Read Online Earthcrack: A Lin Hanna Mystery by Sharon Canipe - Free Book Online Page A

remember him from yesterday.”
    “Yes, hello Deputy Taylor,” Lin greeted
him with a handshake. “Have you learned any more about the person whose remains
were found?”   She could not contain
her curiosity.
    “ Well, yes and no,” Taylor responded,
pausing to take another long drink of water. “Thanks to Toby and Danielle
having good memories we do have a name we are checking out.   We contacted the tribal police on the
Hopi reservation to see if they have any reports on this fellow being
missing.   They were not really
sure.   It seems that they have a lot
of folks go missing who then turn up later and they are never notified so they
are checking with the family before confirming anything with us.   I’m afraid a lot of natives have
problems with alcohol.   They drink
too much and wander off—sometimes for days on end.   The family reports them missing and then
when they turn up they forget about calling the authorities.”
    Toby interjected, “I seriously doubt that
a person with an alcohol problem would be among those authorized to collect
eaglets or feathers for the ceremonies.   Those are responsible positions, taken very seriously but…who knows, we’ll
have to wait and see.”
    “Yeah,” Deputy Taylor sighed, “ but we
should know more tomorrow about that and the ME report should be ready in a few
more days.    We were out at the
box canyon this afternoon.   I wanted
to take another look at the scene.   Didn’t find anything else though so I think you can reopen that site
tomorrow.   There is nothing more we
can do out there.   This looks like
it is shaping up to be one of those unfortunate accidents.   Maybe this Cullen fellow, if that is who
it is, had a problem no one talked about.   He could have wandered around out there having had too much to drink and
fallen.   He hit his head on that
rock and that was all it took.”
    Lin could not contain her own lingering
questions, “But you didn’t find a bottle, or anything else out there for that
matter, and how did he get out there?   Have there been reports of an abandoned vehicle nearby?   There have been none in the park.”   She caught herself before throwing out
any more thoughts.   After all, she
was the newcomer and she did not want to appear to be questioning the local authorities.   She took a deep breath and went back to
her post at the desk, trying not to appear to be questioning.    She caught Toby smiling at her
from behind Deputy Taylor’s back though.
    Taylor gave her a rather impatient look; “
We’re on top of that,” he responded, “got someone checking on vehicles right
now.   We’ll have this all wrapped up
by next week.   You can count on it.”
    Taylor thanked Toby for his help, went
back to the office to speak to Danielle and shortly afterward left the
center.  
    Toby went back to office area to check on
some reports he had to finish and Lin began to count the cash in the register
and prepare the report on sales for the day.   It was almost time to close the center
and there were no cars in the parking lot.   When she finished that task, she went outside and walked to the
viewpoint to make sure there were no visitors still at the ruin even though the
lack of cars indicated all had left.   After confirming this she returned to the center where Danielle was
closing up shop.
    “I have to go in to headquarters to pick
up something,” Danielle reported, “so I may be a bit late coming in tomorrow
morning,” she turned to Toby who had just emerged from the office area, “can
you open things up tomorrow?”
    “Sure,” Toby responded, “ and I’ll drive
out to Lomaki to pick up the signs right now so that will be taken care
of.   Taylor said we could reopen the
area”
    “Good and thanks,” Danielle responded as
she left the center heading for her house.
    Lin lingered as Toby finished locking up
then asked, “Want some company picking up the signs?   I could ride out with you—I