The Prophecy (Daughters of the People Series Book 1) by Lucy Varna Read Free Book Online

playing over the spot where they
intersected with the trailer. She flicked her flashlight at Maya and James,
then fixed it back on a spot on the trailer’s exterior. “Power was cut here,
probably with bolt cutters. Stupid.”
    Maya nodded.
Cutting a live power line like that was bound to cause sparks, maybe even a
fire, if it didn’t electrocute the person cutting it first.
    “From the roof
or the ground?” James asked.
    “Definitely the
ground.” Dani stepped back and played her flashlight over a block and the
ground around it. “Somebody used this as a boost. There’s a footprint here.”
    Maya knelt beside
the print. “Any thoughts?”
    “Yeah, lots, and
none of them good.” She crouched beside Maya and pointed at the print, her
finger well above the ground. “By the size and shape of the print and the use
of a block, I’d say it was somebody small and lightweight. Probably a woman.
Possibly a man with really narrow feet, but I’m thinking a woman, maybe five
seven, a hundred and thirty pounds. Small but strong.”
    Maya stood and
brushed dirt off the knees of her pants. “Any other damage?”
    “Lots. The
bolt’s broken on the storage shed.”
    “Hence the use
of bolt cutters here,” James said.
    Dani pushed
herself into a stand. “Looks like. I only took a quick peek in there, but it’s
pretty messy. Same with the storage containers under the tent. I’d say the
looter started there…”
    “Looter?” Maya
asked sharply.
    “Oh, yeah,” Dani
said, nodding. “Just the one. She, or he, started with the easy stuff under the
tents, then hit the storage shed, and finally the trailer. I can’t be sure
because I don’t know what’s supposed to be here, but it doesn’t look like a lot
was taken. I mean, a lot of the boxes in storage were dumped out. Stuff is
everywhere, but there’s an awful lot of it, so I’d guess not much was taken.”
    “So the looter,
singular, was looking for something in particular and kept looking until he
found it,” James said.
    Maya glanced at
him. “When Dani called, she told me some of the items taken were linked to the
gravesite.”
    “That’s a big
coincidence, you showing up the day before a looter breaks in and takes the
very thing you’re here to see.”
    Dani stiffened.
Maya laid a hand on her arm and shook her head slightly. “Yes, it is, but we
aren’t responsible, not directly at any rate.”
    “You have to
admit it looks bad.”
    Dani’s eyes
turned frigid. “If you think we’re responsible, just say so.”
    Maya tightened
her grip around Dani’s arm. “Stay calm, Dani. Anyone else would think the same
thing. It’s best to clear those suspicions up now before they take root and
distract everyone from finding the real culprit.”
    “Yes, Maetyrm.”
Dani relaxed slightly, though her gaze remained cold. “If you don’t mind, I’d
like to check on Indigo.”
    “Of course.”
    As soon as Dani
was out of earshot, James said, “She’s got a short fuse.”
    “Not usually. I’d
suggest not provoking her further, though.”
    He shot her a
startled look.
    Maya tucked her
hands into the pockets of her cargo pants and shrugged. “People look at Dani
and see only the surface, a bright, energetic young woman who charms and flirts
her way through life, much to the detriment of anyone who crosses her. I assure
you, Daniella makes a formidable enemy.”
    James crossed
his arms over his chest and scowled. “Is that a threat?”
    “Merely a
friendly warning. Stay on her good side.” Maya smiled, mischief getting the
better of her. “Chocolate usually helps.”
    “I’ll remember
that.”
    “If it helps,
keep in mind that it takes a lot to anger her. The looting and Indigo’s injury
have upset her. This dig is as important to Dani as it is to anyone else here.
Once she’s able to take a positive action to resolve the situation, she’ll find
her calm.”
    “Right.”
    James’ voice
betrayed his doubt, but Maya let it go. Better for him to be