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camp.”
    “Do you think the scroll’s theft might be the motive for Green’s death?”
    Mosberg scratched his neck. “It seems likely. My men are still interviewing the crew. It’s going to take some time to get through them all and make any conclusions.”
    Lela flicked a nod at Hershel. “Thanks, Yad.”
    “Pleasure.” Hershel grinned and went back to work.
    Lela said to Mosberg, “Have you interviewed this Buddy Savage?”
    Mosberg nodded. “His story seems to fit. I’ve got an interview room set up in one of the office trailers. You can talk to whoever you think you need to.”
    “We may as well start now.” Lela followed Mosberg as he moved outside the tent into harsh sunlight.
    There was commotion as a stocky, red-haired man approached the guards. He was pushing sixty and wore a khaki military shirt, grubby sneakers, and a pair of knee-length combat trousers. A baseball cap was tilted back off his head, NYPD in dark lettering on the front. He seemed irritated as he said in an American accent, “Hey, Mosberg. You mind telling me how much longer we’re going to be hanging around in this dang heat? Everyone’s wilting. You’ve got all our statements, haven’t you?”
    Mosberg said, “We’ll try not to keep you much longer, Mr. Savage. But Inspector Raul here may want to go through your statements with you, as well as everyone else. So don’t wander off.”
    “Who’s wandering? We need to sleep, not wander.”
    “This is Inspector Raul, she’ll be in charge of the case.”
    The American looked Lela over and offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Inspector. Or maybe not so pleased. We’re all still shocked about what’s happened here.”
    Lela saw dark rings under Savage’s eyes. “You’re Mr. Savage, who found the body?”
    Savage took a swig from a can of Coke he clutched. “You heard right, and it was pretty unsettling. Professor Green was a longtime friend. The name’s Buddy, by the way. Do you guys have any idea yet who killed him?”
    “Not yet.”
    Savage crushed the empty can in his hand and tossed it carelessly in the sand. “Listen, inspector, I told Mosberg everything I know, just like everyone else did. You really need to talk again with all of us?”
    “Yes, I probably do, Mr. Savage.”
    Savage sighed tiredly, took off his baseball cap, and ran a hand through his thinning red hair. “Then can you do us all a favor and do your best to move this thing along? With all respect to the professor, most of the crew didn’t sleep much last night. They’re fit to collapse.”
    “I’ll do my best, Mr. Savage.”
    “I’m going to hold you to that.” Savage tugged his cap back on and wandered back to the crew.
    Lela said, “So that’s Buddy Savage.”
    “Yes, and he’s got a point. We’ve held everyone here for the last four hours, and they were up most of the night. They’re exhausted.”
    “Then let’s try and move things along.” Lela looked over at the crew. This time she saw a tanned man wearing cut-off Chino shorts step out of one of the tents. He didn’t look in her direction but spoke with one of the other crew. Mosberg said, “That one’s Jack Cane.”
    “Yes, I recognize him.”
    Mosberg frowned. “You two know each other?”
    “From another life, a long time ago.” The sun came out again and Lela slipped back on her shades. “But it’s probably a lousy time to be renewing an old friendship.”

13

    THE ROOM HAD a scratched table and a couple of odd chairs. In one corner was stored a pile of archaeological site maps. In another, open wood crates were filled with a selection of label-tagged clay pots, pottery shards, and animal bones that the crew had unearthed.
    Lela was alone and she tapped her fingers on the table. Jack Cane was next on her list of people to question. While Mosberg continued questioning other members of the crew, Lela had spoken with Yasmin Green and Buddy Savage. Yasmin was a stunning woman, with a figure that would stop traffic.