Read Online A Broth of Betrayal by Connie Archer - Free Book Online

morning following the discovery of the remains. With him were three graduate
     students in work clothes, armed with shovels, trowels and brushes. They had quickly
     dismantled the temporary shelter of boards and plastic and now, eager to begin their
     work, stared in fascination at the remains still lodged in the earth.
    Pastor Wilson had insisted that no soul should be buried or dug up without prayers
     for the afterlife, and since this soul more than likely hadn’t been properly buried
     to begin with, he certainly needed some good words to speed him on his way. He had
     made a point of calling some of his steadfast parishioners as well as the Spoonful’s
     regulars to request attendance at his service. Lucky agreed to come in Jack’s place,
     since he had errands to run. Sophie, curious about the discovery, decided to tag along.
    Lucky and Sophie, along with Hank, Barry and Horace waited for the ceremony to begin.
     The Professor and his three charges, and Nate Edgerton and others of the Pastor’s
     flock stood close by the grave. In addition, a small, curious crowd had gathered outside
     the fence along Water Street to watch the proceedings. Everyone waited in respectful
     silence.
    Pastor Wilson stood, his hands clasped in front of him, and spoke. “In the presence
     of death, we must continue to sing the song of life. We must be able to accept death
     and go from its presence better able to bear our burdens and to lighten the load of
     others.” When he had finished, a hush fell over the small group. In all likelihood,
     one of their own was being exhumed. Everyone watched while the graduate students began
     their work, gently brushing dirt away, slowly creating pedestals of earth around each
     fragment—a long, slow, laborious process.
    Nate Edgerton viewed the scene for several minutes and then signaled to Bradley, who
     waited outside the fence. Together they cut and pulled back the chain-link fence to
     allow easy removal of the remains later in the day. Nate returned to the sidewalk,
     while Bradley stood guard at the opening to keep the curious at a distance.
    Horace, watching the proceedings carefully, moved closer. Something had caught his
     eye. “What is that?” He pointed to a dark curved shape lying slightly deeper in the
     earth. One student, her hair pulled back in a bun under a baseball cap, looked up.
    “Not sure.” She brushed away the dirt carefully, better exposing the shape of the
     object. She turned back to Horace. “Looks like it might be a . . . maybe a powder
     horn?”
    “It might have some carvings—perhaps even a name. If it does . . . and I’m assuming
     this person is a ‘he’ . . . we might actually be able to find out who this fellow
     was,” Professor Arnold offered, grinning broadly at Horace.
    “You’re right.” Horace nodded. “It was common for people to carve their names, sometimes
     even drawings of their homes, on powder horns—if that’s what it is—like scrimshaw.
     It’s not likely, but perhaps we might find a weapon nearby. This is terribly exciting!”
     Horace turned to Lucky and Sophie. “You see, not everyone could afford a rifle or
     other type of gun. During the Revolutionary War, small towns kept a common stock that
     the men, and even women, would use in case of an attack, but most men did carry their
     own powder horns.”
    Professor Arnold spoke. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This body could be much
     older—pre–Revolutionary War, or even much younger. Eventually we’ll be able to date
     the bones.”
    As the work progressed and no further finds seemed likely, people drifted away, back
     to their jobs and homes. There wasn’t much to interest the onlookers in the slow,
     tedious work taking place. Nate released Bradley from guard duty, sending him back
     to the station. Nate said good-bye and drove away in his cruiser. Hank and Barry lingered
     by the fence until the crowd had completely dispersed.
    Barry turned and