his hand. The girls took off running toward the dry lake bed and the boys headed off to the field to their right.

  When they arrived, Kate and the others paused to catch their breath. She didn’t want to start out feeling so winded, especially when she hadn’t had much sleep.

  “I’m going to dig for a Mioplosus,” Lauren said. “My brother found one of those last year when he came to camp.”

  “I would suggest starting with the Knightia,” Megan said. “The quarry is filled with them.”

  Kate watched out of the corner of her eye as Joel went to work with his large chisel. “Man, he’s fast,” she whispered to McKenzie. “He really knows what he’s doing.”

  “You won’t find any fossils if you spend all of your time worrying about how much better he is than us,” McKenzie whispered back.

  “I know you’re in a hurry to get started,” Megan said, “but I always like to say a few words before the hunt begins. If you listen to my advice, you’ll be more likely to find fossils quickly.”

  Kate paid close attention.

  “Okay, girls, this is what you do.” Megan’s voice grew serious. “Notice that this whole area is filled with flat slabs of rock. It was formed a long time ago on the bed of the lake.”

  “Bed of the lake,” Kate whispered. Sounded funny.

  “You heard Conner explain yesterday how fossils are made. Can you remind me how the fossils got here, in the dry lake bed?”

  Kate raised her hand. “Yes. When a fish died, it would sink to the bottom of the lake, then get covered with mud, just like Conner talked about yesterday.”

  “That’s right,” Megan said. “And over a long period of time, the lake dried up and the mud turned to stone. So buried deep within those slabs of stone are priceless treasures. In order to find them, you have to pick up the rock and split it. You might be surprised at what you find inside.”

  Kate paused to think about how life was sometimes like that. Sometimes you really thought you knew someone … knew them really well. Then, after a little digging, you learned something else entirely new about them. For example, after a little digging, she had learned that McKenzie snored. Only a little, but still it was a snore. And hadn’t she learned a lot about each of the Camp Club Girls since they started solving mysteries together?

  “This is one of the things I love most about leading excavations,” Megan said. “Sometimes I look around at all

  of the reminders of life that came before us, thousands of years ago. It’s pretty amazing, really, when you think about it. We can hold the past in our hands.” She looked at the group, her eyes getting a little misty. “Then I look at all of you campers and I realize that I’m looking at our future. So the past and future come together every year when we lead these excavations. That means so much to me.”

  “Oh wow.” Kate swallowed hard. How interesting, to think that she was part of a project that represented the future. Carrying on a project with fossils formed thousands of years ago.

  “When I look at all of you, I also realize that each of you is a treasure, far more valuable than anything we could ever find in the stones here. You are created in God’s image. His imprint is in your heart.”

  Kate smiled as she thought of that. Her mom often told her how much she was loved. Still, it felt good to have someone she barely knew tell her just how precious she was. Megan’s words made her day!

  “Now go dig up some fossils,” Megan said. “But while you do, remember how valuable you are. How priceless.”

  Kate headed off with her chisel in hand. She found a spot and began to dig. All around her the other girls were laughing and talking, but she didn’t join in. Who had time to chat with so much at stake? She had to find those fossils to win the prize! Then she and McKenzie could figure out who was forging the fossils and help Mrs. Smith keep her job.

  The morning passed with the girls working extra hard. Kate let out a holler as she located a Knightia and the girls all cheered. However, off in the distance they heard the boys cheering, too.

  “Sounds like we’re tied!” Megan said. “So keep at it, girls. You can do this.”

  About a half hour later Lauren located a Mioplosus. She beamed with joy as she held it up for all to see. “I knew it!” she said. “I knew I would find one!”

  “You did a great job!” Megan said, examining the fossil. “I’m so proud of you. Now if we can just find the Phareodus. Then you girls
will win the treasure hunt and you can tour the prep lab!”

  From the other side of the dry lake bed, Kate heard Joel’s voice ring out. “I found it!” he shouted. “I found the Phareodus!”

  “We have all three!” another one of the boys hollered. “The boys win!”

  They began to cheer. Kate let go of her chisel, watching it drop to the ground. “They … they beat us?”

  McKenzie sighed. “Looks like it.”

  “But how will we ever get into that back room now?” Kate whispered. “This whole trip to Wyoming will be a waste.”

  McKenzie looked at her, clearly confused. “What do you mean?”

  “We asked our families to come to Wyoming because we thought we could solve this case. But we can’t, unless we

  get into that room.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  Kate plopped down on the edge of a large rock. “I just don’t like to disappoint anyone, especially the Camp Club Girls. They’re working hard to figure this out. But we need to do our part, too. And digging in the ground isn’t enough. We need to get into the secret, hidden places in the quarry to know what really goes on here.”

  “Kate, don’t get discouraged,” McKenzie said. “We’ll figure out who did this with the Lord’s guidance. But we have to have faith. It won’t help anything to give up.”

  “I just knew the girls were going to win,” Kate said sadly. “And since we didn’t, well, it just makes me a little mad. I guess I have a bad attitude.”

  Megan walked up and gave Kate a curious look. “Bad attitude? Who has a bad attitude?”

  “Me.” Kate sighed as she shrugged out of her backpack. “I must be a sore loser.”

  Megan laughed. “I’ve seen a few of those over the years so you’re certainly not the first, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.” She paused. “I think about it this way, Kate. You know how fossils are really imprints?”

  “Sure.” Kate shrugged, not sure what this had to do with anything.

  “We leave an imprint on others with our attitude,” Megan said. “Good or bad. A little bit of us rubs off on them. So when you react with an attitude to something—

  good or bad—it’s like you’re creating a …” She paused and appeared to be thinking about what to say. “Like a fossil on the heart, if that makes any sense.”

  At once, a feeling of shame washed over Kate.

  “I’m so sorry, Megan. I have had a bad attitude today.” She turned to McKenzie. “My faith has been a little low. I guess I just don’t see how God is going to solve this.”

  “Honey, if anyone knows how to dig deep, it’s the Lord.” Megan patted her shoulder then headed off to join the others.

  In the distance, lightning flashed and the girls heard a roar of thunder.

  “Oh man. Looks like a storm,” Kate said. She grabbed her backpack. “Better get back inside. I don’t want my stuff to get wet.” She pulled off her wristwatch and tucked it into the backpack to keep it safe, just in case rain fell.

  “Race you back to the dorm!” Joel hollered out as he ran by.

  Kate took off running behind him. If she couldn’t beat him at excavating, maybe she could beat him at racing!

  Sure enough, she started gaining on him. By the time they reached the building, she was a few feet ahead of him. She finally stopped, huffing and puffing. Joel grinned as he stopped next to her.

  “My backpack is heavier,” he explained with a sly wink. “Must be all of those fossils I found today.”

  Kate and McKenzie groaned.

  “I’m just kidding.” Joel flashed a smile. “Just a little friendly competition, girls. But seriously, I’m really proud of you … especially you, Kate. I understand you found the first Knightia. Excavating must come naturally to you.”

  “I’m not sure it does,” she said. “But I did have a lot of fun.” She thought about that as they headed into the cabin to get cleaned up. So what if they didn’t win? She had learned a lot—about fossils and about her heart.

  Curiosity Kicks In

  A flash of lightning lit the skies as the girls entered their cabin.

  Kate shivered. “Looks like we ended our treasure hunt just in time.”

  Patti shook her head. “I don’t like storms. I hope it doesn’t …” Just then a loud peal of thunder shook the building. Her lips quivered as she said, “Th—thunder!”

  “The storms up here can get pretty intense,” Megan said. “So stay indoors.”

  “Do we have time to shower before lunch?” Kate asked. “I’m sticky and sweaty.”

  “Me, too,” Lauren said. “I’ve got to get into clean clothes.”

  “You have plenty of time,” Megan said. “Go ahead and shower, then let’s sit and talk awhile before lunch. We have plenty of time, and I want to get to know you girls better.”

  As Kate grabbed clean clothes, she noticed a text message on her phone.

  “Who’s it from?” McKenzie asked, drawing near.

  “Looks like it’s from Sydney.” She pressed a couple of

  buttons and read the message. “Oooh, look, McKenzie.”

  “Located the missing stingray fossil at a museum in Vancouver.” Kate read the words then looked at McKenzie, stunned. “Joel’s missing fossil is in Vancouver, Canada? What’s it doing there?”

  McKenzie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe the people at Stone’s Throw are loaning it to them. Probably isn’t any big deal.”

  Kate shook her head. “Then why doesn’t Mr. Jenkins know about it? He owns this place.” She lowered her voice. “Unless—he’s behind all of this.”

  She glanced at Megan and thought about how sad the counselor would be to find out her father was a bad guy!

  “I don’t know, Kate,” McKenzie whispered. “I still suspect Grumpy Gus. That makes more sense to me, especially since we saw him with the brown sugar.”

  “Maybe. But I’m going to ask Sydney to check on one more thing. I need to know how long that stingray fossil has been there, and I need to make sure it’s the real deal. Maybe that fossil in Vancouver is a fake, just like the one in Philadelphia.”

  “So if the one in Vancouver is fake, then where’s the real one?”

  “Hmm.” Kate bit her lip. “I think there’s an underground ring of thieves. Maybe Grumpy Gus is just one of many. And maybe …” She snapped her fingers as an idea came to her. “Maybe he hasn’t had time to sell that one yet. He could be hiding it here somewhere. Maybe that’s what he was doing in the woods yesterday, finding the perfect place to hide it.”

  McKenzie shrugged. “I guess that’s possible.”

  Kate began to pace the room. “If only we’d won the treasure hunt! Then we could have gone into the shipping room instead of the boys. I would have looked for brown sugar … or something else to incriminate Grumpy Gus.”

  McKenzie sighed. “This really stinks. We’re getting close to solving the case and can’t even get into the room where the forgeries are taking place.”

  “Maybe we can.” Kate chewed on her fingernail, deep in thought.

  “What do you mean?”

  Kate lowered her voice. “Tonight, after everyone goes to bed, we can go to the shipping room and look around. I’ll take my fingerprinting kit and see if there are any prints I can lift.”

  McKenzie’s eyes grew wide. “What if we get caught?”

  “We won’t. I have an idea. I’ll take my little video camera in there, too. I’ll find a place to leave it so that we can record Gus. Then we’ll have the proof.” She looked at McKenzie as a peal of thunder cracked overhead. “You know,” she whispered, “there’s really only one way we’re ever going to solve this.”

  “Ooh?”

  “Yes.” She leaned in close and whispered, “If we do make

  it into that room, we’ll do some serious digging. We need to know if the fossils they’re sending out are the real thing or if they’re made out of sugar.”

  “But how do we get in there?” McKenzie whispered.<
br />
  “I noticed there’s a back door leading to that room, too. And when we came across the parking lot after the treasure hunt, that door was propped open with a large stone. Maybe it still is.”

  McKenzie shook her head. “I don’t know, Kate. I want to pray about this while I take my shower.”

  Kate thought about the case as she showered and she prayed, too. The last thing she wanted to do was to falsely accuse someone. But with the clock ticking away, the girls had very little time to solve this case. Desperate times called for desperate measures. That’s what Kate’s mom always said anyway.

  But how desperate? Should they really sneak out of the cabin and try to enter the prep room? Something about that felt wrong and even a little scary. However, the idea of not solving the case felt even more wrong.

  By the time she ended her shower, Kate had talked herself into it. Tonight, while everyone else was asleep, she would take her fingerprint kit, her video camera, and several other gadgets, and she would go into the prep room … to see what she could see. Hopefully it would help solve the case.

  After showering the girls dressed for lunch. Megangestured for them to sit on her bed.

  “I just wanted to say something, campers,” she said with a smile. “I see a lot of campers come through here and you girls are great! I hate to play favorites, but I’m so happy to be your counselor this week.”

  Kate reached to hug her. “We’re happy to be here. And thank you so much for being a great counselor, Megan.”

  “It’s easy when your campers are as good as mine are.” Megan winked and they all smiled.

  Soon the campers were sitting in Conner’s class on the various types of fossils. Then, as the evening wore into the night, Kate couldn’t stop wondering what Grumpy Gus was up to in that back room. With her curiosity getting the better of her, she knew there was only one way to find out. She had to get inside that room, no matter what!

  Night Crawlers

  “Shh!” Kate used the tiny flashlight on the end of her ink pen to guide the way across the dark quarry parking lot toward the main building. Every step made her a little more nervous than the one before. What were they thinking … coming outside in the middle of the night? What would Megan say if she caught them?