Game of Bones

by Carolyn Haines

  “Tell me about it. I went to get my Mrs. Degree—a lot of girls did. Now that’s slander against our gender to say, but my whole college world was dating and sororities and social events.”

  “It was a different time.”

  “I’m glad women are becoming more independent, but I hate that real romance is also taking a hit.”

  “I know.” Budgie was rounding up all the students and moving them toward two buses that someone had sent from Zinnia. They would be questioned and released. “Did Hafner give you any details about what he hopes to find here?”

  “He did. It’s the historical elements he’s after. Dr. Wells had some crazy idea that Hernando de Soto, the Spanish explorer, had a map that outlined three cities of gold off the Gulf Coast. One was in Florida, one in Louisiana, and one up the Mississippi River. Hafner doesn’t believe any of the foolishness about gold treasures, but he did believe that the information he could recover from an undisturbed burial mound would cement his reputation as a premier archeologist.”

  The facts just didn’t add up for me. Then again, I thought looking at old pottery was interesting, as was learning about the culture of the people who’d first roamed the Delta. But to kill for such things? I just didn’t get it and, trust me, if gold or jewels had been buried in the Delta, some farmer would have long ago plowed them up. While the Mississippi River area was rich in soil and beauty, there had been no gold mines or jewels discovered in the area.

  “Let’s head to Millie’s.” I was starving. I’d missed breakfast and Coleman’s visit and my stomach was growling.

  “Sure thing.” Tinkie whistled up the dogs. To our surprise, Chablis ran up to us with something in her mouth. “What is that?” Tinkie wasn’t prissy about her dog, but she didn’t want her ingesting junk food from a dig site. She reached down and took the loosely woven bag from Chablis’ mouth.

  The bag was heavy—I could tell by the way she dragged it. And when she upended it, the large pendant that fell into her hand made me inhale sharply. “What is that?” It was lovely in a strange way. A leather thong, which was frayed and dangerously old, held the pendant, which looked to be a ram’s head or some animal with horns.

  “It looks Egyptian, kind of.” That was my contribution to historical culture.

  “I think we should take this to Peter Deerstalker,” Tinkie said.

  It was a brilliant idea, but one that was liable to start a real war with the lawyer. If this pendant was of value to the Tunica tribe, it would give him grist for his mill to stop the dig. We needed to understand what we had before we gave it up. “Let’s turn it over to Coleman first. He can pass it on to Deerstalker or whoever legally owns it.”

  Tinkie nodded. “After a garden omelet,” she said as she put the pendant away.

  “If this thing is valuable, it may be why Dr. Wells was killed,” I remarked as we made our way down the steep side of the mound. In the quiet of the empty Delta, I felt like ruler of the world. There was something about height that did give a sense of power. The fact that people without any real tools had created such an impressive mound, moving the dirt by hand, made me think of the many changes the Delta had witnessed. The past was gone, though. Our job was to find the person who’d killed Sandra Wells and hope that it didn’t put our client in line to be prosecuted for murder.

  4

  The breakfast rush was over at Millie’s Café and we had no trouble finding a quiet table in a corner. Before we’d even ordered, Coleman walked into the café. The sight of him striding through the door gave my stomach a jolt, which was obvious to my partner, who nudged my foot under the table. “Just get it over with and jump his bones,” she whispered. “I mean what could be sexier than doing the dirty in the middle of eggs and bacon. Positively 9½ Weeks. None of that paltry, weak-kneed Fifty Shades of Grey for you.”

  “You only say that because you know I won’t.” I found her toes under the table and pressed down a little. “If I did, you’d squawk like a chicken laying an eight-ounce egg.”

  Tinkie shifted her foot away from my pressure and signaled Coleman to join us. “Hello, Coleman,” Tinkie said. “Sarah Booth was just remarking how much she enjoyed being fed breakfast.”

  Coleman gave me a puzzled look, and I had no intention of trying to explain Tinkie’s kinky-movie fetish.

  Once he had a cup of coffee and had managed to squeeze my hand beneath the table, Tinkie brought forth the pendant. Because Chablis had found it, we couldn’t say for certain it was part of the dig or perhaps something left behind by the numerous teenagers who’d used the site for scary stories and petting or even the Bailey family, but the proximity to the dig and the murder made it evidence the sheriff needed to have.

  Coleman examined the pendant, then put in a call to Deputy Budgie Burton to join us. Budgie’s interest in history and his research abilities would yield answers much quicker than I could. Budgie arrived, setting a land-speed record, photographed the pendant, and tapped away on his tablet—a vast improvement over the research abilities at the Sunflower County sheriff’s office prior to his hiring. Budgie knew databases that neither Coleman nor I had ever heard of. And he was on top of science, history, and geographical developments that skimmed over my head.

  Budgie held up the pendant. “This isn’t from any tribes in this area,” he said at last. “And it isn’t valuable. Not as a metal. It’s a type of pewter, but the design and imagery could have significance to the killer, or perhaps to Dr. Wells. We should show it to her students and see if they know anything about it.”

  “Good idea,” Coleman said. “Sarah Booth, can you handle that? I’d do it but I need Budgie to go with me to talk to Frank Hafner. He was less than cooperative at the dig. He was too busy trying to impress his students with how tough he is.”

  “Hafner thinks Sarah Booth is beautiful.” Tinkie looked so innocent, I wanted to strangle her.

  “Sure, Tinkie and I will ask about the pendant,” I said before anyone could respond to her ludicrous statement. I looked at Coleman. “We don’t mind helping you, just as long as you know we’re working to prove Hafner is innocent.”

  “I know.” Coleman looked weary. “I know. And if he is innocent, then that’s the outcome I want, too. But if he isn’t…”

  “We didn’t have to share the pendant,” I pointed out. “We want the truth, just like you.”

  Coleman finished his coffee and stood. “We’ll compare notes later this evening.” He bent down to brush a kiss across my cheek. He was not a man for public displays of affection, but he was also a man who felt free to show what was in his heart. I liked that.

  As he stepped out the door, Tinkie stepped on my toes under the table. “We should work late tonight, Sarah Booth. Get the jump on this case.”

  “In your dreams,” I replied, smiling. She wasn’t going to get my goat now.

  At the checkout, I paid and picked up the to-go orders for the pets. I had to have a better routine where I could cook for myself and the pets. Every time I thought this, the secondary thought was—but why? Millie was a much better cook and she only served premium food. And thus the war was lost before the first battle was even fought. Sweetie would have her grilled pork chop with sweet potatoes and green beans. Chablis would have the same—cut into tiny bites for her by the café cook—and Pluto would approve of the fresh rainbow trout with risotto. My own garden omelet had been delicious.

  I let Tinkie feed the critters while I drove. We had to pick up her car at the dig, and I hoped some of the students might have returned. I suspected that Frank Hafner had urged them to continue working while he talked with Coleman. Delane Goggans would make certain no protocols were breached.

  When we pulled up at the mound, I saw the students at the top. They were gathered around the winch that had once held a dead body. Sandra Wells had died a hard death. The gruesomeness involved could serve two purposes—to punish her or as a warning to others. Or perhaps it was both. If Coleman was done investigating, surely the students would d
ismantle the winch. I’d be glad when the grisly device was gone. Reminders of the unpleasantness of Wells’ death were unnecessary.

  “Look, Delane is there.” Tinkie pointed her out. She had lost her red bandana and now wore an air of authority as she ordered the other students about. From the looks on the students’ faces, a mutiny was about to take place. No one liked to be pushed around by the boss’ main squeeze.

  We made the hike up the steep side of the mound. I knew I’d pay a big price with sore muscles in the morning. Even Sweetie Pie, who had boundless energy, was huffing and puffing. And she went straight for Delane, who set up a tirade about the dogs destroying the dig site.

  “Are you not aware there was a house here? One with children, livestock, dogs, fowl,” Tinkie said as she got right in her face. “Stop being a fool. Besides, Chablis found something around here. See.” Tinkie showed her a photo of the pendant because Budgie had taken the real deal with him back to the sheriff’s office.

  Delane’s face went pale and her eyes darted to the place where the tripod of death had been erected.

  “This means something to you,” I said. “Care to tell us about it?”

  “I don’t have to talk to you. You’re private investigators, not cops.” She raised her voice. “None of us have to talk to you.” Beneath her words was the threat: None of you had better talk to these two. “Now, everyone get busy. We don’t want to be up here after dark.” She looked around as if she expected something dangerous to be lurking about.

  “In case you missed the fact, we’re working for Hafner,” I said with amusement. “Since you two are lovers, I kind of thought you might be interested in helping him.”

  The pale wash of her skin flushed red. If she stayed out here in the Delta sun for any length of time, the young woman would be risking skin cancer. She didn’t have the complexion for a large dose of sunshine. Or humiliation.

  “Frank didn’t do anything. I told you and those yokel cops that I was with Frank all evening until early this morning. He didn’t leave his room.”

  “Why is it that I don’t believe you?” Tinkie asked. “We checked with the hotel and Frank had room service for one. What? You were hiding in the bathroom when the food was delivered?”

  I forced myself not to look at Tinkie. She was lying through her teeth. We hadn’t talked to the waitstaff of the hotel, but it was a damn good idea.

  “I, uh, I—” Delane faltered.

  It wasn’t like she could claim to have gone to a play or a museum or library. Zinnia shut down at five o’clock. If you were standing on the street the sidewalks might roll you up in them. Millie’s Café stayed open until nine or so, and then the only place to hang out was the Sweetheart Ice Cream Bar and Grill. They did the late-night, teenage-dating business.

  “We know you weren’t with Frank, so where were you?” Tinkie pushed harder.

  “I went to Memphis.” She looked utterly miserable.

  “For what?”

  “A doctor’s appointment. You can check. I was out of town and didn’t get back until about two in the morning. Frank and I were going to alibi each other.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I told him it wouldn’t work.”

  “Are you sick?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Amber Johnson had some medical issues. Appendix, I think. I took her to a specialist. Then I took her to the airport to catch a flight back to Ann Arbor. She didn’t have the fortitude to be here at the dig.”

  All of those facts were easily verifiable. It made no sense for her to lie, because she knew I’d check behind her.

  “What about the other members of the dig. The students?” I asked.

  “They were at the Budget Inn on the highway into Zinnia. We have two vans to haul them and a pickup truck for equipment. Anyone could have gotten a key and taken one of those vehicles out here to the dig. But why would Dr. Wells have agreed to meet up with a student? That doesn’t wash. She had only contempt for her students. Dr. Wells had to be meeting someone more important than a student here. To be honest, most of the students wouldn’t be out at the dig at night even for a guaranteed A. There’s something roaming around in those woods and no one wants to meet it face-to-face.”

  She had a point. A good one. Sandra Wells wouldn’t have climbed up the side of the mound for just anyone.

  “So what about that pendant?” Tinkie asked. “What significance does it hold for you, and don’t even try to lie.” For some reason, Tinkie had this girl pegged. She could intimidate her and Delane knew it.

  “You should talk to Kawania. She had the pendant originally.”

  “And?” Tinkie pressed.

  “And she said she was going to put a curse on Dr. Wells.” Delane glanced nervously at the group of students who’d stopped working and were sitting in the shade of an oak tree that had to have been growing on top of the mound for over a hundred years. It was a magnificent tree. Delane’s gaze swiveled back to us. “I think Kawania killed Dr. Wells. She said she was going to call up an avenging spirit from the past Native American tribes who lived here. They were supposed to do that yesterday.”

  “Who did they call? I mean what kind of magic were they going to use?” Tinkie asked. I rolled my eyes at her. I was no big believer in magic or curses, though I had kept a small charm Tinkie had gotten for me. One to bring Coleman to my bed. He’d arrived there—and stayed. But I didn’t want to believe magic had brought him to me.

  “Tinkie, you know they didn’t call any spirits. Delane is playing you.”

  “I’m not playing anyone!” Delane’s voice drew the attention of all the students. They watched us. She lowered her voice. “One reason I agreed to take Amber to the doctor and then the airport was because I didn’t want to be around voodoo or hoodoo or crazy shit.” Delane turned and pointed to an exotic-looking young woman who was staring at us with a Darth Vader glare. “That’s Kawania. Ask her. She said she would get rid of Dr. Wells and she did. She said that pendant had great power. And now she’s pissed off because she can’t find the damn thing. How did you get it?” Delane finally realized she could ask questions, too.

  “Stop playing the rube.” I was genuinely annoyed. “This isn’t going to fly with me. Get Kawania over here.”

  “She’s Frank’s student. She doesn’t have to do what I say.”

  That made sense. Frank Hafner’s students had no reason to fear or obey Delane. But they had no one else in authority to lead them. “Then please ask her to speak with us. And you don’t go far. We aren’t finished talking.”

  Delane whipped around and went straight to the exotic young woman and talked a minute, pointing at us. Kawania nodded, got up slowly, and came toward us. She walked with the grace and confidence of an ancient goddess. I’d never seen such a self-possessed group of kids. I just hoped none of them was possessed with the spirit of a killer. I wondered where that dark thought came from until I realized that Kawania had the lazy, serpentine grace of a snake. She was all fluid power.

  Tinkie nudged me. “Check out that guy watching Kawania.”

  The young man had slowly stood up, his gaze following Kawania as if he were mesmerized. Snake, meet the man you’ve charmed. He appeared to be in some kind of hypnotic trance, with Kawania the focus of his entire world.

  “You wanted to talk to me?” Kawania had the soft, melodic accent of New Orleans.

  “We found your pendant.”

  “Folks who poke around in other people’s belongings sometimes lose their nose.” She said it like a song or poem, not a threat.

  “We weren’t in your possessions. My little dog found it on the other side of the mound.” Tinkie stood as tall as her four-foot-eleven frame would allow.

  Technically, we didn’t know where Chablis had found it, but that was good enough. “You’ve got some people believing you killed Sandra Wells,” I said. “Not a good move since the professor is actually dead. Murdered.”

  “People can believe what they want. Where’s the evidence?”

 
She was a cool one. “Why did you want Sandra Wells dead?”

  “Did you ever meet the bit—woman? Everyone hated her. I didn’t want her dead any more than anyone else here. Especially Dr. Hafner. Delane will lie, but ask anyone else. Frank hated her guts. He used to joke about pushing her off the side of the mound and watching her bounce all the way to the ground.”

  “What’s the story with the pendant, Kawania? The sheriff has it. He’s going to be asking you questions.”

  She sighed. “Look, I need to pass this class. I have to pass it. I have a job waiting for me this summer when I graduate. A good job at a museum in Chicago. I hate this dig but Dr. Hafner said he’d give me the extra credit I need for an A if I came along. So I did. And all I’ve done is get down in holes and brush dirt away and then move it by the cupful. At this rate it will take a hundred years to find out what’s in this old pile of dirt.”

  “That’s what an archeological dig is about,” Tinkie said. “The pendant?”

  “It was my mother’s. She got it at a souvenir shop in New Orleans. She said it had magical powers and I just embellished the story a little to scare the other students. It’s good for them to be afraid of me. They do my work, give me extra food…” She shrugged a shoulder. “It works out better for me and it entertains me to get them going.”

  “You didn’t put a curse on Dr. Wells?” I asked.

  “I would have if I’d known how. That was just … a joke. Those morons will believe anything.”

  “Who hated Dr. Wells enough to kill her?”

  “Hafner, for sure. She kept trying to force him to use heavy equipment to get to the real jackpot of the dig. She had TV crews here and she wanted a big find. She was angling for her own TV show.”

  Tink and I had heard that before, and this validation sounded real. “She sounds very much a—”

  “Freaking ego with legs. I’ve never seen anyone more self-absorbed, narcissistic, and mean.”

  “Other than Hafner, who wanted her dead?”