New Title 1 by Dru Pagliassotti Read Free Book Online Page A

two. Does the university have an archaeology department?”
    “I’m afraid not.”
    “Too bad. This is probably nothing but an interesting piece of local history.”
    “Oh, I’m sure it’s that.”
    People were stirring next to the pit, and Clancy frowned.
    “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Penemue, we’ve got work to do.”
    “Hey, Clancy! Take a look at this!”
    “I’ll let myself out,” Penemue said. Clancy hesitated. Then, hearing the voices rising, he abandoned the provost and hurried to join his officers.
    “What is it?” he demanded, crouching at the edge of the pit.
    “First sign of an identifying mark we’ve found so far—maybe some kind of jewelry?” A woman in a dark blue forensics jacket held it up in gloved hands, tilting it back and forth. “A medallion?”
    The clay disc was wider than her palm, with incisions in it. The dirt on its face had already been brushed away, revealing what looked like the letters SAN around the edges.
    “What does that say?” Clancy asked.
    “It could be a grave marker,” one of the other technicians suggested, craning his neck to take a look at it. “Someone’s name?”
    A soft brush was handed over. Everyone leaned forward to watch as the first technician swept away more of the clinging dirt.
    “I think you’re right,” she said. “These look like crosses, in the middle.”
    “S-A-N-D-R-O...”
    “Hey!” Another shout. “I found one, too!”
    Clancy nodded, pleased. At last, real clues; something they could talk about at the press conference tomorrow.
    “Careful—”
    “Shit!”
    “Watch what you’re doing!” he roared, standing on the edge of the pit. Two of the workers were kneeling and picking up fragments of clay.
    “It was already broken,” one said, defensively. “Nothing but damp dirt holding it together.”
    “From now on, keep the clay matrix intact around them,” the chief technician snapped.
    “Sandromaliu?” The forensics officer looked up. “Is that Greek?”
    “Maybe it’s a name. Sandro Maliu.”
    “It is a name and a label,” said an unwelcome voice. Clancy turned, annoyed, to see Penemue standing behind him.
    “Sir, you shouldn’t be here.”
    “Neither should you.” Penemue lifted his pale grey eyes. “The earth is about to move.”
    “An earthquake?” Clancy looked over his shoulder. “I didn’t feel anything.”
    “Here.” Penemue slid next to him and held out a hand to the woman with the seal. “Get out of the hole.”
    “Detective?” She looked at him for directions.
    “Wait!” The chief technician of the forensics team lifted the medallion from her hand and revolved it. “He’s right. It’s Andromalius. Andro Malius .”
    “Yes,” Penemue said, continuing to hold out his hand. “You need to leave now.”
    As if the provost’s words were a cue, the world jolted to the left.

VIII

     
    Richard picked himself up from the dirt and swiftly righted his camera, swearing as he checked it for damage. Then the earth jolted again and he clung to his camera with one hand and the wooden bench with the other.
    An earthquake! He’d never been in an earthquake before, even though everyone had warned him about them when he’d moved to California.  When he’d thought about it, he’d imagined being in an earthquake would be like standing on a swaying train. This felt more like riding a bronco.
    The earth jolted again and continued shuddering, and all he could do was hold onto the bench and stare downhill at the dig.
    Police and forensics technicians were scrambling out of the pit, but its walls were collapsing on them as quickly as they tried to move out. Richard heard screaming and shouting as the earth began to collapse in a long fault-furrow. One of the bulldozers tilted and fell, burying two people beneath its metal bulk.
    He pointed the camera and clicked the shutter, knowing there was no way he’d get a good photo but knowing that he had to try. This was front page news.
    A light was burning in the