Free Earthcrack: A Lin Hanna Mystery by Sharon Canipe

it and it was quite distinctive.   Smith had been concerned that Danielle
thought she recognized it and now it seemed quite likely that a positive
identification would be confirmed.   What if his connection with Cullen became known?   He could not afford to have any
questions raised about his association with him.   He needed to share this with Sessions.
    Smith had come to the gallery earlier to
tell Sessions about the discovery.   John had seemed to think that making connections would be unlikely.    He had even shown him his
correspondence with the Santa Fe dealer he had contacted about Cullen’s
find.   There was no mention of this
proposed deal—nothing in writing to connect anyone to the situation.   Still, Neal was scared of
discovery.   This Lin person had a
very active imagination it seemed and she was obviously interested in this
entire situation.   That fact made
Smith nervous, indeed.
    He reentered the gallery to find that
Sessions had a customer, so he wandered to the back where the assistant was
working at packing up some recent items for shipment to purchasers.   This was a relatively new employee,
hired a few months ago to replace Darren Steele.   Steele had disappeared the night that
the earlier deal was to have been transacted and had not been heard from
since.   Smith knew that Sessions had
tried to locate him and to gain information about his whereabouts from contacts
on the reservation, but after some time with no success, he had apparently
decided to put that behind and hire someone new to work.   Sessions suspected Steele might have
stolen the pottery and tried to sell it himself; however, he had heard nothing
reported of such a sale among dealers in the antiquities community. He had
agreed that they would pursue Plan B with Smith having his students search for
signs while on field trips and doing field work in the park.   Perhaps they would locate the pottery
after all.
    “Looks like you’re busy this afternoon,”
Smith smiled at the assistant, trying to appear casual and relaxed.
    “Yes,” the young man responded, “We have
sold quite a few items recently via the new internet catalog Mr. Sessions
started, lots of packing and shipping.”
    Smith made small talk with the assistant
for a few moments and then, noticing that the customers were no longer in the
shop, he left the young man to his work and went back to the front area.
    Sessions looked up from his work somewhat
impatiently; he was once again going through some correspondence it
appeared.   “ What do you need now,”
he sounded preoccupied, “I am pretty busy.   I thought I told you I would call you later?”
    “I need to tell you about my conversation
with Lin at lunch,” Smith pled, “ I’m sure now that the remains will be
identified as Cullen Honeyestewa, it’s just a matter of confirming the
information. It will be known for sure in a matter of days.” He wiped his hands
nervously against his jeans. “ I’m afraid someone will connect him to me and I
may be questioned.   I don’t know
what I’ll do.”
    Sessions turned to face him with
impatience, “ If you are smart you will do nothing. You said no evidence was
found that indicated anything other than an accidental death.   Has that changed?”
    “ No, Lin did not mention anything else
found, just the likely identification.”
    “Then, regardless of the identity of
these remains, this is likely to be ruled an accident and there will probably
be no real investigation.   No one
pays much attention to such deaths on or near the reservation.   Too many drunks disappear and turn up
dead later.   Anyway, there is
certainly no proof of the plans we had earlier.   No one can tie this to either of us,
unless one of us talks too much,” He fixed Smith with a pointed gaze, “stay
calm and keep your mouth shut.”
    “ I think that Lin Hanna is suspicious of
this incident,” Smith pushed on, “ she seems to have questions and she
certainly wants to